This past Sunday night, the Jewish community in Moscow celebrated Russia’s Victory Day over Nazi Germany—known as the “May 9th Holiday”—with a series of special events dedicated to the Jewish soldiers who fought in World War II. Marking 80 years since the war’s end, the events emphasized the role Jewish fighters played in liberating Europe from the Nazis.
Russia’s Victory Over the Nazis
Victory Day, also called the Day of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, is a national holiday celebrated across the former Soviet Union. It commemorates the Red Army’s triumph over Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front of World War II. Observed annually on May 9, it marks the date of Germany’s surrender.
In Moscow, Victory Day was marked with a massive military parade in Red Square, featuring security forces and military units from across Russia. This year’s parade focused on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war and highlighted the heroism of soldiers from all the nations who fought against Nazi Germany.
Memorial Ceremonies and Encounters
At the center of the Jewish community’s commemorations was an initiative by the Shaarei Tzedek Jewish Chesed Center in the Marina Roscha neighborhood, held in collaboration with the nearby Jewish Museum and other community organizations. Dozens of yeshiva students and center staff carried out home visits to Jewish war veterans who are still alive today. During these visits, they presented the veterans with special gift packages as a gesture of appreciation for their wartime service. The meetings also served to check on the health and social well-being of these elderly fighters.
Bar Mitzvah at Age 100
One of the most touching moments took place in the home of Isaac Wilensky, a veteran who is over 100 years old, who served four consecutive years in the Red Army during the war. For the first time in his life, Wilensky put on tefillin in an especially moving ceremony, assisted by Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar. Wilensky spoke emotionally about his military service and his life after the war: “This is a moment I’ll never forget. I feel I’ve come full circle.”
Recognizing the Fighters’ Contributions
Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar released a special letter in honor of Victory Day, in which he emphasized the contribution of Jewish soldiers in the fight against the Nazis. “We bow our heads before your bravery,” he wrote, addressing the courageous fighters who brought freedom to the world and salvation to our people.
Rabbi Lazar added, “We will continue to pass on the memory of this victory to future generations,” in tribute to those who fought with courage and sacrificed to defeat fascism.
Watch the Victory Day events:
