Chief Rabbi of Russia Visits Jewish Prisoners in World’s Oldest Prison

On erev Shabbos Chanuka, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar Shlita, arrived at the gates of the Butyrki prison in central Moscow. The Chief Rabbi was received by the prison administration and its commanders, who hosted him in the administration office, where he received from them an overview of the general activity and cooperation with the Jewish community for the Jewish prisoners under their care, thanks to the activities of the Chaplain of the Russian Prison Service, Rabbi Aharon Gurevitch, who also participated in the visit.

The distinguished guest said that he is kept up to date with what is happening in the prison all year round, through the activists who regularly visit the place, and expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the opportunity given to every Jew in the prison to observe mitzvos all year round, especially on Shabbos and holidays, thanks to the dedication of Rabbi Yitzhak Zilberg and Rabbi Shlomo Dishko and others, who work in this prison and in other prisons in Moscow.

In light of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s call that during Chanukah, one should especially reach out to those who feel the sensation of “the sun setting,” such as the elderly, the lonely, and prisoners – this visit by the Chief Rabbi has already become a regular tradition, but this year, due to it being so close to Shabbos, the Chief Rabbi asked to shorten the visit, which began with the prisoners putting on tefillin and reading the Torah in a room that serves as a synagogue, where Torah lessons, holiday meals, and even the Pesach seder are also held each year.

The prison leaders came in for the lighting ceremony, and watched attentively as the Chief Rabbi lit the candles. For many minutes, he strengthened the prisoners with words from the weekly Torah portion about Yosef HaTzadik, and the events of the holiday of Chanukah.

In this very prison the holy brothers, the grandchildren of Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz, sat, in the famous libel of the Slavita press. The renowned activist Rabbi Mordechai Dubin was also imprisoned there, as were many of the great Chassidim devoted to Russian Jewry.  With every visit and each Jewish activity there, the Shluchim feel a special excitement.

Photo: Butyrki Prison Spokesperson