Latest News in Pinsk
Camp in Berdichev
After a very succesful first half of camp, Yad Yisroel is running a second camp in Berdichev, Ukraine. Children from thoughout Belarus are going to Ukraine to spend their summer in a happy and relaxed enviroment where they will learn more about their heritage.
Mazel tov Pinchas and Sheina
Mazel tov Pinchas and Shaina Tsinman on their marriage in Minsk, Belarus. Shaina is a graduate of Bais Aharon in Pinsk. The Pinsk and Minsk communities enjoyed the chasuna in the new kosher restaraunt in Minsk.
May they be zoche to build a bayis neeman biysroel.
SUMMER CAMPS 2010
"Our camp," says Nastya, age 10, "is special for Jewish girls. We have lots of fun activities, they teach us Jewish letters and we even eat special Jewish food!"
For many girls and boys from throughout Belarus, Camp Yad Yisroel is their first time experiencing the beauty of their heritage. Hundreds of children, aged 7 - 20, are now enjoying every moment in Camp Yisroel. For many of them, this happy begining will lead to a life dedicated to Torah and Mitzvos as they join the Bais Aharon schools in Pinsk.
This camp is free of charge for the campers. But the expenses are tremendous. A campus is rented, nutricious meals and snacks are served throughout the day, and the children are all happy and satisfied. But this might have to come to an end. A camp is planned for August and many campers are already enrolled and looking forward. But the funds for this camp are seriously lacking.
Can we let these children slip through our hands?
Mazel tov!
Mazel tov to Yitschok and Sara (Pigulskaya) Samedov on the birth of a baby daughter. Sara and Yitschok were both students of Bais Ahraon and continued on to study in Canada.
May they have much nachas from their daughter!
July 3- Mishpacha Kihalacha Seminar
The Mishpacha Kihalacha program run by Rabbi Avi Gewirtzman organized another extremely succesful seminar on Taharas Hamishpacha for Jewish families from around Belarus.
Over 70 people attended the seminar and each one came out inspired after the Shabbos which was complete with a happy atmosphere and interesting speeches.
Mishpacha Kihalacha has already arranged many chupos for Jewish couples from throughout Belarus who decided to start keeping the halachos of a Jewish home.
June 21- Camp Yad Yisroel Boys
Camp Yad Yisroel started today after much planning and anticipation. Happy campers arrived from all over the country looking forward to a summer of fun!
We are sure it will be another great experiance in Camp Yad Yisroel!
June 14- Mazal tov Eliyahu and Shira
Mazal tov Shira (Dirabina) and Eliyahu Tarutaev on their wedding in Toronto. Rabbi Moshe Fhima was zoche to be at this chasuna which was a beautiful and happy event.
May they be zoche to build a bayis neemon beyisroel.
June 13- Mazal tov Yakov Dovid and Gita
Mazal tov Yakov Dovid and Gita Kluchnikov on their wedding in Brooklyn New York. Rabbi Fhima flew in from Pinsk to attend the chasuna. It was a beautiful simcha and a reunion for the Beis Aharon graduates in America and Canada.
May this be the begining of a life of happiness together.
Mazal tov! Mazal tov! to Rabbi Shteirman
The Pinsk family would like to extend our warmest wishes to Rabbi Shteirman and his family on his daughter's wedding. We also wish him Mazal tov on the engagement of his son!
Kol hoskim betzorchei tzibur bemuna Hakodesh Baruch Hu yeshalem sechorom!
Beis Aharon Graduation
The 11th grade in Beis Aharon boys and girls schools graduated last week we're very proud of our graduates who will be studying in Yeshivos, Seminaries and Colleges throughout the world including Touro College, Ateret Yehudit and Yeshivas Kol Yakov.
May they have much hatzlocha in their studies and in all their endeavors.
Mazel tov Pinchas and Shaina!
Mazel tov to our graduate Shaina Weintraub on her engagement in Minsk! We are looking forward to celebrating the chasuna soon!
May they be zoche to build a bayis neeman biyisroel!
May 31-Mazel tov Avraham Elimelech and Avital!
Mazel tov to our graduate Avraham Elimelech Gavrilovetz from Pinsk on his engagement to Avital from Odessa. The vort was held tonight in Bais Aharon Shul. The chasuna will iyH be Succos time in Odessa.
