By: Shoshana Hasenfeld

Ever since I could remember I had heard about Jewish life in the USSR. The deprivation of spiritualism and the destitution of our brethren on the other side of the seas and oceans was etched in my mind in vivid detail.

My brother Zeev Rothschild, along with Rav Mordechai Neustadt would secretly bring resuscitation for the starving souls, the thirsty minds, and the underprivileged Soviet Jewish people. Meat, medicines, matzah, Tashmishei Keddusha, were all prized possession schlepped in by the American saviors. For several years these genuine rescue missions were undertaken three to four times a year. Some fifteen years ago my husband joined as well.

After years and years of hearing the miracles and watching video clips of the transformation of lives in these now unforsaken countries, I finally had the privilege to join one such sacred voyage.

Our first station was Tbilisi, Georgia. The city is undergoing a metamorphosis from its former poverty stricken, shabby lifestyle, by a government determined to stand with confidence, liberated from the Russian hold, and ready to build a country of tolerance, freedom and comfort for all its inhabitants. Cranes abound, stylish architecture begins to dot the skyline and modern technology substitutes for ancient methodologies. It is as if a younger sibling suddenly appears to be an aspiring and beautiful adult.

Our cherished Jewish community mirrors this pulse, but at a slower and more challenging pace. Upon the first step into the synagogue (whose existence and survival is attributed to a group of brave and righteous Jewish heroines who laid down in front of the Shul in protest, as the Soviet bulldozers charged forward to destroy it, as it had the other Shuls and Yeshivas in the area) we are greeted by a warm, beautifully decorated shul. The people greet us with joy, anticipation, as a family member greets his beloved long unseen parent or sibling. And in truth, this is who we are – more than we realize at this point – as shall become increasingly evident as this mission unfolds.

After a lovely breakfast we travel to the facility that houses the nursery, kindergarten, pre 1-A and 1 st grade. This is the Yeshiva, בית יעקב, חדר that Tbilisi boasts. Lack of funds did not allow the Vaad to continue yet past 1 st grade, but the stunning garden, the large “Noah’s Ark” in the front courtyard, the rosebushes in the back lawn, and the absolutely magnificent classrooms, kitchen and performance salon in this converted private home surpass any USA preschool or educational institution. We are treated to a tour of the youngest group – Nursery 1-2 year olds. Doting Morahs attend lovingly to each child. The classroom is decorated with lively and informative א’ ב’ pictures.

A separate room contains eight comfortable modern wooden children bunk beds with deep mattresses and most welcoming linen.

As we enter the kindergarten they chant – מי היו 3 אבות? (Who were our 3 forefathers) and respond in kind. מי היו 4 אימהות? – Who were our 4 mothers – “Sara, Rivka, Rachel and Leah”. The children exude happiness and a cared-for countenance. The first grade similarly portrays a shared enthusiasm by staff and students. The warmth and injection of שמחה and privilege to be a Yid are felt within every wall of this home – made into a school.

The climax of our spectacular visit is a presentation from each class for us.

Little boys dressed in white shirts and bowties, and girls in home-made dresses of white cotton with lively floral print and a red sash suddenly take to the stage. They perform flawlessly and sing proudly song after song about Torah, the ,רבש”ע and end with holding a Torah and singing: You are my sunshine – my only sunshine – you make me happy when skies are grey…. You never know how much I love you, Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away!

The 1 st grade presents a stunning performance of the various mountains, each singing how ה’ should choose it upon whom to give the Torah, and a sweet full cheeked little mountain sings how barren she is – how little she possesses. Will she with her inner beauty be selected as הר סיני?

As the thunderous applaud completes and we all wipe tears from our eyes, the children break into groups to daven. I’ve never witnessed such love and meaning poured into Davening with such young children. As hand motions portray the translation of each מלה במלה of שמע ישראל, אני מאמין, one can only exclaim – אשרינו מה טוב חלקינו.

