By COLlive reporter
Photos: Levi Nazarov
It was an impressive event, as Rabbis, Shluchim, supporters and friends all sat down together to a festive Melava Malka for the benefit of the “Keren Chaya Mushka” Gemach, a Jewish free-loan fund in Moscow, Russia.
What began 21 years ago with just a handful of people and small-scale assistance, has grown into the largest fund helping Rabbis, Shluchim, and families in need of assistance, throughout the FSU all year. Today it serves as a global beacon, a shining example of tzedakah and chesed given to others in a sensitive and dignified manner.
On Motzei Shabbos Parshas Tetzave, just a few days before the 25th yartzeit of Chaya Mushka Lazar OBM, daughter of Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, many guests gathered at SberBank, the largest bank in Eastern Europe which generously hosted the event.
The event began with Havdala recited by the Rabbi of the English-speaking Jewish community in Moscow, Rabbi Yaakov Klein, and continued with the reading of the Rebbe’s letter by board member Rabbi Dovid Mondshine, with the Russian translation read by philanthropist Chaim Nissan Bayer.
As in previous years, the Main Speaker was Rabbi Lazar, who greeted the many guests and spoke about the greatness of the mitzva of Gemilus Chassadim. He listed the many different forms of assistance provided by the Gmach, especially during the last two years, while dealing with the pandemic. One after the other, supporters were called up to receive special gifts in recognition and appreciation of their ongoing support which enables the Gmach, along with their dedicated team of volunteers to individually care for each case seeking assistance.
One of the event’s highlights was when the guests filled out pledge cards and a raffle was drawn by the Shamash of the Marina Roscha shul, R’ Grisha Gerzhoy. The lucky winner was philanthropist Zalman Davidowitz, owner of a large group of clinics in Russia, and a true friend of the Gmach.
Additional speakers throughout the evening were Rabbi Yitzchok Kogan, business magnate and philanthropist Lev Leviev, Rabbi Alexander Boroda, donors German Zecharyayev, Yehuda Davidov, and Boruch Bentzion Gurevich. This year the evening was masterfully emceed by Alexander Buchman.
Birkas Hamazon was led by the director of Moscow’s Jewish community Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg. It was late at night when the guests dispersed, each returning to their home inspired to continue growing the wonderful Chesed network that Moscow has merited.
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כל הכבוד ד”ש לרבנים גורליק קליין קעניג והרב כהן וויסברג
Beautiful