The Joy of Russia and Ukraine Heard in the Streets of Jerusalem
Attended by Admorim and Roshei Yeshiva, rabbanim and dayanim, influential figures and heads of large communities, the central Sheva Brachos celebration was held in Jerusalem, on the occasion of the marriage of the daughter of the Chief Rabbi of Russia, HaGaon Rabbi Berel Lazar, to the son of Odessa and Southern Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Avraham Wolf. A joy that united Russia and Ukraine and expressed the unity that prevails between the rabbis of the FSU countries, a unity that results in great success and special blessings in the daily activities among hundreds of thousands of Jews in these countries.
During the days preceding the wedding, the Chief Rabbi of Russia Shlita was invited to the homes of the great and esteemed Rabbanim, to bless and be blessed before the great celebration, and to receive warm greetings from Russian Jewry. During these visits, the Rabbanim expressed an interest in the thriving activity, and encouraged the continued revival of Russian Jewry, led by the Chief Rabbi Shlita and hundreds of devoted rabbis and emissaries.
The event was eloquently emceed by the author Rabbi Israel Tirnoar, who shared highlights from his personal impressions of his visits to Moscow when he witnessed firsthand the extent to which Torah and Yiddishkeit have been reestablished there over the past thirty years. He tastefully moderated the speeches and speakers, including the following who delivered words of Torah and blessings: the Rebbe of Tolna, the Rabbi of Jerusalem, the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, the Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Yosef, the Rabbi of the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, Rabbi Matityahu Deutsch, HaGaon Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, head of the Or Chaim institutions, the head of the Central Tomchei Temimim Yeshivaof Bnei Brak, HaGaon Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Belinov, HaGaon Rabbi Yitzchak Ezrachi from the Mir Yeshiva, and the representative of Russia’s Rabbis , the Rabbi of the Republic of Tatarstan and the city of Kazan, Shliach Rabbi Yitzchak Gorelik.
The keynote address was given by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Lazar, who welcomed the distinguished guests, including the parents of the rabbis and the Shluchim in the CIS countries, and important friends and supporters of the communities. Among the things he shared was the holy work of the Shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who work tirelessly days and nights, often without resting. He also spoke about the meeting with the liberated hostage from Gaza, Alexander (Sasha) Trofanov: “Before the meeting, they told me, ‘Don’t try to talk about spirituality, just be pleasant and don’t press.’ But of course we brought the tefillin with us, along with a siddur and holy sfarim. We then saw a Jew with a very lofty soul before us. I can testify and say that after Alexander put on tefillin and recited the Shema, I said to him; Now that you are wearing tefillin, you can close your eyes and thank God for all the miracles and pray for all of Israel in general and for the kidnapped in particular. I saw how a Jew who, up until now had no connection with Yiddishkeit, immediately upon putting on tefillin, the Jewish spark instantly lit up within him. He closed his eyes and davened to Hashem. He thanked me for the tefillin, and asked to know more and more about the mitzva of tefillin, what was inside the boxes, and what the actual mitzva of putting on tefillin meant. I saw before my eyes the simple faith and the inner Jewish spark that shone forth, and I wish I had such emotional excitement when reciting Kol Nidrei on Yom Kippur. I have never had such excitement.”
He concluded with a call from the bottom of his heart: “Every Jew, wherever he may be, has the responsibility of greeting every Jew with a smile. The responsibility to show the love and unity that exist among Yidden, and to offer to his fellow Jew, with a friendly attitude, the opportunity to put on tefillin, to establish a mezuzah, or to join Torah classes. Because these matters do not belong only to Chabad, this is something that belongs to every Jew! And if we all work together on this, it will certainly bring nachas to our Creator and bring Moshiach closer”!
Special gifts were distributed to the participants, including a book of essays on the four parshiyos, a new and comprehensive collection of essays by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and a collection of lessons on matters of joy from the series of books “Shlach Lachmecha” authored by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel
Lazar Shlita.
The organizers thanked all those who participated in the production of this evening: the Mashpia Rabbi Yaakov Gelbstein, the Shlaich Rabbi Baruch Preisant, and the Shliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Brim. The sounds of joy were brought by the Hasidic musician Rabbi Yoni Shlomo and the prestigious Neshemah choir, conducted by Rabbi Yitzhak Filmer, and accompanied by keyboard artist Rabbi Baruch Hominer.
Photography: Yehoshua Fruchter/ Yossi Bloy
