First Selichos for Moscow Jewry in Three Locations
From year to year, the number of participants in the special journey of Moscow’s Marina Roscha, who travel to spend “Shabbos Selichos” in proximity to the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, זי”ע, and to recite the first Selichos in his holy home in Crown Heights, continues to grow.
This custom, established many years ago by Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Harav Berel Lazar שליט״א, began with a small group. Over the years it has grown into a large crowd. Many seek to prepare themselves for the new year by awakening their Jewish soul in this holy place, accepting upon themselves to strengthen their path and increase in Torah and mitzvos. Countless individuals have returned to a life of Torah and mitzvos as a result of this trip. The trip is rich with shiurim, tefillos, and farbrengens, all organized by Moscow community director, Rabbi Mordechai Weissberg.
For those unable to make the long trip to the United States, a “Shabbos Selichos” was arranged in the town of Lubavitch, about five hours’ drive from Moscow. This year, around 200 mispallelim arrived in bus convoys and private cars, receiving full hospitality. Rabbi Gavriel Gordon, together with a devoted team, placed the many guests in the newly constructed guest facilities. The shiurim, seudos, and farbrengens took place in the beautifully restored zal, the rebuilt premises of the famed Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in the Lubavitch chotzer. The tefillos, and especially the first Selichos, were recited with great emotion. Serving as shliach tzibbur was Rabbi Zalman Shimon Deren of Moscow, secretary of the Chief Rabbinate of Russia, alongside the rov of nearby Smolensk, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Mondshine.
Meanwhile, in the central Marina Roscha shul in Moscow, even after hundreds of mispallelim traveled on the “Shabbos Selichos” journeys, and many others spread out in the city’s various Chabad Houses, a large Melaveh Malka seudah and farbrengen were held. At midnight, Harav Elazar Mordechai Koenig, a noted mechanech, led the congregation in selichos. Beginning with the heartfelt tune of “Ashrei Yoshvei,” he carried the crowd of hundreds in a most uplifting tefillah, which concluded with spirited Chassidishe dancing that went on for a long time.
In the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, additional minyanim for Selichos and tefillah are being organized in the central Marina Roscha shul, with a special emphasis this year on numerous shiurim in halacha – particularly the halachos of the Yomim Tovim. Many of these shiurim are being delivered personally by the mara d’asra, the Chief Rabbi שליט״א, both in lashon ha’kodesh and in the local language, so that every mispallel and every member of the kehilla may enter the Yomim Nora’im well-prepared in halacha, agaddah, and Chassidus.
Photo: Levi Nazarov
