Project Aids Homebound Jews in S. Petersburg
	S. PETERSBURG, Russia – This week, the Jewish community of S. Petersburg just became a bit stronger in the services it provides thanks to a dynamic new approach to helping its community members. As is done every year, the community has sent out Jewish calendars to its members some time ago. Even so, a good number of persons did not receive their copies for various reasons – some were out of town at the time, some were ill in hospital, some changed addresses, some have unreliable mailboxes, and some ordered the calendar to be sent to the wrong address.
Nevertheless, the Jewish community of S. Petersburg is determined to see that all local Jews have access to the calendar, which clearly indicates all the important dates and holidays throughout the entire year – the High Holidays, Chanukah, etc. Community leadership then decided that the most effective way to ensure that these copies get through for certain this time is to personally hand deliver them. To help remedy the problem, the Jewish community relied on volunteers and youth who have registered online in the group "S.Petersburg Synagogue – the best in the world" on a separate internet portal. These enthusiasts were tasked to quickly mobilize to aid persons left without calendars – effectively turning this 'virtual' community into a 'real' one capable of providing genuine assistance. In just a few hours, participants were sent out to all corners of Russia's northern capital to present these calendars in person, many of them also taking the opportunity to make a new acquaintance and enjoy a cup of tea with welcoming hosts. "These elders were very pleased," noted one participant. "They aren't in a position to drop in to the Synagogue, attend prayers or lectures. For them, the calendar for them is a key window into the Jewish world."