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A Yom Tov to Remember: Thousands at Marina Roscha in Moscow

Masses of Jews gathered for Hoshana Rabbah minyanim at the Marina Roscha Central Synagogue in central Moscow / The community gabbaim completed the construction of a massive bimah and implemented logistical innovations to accommodate the thousands expected for Simchas Torah / The chain of holiday events included two moving Bris Milah ceremonies • Read More, Photos

Hoshana Rabbah at the Marina Roscha Central Synagogue in central Moscow began at the stroke of midnight. As many dedicated themselves to the traditional recitation of Sefer Tehillim, the large sukkah bustled with activity. Inside “Grisha’s Zimmer,” the hospitality room within the sukkah complex, attendees were served slices of apple with honey, bowls of fresh, steaming soup, and hot beverages. This warm spread invigorated the many individuals studying in preparation for the day the heavenly decree is sealed. Come morning, the stillness of the night was replaced by the sounds of prayer echoing throughout the grand sanctuary.

The early morning hours presented a vibrant scene of Jewish flourishing, as numerous Shacharis minyanim were held side-by-side to accommodate the endless stream of congregants. At the heart of the activity was the main Hoshana Rabbah minyan, attended by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar. The prayers were intertwined with the joyous celebration of two consecutive, moving Bris Milah ceremonies. For this special occasion, the mara d’asra of Bryansk, the mohel and shaliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Zaklas, traveled specifically to Moscow.

Behind the scenes, the gabbaim and a skilled team of workers labored tirelessly to prepare the premises for the thousands of celebrants expected for Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah. The complex infrastructural work included constructing a massive bimah at the eastern wall of the synagogue, where community dignitaries and the Sifrei Torah would stand facing the masses. This year also featured a refreshing organizational innovation: newly installed illuminated signs, placed in prominent locations, provided the vast crowd with real-time updates on the current hakafah. This allowed everyone to participate in the mass celebration with exemplary order.

The holiday reached its climax on the night of Simchas Torah, as thousands of Jews packed the sanctuary to embrace the Torah and express gratitude to the Almighty for the revealed miracles in the Holy Land involving the ‘Fly Dubai’ flight. This followed the deeply emotional words of awakening delivered by the Chief Rabbi regarding the great miracle that left the entire world in awe—miracles for which the Shehecheyanu blessing is recited on Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.

At one o’clock in the morning, hundreds of celebrants poured into the city streets. Their goal was to extend the tremendous joy outward, drawing down its spiritual influence upon the millions of city residents and for the entire year ahead.

On Isru Chag, the dismantling of the hakafos bimah at the eastern wall began, leaving behind an indelible memory of holiness and light. The joyous dancing and remarkable unity experienced in the sanctuary of the Marina Roscha Synagogue will continue to accompany and warm the entire community throughout a winter filled with Torah, mitzvos, and blessed Chassidic endeavors.

Photography: Levi Nazarov