New Torah Scroll Joyfully Welcomed in Kotovskaya Community of Odessa

On Thursday, the 18th of Elul, the Jewish community of Kotovskaya, a residential district in Odesa, celebrated the ceremonial welcoming of a new Torah scroll into its synagogue, which has been led with dedication by Rabbi Fishel Chichelnitsky for the past 18 years.

The event began with a lively street procession accompanied by live music, singing, and joyful dancing. As is customary, the new Torah scroll was carried beneath a chuppah — a traditional canopy symbolizing the bond between the Jewish people and the Torah — and was accompanied by dozens of Jewish families, community members, guests, youth, and children, into the synagogue for additional festive Hakafot and dancing.

The celebration continued with a festive communal meal, lovingly prepared by students of the Leaders JUniversity of Odesa. Around the long tables, community members of all ages came together to celebrate the event and enjoyed words of Torah and wisdom from the community’s rabbi and the city’s chief rabbi, Avraham Wolf.

Adding further depth to the occasion was a special Chassidic gathering in honor of the 18th of Elul — the birthday of two foundational figures in Chassidic thought: the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe.