“I Can’t Believe What I’m Seeing”: Brazil Hosts a Massive Journey of 900 Jewish Young Adults from Russia

At a powerful and emotion-filled opening event on the outskirts of Paulo, 900 young participants from across Russia and the FSU who remained dedicated throughout the year to the “YAHAD” study program fulfilled a dream — the organization’s first-ever journey to South America together with their community rabbis, at the invitation of Brazil’s Jewish philanthropists.

More than 900 students and young Jewish adults from across Russia and other FSU countries, arrived in Brazil with remarkable dedication. They undertook long and complex air journeys lasting over 24 hours, traveling through multiple countries across the globe.

Their arrival followed a special personal invitation from Brazil’s Jewish philanthropists, who decided this year: “They are coming to us.”

This marks a moving gesture of gratitude after more than a decade of generous support for “YAHAD” journeys around the world — in Europe, North Africa, and the Far East — and now, for the first time, in South America.

Only those who demonstrated exceptional persistence and commitment to the weekly “YAHAD” study program throughout the entire year merited participation in this unique journey.

The evening opened with an impressive and authentic Brazilian folklore performance. Capoeira dancers suddenly emerged from within the audience, delivering a mesmerizing acrobatic show on stage, accompanied by rhythmic and captivating vocal music. The event was professionally hosted by Mr. Alexander Marconi.

The first speaker was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilansky, director of the “YAHAD” organization in Russia and the FSU. With a warm and heartfelt “Welcome,” he delivered a vivid and inspiring message on gratitude, and praised the dozens of staff members for their ongoing dedication to the weekly program and to the smallest details of preparing this journey.

He concluded with an emotional declaration of “Am Yisrael Chai,” followed by a spontaneous and spirited dance together with the host to the song “Havainu Shalom Aleichem,” which immediately filled the hall.

On the large screen, to the enthusiastic cheers of the energetic and highly motivated participants, the mentors, coordinators, and guides who will lead the groups — divided by cities — were introduced.

In the hall, filled wall-to-wall with youthful joy and smiles, the Chabad emissaries and rabbis who had arrived especially for the occasion sat among their students. All are partners in a life-changing journey aimed entirely at strengthening each participant’s personal commitment to Judaism, tradition, and to building a faithful Jewish home with a Jewish spouse.

Rabbi Yosef Dovid Weitman, one of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s emissaries in Paulo and rabbi of the Beit Yaakov–Safra Synagogue, who devoted himself wholeheartedly to the preparations from the very beginning, delivered particularly moving remarks. “Welcome. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This is simply incredible — an unimaginable Jewish revival,” he said.

He described Brazil — its green and yellow flag symbolizing exotic vegetation and warm sunshine — and recalled the roots of Jewish history in the country, from the arrival of Jews from Spain and Portugal in 1630, through the approximately 150,000 Jews living in Brazil today (many of them in Paulo), the 14 Chabad centers in this vast metropolis of some 50 million residents, and the work of the emissaries that began more than a century ago.

Rabbi Weitman spoke about the strong bond between the Jews of Brazil and the Jews of Russia, and about his own mission together with his wife, following the Rebbe’s directive during the communist era. At this point, he broke into tears, his voice trembling: “It is a miracle — a miracle! The wonders of G-d.”

He recounted encounters from his past visits in Russia with Jews who were once afraid even to acknowledge their Jewish identity, and now he was witnessing before his eyes a true Jewish revival.

Concluding his remarks, he asked the audience to rise and recite together, word for word, Psalm 125 — a prayer for the peace of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. A deep sense of shared destiny and heartfelt concern filled the hall.

Among the prominent participants: Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia; Rabbi Shlomo Neeman, head of the FJC Educational Department; Rabbi David Mondshine and Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Peles, who lead the FJC; and Rabbi Avi Kassel, director of the global STARS organization.

The event featured spectacular pyrotechnics, innovative multimedia segments, and a precise, high-level production by the “YAHAD” team, R’ Michael who remained dedicated, director of Jewell YAHAD, together with the international production company Fleishman Peles.

Toward the conclusion, energetic young participants who volunteered to document the journey with their cameras were invited to the stage. They received a special gift aimed at encouraging all participants to create kosher, positive, and high-quality content on social media. The rest of the participants were encouraged to share the content and take part in a prize-based campaign, ensuring that the message reaches as many young Jews as possible and inspires them to join the study program in the coming semester.