CREATING AN EMBRACING ISRAEL COMMUNITY FOR RUSSIAN SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS, WHILE ENRICHING ISRAELI SOCIETY AND ECONOMY
by Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli
The Importance of the project
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli is seeking $60,000, with a 1:1 matching grant, to support the cultural and social integration of talented young professional Olim from Russian-speaking countries and help them build their futures in Israel. Following recent waves of Aliyah, approximately 1,000 Russian-speaking Olim arrive in Israel each month, more than 50% under the age of 40. Many have arrived amid the war in Ukraine. Through immersive Friday-Shabbat Resilience Retreats and the Shabbat Host Project, Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli aims to strengthen their connection to Jewish and Israeli life, build supportive communities, and reduce emigration. The project will directly engage 700 participants through 10 annual Friday-Shabbat Resilience Retreats and an additional 500 young Olim through the Shabbat Host Project each year.
The Need
Russian-speaking Jews comprise 20% of Israel’s population and 60–70% of ongoing Aliyah. Many young professional Olim arrive alone or through short-term Aliyah programs, without family support, and face significant challenges integrating socially and culturally into Israeli society.
Despite arriving with education, professional skills and motivation, many feel isolated from Israeli culture and community. Without meaningful cultural and social integration, Israel risks losing talented young Olim to countries offering greater economic opportunities. During the 1990s and the following decade, Russian speakers under age 40 comprised 60% of Israelis emigrating from the country.
The pressures of the wars in Ukraine and Israel have intensified the need for community, resilience and belonging, particularly among lone Olim, including soldiers and reservists. Creating strong social networks and meaningful connections to Jewish and Israeli life is critical to helping these young Olim establish their futures in Israel.
Our Solution & Strategies
Through more than 30 monthly grassroots activities across five city chapters, the organization combines cultural integration, Jewish identity, professional development, social connection and volunteerism within a nationwide peer-led community.
Friday-Shabbat Resilience Retreats
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli’s most popular and impactful program is its immersive Friday-Shabbat Resilience Retreats, which consistently have long waiting lists.
Each retreat brings together approximately 60 Russian-speaking Olim aged 20–36 from across Israel, or 100 young Olim parents and their children for Young Family Seminars. Participants include lone Olim soldiers and reservists on active duty.
The weekends combine exploration of Israel with community-building and Jewish experiences. Activities include guided hikes and visits to historical, cultural and Israeli innovation sites; family-style Shabbat meals; musical Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah; resilience workshops led by professional psychologists; group activities; participant-led lectures; and discussions with guest scholars on Jewish values, history, holidays and current events.
Based on 114 Friday-Shabbat Retreats conducted over the past 15 years, participants emerge with stronger social and professional networks, greater involvement in local Jewish and communal activities, and increased confidence in navigating their lives in Israel.
Shabbat Host Project
Many young Olim live independently in rented apartments in major cities, without nearby family or established community networks. The Shabbat Host Project extends the connections created through Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli into participants’ everyday lives.
The project provides an online matching platform connecting hosts with new Olim seeking Shabbat or holiday hospitality, an expense stipend for Olim who host, and a Shabbat Kit including a challah cover and Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli Zmiron (song book).
By enabling young Olim to create meaningful Shabbat and holiday experiences with friends, neighbors and veteran Israelis, the project helps build supportive local communities while making Jewish traditions a social and unifying part of their lives in Israel.
What sets our work apart?
We are a uniquely apolitical, non-denominational learning and contributing community, created by and for young Russian-speaking olim, where veteran olim help newcomers integrate into Israel through high-level, stimulating Jewish and Israeli experiences and personal and professional empowerment.
Project Goals/Objectives
Enable new Olim to explore Israel and deepen their personal connections to Jewish history and Israeli culture.
Conduct 10 annual Friday-Shabbat Resilience Retreats reaching 700 participants, strengthening participants’ sense of belonging and Jewish peoplehood.
Reach an additional 500 new Olim annually through the Shabbat Host Project, bringing the community and spirit of the retreats into participants’ homes.
Strengthen the resilience of lone new Olim, including active-duty lone Olim soldiers and reservists, amid the ongoing challenges associated with the wars in Ukraine and Israel.
Empower young Olim personally and professionally by expanding their social networks, confidence and opportunities to contribute to Israeli society and the Jewish People.
