STAVROPOL, Russia – This year, Jews of Stavropol welcomed the new year at the Intourist Hotel. The Chief Rabbi of Stavropol Alexander Nesterov, the Jewish community of Stavropol, and the charitable fund Chesed Bentsion, were the sponsors of the pre-Rosh Hashanah celebration.
Representatives of many communities attended the celebration and extended their best wishes to the Jewish community for the upcoming year. Among them were representatives of the Ossetian, Georgian, Armenian, and Dagestani peoples, the Slavic national-cultural autonomy, the Chief Mufti of Stavropol Region, and Father Vladimir Volkov, a representative of the Stavropol and Vladikavkaz diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Local officials also came out on this occasion, with words shared by V. Novikov, the chairman of the Nationalities Committee of Stavropol, A. Selyukov, who represents Russia’s President on human rights issues in the Stavropol Region, Deputy Governor S.N. Erin, and other regional government representatives.
Rabbi Nesterov gave the opening speech, wishing everyone a happy and sweet New Year. Both the Mufti and Father Vladimir congratulated all Jews on this holiday, noting that such events contribute to the strengthening of friendship between communities, faiths and society in the North Caucasus region.
Rabbi Alexander then blew the shofar, after which guests enjoyed apples with honey, pastries, and other refreshments. The evening featured a concert by students from the Sunday school, who sang Jewish songs of the High Holiday season and danced, and a musical performance that included both traditional Jewish tunes as well as popular hits.
"The Jewish community is confident that the New Year will bring mutual understanding and friendly relations, in the spirit of tolerance which is so much a part of our Jewish tradition,” emphasized Rabbi Nesterov.
Source: http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=1305122
Note: the pitcure used in that source is not one of Stavropol...
The photo at the top is an actual photo someone took on Rosh Hashana of Rabbi Nesterov blowing the shofar. :-)
3 comments:
That picture is of a club or wedding or something?
No. It was taken on Rosh Hashana. It's in the hotel Intourist, which has a nice wedding hall in the back (we stayed there for about 2 weeks).
I mean, I figured it was on RH, I just figured he'd crashed a party or something.
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