More that a hundred Jewish residents from small and isolated towns across Western Ukraine gathered for a rare Shabbaton retreat in the region’s capital city, Zhytomyr, to celebrate Purim and the adjacent Shabbat together.

“In the times of our sages,” explains Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, the Chief Rabbi of Western Ukraine, “Jews living in isolated towns without even a minyan for prayer were permitted to read the Megillah of Esther before the holiday to spare them the trouble of making multiple trips to the larger city. Similarly, we brought everyone together for an event that combines all these occasions. Jews from remote towns, which were once vibrant Jewish ‘shtetls’ home to special personalities, arrived with their families and children to celebrate in joy and unity.”

The participants began arriving as early as Thursday for the extended seminar-Shabbaton held at the FJC’s ‘Or Avner’ educational complex in the suburbs of Zhytomyr. The facility has seen renewed activity over the past year despite the ongoing situation and crisis in the country, hosting camps, retreats, seminars, and various other events.

The Shabbaton, organized by Rabbi Nachum Tamarin, who works devotedly among dozens of towns in Western Ukraine throughout the entire year, was sponsored by JRNU, FJC and Chabad’s humanitarian arm in Ukraine. The program included special activities for children alongside events and attractions for adults and families, prayers and meals, lectures, classes, and of course, the fulfillment of Purim commandments and customs with joy and positive energy.

During the retreat, children and their parents were also given the opportunity to become better acquainted with the local Jewish educational institutions, to be impressed by their dedication and professionalism, and were invited to join.