The milestone celebrated on Shabbat, May 15, in a hotel just outside of Moscow, captured the spirit of Jewish pride and a coming of age for a group of young Jewish men and women.

Capping off the year-long Bar and Bat Mitzvah Project, a part of EnerJew, a Chabad-Lubavitch of Russia youth program, 100 teens from 45 cities across Russia and Belarus gathered together from May 14-17 for the end-of-year celebration weekend. The attendees were chosen to represent the more than 400 pre-teens who participated in the program.

“From when they arrived on Thursday, you could see how excited they were to be with so many other Jewish children,” says Rabbi Avraham Denisov of the Jewish Education Department at Mesivta Lubavitch in Moscow. “They came from all over our large country, as well as Belarus, to be here. Some of them traveled 10 and even 20 hours to make it, enduring long plane and train journeys to participate.”

Among the counselors were graduates of earlier EnerJew programs, now returning to give back what they had received.

Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar gifted each boy a pair of tefillin, and each girl a silver candlestick to light before every Shabbat, courtesy of the Finger Family Foundation.
Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar gifted each boy a pair of tefillin, and each girl a silver candlestick to light before every Shabbat, courtesy of the Finger Family Foundation.

The program began on Thursday with registration and workshops on what it meant to be Jewish men and women, before the opening dinner was held that evening.

The graduates of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah Project received a certificate of completion and were celebrated for their year-long learning. Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar gifted each boy a pair of tefillin, and each girl a silver candlestick to light before every Shabbat, courtesy of the Finger Family Foundation.

“Hearing from and having a personal moment with Rabbi Lazar and the other prominent rabbis that joined the program meant a lot to each child,” says Desinov.

Rabbi Berel Lazar addresses Jewish youth from across Russia.
Rabbi Berel Lazar addresses Jewish youth from across Russia.

On Friday, the boys gathered in small groups to learn how to put on tefillin and to have their pairs adjusted so they could be used every day, while the girls baked challah and decorated the platters that would hold their Shabbat candles that evening.

Shabbat unfolded in the circular atrium of the hotel, with other guests watching on as the Jewish teenagers proudly prayed and sang Jewish songs at the meals, which featured games and inspiring discussion.

On Shabbat morning, one of the boys at the event marked his bar mitzvah, and the room erupted in joyous dancing and celebration. A workshop was held for the girls on the significance of their Jewish names, and several took on Jewish names during the prayer service.

Shabbat unfolded in the circular atrium of the hotel, with other guests watching on as the Jewish teenagers proudly prayed and sang Jewish songs at the meals.
Shabbat unfolded in the circular atrium of the hotel, with other guests watching on as the Jewish teenagers proudly prayed and sang Jewish songs at the meals.

The group headed into the capital city on Sunday, boarding a boat on the Moscow River. There, they prayed, closed out the weekend, and before the cruise ended, each teen accepted a personal resolution to grow in their Jewish observance.

“Thank you for teaching our children how to grow to be proud and strong Jewish men and women, and adding this warmth and light into our lives,” one parent told the organizers.

“Thank you to all the rabbis and counselors for lighting the fire of Judaism in our children,” said another. “This event is an incredible springboard to inspire them to grow in their Judaism.”