Limmud fsu moscow 2019
Honoring Rabbi Steinsaltz - 30 years since first USSR yeshiva opens
April 14, 2019
Limmud fsu moscow 2019
Honoring Rabbi Steinsaltz - 30 years since first USSR yeshiva opens
April 14, 2019
Exhibition launched at Limmud FSU Moscow 2019 honoring Israel Prize laureate Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, marking 30 yrs since opening of first USSR yeshiva.
The world-renowned rabbi is especially noted for his commentary on the Babylonian Talmud, and he was the first to establish a yeshiva in Moscow (in 1989). This was the first in what was then still the Soviet Union, and the first to receive official recognition by the Russian government.
Rabbi Berel Lazar: "To speak about the greatness of Rabbi Steinsaltz in just a few minutes is an impossible task. I can say one thing: I still remember the inauguration of his Yeshiva. He was the first person to bring in ordinary people with no prior knowledge of the world of the Talmud."
Aaron G. Frenkel, Zeev Elkin and Chaim Chesler. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Aaron G. Frenkel, Zeev Elkin and Chaim Chesler.
Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
A central feature of the event was the inauguration of a new exhibition based on the life's work and heritage of the noted Chabad rabbi, which was attended by some 2,000 young Jewish participants taking part in the annual Limmud FSU Moscow festival.
The exhibit was produced especially for the event by Limmud FSU and the Steinsaltz Center in Jerusalem, today directed by the rabbi's son, Meni Even-Israel, and was the result of a first-time cooperation between the organizations. Rabbi Steinsaltz was one of the first spiritual leaders of Limmud FSU and took part in its inaugural event in Moscow in 2006.
The exhibit was produced especially for the event by Limmud FSU and the Steinsaltz Center in Jerusalem, today directed by the rabbi's son, Meni Even-Israel, and was the result of a first-time cooperation between the organizations. Rabbi Steinsaltz was one of the first spiritual leaders of Limmud FSU and took part in its inaugural event in Moscow in 2006.
Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Rabbi Berel Lazar. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Aaron G. Frenkel. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Minister Elkin. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
L-R : Limmud FSU President Aaron G. Frenkel, Vice President of the Russian Jewish Congress German Zaharyaev, Vice President of the Euro-Asian Congress Moshe Shvets, Cheif Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, Israeli Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Environmental Protection Zeev Elkin, Limmud FSU Founder Chaim Chesler and Israel's Ambassador to the Russian Federation Gary Koren. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Ambassador Gary Koren. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Chaim Chesler. Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
Courtesy of Eli Itkin.
At the festive opening, a round-table discussion took place on the philosophy and heritage of the rabbi with the participation of distinguished guests from Israel and elsewhere including Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia; Israeli Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Environmental Protection Zeev Elkin, Steinsaltz's student himself;Gary Koren, Israel's Ambassador to the Russian Federation; Aaron G. Frenkel, President of Limmud FSU; Moshe Shvets, Vice President of the Euro-Asian Congress; Chaim Chesler, founder of Limmud FSU; Lia Shvets, Director of the Russian-speaking programs of the Steinsaltz Center; curator of the exhibit Uri Gershovich; coacher and psychologist Nesia Ferdman who also moderated the discussion and more.
Rabbi Berel Lazar said: "To speak about the greatness of Rabbi Steinsaltz in just a few minutes is an impossible task. I can say one thing: I still remember the inauguration of his Yeshiva. He was the first person to bring in ordinary people with no prior knowledge of the world of the Talmud. He was the first person to open the door to the world of Jewish learning to the simple person from the street. That is what Rabbi Steinsaltz has attempted to do throughout the world - to make Jewish studies accessible. For that, he deserves our deepest thanks."
Rabbi Berel Lazar said: "To speak about the greatness of Rabbi Steinsaltz in just a few minutes is an impossible task. I can say one thing: I still remember the inauguration of his Yeshiva. He was the first person to bring in ordinary people with no prior knowledge of the world of the Talmud. He was the first person to open the door to the world of Jewish learning to the simple person from the street. That is what Rabbi Steinsaltz has attempted to do throughout the world - to make Jewish studies accessible. For that, he deserves our deepest thanks."
Minister Elkin said during the event: "For me this is an event of deep emotion. I was familiar with Rabbi Steinsaltz through his books at the beginning of my own entry into the world of Jewish learning, even before I arrived at the Yeshiva. I was not myself from Moscow but each time I visited the city in the years 1989 and 1990, I would visit the Yeshiva. It was a place where one could always be assured of an interesting lesson or the possibility of spending Shabbat. For me, the first Yeshiva in Russia was for me a real home."
During the opening of the exhibition, Limmud FSU founder Chaim Chesler said, "We are greatly honored that one of the Torah greats of this generation, Rabbi Steinsaltz, was involved at the very beginning of Limmud FSU and we have made every effort since then to direct our activities in his path."
During the opening of the exhibition, Limmud FSU founder Chaim Chesler said, "We are greatly honored that one of the Torah greats of this generation, Rabbi Steinsaltz, was involved at the very beginning of Limmud FSU and we have made every effort since then to direct our activities in his path."
