Olga grew up under communism, when religious practices were outlawed and Jewish life was hushed for decades. She never learned any Jewish history or traditions in her home as a child; when she became a mom, she had none to pass on to her daughters.
Mirroring a common reaction among fellow Jewish 10-year-olds in Minsk, Belarus, Pavel’s eyes light up with excitement at the mere mention of “Shemesh” Camp at his local Jewish Community Center (JCC). That’s because Pavel can’t wait to join his friends for a 10-day session of fun and Jewish learning that will include trips to parks, museums, movies, and other attractions around Minsk.
In Kazakhstan, a country the size of Western Europe and where religious expression was suppressed for decades under Soviet rule, a huge spiritual resurgence is underway. And while the local population is almost evenly split between Russian Orthodoxy and Islam, the local Jewish community—50,000-strong, and by far the largest in the region—is undergoing a vibrant renaissance of its own, one Jew at a time.
This summer, thousands of young Jews across Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are coming together to explore their Jewish identities—many for the first time. From Belarus to Bulgaria, take a virtual tour of JDC’s acclaimed camp programs.
This summer, hundreds of kids are celebrating Jewish traditions and making new friends at JDC-supported camps in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Find out how Olameinu camp director Irina O. will make their experience unforgettable.
Growing up in the Soviet Union, Julian and Victoria didn’t have access to Jewish formal education. But today their six-year-old son Daniel is in his fourth year at the Kharkov JCC and already speaks and reads basic Hebrew. Find out what’s next for the new Jewish generation in Ukraine.
In the former Soviet bloc countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where entire generations were cut off from their Jewish heritage and community life was actively discouraged, Jewish camping is a meaningful and effective outlet for building Jewish awareness and identity among children and families. These “total immersion” Jewish educational experiences have been a key part of JDC’s Jewish renewal activities for more than two decades, helping thousands of people in the region rediscover their Jewish roots and connect to a culturally rich and enduring community.