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NEWS
Founding Convention for Caucasus Kiruv Organization
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

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."

 

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