Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world, where Chabad Chassidut was founded, and where its center remained from its founding until the winter of 5688 (1928). It suffered from regimes that persecuted Torah-observant Jews, and many Chassidim gave their lives there for Kiddush Hashem. Today, the Shlichus enterprise flourishes there. The Chief Rabbi of Russia is Rabbi Berel Lazar.

On Shemini Atzeret 5731 (1971), the Rebbe appointed Rabbi Yehuda Butarshvili as Russia's representative to the Chassidic UN.

The Russian Empire[edit | edit source]

The country was called the Russian Empire from its beginning until the first revolution in 5678 (1918). In Russia's early days, Jews were forbidden to live in the territory of the country, and the number of Jews there was small. In 5524 (1764), the partition of Poland began between the surrounding powers, and the part annexed to Russia included Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and parts of Poland. Many Jews lived in Poland at that time and found themselves under Russian rule without livelihood. The Russian government, for its part, forbade Jews to live in its original territories so as not to "steal" the livelihood of Russians, and limited the area of Jewish residence to certain districts called the "Pale of Settlement."

During that period, the Alter Rebbe, together with other students of the Maggid of Mezritch, began to make journeys to villages in the Pale of Settlement to encourage Jews to engage in farming and raising livestock. The Alter Rebbe also contributed his dowry funds to settle Jews in agricultural lands and to develop Jewish agriculture in Russia.

In 5559 (1799), the Alter Rebbe was arrested due to the slander of the Mitnagdim that he was collecting money for the Land of Israel under Turkish rule, thereby strengthening the Turkish government, which was an enemy of Russia. He was imprisoned in the "Petropavlovsky Fortress," and was eventually released on the 19th of Kislev, which has since been celebrated in Chabad Chassidut. In 5561 (1801), he was arrested again, this time because of an accusation that the teachings of Chassidut contained content that incited rebellion against the monarchy. This time, the Alter Rebbe was housed in a more respectable residence, and after a period was given an apartment in Petersburg, but was forbidden to leave the city until the investigation was completed. It is told that on the 25th of Adar, he stood at the window and saw Tsar Paul I passing by in his carriage on the street and said that he saw that the glory of royalty had departed from him, and that night Paul was murdered and was succeeded by his son Tsar Alexander I.

During the Napoleonic War, the Alter Rebbe supported Russia's victory, unlike some of the Maggid's students who supported France because they believed that under French rule, Jews would find relief in material matters. However, the Alter Rebbe believed that under the French government, there was a spiritual danger to the Jewish people, and he preferred the rule of Russia. The Alter Rebbe also helped Russia in the war by sending spies against the French army. A well-known spy was the Chassid Reb Moshe Meisels. It is also known that Rabbi Moshe, the son of the Alter Rebbe, spied for Russia and was even captured by the French but was eventually released. At the end of a bloody war in which the French initially conquered large areas of Russia and Moscow, the capital, the Russian army repelled the French and won the war.

After the war and the passing of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe accepted the leadership and began collecting funds to help rehabilitate the Jewish villages destroyed in the war. In the years that followed, he established thirty-nine villages in the Kherson province. These villages existed for more than a hundred years and were destroyed during World War II. Also at that time, the decree of expulsion from the villages began, and the Mitteler Rebbe made efforts to raise funds and arrange for the expelled people to settle in the villages he had established.

The Tzemach Tzedek fought against Tsar Nicholas's decree to conscript Cantonists, even through illegal means, such as establishing a committee that tried to bribe government officials to reduce the quota of people to be given to military service, establishing an organization called "Chevra Techiyas HaMeisim" (Society for the Revival of the Dead) that took care of releasing the abducted children in any way possible, from bribing the guards and registering the children as dead to sending people to the children's gathering places to encourage them to remain faithful Jews to their religion. He showed special favor to these soldiers, and there is even a Chassidic discourse that he delivered to one of the groups of Cantonists.

In addition, the Tzemach Tzedek encouraged Jews to engage in agriculture, and for this purpose, bought the estate of Shchedrin and established a settlement by that name, settling about three hundred families there. He also fought against the changes in Torah studies in chederim initiated by the Maskilim at a conference held in Petersburg in 5603 (1843), and as a result was arrested for short periods twenty-two times. All the participants in the assembly received certificates of distinguished citizenship allowing the holder to trade in cities where Jews were forbidden to trade and also exempting him from military service. Since the law in Russia stipulated that the founder of a settlement would receive a certificate of distinguished citizenship for generations, the Tzemach Tzedek obtained such a certificate for his entire family as well.

