Nearly fifty young Jewish leaders, including students and young professionals from various cities across Russia and the former Soviet Union, gathered in November 2024 for an intensive five-day seminar. The event aimed to empower participants on their journey to becoming leaders within their communities and coordinators in diverse educational programs led by YAHAD, a division of the Federation of Jewish Communities, which is experiencing a surge of activity this winter.
“Our mission is very clear,” explained Rabbi Mendy Wilansky, Director of YAHAD. “We strive to provide this select group of talented and highly motivated young individuals with comprehensive professional and spiritual tools to become the next generation of leaders in Russian and FSU Jewry. Through the guidance of top lecturers and professionals, participants gained extensive knowledge that not only transformed their perspectives but also instilled them with the energy and resilience to act and lead.”
The seminar’s curriculum combined professional training with Jewish values, offering a wide range of lectures on leadership skills, goal setting and implementation, practical document usage, Jewish and Chassidic history, Torah study, public speaking, educational approaches to challenging situations, report writing, teamwork, volunteer management, creative thinking, community building, and more.
The lineup of distinguished speakers included Rabbi Shneur Kosenko, Rabbi Dovid Abba, Julia Ershova, Rabbi Moshe Elkin, Avigail Komarnitskaia, Daniel Vidiakov, and a professional photographer offering insights on crafting compelling photo reports.
A highlight of the seminar was the visit by Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, to the campus in Novyi Bereg. The young leaders had the opportunity to ask deeply personal and challenging questions, receiving clear and thoughtful responses. “It was a truly special moment,” Rabbi Wilansky shared. “The participants were open and sincere, discussing sensitive and significant issues with remarkable honesty and maturity.”
