The Jewish community of Novosibirsk numbers about 25,000 Jews. As this community is located in the capital city of Siberia, it is the focal point for most of the Jewish communities in the region. Siberia region numbers about 70,000 Jews.
The Jewish community underwent a dramatic rebirth with the arrival of Rabbi Shneur Zalmen Zaklos and his wife, Miriam, emissaries of the Lubavicher Rebbe, who assumed the vacant post of community Rabbi. Rabbi Zaklos had arrived from Israel in Novosibirsk just 10 days prior to a shocking anti-Semitic pogrom in Novosibirsk on Purim (March) 1999. When calm was restored, the Jewish residents found their sacred synagogue maliciously vandalized, its Torah scrolls and holy books torn and trampled, its furniture destroyed, and Nazi graffiti sprayed on its walls in black paint.
Rabbi Zaklos, together with the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FJCR), and the "Or Avner" Foundation, rallied the community, repaired the synagogue, and was successful in launching a renewed enthusiasm in Jewish communal pride. The Jewish community is now experiencing a significant renaissance. There is an active Jewish educational system; an active and vibrant synagogue and community center; and a rebirth of the time-honored Jewish tradition of assisting the many indigent and needy Jews in the city. This vigorous Jewish presence is not limited to assisting and providing for the residents of Novosibirsk alone, but also reaches out to the many Jews in the surrounding region.
For 70 years, under Communist rule, atheism swept Russia, leaving the Jews struggling to maintain their identity. Many failed in their struggle. Those who persisted are in dire need of humanitarian assistance - physical, moral and educational. Their struggle was not in vain.
Religion
After the tragic pogrom of Purim 1999, the community temporarily rented a building, in the middle of the city, to be used as the community's synagogue and Community Center. This temporary situation is until a new, large building will be erected for this purpose. The old synagogue was so badly damaged that repairs are just not financially feasible. There are prayer services in the synagogue daily. On Shabbat, the synagogue is full of worshipers. The synagogue provides classes in Judaism, Hebrew, and any other religious teachings and activities as required, such as:
Humanitarian Aid
There are many members of the greater Novosibirsk Jewish community that suffer from the ravages of poverty. There are also many elderly and those in chronic poor health who find daily life a major struggle. The community extends humanitarian assistance to all those that request it - and to those that are brought to our attention. This assistance, in the finest tradition of Jewish communal ethics, is free of charge to those receiving the relief. Some of the assistance consists of:
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Hot Meals - Every day the community provides warm meals to 30 persons.
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Food Distribution - The community distributes thousands of food packages to the needy.
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Medicine Fund - The community assists the needy with obtaining necessary, expensive medicines.
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Needy Family Fund - The community provides some desperately impoverished families with monthly cash allotments.
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Doctor's Service - The community has developed a team of doctors that provide medical services - free of charge - to the needy.
Education
Quality education has always been one of Judaism's most important issues, and the dream of every Jewish mother. Through the generosity of the "Or Avner" Fund, headed by the famed philanthropist, Mr. Lev Leviev, the community was able to establish a Jewish school that provides daily classes for 180 children.
The children benefit from a high level of education with special perks. Among the favorite subjects are history and Jewish traditions.
The community school system consists of:
The entire school system is imbued with the importance of humanitarian assistance and love for your fellow man. The school staff regularly visits the homes of the children to understand their most personal and important needs.
Almost 50 percent of the students in the school system come from single parent homes; 40 percent are either ill or suffer illness that requires medication or constant checkups by doctors; and over 80 percent come from families that live below the poverty line.
All the children in the system receive 3 full meals a day. The system has a full time doctor and nurse on staff. Two fully stocked clinical treatment rooms are available for those children that may need them.
There is free transportation to and from school.
Prior to every holiday, there are special activities for the school children and their parents.
Children's Choir
The school system has established a professional quality choir. These talented children perform at all the community functions, as well as in cities and towns around Novosibirsk.
Summer Camp
Every summer, the school system organizes a two-week summer camp full of exciting activities. The Novosibirsk region is blessed with beautiful areas that are a heaven to people that love the outdoors all over Siberia.
Buildings
To our great satisfaction, the community's activities are expanding. More people are joining our events and becoming identified with the Jewish community. The temporary quarters that were rented are bursting at the seams from the multitude of activities. The time has come for this venerable Jewish community to build a large useful community synagogue and community center - a necessity not allowed it in over 70 years of persecution. The school system is in need to accommodate more students, yet the physical structure makes this growth improbable.
The dream of the Jewish Community of Novosibirsk is for a Central Synagogue -one that brings honor to the Jewish religion; a large Community Center - one that brings out the finest traditions of Jewish communal life; and a large furnished Jewish Community School - a place where our religion and our traditions can be passed on to the generations to come. The initiation of the building program for the Central Synagogue and Jewish Community Center has begun. The City of Novosibirsk granted the community a plot of land in the center of the city. The community has also received a generous donation earmarked for the building from the Rohr Family.
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