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On January 19, the capital of Latvia hosted the inaugural Baltic Jewish Educational Festival, a landmark event aimed at celebrating Jewish heritage and fostering unity among Jewish communities across the Baltic region. Held in Riga, the festival—organized by Riga Chabad Private School under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai and Rebbetzin Rivka Glazman—brought together participants from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia for a day of heritage, culture, creativity, and connection.

The festival’s diverse program featured a range of activities, including an Open Hebrew Olympiad, a photo contest titled “My Jewish Roots,” an art competition on “The Hebrew Letter,” an essay competition called “Stories of the Jewish World,” and an expressive reading contest, “The Voice of Jewish Literature.” Participants also engaged in a team-based intellectual game centered around Jewish tradition.

Guests were welcomed by Rabbi Shneor Kot of Riga, followed by opening remarks from Israel’s Ambassador to Latvia, Sandra Sdimovich, who also served on the jury panel. Special guest, Rabbi Shlomo Neeman, Director of FJC’s Education Department, joined the celebration, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation and Jewish education.

Youth delegations from Estonia and Lithuania played a vital role in the event’s atmosphere, with the Estonian group led by Chabad emissary Chaya Shmorgun, and the Lithuanian delegation guided by Shifra Pewnser, the newly appointed Chabad emissary to Klaipeda.

The festival concluded with a spirited concert by the popular Israeli musical duo Pinhas & Sheqel, marking their debut performance in Riga. Entry to the concert was free for all festival participants, offering a joyful and unifying close to the day’s events.

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