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About us

History of the community

The first Jews settled in Novokuznetsk at the beginning of the 20th century in 1929, after the construction of the Kuznetsk metallurgical plant began, the Jewish population of the city increased. From 1941 to 1942 a large number of Jews evacuated from the western regions of the USSR arrived in Novokuznetsk. In 1941 they established an unofficial Jewish religious community.

In 1993, the formation of Jewish communities in cities of Siberia and the Far East began.
The initiators of the Jewish community of Novokuznetsk were Anatoly Emmanuilovich Vygodsky and Joseph Zyamovich Glazer. In 1995 Yuri Medovy became the chairman of the community and since 1994 the community has been celebrating the holiday “Hanukkah”. Yuri Medovy held this position for 20 years. Also in 1995 a Sunday club was opened. N.V.Barteneva was appointed the director. Pupils studied Hebrew, history and traditions of the Jewish people, theatrical art, are engaged in creative circles. There were created amateur circles on interests, celebrated Shabbat. Under the leadership of Medova Ninel Davidovna, the wife of Yuri Arievich, a local newspaper called “Community” was published

In October 1999. Society of Jewish culture was transformed into the Jewish religious organization
“Jewish Community of Novokuznetsk” and became a part of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.

Since January 2001 a community center was opened.

Order No. 1 is issued on hiring: I.D. Pankratov, Head of Charity Programs.
The work on filling out questionnaires on the community members and then entering them into the database begins.
The newspapers “Shalom”, “Jewish Newspaper”, magazine “Lechaim” were distributed.
The charity program “Grocery Kits” covered all those in need, also under the guidance of N.D. Medova the club of the elderly “Erev Tov” worked
Holidays were held with the help of volunteers, community members and sponsors, namely, assistance in organizing premises and food packages was provided by Y.M. Asailov.
Thus, the Jewish community developed, expanded and began to celebrate Jewish holidays, hold cultural events. Provide humanitarian aid to those in need.

In 2019, at the suggestion of Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar, Rabbi Menachem Mendl Rabinovich and his family moved to the city of Novokuznetsk. At that time there was not a single Rabbi in the vast Kuzbass. For the first time in the history of Novokuznetsk, a Synagogue opened here!

“When we achieve our goal, it is a joy. We came here as messengers of the Rebbe to develop Jewish life. For one, Jewish life is prayer, for another – lessons, for a third – kosher food and so on. One has to find an individual approach to each Jew, to understand how this Jew can be connected to Torah and the commandments. And when this succeeds, there is no limit to my joy!”

©Menachem Mendl Rabinowitz