Deceased MK's mysterious aid to Chabad emissaries

Only now - after six years, can one tell a little more about one of the complicated, complex and daring affair, one of many – of the amazing activities of the Chabad emissaries in Russia.

About six years ago, the body of a Jewish nurse named Yelena Varshavskia hy"d, who fought in the Red Army as a doctor against the Nazis, when they invaded the Soviet Union – was discovered in an unexpected way. After more than 60 years, the body was located in the city center of Tallinn, Estonia, where she was murdered on 5th Tishrei during the medical treatment given to wounded soldiers. The Estonian government wanted to evacuate her bones and remove the monument of the Red Army as political step against the Russian government.

With Divine Providence, the Central Chevra Kadisha in Moscow learned of this, and after a thorough check, her only nephew, who survived the ordeal, was discovered. DNA testing proved beyond all doubt that one of the elderly residents of the Jewish charity center - Shaare Zedek was her nephew. Chevra Kadisha and Cehssed Center activists, agreed with him that he would demand of the Estonian government to accept the body of the victim for Jewish burial.

In order for the Estonian government to agree to this step, and to obtain her bones - much comprehensive and subtle, bold and highly sophisticated activity was necessary. Indeed, with the assistance of the "Federation of Jewish Communities in the CIS", there was a distinguished and well-publicized funeral at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, attended by the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, who as a Holocaust survivor, gave a most moving speech, Chief Rabbi of Russia Hagr"b Lazar , the Chevra Kadisha Rav in Tel Aviv and ZAKA - Yaakov Roze, a delegation of the IDF and Chevra Kadisha Prushim of Jerusalem - who conducted the funeral, according to the known customs of Jerusalem.

At that time, MK Marina Solodkin a"h, who died this Shabbos in Riga, Soviet Latvia - was involved in the affair, and she even came to attend the funeral, along with many veterans and Holocaust survivors living in Israel.

Marina did not hide her excitement at the honorable ceremony and last honor awarded to that merciful Jewish nurse, and noted the unusual activity of Chief Rabbi of Russia, Harav Lazar.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!