Synagogues Popping Up All Over Russian Metropolis

A new synagogue that just opened in the Primorskiy District of S. Petersburg, Russia, has opened a world of possibilities for many in the local Jewish community who previously could not walk to Sabbath services.

For David Syrkin, the Chabad-Lubavitch run synagogue is more than convenient. During the holiday of Sukkot, the 30-year-old trudged three hours each way to pray at what was then the nearest space, but now he only needs to walk 12 minutes.

Rabbi Daniel Ash, who directs the city’s Hebrew-speaking Chabad House, opened the new facility at a shopping complex late last month. Though he doesn’t live in the neighborhood, he and his family rent a nearby apartment each Sabbath; they offer full meals to congregants every Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

“Rabbi Ash chose to open a new Chabad House because he knew some people like me living here,” said Syrkin, adding that he hopes the Chabad House will soon include a community center, kindergarten and school.

Chabad of S. Petersburg, directed by Rabbi Mendel Pewzner, has seen rapid expansion of late, opening several synagogues in the past several years. In each case, consideration was given to populations who did not live within walking distance of the city’s historic Grand Choral Synagogue.

“The city’s 90,000 Jews are scattered all over a metropolis of 7 million people,” said Ash. “It is hard for many to reach a synagogue.”

While Syrkin has been inviting his Jewish friends from the neighborhood to come to synagogue, he said that he didn’t know most of the 40 people who attended services the first week the synagogue opened.

“There are a lot of new people,” he stated.

Ash was impressed with the turnout, especially considering that he hadn’t yet advertised the new synagogue.

“In the future,” said the rabbi, “we hope to reach many more Jews.”