Beit T'shuva (Russian: Синагога Бейт-Тшува) is a synagogue located in the Russian city of Birobidzhan. The oldest synagogue in the city, having been established in 1986, it is sometimes referred to as "Birobidzhan's old synagogue". While for years, the congregation's religious services included a blend of Christian and Jewish traditions, in 2005, under its leader of many years, RabbiBoris "Dov" Kaufman, it underwent a transformation to become a "strictly Jewish" synagogue without any Christian influence.[1][2][3]
The synagogue, known for its warmth and quaintness, is located in a small Siberian-style wooden house. In 2010, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "nowhere are the ties between Jews and non-Jews here clearer than in Birobidzhan's tiny second synagogue, located on the outskirts of the city."[4] The Monitor went on to convey a scene to back-up its claim:
It is Sabbath and it could be a 19th-century Jewish village were it not for the phone in the corner. The building is no more than 40 paces long, with low ceilings and a tin roof. A dozen mostly middle-aged parishioners sit on benches, a simple curtain separating men from women. The rabbi, Dov Kofman, an affable man who walks with a cane, says when the ceremony is over: "I love Israel, my son is now there serving in the army, but this is my fatherland." Suddenly a non-Jewish neighbor stops by to say hello, sitting down on one of the benches. An engineer by training, Yevgeni Stolbov oversaw the construction of most of Birobidzhan, and is now retired. "I love coming here, I would do anything to help this synagogue, it's part of my life and want to see it here forever," he says as his friend, the rabbi, looks on with a smile.[4]
Referencesedit
^Dickey, Lisa. "Birobidzhan - Back to the Synagogue", "Russian Chronicles", The Washington Post blogs, September 12, 2007.
^Nettleton, Steve. "Emigration to Israel empties 'homeland' for Jews contrived in the Stalinist era 2007-11-27 at the Wayback Machine", Exodus from the east, CNN, 2001.
^McMahon, Colin. "Jewish Republic Struggles to Retain Identity 2008-01-09 at the Wayback Machine", Chicago Tribune, April 7, 2001.
^ ab"Why Some Jews Would Rather Live in Siberia than Israel". csmonitor.com. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
beit, shuva, russian, Синагога, Бейт, Тшува, synagogue, located, russian, city, birobidzhan, oldest, synagogue, city, having, been, established, 1986, sometimes, referred, birobidzhan, synagogue, while, years, congregation, religious, services, included, blend. Beit T shuva Russian Sinagoga Bejt Tshuva is a synagogue located in the Russian city of Birobidzhan The oldest synagogue in the city having been established in 1986 it is sometimes referred to as Birobidzhan s old synagogue While for years the congregation s religious services included a blend of Christian and Jewish traditions in 2005 under its leader of many years Rabbi Boris Dov Kaufman it underwent a transformation to become a strictly Jewish synagogue without any Christian influence 1 2 3 The synagogue known for its warmth and quaintness is located in a small Siberian style wooden house In 2010 The Christian Science Monitor reported that nowhere are the ties between Jews and non Jews here clearer than in Birobidzhan s tiny second synagogue located on the outskirts of the city 4 The Monitor went on to convey a scene to back up its claim It is Sabbath and it could be a 19th century Jewish village were it not for the phone in the corner The building is no more than 40 paces long with low ceilings and a tin roof A dozen mostly middle aged parishioners sit on benches a simple curtain separating men from women The rabbi Dov Kofman an affable man who walks with a cane says when the ceremony is over I love Israel my son is now there serving in the army but this is my fatherland Suddenly a non Jewish neighbor stops by to say hello sitting down on one of the benches An engineer by training Yevgeni Stolbov oversaw the construction of most of Birobidzhan and is now retired I love coming here I would do anything to help this synagogue it s part of my life and want to see it here forever he says as his friend the rabbi looks on with a smile 4 References edit Dickey Lisa Birobidzhan Back to the Synagogue Russian Chronicles The Washington Post blogs September 12 2007 Nettleton Steve Emigration to Israel empties homeland for Jews contrived in the Stalinist era Archived 2007 11 27 at the Wayback Machine Exodus from the east CNN 2001 McMahon Colin Jewish Republic Struggles to Retain Identity Archived 2008 01 09 at the Wayback Machine Chicago Tribune April 7 2001 a b Why Some Jews Would Rather Live in Siberia than Israel csmonitor com The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved 2 July 2021 See also editBirobidzhan Synagogue History of the Jews in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast48 46 44 N 132 56 38 E 48 779 N 132 944 E 48 779 132 944 nbsp This article about a synagogue or other Jewish place of worship in Asia is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beit T 27shuva amp oldid 1165895764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
