The FRS Belarus Project
The Polotsk Jewish Community in the north of Belarus continues to develop, and draws its strength and inspiration from the FRS Belarus Project in collaboration with Together Plan Charity. In 2021 it started a Jewish Youth heritage club, to encourage young people to explore, discover, and experience Jewish cultural heritage in their region.
The club is proving to be very popular as more and more is being discovered about the history of the Jews of Polotsk. This community-building initiative is part of The Together Plan’s work to build a Jewish Cultural Route in Belarus. In September, the community took part in the European Days of Jewish Culture Festival. They invited people to join them on an interactive walk through the streets of Jewish Polotsk - with games and quizzes for the children along the way. In the evening they held a film screening in a cinema, showing a film about Russian Jews before 1917 with a post-screening discussion.
The day was a great success and a proud achievement for the community. With thanks to the FRS community’s ongoing support the community in Polotsk is building skills which will help sustain growth into the future. If any FRS members would like to connect with the Polotsk community - they would love to hear from you. Get in touch via the office: frs@frs.org.uk.
Debra Brunner
