Historical Celebration in Moscow: One Hundred Teenagers Celebrate Their Bar/Bat Mitzvah
In a unique event in the Russian capital, one hundred teenage boys and girls celebrated their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs in a special ceremony. The emotional celebration concluded an extensive educational program spanning several months, organized by the ‘EnerJew’ youth movement operating under the Federation of Jewish Communities – FJC. The program included a series of preparatory meetings for the Bar and Bat Mitzvah teenagers with their local rabbis and Chabad emissaries.
Jewish Moscow excitedly prepared for the historic celebration of the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs of one hundred Jewish teenagers from across Russia, organized with great dedication by the FJC’s youth movement ‘EnerJew.’ This event concluded an exceptional Bar and Bat Mitzvah program that included weekly meetings for the youths with the rabbis in their home cities.
The teenagers who consistently attended the weekly meetings and excelled in performing the tasks given to them, each received a pair of tefillin (for the boys) – to be worn daily, or silver candlesticks (for the girls).
As mentioned, after several months of preparation, a concluding Shabbaton was held over the weekend for the program’s outstanding participants at a luxurious hotel on the outskirts of Moscow. The Shabbaton’s theme was Jewish pride, and its highlight event was a moving and authentic Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration. The Shabbaton was attended by one hundred boys and girls from 17 cities across Russia, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.
The event was honored by the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, the Chassidic philanthropist supporting the Jewish revolution in Russia since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Mr. Lev Leviev, CEO of ‘Or Avner’ Rabbi David Mondshine, and Reb Shlomo Neman, Director of FJC’ educational branch ‘Atidenu.’ The dignitaries presented the Bar/Bat Mitzvah teenagers with prestigious gifts.
The Shabbaton was made possible thanks to the support of the Finger Family Foundation, and the Meromim Foundation, led by Rabbi Bentzi Lipsker, and thanks to the tireless efforts of the dedicated ‘EnerJew’ team and Rabbis, Mrs. Kristina Shulman, Mrs. Natella Epstein, Rabbi Moshe Baruch Beinish, Rabbi Gershon Feldman, Rabbi Moshe Elkin, Rabbi Avraham Denisov, Rabbi Azaria Shaulov, and Rebbetzins Mrs. Deitch, Mrs. Hababo, and Mrs. Yoffe.
“The profound impact of the meetings, the Shabbaton, and the entire celebration on the boys and girls cannot be overstated,” summarized Rabbi Moshe Rochlin, Rabbi of the program. “The immense moral values will accompany them throughout their lives and pave pure paths for their Jewish life.”
