Next Generation of Jewish Leaders
Despite a challenging year with a global pandemic and civil unrest at home and abroad, hundreds of young Jewish people have found comfort, information, community, and support during the waves of quarantine.
In 2020, 15 PKR young leaders from across the country launched the first ever Project Kesher Russia Youth Branch -- organized, prepared, and conducted by the young women themselves. This is a true manifestation of PK’s founders’ dream for Jewish life in Russia- to see their children fully identified, knowledgeable Jews, leading the youth in their cities in tikkun olam, repairing the world. Many of these next generation leaders are the third generation of Project Kesher-trained activists.
MOTHER DAUGHTER PROGRAM
Project Kesher has a long history of hosting Shabbat retreats for Jewish mother and daughter pairs from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, where they become partners in building Jewish life and advocating for women and girls in their communities. Retreats work to improve communications, define healthy relationships and boundaries, and empower women and girls to go back to their towns and create social action projects in the areas of interfaith coalitions, women’s health, Jewish life, and social justice. In 2019, four Mother/Daughter Jewish Leadership Retreats were held in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. 80 new women leaders ages 14-48 from 20 different cities were trained. In total, the 37 mother/daughter pairs implemented programs reaching over 1,500 Jewish women. Lolita participated in a seminar with her daughter, Anastasia. After the seminar Lolita became a women’s group leader in her hometown of Taganrog, Russia. Lolita shares, “Being introduced to Jewish life has changed my life dramatically. Our family started to celebrate Shabbat and holidays. My daughter shares my passion for Jewish life and helps me organize activities in the Jewish community.”
Throughout the pandemic, PK leaders have launched several new mother daughter initiatives virtually. For example, PK Russia’s ProFuture program provides guidance for teenage girls as they explore future career paths with their mothers, and PK Ukraine and Israel have prioritized sexual and reproductive health education for programs for mothers and teens.
