100 Celebrate Their Bar and Bas Mitzvah in Moscow

Jewish Moscow excitedly prepared for the historic celebration of the Bar and Bas Mitzvahs of one hundred Jewish teenagers from across Russia, organized with great dedication by the Chabad FJC’s youth movement ‘EnerJew.’

This event concluded an exceptional Bar and Bas Mitzvah program that included weekly meetings for the youths with the Rebbe’s Shluchim 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/Bas 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, philanthropist Lev Leviev, CEO of Or Avner Chabad Foundation Rabbi David Mondshine, and Reb Shlomo Neman, Director of FJC’ educational branch ‘Atidenu.’ The dignitaries presented the Bar/Bas 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 the Shluchim Rabbi Moshe Baruch Beinish, Rabbi Gershon Feldman, Rabbi Moshe Elkin, Rabbi Avraham Denisov, Rabbi Azaria Shaulov, and the Shluchim Mrs. Deitch, Mrs. Chababo, 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.”