As part of the Tour, a delegation of Vaad members were invited to meet in the government building with the Minister of Education. At the meeting we discussed the need for government assistance in our work and the dire need for a Yeshiva building. The minister pointed out that Georgia today is looking to rebuild its crumbling infrastructure, to enhance its educational system, to compete better among the nations of the world and above all, to please its citizens. They are especially determined to bring back a great part of its populace who left Georgia during the war years. We reiterated and added to the minister’s point that a solid Jewish school system would be a promising pull to reestablish a flourishing, young, and growing Jewish community.

The next stop was “The Kollel”. This is a yeshiva for בחורים and men of Bais Medrash age and above. Two Rebbeim stood in front of the group sharing, commenting and engaging in animated conversation with a genuine Kol Torah.. .תורה חוזרת לאכסניה שלה These young men were several דורות after communism ferociously all but eradicated the קהילות of בני תורה, yet here we were to testify נצח ישראל לא ישקר. The תפלות of אבותינו הקדושינו are coming to fruition. Here are the representatives of those dreams and תפלות.

Later that evening the entire Jewish Community joined in a reception. A lavish buffet was prepared, and men and women of all ages joined to celebrate just one concept – the unison of a treasured commodity that we all shared. אשריכם ישראל, אשרינו שזיכינו לכך, אשרי העם שה’ אלוקיו.

The evening is sprinkled with dignitaries. The Israeli Ambassador, the Georgian Ambassador, Ministers of government etc. – groups of men and women stood in conversation. I introduced myself to the mom of our beautiful little הר סיני student and asked her where she will be sending her daughter next year after completing our 1 st grade, “To Public School, of course. My mom is a Doctor and we want education to continue”…. A stab in the heart could not have been more piercing.

Three different parents spoke, each one thanking the Vaad, expressing deepest gratitude, and as one mother begged passionately on the microphone, please don’t leave us without an option for yeshiva education from 2 nd grade on. You must find a way to open yeshiva grades 2 till 11, as if to say אל תשכחנו ואל תעזבנו.

The reception was followed by a lovely Dinner Cruise on the Kura River, for all the Vaad שליחים, Rebbeim, Teachers and the USA delegation. The Vaad’s שליחים consist of several couples all of whom had gone through our system, then moved to ארץ ישראל to continue their learning, got married, and returned to Tbilisi, to pass on what they had learnt. They too expressed their love for the community and the need for a facility to continue future ישיבה education.

On Tuesday morning as we reluctantly bid farewell to the devoted, dedicated teachers, Rebbeim, parents and students of Tbilisi, the Vaad silently vows to attempt to answer the plea “Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away!”

Before we depart from Tbilisi we visit a tract of land discovered by the head teacher s’מורה דבורה husband whose passion and love for all the students is evident in every word. It is a vacant piece of land on the edge of the Kura River that will hopefully host the yeshiva campus for our precious children and answer the needs and pleas of our community.

One dedicated and determined Vaad member offers to write a check for a Down Payment on the spot, assuming the due diligence is in order. מי כעמך ישראל!?!

A very pleasant one-hour flight from Tbilisi to Baku, Azerbaijan is utilized for meeting and plans on how to continue to rebuild the Tbilisi school system and the community. We are greeted at the airport by a large modern bus that ushers part of the group around Baku. Baku is a clearly modern city (at least on its facades) with an attempt to emulate New York City and Paris combined.

The yeshiva of Baku is housed in a large modern and immaculate public school building. The yeshiva here consists of nursery through 11 th grade, boys and girls (all schools in Baku go until 11 th grade). It is a vibrant, happening place with well-appointed classrooms, beautiful Jewish- themed signs decorating the walls. The 6 days of creation, א’ ב’, Yom Tov, Shabbos, walls that bespeak of Chinuch and Torah Education. The Mechanchim and Mechanchos are proud of their work and of their students. The student desks are lovely with built in sections for pencils, and artworks.

