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Rabbi YY Jacobson - Rabbi YY Jacobson Chanukah 5780 Day #6: When the Kremlin Prepared for Shabbos Chanukah

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Author: Rabbi YY Jacobson
Categories: Religion
Tags: religion
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 10:04 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Stay true to your Jewish identity and observances, even under pressure from powerful authorities, because the world respects Jews who respect Judaism. Rabbi Berel Lazar, chief rabbi of Russia, was summoned to a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin on a Friday afternoon of Chanukah, and he insisted on lighting the Chanukah candles before Shabbos began.

Key Points

  • Rabbi Lazar asked to postpone the Kremlin meeting to another day because of Shabbos, but Putin insisted he come that day, scheduling the meeting for 12 p.m. sharp so there would be time to get home before Shabbos.
  • The meeting was repeatedly delayed by a labor dispute inside the office, pushing it from noon to after 2 p.m.
  • Rabbi Lazar arranged for his wife to deliver a menorah to the Kremlin as a backup in case he could not get home in time.
  • With only about four minutes before Shabbos, he personally took the elevator down to borrow a lighter from a security guard, ran back up, and lit the menorah at the Kremlin doorway.
  • The Russian minister of religion insisted on walking home with him on Shabbos, taking responsibility for the situation.
  • The minister asked whether Rabbi Lazar was annoyed, and Rabbi Lazar explained that officials who respect Judaism are the ones Jews can trust.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: The transcript gives no step-by-step instructions for the viewer to follow. The actionable message is to maintain your Jewish identity and observances even when facing pressure from authority figures, to prepare backup plans (such as bringing a menorah in advance), and to never be ashamed of who you are.
  • Rabbi Lazar specified that his custom was to light the menorah by the door, so a small table had to be found for it rather than placing it at the window.
  • The walk home was about an hour and a half on foot in Moscow winter temperatures of roughly 10 to 15 degrees below zero.
  • The blessings recited were "Baruch atah Hashem... she'asah nissim la'avoteinu, bayamim hahem bazman hazeh," and the speaker summarized them as lighting candles for the miracles Chanukah commemorates.
  • The story is presented as shared by Rabbi Lazar in a conversation with Rabbi YY Jacobson, as part of a Chanukah 5780 day #6 talk.

Bottom Line

Rabbi Lazar's experience shows that Jewish practice can be honored even in high-stakes settings, and that consistent commitment to one's faith earns respect from others.