Russian Businessman's Formica Empire Linked to Jewish Heritage Discovery
A remarkable story has emerged connecting a Russian businessman involved in the formica industry with a profound discovery about his family's Jewish heritage. The narrative unfolds through the efforts of Moshe Kleinberg, who, after encountering a video about Jewish life in the former Soviet Union, embarked on a global research mission. His investigation led him to uncover the full story of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Zalman Yuryev, known as 'Little Judah,' a prominent figure in the Soviet Jewish underground during the late 1970s and 1980s. Despite distancing himself from his religious roots in his later years in the United States, 'Little Judah' eventually reconnected with his past through Kleinberg's persistent inquiry.
Kleinberg's research, spanning 172 pages and incorporating archives from 'Ezrat Achim' and family memories, culminated in a unique publication released during his son's wedding. This publication details Yehuda's life, his dedication to Jewish observance and outreach within the USSR, and his eventual estrangement. A poignant letter from Yehuda, written shortly before his passing in 2024, expresses his longing for healing and his renewed connection to his faith and his Rebbe (spiritual leader).
In a separate but related thread, Rabbi Nissan Rofeh, a Chabad emissary in Kostroma, Russia, shared an anecdote about a businessman who also deals in formica. This businessman, whose mother lives in a remote village near Kostroma, was seeking to establish trade relations for his Russian formica factories with Israel. Coincidentally, Rabbi Rofeh was looking for someone involved in formica production for a different reason, leading to a potential business connection facilitated by divine providence.
Further intertwining these narratives, the article highlights several instances of remarkable coincidences and divine interventions, including the completion of a minyan (prayer quorum) for a bar mitzvah in Italy through a swap of services involving Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, and the discovery of hidden religious artifacts during renovations of a Jewish educational building in Kostroma. These events underscore a recurring theme of hidden Jewish connections and the enduring strength of Jewish identity, even after decades of Soviet suppression.