Hashem is mezveg zivugim. Even the 23 hour train ride from Pinsk, Belarus to Oddessa, Ukraine, didn't prevent the shidduch from happening.
May 28- Stoliner Rebbe in Moscow
Thw Bais Ahraon Boys School along with some Rabbeim from Pinsk and bochurim from Yeshivas Peer Yisroel traveled to Moscow for a Shabbos of inspiration with the Stoliner Rebbe. It was an uplifting experience that each boy will remember for a long time.
New Shipment in Kosher Store
Thanks to constant efforts of R' Elchonon Litke, the kosher store in Pinsk is restocked with a variety of kosher food not available anywhere else in the country.
To have a zechus in providing kosher food for hundreds of Jewish children, please email us at info@yadyisroel.com.
Brissim of the Sitnick Family
Mazel tov! Three Sitnick brothers from Mozhir has their brissim on Wednesday. Their names are Raphael, Menachem Mendel and Boruch! The Sitnick family has been associated with Yad Yisroel for many years - their oldest daughter Miriam is a former pupil of the Beis Aharon School and their boys have attended our summer camps for many years.
Lag Baomer 5770
On Lag Beomer the boys school went on a weekend trip to Berdichev in Ukraine. They were welcomed there by R Feivish Medelovich and his staff of devoted workers. The Shabbos and the medurah on Motzei Shabos will be remembered by the talmidim of the school for a long time to come.
Back in Pinsk the girls school made a fire Leilui Nishmas R' Shimon Bar Yochai. On Lag Beomer day the school went on a trip around kivrei tzadikim in Mir, Radin and Volozhin.
19 April 2010 - Veyikori Shemoi Beyisroel
Mazel Tov to R' Alexander Finski and his wife on the bris of their son - Yakov Chaim. Kesheim Shenichnas Labris Kein Yikoneis Letorah Ulechupo Ulemaasim Toivim.
This year in Pinsk - לשנה הבאה בירושלים 
Even though almost 20 years have passed since the downfall of the iron curtain, for many yidden in the city of Pinsk, this Pesach was the first time that they ever ate matzo and drank four cups of wine.
While American Jewry was making their last preparations on Erev Pesach, thousands of miles away in Belarus, thousands of Yidden were having a Seder thanks to Yad Yisroel and our many supporters.
The four communal Sedarim were hosted for a number of different groups - totaling a few hundred people . For the general community; the boy’s dormitory; the girl’s dormitory; and for the first time ever - the Jewish Student Center. For many of them it was the first time they ever experienced a Seder. For some of the students, this Seder night will be the beginning of a long journey back to their roots.
At one of the Sedorim, Yaakov - an 80 year old man, visiting relatives from a different city (where there is no Jewish community life), broke down in tears. After inquiring what happened he said the last Seder he attended was 70 years earlier in 1940 with his parents. His parents were killed during the war and since then he had never attended a Seder. Seeing the Seder flooded his head with his memories when he was a ten year old child still before the war with his parents.
The central dining room in Pinsk fed - over the first few days of Yom Tov - close to 4000 meals. Some of those include 7 young couples who are all former students of the Yad Yisroel educational projects in Pinsk, elderly, students and guests from all over the country who came to spend the entire Pesach at their spiritual home in Pinsk.
During Chol Hamoed the children went on trips, and the special feeling of Yom Tov was enhanced in a family atmosphere.
Hearing “Echod Mi Yodea” (Adin Kto Znayet?) and “Chad Gadya” (Adin Kozla, Adin Kozla) being sung in Russian is always a very emotional time seeing how these Jews who were nearly destroyed by Hitler and Stalin outlived both, and can still continue to keep the beautiful Jewish traditions.
In Minsk - the capital city of Belarus - in the Lech Lecha student center, a project recently taken over by Yad Yisroel, five Sedarim were held simultaneously for various levels and ages. Due to a shortage of staff some of the students themselves had classes before Pesach and learned how to conduct a Seder. Boruch Hashem, many of these students attend Torah Classes throughout the year, and as a result are marrying within the fold.
