Schools operated by the Jewish community of S. Petersburg have gotten off to a successful start this September 1st. The 'Beit Sefer Menachem' Day School also celebrated its 10th-year anniversary. Guests included many school alumni and parents, who joined pupils for a lively cultural program, including a festive concert. Each class released balloons into the sky, while the 'Ziv' theatrical studio put on a play dedicated to the history of the school's establishment and life at the school today. The school's choir and vocal quartet performed and guests also enjoyed a performance by the local puppet theater.

Mrs. Sarah Pewzner spoke to the audience, sharing the latest news about the school, which may soon be moving to a nearby building currently under renovation.

Jewish School ¹224 also ran in the new school year. Jewish community Chairman Mark Grubarg congratulated the pupils and introduced them to the teachers and Rabbi David Shneiderman, a Chabad Lubavitch emissary, the school's new rabbi and head of religious education. The opening involved many of the school's alumni, several of whom spoke to the audience about the role that the school and the education they received here has played in their lives. Following the opening celebration, schoolchildren set off for a city tour, a museum exhibition and the zoo.

The 'Machon Chana' school for girls held a celebration, where Director Leah Tolochinsky spoke about the school's plans for the year. New extra-curricular activities are to include a theatrical studio, a Jewish culinary course, and home visits where the girls will bake Chalas and light Shabbat candles with elderly and homebound Jews. Parents collectively came forward with the request to be more actively involved in the life of the school, including the preparation for Jewish holidays and other activities. The school's administration responded by introducing a Jewish traditions course to jointly involve mothers and daughters.

The 'Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch' Yeshiva, the most senior of local Jewish educational establishments, also held an opening ceremony and traditional farbrengen, where the students and their instructors discussed their future plans. The yeshiva's Rector, Rabbi Chaim Tolochinsky, told everyone about the opening of the recently-launched 'Merkaz Stam' Center in Russia's northern capital, which will prepare specialists Soifers – scribes trusted with the copying and inspection of Torah scrolls, tefillin and mezuzot. The students also met the Director of this new Center, Pinchas Tolochinsky.

All of the above-mentioned educational establishments are supported by the Ohr Avner Foundation, which was founded and supported by FJC President Lev Leviev.

News source: www.fjc.ru
Print this news