Passover Highlights from Russia’s Western Port

KALININGRAD, Russia — Passover in Kaliningrad, like in Jewish communities worldwide, was marked with both celebration and pensiveness. Preparations were made by young and old in advance of the holiday. Before Passover began, adult Jews strove to sell their non-kosher items.

Students of the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School were particularly active in getting ready. They helped their families to collect and destroy Chametz. They burned it, together with Chief Rabbi of Kaliningrad David Shvedik, in the schoolyard. Thanks to the leadership of teacher Anna Tomshinskaya, a graduate of the ‘Beit Chana’ Pedagogical Institute in Dnepropetrovsk, everyone also enjoyed a stage production portraying the Exodus.

The first Passover Seder, which took place at the ‘U Biykov’ Cafe, was met with a healthy turnout of 150 persons. Led by Chief Rabbi David Shvedik, the event was highly successful, with all instructions followed and stong participation in singing the Passover songs. Another highlight was a solo performance by community member Victor Shapiro, who sang a number of his own compositions on the theme of Passover.

The Seder on the second evening was hosted at the home of Chief Rabbi Shvedik. Again, many people came out and enjoyed their national traditions and one another’s company until well after midnight. The Jewish community would like to thank Leonid Pitman, Igor Rabinovich, Gennady Leibovich, and Grigory Chizevskiy for their roles in leading the Seders.