Carpathian Jewish Life Abounds

UZHGOROD, Ukraine [FJC] — The Jewish community in the Carpathian Region of Ukraine is celebrating a victory this week, with the completion of construction of the home for the local Chabad Lubavitch emissary, Chief Rabbi of Uzhgorod Menachem Taichman, and his wife Chaya Moussia. Last year, their home was torched by neo-Nazis and they all lost all their possessions. As Chassidim, they decided that when they rebuild it, it would be bigger and better and so they added another story in their building plan.

The newly-built story includes a clinic where Brit Mila ceremonies can be carried out, classrooms, offices, and the ‘Chaya Sora’ Hall, named for Mrs. Sora Rohr of blessed memory. She was the mother of the Rohr family, who donated the funds to create the new story. Mrs. Rohr was a native of the Carpathian Region, whose regional center is Uzhgorod.

The quality of Jewish life in Uzhgorod and the Carpathian Region in general will be so much better now that all community programs, family gatherings, lectures, prayers, and religious events – be it a Brit, Bar Mitzva or birthday – will be celebrated in the kosher ‘Chaya Sora’ Hall.

Yesterday, there was clearly a buzz of excitement that filled the ‘Chaya Sora’ Hall. For the first time since Rabbi Taichman came to Uzhgorod, the community marked the Brit of an eight-day-old baby for the very first time. The operation was conducted by Chief Mohel of Ukraine Rabbi Yaakov Geisonovich, who came here on behalf of the organization ‘Bris Yosef Yitzchok’.

Rabbi Taichman wishes to thank Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS and its President Lev Leviev, and Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar for the wonderful support they have provided.