Kazan Synagogue Receives New Torah Scroll

KAZAN, Russia [FJC] — In the capital of Tatarstan, the Jewish community of Kazan hosted a grand celebration dedicated to the receipt of a new Torah scroll in the city’s Synagogue. This event took place the day before Yom Kippur, bringing great joy to Jews residing in this predominantly Muslim city.

That day in the Synagogue, this festive gathering brought together more than a hundred people eager to share in the joy of this historic event. The initial speech was made by Chief Rabbi of Kazan Yitzhak Gorelik, after which the floor was given to Alexander Kantor, whose family co-sponsored the writing of this particular Torah scroll. In accordance with Jewish tradition, members of the Kantor family wrote the last few letters of the scroll.

With live joyous musical accompaniment, members of the community joined in a procession to the Synagogue and engaged in Hakafot – dances with the Torah. These stages were followed by a celebratory meal, at which time participants were only too happy to enjoy the variety of kosher dishes offered to them.

The Jewish community of Kazan is led by Chairman Alexander Velder and Rabbi Yitzhak Gorelik, a Chabad Lubavitch emissary, who has served as the Chief Rabbi of Kazan and Tatarstan since February 1997, when he moved here, together with his wife Chana and family. The local Jewish community – a member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia – has undergone a long process of revitalization. Kazan is home to an estimated 10,000 Jews, who now have their own community institutions, can educate their children about Judaism, and gather without fear to celebrate Jewish holidays. There is a Synagogue, religious classes, kindergarten, day school, Sunday school, Burial Society, a Mikvah, as well as Brit Mila, wedding, Bar and Bat Mitzva