Putin Sends Pesach Greetings

Preparations which have begun a few months ago have now shifted into high gear, finishing the last stretch in order to greet thousands of Russia’s Jews at hundreds of Public Seders that will G-d willing, take place this Friday night in shuls, educational institutions, and Chabad Houses throughout Russia as well as its capital city, Moscow.

Moscow’s Yeshiva students are headed by car, train and plane to various cities in Russia that do not yet have a permanent Rabbi, in order to lead Public Seders there.

The largest seder of them all will be held centrally at the Moscow Jewish Community Center in Marina Roscha, with the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar at its helm. The seder will be divided into groups by age and language with many of Moscow’s shluchim assisting.

Two weeks after Mr. Putin was re-elected for his fourth term as Russia’s President, he sent his annual holiday greetings to the offices of Rabbi Lazar for all of Russia’s Jews. He writes:

The Kremlin, Moscow

To: The Jews of Russia

I send you all my heartfelt greetings for the Passover holiday.

It is an ancient holiday which Jews celebrate respectfully all over the world. It is reminiscent of a fateful turning point in the history of the Jewish people – redemption from the burden of slavery, and the acquisition of freedom and dignity.

Passover is all about important values in Judaism, spiritual and moral values of justice and good deeds.

It is gratifying to see that Russian Jews are so respectful of their forefathers’ traditions, values, and commandments, and that they are educating the younger generation to be loyal to these values of trust and mutual understanding, all those values of which our nation is rightly proud of.

The activities of the Jewish community for the benefit of the public, and its significant contributions to various peoples and religions in our country, as well as important projects in the fields of culture and education, as well as charity are blessed.

I wish you all success and well-being.

Vladimir Putin

This letter is also published officially be the Kremlin and causes many Jewish souls to awaken as this great yom tov approaches.