Selichot Night in Moscow: Three Centers of Spiritual Awakening
The atmosphere of Elul and the approaching High Holidays reached a powerful crescendo this weekend, as Jewish communities gathered across three locations for the first recitation of Selichot, ushering in a new year with prayer, reflection and spiritual awakening.
At the central Marina Roscha Synagogue in Moscow, the evening began well before midnight with a soulful Chassidic farbrengen, preparing the congregation for the solemn prayers ahead.
As midnight approached, the sanctuary filled with worshippers. Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Koenig served as the baal tefillah, leading the Selichot amid traditional melodies and an atmosphere of heartfelt awakening.
Meanwhile, hundreds made their way from Moscow to the village of Lyubavichi, the cradle of Chabad Chassidut, for a special Shabbat dedicated to spiritual preparation.
The program was organized and led by local Shliach Rabbi Gavriel Gordon, with the assistance of Rabbi Nachman Vaksman. Approximately 200 avreichim and students participated, including a group from Yeshiva Gedolah led by its director, Rabbi Yechezkel Lazar.
Shabbat began in the early morning with the recitation of the entire Book of Tehillim near the holy Ohel, followed by classes, tefillos and Chassidic farbrengens throughout the day.
Joining the participants were Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Mondshine, Rav and Shliach in Smolensk, and Rabbi Shimon Bergman, Rav and Shliach in Nizhny Novgorod, who arrived together with groups of mekuravim from their respective cities.
Following a Melaveh Malka farbrengen in the “Large Zal” of the original Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva, participants gathered after midnight in the shul adjacent to the holy Ohel.
Rabbi Zalman Shimon Deren served as baal tefillah, leading the Selichot with powerful Chassidic warmth and emotion.
A third gathering took place in the United States, where supporters and philanthropists of the Russian Torah World Fund assembled for a special Shabbat of spiritual preparation.
The delegation was headed by Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar and gathered in close proximity to the holy Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The program was organized by Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg, director of the Moscow Jewish community.
Selichot were recited at midnight in the Rebbe’s private residence, with Rabbi Moshe Zilbershtein serving as baal tefillah.
Participants described the experience as deeply moving, leaving the gathering with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to strengthening and supporting Torah institutions serving Russian Jewry.
The three gatherings reflected the spirit of the season: preparing for the Yamim Noraim not only through tefillah, but through Chassidic inspiration, communal unity and concrete hachlatos tovos for the coming year.
Photo: Community Spokesperson