Project Budget
| USD | Notes | |
| Income | ||
| Committed | ||
| Ministry of Absorption | 30,000 | |
| Overseas donors Match challenge | 60,000 | |
| Participation Income | 30,000 | |
| GGC Requested Match | 60,000 | |
| Expenses | ||
| Directly program related | ||
| Salaries | 32,000 | Retreats & Shabbat Host Coordinator |
| Friday-Shabbat retreats | 110,000 | 10 retreats, (staff, transp, accom. for 700 ppl |
| Equipment & supplies | 18,000 | 70 meals and Shabbat Kits for avg 500 Olim |
| Evaluation | 5,000 | External evaluation of program impact |
| Marketing | 6,000 | Professional graphics and paid promotion |
| Admin and Misc | 9,000 | |
| Total Expenses | 180,000 | |
| GGC Requested | 60,000 |
Organization Budget 2024, 2025, 2026
Project impact
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli has engaged more than 40,000 young Russian-speaking Olim, helping them establish their lives in Israel socially, professionally, culturally and Jewishly.
The organization provides employment to approximately 300 young Olim professionals each year, including educators, entrepreneurs, academics, artists and tour guides. More than 110 young couples have met and started families through Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli.
Expanding the Friday-Shabbat Resilience Retreats and Shabbat Host Project will create micro-communities connecting thousands of young Russian-speaking Olim and veteran Israelis through Shabbat, Jewish holidays and exploration of Israel. The programs aim to deepen participants’ Jewish identity and sense of belonging, encourage them to incorporate Jewish and Israeli traditions into their future family lives, and reduce emigration among young FSU Olim.
By helping talented young Olim become rooted in Israel, the project seeks to strengthen both the cultural and economic fabric of Israeli society.
Lena “I moved to Israel from Crimea eight years ago with my young son Daniel. I knew almost no one until I discovered Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli on Facebook. Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli retreats and activities made me feel 150% Jewish. I met most of my friends through Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli- including my future husband! – and we try to be together on the weekends and holidays. Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli brought me the greatest gifts I could ask for – Shabbat and new family in Israel.”
Anna “Before I made Aliyah five years ago, I was intensely involved in my Jewish community as a guide and volunteer. However, paradoxically, sometimes becoming Israeli makes you feel less Jewish. The Russian-speaking Jewish community of Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli is very special in its friendly, inclusive and intelligent initiatives. I was really touched by the atmosphere of the retreats – a perfect balance of hiking, unique and extraordinary lectures, interactive discussions, and an amazing musical opening and closing of Shabbat – I found huge spiritual strength in songs and stories. I’m truly happy and grateful to have such an opportunity to feel part of the Jewish world, not only the Israeli one. It reminded me that I can be active again and create something – a warm Jewish space for my friends in Tel Aviv who do not have these experiences.”
Jerusalem Post Article <click for link>
The Times of Israel Article: <click for link>
Organization Mission
To create a vibrant, nationwide network of young Russian- speaking Israelis who are excited about Jewish tradition and culture, help deepen their exposure and connection to Jewish history and peoplehood, promote activism, build a supportive community and develop talented young leaders for Israeli society and the Jewish people.
Ten Years of highlights (video)
What’s So Special About Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli (video)
Tags
EMERGENCY | ISRAEL | ISRAEL AT WAR | ISRAEL REBUILD & RECOVERY | Immigrant Communities | Immigrants Olim | Jerusalem Israel Young Adults | Jewish Practice | New Model | Project Targeted | Russian | Russian Jewry | Seed Funding | Zionsim
Leadership
Linda Pardes Friedburg
Founder and Executive Director
Linda is a Russian-speaking informal Jewish educator with over 30 years of experience managing philanthropic projects and high-level missions in Israel and abroad, including positions in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Pratt Foundation of Melbourne. Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli is the realization of her dream to make Israel more welcoming and supportive for young Russian-speaking Olim, and ensure their personal and professional success in their new homeland, to Israel’s great benefit. Linda made Aliyah to Israel in 1990 after completing degrees in Economics and International Business.
Ariel Zlatkin
Chairperson
Ariel is the Director of Community and Partnership Development at JDC-FSU, having previously served as a rabbi and shaliach in Montevideo, Uruguay, and as the Founding Director of the “Supportive Communities Project” of Machanaim Russian Jewish Educational Network in Jerusalem. Born in Kharkov, Ukraine, Ariel made Aliyah at the age of 16. He served as a paratrooper in the IDF and is fluent in Hebrew, Russian, English and Spanish. Ariel holds a B.A. in Education and Contemporary Jewish History and M.A. in Jewish Education and Social Entrepreneurship from the Hebrew University.