Throughout Pesach a dormitory was provided for those children or students who wanted to keep Pesach.
For the communities of Mogilev, Orsha, Vitebsk, Brest and Gommel, Yad Yisroel supplied Grape Juice, matzoh, and other basic products needed for Pesach.
The highlight of every Pesach is the singing of Leshona Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim -which when you live in these parts of the world has so much more meaning!
March 18 - Simon Tov Umazel Tov!!!
Tonight the Pinsk Jewish Community celebrated the wedding of Yehuda and Shaina Orshansky. The simcha in the town was tangible as another graduate of the Beis Aharon school was married under the chupa to a true Ben Torah and Yerei Shomayim.
Yehuda and Sheina will start their married life in Pinsk - Yehuda is joining the Kehilla Kolel and Sheina will be working in the Gan.
We wish them Mazel Tov - Shetizku livnos bayis neeman beyisroel!
Tuesday, March 2- Mazel tov Shaina and Yehuda!
Mazel tov to Sheina Svorobovich and Yehuda Orshansky on their recent engagement! Shaina was a student in Bais Aharon and then she continued her studies in Bais Chaya Rochel in Gateshead.
The chasuna will take place im Yirtzeh Hashem in Pinsk on March 18.
May they be zoche to build a bayis neeman biyisroel!
Mazel tov Shira and Eliyahu!
Shira Deriabina became a Kallah to Eliyahu Tarutaev, a talmid of Reishis Chachmah in Toronto. Shira was a talmida in Bais Aharon. She went on to study in Toronto and then in seminary in Montreal. They will be getting married in Toronto iyH.
Sunday- March 28- Purim Sameach
Purim in Pinsk was exciting for the entire Jewish community. Starting with megila reading and Purim parties in both schools, the Purim atmosphere was happy and jolly! The concert Purim day was a grand success, the highlight being the Purim story acted out by the boys school!
Sunday- February 21- Mazel tov Mishpachas Goldblatt
Mazel tov to Yossi and Sarah Faige Goldblatt on the birth of a new baby daughter! A special mazel tov to Malky!
Monday, February 1- Mazel tov Avraham and Rivka Krohl!
Mazel tov to two of our Bais Aharon alumni on the birth of a baby girl! Avraham Krohl studied in Bais Aharon Boys' School and then continued on to learn in Yeshivas Kol Yaakov in Monsey, New York. Rivka attended Bais Aharon Girls School and then studied in Bais Chaya Rochel in Gateshead, England. They got married and moved to Kiev to be part of the kollel. The whole pinsk mishpacha is very excited about the newest addition!
Sunday, January 31- Mazel tov Yaakov Dovid Kluchnikov and Gita Zecharava
Yaakov Dovid, a graduate of Yad Yisroel boys' school in Lvov and then Yeshiva University, and Gita, a graduate of Bais Aharon in Pinsk and a current student of Ohr Nava in Brooklyn, announced their engagement in on Sunday. The vort will iyH be held in Boro Park on Motzei Shabbos.
May they build a bayis neeman biyisroel!
Jewish Student Center
History was made in Pinsk today with the opening session of the Pinsk Jewish Student Center. The JSC is being run by R' Yisroel Kochus and R' Shlomie Pilchick.
The first session was attented by 10 Jewish girls who are studying in various Pinsk Universities. The first shiur was given by Rabbi Moshe Fhima. The shiur was a great success. All the participants were very inspired and expressed strong interest in continuing with the program and in bringing their friends. The potential for this program is immense. Over 7000 students study in colleges and universities around the town with a minimum of 5% of them being Jewish.
We need your help! The JSC is looking for a building to be used as the center of it's operations. With plans for a computer room, Kosher kitchen, lecture room and lounge - the JSC center will attract many more students to join the programs. If you can help us please read further: Jewish Student Center
7 Teves - Mazel Tov to R' Yakov Shteierman on the engagement of his daughter
Mazel Tov!! Mazel Tov!!
On behalf of the entire Pinsk community we would like to wish Mazel Tov to Rabbi Y Shteierman, the long time adminstrator of Yad Yisroel on the engagement of his daughter.
They should be zoiche to build a bayis ne'eman beyisroel leshem uletiferes.
A Freilichin Chanuka!
