A Greeting Letter from the President of Russia and a Flurry of Activity Ahead of Rosh Hashanah in Moscow

The autumn winds blowing through the streets of Moscow, signaling the changing of the seasons, bring with them a great sense of anticipation and immense excitement among thousands of members of the Jewish community. The month of Elul has given way to the days of mercy and forgiveness of the exalted month of Tishrei, and every corner of the Russian capital is taking on a festive spirit. From the grand sanctuary of the Central Synagogue to the very last of the Chabad Houses scattered across the vast metropolis, meticulous peak preparations are underway, designed to grant every Jew the opportunity to begin the New Year with spiritual uplift and peace of mind.

The feverish preparations and extensive community work are, as in every year, receiving official state recognition. Once again, a special greeting letter was sent from the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the office of the Chief Rabbi, the Gaon Rabbi Berel Lazar shlit”a. In the warm letter, addressed to all of Russian Jewry, the President emphasized that the festival of Rosh Hashanah symbolizes the aspiration for moral and spiritual elevation, and provides believers with the joy of connection to their historical heritage. The President commended the significant contribution of Jewish organizations in advancing educational and charitable initiatives, as well as their sincere commitment to preserving family values and educating the younger generation. This letter joins a series of congratulatory messages from government and municipal leaders, attesting to the tremendous appreciation for the community’s work.

On the ground, the preparatory work is evident in every detail. At the Central Synagogue in the Marina Roscha Jewish Community Center, the arrangement of the sanctuary has been completed to accommodate the masses of congregants and numerous guests. The premises have been equipped with machzorim, tallitot, kippot, and all necessary items, alongside preparations for magnificent holiday meals. Simultaneously, the shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe are working tirelessly throughout the city—in campaigns distributing holiday kits, visiting prisons to bring the sound of the shofar to Jewish inmates, and offering attention and a welcoming countenance to the elderly, the lonely, and the hospitalized.

The spirit of renewal of the New Year is also tangibly expressed in the expansion of community institutions. As Chief Rabbi Lazar quoted in the name of the holy Baal Shem Tov on the verse “Blow the shofar at the new moon (ba’chodesh)”—the word “ba’chodesh” does not only denote time, but shares a root with “chidush” (renewal). A person must perform their mitzvot and good deeds in a constant state of renewal; they must feel every day and at every moment that their service of G-d, prayer, and actions are entirely new, as if it were the first time. This spirit resonates in the momentum of institution-building across Russia in general, and in its capital in particular.

The new child development center “Smile of the Heart,” officially opened under the direction of the shaliach Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Gadz, serves as an exciting crowning achievement of these endeavors. The highly invested facility was built to the highest professional standards known from the Land of Israel, and is designed to provide comprehensive and accessible care—by top experts—for children, youth, and adults with special needs. Its unique and pioneering status in the Russian capital is already generating significant interest from non-Jewish special education institutions seeking to learn from this innovative model.

Moments of immense emotion marked the opening ceremony. After affixing the mezuzah at the main entrance, Chief Rabbi Lazar expressed great joy and gratitude to the Almighty for the realization of this community dream—despite all challenges—and for the professional and dedicated care that will now be provided to families. During the comprehensive tour of the building, upon reaching the therapeutic kitchen where students learn baking integrated with Jewish concepts, Rabbi Gadz shared a moving message: he compared the sound of the shofar to the silent cry of a special child who does not speak, yet whose parents understand their wishes from their eyes. “And so is our prayer, that the Creator of the world will understand our inner cry during the shofar blasts,” he said with emotion.

Additionally, the 39th Chabad House in Moscow was inaugurated, where the Chief Rabbi affixed the mezuzah. The new center, located in the Cheryomushki neighborhood opposite the large medical center of Jewish Professor Mark Kurtser, will operate under the leadership of the shaliach Rabbi David Khunelidze, and is destined to serve as a beacon of Torah, prayer, and Chassidut for the area’s residents.

Alongside the spiritual expansion, a strong emphasis was also placed on broadening kashrut infrastructure for the public’s benefit. Chief Rabbi Lazar affixed a mezuzah at the entrance of the new and spacious “Kosher Style” restaurant, located on the central Novoslobodskaya Street near the Marina Roscha neighborhood. Following a comprehensive tour accompanied by the initiator, Rabbi Alexander Lakshin, and the establishment’s managers, the restaurant was awarded a premium kashrut certificate. The distinguished guest was impressed by the diverse menu and praised the owners, noting that the affordable prices indicate their primary goal is to bring joy to the public and make kosher food accessible to all, while wishing them great success in their endeavors.

Meanwhile, the community’s charitable enterprise is operating at full force. In the magnificent lobby of the “Shaarey Tzedek Chesed Center,” the various stages of the massive “Kimcha D’Tishrei” project were successfully conducted, as part of the “Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov” organization run by the central free-loan fund “Keren Chaya Mushka.” Through an organized distribution with a dignified and welcoming approach, those in need and large families received premium food baskets filled with an abundance of goods, ensuring that their holiday tables will overflow with plenty and bounty.

Now, as the preparations are completed, the institutions expanded, and the food baskets distributed, the entire community turns its eyes to the holy moments of the New Year’s arrival. The public is excitedly preparing for the uplifting prayers and holiday sermons, after which the multitudes will pass by to be personally blessed by Chief Rabbi Lazar, to receive an apple, honey, and a pomegranate from his hands, and to merit wishes for a good and sweet year, a year of redemption and salvation.

Photography: Levi Nazarov