by Rabbi Chaim Danzinger
Rabbi Chaim and Kaila Danzinger and children—the Rebbe’s emissaries in Rostov, Russia—are creating Jewish experiences for Jews of all ages. They recently opened Semirya, a state-of-the-art center for children with special needs. There’s also a day school, overnight camp, teen clubs and seminars, young professionals classes and events... The following are from Rabbi Danzinger’s posts on Facebook.
I was so terribly saddened when my dear friend Hershel passed away. Several years ago he related: “My wife died in September. We were married for 59 years. I survived three heart attacks, but losing Alla was unbearable. I laid my feet down, never intending to use them again. I had given up.
“Then there was a knock on the door and the sound of noisy teenagers behind it. I thought it must be a prank. But it turned out to be a group of lively teen volunteers from the Jewish community. ‘We haven’t seen you in a while,’ they said, with bright smiles on their faces. ‘You’re needed for the Minyan.’ I couldn’t turn them down. They needed me.
From that day on Hershel attended minyan every day of the year, including the most frigid of mornings and through difficult days of treatment when he would go straight to the hospital after prayers.
It’s safe to say the daily minyan kept Hershel alive and Hershel kept our minyan alive.
May the soul of Hersh ben Shlomo rest in peace.
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They got engaged in the village of Lubavitch, where the third and fourth Chabad Rebbes lived. Their Chupa was held in the historic home of the fifth Chabad Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab, in Rostov. And their wedding reception was in our 150 year old Cantonist synagogue. They stand on strong ground! Mazel tov to our very dear Levi and Ida—we love you and we are so proud of your Jewish journey!
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WWII hero Chaim Isakovich passed away recently at the age of 103. He grew up in a shtetl in Belarus and his first language was Yiddish.
“While I was fighting the Nazis, my mother’s entire family was rounded up in the city of Velizh and burned alive,” Chaim recounted. “I have terrible memories from the war. I lost so many family members and friends.”
“But thankfully we defeated the Nazis. And today I am blessed with a beautiful family, and I even have great-great grandchildren,” He told me.
I met Chaim for the first time on his 100th birthday and have been inspired by his strength, humility and perseverance ever since.
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“These were my ancestors,” Chaya said. “They were shot and thrown in a freshly-dug pit, brutally murdered by the Nazis. They filled this mass-grave with 27,000 of Rostov’s Jews in just two days.
“The only reason my grandmother, Musia, survived the massacre was because she was a medic, serving at the front. Those who remained in Rostov were not as lucky. Her mother, Cecilia, tried crossing a bridge to escape, but was told to turn around.
“Too weak to continue, she returned home, accompanied by her youngest daughter, who refused to leave her alone. They hid in their basement, hoping to stay alive, but the Nazis found them.
“They were dragged out of their home, tossed onto a truck, and driven here to Zmiyovskaya Balka where they were murdered in the largest massacre of the Holocaust on Russian soil.
“Eighty-one years have passed since the Nazis attempted to erase every trace of Judaism from our city,” she said, “but we’re still here.”
“Today, I work in the Jewish preschool. The synagogue is my second home. I live a Jewish life with pride, and I know that I’m honoring my great grandmother’s memory, continuing her legacy.”
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“Rabbi we want to have another weekly Torah class, are you open to doing it at your place?” Zalman asked me.
And that’s how our Wednesday night class began last year. They come straight from a hard day at work, to an inspiring evening of Torah study.
I didn’t invite them — they invited themselves!