100-Year Anniversary, New Torah for Saratov Jewish Community

SARATOV, Russia –- Jews residing in the southern Russian city of Saratov were able to celebrate a monumental occasion this weekend, welcoming a new Torah scroll to the Great Choral Synagogue on the occasion of its 100-year anniversary. The scroll was donated by Rabbi Yitzhak Kubichek, the father of the region’s Chief Rabbi Yakov Kubichek, who decided to make this contribution upon his most recent visit to Saratov from his home in Jerusalem.

Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Great Choral Synagogue suffered from several pogroms, its closure by the Soviet authorities, and the tragic persecution of its Rabbi. Eventually occupied by a construction institute, it was just several years ago that the building was finally transferred back to the Jewish community of Saratov thanks to the efforts of Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and Chief Rabbi of Saratov Yakov Kubichek.

The ceremony for writing the final letters of the Torah scroll, which took place at the home of Rabbi Kubichek, involved community members, patrons and numerous other honorable guests. With the help of special quick-drying ink, many of the participants were able to honor the important commandment of completing a Torah for the first time in their lives.

Garbed in a velvet covering and silver crown, donated by a friend of the community, participants joined in a procession to carry the Torah scroll through the streets of Saratov to the Synagogue. An orchestra of wind instruments played joyous Jewish and Chassidic melodies all the while, spreading the festive atmosphere to every passer-by. Its arrival at the Synagogue was marked with Hakafot – dances with the Torah – and a feast for participants in this historic event.