Jewish Communities in Russia

Thousands of miles east of European Russia, the Jewish Autonomous Region was founded in 1934 as a "homeland" for Soviet Jews. Given the objectives of the Soviet government at the time, this distant outpost seemed a perfect location.

Early attempts by the government to relocate the Jews to Crimea and the Ukraine had ended with severe local backlash. To avoid local opposition, the government chose an area where there weren't any locals. Unfortunately for the Jewish migrants, there was a good reason why virtually no one lived in this region. The winters are extremely harsh, the roads were practically nonexistent, and the land was swampy.

Influenced by an effective propaganda campaign and starvation in the east, 41,000 Soviet Jews relocated to the area between the late 1920s and early 1930s. But 28,000 of them had fled the region's harsh conditions by 1938. There were Jewish schools and synagogues there until the 1940's, when a resurgence of religious repression took place after World War II. The Jewish population was essentially inactive until the late 1980s and early 1990s, when there was something of a revival within their communities. Today, students can take Hebrew and Yiddish lessons, as well as Jewish culture classes at schools in some of these communities.

Most of the Jewish population has left for Israel, Europe or the US but it is estimated that there are still thousands of Jews in this far-eastern region. In one of these communities there are over 3,000 Jewish residents. A trained team of volunteers is working to assist them in their return (Aliyah) to the Land of Israel. It is a laborious and time consuming job to complete the paperwork and move through the application process needed to obtain permission and visas. Once approval is granted, the team assists with the packing and the needed travel arrangements. Most of those making Aliyah from these regions are poor and a large percentage is elderly, unable on their own to afford the costs of emigrating.

Please be praying about how you could help to bring these Jewish people home to the Land of Israel from the far northern regions of Russia.
We have an opportunity to be part of helping these Russian Jews make Aliyah. We will be working on the details with the group responsible for organizing this exodus from captivity. To come to Israel, these people need a sponsoring organization, finances to make the trip, and financial help during their transition once they arrive in Israel.

Most will leave Russia with what they can carry and the clothes on their back. The door is presently open to allow them to leave but for how long? Yahweh's children must step forward and be a channel of love and hope for these Russian Jews.

We have an opportunity to be a witness to them, to be Yashua's hands and arms reaching out with our love for these people.

We can pass it off by saying we will just pray for them but, like so many stories we have brought you in the past months, these people need action and prayer.

You can be a vital part of helping these Russian Jews make Aliyah to Israel. I ask you, please, to pray about your part in this.

I also seek your prayers as I leave for Israel on May 27th on a mission of mercy and hope. Many of you have responded to the plight of those who need our support.

My husband chose to use his May newsletter to tell you, his supporters, why he asked me to undertake this project and why he knows it is not optional to give to the widows, the orphans, the poor and the stranger in the Land. It is a command of Yahweh. Michael and I have personally experienced the blessing that comes from blessing others.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Denver June 13-15.

May His blessing be upon all of you.

Shalom Aleichem

Judith Rood