Irkutsk Opens Repaired Shul

By fjc.ru

IRKUTSK, Russia – Irkutsk Jews were heartened today with the opening ceremony of the city’s renovated Synagogue.

The event involved Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, Alexander Boroda, in addition to Chief Rabbi of Irkutsk Aaron Wagner, and representatives of local authorities and businesses.

This inauguration was a very much anticipated event, after the completion of four years of restoration work. The celebration was also well timed to coincide with the 130th anniversary of its founding.

During the ceremony, Chief Rabbi Lazar attached a mezuzah at the central entrance to the prayer hall. He also congratulated attendees on this significant event in the life of the local Jewish community.

“With G-d’s help, we managed to recover that which was so painstakingly created by our ancestors and that which was once destroyed by fire,” commented Rabbi Lazar.

“I thank everyone who helped us in this important endeavor. The restoration of the Irkutsk Synagogue is absolute proof that Jews here feel comfortable and feel respect for their religion”.

Following the opening ceremony and in accordance with Jewish custom, a Torah scroll was carried into the new Synagogue.

This immense restoration project commenced in 2004, after a July fire that nearly razed the whole building. At that time, virtually all of the Synagogue’s interior decoration and adornments were destroyed in the fire, and many valuable documents were seriously affected in the prayer hall.

Because the building is a monument of cultural history that enjoyed state protection, specialized construction workshops were organized to contribute to this renovation project.

The Synagogue once again has rich and varied facades and a decorative interior, the Aron Kodesh has once again found its place, and the names of this project’s sponsors will be engraved in the ‘Tree of Memory’.

The Jewish community of Irkutsk is grateful to these benefactors for their support, as well as the FJC Russia. This is, indeed, an historic day.