After his passing, his son, the Rebbe Maharash, continued his path in attempts to establish places of settlement for Jews and traveled many times to Petersburg, the capital, for this purpose. In 5641 (1881), Tsar Alexander II was assassinated by revolutionaries, and immediately pogroms broke out against the Jews of Ukraine and Belarus, which were named "Storms in the South." The Rebbe Maharash traveled to Petersburg to work with the Minister of the Interior to quell the pogroms. Through his efforts, he took a tough stance that Russia must act to stop the pogroms because the world would not view them favorably; due to his stubbornness, he received threats of arrest. He also sent letters to surrounding countries to raise an outcry in their countries and create diplomatic pressure on the Russian government to suppress the pogroms. In the end, the global pressure helped, and the country acted to end the pogroms.

The Rebbe Rashab worked to help Jews who were expelled from Moscow in 5652 (1892) find new places to live and abundant livelihoods. He fought against the circles of the Haskalah that opened a network of schools in Russia and worked to prevent a large budget from the JCA organization (Jewish Colonization Association) from being transferred to the poor. He also fought against the "government-appointed rabbis" appointed by the government to record births, deaths, and marriages, and worked to abolish the dual rabbinate and appoint a special clerk for this purpose. The government then wanted to require every rabbi to know the Russian language and have a broad education; this issue was discussed at the rabbinical conference in 5670 (1910), but in the end, this did not come to fruition.

Beilis Trial[edit | edit source]

In addition to his extensive public activism, the Rebbe Rashab was very active in the Beilis trial that took place in 5671 (1911). He appointed Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father, to assist Rabbi Mazeh who was responsible for the halachic aspects of the defense regarding Kabbalah and Chassidus. He also advised Mendel Beilis's attorney to end his speech at the trial with "Shema Yisrael." Indeed, at the conclusion of his speech, the attorney turned to Beilis and told him that even if he were convicted, he should walk proudly as a Jew reciting the Shema Yisrael. Ultimately, Beilis was acquitted of all charges.

During the Russo-Japanese War that broke out in 5664 (1904), the Rebbe Rashab attended to the religious needs of Jewish soldiers at the front, especially providing matzos for Pesach. That year, the shipment was very meager due to time constraints, causing the Rebbe Rashab great distress. The following year, he began working on this matter well in advance, and the shipment was substantial, reaching most of the soldiers.

During World War I, which broke out in 5674 (1914), he established a committee in Petrograd that took care of the needs of Jews who fled from the front, as well as the religious needs of enlisted Jews. He also successfully worked to exempt rabbis and shochtim from military service. During the war, when the Germans approached Lubavitch, the Rebbe's family and the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva left the town and moved to Rostov on the Don River.

Soviet Union[edit | edit source]

Expanded entries - The Communist Revolution, Soviet Union

The Soviet Union (or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was a superpower that existed from 11 Tevet, 5683 (December 30, 1922) until its dissolution on 9 Tevet 5752 (December 16, 1991). It was one of the world's two superpowers (along with the United States) and spanned Eastern Europe and North-Central Asia. The Soviet Union was ruled by the Communist Party and was the leader of the Eastern-Soviet bloc in the world.

Tens of millions of Jews lived in the territories belonging to the Soviet Union. In 5752 (1992), the collapse of the Communist regime led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union into several independent states. Today, the number of Jews living in these countries is estimated at a few million.

Restrictions on Religion[edit | edit source]

Expanded entries - Yevsektsia, Arrest and Liberation of the Rebbe Rayatz, Arrest of Chassidim in 5698

In 5677 (1917), the February Revolution broke out in Russia, overthrowing the Tsar's rule. A provisional government was established in place of the Tsarist regime until a democratic government could be formed. With the fall of the Tsar's regime, all restrictions on Jews in Russia were abolished. The provisional government wanted to convene a governmental assembly of rabbis to provide recommendations to the new authority on how to regulate the status of Jews in the country. The Rebbe Rashab worked to ensure that as many Orthodox rabbis as possible would participate in the assembly, but due to the October Revolution in which the Communists came to power, the conference was canceled.

After the second revolution, a bloody civil war ensued between the Bolsheviks and their opponents, lasting about two years. During the war, each side accused the Jews of collaborating with the other side. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed during this period. At that time, the Rebbe Rashab worked in every possible way to help Jewish refugees from the battles. At the end of the war, Russia united 14 other countries with Communist ideology under it, and together they were called the Soviet Union.

Upon its establishment, the Communist regime began imposing restrictions on the spread of Judaism in Russia. It became illegal to provide Jewish education to more than three children together, and compulsory education in government schools was imposed. Synagogues and mikvaos were closed by the authorities, and kosher slaughter was prohibited. To enforce these laws, the G.P.U. (Russia's secret police) established the Yevsektsia (Jewish Section), composed of Jews who had strayed from the path and tried in every way to persecute religious institutions. They closed mikvaos, locked synagogues, and spied on all religious institutions in order to arrest the Chassidim who operated religious services. Those who were arrested were sentenced to many years of exile in Siberia with hard labor, and those considered more "dangerous" were executed.

