Greeting from Putin, new restaurant and food baskets: How the Jewish community in Moscow is preparing for Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish community in Moscow has completed its preparations for the High Holidays, including the opening of a new kosher restaurant, distribution of thousands of food baskets to the needy, and an official greeting from Russian President Putin to the country's chief rabbi. The preparations reflect a development boom of community, education, and welfare institutions in the Russian capital.
The Jewish community in Moscow has in recent days completed its preparations for the High Holidays, amid a significant development boom of community, education, and welfare institutions across the Russian capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a special greeting letter to the country's chief rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, and to all Jews of Russia for the new year. In his letter, Putin noted that Rosh Hashanah symbolizes a striving for moral and spiritual elevation, and praised the contribution of Jewish organizations to social and educational projects and charitable initiatives. Similar letters were also sent by senior government officials and the Moscow municipality. The holiday preparations were accompanied by a practical expansion of community services: a new kosher restaurant named "Kosher Style" opened on Novo-Slobodskaya Street, committing to affordable prices for all. Meanwhile, the "Shaarei Tzedek" Jewish charity center distributed thousands of food baskets to low-income families, the elderly, and the lonely. During the holidays, thousands of people are expected to visit the main "Marina Roshcha" synagogue, and community volunteers will visit hospitals and prisons in the area.