Chanuka in Pinsk was as geshmake and enjoyable as every year. With programs every evening after Hadlokas Neiros along with several chanuka mesibos/parties around the town the children of Beis Aharon experienced Chanuka to the full.
Highlights of Chanuka included dreidel games, ice skating, a chanuka concert and the town chanuka party.
Chanuka Concert
On the 2nd night of chanuka we were treated to a Chanuka concert performed by the students of the Beis Aharon boys school and the bochurim of the Pe'er Yisroel Yeshiva.
Attended by all the Jewish residents of Pinsk along with many visitors and guests from throughout Belarus, the concert was enjoyed by all those who came.
With a fun filled program including songs by the school boys, a guest brass band and a lottery for all those attending the concert, the joy of Chanuka was spread to all!
November 30- MAZEL TOV PINCHAS AND YAFIT!
Bais Aharon shul was decorated beautifully in honor of the special occasion. Special lights were set up outside with the chuppa, and the kalla chair was covered in white decorated with beautiful flowers.
The chasuna was a special simcha for the Pinsk kehilla as both Pinchas and Yafit attended the Bais Aharon schools. Guests came in from all over the world - America, Israel, Kiev, and England- to be part of the wonderful occasion. Kobi came from Israel to play the music, and really helped made the chasuna leibidik.
The happiness was felt by everyone who attended the simcha, in the most part due to the wonderful chasan and kalla!
Sheva brachos will be made every night by different familes of the kehilla and there will also be sheva brachos for the yeshiva, the girls school and the boys school.
May we be zoche to have many more simchos in klal yisroel throughout the world!
November 28- Aufruf and Shabbos Kalla
After much anticipation, the day of the chasuna is drawing near. The Aufruf will be in Bais Aharon Shul with a kiddush after davening. The Shabbos kalla will be Friday night in girls school with dancing, games, candy, and each class in school will have a chance to give brachos to the kalla.
Grand Reopening!! Pinsk Kosher Store!
It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Elchonon Litke on the opening of the kosher store to benefit the greater Pinsk Jewish community.
The store is unbelivably well stocked with dairy and meat products as well as candy, baking products, spices, and drinks. The food has to be imported at a great expense from different countries where kosher food is available.
"Pinskaya Pizza," a pizza take-out ran by Elchonon Litke, assisted by bochurim from the yeshiva, is also part of the exciting project.
This store will not only greatly benefit the families of the kehilla, it will also enable the children from throughout the country who are in our schools to keep kosher in Belarus where this is the only store of it's kind in the whole country. To be part of the tremendous zechus of subsidizing kosher food, click here for more information about the store and sponsorship opportunites.
November 22- Brissim and Bar Mitzva Seuda
The brissim of three boys from school as well as Yisroel and Aliza Kochis' new baby boy were celebrated at a grand seudas mitzva for the Bais Aharon Boys School and the families of the kehilla. This was also a bar mitzva seuda for one of the boys from school. It was a tremendous simcha and surely a nachas to Hashem to have so many simchos on one day in the Bais Aharon Shul in Pinsk.
November 15- Mazel tov Mishpachas Gewirtzman!
What an exciting day for the Pinsk mishpacha! Mazel tov to Avi and Odel Gewirtzman on the birth of a baby boy today in Eretz Yisroel. May he be a source of nachas to his family and the gantz klal yisroel!
November 15- Mazel tov Mishpachas Kochis!
Mazel tov to Yisroel and Aliza Kochis on the birth of a baby boy, born today in Pinsk. Aliza was a student in the first class of Bais Aharon Girls School in Pinsk. May they be zoche to raise him litorah, lichupa, ulima'asim tovim!
Upcoming Chasuna- November 30
We are counting down to the upcoming chasuna of Pinchas Eliyahu and Yafit which is scheduled for November 30. Preparations are underway- the hall, photographer, and musician are booked and we are looking forward to seeing the various guests who are coming to Pinsk especially for the simcha.
Please take this as a personal invitation!
Upcoming Brissim
On the 1st of December, a mohel will be visiting Pinsk. Two of the boys who recently joined the Beis Aharon school have agreed to have a Bris. Yad Yisroel is also arranging for the mohel to visit other cities in Belarus and perform brisim in more of the Jewish communities around the country.
