The celebration of Jewish holidays is enjoying a tremendous resurgence in the former Soviet Union. It is the greatest opportunity to unite all Jews, and a gateway to Judaism for the millions who grew up without the opportunity to celebrate as a community.

For the High Holy Days, the FJC sends out hundreds of thousands of prayerbooks, tallit and shofars. We dispatch hundreds of cantors and rabbinical students to lead services in 426 communities spanning 10 time zones. And we distribute holiday food packages, topped by apples and honey, to the many needy families in our communities.

For Succot, we build large community sukkahs for children to decorate in the larger communities. We also operate a “Sukkahmobile” – a sukkah on a truck – that visits the small, outlying communities. Communities large and small receive sets of lulavs and etrotgs to assist all Jews throughout the cities to make the blessing.

Simchat Torah is a legendary holiday in the former Soviet Union. Even under Communism, thousands of people of every age defied armed repression to gather and celebrate the Torah on this day. Today it is a major event in our communities -- even those without synagogues.

The celebration of Chanukah in these young democracies is the triumph of light over darkness. The FJC sends out 250,000 menorahs so people can light them in their homes. In the cities, we set up large menorahs in central locations where they’ll attract major attention, and invite celebrities and dignitaries to light them. Every community also puts on an elaborate Chanukah play, and many present major concerts.

At Purim, more than 150,000 people attend Megila readings and parties at synagogues, theatres, community centers and even nightclubs. The FJC distributes more than 200,000 “Misloach Manot” food gift packages at this time throughout the former Soviet Union and the Baltic States.

You have to play the numbers game to understand the magnitude of the FJC Passover campaign in the former Soviet Union. Numbers like 2 million pounds of matzoh, 250,000 bottles of kosher wine, 400 rabbinical students and 200,000 Seder participants, at 400 locations. For 600 students who wanted to celebrate a full week of Passover, Passover camps were set up in Moscow, Russia and Chernigov, Ukraine.

The public nature of these events reminds the general public that Jewish life is an integral part of the fabric of post-Soviet society. Numbers alone cannot even begin to describe the celebration of this holiday of freedom in the countries that until recently knew all too well the meaning of enslavement.

The FJC Passover programs are underwritten by the Rohr Family foundation, Lev & Olga Leviev of the Ohr Avner Foundation, and by thousands of north American donors who respond to a mass Passover appeal from the Federation's U.S. office.

From slavery to freedom. It’s the story of the Jewish people over 3,000 years ago. It’s the story of the Jewish people in the former Soviet Union today.