By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Mendel Zaklas, who serves as the Chabad Shliach in Bryansk, Russia, with his wife Rivkah, also serves as a traveling Mohel throughout Russia, traveling to many far-flung cities and towns where there is no permanent Mohel to perform Brissim.
Last week, in frigid, below zero weather, Rabbi Zaklas spent a whirlwind week performing four Brissim in four different far-fetched Russian cities.
Traveling in the coldest – and shortest days – of winter to perform a bris for a newborn in a far of town is no small feat in these conditions.
“Due to coronavirus travel restrictions on others entering the country, I have had to travel to do more Brissim than ever,” Rabbi Zaklas told COLlive.com. “This week is the coldest of the entire year, with sub-zero temperatures and snow causing many flight delays,” he explained.
The Rabbi Zaklas first traveled to Nalchik, the capital city of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic in Russia which is situated at an altitude of 550 meters in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. There, he performed a Bris for the baby of the Simachov family.
On Wednesday, he performed the bris on the newborn of the Zolotich family in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia which was famously home to the Rebbe Rashab and Frierdiker Rebbe. The thriving Jewish community there is led today by Shluchim Rabbi Chaim and Kaila Danzinger.
Rabbi Zaklas then traveled back to his hometown of Bryansk to perform the bris of the Senderov family. Lastly, he traveled to Moscow to perform the bris of the Lalayev family.
To reach these destinations, Rabbi Zaklas traveled by plane and train over a distance of 7,000 Kilometers.
Rabbi Zaklas says he gets the strength for the rigorous traveling in the knowledge that he is affecting generations of Jewish families.
“Each time I perform a Bris, I am filled with joy, knowing that I am affecting future generations of the Jewish people,” he said. “In Russia, with the tragedy of so many families assimilating and leaving their Judaism behind, for the children who have a bris and have a Jewish name, this can affect them positively for life, and for all future generations.
“During these brissim, I feel that not just the messenger of Eliyahu Hanavi is there, but Eliyahu Hanavi himself is in attendance because without his help, this miracle of the bris taking place for this child would not have happened,” he said.
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Rabbi Zaklos it is so spacial
How much Nachas for thr rebe for what you do
Wow! May you be rewarded with GeFeN!