DZERZHINSK, Russia – Jews from the Russian city of Dzerzhinsk held a celebration of the first anniversary of the Synagogue’s opening in this town, which was closed under the Soviet regime. The local community had double reason to celebrate, as this event coincided with the joyous holiday of Purim.
The ‘Erev Tov’ Klezmer Band and the ‘Dobriy Vecher’ Ensemble from Nizhny Novgorod traveled to Dzerzhinsk to participate in this gala event. The program was very interesting. The city’s Chief Rabbi Pinchas Klimash read the ‘Megilat Esther’, while community members made noise with rattles they had borrowed from the Jewish kindergarten.
Purim presents were delivered to community members to the accompaniment of traditional and modern Jewish music. As it is required by the rules of the holiday, the kosher dinner was very tasty and was followed by cheerful dances.
Another personal reason for celebration for Rabbi Pinchas and Chana Klimash was their daughter turning one month old. Rabbi Klimash noted that G-d had probably seen the genuine joy of local Jews, with all of these events celebrated at once. The next day, the Dzerzhinsk City Council decreed that the Jewish community would be granted 15 years of free use of the Synagogue building, which belongs to the municipality and has, until this day, been rented by the local community. This is the first Synagogue to ever exist in this closed under the Soviet regime city.
On this day, a separate Purim party took place at the Jewish kindergarten. The tots enjoyed wearing their carnival costumes. The youngsters also sang, danced and ate traditional homentaschen, most doing so for the first time in their young lives.
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