The Jewish community of Moscow was recently honored by a landmark two-day visit from the Rishon LeZion, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel and President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, Rabbi David Yosef, who came at the invitation of Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar.

The highlight of the visit was Rabbi Yosef’s participation as the guest speaker at the central 19th of Kislev celebration, a major annual gathering that unites thousands of Jews from across Moscow’s diverse communities. In his heartfelt address, Rabbi Yosef expressed his deep admiration for Rabbi Lazar’s decades-long dedication to rebuilding and nurturing Jewish life throughout Russia, recalling the early hardships he faced and the remarkable spiritual renaissance that followed.

During his stay, Rabbi Yosef visited numerous Jewish educational institutions and the city’s Jewish Chesed Center, where he witnessed firsthand the widespread revival of Jewish life. He offered blessings and words of encouragement to the many rabbis, educators, and volunteers involved in these vital efforts.

A particularly emotional moment took place during morning prayers at the Marina Roscha Synagogue, where the visiting rabbi was invited to sit on the original chair used by his father, the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef OBM, during his public Torah lectures.

Rabbi Yosef also participated in a special session of the Moscow Rabbinical Court alongside Rabbi Lazar and senior dayanim, and visited the city’s renowned kosher certification department, where he was briefed by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Marzel on local kosher food production.

Additional events included a large reception at the Caucasus Jewish Community Center hosted by community president Mr. German Zakharyayev. He also visited the Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue, the Zhukovka Jewish Center, and delivered a lecture at Yeshivat Tiferet Bachurim. He tested semicha students at Yeshivat Tomchei Temimim and met with their educators.

At the “Knizhniki” publishing house and the Schneerson Library at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center, Rabbi Yosef was shown rare Jewish texts and recent publications translated into Russian, serving the growing demand among Russian-speaking Jews worldwide.

The Chief Rabbi was accompanied by his son, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, head of the Yechaveh Da’at institutions in Israel. The visit left a lasting impression on Moscow’s Jewish community, who were deeply moved by the rabbi’s presence, blessings, and inspiring words.