100 Years After Communist Persecution, Jewish Life Flourishes in Moscow

Moscow’s Jewish community is entering Elul with extensive preparations for the coming month of Tishrei, which this year carries special significance with the beginning of the centenary year of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s historic maamar of Vekiblu Hayehudim.

The maamar was delivered in Moscow on Purim Katan 5687, at the height of the Communist persecution of Yiddishkeit, and contained a powerful call for mesiras nefesh in preserving Torah and Jewish chinuch, particularly the education of Jewish children. Just months later, the Frierdiker Rebbe was arrested by the Soviet authorities and sentenced to death before the sentence was commuted.

Now, 100 years later, the Marina Roscha community is preparing to mark the historic year with a broad expansion of Torah learning, chinuch and Jewish activity under the guidance of Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar.

Ahead of Shabbos Selichos and the Yomim Noraim, extensive renovations have been completed in the main shul of the Marina Roscha Jewish Center, providing additional space for the growing crowds expected throughout Tishrei.

The partition that previously divided two sections of the shul has been removed, opening the area into one large main sanctuary. The renovations also included new lighting, extensive upgrades to the electrical and air conditioning systems, and a redesigned main entrance.

At the same time, engineering assessments are being carried out toward expanding the large sukka erected in the courtyard of the shul, allowing it to comfortably accommodate the many participants expected during Sukkos.

Alongside the physical preparations, special emphasis is being placed on strengthening Torah learning and chinuch during the centenary year.

Rabbi Lazar has called for the milestone to be marked by an increase in Torah learning and investment in Jewish education throughout Moscow, in the spirit of Kiyemu Vekiblu.

As part of the preparations, a special series of halacha shiurim has begun in the Central Synagogue, covering the halachos and practical preparations for the Yomim Tovim of Tishrei.

Another initiative is aimed at helping the many Jews who attend the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur tefillos but did not grow up familiar with the traditional nusach of the davening.

Chief cantor Rabbi Dovid Kytak prepared a special recording containing selections from the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur tefillos, featuring the nusach and niggunim that have been heard for many years in the Central Synagogue.

The recording will allow participants to familiarize themselves with the tefillos before Yom Tov and take a more active part in the lengthy davening of the Yomim Noraim.

The community has also published its annual Tishrei halacha guide, presenting the halachos and minhagim of the entire month, from Shabbos Selichos through Shabbos Bereishis, in a clear and accessible format.

The guide is being distributed together with additional projects intended to bring the observances and atmosphere of Tishrei to tens of thousands of Jews throughout Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Shaarei Tzedek Jewish Chesed Center in Marina Roscha is completing preparations for its annual Kimcha D’Tishrei project, which will provide basic food supplies to needy residents, elderly Jews and large families ahead of Yom Tov.

Thousands of Jews are expected to fill the Marina Roscha shul and take part in its tefillos, shiurim and Yom Tov programs throughout the coming month, as Moscow begins a year dedicated to strengthening Torah, chinuch and Jewish life in the spirit of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s call for mesiras nefesh in that very city 100 years ago.

Photos: Mevaser Tov Moscow