Zeman Simchaseinu
Succos was an extremely joyous time for the community in general and the schools in specific. The children were involved in building and decorating the succos and they were all very excited for the Chag to begin. Sitting in the sukka together, the children truly felt like part of one happy family.
Chol Hamoed was full of programs- trips around the country, iceskating, a barbeque, a simchas beis hashoava- which helped make the chag of Succos was a happy time for each child. Counselors came in from England and America and really added a tremendous amount to the overall ruach in the community.
Yamim Noraim in Pinsk
The Yamin Noraim are an inspring time worldwide. But in Pinsk, Belarus, it is especially heartwarming to see many children davening during these holy days for their first time.
The girls school and boys school davened in the Bais Aharon shul for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and it was amazing to see how these children stood and davened the long shemone esreis with so much kavanna. It was surely a zechus for the entire Klal Yisroel.
September 14- Nesiya Kedosha to Radin with Kupat Hair
A group of 120 people from Eretz Yisroel visited Lithuania and Belarus last Monday. Yad Yisroel organized the trip for Kupat Hair.
After visting Vilna, the group traveled to Radin where they were joined by the Bais Aharon boys school. There were many gedolim on the trip and the Bais Aharon Boys' School as well as the visitors really gained a lot from the uplifting experience.
September 7 - Pizza in Pinsk
Once again, the Pinsk Pizza Parlor is open for business. Run by Elchonon Litke, Pinsk has the only Kosher pizza store in Belarus. The pizza store provides pizza for the schools and the rest of the community.
September 6 - Mazel Tov - Sara Pigulskaya and 
Yitschok Samedov
Mazel to two of Yad Yisroel's Graduates - Sara and Yitschok.
Sara has been studying in Montreal Seminary for the past years, and Yitschok was studying in the Torah Research Academy in Toronto.
May they be zoche to build a Bayis Ne'eman B'Yisroel.
September 1 - Welcome Back
On September 1st, the school year in Pinsk began. With record numbers of new students in the Beis Aharon Boarding Schools, our dormitories and classrooms are filled to the maximum. We have over 25 new students in the school. Many of them were in our summer camps and after camp decided to join our schools.
August 26- A big big Mazel Tov!
A big mazel tov from the entire Pinsk family to Rabbi Moishe and Rebbitzin Rikki Fhima on the birth of a baby boy, Aharon, and a baby girl, Miriam!! May they bring much nachas to their parents, big sisters, and all of Klal Yisroel!
August 23- Brissim in Boys Camp
We were zoche to celebrate four brissim of our campers on Sunday. The names of the boys are as follows.
1. Dima Mamoika, 8, from Mogilov - Now:Moshe
2. Maxim Golaven, 10, from Bobruisk - Now: Shlomie
3. Sergay Grameiko, 13, from Gomel - Now: Avrohom
4. Timur Gusienof, 9, from Gomel - Now: Daniel
The mohel was Rabbi Rubin from Eretz Yisroel. There was joyous singing and dancing followed by a seudas mitzva. May these children be a zechus to bring closer the geula!
August 20 - Girls Camp 
Boruch Hashem we had an amazing second camp. Over 40 girls joined us for our second summer camp in Na Rostinach near Minsk. The program, run by warm and devoted counselors, was well organized and filled each and every day with fun. Hakaras Hatov was the theme in camp and each day the girls worked on being thankful for a different thing with the activites all centered around the theme of the day.
August 19 - MAZEL TOV!!! Wedding of Mr and Mrs Chernin from Babroisk
On Tuesday evening Yad Yisroel was zoiche to celebrate the wedding of Mr and Mrs Cherning from Babroisk, Belarus. Mr Chernin is the Rosh Kehilla of the Babroisk Jewish Community. At the beginning of the summer he and his wife attended Yad Yisroel's seminar on Taharas HaMishpacha - Jewish Family Purity and they made the decision to have a Jewish Chupa. They should live happily together for many years to come.
