About 60 members of the Zevulun Conference participated in the annual conference that took place this year in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, which is situated between Russia and Iran.
The conference was attended by the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, as well as many friends and supporters of Rabbis and Shluchim throughout Russia. Guest of Honor was the philanthropist and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the FSU, Lev Leviev.
The four days of the conference were spiritually uplifting for the businessmen who are usually busy with their work and business. Here, they were able to fully focus on the Torah and Chassidus classes, davening with minyanim, farbrengens and a symposium with Rabbi Lazar, while free from their day-to-day worries. There were also workshops on business topics led by professionals who were flown in from abroad.
While the organizers took care of the five-star hospitality, the participants were able to fully relax and enjoy the true taste of Torah and Chassidus that were offered by the many Rabbis and Shluchim present.
One of the highlights of the event was a visit to the Ohr Avner Educational Campus in the center of Baku, home to hundreds of students in the preschools, elementary and high schools. It is under the leadership of the Head Shliach to Azerbaijan, Rabbi Shneur Segal, together with Shluchim Rabbi Matisyahu Lewis and Rabbi Aryeh Lipsker.
At the welcome reception which was held in the main hall of the school, participants heard the story of one of the local families who, thanks to the education their children have received at Ohr Avner, the entire family has become observant. Their Muslim father takes care to help his children celebrate their bar mitzvahs and keep Shabbos according to halacha. The businessmen could see how the investments of Leviev have borne fruit, as he is a living example of one who truly knows what is worth investing in.
The aliyos and other mitzvos at the Torah reading on Shabbos were sold by Rabbi Lazar to sponsors for their pledges to regularly put on Tefilin, participate in Torah classes and the like. The larger the pledge, the greater the honor.
The conference ended in the historical city of Kuba, about two hours away from Baku. There the District Governor, along with the local shliach Rabbi Yonah Yaakobi met the participants with great excitement and escorted them to the Jewish neighborhood of Krasnaya Sloboda along the banks of the Gudiel-Chai river.
To the Rebbe’s humble shliach Berl Lazar in Russia. You see how when he walks, he is in the Rebbe’s presence, doing the Rebbe’s shlichus. Yasher koach, yasher koach!
This, is impressive.
subsisted in villages in schacks, and or huts with barely enough to keep body & soul together. It’s mind boggling to see so much luxury and high standards of living that seem to exist there now. I guess Putin is doing a fantastic job. Don’t understand why there would be any complaints. Wish I could feel the same about the USA.
This is so beautiful! It’s hard to believe just how incredible the results are from the tremendous mesirus nefesh of the rebbeim for Jews in Russia!!
go Rabbi Berl Lazer you rock keep up the good work
Yasher Choach & הצלחה רבה!