The World Union expresses its concern about the current situation in Belarus. We send our thoughts and prayers for peace in Minsk and Belarus during this challenging time. News of the arrest of two Netzer FSU members quickly spread across social media. The World Union reached out to our rabbinic and communal leadership in […]
Tag: belarus
[BELARUS] Interfaith Prayer Against the Coronavirus in Minsk
On the evening of March 21, Rabbi Grisha Abramovich, representing Progressive Judaism, had the special honor tof being invited to participate in an interfaith prayer session against the Coronovirus along with spiritual leaders and representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Greek Catholic, Evangelical and Muslim communities.
[BELARUS] Netzer FSU Conference Forges New Lessons From Shared Wisdom
On October 31 to November 2, close to 60 youth and young adults came together in Belarus for a Netzer, Reform Zionist youth movement, conference. With students of the University of Moscow in attendance, participants explored ways to advance Netzer in the coming years, including strengthening current projects in communities in the region, and developing new ones to meet growing needs among the next generation.
[BELARUS] March of Memory at Grodno Ghetto
For five years, a march dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust has been held in Grodno. In mid-March, the city remembers people who were killed during the Second World War. Of the nearly 30 thousand Jews who once lived in Grodno, only 200 people survived after the war. Two Grodno ghettos were destroyed on March 12, 1943.
[BELARUS] Learning Together: Third Pedagogical Conference of Reform Educators in Gomel
In late January – early February, the Third Pedagogical Conference of Reform Educators brought together 30 educators from Reform congregations in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine to Gomel, Belarus for three days of learning and sharing best practices in early childhood education and Jewish education.
Water for the Next Generation | Parashat Chukkat
In this week’s Torah portion, Chukkat, we read: “The community was without water and they joined against Moses and Aaron”. This reaction from the community is not a big surprise. After Miriam’s death earlier in the chapter, finding water became one of the greatest concerns for the people of Israel.
The World Union in the FSU: Growing Reform Judaism and Training Russian-Speaking Rabbis
More than 30 years ago, modern Reform Jewish life began in the Former Soviet Union. Since then, the Reform Movement has flourished, establishing strong roots in the FSU and offering a wide variety of activity in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic States. The more than 40 WUPJ-associated congregations in the FSU receive professional staff […]
[Belarus] The Pesach (Passover) Project: Rabbinic Students Join Growing Congregations for Passover
For more than 15 years, the Passover Project has sent rabbinic students from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion to Reform congregations across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to lead Passover celebrations. Every year, students join growing congregations for traditional and innovative programs and services designed to bolster the communities.
[Belarus] Solemnity and Solidarity at the March of Remembrance in Grodno
On March 18, more than 200 members of the Jewish communities as well as representatives of Christian congregations, non-governmental organizations, diplomats, schoolchildren, students, foreign visitors and residents of Grodno gathered at “March of Remembrence” in Grodno to honor the memory of Grodno ghetto demolition that happened 75 years ago. The event began with prayer led […]
[BELARUS] Honoring International Holocaust Day Beit Simha Hosts UN and EU Dignitaries and Jewish Leaders
On the eve of the Holocaust International Remembrance Day, the Sandra Breslauer Center for Progressive Judaism “Beit Simha” hosted commemorative events dedicated to the day which was launched worldwide in 2005 by the decision of the UN General Assembly.