Why do men cover themselves by Thales during a prayer and women do not? What are the similarities and differences in writing of the words "man" and "woman" in the holy language and what does it all mean? In whom G-d is more confident: in men or women? Why do women light the Shabbat candles?
It was worth to cross the border of Ukraine and drive for 200 kilometers to Rostov-on-Don to find the answers. Rebbetzin Hannah Gopin and business ladies Khana Nosova and Isana Razinkova participated in this trip to Rostov.
Rostov Rebbetzin Feigi Stolin and Kayla Danzinger invited Rebbetzin Hannah Gopin to lecture at the «Ladies first» women's club. Meeting took place on May 22 and concluded the 5772nd season of the Jewish community of Rostov Women's Club. In Lugansk Rebbetzin Chana holds classes on the Tora studies for women each week. Such format is familiar to Lugansk Jews and for the Jewish women of Rostov it is unusual. The lecture revealed the depth and mystery, openness and accessibility of Tora.
A Synagogue is being constructed at present in Lugansk, that is why a special interest was shown as to the design and lighting of the Rostov Synagogue and mikvah. Unfortunately a lack of time did not allow the guests to visit the school, kindergarten and other premises of the Rostov Synagogue.
A visit to the rabbi Shlomo Dov Ber’s tomb (Reb RASHAB, the fifth Lyubavitcher Rebe) was an important event. Reb RASHAB died on the 2nd of Nisan 5680 (March, 21st 1920) and was buried on the Old Jewish cemetery of Rostov. In 1938, when plans to develop the territory of the cemetery were announced, the Chassids loyal to his memory secretly reburied the Rebe’s body on the New Jewish cemetery. Above the tomb in the south eastern part of the cemetery a charnelhouse has been erected in 1990-s by the Chassids. It consists of two rooms – the room with tables, prayer books, candles, stationery and non-leather footwear and the room with the Rebe’s tomb itself.
At the tomb the women wrote letters and having read them, tore into pieces, hoping that G-d will hear their prayers and life of the Lugansk Jewish community will become better and richer.
