Tblisi, Georgia – With the developing political situation in Georgia, the question arises as to how the Jewish community is faring in Georgia and in the capital city of Tblisi. The Five Town Jewish Times contacted the staff members of the Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchei Yisroel working on the ground in Tblisi. We spoke with both the Chief Rabbi, who heads the Vaad operations in Georgia as well as with the Shluchim themselves.
The Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchei Yisroel has the backing of the Gedolei Yisroel.In fact, their programs in Georgia have been visited by Rav Matisyahu Salomon, the Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Feivel Cohen and Rav Moshe Shapiro shlita.
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After the invasion of Russia, and the near destruction of the city of Gora, most of the Shluchim evacuated the country to Israel. Thousands of Jewish residents of Georgia also made the trip to Israel. On Tuesday, however, the Vaad Shluchim made the extraordinary decision to return to Tblisi.
“They did not wish to remain in Israel while watching their countrymen suffer,” said Rabbi Baruch Lovett, the executive director of the Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchei Yisroel central headquarters in Brooklyn. Rabbi Aryeh Levin, the Chief Rabbi of Georgia elaborated further, “They left when they saw that there was no longer a danger in Tbliski, even though there are political problems, and it appears from the latest reports that the Russians are not leaving, our Shluchim could not wait to get back on the plane.”
Why, indeed, have the Shlichim returned to the lion’s den?
“I have an explanation of this based upon Jewish history,” continued the Chief Rabbi. “How could it be that Jews who throughout their history have been persecuted for so many years by the church and by
the Muslims, how do they have so much Mesiras Nefesh for Torah, and millions never even considered conversion or to succumb to the pressure? The answer is that they could never even fathom another
lifestyle other than the Torah way of life. The same can be said about our Shlichim, they cannot even fathom any way of life other than Kiruv.”
Much of the work that has been done has, in fact, been destroyed.
Stalin was born in the city of Gori, which lies some 60 kilometers from Tblisi. Avimelech Rozenblat, one of the Vaad Shluchim told us, “There was a Jewish community in Gori and we had Kiruv efforts there.
A building was being purchased so that we could build a new Mikvah in Gori. Now that Russia had bombed Gori , 99% of the Jewish residents of Gori have fled to Tblisi. Many are being cared for by the Vaad.
This is one of the reasons that we have returned here. Now, however, we cannot continue the Mikvah project. But it is our hope that the project will continue when Jewish life returns to Gori.”
Most commercial airlines, of course, no longer fly to Georgia. There is, however, a Georgian airline that is still flying. Avimelech and Yulia Rozenblatt were on this flight Tuesday. “Understandably, our
flight was almost empty,” explained Rabbi Rozenblat.
The history of Kiruv efforts in Georgia is truly amazing. Even during the apogee of Communist rule, brave Yeshiva students , Rabbonim, and community leaders have travelled to Georgia under the auspices of the Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchei Yisroel to promote Torah education. Indeed, the Georgian Chief Rabbi himself, Rabbi Ariel Levin, was himself the recipient of these early Kiruv efforts.
“I became a Baal Teshuva at the age of nineteen,” Rabbi Levin related. He began his studies under Rabbi Moshe Eisemann of Baltimore who had come to Georgia. Rabbi Aviezer Wallstone and Rabbi Mordechai Aurbach from Toronto continued his education. Married at 26, he and his wife began their Kiruv efforts by placing signs in shuls indicating that whoever wished to learn Torah could come join their sessions. Kiruv efforts grew significantly, and the demand for kosher meat grew.
Rabbi Levin himself learned Shechita from Avrohom Tzvi Malkin. “He was a tremendous Tzaddik who gave selflessly of himself for Yiddishkeit.”
The founder of the Vaad LeHotzalas Nidchei Yisroel, Rabbi Mordechai Neustadt, was heavily involved in these Kiruv efforts himself. At the recent Sinai Academy dinner, Rabbi Aryeh Katzin, dean of Sinai Academy in Brookly, described how Rabbi Neustadt once smuggled in four pairs of Tefilin into communist Russia. “But Vy do you need four pairs?” asked the Communist customs official. Rabbi Neustadt answered, “One for Shabbos and one for weekdays. ” The customs officer was
perplexed, “But that is only two, why four?” Unflustered, Rabbi Neustadt responded, “Well, one set for me, and one for my wife.”
Today, there are three shochtim for the entire country of Georgia and two of them are Shlichim for the Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchei Yisroel. The third Shochet also works closely with the Vaad. The Vaad provides him with funds and transportation so that he can provide Kosher meat for other communities throughout Georgia.
“There are now four kosher stores in Tblisi,” continued Rabbi Levin. “They provide meat not only for Tblisi but kosher consumers from across Georgia receive meat orders from these stores.”
A Vaad Shliach continued, “Our efforts are not limited to Tblisi and Gori. In Azarbajan, for example, there is a small city called Kuba (not to be confused with the Cuba south of the United States) which is mostly Jewish with many tea houses. Teahouses in Azarbajan are similar to beer houses in Germany. People sit there and talk from morning to evening drinking tea. We asked, why can’t our Shlichim sit there and discuss Torah? We did this very successfully.”
What is Jewish life like in Georgia? What about Kosher food? Vaad Shluchim receive a container shipment of of food products each year before Pesach. “The container has an enormous amount of food – both for Pesach and throughout the year. We receive Shmurah Matzoh, wine and grape juice and Chometz food too. We sell the Chometz food and buy it back after Pesach,” continued Rabbi Levin.
What about other kosher eating habits? Is there, for example, kosher Pizza available in Tblisi?
Rabbi Levin responded, “There is no kosher pizza, but in Georgia there is something very similar available. It is called ‘Chatshapuri.’ It has a very tasty similar to pizza, but it is shaped somewhat like a boureka, although it tastes nothing like it. But, if introducing pizza will help our kiruv efforts, it may be a good idea.”
hashem should give them much hatzlocoh!!!!! keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! They do some nice stuff!