Recently, sixty Jewish teenage girls from across Ukraine gathered in the idyllic Carpathian Mountains, for a special weekend devoted to spiritual growth and personal development, providing a much-needed break from the ongoing crisis.
The retreat (“Shabbaton”), part of the EnerJew youth movement programming, focused on Jewish heroism, encouraging participants to bring more light and goodness into the world through positive actions. The girls engaged in hands-on mitzvah experiences and dynamic Torah learning sessions centered on the concept of “Code Hero”—a motivational framework to channel positive energy toward spiritual strength and purpose. The program also included lively Shabbat meals, thought-provoking lectures, a live broadcast from the Western Wall, and an interactive session with special guests from Israel along with the Director of EnerJew Ukraine, Lena Kovalova.
By the end of the weekend, staff and participants were tired from the many fun and interesting events, yet they returned home refreshed, with many wonderful memories. The young women desperately needed the emotional support and encouragement provided by the weekend retreat, after enduring unimaginable stress, fear, and anxiety for nearly 4 years. We are grateful to all those who made the event possible including the Federation of Jewish Communities, the Finger Foundation, Ofek Israeli, the Israeli Ministry of Education’s Hephzibah program, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Together we save lives and restore hope.
