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From Moscow to Lubavitch: An Uplifting First Selichos

Moscow Jewry ushered in the Days of Mercy and Selichot at three main prayer centers around the world / These were preceded by moments of spiritual awakening, including preparatory farbrengens and moving prayers / In the United States, supporters of the Russian Torah World Fund gathered for a special event of undertaking good resolutions • Read More, Photos

The atmosphere of the month of Elul and the Days of Mercy reached its peak as the gates of heaven opened with the first recitation of Selichos.

At the central Marina Roscha Synagogue in the heart of Moscow, the spiritual preparation began hours earlier with a deep, soulful Chassidic farbrengen that melted hearts and readied the congregation for this uplifting moment.

As the clock struck midnight, the baal tefillah, Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Koenig, stepped up to the amud. His captivating voice roused the crowds filling the sanctuary, and traditional melodies poured from their hearts in an atmosphere of sincere awakening ahead of the New Year.

Simultaneously, in the village of Lyubavichi – the cradle of Chabad Chassidus – many convoys of travelers had departed from Moscow on Friday afternoon for an uplifting Shabbos. Organized and led by the local shaliach, Rabbi Gavriel Gordon, with the assistance of Rabbi Nachman Waksman, the Shabbat was attended by two hundred avreichim and students, including a group from the Yeshiva Gedolah along with their director, Rabbi Yechezkel Lazar.

Shabbos day began in the early morning hours with the recitation of the entire Book of Tehillim near the holy Ohel, and continued until the conclusion of Shabbat with classes, prayers, and inspiring Chassidic farbrengens.

Joining this moving journey to the village were the Rabbi of nearby Smolensk, shaliach Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Mondshine, and shaliach Rabbi Shimon Bergman, Rabbi of Nizhny Novgorod, who came alongside groups of mekuravim from their respective cities for a journey of spiritual strengthening. Following a Melaveh Malka farbrengen in the “Large Zal” of the original Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva, which properly prepared the participants for Selichos, everyone gathered after midnight in the synagogue adjacent to the holy Ohel. The baal tefillah, Rabbi Zalman Shimon Deren, led the prayers, shaking the very soul with Chassidic warmth.

The third center was held once again this year in the United States, for a special delegation of supporters and philanthropists of the ‘Russian Torah World Fund.’ Headed by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, the delegation gathered for a Shabbos dedicated entirely to spiritual awakening and preparation for the High Holy Days. The gathering took place in close proximity to the holy Ohel of the Rebbe, and was meticulously organized by the director of the Moscow Jewish community, Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg.

The Selichos service was held at midnight in the Rebbe’s private residence. The baal tefillah, Rabbi Moshe Zilbershtein, led the order of Selichos with his deeply moving voice, wonderfully connecting those present to the atmosphere of the High Holy Days.

The participants departed the gathering with a sense of spiritual elevation, undertaking good resolutions to continue their steadfast strengthening and support of Russian Jewry’s Torah institutions for a good and sweet New Year.

Photos: Community Spokesperson