Vokathon in Chernivtsi 2025
From April 24 to 27, a practical seminar for volunteers from 15 cities of Ukraine was held in Chernivtsi
This year, 72 volunteers gathered from various volunteer centers across the network to contribute to the development of the Chernivtsi Jewish community. Participants of different ages joined the practical volunteer seminar, including around 10 young people under the age of 20 and about a dozen volunteers in the “golden age.”
Divided into eight teams, they had only four days to complete tasks requested by the local Jewish community. Among the tasks were the improvement of the area around the Chesed and the landscaping of the yard at the local Jewish community center “Aviv,” where they planted trees and flowers to create a picturesque space for relaxation, allowing every member of the Jewish community to feel at home.
They also assisted four elderly Jews living alone. In addition, the volunteers cleaned two neglected Jewish cemeteries, one of which is the largest historic Jewish cemetery in Central and Eastern Europe and has been part of a historical and cultural reserve since 1995; they also arranged the grounds and tombstones at the Sadgorod Jewish cemetery, a significant spiritual center of Bukovina, where prominent tzadiks from the Friedman dynasty are buried, including Israel Friedman, known as the “Ruzhiner Tzadik.”
Moreover, the tasks included educational activities and experience-sharing aimed at supporting the professional development of young Jewish leaders. One team conducted a series of sessions for students of the Jewish school “Ort,” focusing on proactivity and volunteerism inspired by the Jewish tradition of helping others.
“Vokathon is teamwork, new challenges, and experiences that allow you to discover new facets of yourself. For me, it is a personal challenge and risk to navigate a new city, work with a new team, and manage new tasks in a short time. My participation in Vokathon will forever remain a warm memory of peaceful life, which will support and motivate me in times of crisis. Now, as I return home, I feel that we have done something meaningful. Together we are strong, and together we can achieve more. I am part of a large family! It is gratifying to realize that there are people and organizations who help us unite in serving others.” – Olena, volunteer, Vokathon participant.