This is a Russian language pamphlet, published and distributed by the youth association of Chabad, to explain the holiday of Purim and the activities and mitzvot (commandments) associated with it. The cover of the colourful pamphlet depicts a young person dressed as a clown pointing at the Book of Esther which is read on Purim, and a mishloach manot (Purim food gifts) basket. The caption says, “Happy Purim” in Russian and Hebrew. The inside pages explain the various Purim mitzvot and include a photograph and message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (who passed away in 1994). Other photographs include Hasidim wearing Purim hats and dancing and reading the megillah (Book of Esther) to IDF soldiers.
Chabad, originally founded in Russia, has been present there ever since, even during the communist years. Chabad, with its emphasis on outreach, made a particular effort to educate Jews from the FSU. They have a Russian language website and plan programs directed at the Russian community. Shluchim (emissaries) of the organisation have taken upon themselves to assist Jews in Russia (as in other countries) with their religious needs. From the late 1980s, large numbers of Russian Jews moved to Israel, and Chabad made Jewish outreach to the new immigrants a priority. This leaflet is an example of material that has been distributed amongst Russian-speaking Jews on Jewish topics.
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Purim - Purim is celebrated on the 14 Adar as the day the Jewish people were saved from destruction during the fourth century BCE. The heroine of the Purim story, Queen Esther, worked together with her uncle, Mordechai, to reverse the decree of genocide issued against the Jewish people by Haman, the vizier of Persia. It is the tradition on Purim to dress up in costumes, distribute small food packages known as mishloach manot, give charity, and listen to the reading of the Megilla – the Book of Esther.
Purim Mitzvot – Four special mitzvot (commandments) are associated with Purim. The central mitzvah is listening to the reading of Megillat Esther (Book of Esther) which tells the Purim story of Haman’s attempt to annihilate the Jews of Persia and their salvation with the help of Queen Esther and Mordechai. The mitzvot of giving mishloach manot (Purim food gifts), which often include pastries, sweets, and wine, holding a seudah (festive meal), and distributing matanot l’evyonim (gifts for the poor) are all performed during the day of Purim.
Chabad – Chabad is an acronym which stands for Chochmah, Binah, and Daat (wisdom, comprehension, and knowledge) and is part of the Lubavitch sect of Hasidism. Unlike other Hasidic groups, Chabad is renowned but being outward looking and involved in connecting Jews from all communities and parts of society to tradition. The word “Lubavitch” comes from the name of the town in Russia where the movement was based. In keeping with Hasidic tradition, Chabad-Lubavitch was led by a rabbinic dynasty that began with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812) who wrote the Tanya, the movement’s foundational text. The last Lubavitcher Rebbe was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994); since his death, he has not been replaced by another Rebbe. Rabbi Schneerson, known simply as the Rebbe, instituted an outreach movement that places rabbinic representatives, shluchim, and their families in communities around the world. There are currently approximately 5,000 shluchim in over 100 countries, who aim to help Jews learn about and perform mitzvot. Chabad is based in the United States and Israel.
Russian immigration to Israel – Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, over 600,000 Jews from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) moved to Israel. Together with Soviet Jews who immigrated to Israel previously, almost 10% of the total Israeli population originates in Russia. Despite initial difficulties in their absorption into Israeli society, including issues about their halachic (Jewish law) status, today Russian Jews are well integrated into Israeli society, and many leading Israeli politicians, scientists, artists, and business people are of Russian origin.
