Russia: Hanukkah celebration at huge Jewish center

Hundreds attended last night (Sunday) the inauguration and setting of a mezuzah at the new Jewish community center in Russia.
The event featured rabbis, politicians and public figures, including Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, Rabbi Alexander Boroda. The ceremony also featured the lighting of the first candle of Hanukkah. The ceremony was accompanied by the local philharmonic orchestra.
In the new campus which is located in the suburban Jokovkah near Moscow, about 20 million dollars were invested. The construction of the complex – about 5500 sqm- lasted about 4 years, with a European architecture overseeing the entire building process.
In fact, this is the largest opening of a Jewish center in Russia for the last 15 years.

Coverage of the synagogue in Russia. Photo: World 24

The ceremony was held in the freezing cold, addressed by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar, who said that "the main ingredient in every synagogue is light. You can build any structure as such, but with no light, with no spirit - it will be just another building. Today, the first candle of Hanukkah, we are placing a light into the new structure. This is what we learn from Chanukah. The entire right to exist, the way to win, are all just because of the light, the holiness and spirituality that we'll put into the new building. I have no doubt that this structure that we open today, is the most magnificent synagogue in the whole world."
Thereafter Rabbi Alexander Boroda spoke and said: "The root of the word "Hanukkah" is H.n.c., in the sense of housewarming. After the great miracle of the Jewish victory over the Greeks, they all marched with great joy to the big house, the temple, rebuilt it and thus inaugurated the house of G-d. The house we are dedicating today is also a kind of temple - a small temple. We are excited about this great housewarming, and even more pleased that it is happening on the very day that Hanukkah starts – the initiation".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!