Prison Mugshots Give Piercing Glimpse of Self-Sacrifice

By COLlive reporter

The legendary Rabbi Nissen Nemenov inspired thousands of Yeshiva bochurim as a Mashpia in Samarkand and Tashkent in Uzbekistan and later at the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy, France. R’ Asher Sasonkin was a devout chossid and prominent figure at 770 Eastern Parkway for decades.

Both were men of self-sacrifice to keep the Jewish flame alive in the Soviet Union. They risked their lives to keep Torah and Mitzvos and to run underground Chadarim schools. They were ultimately caught and exiled to Siberia.

In recent days, the mugshots of both of them were discovered by Rabbi Boruch Gorin, a Chabad Shliach in Moscow and an author.

These are rare pictures that provide an unfiltered glimpse into the suffering Chassidim experienced in those years behind the Iron Curtain and their indescribable Mesiras Nefesh.

Reb Nissan Nemenov in a prison photo:

R’ Nissen’s indictment document states that “aside from providing a religious education, he taught his student’s anti-soviet ideas.” Similar allegations appear in many of the indictments filed against Chassidim in those years.

In 5690, around two years after his wedding, he was arrested in Leningrad (what is today St. Petersburg) where he ran an underground Cheder and was sentenced to 3 years of exile in Siberia.

R’ Nissan in his later years:

After his release, he was appointed as Mashpia in Samarkand. In later years, he was sent by the Friediker Rebbe to take part in running the Yeshiva in Brunoy. With time he became the Menahel and main Mashpia of the Yeshiva.

R’ Nissen Nemenov was a symbol of a true Chossid; The Friediker Rebbe described him as the Beinoni of the Tanya. He passed away in 5744 and was buried on Har Hazeisim.

R’ Asher Sassonkin, top in Prison, bottom: learning with his close friend R’ Mendel Futerfas obm

R’ Asher Sassonkin was born in 5668, and also acted with Messiras Nefesh to preserve Yiddishkeit in Russia and was exiled to Siberia.

Before leaving Russia in 5724, he received a message from the Rebbe that “Lefum Tza’arah Agra” – “the reward is commensurate with the hardship.”

He settled in Jerusalem and then moved to New York a few years later. He was a prominent figure of 770 – many remember him as the one who would light the Menorah in front of the Rebbe each Chanukah. He passed away in 5748.