Jewish Life in St. Petersburg: A New Story
For the past two years, Masha Aryeva, 39, has been the Director of the Yesod Jewish Community Center (JCC)—the first-rate, central hub of Jewish life in the cosmopolitan city of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Feature Stories
the Former Soviet Union
Country
Revitalizing Jewish Life
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Bringing a Sweet New Year to Families in the Crimea
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.
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Camping in Belarus Brings Families to Jewish Community
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.
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A Kazak Boy Mirrors Jewish Revival
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.
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Jewish Music and Community Save Father and Daughter
Following her mother’s death, Katya was left alone to care for her blind father in their run-down apartment in Ukraine. Learn how JDC rescued this family and is reviving Katya’s Jewish future.
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Elderly Woman Finds Community and Hope
After a lifetime of hardship and loss, Zhanna was battling poverty and Ukraine’s brutal winters alone. Find out how a JDC Hesed social welfare center became her lifeline and helped break her isolation.
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Jewish Camping Builds Community across Europe and FSU
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.
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Reviving Baltic Jewish Communities One Camper at a Time
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.
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Bringing Mazel to Jewish Boy in Ukraine
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.
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Jewish Renewal Goes Live
With JDC’s recent launch of Activi, an online Russian-language anthology of Jewish educational materials and creative program ideas are just a click away. Learn more about this comprehensive site that's inspiring meaningful Jewish activities across the former Soviet Union.