Ilya Lipetsker
Director of Operations, Media and Jerusalem Programs
Ilya has been part of Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli since its inception in 2010. He has been integral in the development and management of programs for Russian-speaking Olim in Jerusalem and across Israel, and is credited with the organization’s PR and reputation on the “Russian Street” in Israel and around the world, and the ongoing successful recruitment of new participants for the Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli retreat. Ilya made Aliyah from St. Petersburg on the Naaleh program in 1999, after years of Jewish activism and community-building in Russia. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the Hebrew University.
Asya Fix, Director
Argaman Jewish Cultural Project
Asya is a professional Tour Guide and the Director of Argaman program, helping new immigrants explore their connecting links to Jewish Israeli culture and history. Asya grew up in Moscow during the great Jewish renaissance of the 1990’s, in the new atmosphere of creative and religious freedom, after 70 years of Communist oppression. Asya came to Israeli at the age of 20, impressed by the freedom and warm Middle Eastern mentality, but terribly lonely. “I had no one to help me make connections with Israeli society and felt I could not fit in with no roots or childhood friends here. Then I discovered Israeli Weekend, which see as its mission the need to reach out to people like me, who already love Israel, but do not know how to express this love and give it back.”
About Organization
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli is a non-profit, grassroots initiative established in 2010 to ensure FSU Olim feel a sense of belonging, community, and support in Israel. Since its establishment, Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli has been at the forefront of absorbing over 10,000 talented young Russian-speaking Olim in their 20’s and 30’s culturally, personally and professionally; correspondingly, the rate of emigration of young FSU olim has decreased in recent years. Three separate external evaluations demonstrated that Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli communities have played a significant role in our participants’ sense of belonging in Israel.
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli has been nominated numerous times for the Minister of Absorption Prize and the Bonei Zion Prize, and is often invited to share its “best practices” regarding Jewish cultural absorption of FSU Olim at panels and conferences throughout the country.
The founder of Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli, Linda Pardes Friedburg, made Aliyah from New Jersey in 1990, after studying Russian and years of activism on behalf of Soviet Jewry. She regards every Russian-Jew who makes Aliyah as part of an ongoing miracle of Jewish history. Her dream, and that of her Russian-speaking Olim staff and Board, is that every young Russian-speaking immigrant will feel appreciated and accepted for who they are, and that their Judaism will be a source of joy, enrichment and connectedness.
Impact statements
We have helped over 10,000 young Russian-speaking Olim feel at home, succeed personally and professionally, and grow Jewishly in Israel.
Our activities provide experience and employment to 300 young Olim educators, artists, guides, and professionals annually.
Close to 50 young couples have met and married through Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli and are raising the next generation of rooted young Israeli families.
Annual Organizational Budgets (total, with In-kind)
Year 2024 (actual, fiscal) $600,000
Year 2025 (projected) $660,000
Year 2026 (projected) $660,000
Contact us
-
Email:
lpardes@012.net.il -
Phone:
972-547673718 -
Website:
https://www.en.shishi.co.il/ -
Organization Number:
580549236 ISRAEL ISRAEL
Details
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Employees 14
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Volunteers 1800
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Year Founded 2011
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Board Members 4
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Annual Board Meetings 4
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General Assembly 7
- Audit Committee
- External Auditor
Recommendations
GGC Vetting Committee had no reservations
GGC on site visit performed
Israel
Certificate of Good Standing (Nihul Takin)
Certificate of Financial Accounting (Ishur Nihul Pinkasei Chesbonot)
Certificate of tax-deductibility at source (Ishur Nikui Mas;Makor)
46A Certificate – approved for tax refunds in Israel
Classification as non-profit organization (Sivug Malcar)
Non-standard articles of incorporation (Takanon Meuchad ; Bylaws equivalent)
Organization has a projected budget and work plan
Reference & Quality assurance
Large Institutional / Mega Donors
GGC Performed online research
Leadership background positive
Organization: considered one of best in class
Considered Efficient
Considered Impactful
Provided clear accountability
Outcomes: cost effective and high feasibility
* GGC is discussing the organizations need for increase and diversity of Board Members.
Donation Info
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
383 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017
ABA: 021 000 021
SWIFT: CHASUS33 (International wires only)
Account Name: Giving Group Community- GV BK FD
Account Number: 701051943
Routing Number: 021000021
Attn: Giving Group Community
The Giving Back Fund
500 Commercial Street/Suite 4R
Boston, MA 02109, USA
Contact GGC for more details on this project
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