Jewish Center Opens in Russian Muslim Republic with Support from Local President

In the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, located in the Muslim-majority Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, a new Jewish center and synagogue were inaugurated amid celebrations marking the city’s 400th anniversary and the centennial of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s redemption. The event featured the local Philharmonic Orchestra performing traditional songs of redemption, welcoming a large crowd to the grand two-story building that includes a prayer hall, library, event hall, and community kitchen.

The center’s establishment is closely tied to Rabbi Chaim David Feuer, who returned to his birthplace to serve as the community’s spiritual leader. Feuer’s journey began as an orphaned child in Kazan, where he was warmly supported by Rabbi Yitzchak Gurelik, the chief rabbi of Tatarstan. Feuer later studied in Moscow and Israel and was ordained as a rabbi before returning to lead the community in Naberezhnye Chelny, with ongoing assistance from his father-in-law, Rabbi Shevach Zeltopelsky.

The opening ceremony was led by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, who affixed mezuzahs and began writing a Torah scroll to be donated to the community. A cornerstone for a mikveh was also laid during the event. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including the city mayor Nail Magdeev, the president of the Russian Jewish Congress Yakov Genzis, and the Weiner family, who generously supported the project.

The Chief Rabbi highlighted the unique support from the Muslim president of Tatarstan, who provided significant financial backing for the center, exemplifying mutual respect and coexistence in this multiethnic region. He emphasized the spiritual importance of the synagogue as the heart of the city and a place where divine presence dwells within every individual. The Rabbi expressed hope that the center would foster unity, spiritual growth, and serve as a beacon of Torah and Chassidut for generations to come.

The event also featured participation from numerous rabbis and emissaries from across Russia, as well as representatives of other faiths, underscoring the community’s diverse and harmonious environment. The new Jewish center promises to strengthen local Jewish life and connect more Jews in the region to their heritage and faith.