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 called GirlSpace -- 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 hosts 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, Project Kesher 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.
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TESTIMONIALS
“I would like to thank all the organizers for conducting this course for the opportunity to get to know myself better, improve my skills, open up, and become more self-confident.” - Ella Diener, Kursk, Russia
“My name is Veronika. I am an ordinary young woman with fears, doubts, lack of confidence. This is how I felt when I applied for the course. Having made a decision to participate in it, I had no idea what I was capable of. After 11 weeks, I became a confident young woman, full of ambitions, ideas, desires, goals. And most importantly, I'm not scared! I am not afraid to speak and implement my ideas. I started an important project thanks to these courses. I have acquired leadership skills. I learned to present myself. I became inspired and now I know what it means to be a leader. I express my deep gratitude to Project Kesher for this opportunity. – Veronika Kartashova, Sankt-Peterburg Russia