Chief Rabbi of Israel Visits Moscow Jewish Community

Moscow, the capital of Russia, experienced three beautiful days hosting a special visit of Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber Shlita, Chief Rabbi of Israel and President of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, who arrived at the invitation of his colleague, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar Shlita, for a series of sermons and public Torah lessons, and meetings with the Dayanim and Rabbanim of Russian’s Chief Rabbinate.

The highlight of the visit was Shabbos Parshas Shkalim, Teruma and Rosh Chodesh Adar, which was held in the building of the “Marina Roshcha” shul in central Moscow. Hundreds of Jews from all over the city arrived after being invited by the Gabbaim, amongst them many young people who participate in YaHaD classes and events under the umbrella organization for Jewish youth throughout Russia. All were treated to a Shabbos full of Tefilla, Torah and Chassidus, Halacha and Aggadah, with the two Chief Rabbis sitting side by side on the east side of the shul. The sermons and lectures throughout the entire Shabbos were split between the Rabbis, and on Shabbos afternoon they both farbrenged together with the entire community.

Shortly after Shabbos ended, the two Chief Rabbis were already heading back to shul. This time they were met by the lovely sight of about a hundred and fifty fathers and sons sitting and learning Torah together. This heavenly sight occurs every motzei Shabbos, with participants driving in from neighborhoods all across the city in order to join the weekly Avos Uvanim.

From there they continued on to the magnificent Melave Malka banquet that was hosted by the Caucasian community, headed by the president of the community and of the STMEGI Foundation, Mr. German Zakharyev, who welcomed the chief rabbis at the entrance to the building and then took them on a tour of all its wings.

They then sat down alongside community leaders for a meal with traditional dishes, which are deeply rooted in the Jewish history of the Caucasus and Russia.

Due to the shortage of time, the esteemed guest only had time to tour a few of the institutions founded by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, and witness firsthand the power of education and chessed for thousands of Russian Jews.

Among others, he toured the ‘Mesivta’ building, the ‘Cheder Menachem’ Talmud Torah, the ‘Bnos Menachem’ school, and in the ‘Tomchei Temimim’ Yeshiva Ketana he participated in the Siyum Rambam led by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Lerman, along with the yeshiva’s staff.

The Yeshiva Gedola of “Tomchei Temimim” took advantage of the opportunity and brought a group of students in their Smicha course to be examined by the Chief Rabbi of Israel, who, together with Rabbi Lazar and the head of the yeshiva’s Smicha program, Rabbi Dovid Rosenzweig, were amazed by their depth of knowledge.

Indeed, the yeshiva, which provides comfortable living conditions, as well as an excellent educational staff, has already produced hundreds of rabbis.

The Chief Rabbis also sat with fourteen of Moscow’s Shluchim, who have been studying in an intensive course for the past two years. The course is run by the “L’maan Yilmedu” organization, and upon its completion the participants were honored to receive “Diaspora Rabbi” certificates.

At the Shaarei Tzedek Jewish Chessed Center, which cares for thousands of elderly and orphaned, sick and needy people – the guest was honored with putting up a mezuzah in its new wing that was just inaugurated. A tour of the place, gave a closer look at the great power of tzedaka and chessed in all the countries of the FSU, and primarily in Moscow.

The guest experienced moving moments at an upsherin ceremony after Shacharis at the “Bolshaya Bronaya” shul with its legendary Rabbi Yitzhak Kogan, known as the “Tzaddik of Leningrad”. He was then honored with being Sandek at a bris mila for an older boy, who made this decision thanks to his Rabbi at the Chimki Chabad House, Rabbi Lev Yitzchak Drutz.
The main event was held at the “Metrapol” Hotel near the Red Square, with the participation of about a thousand guests, the conclusion of the Rambam’s forty-fourth cycle according to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s encouragement.

We are truly a blessed generation, in which thanks to the initiative of the Chief Rabbi – thousands of Russian Jews are privileged to learn every day from the Rambam, whose translation into Russian is a project that made the study of the Rambam accessible to every Russian speaker throughout the world.

The Siyum HaRambam, organized by the director of the Moscow Torah Center, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilansky, was a great success and created a great awakening among the audience. For several hours, brothers from all the different communities of Moscow sat together, in a grand ceremony to honor the Torah. With the decision to advance in Torah learning, they said goodbye to the esteemed guest, Rabbi Ber, who invested many resources and energy in strengthening the Jews of Moscow in a visit that left an indelible impression on the Russian capital.