Local Jewish women stand in the kitchen cooking. The children of this school eat breakfast, lunch and early supper, as many homes are single parent home with limited resources for food or clothing. All of the students, both boys and girls wear uniforms. All wear white shirts, with blue pants for the boys, and plaid skirts for the girls. The yeshiva supplies the uniforms for those who can’t afford to purchase.

Upon entering the oldest girl’s class of 15-17 year olds, I had the זכות to give over a lesson for about an hour. We discussed how the continuity of דורות ישראל is thru women, exclusively. Of how the חכמה of each of the אימהות individually at specific times saved the future of כלל ישראל. Of how שעשני כרצונו recited daily designates every woman to make choices constantly to serve the רבש”ע. The girls drank each word and only wanted more. They expressed desire to come to the USA to go to Jewish Orthodox colleges and seminaries. Their aspirations shone directly from their warm bright eyes.

These beautiful children come to school for love, security and their daily injection of יראת ה’ and אהבת ה’. Many homes would rather their children join the gentile world….

On Sundays there is a “Kollel” in the local Shul. This is a program of voluntary attendance for students of the School. Boys whose fathers don’t permit donning of תפילין at home, come to the Shul or Rebbe’s home to put on Tfilin and to learn a few precious words of Mishnayos and Gemara.

Aside from the 6 day week of learning, שבת too is part of the program. Any student grades 1-11 who wishes to celebrate שבת, but cannot do so at home, can join the school faculty. If several children want to participate, the Vaad arranges סעודות שבת in the school building and a nearby hotel is arranged for those who wish to sleep over. The Rebbeim, שליחים and teachers literally take full responsibility for the scholastic and spiritual lives of all those desirous of any type of spiritual sustenance.

While one’s heart may fill with pride for the accomplishments of the Vaad thus far and the salvation of hundreds and hundreds of precious נשמות, there is a beckoning pain that doesn’t leave you. The lands of Azerbaijan and Georgia are raw, fertile soil, simply awaiting a seed to be sown and nurtured. נשמות seem to flutter around anxiously awaiting the welcoming arms that will enwrap them and begin their metamorphosis. We need only the time, the כוחות, the manpower and the resources to accomplish this. For just a small physical price of time and money, the נשמות of these men, women and children can easily be rescued. ועמך כל צדיקים לעולם יירשו ארץ. They will follow if we only lead.

After another well attended community dinner, the weary but energized Vaad travelers return to their hotel, but sleep is far from anyone’s mind. We convene and meet throughout the short night, and share insights from every angle. How do we elevate and improve the lives of these wonderful Yiden in the distant lands along the Black and Caspian seas? Distance should not be an impediment to reaching out to save אחינו בני ישראל who so eagerly welcome our friendship.

We board our respective flights to our seemingly settled lives, homes and communities, but our hearts already throb with a yearning to return and reunite, to continue to kindle the spark that will ignite the lives and flame of our sisters and brothers in these developing areas.

The Vaad and communities of Georgia and Azerbaijan dedicate their appreciation to:

Rabbi Mordechai Neustadt and Rabbi Zev Rothschild, Founders of the Vaad

Rabbi Yanky Samet – Executive Director who spent nights, days and hours for all necessary arrangements.

Rabbi Shlomo Noach Mandel

Mr. Avi Schron

Mr. Moshe Mendlowitz

Mr. Ephraim Hasenfeld

Mr. Tzvi Hasenfeld

Mr. Emanuel Benjamin

All of whom have dedicated a large portion of their daily already busy lives to the progress and growth and details of the Yeshivas and Kehillos.

And the Vaad would like to thank:

Mr. Malcolm Hoenlein – President of World Jewish Congress

Mr. John Batchelor – Host of the famous WABC 770 John Batchelor show

Prof. Brenda Shaffer Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES)

Mr. Avrohom Yaakov Turx – White House correspondent from Ami Magazine

For enhancing our mission and assisting in broadcasting and communicating to the governments and communities both at home and abroad the accomplishments and significance of the Vaad.

www.thevaad.org