After a century: synagogue reopened in Kaluga

The Jewish community in Kaluga, Russia, received back the possession of the historic synagogue in the city center, which had been nationalized by the communists forcibly a hundred years ago from the city's Jews, and since then the voice of prayer and Torah was silenced within its walls.

The opening event and the inauguration was attended by Russia's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, who set the mezuzah at the entrance to the main building, with the participation of hundreds of Jews in the community, and county officials, Rabbi of Bryansk and a Chabad emissary Rabbi Menachem Mendel Zaklas, who accompanies the community's development and escorted the synagogue renovation project, as well as representatives from many organizations including representatives of the Congress of Russian Jews and JDC representatives.

The Chief Rabbi noted that this year is 'Hakhel' and it is appropriate to come together to celebrate Shabbos and the inauguration of the synagogue, and no doubt it is a day of celebration for all Russian Jews wherever they are.

The old synagogue was built and reconstructed by the "Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia", by the generous support of the Czernin family.

Towards the event the Chief Rabbi Lazar met with the governor of Kaluga Anatoly Artmonov, who was briefed on the activities of the renovated building and includes all the religious services to thousands of Jews in the city with a central prayer hall, a chessed center for the needy, Jewish library, classrooms, a new Mikveh whose completion will be soon, and more. At the end of the meeting the governor promised continued assistance for the Jewish community as a whole.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!