The first bell has rung across Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC) Or Avner Jewish Educational Network, as thousands of students—from kindergartens through high schools—stepped into classrooms in hundreds of Jewish institutions and initiatives throughout the FSU to mark the beginning of the academic year. True to tradition, the onset of the school year was greeted with the resonant blowing of the shofar, a powerful symbol of Jewish heritage and pride.

The widespread opening of Jewish schools across 11 countries in the former Soviet Union stands as a living testament to the remarkable revival of Jewish life in a region where Jewish education was once banned and institutions shut down under communist rule. Today, thanks to decades of dedicated investment in Jewish education, the network’s reach has already touched tens of thousands of children—and, by extension, their families—across the vast expanse of the FSU. The thriving school system represents not only a renaissance of learning but also a reconnection with Jewish identity, culture, tradition and heritage, that had nearly been lost to history.

What was once unimaginable just a few generations ago—children openly studying Jewish texts, celebrating Jewish holidays, and beginning the school year with a shofar blast—has become a powerful reality. A revival not confined to schools alone; rather sparking a broader communal renewal, rekindling Jewish pride among parents, grandparents, and entire communities.

Alongside formal schooling, informal programs—including JFuture Sunday schools, SmartJ afternoon schools, and the EnerJew youth movement—are also now in motion, sustaining vibrant educational engagement beyond standard hours.