The Marina Roscha Shul in Moscow was filled with a large crowd for Maariv and Eichah and heartfelt tefillos for the Geulah. A warm breakfast meal followed the fast, lovingly prepared by dedicated community volunteers.

Throughout Tisha B’Av, the central Marina Roscha Shul in Moscow was filled with heartfelt davening, kinnus, and a deep yearning for the true and complete Geulah. The tefillos were led by the Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, shlita, who poured out his heart in Avodas HaTefillah, together with the hundreds of mispallelim, brokenhearted over the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash — and over the ongoing golus still present in our times.

Since this year Tisha B’Av began on Motzoei Shabbos, a large crowd gathered right after Shabbos for Maariv and the reading of Megillas Eichah, which was recited by the Rabbi in the traditional nusach, handed down through the generations. The kinnus that followed were recited with bittul and heartfelt pleas for the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, b’karov mamash.

Shacharis on Sunday morning began mi’amud hashachar, with multiple minyonim held throughout the day. In keeping with the Rebbe’s directive — to transform days of pain into opportunities for action — the community was inspired to fulfill the age-old minhag Yisroel of increasing in tzedaka. As brought in Chazal, “Agra d’taanisa – tzedkasa,” the gabboim circulated among the crowd collecting for the local kupas tzedaka, supporting families in need, orphans, and the elderly. This initiative — which the Rebbe often stressed on fast days — was carried out with special hiddur and deep hiskashrus.

As the fast neared its conclusion, preparations were already underway for a nourishing and carefully arranged breakfast meal, with hot food lovingly prepared by women volunteers from the Marina Roscha community. The meals were served with warmth and care by the staff of “Grisha’s Tzimmer,” under the close supervision of the gabboim.

Following Havdalah by Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg, one of the senior shluchim and community directors, participants sat down to a proper melaveh malkah-style meal, where words of hisorerus and gratitude were shared. The atmosphere was filled with genuine achdus, infused with the hope and emunah that zeh hu yom techilas ma’asecha — hashiveinu Hashem eilecha venashuva — that this Tisha B’Av be the final one in golus.

Photos: Mevaser Tov – Moscow

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