Moscow Public Menorah Permit Was Rare Exception

When it seemed that all hope was lost and it would be impossible, the miracle happened. It was at the last moment, on the morning of Chanuka eve, in freezing sub-zero temperatures, a brigade of workers put together the large menorah at the foot of the Kremlin walls in Russia’s capital city of Moscow.

In light of an urgent request personally sent by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar, to the Mayor of Moscow, an exception was made by the Mayor and permission was granted.

For the past seven months, there were absolutely no public gatherings allowed in Moscow, in order to keep people as safe as possible during the pandemic. But this merited a rare exception.

The event took place without any onlookers present. Yet it was seen by millions of viewers throughout the vast country of Russia, thanks to the many media outlets who didn’t want to miss this piece of news, and streamed it live, straight from the Red Square to the various channels who in turn shared it with their millions of viewers. This made a particularly strong Kiddush Hashem amongst Russian Jews.

Throughout the week of Chanuka, special letters with good wishes arrive daily at the offices of the Chief Rabbi of Russia. They come from the Prime Minister, Head of Parliament, Governors and Mayors of various cities and regions, most of whom have also given permission to their local shluchim to light large menorahs in public places in their cities.

Photos: Levi Nazarov

VIDEO