International Programming

International Interfaith Programming

Judaism 101 - An Immersive Experience - Hillel Poland Foundation

Hillel Poland organized a series of 10 immersive, educational events geared to promote Judaism and Jewish values, beliefs and culture. The program was originally designed to attract Polish young adults, both non-Jewish and those who had recently discovered their Jewish roots and were interested in learning more about their heritage. Hillel Poland provided a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for exploration and discovery.

“We want to invite them to be part of Jewish life and experience it themselves, with the goal that Judaism and the Jewish tradition will become part of their lives.”
- Magda Dorosz, Executive Director

Participants gathered around a large table to discuss basic topics related to Jewish lifecycle and thought as well as more detailed aspects of Jewish culture. Most of the events had guest speakers whose role was to present the topic and inspire further discussion. The curriculum focused on areas where Jewish values overlap with universal moral issues and where similarities could be extracted between the Jewish and the universal experience.

“We want to inspire their lives by Jewish values and allow them to create a community that supports one another on the journey of creating their Jewish identity.”

Topics included:

• The cyclical nature of Jewish life
• Shabbat
• Holiday celebrations
• The power of community

Marketing: The program was advertised across Hillel Poland’s social media (Facebook and Instagram) and Poland Hillel’s monthly newsletter. The information about the program was also passed on between program participants and shared as individual text and social media messages from the Hillel staff.

The impact of the War in Ukraine: When the war broke out, Hillel Poland pivoted to provide services to refugees coming across the Polish border. Many non-Jewish refugee families participated in the program. Games and activities gave them a “bubble of normalcy” for a brief period. Ukrainian children drew flags of Israel and built the Hillel logo with Lego bricks. (Winter-Spring 2022)

“We hope that our program gave them even the slightest moments of focusing
on something positive and equipped them with hope for a better future.”

NCEJ’s Grant to the Israel Reform Movement for a Program for Interfaith Families from the FSU Helped Connect Many to Judaism at an Unexpectedly Challenging Time

Jewish Renewal for Interfaith Russian and Ukrainian Refugees and Immigrants - The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

NCEJ gave a grant to the Israel Reform Movement in 2023 for a year-long Jewish renewal program for interfaith Russian and Ukrainian refugees and immigrants (who arrived within the past 5 years). The goal was to encourage engagement with Judaism through introductory classes and workshops, online activities, holiday and Shabbat celebrations, lifecycle events, and conversion (for those interested).

At present, this target audience is going through their second war in two years – having escaped the invasion in Ukraine or the resulting anti-Semitism in Russia in 2022-23. As such, the purpose of the program expanded to provide spiritual solace and pastoral counseling for these interfaith families who were seeking stability through community as they built their new lives in Israel.

Over the course of the grant period there were between 300-550 participants at the various events. There were 324 conversions in 2023 (not all from FSU). Hundreds of people attended Shabbat and holiday prayer services during the year, with a large segment coming from interfaith families. Many families learned about holiday rituals and customs by coming to community-based holiday celebrations.

“What I feel isn't just about candles, or history; it is about the miracle of belonging, my personal Hanukkah miracle… My deepest and sincerest thanks to NCEJ for making all that happens at Kehillat Shirat HaGan possible, and therefore making my life here so much deeper and richer.” - Alexandra (Naama) Bebeshko participant

Shirat Hayam Ukrainian young adults - kabbalat shabbat

Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism - young adults Russian speakers

Shirat Hayam women's circle

Shirat Hayam Ukrainian young adults leadership shabbaton

Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

Russian/Ukrainian speaking program - 5-part leadership course

Shirat Hayam Ukrainian young adults agricultural volunteering in the war

Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

Israel Reform’s programming expanded to address the unique needs of these families during wartime. This included resilience workshops, volunteer opportunities, and other activities which contributed to their sense of coping and helped them adjust to their new lives in Israel.

One of the most effective elements of the additional programming was the Women’s Empowerment Circles. These were weekly circles of support and mentorship to empower women (especially those who arrived as single mothers escaping the Ukrainian war, leaving their husbands and partners behind to fight). The empowerment circles taught the women resilience, coping mechanisms and techniques to create stability and security in their lives through Judaism.

