Participants in both locations were trained to lead Pesach celebrations in congregations, schools, pre-schools and their own homes, studying the hagadah and using various sources of Jewish literature, including the Torah and Talmud, for guidance. The World Union and Netzer Olami, the international Reform Zionist youth movement, have joined forces to establish Netzer branches in the former Soviet Union. Initial efforts, led by a local coordinator and two madrichim, have begun in the Belarus cities of Minsk, Vitebsk, Bobriusk and Mogilev, with some 15 to 25 members each. Programs and activities include weekly meetings, as well as enrichment seminars and camps. Program leaders are now in the process of translating Netzer educational materials into Russian.
Efforts are also underway to expand the youth movement into Russia and the Ukraine.
Rabbi Katalin Kelemen was inducted as spiritual leader of Budapest's Szim Shalom community during a ceremony held there on March 7. Over 200 persons were in attendance, many of them from overseas. The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Fred Morgan of Melbourne, Australia, who also delivered a moving address. The Hungarian-born Kelemen, who is the country's first Progressive rabbi, was trained for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College in London. Budapest has a Jewish population of 70,000, many of whom are rediscovering their Jewish heritage following 50 years of Communist suppression.