Tomsk, Russia – Jews of Tomsk have good reason for celebration, with the resumption of reconstruction on the historic Choral Synagogue – one of the oldest synagogues in Siberia.
The Jewish community needs to raise 65 million rubles (over $2 million dollars) to complete the project, according to Chief Rabbi of Tomsk Levi Kaminetsky. While the reconstruction project was begun in 1990, it was eventually suspended in 2004 due to lack of funding.
Rabbi Kaminetsky announced that two major donors have been found whose combined contributions will account for 60% of the cost of the reconstruction. The Jewish community still needs to raise the remaining amount required for this massive project.
This considerable restoration project is expected to be completed by 2010. When completed, the Choral Synagogue will host a museum, library, computer center, classrooms, and dining hall, in addition to the prayer hall. It will be a place where community members can gather for a multitude of events, educational opportunities, and communal celebrations.
At this point in the renovation process, work has been completed on the extensive water and sewage system. Construction on the building itself is currently underway.
The Jewish community of Tomsk is an active member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia. This Western Siberian city of 488,000 is home to an estimated 15,000 Jews.
(Source: FJC)
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Rabbi kaminetsky and his Rebbetzin are moiser nefesh in such an unbelievable way. Living in such harsh Siberian climate and conditions to bring Yiddishkeit to a city that was religiously dead. i think he is the nephew of the Chief rabbi Kaminetsky of Dnieper…mesiras nefesh runs deep in this Chabad family.