The Rebbe Rayatz sent emissaries to every possible location to open underground "cheders" with Jewish education. He also warned all Soviet Jews not to send their children to government schools due to the enormous spiritual danger involved, despite the risk of severe imprisonment and exile imposed by the authorities on those who violated the law. He also opened a network of underground yeshivas in many cities across the Soviet Union. During that period, the "Iron Curtain" was imposed, preventing any possibility of leaving the Soviet Union.

As a result of his activities, the Rebbe Rayatz was arrested on 15 Sivan 5687 (1927) and sentenced to death. Eventually, the sentence was commuted to three years of exile in Kostroma, and ultimately he was released on 12 Tammuz. This eventually led to his expulsion from Russia at the beginning of 5688 (1928).

On his first day in Riga, the Rebbe Rayatz established a committee to help Russian Jews from outside by sending money, food, and means to maintain Judaism. Within Russia, several Chassidim were appointed to manage the network of underground Talmud Torahs and Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas. The Rayatz also worked to organize shipments of matzos for Pesach and the four species for Sukkos.

In 5695 (1935), the NKVD conducted a wave of arrests in Moscow and Rostov of key figures involved in spreading Judaism. All were sentenced to three years of exile in Kazakhstan. Most survived the exile except for R. Yaakov of Skalik, whose whereabouts were lost. During the following years (5695-5699/1935-1939), there were many waves of arrests, culminating in the wave of arrests in 5698 (1938) that took place in Leningrad, in which about twenty-five Chassidim were arrested in one night, later called "the night of the ten martyrs of the kingdom." Twelve of them were executed, and the rest were sent to Siberia for many years. The families of those murdered did not know for a long time about the fate of their loved ones because they were told that they had also been exiled, and only years later were they told the bitter truth. On 9 Nissan 5699 (1939), Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father, was arrested. As a result of the arrests, many Chassidim were forced to flee from the authorities and go underground.

During World War II[edit | edit source]

Extended article - The Exodus from Russia 5706 (1946)

During World War II, many Jews fled from the frontlines to the cities of Tashkent and Samarkand, where the Yevsektsia (Jewish Section of the Communist Party) wasn't operating with the same intensity as in the interior cities of Russia. As a result, Chassidic life flourished relatively in these cities, although even there they had to maintain secrecy. During the war, there were years of material shortages and severe hunger that claimed the lives of many Anash (Chabad Chassidim) who died of starvation. During that period, the Rebbe Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) was involved in sending packages to the Chassidim there, especially sending matzos for Pesach.

After World War II ended in early 5706 (1946), a rare opportunity arose to leave Russia. Russia permitted all Polish refugees to return to their country, as well as Russians who were married to Poles. The Chassidim identified the potential in this opportunity – it was possible to forge documents or buy passports of Poles who had died or been exiled to Siberia and use them to leave Russia. The Russian government preferred to ignore the forgery industry so as not to publicize the fact that many Poles had died in Russia. After receiving approval from the Rebbe Rayatz, a special committee was established to organize documents for Chassidim so they could leave Russia. The method was to "assemble families" – supposedly Polish families who would leave the country in groups. Indeed, most of the Chassidim managed to leave Russia, but the last group that tried to leave was caught, and all its members were arrested and exiled to Siberia, among them was Reb Mendel Futerfas. The Chassidim who left Russia arrived in Germany and from there to New York and Eretz Yisrael.

During that period under Communist rule, many were murdered, thousands were exiled, and tens of thousands were imprisoned for studying Torah and observing mitzvos. Even after 5707 (1947), a large number of Chassidim remained in Russia. A small portion of them only left after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

In the Seventh Generation[edit | edit source]

Reb Berel Levy, one of the secret shluchim (emissaries) sent by the Rebbe to Russia, with the local Chabad community

The Rebbe continuously worked in various ways to help the Jews of Russia, whose situation under Communist rule was dire. Among other things, the Rebbe established a network of agents who entered Russia's borders disguised as tourists, and through them, the Rebbe smuggled tefillin, mezuzos, and other holy items into Russia. Some shipments were transferred through Jewish collaborators who worked in various embassies in the Soviet Union. The Rebbe also established the Ezras Achim office designed to help Russian Jews.

In 5716 (1956), a number of Chabad bochurim (young men) in Russia established the organization "CHAMA," which ensured the preservation of the Jewish spark and the spreading of Yiddishkeit in the region.

On the second day of Shavuos 5724 (1964), at the end of a farbrengen, the Rebbe told the crowd to say l'chaim for the merit of Russian Jews. The crowd's response was indifferent, and after a few minutes, the Rebbe said that if they had said l'chaim for the merit of Russian Jews, they could have effected the exodus of all Jews from Russia.

