Aron at the reunion of Bielski partisans descendants in the Bielski Camp 2019 Naliboki Forest Image credit: From Tamara Vershitskaya's personal collection
between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a time to remember and build
Welcome to our September newsletter, a testament to the vibrant tapestry of Jewish life, memory, and resilience that defines our work across Belarus and beyond. As we move from Rosh Hashanah towards Yom Kippur, this sacred time of reflection and giving invites us to consider the legacy we build for future generations. This month, we honour that call by celebrating the profound life of Aron Bell, the last Bielski partisan; championing the future Holocaust Museum in Novogrudok; and stepping into the studio of artist Yuri Krupenkov, whose paintings resurrect the lost world of the shtetl. From a volunteer’s discovery of Jewish Vilna to the story of Belarusian pioneer Israel Belkind, each article underscores a common thread: the power of unearthing hidden histories to strengthen community today. We invite you to join us in this vital work by considering The Together Plan in your annual giving, whether through The Together Plan in the UK or our sister non-profit, the Jewish Tapestry Project in the USA. Your support ensures these stories are not forgotten and enables us to continue supporting more communities in Belarus through our vital projects on the ground. Click here to reach our appeal page.
For those of you who are marking the Jewish festivals, we would like to wish you Shana Tova and well over the fast.
All the best
The Together Plan Team
upcoming events
Join our events to support us and learn more about what we do
open volunteer roles
We are growing our team and we need your help!
- 16th October – Jewish Siberia a talk by Qesher in support of The Together Plan (online event)
- 30th October – Jewish Galicia, Eastern Poland a talk by Qesher in support of The Together Plan (online event)
- 23rd November – Put a lid on it: Pickled with love for Chanukah (in-person event)
- Aid sorting and packing volunteer
- eBay and online sales volunteer
- Event planner
in memory of Aron Bell
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, at his home in Florida, Aron Bell (Bielski) passed away at the age of 98. As a young man in the forests of Belarus, he endured unthinkable hardships, yet stood alongside his brothers to form the Jewish partisan unit that saved thousands of lives during the Holocaust.
Belarus takes first steps to confront a hidden Holocaust narrative
Discover how Novogrudok is set to become home to Belarus’s first Holocaust and Resistance Museum—honouring memory, resilience, and hope for future generations and the role The Together Plan is playing.
in search of the lost shtetl - a visit to the studio of Yuri Krupenkov
Debra Brunner, during her recent visit to Belarus, visited the studio of artist Yuri Krupenkov, in Minsk and saw firsthand, his hauntingly beautiful paintings which bring the lost Jewish shtetl world of Belarus back to life.
Searching for traces of Jewish Vilna
Journey beyond the narrative of Auschwitz with a volunteer’s quest to uncover the erased Jewish history of Vilna, revealing why The Together Plan’s work in the East is so urgently needed.
from Belarus to the shores of Zion and the unlikely dreamers
Discover how Israel Belkind, a visionary from a Belarusian shtetl, transformed persecution into a daring dream, leading a band of idealists to acquire land in Ottoman Palestine and plant the seeds of the modern state of Israel.
laughter, song, and legacy and how our events go beyond fundraising
At The Together Plan, connections lie at the heart of everything we do. As a charity, it is vital that we reach people in every possible way—through conversations, events, articles, films, and community gatherings. Every touchpoint matters.
