As the Yom Tov of freedom approached, Moscow’s Jewish community looked back with great satisfaction at the tremendous success of this year’s “Kimcha D’Pischa” campaign.
The large-scale project was carried out with significant investment—not only financially, but in thoughtful planning and dignified execution—ensuring that recipients were treated with respect, comfort, and care, and provided with high-quality, generous provisions for Yom Tov.
Drawing on many years of experience and a desire to further enhance the initiative, several new members were added to the established leadership team. Together, they carefully reviewed best practices from Jewish communities around the world and developed a refreshed, comprehensive plan.
This plan was presented to the foundation’s president, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, HaRav Berel Lazar, in his office at the central Marina Roscha Synagogue. After addressing key questions, offering guidance, and engaging in an extended and meaningful discussion, the Rav warmly blessed the organizers for their year-round dedication to supporting families in the community—especially in preparation for the Yomim Tovim. He also conveyed a heartfelt request to the broader public to participate generously in the mitzvah of Maos Chittim, in accordance with halachah. Each of the team members received a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation.
A standout feature of this year’s campaign was the enhanced accessibility and personalization offered to each family. Recipients were able to choose a tailored package based on their specific needs—both in terms of product selection and quantity—and even had the option to contribute a symbolic amount toward the cost, preserving a sense of dignity.
Additionally, all packages were delivered directly to families’ homes.
Indeed, deliveries reached every corner of greater Moscow with remarkable efficiency, to the amazement and joy of the recipient families. By the beginning of the week, homes were already fully stocked with all Yom Tov necessities, allowing families to prepare for Pesach with calm, dignity, and true abundance.
The Chief Rabbi himself visited the Shaarei Tzedek Jewish Chesed Center to personally oversee the operation. During his brief visit, he reviewed detailed data regarding the volume of orders, the number of individuals served, and personally inspected the quality of the products.
Together with members of the leadership of the “Simchas Shabbos V’Yom Tov” organization in Moscow—Rabbi Dovid Shapiro and Rabbi Chaim Moshe Weber—the Chief Rabbi presented a special token of appreciation to board member Rabbi Avraham Zaks, recognizing his exceptional efforts this year in advancing the campaign to an unprecedented level of success.
