Turchin at the opening of the yeshiva in Volozhin: this is the beginning of the gradual restoration of historical pearls

An architectural object of great historical value – this is how the Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Turchin called the Volozhin Yeshiva. The head of the central region did not exaggerate: the Jewish Theological Academy, built 200 years ago, was really considered one of the most important yeshivas in all of Eastern Europe. Its heyday came in the mid-19th century, when more than 400 people studied there, but World War II put an end to the existence of the “mother of all yeshivas.” And although the building was not destroyed, it was seriously damaged. At the initiative of the governor, it was decided to bring him back to life.

The reconstruction work lasted about a year: during this time, the facility was completely renovated, and a cultural and educational center was made inside. Today, October 28, it was ceremonially opened. Alexander Turchin took part in the ceremony.

Famous Jews of the Volozhin District – this is the exhibition that Volozhin Museum of Local History researcher Nina Bobrik suggests starting your acquaintance with the center with. On display are photographs of Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner, the founder of the yeshiva; his son Rabbi Yitzchak; yeshiva leaders Rabbi Eliezer Yitzhak Fried, Naftali Berlin, Yosef Ber Soloveitchik.

— The zone “Birth and Maturity of the Volozhin Yeshiva” is dedicated to the history of the creation of the first higher theological school in Eastern Europe for the training of rabbis, — said Nina Bobrik.

The main exhibits here are the works of Chaim Volozhiner, a model of the Torah, the Babylonian Talmud, the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Shulchan Aruch, and the Torah (modern edition), transmitted by Rabbi Avi from Jerusalem. A special touch panel tells more about the yeshiva teachers and their work, and with the help of virtual reality glasses you can travel back in time and see historical Volozhin, visit the classrooms of the yeshiva building of the 20-30s.

In the second exhibition zone, guests were introduced to archaeological exhibits obtained during excavations in 2022: there are more than 60 of them.

— The third hall tells about the influence of the Volozhin yeshiva on world culture and world Judaism, — says a researcher at the Volozhin Museum of Local History.

As “storytellers” – museum items, rare printed editions of the Jewish poet Haim Bialik, orientalist and Hebraist Avraham Harkavi, and others from the National Library; Berdichevsky and Bialik from the collections of the Volozhin Museum of Local History. Here you can also browse the digitized works of yeshiva graduates and read their biographies.

On the second floor of the cultural and educational center, an exhibition of tallit from the end of the 19th — early 20th century, plus paintings and reproductions of paintings by famous artists are presented.

One of the most sacred places of the Volozhin Yeshiva is the Aron HaKodesh, or the ark for the Torah scrolls. Thanks to the chairman of the board of directors of SZAO Servolux, Evgeny Baskin, it will not be empty: the businessman donated a unique Torah, which is more than 100 years old, to the yeshiva.

— It is a great honor for me to return this sacred book to the walls of what was once a religious educational institution. The history of the Jews has been connected with the history of our country for centuries, and the fact that we are present today at the opening of the Volozhin Yeshiva was made possible thanks to the initiative and energy of Alexander Turchin, — said Evgeny Baskin. — He was so immersed in this matter and so sincerely wanted to do everything well. He succeeded: we see a fantastic museum, which, in my opinion, has no equal in the country.

On the occasion of the return of the Torah to the academy, the rabbi of the Vitebsk religious community Malkiel Gorgodze held a service, after which Evgeny Baskin and Malkiel Gorgodze placed the Torah in Aron HaKodesh.

At the end of the ceremony, the Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Turchin left a note in the Book of Honored Guests – the first in the history of the renovated Volozhin Yeshiva. The Governor expressed confidence that the museum will be popular and will welcome not only numerous tourists, but also all those who are not indifferent to the history of the country

— I would also like to thank everyone who made the opening of the yeshiva possible. possible. This is truly a landmark event, the governor emphasized. I remember when I first came here: the condition of the yeshiva was not the best, but we clearly understood for ourselves: we had to do something to preserve the history of our country. After all, 150-200 years ago it was a truly large-scale educational institution. Representatives of many countries of the world studied here, became famous rabbis, and not only rabbis, famous people all over the world. That is, it was a serious educational center in Belarus, Eastern Europe.

