The academic school year in Moscow opened this week with a deeply symbolic event: the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, sounded the shofar before a packed assembly of students at the ‘Mir Intellect’ Jewish Day School in the Marina Roshcha neighborhood. This ceremony did more than mark the start of classes—it reflected a 35-year journey of Jewish revival in Russia.

In his address, Rabbi Lazar shared a personal milestone: “Exactly 35 years ago today, we arrived here with our family, on the holy mission of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.” At the time, Jewish education in Russia was still forbidden, and the future was uncertain. Standing before a thriving school in the heart of Moscow, Rabbi Lazar emphasized the transformation: “Now, Jewish schools are flourishing across the country.”

The ‘Mir Intellect’ Day School, part of the wider FJC ‘Or Avner’ educational network, has become a vibrant center of Jewish learning and identity. Students were welcomed warmly by rabbis and educators who had spent the summer preparing the school for a new year of growth and learning. The sound of the shofar, paired with the Rabbi’s message about Elul and spiritual closeness, set a tone of inspiration for the year ahead.

This local event underscores a broader narrative: the remarkable return of Jewish life in Russia, one student and one school at a time. What was once unimaginable behind the Iron Curtain has become a reality for thousands of Jewish children, thanks to decades of dedicated work by the Chabad emissaries and community leaders.