Sochi Jewish Community Prepares for 2014 Olympics with Plans for a New Synagogue

SOCHI, Russia — This week, the southern Russian resort city of Sochi hosted a meeting between the region’s Chief Rabbi and Chabad Lubavitch emissary Arie Edelkopf and Semyon Veinshtok, the Head of the State Corporation for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

To set the context of the Jewish community’s role in this major event, Chief Rabbi Edelkopf provided the top official with some background on Jewish life in the region. Today, the local Jewish community is comprised of an estimated 3,000 Jews. While not very large, the local Synagogue hosts prayers and various adult learning opportunities. But the community also provides outreach to Jewish visitors to this Black Sea destination, inviting them to communal gatherings and holidays and making kosher food available to them.

Through support from the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS, the Rohr Foundation and the Ohr Avner Foundation, a new Synagogue and Jewish Community Center will have opened by the year 2014 on the man-made island ‘Federation’. Nevertheless, Rabbi Edelkopf expressed concern over the challenge that lies ahead – to accommodate the spiritual and other needs of all Jewish visitors to the region during the Olympic frenzy.

Mr. Veinshtok expressed his pleasure about this meeting and his affirmation that the Jewish community avidly supports the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, as well as the construction and other preparation that will be necessary in the lead up to this major event.

“We love Russia and this city, which is our home. We are grateful to this State Corporation and to Mr. Veinshtok for resolving all the tasks set out by President Putin in order that these Olympics will be the best in the history of the Olympic movement,” commented Chief Rabbi of Sochi Arie Edelkopf.