“Thanks to the workshops and sessions generously funded by NCEJ, we were able to touch the lives of many more people who are interested in connecting with Judaism.” - Tamar Roig

The Shira Hadasha Program for Russian Speaking Interfaith Families - The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism received a grant for The Shira Hadasha (literally: "A New Song") program for Russian speaking interfaith families in Israel. It enables hundreds of self-identified FSU Jews in Israel:

• To learn about and study the meaning behind Judaism.
• To engage with Judaism and Jewish community life via community-oriented practice of Jewish ritual, activities and holidays.
• To connect with Judaism on a deeper level, forging a path towards connecting with Jewish identity.

Participants join the Shira Hadasha program before embarking on a journey of study and Jewish experience and connection. The goal of this program is to enable these individuals and families to learn about their Jewish roots, to experience Jewish tradition and to become part of a Jewish community that speaks their language, both literally and in terms of acceptance and understanding.

Study groups, formal Judaism lectures and conversion classes (for those who wish) each happen weekly, with monthly Jewish community activities for the holidays bringing in newcomers.

“We have received strong positive feedback from families who feel more connected to Judaism and more educated as a result.” - Tamar Roig

Outreach Programming for Interfaith Families in Eastern Europe - The Joint Distribution Committee

JCC Tallinn in the Jewish Community of Estonia

NCEJ renewed a Joint Distribution Committee grant for outreach programming in Latvia and Estonia. JDC’s programs at the JCCs in Riga and Tallin provide a welcoming Jewish home to individuals who have recently discovered they have Jewish roots and are interested in developing their Jewish identity. Newly affiliated Jews experience the richness of Shabbat and Jewish holidays through a range of on-line and in-person celebrations. This (pictured right) took place during a brief relaxing of social distancing restrictions, and people welcomed the opportunity to reconnect to their newfound community.

Through virtual (and some in-person) activities people of all ages were able to celebrate Jewish holidays, participate in community service programs, observe cooking demonstrations, and socialize together. Participants were encouraged to ask questions and actively explore what being Jewish can mean to them.

Tallin, Estonia:

Purim: Prior to the holiday, all families were invited to participate in a “Secret Mordechai” activity – an online lottery that determined who would deliver real-life Mishloach Manot (holiday baskets) to whom young children and their parents were able to celebrate Purim outdoors and in person, with a costume parade, games and dances. The JCC’s youth club also enjoyed being outdoors together for a scavenger hunt that had youth counselors, dressed as characters from the Purim story, giving youngsters clues for locating a “lost” Megilla.

Passover: The JCC made it easy for families – even those who were new to Jewish traditions – to carry out their own Passover preparations and seder at home. Children and adults found a wealth of Pesach information and activities on the Passover page of the JCC website, including crafts, games, video performances for children, a practical review of Passover traditions, and a video reading of the Haggadah in Russian.

Couples and families also participated in an outdoor, in-person “Afikoman Hunt” through several Tallinn districts, guided by a special mobile app. The JCC Tallinn team developed the activity and its content so they could communicate with participants easily. They decided to use WhatsApp as a tool to make it accessible. This allowed a few people who organized the hunt to send out the tasks and follow the game, and enabled participants to send in their answers in a timely manner.

JCC RIGA

Purim: During the Purim season, the JCC engaged parents and children with online activities including a costume contest for youngsters, lectures, baking hamantaschen and a humorous Purimspiel performance.

Passover: For Passover, the JCC organized its online activities in collaboration with the Dubnov Jewish school in Riga. These included:

• A discussion about freedom with lecturers from Israel and Latvia
• A culinary master class on making desserts from matzah
• A model seder for the entire family
• A session of Pesach songs
• Preparatory sessions with local rabbis for conducting a seder at home
• A Pesach “board game” for younger children
• An online Zoom quest called “Escaping Egypt” for young adults. This was a Passover online event via zoom for students. The JCC Riga partnered with a Jewish educator from Moscow and his team. The event included different workshops all connected to Passover.

