Russian Jewish Teens Gather in Moscow for Four-Day EnerJew Seminar

Sixty Jewish teenagers from across Russia, members of the FJC’s EnerJew youth movement, recently took part in a special four-day Shabbaton held at the Jewish community center in Moscow. Traveling from cities including Ufa, the Ural region, Orenburg, Perm, Yekaterinburg, and as far as Vladivostok in the Far East.

The seminar was designed to strengthen the participants’ connection to their Jewish identity and sense of pride. Throughout the program, the teens explored Moscow’s leading landmarks while also visiting key Jewish institutions in the city, including the Metivta, the Marina Roscha Synagogue and Jewish Community Center, and the Jewish University — offering them a firsthand look at vibrant Jewish life.

The schedule combined lectures and classes delivered by notable speakers, among them Rabbi Azaria Shaulov, Rabbi Avraham Denisov, Rabbi Levi Deitch – the new Chabad youth emissary in Perm, and Rabbi Moshe Baruch Beinish, alongside social activities, workshops, and group programming.

A central highlight of the seminar was the experiential Shabbat, during which participants joined local Jewish families for traditional meals, in addition to communal prayers and meaningful discussions.

R’ Yaakov Sominski, Director of EnerJew, expressed his appreciation for the participants, noting their exemplary conduct and sincere engagement throughout the program. He also extended thanks to Daniela Setko, who led the seminar team, and Gershon Bezdeneznyh, who oversaw the complex logistics.

The seminar was made possible thanks to the generosity of the 770 Foundation led by Rabbi Yehuda Davydov.