About

Over the years, the WUPJ has sought to create a center of Jewish Reform life in Minsk, to represent the importance and significance of our movement and show Belarusian Jews the path to Judaism.

“Beit-Simha” Center was opened in 2011 with the support of RUPJ in Belarus and the World Union of Progressive Judaism.

 Named in memory of Sandra (Simcha) Breslauer z"l, the building of the center is located in the former 19th century Jewish street. Beit Simha runs a variety of religious, cultural, social, and educational programs for visitors of all ages.

We hope this house will become the pride of the Reform Movement in Belarus. The synagogue for three communities Simcha, Sheket and Tamar, the NETZER club of the Reform youth movement, early childhood education STEP, children's camps, and a center for advanced study of Judaism for people from birth until 120 years old operate on the basis of the Beit Simha Center.

Religious and educational activities in Belarus.

All communities hold weekly Kabbalat Shabbat ceremonies, some communities do Shaharit and Havdalah services, celebrate memorable dates and holidays in accordance with the Jewish calendar.

There are Sunday schools: in Minsk, Mogilev, Grodno. The unique State Jewish kindergarten-school “Atikva” works in Gomel for 168 students.

Within the framework of the "Bar/Bat Mitzvah" program, each year children, youth and adults in our communities around Belarus receive extensive knowledge under the leadership of Rabbi, Jewish Educator and lay-leaders. The culmination of the program is the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, which becomes a festive occasion for the entire community. You can find out more about the ceremony here.

One can contact Rabbi to have more information about various Life cycle ceremonies, including baby naming, Bar/Bat mitzvah, Hupa, Conversion, Funeral and Shiva.

NETZER is the largest Zionist religious youth movement in Belarus. Last 20 years the activists of the movement took part in the international and interfaith events held under the leadership of the Reform Movement.

Annually more than 200 children and teens aged 10-18 years have a great time in Jewish camp.

Since 2005, RUPJ organizes and implements annual International Cantorial festival in Minsk, which traditionally takes place during the Passover week with the support and participation of the students of Hebrew Union College and last year with our interfaith dialog partners. Recently the International Cantorial Festival has become an interfaith event.

Some of our communities are involved in a program of cooperation between twin Jewish Reform communities from the United Kingdom and the United States, which provide both educational and financial support. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta generously sponsored the children's summer camps and educational programs at Beit Simcha Center in Minsk. We also thank to Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund (JHF) for the generous support.