In 2018 NCEJ provided funds to the JDC to expand programming at the Warsaw and Riga JCCs. Many people in Poland, Latvia, and other parts of Eastern Europe are newly discovering they have Jewish ancestry. Slowly some of them are starting to reclaim their Jewish heritage by attending programs at the Warsaw and Riga JCCs. At the JCCs they meet others from similar backgrounds and learn how to incorporate Jewish practices into their lives.

Participants posted pictures with the social media campaign #Shabbat hashtag

Warsaw: The Warsaw JCC serves as the focal point of Jewish life in Warsaw. Activities include holiday celebrations, cooking clubs, and discussion groups. A fathers’ group and a women’s group meet monthly.

Riga: JCC Riga joined forces with Riga's synagogue to create an explanatory brochure about Shabbat. Prior to its publication, JCC Riga launched a social media campaign, #ShabbatJCCRiga, in which community members were asked to "Gather your family, call your friends, and before the candle is lit, take a picture of your Shabbat." Participants who posted pictures with the #Shabbat hashtag received a free copy of the colorful brochure.

Global Jewish Women's Celebration - Project Kesher

NCEJ has funded Project Kesher’s Global Jewish Women's Celebration for several years. One of the goals of Project Kesher (located in NYC) is to strengthen the bonds to Judaism among Jewish women and girls in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Georgia. In May 2020, the virtual Shavuot celebration brought together over 150 Jewish women throughout the world, including the only woman rabbi in Ukraine, a US cantor born in Ukraine, and a Russian-born rabbi living in Jerusalem.

In 2019-20 NCEJ’s support (along with other funders) helped Project Kesher trained leaders host Jewish holiday celebrations in 120+ locations in Eastern Europe.

Jewish Women’s Global Celebrations 5781, Fall 2020-Spring 2021

Project Kesher: Jewish Women's Global Celebrations 5781

From Fall 2020 through Spring 2021, despite pandemic-related limitations, Project Kesher (PK) supported virtual and outdoor Jewish holiday celebrations for over 1,500 families directly. One of Project Kesher’s goals is to highlight the role of women as the leaders, teachers, and innovators of Jewish life.

With each holiday that passed, Project Kesher trained leaders took the opportunity to reach out to new families and find ways to connect. For example, in Belarus in response to a matzah shortage, Project Kesher created a video “how to make Matzah at home” that was viewed more than 450 times.

One participant remarked, “Thanks to the training webinar and recipes obtained from Project Kesher my children and I prepared a meal with traditional symbols of the season. We discussed the legacy of women in Jewish life and the importance of handing down traditions”.

The programming helped strengthen families’ traditions at home and taught each family how to develop a customized/personal approach to Jewish rituals. Each holiday provided leaders with another way of reaching women who were interested in participating in Jewish life, something that was particularly important when most Jewish institutions were closed.

“Thank you so much for your investment in this program. Your support helped ensure that there was no vacuum in Jewish life in the region. Instead, we saw Jewish life thrive and grow resilient despite many challenges.”- Shira Pruce, Project Kesher

Judaism 101 Holiday Celebrations 5782, Fall 2021-Spring 2022

The program was designed to reach interfaith families and those who were new to Jewish culture and traditions. It consisted of virtual webinars and educational meetings led by PK-trained leaders in Russian and Ukrainian. Registered families received packages with food items, crafts, activities, and ritual items so that they could lead their families in Jewish traditions at home.

Project Kesher created a Jewish calendar for 5782 in Ukrainian and distributed it throughout Ukraine. It portrayed Jewish women in celebration of Jewish life each month. View the full interactive calendar here to see each month and all the art.

Jewish Women's Global Celebrations 5781 - Rosh Hashanah

Judaism 101 Holiday Celebrations 5782 - Sukkot

Jewish Women's Global Celebrations 5781

Project Kesher created a Jewish calendar for 5782

Project Kesher created a Jewish calendar for 5782

Project Kesher created a Jewish calendar for 5782