HaRav Yitzchok Silber, founder of Toldos Yeshurun, a
nationwide Jewish studies program for Russian speakers, and
Zoeir Gilelov, president of the World Congress for Caucasus
Jewry, have initiated a program to train avreichim and
bnei yeshivos from the Caucasus to lead communities in
Israel and abroad.
Hundreds of Caucasus Jews, rabbonim, roshei yeshivos
and public figures from Israel, the US, Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Kazakhstan participated in the founding convention of the
World Committee for Rabbis of Jewish Communities from the
Caucasus held in Jerusalem.
"Avreichim from the Caucasus educated in the holy
yeshivas in Israel and abroad will be trained to lead
Caucasus communities in Israel and abroad," read a statement
issued during the convention. "These youths will join the
Toldos Yeshurun network of Torah and Judaism shiurim
and evening kollelim and will work to infuse Jewish
values, Jewish tradition and the Caucasus minhagim
preserved from generation to generation."
Speakers included HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, HaRav Yitzchok
Silber, HaRav Reuven Elbaz, HaRav Eliyahu Abba Shaul, HaRav
Yaakov Chaim Sofer, HaRav Avrohom Shmuelevitz, HaRav Yonah
Metzger, HaRav Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, Moscow av beis
din HaRav Pinchos Goldschmidt, Kazakhstan Chief Rabbi
Yeshayohu Cohen, Georgia Chief Rabbi Ariel Levine, Congress
President R' Zoeir Gilelov, Wolfson Foundation Director Rav
Eliezer Rosner, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Rabbi Uri Maklev,
HaRav Zecharya Mattityahu, Rav Beit HaKnesset Beit Tanchum
for Caucasus immigrants and one of their leading activists,
HaRav Yehuda Yaakobov, various other rabbonim, roshei
yeshivos, public figures and representatives of Jewish
organizations.
During the conference, HaRav Silber's son HaRav Ben Tzion
read aloud letters of support sent by HaRav Yehuda Ades and
HaRav Yisroel Gans. The impressive event, held in several
languages, with simultaneous translation, was led by Holy
Sites Director- General Rabbi Yosef Shwinger.
"Bein Hametzarim is a special time of the year and a time to
contemplate all that has happened to Am Yisroel since the
destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh," said HaRav Shmuel
Auerbach, speaking at the conference opening. "It is good to
witness a gathering of our cherished brethren who preserve
their uniqueness and heritage, as is written, `Mamleches
kohanim vegoy kodosh.'
"Caucasus Jewry had the merit of bringing forth numerous
chachomim and lomdei Torah and today's
convention is a great milestone, particularly since it has
the support of Toldos Yeshurun under the leadership of the
Gaon HaRav Silber shlita who, together with the
members of the organization, is already engaged in bringing
our brethren closer to authentic, pure Judaism as handed down
to us from generation to generation. During this period in
which we bemoan and weep over the Churban, you have the merit
to hold this convention and to act as representatives of your
kehillos, which is part of hastening the Geulah
and the building of the Beis Hamikdosh in the days
to come."
The great awakening in various cities across Israel after the
success of the Toldos Yeshurun convention held several months
ago with HaRav Auerbach and HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman
in attendance helped promote the idea for the convention for
Caucasus Jewry. HaRav Silber enlisted the help of R' Gilelov,
who traveled from Moscow to Jerusalem along with a 50-member
delegation headed by Moscow Av Beis Din HaRav Goldschmidt to
take part in the convention.
Speaking at the convention, R' Gilelov said 15,000 Jewish
migrants from the Caucasus now live in Moscow. "The Beit
Knesset and spiritual center I built in Moscow for Caucasus
Jews allows us to emphasize the uniqueness of Caucasus Jewry
within the large mosaic of Jewry in Russia." Gilelov added
that to the best of his knowledge no such gathering to
discuss the spiritual future of Caucasus Jews had been held
for over 200 years. "I am merely perpetuating the legacy of
my father Hy'd, who founded the Foundation for the
Preservation and Development of Jewish Culture. And I am
pleased to be taking part in building the infrastructure for
the guidance and leadership of the Caucasus-Jewish
communities, wherever they may be."
