An unforgettable and deeply emotional event took place in Brazil this Lag BaOmer, as five couples from Russia and the FSU were married under the chuppah during a special celebration attended by 900 Jewish students and young adults participating in the annual Yachad educational journey.

The couples — Ruslan and Esther (Anastasia), Eliezer (Evgeny) and Elena, Asher (Stanislav) and Malka (Alexandra), Meir (Mark) and Polina, and Nesanel (Bogdan) and Michal (Veronika) — chose to build a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel in a moving ceremony that reflected the continuing revival of Yiddishkeit across the FSU.

The event brought together participants from communities throughout Russia and neighboring countries who had traveled to Brazil as part of Yachad’s extensive educational program for students and young adults. The journey served as both a meaningful learning experience and the setting for a remarkable celebration of Jewish continuity.

The stories of the five couples reflect the broader transformation experienced by many Jews throughout the former Soviet Union. After decades during which Jewish identity and religious life were heavily suppressed under Communist rule, a new generation of young Jews is increasingly reconnecting with its heritage, traditions, and community life. Today, communities across the region offer educational opportunities, humanitarian assistance, cultural activities, and meaningful connections to Yiddishkeit.

Yachad, established under the leadership of Russia’s Chief Rabbi and head shliach, Rabbi Berel Lazar, and directed by Rabbi Mendy Wilansky, plays a central role in this work alongside the EnerJew youth movement. Through the efforts of shluchim across the FSU, thousands of young Jews participate in programs designed to strengthen Jewish learning and community engagement.

Many of the chossonim and kallos first encountered Yiddishkeit through the shluchim in their hometowns after growing up with limited exposure to Judaism. Their involvement later expanded through Yachad’s educational framework, which includes weekly classes, seminars, Shabbatonim, and international educational journeys for outstanding participants. Over the years, these journeys have taken students to destinations throughout Europe, North Africa, and Asia, while this year marked the first visit to South America.

Through these shared experiences, many participants develop close friendships and lasting connections that eventually lead to the establishment of Jewish families rooted in shared values and identity. This year, five couples who met through Yachad activities chose Lag BaOmer as the day to celebrate their weddings together alongside fellow participants and friends.

The ceremony, produced by Fleishman-Peles Productions, was marked by emotional moments as the couples were escorted to the chuppah by the shluchim and their wives amid singing and celebration. One especially moving moment involved the escort to the chuppah given to one of the couples by philanthropist and businessman Eli Horn and his wife Susan, who have devoted decades to strengthening Jewish communities worldwide.

Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar served as mesader kiddushin throughout the evening, moving from one chuppah to another together with shluchim representing communities across the former Soviet Union, including Moscow, Tbilisi, Minsk, Samara, Saratov, Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Birobidzhan, and additional cities.

Among the honored guests who participated in the ceremony were FJC leaders Rabbis Dovid Mondshine, Shlomo Chaim Peles, and Shlomo Neeman; Rabbi Avi Cassel of Olami; Rabbi Refael Shamma, Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Yisroel in Brazil; and Rabbi Dubi Rabinowitz of JLI. Guests who helped support and organize the journey were invited to read the kesubos and serve as eidim.

A particularly emotional moment came with the reading of the Rebbe’s traditional letter to chossonim and kallos in Hebrew, English, and Russian. Rabbi Yosef Weitman, the Rebbe’s shliach to Sao Paulo and rav of the Beit Yaakov–Safra Synagogue, read the Hebrew version. The English version was read by philanthropist Alberto Safra, while Rabbi Mendy Wilansky delivered the Russian reading.

The evening concluded with a festive Lag BaOmer celebration and bonfire attended by leading philanthropists from Brazil who hosted the students during their stay, including Alberto Picciotto, Carlito Dayan, Eli Horn and his son Efraim, Alberto Dayan, and members of the Safra family.