BIROBIDJAN, Russia - The Jewish Community of Birobidjan, along with the rest of the city's population is currently busy making preparations for the 70th anniversary of the of the Jewish Autonomous Republic (JAR), which is to occur next week.
Established as a Jewish Autonomous Region seventy years ago, Birobidjan was going to be Stalin's solution to the "Jewish problem." This province in the Russian Far East, bordering the People's Republic of China some five thousand miles east of Moscow, was his idea of a "Soviet Zion" where Russia's purged Jewish population would be resettled.
At its peak, Stalin's failed plan drew only 35,000 Jews, but the province retains vestiges of a Jewish past that is now largely expressed in a reemergence of the Yiddish language, Jewish concerts and festivals, and kosher-style foods. Jewish culture, in fact, appears to be the latest fad in this region marked by a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and a stable economy. Also unusual here is an absence of anti-Semitism, so that even gentiles enjoy the benefits of local Jewish cultural activity.
The Regional Government has announced that Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar has agreed to take part in the celebration. Rabbi Lazar and Avraham Berkowitz, the Executive Director of the Federation of Jewish Communities CIS will lead a delegation to Birobidjan for the event.
Originally set to take place on Saturday, September 11th, the main event for this celebration was subsequently re-scheduled for Friday, September 10th, out of respect for those observing Shabbat. The remainder of the festivities involved in the celebration will take place as originally scheduled.
In anticipation of the anniversary, the 'Freud' Jewish Community of Birobidjan is organizing many events.
Perhaps the most significant occasion for the Jewish community is the opening of the new Synagogue, a long-anticipated event. A major portion of the funds has been contributed by the Joint Distribution Committee and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia. Local authorities also allotted significant funds for this construction project. The remainder came from private donors, including local businessmen and Jewish charity foundations, both in Russia and abroad. The Synagogue building will host the Jewish Community Center, the Sunday School and a kosher soup kitchen.
Rabbi Mordechai Scheiner the Chief Rabbi of Birobidjan 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. Its safe without any Anti-Semitism and we plan to open the first Jewish day school here". It is estimated that at least 3,000 Jews live today in the city.
Festivities also include the inauguration of a new monument to the renowned Jewish writer Sholom Aleichem on September 10th. "Many local residents feel the statue to be a natural development for the city," said Jewish Community Chairman Lev Toitman. "The sense of Jewishness in this region is only getting stronger," he affirmed. The statue occupies the city's central street, which also bears the name of the writer.
The idea of putting up a monument to the "Jewish Mark Twain" came about 20 years ago. The original plan was that the most famous characters of his novels would surround the writer. At that time, this would have been the first and the only monument to a Yiddish writer.
However, it was in Moscow that the first monument to Sholom Aleichem was eventually erected. Now, many years after the original plan, this once-booming center of Jewish culture will also have its own monument.
Partially designed by local artist Vladislav Tsap, the work involved in creating this monument was undertaken in China. The statue's foundation made of bronze bas-relief, features scenes from the life of a Jewish shtetl.
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