Last weekend, the hotel “Old Castle,” located near the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk, held a Shabbaton for schoolchildren and their families. For three days, the participants immersed themselves in an atmosphere rich in Jewish traditions, new knowledge and discoveries. This opportunity was made possible through the support of the Avi Chai Foundation and this is not the first year that this organization has helped the Jewish community of Donetsk to organize the weekend.
The theme of this Shabbaton was “The home built by a Jew”. The adults and children spent time discussing what a Jewish home is comprised of and what characterizes a Jewish home. Several educational and entertaining programs were devoted to Jewish life, kashrut, ritual items in the Jewish home, Jewish books and more. Participants in the Shabbaton also learned about synagogue life, Jewish education, mikvah, and the ultimate Jewish home, the Holy Temple.
One of the most important benefits of this event was that children and their parents spent time in a genuine Jewish atmopshere and felt the spirit and beauty, which they were able to bring back to their own homes. The Jewish community of Donetsk is a leading member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.