Shul Inaugurated at Samara International Airport

In a modest yet impressive ceremony, a group of Jews gathered on Monday for the first Tefila in the new shul inaugurated at the international airport in the city of Samara. Samara is home to a large Jewish community, headed by Rabbi Shlomo Deitch, with many developing Torah and educational institutions.

The airport management assigned a central location for this purpose, where many passenger pass through. A quick-access sign directs Jews to the synagogue, which is open 24 hours a day, where one can borrow tallitot and tefillin, and enjoy light, kosher refreshments from the Jewish community.

After Rabbi Deitsch affixed the mezuzah, he read from the Torah.  The community leaders who were partners in the project and supported it throughout were honored with Aliyos. The impressive result of a magnificent and properly furnished synagogue, combined with a Torah library with holy books translated into Russian speaks for itself.

The Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar Shlita, on whose initiative the first synagogue at Domodedovo Airport was established about a decade ago, sent a congratulatory letter, a copy of which was immediately hung on the wall. In the letter he  calls on every Jew passing through the airport to take a step towards their spiritual path, by putting on tefillin, praying and giving charity, thereby ensuring blessings for a successful and joyful journey.

The airport management informed the city’s rabbi that the efforts will soon bear fruit, and direct flights to and from Israel will begin operating soon, for the convenience of the city’s many Jews.

Samara, the eighth largest city in Russia, is well-known and highly regarded in Russia, and until today there is a bunker that Stalin built 12 stories underground.

These days, an all-Russian congress is being held in this city, from which dozens of flights depart every day to and from the capital, Moscow.

Photo: Michael Sotalkin