Siberian Jewish Community Gets New School building

OMSK, Russia –- The West Siberian city of Omsk this week celberated the recently renovated Synagogue and completion and opening of the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School.

Following morning prayers in the Synagogue, which involved more than 100 congregants – an especially large number for a weekday – Visiting Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar affixed a mezuzah to the entrance of the building. The visiting Jewish leaders were joined by Chief Rabbi of Omsk Osher Krichevsky for a discussion with Governor Leonid Polezhaev, who personally assisted the community at every stage of construction.

Their meeting continued with a visit to the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School, where they were met by its Director and the Chairman of its Executive Council. Students, parents, teachers and members of the local Jewish community all came out to show their gratitude to the Governor for his immense support. Also in attendance were multiple representatives of the mass media, who provided wide coverage of this visit and the development of this new Jewish school.

“It is impossible to call what I witnessed today anything other than a miracle. This is the first time in modern history that a Jewish school was completely built with support from the Regional Administration and its Governor,” underlined Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar. “Let’s hope that this becomes an example for other regions of Russia”. In his turn, Governor Polezhaev commented, “Our region is home to more than 120 different ethnic groups and there can be no doubt that the Jewish community have made a major contribution to our region’s blossoming.”

The Jewish leaders presented the Governor with a mezuzah and a beautiful copy of the building’s architectural plan to express their appreciation and, on behalf of the entire community, 92-year-old Jewish elder Semyon Kilmanovich thanked the top official for his friendship and understanding. The festivities culminated with a lively concert of Klezmer music.