Skverrer Rebbe Meets with Chief Rabbis of Russia and Iran

It was an unusual sight in New Square on Sunday, when a different kind of delegation arrived to meet with the Skverrer Rebbe Shlit”a as part of an awareness project amongst Persian Jews who immigrated to America.

With special honor, the Rebbe Shlit”a received the delegation, which was composed of the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Iran and member of the Union of Rabbis in Islamic Countries Rabbi Yehuda Grammi, and esteemed educator and Chabad emissary Rabbi Zalman Leib Markowitz. With all four of his sons seated beside him, the Rebbe Shlit”a took great interest in all the details about the Iranian Jews. He asked about their existing educational institutions as well as about those that are in the planning stages. He was especially pleased to hear about the ongoing connection for many years with Russia’s Chief Rabbi, as well as about the groups of young Rabbis from Iran who fly to Moscow periodically in order to study shechita and learn about Jewish leadership.

This visit was preceded by a meeting held in Monsey with many friends, who heard about the great Jewish activity for the first time in their lives, being that only recently was a narrow window opened to catch a glimpse of Jewish life there. The participants heard from Rabbi Grammi and Rabbi Markowitz about what is happening with Iran’s Jews now and expressed their great admiration.

The trip was arranged by Merkos Le’Inyonei Chinuch, under the auspices of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who is constantly in touch with Rabbi Grammi.

photos by Itzik Roytman