Russian Hillel to Support Eight Jewish Student Initiatives

The Selection Committee of the Hillel Russia youth organization has announced the results of the project competition aimed at reviving Jewish identity, preserving cultural and historical heritage, and developing social engagement. Eight projects have emerged as winners and are scheduled for implementation this fall, receiving a total funding of 1,000,000 rubles. This year's Hillel project grant competition is made possible through the financial support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, the Genesis Philanthropy Group, and private Russian donors.

The EAJC congratulates the competition winners:

Jewish St. Petersburg (Penza)
A trip to St. Petersburg for Hillel Penza activists. Participants will explore the history and contemporary Jewish life of the city, and meet with their peers from Hillel St. Petersburg.

Hanukkah Auto-Quest (Moscow)
An interactive educational project exploring the history of Hanukkah. The quest's plot is based on the historical struggle between the Jewish and Greek peoples and the miracle of Hanukkah.

Hillel Saratov Madrichim School (Saratov)
The first structured educational program designed to train madrichim among Saratov Hillel activists. The sessions will be facilitated by Aleksandra Ivanova, a graduate of the Madrichim Congress in Israel and a Taglit-Birthright Israel group leader for the Summer 2018 season.

Cantonists in the Urals (Yekaterinburg)
An educational excursion to the industrial cities of the Urals near Yekaterinburg—Chelyabinsk, Nizhny Tagil, or Magnitogorsk—to research the local history of Jewish communities. Yekaterinburg was not the primary settlement area when Jewish residents first arrived in the Urals in the 1840s; rather, the pioneer Jews were Nicholas I's soldiers, known as cantonists. This project focuses on their lives: how they were drafted, how they maintained their traditions, who their notable descendants were, and their contribution to the industrial development of the Urals region.

Tamid Podcast (Yekaterinburg)
A series of 8 podcasts dedicated to Jewish art, material heritage, visual imagery in Jewish scriptures, Kabbalah, and Jewish mysticism.

"The Lost Jar" Hanukkah Auto-Quest (Khabarovsk)
An interactive city-wide car quest with a Hanukkah-themed storyline.

Jewish Heritage of Harbin (Khabarovsk)
A research project on the culture and traditions of the Jewish community that migrated to Harbin in the 20th century. During a 4-day trip, students will explore Harbin's Jewish heritage, visiting local synagogues, community centers, the Jewish cemetery, and a World War II Japanese concentration camp where Jewish prisoners were held.

Jewish Literary Family (Khabarovsk)
An interactive series of three lectures dedicated to exploring Jewish literature. Students will examine the concept of "Jewish literature," study its history, learn about prominent Russian-Jewish writers, and delve into the challenges of censorship during the Iron Curtain era. The project will culminate in the establishment of a Jewish library at the Hillel center in Khabarovsk.

Traditionally, Hillel's competition welcomes initiatives that promote Jewish heritage, history, volunteering and social entrepreneurship, cultural and artistic activities, ecology and environmental protection, tolerance and intercultural dialogue, personal and professional development, and sports and healthy lifestyles.