A Dozen Urals Jewish Communities Unite for Seminar

CHELYABINSK, Russia [FJC] — The Jewish community of Chelyabinsk has wrapped up the seminar ‘Shabbat with the Community’. This three-day event, organized by the Educational Department of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, involved Chairmen from Jewish communities in the Urals Region that are without a resident rabbi. Lay leaders came from Magnitogorsk, Novouralsk, Kamensk-Uralskiy, Korkino, Kurgan, Kiyshtiym, Miass, Nizhniy Tagil, Troitsk, Chebarkul’ and Zlatoust.

“In a decade of working with the Jewish community, this is the first time I have spent a genuine Shabbat,” explained Izya Yakovlevich from Magnitogorsk. “I have heard a lot about how one must spent Shabbat, I read about it in books, but a real living example took place just now. So this seminar is 100% successful in my opinion”.

This event-filled seminar was organized by Avraam Kashaev, the FJC Russia representative in the Urals, and featured lectures by Chief Rabbi of Central Russia Zeyev Wagner and Rabbi A. Trigger of Volzhskiy. Participants learned about the laws of Shabbat, its spiritual elements, prayers, and ‘Pirkei Avot’. A concluding roundtable gave attendees the chance to share experiences from their respective communities and to discuss issues associated with celebrating Shabbat back home.

“This seminar was so needed,” commented Elizabeta Yakovlevna from Troitsk. “Through it, we also became part of Saturday’s traditions: we lit candles, attended prayers in the Synagogue, and enjoyed a Shabbat feast… I have the best impressions from the lectures and many positive emotions from spending this day visiting the home of Rabbi Meir Kirsh”. The feast was hosted by Chief Rabbi of Chelyabinsk Meir Kirsh and prepared by his wife Dvora and Ester Haddasa Kashaeva.