August 18 - MAZEL TOV!!! Engagement of Pinchos Eliyohu and Yefit
MAZEL TOV - On Monday August 7th Yad Yisroel celebrated the Vort of Pinchos Eliyohu and Yefit. Both are graduates of the Beis Aharon School in Pinsk. Pinchos Eliyohu studied in Mesivta d'Manchester and in Yeshivas Kol Yaakov in New York. Yefit graduated in Pinsk and then studied for two years in Beis Chaya Rochel Seminary in Gateshead.
The engagement took place in the Girls Summer camp in Na Rostinach (Minsk). Be'ezras Hashem they should build a Bayis Ne'eman B'Yisroel.
August 5- Yad Yisroel Camps in Minsk
The girls camp, starting on August 5, will be in Minsk in a resort where the beautiful scenery will add to the girls' experience in Camp Yad Yisroel. The boys camp will be on a campgrounds near Minsk, in Stolbcy, which is near the infamous town of Mir, a major Torah center before WWII. It will start on August 9. Counselors are coming in from England to spend their summer in both a meaningful and fun way. Over one hundred campers are expected to be joing the programs and we are sure it will be a memorable experience for each one.
July 30- Tisha B'av
We are sorry to inform you of the petira of our devoted gabbai, Marat. He worked tirelessly for the Bais Aharon shul, always insuring it was in running order. The levaya will be in Pinsk on Sunday. His work for the klal will surely be a zechus for his neshama.
July 16- Camp Yad Yisroel a tremendous success!
As the first half of Camp Yad Yisroel comes to a close, we are happy to report that it was once again a summer filled with fun and growth. Each one of the campers came out with a fresh feeling for Yiddishkeit and with warm memories which will carry them through the years.
Boruch Hashem, because of the camp's success, many children have decided to leave public school and join Bais Aharon Schools in Pinsk next year.
We are looking forward to the second half of camp which we are sure will also have a positive effect on the many campers from thorughout the country who will be joining us in August.
June 19- Mishpacha Ki-Halacha Seminar
The Pinsk community hosted a seminar for couples from throughout Belarus entitles Mishpacha Ki- Halacha. The program was organized by Rabbi Moshe Fhima and Rabbi Avi Gewirtzman.
Speakers were flown in from Eretz Yisroel and the event was a great success.
June 17 - Summer Camps
On June 17 the Pinsk summer camps started. The boys camp is 30km from Minsk and has over 70 boys from all over the country. The girls camp is in the Beis Aharon campus in Pinsk. We have counselors from America who came to spend their summer in Pinsk. The camps are an opportunity to give children from around the country a first taste of Yiddishkeit.
The camps will be continuing for the next month, culminating in a trip to the Smolensk region of Russia. See our camps page for more pictures.
June 8 - Chasuna of Shlomo and Sheina Pickman
On Monday, the Pinsk community celebrated the wedding of Shlomo and Sheina Pickman. Sheina is a graduate of the Beis Aharon Girls School. After her graduation she studied in Gateshead Beis Rochel seminary for two years and in Ateret Yehudit in Israel for the past year.
May they be zoche to build a bayis neeman biyisroel.
June 8 - Karlin Stolin Rebbe visits Pinsk
We were honored this week to welcome our Rebbe, the Stoliner Rebbe, from Yerusholayim to Pinsk. The Rebbe arrived in Pinsk on Monday evening, where he joined the kehila in celebrating the Chasuna of Sheina and Shlomo.
The Rebbe then continued his trip to Ukraine to be mispallel at the tzion of the Bais Aharohn whose yartzeit was on 17 Sivan.
May 21 - Mazel tov! It's a boy!
Nochum and Adina, one of our graduates who lives in Pinsk and teaches in our school, celebrated the bris of their baby boy. The mohel came from Israel to do brissim around the country. After the bris, we had a jouyous seudas mitzva celebrating the continuation of Klal Yisroel in Pinsk.
It is a real nachas for the community to see the next generation of Jews committed to Yiddishkeit.
May 18- Lag Ba'omer
As the bonfires were burning bright and the students of Bais Aharon stared into the fire, a spark was reawakening in each neshama. For some, it was the first Lag Ba'omer they ever celebrated. It was the first they heard of this holiday which is not so well known in the non-religious world.
Joyous singing and dancing filled the air and special food and drink was served in honor of the Chag. It was a night to remember.