Recently, forty-five university students from across Ukraine gathered in Dnipro for a weekend retreat, to reconnect with their Jewish heritage and rejuvenate their spirits. This and other events we sponsor, including summer camps, are particularly important, given the extreme stress and trauma that Ukrainian kids and young adults have suffered for more than 3 years.
The workshop attendees arrived in Dnipro eager to participate in an uplifting and learning experience that included Shabbat celebrations and educational workshops. The gathering reinforced connections and interest amongst the growing younger Jewish community, brought together through the STARS organization:
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks, on behalf of the program’s leadership and all participants, to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, Chief Rabbi of Dnipro, for his generous hospitality, and for his personal participation in the seminar; he enriched the experience for the students who were inspired by his teachings,” shared Rabbi Pinchas Vishedski, CEO of STARS Ukraine and leader of Kyiv’s KEDEM community.
The impactful weekend was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the STARS world organization, led by Rabbi Avi Casse; Rabbi Shlomo Peles, CEO of JRNU; and Rabbi Mendy Wilansky, Director of YAHAD (a part of the Federation of Jewish Communities)
We look forward to sponsoring additional events over the summer to support the younger Jewish population in Ukraine. Together we save lives and restore hope.
