Rustam Minnikhanov visits Kazan synagogue and meets with activists of Jewish religious community

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov visited Kazan synagogue (Profsoyusnaya str,15) on December 2. Chief rabbi of Tatarstan Itskhak Goredik told about the history of synagogue and Jewish religious community. Rustam Minnikhanov and his party looked over the history museum of Kazan Jewish community and hall of worship.

Currently Kazan Jewish community is one of the strongest in Russia. It comprises Republican charitable fund “Jewish centre “Hesed Moshe”, Jewish kindergarten “Or Avner”, school “Or Avner”, secondary comprehensive school №12, Centre of Jewish sciences at Kazan state university. Representation of Jewish agency in Russia (“Sokhnut”) , Tatarstan Jewish national-cultural autonomy, community library, museum of Kazan Jewish community, youth Jewish centre “Afifon”, youth Jewish club, children Sunday school.

Rustam Minnikhanov met with activists of Kazan Jewish religious community. Head of Tatarstan appreciated activity of the community in terms of preservation of culture, traditions and native language. He shared impressions regarding his trip to Australia in September 2011 where he met with representatives of a numerous Tatar diaspora who put much emphasis on preservation and studying of the native language, customs and culture.

The meeting was attended by the Head of RT President Staff Yury Kamaltynov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, chairman of community – President of Tatarstan Jewish national-cultural autonomy Mikhail Skoblionok.