Autumn Holidays in the Communities and Organizations of the Euro-Asian Region: An Overview

The autumn Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah (Shemini Atzeret) traditionally generate significant interest within the Jewish diaspora. It is during this period that many communities and organizations in the Euro-Asian region resume active operations, launching a new season in the new Jewish year. Although the epidemiological situation in various countries dictated its own conditions, Jewish life within the communities and organizations supported by the EAJC truly flourished during the holidays of the month of Tishrei. Notable was the diversity and ingenuity of the approaches and events conducted both in person and online.

This review compiles the most prominent events of the autumn holiday cycle in our region, detailing how the holidays were observed this year, the innovative concepts introduced, and how Jewish communities successfully adapted to the shifting event formats.

Hillel Russia

A diverse entertainment program, traditional rituals, and a drawing of valuable gifts—including a Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as a subscription to the Arzamas educational platform—enabled Moscow's Jewish youth to vibrantly celebrate Rosh Hashanah at an event organized by Hillel.

Photos of Hillel's Rosh Hashanah at the Nikitskaya ECC ?
Anya Shatokhina, thank you ?
? All photos here…

Posted by Hillel Moscow Tuesday, September 22, 2020

On the eve of Yom Kippur, Hillel hosted a pre-fast meal and a preparatory session, after which participants proceeded to the service at the Moscow Choral Synagogue. Additionally, Hillel used its social media pages to offer a unique perspective on Yom Kippur, providing a practical exercise designed to facilitate a meaningful observance of this special day.

⚖ On the eve of the Day of Atonement, it is customary to reflect on one's actions toward others.
Dean of the Jewish Institute…

Posted by Hillel Moscow Sunday, September 27, 2020

Despite capacity limitations necessitated by pandemic mitigation measures, several compliant events were successfully held during Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Hillel Russia also continued its initiative of distributing Shabbat packages to those required to remain at home, a service of heightened relevance given the worsening epidemiological situation.

Hillel CASE

Hillel CASE, an organization uniting youth Jewish communities in Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, delivered particularly elegant and creative greetings for the Tishrei holidays.

Holiday activities organized by Hillel CASE across various nations this year were tailored to comply with local epidemiological guidelines.

Consequently, Hillel Chisinau and its partners conducted a festive Rosh Hashanah meal online. Over 100 participants, having received kosher wine, traditional treats, and an illustrated holiday guide in advance, discussed the significance of the New Year and conducted a "Rosh Hashanah Seder" — the traditional ceremony of "achilat simanim."

Through the "Stay Connected" initiative, volunteers from Kyiv's Hillel distributed food packages to dozens of children with special needs, children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and elderly residents throughout the city, bringing them joy on the eve of the autumn holidays. The packages included essential food items, special surprises for children, traditional Rosh Hashanah treats, as well as candles and challahs for Shabbat.

September marks not only the beginning of our program season but also the start of the new academic year!

Thanks to The…

Posted by Hillel Kyiv / Гилель Киев Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Minsk Hillel celebrated Rosh Hashanah on a grand scale this year, with approximately 100 young men and women gathering for a colorful New Year ceremony. During the week of Sukkot, Hillel members attended a lecture by Rabbi Daniel Berzhaner at the Beis Yisroel synagogue, followed by a visit to the large festive Sukkah constructed on the synagogue grounds. The week concluded with a vibrant Shabbat held in an improvised Sukkah directly on the Hillel premises.

Yesterday was simply incredible ?
⠀
Shanah Tovah to everyone once again! We are all so different, yet united by our beloved Hillel Minsk…

Posted by Minsk Jewish Student Cultural Center «Hillel» Monday, September 21, 2020

An innovative Rosh Hashanah program awaited the students of Odessa Hillel this year, blending New Year celebrations with a farewell-to-summer theme. For Sukkot, activists visited the Sukkah of the Migdal Jewish Cultural Center to fulfill the mitzvah of netilat lulav.

We spend our leisure time both within the walls of "Hillel" and beyond! Recently, the entire staff along with the students went to Migdal to perform…

Posted by Hillel Odessa / Гилель Одесса Thursday, October 8, 2020

Hillel activists in Dnipro also demonstrated creativity by preparing and distributing dozens of holiday gift baskets to low-income families.

