4 days ago

Erev Pesach in Moscow: Rabbi Berel Lazar Burns & Sells Chametz

For Pesach, a record number of Matzah distributions and public Pesach Seders will be held in Russia. • Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his Pesach greetings through the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar • Full Story, Photos

For Pesach, a record number of Matzah distributions and public Pesach Seders will be held in Russia. And Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his Pesach greetings through the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar.

This year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of requests for matzah and yom tov supplies, as well as a large number of people participating in the Pesach Seder. As Yom Tov comes in on motzei shabbos this year hundreds of Jews will gather for the main Pesach Seder, which for about thirty years has been led by the Chief Rabbi. Thousands more will participate in various public Pesach Seders, which will be held in many neighborhoods throughout the capital, at different Chabad houses under the direction of the Director of the Jewish communities in Moscow, Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg.

At the Shaarei Tzedek Jewish Charity Center, it was noted with great satisfaction that the logistical preparations for the needy, especially those who are lonely and bedridden in their homes or hospitals, with every request being handled in advance, in parallel with the ‘Kimcha DePischa’ operation for anyone feeling the yom tov pressure.

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“To the Jews of Russia: I hereby congratulate you on the occasion of the holiday of Passover. This holiday is especially cherished by all Jews throughout the world, as it reminds us of the great and important event in the history of the Jewish people, the exodus from slavery to freedom” – this is how the congratulatory letter sent ahead of Pesach by Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin began. As is tradition, he sent it through the Chief Rabbi of Russia to all Russian Jews.

He continues with words of blessing that were later repeated by many media outlets: “It is gratifying to see that the Jewish community in Russia is doing much to preserve the religious tradition and customs of its people, instilling in the younger generation to respect the heritage of their ancestors.”

“The religious formula and customs of the people, educating the younger generation to respect the heritage of their ancestors in culture and spirituality, are especially appreciated. The active participation of Russian Jews in public life in our country is particularly appreciated, and their contribution is noticeable in promoting patriotic, educational and enlightening initiatives and programs, and in blessed charitable projects. I wish you good health and success in all your endeavors. Vladimir Putin.”

This letter expresses the great respect that the residents of Russia have for the Jews of the country wherever they are, and especially for the Torah and educational institutions, and the shuls that are filled with many Jews, especially on Jewish holidays, when the neshamos of many are awakened and drawn to join their brothers out of freedom and the opportunity to live a Jewish life in the fullest sense of the word in the largest country in the world, without fear of disturbance.

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A congratulatory letter was sent on erev yom tov on behalf of the Office of the Chief Rabbi of Russia to all communities throughout the country, in which the Chief Rabbi tastefully explains the importance of remembering yetzias mitzrayim and believing in Hashem at every moment and in every situation. He concludes his remarks with an appeal to every Jew with these words: “All these ideas are embodied in the symbol of Pesach: matzah. This is the “bread of poverty” – it was eaten in mitzrayim because there was no money to buy real bread.

This is the “bread of faith” – people followed Hashem without even waiting for new bread to be baked. This is the “bread of humility” – symbolizing the opposite of leavened bread, which, the more it is baked, the more it appears to rise. On Seder night, we “break matzah” – a clear reminder that we must share with others. And finally, matzah is the “bread of freedom” – it is what our ancestors ate when they left mitzrayim, from slavery to redemption.

And the Rabbi concludes his blessing: “All of this must not only be remembered: it must be “learned and taught, preserved and done.”

“Learned” means to learn from the experience of the generation of Moshe Rabbeinu, the generation that chose freely. And to teach the next generation – it is not for nothing that the Torah explicitly tells us: “And you shall tell your son.” So that the generations that come after us will also know that there is a true purpose in our lives, and that Hakadosh Baruch Hu will always help when we advance confidently and without fear toward this purpose. “To preserve and do” means to live according to these laws, not only to remember them, but to be guided by them. And that is what I wis each and every one of you, together with your loved ones, and out entire people this Pesach”.

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In the photos: Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, selling the chametz for Russian Jews and burning the chametz in the courtyards of Moscow’s central shul in Marina Roscha.

Photography: Levi Nazarov