As part of a tour of prisons on behalf of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia to provide Jewish books and counseling to inmates, Rabbi Aaron Gurevich had contacted officials to plan his trip to Nizhny Novgorod. When he heard their assessment of the Jewish population, he pressed on.
Told of 2 Jews in Russian Prison, Rabbi Finds 8 More
As part of a tour of prisons on behalf of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia to provide Jewish books and counseling to inmates, Rabbi Aaron Gurevich had contacted officials to plan his trip to Nizhny Novgorod. When he heard their assessment of the Jewish population, he pressed on.
Originally, prison officials in Nizhny Novgorod informed Rabbi Aaron Gurevich that there were only two Jewish inmates at Corrections Facility 11. “For two Jews, I will fly from Moscow,” he promised.
When he sat down with the pair of Jewish prisoners, their conversations led to the discovery of eight others.
The group decided to pursue the creation of a synagogue on prison grounds.
Accompanied by Nizhny Novgorod Chief Rabbi Shimon Bergman, left, Rabbi Aaron Gurevich also met with the regional Chairman of the Public Council under the Federal Penitentiary Service, S. A. Zarya.
Before leaving, the rabbis promised that Jewish books, prayer boxes known as tefillin and other religious items would be provided by the Federation of Jewish Communities and the Russian Army Rabbinate.