On 6 Tishrei 5727 (1967), the Rebbe prophetically announced that the Soviet Union would collapse, and this would be a breakthrough and preparation for the coming of Moshiach. On Lag B'Omer 5740 (1980), at a parade, the Rebbe spoke about the permission under Russian law to study Torah and that every parent should educate their children in the way of Torah. However, the Rebbe firmly rejected overt struggle against the Russian government, such as demonstrations, which not only brought no benefit but greatly hindered activities for Russia.

The Russian government sent regular investigators to 770 to monitor the Rebbe. The Rebbe knew this and took precautionary measures.

In 5746 (1986), the Rebbe began to take practical steps toward the fall of the Communist regime. He instructed building housing developments for the many immigrants expected to come to Eretz Yisrael as a result. In 5751 (1991), the Soviet Union signed the end of the Cold War with the United States and the reduction of expenditures on weapons production. The Rebbe dedicated a special farbrengen to this, explaining that the event was a taste of the prophecy "they shall beat their swords into plowshares" that will be fulfilled in the Geulah (Redemption).

Later that year, the Soviet Union fell into an economic crisis that threatened to collapse the country. To reduce government expenses, the government agreed to give up its technical control over the annexed countries. The Soviet Union also underwent coup attempts that led to the resignation of President Mikhail Gorbachev. This caused the additional countries to declare complete separation from the Soviet Union and general elections, thus the world's largest superpower disintegrated without war. With the disintegration of the country, the Russian Federation was established, which removed the Iron Curtain and permitted the exodus of all Russian Jews. At the same time, with the disintegration of the country, all restrictions on Jews to openly conduct Jewish life were removed.

The Rebbe referred to the exodus of Russian Jews and their aliyah to Eretz Yisrael as a taste of the Geulah's promise – the ingathering of the exiles.

The Russian Federation[edit | edit source]

President of Russia Vladimir Putin, during the ceremony of returning the 'Schneerson Collection' books to the Jewish Museum in Moscow (5773/2013)

Shluchim (emissaries) against the backdrop of the Kremlin

Following the fall of the Communist regime and the establishment of the Russian Federation as the political entity succeeding the Soviet Union, a democratic government was established that permits and even supports Jewish studies. Hundreds of shluchim have established themselves in countries that were under Communist rule.

According to official data and Russian population registry from 5770/2010, approximately 158,000 Jews are registered in the country, although experts estimate that there are over a million Jews who are either not registered or unaware of their Jewish heritage. Hundreds of shluchim operate in Russia, among the most prominent: Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia and a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and many others. The shluchim are organized under the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia. The Association of Chabad Chassidim in the Commonwealth of Independent States also operates in Russia.

In Russia, the Or Avner Foundation also operates, providing significant assistance to dozens of shluchim and institutions.

In parallel, the "Otzar Chassidim" system, under the management of Kehot Publication Society, conducted legal proceedings against the Russian government for the return of the library of the Rebbe Rashab (Schneerson Collection) that remained in Russia and was found in the Lenin Library (the National Library of Russia). The struggle began under the Rebbe's instruction in 5751/1991 when he sent a delegation headed by Shalom DovBer Levine that located the collection and demanded its return. After the Russian government refused, "Otzar Chassidim" sued the government in a Russian court, which ruled that the books belong to the Chabad movement. After Russia refused to recognize the results of the trial, they turned to an American court, which also ruled that Russia must return the books, but the Russian government refused to recognize the court's decision and return the books. In Tammuz 5773/2013, an interesting development occurred in the case when Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a press conference at the Jewish Museum in Moscow, during which he transferred the books to the museum's authority, with the condition that the books remain within Russia. Agudas Chassidei Chabad announced in response that the move was not acceptable to them and that they would not cease the struggle until the books are returned to the Lubavitch Library in New York.

Russia-Ukraine War

In Adar I 5782/2022, the Russian army invaded Ukraine and captured cities and large parts of it. The war is still ongoing and claims many casualties. The shluchim in Ukraine remained in the country to care for the local Jews until they managed to smuggle them out of the country around Purim.

External Links[edit | edit source]

20 years of revolution miracles in Russia, review from Beis Moshiach weekly, 5771/2011
As in the days of your exodus I will show wonders, review of Russian Jewry in the seventh generation, the Rebbe's prophecies and actions, and the shluchim sent to illuminate the country, in the teshura of Vaad Chayalei Beit David, end of the month of holidays 5781/2020
The Rebbe and Russian Jewry, teshura from the wedding of the son of the shliach Rabbi Lazar, Tammuz 5777/2017

Russia

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