Meanwhile, during the first days of Tishrei, students from Kharkiv Hillel followed their annual tradition of gathering on a riverbank to perform the Tashlich ritual, following their festive meal.

Russian Union of Jewish Students (RUJS)

RUJS hosted several online holiday events this year. The Rosh Hashanah program engaged students and youth from Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Yakutsk, and other Russian cities. The event opened with an insightful lecture on the meaning and significance of Rosh Hashanah, delivered by Rabbi Chaim Tolochinsky of the Vasilyevsky Island Synagogue. This was followed by an intellectual trivia tournament in the style of "What? Where? When?", along with a presentation of historical facts regarding various Jewish communal traditions and rare educational resources.

Additionally, on the eve of Yom Kippur, RUJS organized an online discussion on Zoom featuring Rabbi Alex Artovsky, who has dedicated 18 years to the rehabilitation of individuals exiting religious sects.

JFuture

The JFuture Sunday school network, catering to children aged 5 to 12, transitioned its operations to an online format with high efficiency this year. JFuture prepared virtual greetings for Rosh Hashanah, and invited children and parents into a virtual Sukkah during Sukkot. The online event covered all the holidays of the month of Tishrei, featuring trivia, a culinary workshop for making kosher sweets, and a JFuture lottery drawing.

The Kesher Project

The Kesher Project continues its distinguished tradition, "Bringing the Torah Home," timed to Simchat Torah, by presenting Torah scrolls to Jewish communities across the CIS. This year, several communities received their own scrolls during the holiday. Since 2004, this initiative has brought 36 Torah scrolls, donated by American Jewish women actively supporting Project Kesher, to Jewish communities in Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Russia, and Ukraine.⁣⁣⠀

BRINGING THE TORAH HOME

?Simhat Torah is a season of joy, celebrating the central place of the Torah in our developing…

Posted by Jewish Women's Organization "Project Kesher" Sunday, October 11, 2020

Mitvah Association, Kazakhstan

All holiday events organized by the Mitzvah Association were held online. The youngest members learned to draw traditional New Year symbols, while another educational session focused on the customs of Rosh Hashanah. Over several virtual sessions, Leonid Dobchinsky, leader of the Rimon Jewish Community Center's youth club and a student at the Moscow Institute of Modern Judaism, explained the spiritual significance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova

Given the domestic situation in Moldova, particularly the necessity for many individuals to forego synagogue attendance during the autumn holidays, the Jewish Community initiated a campaign to distribute Yom Kippur prayer books to all who requested them, enabling individuals to observe the day in accordance with tradition at home.

It appears that many will be obliged to observe the holy day of Yom Kippur at home this year…
If you require a Yom Kippur prayer book, please contact us!
+37360948013

Posted by Synagogue of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova / Synagogue of J.C. of Moldova Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Jewish Educational and Cultural Foundation, Tbilisi

Epidemiological restrictions in Georgia prevented the Foundation from hosting large-scale events as in previous years. However, seminars on the autumn holidays were conducted in small groups by Rabbis Avi Melech Rosenblatt and Aaron Mdinaradze. For children from the "Shalom Sesam" kindergarten and members of the "Mishpacha" family club, a holiday excursion to the Botanical Garden was organized on Rosh Hashanah, while members of the youth organization gathered outside the city to celebrate Sukkot.

Moscow Jewish Community House

By organizing several social campaigns during this period, the Moscow Jewish Community House also gathered its activists and project participants to hear the sounding of the Shofar, reflect on the past year, and exchange wishes for health, prosperity, and peace.

Association of Jews - Former Ghetto and Nazi Concentration Camp Prisoners

Due to the severe risks the epidemic poses to elderly populations, it was not possible to assemble members of the Association this year to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Instead, home deliveries of holiday food baskets were organized. Furthermore, each member received personalized holiday greetings via telephone, Skype, or email. The Association remains active on a daily basis, organizing medical and pharmaceutical support for its beneficiaries.