According to Alexander Turchin, Volozhin is a unique place:

— All possible and impossible wars have passed through Belarus, and, unfortunately, we are left with no There are many such monuments. Volozhin is an obvious exception. There is a yeshiva, a church, and the Tyshkevich palace and park complex. That is, as if this disaster bypassed the area and such beautiful objects were preserved.

Yeshiva, the head of the Minsk region noted, is only the beginning of a phased, gradual restoration of historical pearls that will become a place of attraction for tourists from all over the world.< /p>

— Volozhin is Belarus in miniature, where there is a yeshiva, a Catholic church, an Orthodox church. This symbolizes the fact that in our country people of different faiths have always lived and survived together, without fighting. What is happening here and now. That is why it is so important what the state does to preserve interfaith and even just peace; what our President does when the situation around us is so, let’s say, unsettled, and we still open such wonderful facilities.

Volozhin Yeshiva — part of our country’s history, the Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee is sure.

— It was different, but, nevertheless, without the past there is no future. And one of the most important tasks of the state is to preserve its history, which is what we do , — said the head of the region.

He once again drew attention to the fact that the restoration of the yeshiva is only the beginning of a great deal of work.

— Today we took the first step, opened the yeshiva, and then it needs to be filled. This is our common task: from ordinary people to businessmen, politicians. Everyone who has something to bring here, to donate as an exhibit, — noted the head of the central region.

And here are the first souvenir gifts received by the ceremony’s honored guests:presented each a piece of unique brickwork that was discovered during the restoration of the building.

— The opening of such an object is very important in terms of preserving cultural heritage, since the Volozhin Yeshiva was one of the main Yiddish yeshivas, — noted the Chargé d’Affaires of the State of Israel in the Republic of Belarus Zvi Mirkin. — It is no secret that the Jewish culture in this region and the Yiddish culture were practically destroyed. And the revival of the yeshiva is the restoration of the memory of the culture that they wanted to destroy. And I, as a Jew, as a descendant of Eastern European Jews, am very glad that this heritage is being preserved, and that the state authorities are engaged in preserving this heritage. This shows that the authorities understand the importance of preserving heritage, and view the history of the Jews in this region as an integral part of the country’s history.

According to Zvi Mirkin, it is especially important for him that the Minsk Regional Executive Committee was primarily involved in the revival of the relic.

— I knew about this project, there were conversations with the apparatus of Alexander Genrikhovich Turchin. And I am really very happy and grateful that the authorities took on this task and created a museum from an object that was practically destroyed at the time. I am very pleased with what came out in the end, — assured the Chargé d’Affaires of the State of Israel in the Republic of Belarus.

Information

The Volozhin “Mother of Yeshivas” was opened in 1803 — as the first higher religious school in Eastern Europe for training rabbis. In the late 1870s, there were about 300 students studying here, and in the late 1880s – more than 400. The high reputation of the yeshiva attracted young Jews from other countries – England, Germany, Austria and North America.

The academy trained students who would later become famous people with a worldwide reputation. Among them were the founder of the religious movement in the Zionist movement Shmuel Mogilever; the pioneer of the Hebrew revival Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the Israeli statesman and public p Shimon Gimanstein; the famous historian Bentzion Dinur, the famous businessman and philanthropist of the Russian Empire Wolf Vysotsky.

During the war, the yeshiva building was badly damaged: only its walls survived. Over time, the building was restored. It housed a dining room and a restaurant. In 2000, the object was transferred to the Jewish Religious Association in Belarus. The building of the former yeshiva is included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus, is an object of religious and educational tourism in Belarus, is included in excursion, weekend tours, and is also an object of pilgrimage for Jews of the world.