Members of Irkutsk, Russia’s central Jewish community spent the first Shabbat since the reopening of their 130-year-old synagogue in a state of disbelief. According to Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Aharon Wagner, the Siberian city’s chief rabbi, the community has come a long way since a 2004 fire destroyed almost all of the historic shul.
“The community didn’t believe that the synagogue would be rebuilt,” said Wagner. “It was like a dream.”
Now housing a nursery, computer room, library, youth hall and a large kitchen and cafeteria to accommodate the many tourists looking for kosher food, the 2,000-square-meter building also provides a home to the local offices of the Jewish Agency.
A March 24 dedication ceremony presided over by Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar drew to a close a four-year effort to restore the synagogue to its former glory. Lazar affixed a mezuzah to the building’s main entrance.
“With G‑d’s help, we managed to recover that which was so painstakingly created by our ancestors and that which was once destroyed by fire,” he said. “I thank everyone who helped us in this important endeavor. The restoration of the Irkutsk Synagogue is absolute proof that Jews here feel comfortable and feel respect for their religion.”
The restoration comes at a time of tremendous growth in Jewish services in Irkutsk. Aharon and Dorit Wagner arrived as Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries in 2003 with a mission to help guide the revival of a 5,000-strong community. Last year, the community celebrated the dedication of two new Torah scroools.
The communal preschool, run by Dorit Wagner, just opened two classes for 21 children as young as three years old. In addition to Jewish subjects, the children learn math, Russian and Hebrew.
In addition, a club for the elderly offers couches, newspapers, a television, coffee and tea. The idea is to have a comfortable place to socialize and relax, explained Aharon Wagner, “so they don’t feel alone.”
The rabbi said that the first Shabbat was “very emotional.” Double the usual attendance showed up for services, which featured a newly-opened seating gallery on the second floor.
“For the first time in about 80 years,” he noted, “the balcony was used by the women.”
Irkutsk and Bircas Hachamo How appropriate and timely for the refurbishment of the Irkutsk Synagogue to be taking place now in the days before the Bircas Hachamo ceremony. In the Responsa - Chayei Oilom Notta, end of Chapter 14, by Rabbi Nosson Notta Alevsky of Irkutsk, East Siberia, Rabbi Alevsky notes that "...on Wednesday, Nissan 14 this year of 5685 [this year Bircas Hachamo is also on Nissan 14], we said the Bircas Hachamo amongst a gathering of Hashem's people, here in Irkutsk, and we also made the blessing of Sh'heche'yonu"
Sayling the blessing of Sh'heche'yonu [despite his correspondence with the Rogatshover Ga'on] was an innovation at that time. This custom was embraced by the Rebbe in 5741 [1981] - see the Sichois of Shabbos Hachoidesh, 5741 and subsequent list of Minhogim for Bircas Hachamo produced by the Rebbe at that time [Likkutei SIchois, Volume 22, Page 201/202].
I wish Rabbi Aharon and his wife Dorit Wagner continued Hatzlocho in their holy work, and the coming of Moshiach, now!