Teens’ ‘Unforgettable’ Europe Trip

The STARS, Chabad Jewish youth educational program in Ukraine, has reached a new level this month, with a group of 80 students going on an unforgettable EUROTRIP to France.

“As we all know, our Forefather Abraham left his home and went into the place which G-d had pointed him. We can learn the lesson from this story: we need to move beyond our permanent place of dwelling, we need to travel in order to change this world for better,” said Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar in his video message to the participants of EUROTRIP 5777.

With over 1,000 Jewish students registered to the program, in over 20 locations throughout Ukraine, STARS is the leading Chabad Jewish Youth organization that is providing an array of Torah classes as well as other informal activities. For the second time now, a group of students who excelled in their learning and participated actively in the program were honored a trip to Europe.

“This summer, the best of our students had the opportunity to travel with us to France. The organizers have put in a lot of effort to make this trip an amazing experience,” says Zalman Bokarev, director of STARS Ukraine. “We were inspired by the great success of similar trips organized by the YAHAD organization in Russia.”

As Rabbi Mendy Willansky, head of YAHAD notes, such trips help to make vivid impressions filled with spirit of Yiddishkeit at our youth.

Accompanied by the best Russian-speaking lecturers, and a group of enthusiastic counselors, the participants have toured famous sights in France through a prism of the Jewish consciousness. Amongst the places visited were the Jewish Museum, the Rebbe’s synagogue, Jewish neighborhoods of Paris, the Louvre, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, Disney World and many more.

In addition to the trips, the participants enjoyed enlightening night activities, lectures and Farbrengens well thought-out by the dedicated staff members. A galla dinner was held in honor of Gimmel Tammuz, where Rabbi Avi Cassel US Director of the Olami organization and chairman of STARS International who arrived especially for the event, delivered a keynote.

Throughout the journey, and particularly on Shabbos, students were inspired by interactive workshops and uplifting farbrengens with Rabbi Pinchas Vishedsky, board member of STARS Ukraine. As well as some engaging sessions held by Rebbetzin Dina Vishedsky, who spoke with the students about the importance of creating a Jewish family, Shidduchim, and other relevant matters. Indeed, these conversations turned out to be very exciting, going into the night.

“We believe that at this travel, all participants had a very enjoyable experience, which will lead to additional motivation in studying Torah and doing Mitzvois,” noted Rabbi Pinchas Vishedsky. “I think that the best proof for that would be to see how these students influence on other young Jewish people in their home cities.”