Over the weekend of May 6-9, the Chabad Lubavitch Ohr Avner Jewish Community Center in Perm hosted an inter-regional youth seminar entitled “Judaism - the Light of Friendship and Understanding.” This event took place thanks to the financial support of Mikhail Mirilashvili. This is the first time that the Perm Region has hosted such an event.
The seminar took place in the nearby village of Ust-Kachka at the Teremok Hotel. More than 50 people from five different Russian cities - Samara, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Yekaterinburg and Perm - participated.
Guest speakers from Moscow were Rabbi Dovid Karpov and Rabbi Abraham Ilyaguev. The rabbis led lively discussions on Torah topics, shared their wit and wisdom and encouraged the participants to be proud of their Jewish heritage. The participants also had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Culture of the Perm Region, Boris Milgram.
At the seminar, these young leaders were able to advance their Jewish knowledge and commitment as well as a good rest. They enjoyed table tennis, billiards, a sauna, a swimming pool, bowling and various team games.
On the final day, Chief Rabbi of Perm Zalman Deutch asked all participants, “What part of the seminar helped you most to feel like a Jew?” While the answers differed, it was clear that everyone appreciated the Jewish atmosphere of spirituality and warmth.
The well planned and executed three-day seminar was organized by Simcha Israelov, Rabbi Zalman Deutch and his wife Sarah, Mendy and Nati Naimork, and others.