Moscow Congregation Thrives

Severnaya (Northern) Congregation, founded in 2000, is located in the northern section of Moscow and has about
100 members, many of whom are pensioners. It is exceptional in the World Union constellation of Progressive communities in that it is completely self-sustaining on the basis of volunteerism among its members.

“When everyone was trying to build a congregation in the city center,” says Alex Kagan, the World Union’s director
for the former Soviet Union, “these congregants organized on the principle of territoriality by renting facilities within walking distance for its members.”

Severnaya holds Kabbalat Shabbat services every Friday evening. On Sunday mornings there are activities ranging
from lectures on Judaism to family style programming, and even music and video clubs. The congregation has also
started developing a youth and young adults group, in order to attract a younger cadre of members.

Although there is a paid community worker, congregation members delegate among themselves responsibility for
such work as organizing and publicizing events and providing refreshments. They also visit the homebound, bringing them news, activities, companionship and a sense of belonging.

Severnaya’s uniqueness has been recognized by other Jewish organizations, including the Joint Distribution Committee, which two years ago named it the best Jewish Community project in the former Soviet Union. Kol hakavod Severnaya!

– from: The Union for Reform Judaism newsletter May 25, 2007