Jews residing in the southern Russian city of Saratov were able to celebrate a monumental occasion this weekend, welcoming a new Sefer Torah to the Great Choral Synagogue on the occasion of its 100-year anniversary. The Sefer Torah was donated by Rabbi Yitzhak Kubichek, the father of the region’s Chief Rabbi Yakov Kubichek, who decided to make this contribution upon his most recent visit to Saratov from his home in Yerushalayim.

Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Great Choral Synagogue suffered from several pogroms, its closure by the Soviet authorities, and the tragic persecution of its Rabbi. Eventually occupied by a construction institute, it was just several years ago that the building was finally transferred back to the Jewish community of Saratov thanks to the efforts of one of Russia’s Chief Rabbi’s, Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and Chief Rabbi of Saratov Yakov Kubichek.

The ceremony for writing the final letters of the Sefer Torah, took place at the home of Rabbi Kubichek.

Garbed in a velvet covering and silver crown, donated by a friend of the community, participants joined in a procession to carry the Sefer Torah through the streets of Saratov to the Shul. An orchestra of wind instruments played joyous Jewish and Chassidic melodies all the while, spreading the festive atmosphere to every passer-by.