By Ben Farhat Our nightly news broadcasts and social media feeds paint a grim picture of the world in which we live. Negativity, disunity, and terror prevail and war looms, casting a heavy shadow over our daily routines. Though we’re well aware of the Jewish imperative of Tikun Olam, to repair the world and cast light into the darkness, our good intentions stall at the sight of so much suffering and loss. How can we heed this higher calling … [Read more...] about Tikun Olam: A Daunting Jewish Imperative
Life in the FSU Countries
Thriving Jewish Life in Ukraine: Could I Ever Have Imagined It?
Ambassadors to Ukraine 2017 - Teen Reflection By Jacob Ioffe When I first learned about Ambassadors to Ukraine, a unique opportunity for BBYO members from North America, Europe and Israel to join our brothers and sisters in Active Jewish Teens - the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s growing teen movement in the former Soviet Union and a BBYO partner through our global JDC partnership to engage Jewish teens worldwide - at their … [Read more...] about Thriving Jewish Life in Ukraine: Could I Ever Have Imagined It?
JDC Chanukah Celebrations Bring Out Thousands across the Former Soviet Union
This Chanukah, thousands of Jews in the former Soviet Union will celebrate the annual Festival of Lights by partaking in holiday celebrations and menorah lightings, concerts, holiday meals, and Jewish cultural workshops at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) network of Hesed social welfare centers and Jewish community centers. Scores of JDC-trained volunteers of all ages are leading these Chanukah activities, a growing trend … [Read more...] about JDC Chanukah Celebrations Bring Out Thousands across the Former Soviet Union
Over 750 Gather for Limmud FSU in Russia’s Cultural Capital
Limmud FSU St. Petersburg - held this weekend - featured lectures, workshops, and discussions in the pluralistic spirit of Limmud. Top presenters included Marat Gelman, gallerist and the founder of Perm Museum of Contemporary Art (PERMM) in Russia; Linor Goralik, a Russian-speaking flash fiction author, poet and essayist; Aleksei German, Russian film director; Elhanan Nir, Israeli poet and laureate of international and Israeli literary honors; … [Read more...] about Over 750 Gather for Limmud FSU in Russia’s Cultural Capital
Faces of Hope, Lives of Dignity
For too many Jews around the world, poverty is a stark reality. In the former Soviet Union, elderly Jews who endured Soviet oppression, and others who also survived the Holocaust, are left to piece together a life with only a few dollars a day. Not only must they contend with abject poverty and hunger, many are also alone, as family and friends have left the country or died from disease, tragic accidents, or old age. For these needy … [Read more...] about Faces of Hope, Lives of Dignity
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