Living Torah Archives

Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan serves as rabbi of the Bronnaya Synagogue in Moscow. He is a former Refusenik and leading figure in the Soviet Jewish underground. Under the intrusively watchful eye of the Soviet authorities, it was most difficult to obtain Kosher meat. Without any alternative, he decided to become a qualified Kosher slaughterer himself. But it was the Rebbe’s encouragement and blessings from afar that kept his spirit alive. (1980s)

The month of Elul is a time for repentance and introspection before the coming of Rosh Hashanah. Yet there are some who use this time of year to chastise their congregations instead of inspiring them.

A shochet has the opportunity to draw his fellow Jews closer to Judaism. The Hebrew word “shochat – slaughter,” also means to “draw close.”