Birobidzhan Synagogue

The Birobidzhan Synagogue was established in 2004. The synagogue is in the city of Birobidzhan which is the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, an autonomous oblast of Russia. Birobidzhan Synagogue is "the first synagogue in Russia to be built partly with the state money," according to the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS. [ [http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/041008/revival.shtml A Jewish revival in Birobidzhan? In Stalin's former Jewish haven, locals say ground is ripe for rebirth] Jewish News] [ [http://www.fjc.ru/communities/jewishlife.asp?AID=160734 Jewish Life in Birobidjan, Russia] Federation of Jewish Communities]

2004 opening

In 2004 Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar took part in the 70th anniversery celebration for the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Rabbi Lazar and Avraham Berkowitz, the Executive Director of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS led a delegation to Birobidzhan for the event. Mayor Alexander Vinnikov, and Valery Solomonovich Gurevich also participated in the opening. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=166969 Far East Community Prepares for 70th Anniversary of Jewish Autonomous Republic] Federation of Jewish Communities] Governor Nikolay Mikhaylovich Volkov stated that the Birobidzhan Synagogue is the Jewish Autonomous Oblast's first, "kosher synagogue, according to Jewish law." [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=175487 Remote Russian Jews Get Synagogues] Federation of Jewish Communities] Rabbi Mordechai Scheiner, the Chief Rabbi of Birobidzhan and Chabad Lubavitch representative to the region, said "Today one can enjoy the benefits of the Yiddish culture and not be afraid to return to their Jewish traditions. It is safe without any Anti-Semitism and we plan to open the first Jewish day school here". [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=166969 Far East Community Prepares for 70th Anniversary of Jewish Autonomous Republic] Federation of Jewish Communities] The local Jewish Community leader, Lev Toitman, also participated. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=566776 Far East Jewish Community Chairman Passes Away] Federation of Jewish Communities]

Jewish community

According to Rabbi Scheiner there are 4,000 Jews in Birobidzhan, or just over 5 percent of the town's 75,000 population. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=525676&cid=84435&NewsType=80052 From Tractors to Torah in Russia's Jewish Land] Federation of Jewish Communties] In 2006, Rabbi Scheiner visited the villages of Bira (Jewish Autonomous Oblast), Naifeld, Londoko, Birakan and Birofeld with the Jewish Community of Birobidzhan. Together they inspected local cemeteries and gathered information about the Jews buried there in the years prior to World War Two. The names of these individuals are listed in the Memory Book in the Birobidzhan Synagogue. The dates of birth and death are written down according to the Hebrew calendar as well as the modern calendar. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=397514 Jewish Cemeteries Catalog for Birobidjan] Federation of Jewish Communites] As of 2007, some of the original Jewish settlers were still present in these villages. [ [http://vostokmedia.com/news.print.php?id=94204 International Yiddish Summer School Opens in Birobidzhan] VOSTOK MEDIA] Lev Toitman led the community of Birobidzhan from 1997 until he died on September 11, 2007. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=566776 Far East Jewish Community Chairman Passes Away] Federation of Jewish Communities]

International support

In 2004, the Jewish community in Birobidzhan received an Aron Kodesh. This special storage case for the Torah, from Birobidzhan's sister city in China, was made in accordance with Jewish canons. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=213233 Birobidjan Jews Get High Tech Gift From Chinese Sister City] Federation of Jewish Communities] In 2008, Shalom Brandman a resident of Ramat Gan, Israel, donated a Judaic studies collection to the synagogue after his visit to Birobidzhan during the 2007 summer Yiddish program. [ [http://www.fjc.ru/communities/news.asp?AID=637828&cid=84435&NewsType=80052 Jewish Library Gets Helping Hand in Birobidjan] Federation of Jewish Communities]

ee also

*Birobidzhan Jewish National University‎
*Jews and Judaism in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast
*Beit T'shuva

References