Chossid Returns After 43 Years

By COLlive reporter

Members of the Jewish community in Rostov, the Russian city which served as a base for the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbe Rayatz, were glad to meet a former resident this week.

Scientist and chossid R’ Yakov Lerner was the guest speaker at a farbrengen held in honor of Yud Shvat, the day the Rebbe accepted leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch.

Organized by the Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Rostov Chaim Danzinger, the event was held in the building which housed both Rebbes and the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva.

Participants davened Maariv in what was the yechidus room.

Lerner, an author of 34 books on science, recalled inspiring tales of how Chabad chassidim lived Jewishly under Soviet rule.

He particularly remembered his visit to Rostov in 1968. When he tried to visit the Rebbe Rashab’s Ohel, no taxi was willing to drive to the Jewish cemetery. Only after offering 3 times the cab fare, did one driver agree.

As a Mikvah, Lerner said, he went beforehand to the Don River.

“When I came to the shul, they had no rabbi at the time and the eldery Jews asked me to be chazzan,” he said. “Our davening was very lively…”

An additional fabrengen for local Jewish students is scheduled for Shabbos as well as a separate gathering for women.