Jewish Revival in Berdichev

The town of Berdichev has a long history since it was founded by Jews for Jews.

Rav Liber Hagadol, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, founded Berdichev to be a place for Jews to live without being plagued by the surrounding Cossacks, neither physically nor spiritually.

The town of Berdichev later on became to be known as one and the same as the saintly Tzaddik, Rav Levi Yitzchak, the “Public Defender” of all the Jewish people, beseeching G-d in all ways; to appreciate, to elevate and to redeem His people. The holy Rizhiner said that just to mention the name Berdichev is a ‘segulah’.

The town of Berdichev once had its own municipality, made up entirely of Jews and the Rav was invited to attend all its meetings.

From then until today, many changes have taken place – from pogroms to deportations to Stalin and communism. The population of Berdichev is over 85,000 people.

Today, there are not much more than 600-700 Jews living in Berdichev, many of them intermarried and afraid of being recognized as Jews.

Today, with the downfall of the Soviet empire, there is a minyan three times a day, a mikvah, a kosher kitchen, a kindergarten and, most of all, a sense of belonging. Yes, all this is taking place in the Chabad compound in Berdichev where hundreds of Jews not only attend Yom Kippur services, but also Rosh Hashanah, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, Tu B’shvat and of course Chanukah.

Not only does the Jewish community attend the Chabad shul and programs, but the Mayor of Berdichev himself shows up on Purim and other holidays to bring personal greetings to the Chabad Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Thaler and the kehilla.

This Chanukah, history was made once again in Berdichev.

Berdichev joined many of the major cities of the world, like London, Washington, Chicago, Paris, New York, Melbourne, Rome, Los Angeles, Kiev, Moscow, in lighting a 30 ft. tall Chanukah Menorah outside City Hall, opposite the statue of Lenin.

This is the first time ever in the history of Berdichev that a menorah was ever lit outside, in public and at City Hall.

The mayor himself attended, addressed the audience and gave his word that from now on this candle lighting ceremony will take place every year!

This year’s candle lighting was a major “Kiddush Hashem” in public and “Pirsumei D’nisa” – spreading the light of the miracle of Chanukah, both physically and spiritually.

The first candle was lit by Rabbi Moshe Thaler, after he and the mayor were elevated in the freezing cold snow by a cherry-picker crane, to the cheers of hundreds of onlookers, Jews and gentiles, that were dressed in their warmest winter clothes.

The event was climaxed by the display of fireworks, to the tune of “al ha-nissim” and “Chanukah, Chanukah…”, the distribution of Chanukah donuts and the spontaneous dancing, that surely helped thaw out the frozen feet.

The Chanukah lighting in front of City Hall took place every evening of Chanukah. On various days there were different activities: from orchestra performance to Chanukah celebration. Festive meals that take place every day after morning prayers all year round had special additions during Chanukah.

All those that attended were overcome with emotion, some to the point of tears in their eyes.

The point of lighting the Chanukah Menorah outside is “pirsuma d’nisa” – publicizing the miracle of Chanukah, that even passersby should see and learn of the great miracles of light.

The lighting of the menorah in the center of the city makes the Chanukah candles the center of attraction and a greater “pirsuma d’nisa”!

The Chanukah Menorah of Berdichev was not only observed and celebrated by the people of Berdichev, Jews and gentiles.

Ukrainian television made the “pirsuma d’nisa” much greater, by broadcasting the candle-lighting to millions of people, many of them Jews that were still afraid to personally attend such festivities or even to light their own menorah in the safety of their homes.

Hopefully, such “pirsuma d’nisa” will help them overcome their fear and thaw them out of the Ukrainian frost.

The task for Rabbi Thaler and his family is still at hand.
Even today, there are Jews in Berdichev that were afraid to attend the Chanukah lighting in public, or to come to shul, lest they be identified as Jews.

Rabbi Thaler is looking forward to the day when no Jew will be left behind.