Workers renovating a historic Jewish community building in Kostroma, Russia, made an extraordinary discovery when they uncovered siddurim and other seforim hidden during the dark years of Communist rule.

One of the seforim had been disguised inside the cover of a secular non-Jewish book, a powerful reminder of the fear under which Soviet Jews were forced to conceal their connection to Yiddishkeit. Remarkably, the sefer was found open to Pirkei Avos.

The historic building was constructed in 1880 and purchased in 1892 for the city’s rov at the time, HaRav Tzvi Hirsch Schneiderman. Kostroma’s central shul was later built in its courtyard in 1903.

In a remarkable twist of hashgacha pratis, Rav Schneiderman’s granddaughter, who lives near the mother of Kostroma’s rov and Chabad shliach, Rabbi Nisan Rupu, recently transferred the building’s spiritual rights to the shluchim continuing her grandfather’s legacy.

Rabbi Rupu arrived in Kostroma 24 years ago and received control of the shul building, while the rov’s former home remained in government hands. Following years of determined efforts, the property was gradually returned and was ultimately granted to the Jewish community rent-free for 40 years with the generous assistance of philanthropist David Aminov.

The building’s interior was previously restored, with Russia’s Chief Rabbi, HaRav Berel Lazar, attending the chanukas habayis for its mikvah and kindergarten.

The latest renovations are focused on preserving the building’s deteriorating exterior walls. At the same time, the community has launched the writing of a historic new Sefer Torah marking nearly 100 years since the release of the Frierdiker Lubavitcher Rebbe from Soviet imprisonment and exile.

The writing began near the Ohel during the annual “Shabbos Selichos With the Rebbe” trip organized by Russia’s Torah and education foundation. The Sefer Torah is scheduled to be completed and brought to Kostroma on Yud-Beis–Yud-Gimmel Tammuz 5787, the 100th anniversary of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s release.

The newly discovered seforim, the restoration of the historic building and the writing of a new Sefer Torah have become powerful symbols of the dramatic revival of Yiddishkeit in a city where Jews were once forced to hide their faith.

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