Chief Rabbi of Vladivostok Meets Governor

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia [CHI] — Chief Rabbi of Primorsky Krai, Yisroel Silberstein, held a meeting with the region’s governor, Sergei Darkin. They discussed various historical and practical issues for the Jewish community in this Far East region. The main concern was the restoration of the Synagogue, a historical and cultural monument dating back to the early 1900s, which was transferred to the community’s ownership in 2004.

Governor Darkin promised to help resolve organizational aspects of the building’s restoration. The synagogue will house a complete Jewish Community Center. The two leaders also discussed the need to open a Jewish day school. “We must support the community’s initiative to establish such a Center and to provide the Primorsky Krai’s Jewish
community with support in the development of national traditions,” stated Governor Sergei Darkin.

Since September 2006, when Chief Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein arrived to serve as a Chabad Lubavitch emissary to this region, the Jewish community in Vladivostok and other Far East communities such Nakhodka, Ussuriisk, Artem, Spasske-Dalnem and Partizansk have all been gradually blossoming.

The Jewish community of Vladivostok itself has been active in the life of this city and region for the past decade, taking part in festivals, exhibitions and concerts. The ‘Noar’ Klezmer Ensemble has won numerous musical competitions. While there are 800 registered members of the local Jewish community, there are estimated to be nearly 6000 Jews in the city.