Lipetsk, Russia – In the Russian town of Lipetsk, the local Jewish community gathered for an event dedicated to V-Day and the celebration of the end of World War Two. The event was hosted by the Jewish Community Center.
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Chief Rabbi of Lipetsk Shaul Adam, of Chabad-Lubavitch serving in the region, together with lay leaders, welcomed community members and guests. Among them were dozens of veterans, whose contribution was emphasized on this momentous anniversary.
Rabbi Adam underlined the importance of this commemoration for people of all generations. “We must learn from the example set by many heroes [during the war]; that we should not hesitate to sacrifice our lives for the greater public good. The example of the past has shown that in this world, justice will win out,” he noted.
The gathering offered a lively cultural program, featuring a concert put on by pupils of the Sunday school and members of the Jewish Youth Club. Youth joined veterans throughout the evening, with both taking to the stage to read stories and poetry about the war, highlighting the victory of good over evil.
A kosher festive meal was followed by senior citizens recalling the war years and singing songs echoing those dark years. A remarkable surprise that delighted all participants was the release of the pilot issue of “The Book of Honor of Jewish Soldiers and Veterans of Lipetsk.” This publication is being issued by a local publishing house, in cooperation with the Jewish community of Lipetsk – a proud member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia. On this special occasion, all participants received their own copy of the book to remember this occasion by.