Crowds Packed Moscow Shuls for Yom Kippur

Large crowds filled Moscow’s shuls for Yom Kippur, with the main shul at Marina Roscha seeing one of its largest turnouts for the holy day in years.

The heavy turnout was already evident before Yom Kippur began. Throughout the night, a steady stream of Jews arrived for kaparos in the courtyard of Marina Roscha, eventually creating such a large crowd that participants were directed to additional locations at Chabad centers across the city and to a nearby pidyon kaparos station operated by the central gemach.

Preparations for Yom Kippur had begun earlier in the week with a series of halacha shiurim organized by Moscow’s Torah Classes Center. On Vov Tishrei, the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chana, approximately 1,000 women attended a gathering led by Rebbetzin Lazar, which included polishing the Torah crowns, hafrashas challah, and a special program of preparation for Yom Kippur. Participants also received lekach from Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar.

On Erev Yom Kippur, following Shacharis, Rabbi Lazar held the traditional distribution of lekach in the main shul. More than 1,000 pieces had been prepared and packaged in advance by volunteers from the Shaarei Tzedek chesed center, as participants passed by to receive lekach together with a bracha for a sweet year.

The distribution was followed by Birchas Habonim, with Rabbi Lazar giving the traditional bracha to students of Moscow’s yeshivos.

Shortly before Yom Kippur, two Jews entered the bris of Avraham Avinu in ceremonies held at the center. The brissim were performed by mohel Rabbi Mordechai Tzvi Solomon, with Rabbi Yehuda Davidov and Mr. Ephraim Binyaminov serving as sandekim. The two received their Jewish names from Rabbi Lazar.

After the seuda hamafsekes, which was arranged by Grisha’s Zimmer for guests and visitors, the large crowd prepared for the fast, with numerous tzedaka boxes placed throughout the building in keeping with the custom of giving extra tzedaka before Yom Kippur.

The Yom Kippur tefillos continued at length throughout the day. Additional carpets were purchased to accommodate the many participants during the bowing in Mussaf, and the schedule left only around 40 minutes between the conclusion of Mussaf and the start of Mincha.

Before Yizkor, Rabbi Lazar delivered a 45-minute drasha in which he urged those present to strengthen Ahavas Yisroel, increase in tzedaka, and add in good deeds.

The day reached its climax at Neilah, when the packed shul joined together in singing Napoleon’s March, as is customary in Lubavitch, before the final tekiah.

Immediately after the fast, meals were served on several floors of the building for the many participants. At the same time, work began in the courtyard on the large central sukkah for Sukkos, with construction moved ahead quickly due to rain forecast for the coming days.

Photography: Levi Nazarov