Russian Industrial Town Celebrates First-Ever Bris

(FJC.ru) The Jewish community of Dzerzhinsk, Russia, celebrated the first-ever ritual circumcision to take place the formerly-closed industrial center. The town, founded by the Soviets, had no religious Jewish community to speak of until the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Since then, and enlivened by the arrival of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Pinchas Klimash, the city's chief rabbi, Jews residing in Dzerzhinsk have become reacquainted with their culture and chosen to live Jewish lives. Such was the choice of kindergartner Sasha Lelekov, a student at the Ohr Avner Chabad school in the city, who decided, with the backing of his parents, to embrace his heritage by entering into the covenant of Abraham through circumcision.

For the occasion, Lelekov took on the name of Aizik to honor his great-grandfather Shevel-Aizik. His teachers and other members of the Jewish community were on hand for the celebration following the procedure; Klimash presented a musical toy car to the boy as a gift.

Jewish communal officials were hopeful that Lelekov's commitment would encourage others to follow suit.