Judaism Revealed

As we worked on plans for the future Jewish Community Center of Vladivostok, I was reminded of this article which I wrote last September.

The year 1860. Vladivostok, a far eastern city on the Russian port, was founded.

1902. Jews made the long journey across Russia and settled in this cold port city. A mikva was built. A Jewish school opened, where community members could now educate their children. A synagogue was erected.

Years passed. Jewish life all over Russia began to precariously flicker.

1932. The hold of Communism spread over Russia, reaching even this far eastern city. The mikva was shut down; the rabbi fled for his life; the school was boarded up. Finally, in this war against religion, the synagogue was claimed. The building was converted to a candy factory, and any identifying Jewish symbols were destroyed. All outward traces of the Jewish life in Vladivostok were stamped out.

Vladivsotok experienced its own Jewish revival last Tishrei.

The synagogue, 70 years after it was confiscated, was returned to the Jewish community. It is easy enough, however, to designate a building for a said purpose. To actually turn a building into something more, in this case, into a vibrant synagogue filled with Jews once again proudly celebrating their identity, is far more difficult.

The community began joining together, once again observing their Judaism openly. At first, it was just the elderly. And even among the elderly – most call themselves atheists. They barely remember Jewish life as it is meant to be lived. Intermarriage is sky-high, hovering at just above 99%. Slowly, slowly, youth began coming, as if being pulled in by the magnetism of the synagogue and all it represents. Individuals started to become closer to G-d and follow His commandments.

Externally too, the Jewish soul began to be revealed.

The synagogue has the remnants of the Tablets, the sign of our covenant with G-d, etched in the exterior. Although the government had been able to erase the actual letters, the shape of our eternal covenant remained.

Recently, while doing repair work, drilling was accidentally done into the tablets. Underneath, covered by a heavy layer of cement, were hiding Hebrew letters.

The rest of the cement was scraped away. All the dust and dirt scraped away, the first two words of each of the commandment now proudly proclaim their message.

On Simchas Torah, the Jews in Vladivostok, those young in body and those young at heart, danced the night away in our precious synagogue. They loudly announced their Jewish pride, and rejoiced with G-d’s gift to us, our Torah.

Outside, illuminated in the darkness, the tablets and its message once again stood out, proudly proclaiming our covenant with G-d.