STARS Ukraine Winter Seminar Draws Record Attendance Despite Regional Challenges
Against the backdrop of Ukraine’s snow-covered Carpathian Mountains, STARS Ukraine’s 19th annual winter seminar brought together sixty Jewish students from across the country, achieving its highest participation rate since the onset of regional tensions. The six-day program, hosted at a five-star resort, offered participants an enriching journey into Jewish tradition and heritage.
Under the guidance of Rabbi Pinchas Vishedski, CEO of STARS Ukraine and Rabbi of Kyiv’s KEDEM community, alongside his wife Rebbetzin Dina Vishedski, the seminar created a warm atmosphere of Jewish learning and connection.
“Our unwavering commitment to maintaining these seminars and year-round student activities has proven invaluable,” Rabbi Vishedski shared. “Even during the most challenging times, we persisted in embracing our students and young Jewish professionals, and today we’re seeing the results. Our winter seminar exceeded sixty participants for the first time since the crisis began, indicating a remarkable recovery and strong desire to participate in this exceptional program.”
The seminar held particular significance for the 20% of attendees who participate in STARS Net – students from smaller towns without resident rabbis who typically engage with Jewish learning online. This gathering granted them a precious opportunity to meet their peers and program leaders in person, deepening their connection to Jewish life and community.
The strategic choice of the Carpathian Mountains venue offered participants a serene setting for spiritual growth and a peaceful retreat from daily pressures. At the heart of the program was an experiential Shabbat celebration, complemented by six days of immersive Jewish learning and cultural exploration.
This successful initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of several Jewish organizations. The STARS world organization, led by Rabbi Avi Cassel, worked in concert with JRNU, under Rabbi Shlomo Peles‘s leadership, and YAHAD, directed by Rabbi Mendy Wilansky within the Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC) framework.
