The task of relating to others the emotions and experiences that one felt during a trip of Chizuk to the former Soviet Union would humble the most experienced and talented journalist. Since I am merely a businessman (recently retired to begin a career of fulltime Torah teaching), the task is overwhelming. However, the sincere interest shown by all of those who learned of my journey prompted me to do my best to recapture some of those feelings and transfer them to paper.

The mention of Russia to someone who grew up at the peak of the Cold War evokes images of mystery, secrecy and espionage- a cold, cruel and repressive government that espoused principles diametrically opposed to the liberty and freedom that our country represents to the world. The focus of all of those in our group, however, was not politics. We were interested in seeing for ourselves the accomplishments of those Jewish pioneers who had committed themselves to the task of reviving a vibrant Torah-true life to the Jews who had survived the over 70 years of religious persecution and repression, as well as the onslaught of Nazi s'y occupation of many of the Western areas of Russia.

Twenty-seven members of the Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel (founded at the Knessia Gedolah gathering of Agudath Israel in 1980), led by the organizationís Nasi, Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon shlita, spent seven whirlwind days visiting five Torah outposts in four different independent republics. The group was almost as diverse as the places on the itinerary. Rabbi Salomon addressed the group, consisting of rabbanim, mechanchim, and askanim- Ashkenazim and Sephardim, men and women, at the airport. In just a few minutes, his lucid thoughts focused all the participants on the purpose of the trip."We are going to dispel some of the darkness our brethren have suffered over the last 70 years. We have an obligation to do all that is within our power to help those that have been suffering on our behalf during this long hard galus."

The Common Denominators

The cities we visited shared many characteristics. Poverty is one common denominator. An unpleasant task that the Vaad members must deal with every day is to decide priorities in supplying the needs of our Jewish brethren. "Do we send a computer, a pair of tefillin, books, matza or kosher meat? With limited financial resources and with the difficulties we confront in getting each consignment into the country, this task is one of the most challenging for us. The decisions are difficult, but make them we mustóand we do!" said Rabbi Mordechai Neustadt, founder of the Vaad. It is interesting to note that it is the poverty that pushes the non-religious parents of our students to register them for a Jewish education. "The temptation of free schooling, in both Jewish and secular studies, a clean bed and free meals is the deciding factor for most parents," explains Rabbi Moshe Mashitz of Monsey, NY, President of Bais Esther Mindy Girls' School in Kishinev.

Assimilation and broken homes are another fact of life for the Jews of the former Soviet Union. On our Shabbos in Kishinev, the capital city of the state of Moldova, bordering Romania, about 10 girls from the Vaad's Bais Esther Mindy Girls' School were called one by one to the sefer Torah for "kriyas shem" (to receive their Jewish name for the first time). They ranged in age from 12 to 17 years old. All but one was named "Bat Avraham"-indicating that they each had a gentile father or that they had no knowledge of who their natural parent was. This depressing situation, unfortunately, is the norm and not the exception in Russian life.

The success of the Communist regime in eradicating Torah from the lives of the Jews of Russia was the most disturbing of all observations made by our group. While in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where the Vaad's shaliach, Rabbi Moshe Kishon, has made wondrous progress in this community to revive the sparks covered by 75 years of atheist domination, I was still amazed how the children whom I spent time with in the classroom were unaware of many of the basic tenets of our beautiful heritage; even the names of our matriarchs and patriarchs were not known to them. This is a battle that will take years of hard effort, lots of dollars and persistent dedication to win.

The Mesiras Nefesh Factor

The dedication of all the shlichim of the Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel can only be attributed to their yiras Shamayim, their understanding of the value of their work, and the "stiff-necked" nature of our people, which stands up against all odds in all situations. The dedication to their students, their acceptance of meager living conditions for themselves, the financial and political pressure inherent in the job of running "free" schools is something that only a precious few can tolerate and endure on a day-to-day basis. At every stop we were deeply moved by the superb job each of the Vaad local leaders was doing for his constituency.

While in Kishinev for an inspiring Shabbos, we were all impressed by Mrs. Kvit. She serves enthusiastically as teacher, role model and, most importantly, "mother" to all of the girls who live and learn about Judaism's rich heritage at Bais Mindy Esther. Her warmth lit up the room during our Shabbos meal. At the synagogue Shabbos morning, each of the ten girls who had received her Jewish name was greeted with a loving hug, and that evening at the Melave Malka celebration, the camaraderie at the girls' table centered on their menaheles. What was most surprising was the fact that this closeness developed into genuine love and caring for each other in the two short weeks since Rabbi and Mrs. Kvit's arrival in Kishinev from Eretz Yisroel!

Another woman from a different background exemplifies the new "Russian Experience." I know that she has lived in Baku, Azerbaijan, all her life, but I cannot tell you her name because she was introduced to us as the "mikveh lady." We subsequently learned that this "nameless" individual has a sewing shop in the mikveh building where she produces kipot and tallitei kattan for the men of Baku. This special woman also supervises the baking of pas Yisroel for the residents of her city. Perhaps most impressive of all, she travels once or twice a week on a dangerous journey to the villages on the outskirts of the city, where even men are not safe, to supervise the production of chalav Yisroel milk for her fellow Jews. Oh, yes. She also teaches at the girls' school. This quiet, modest heroine, raised under Communist rule, is doing whatever it takes to rebuild Judaism in her home town-not for money and not for glory; purely l'shem Shamayim.

These people are just two of the many we met who share a "ìmesiras nefesh factor" that dwarfs the dedication we find in the askanim of our great communities here at home. The Russian soil in which the Torah must be replanted is hard as granite, and therefore, I believe Hashem has provided certain individuals with "laser beam" strength and dedication to the cause in order to cut through the stone. Wherever we traveled, this clarity of purpose, focus on a goal, and selfless attitude was a key ingredient in the initial successes of the work of the Vaad.

The Pyramid Effect

In the hours spent traveling the great distances between Jewish outposts in the vast atheistic wasteland called Russia, we learned of the history of the revival that has been taking place for the past 25 years or so. What I find most interesting is the "pyramid effect" in growth of the movement. It is not merely the fact that more and more cities are opening up to Judaism. More interesting is the fact that every person who has become involved has felt the need and urge to show others the problems, explain to them the dream, and recruit new support for the future.

The picture starts with Rabbi Mordechai Neustadt's fascination with a former refusenik whom he met in Berlin. Rabbi Yitzchak Fischer is recruited to perform hundreds, even thousands, of brissim. Rabbi Naftali Cukier becomes a leader in his own right, establishing seminars and camps to recruit for the schools, as well as libraries and other programs in the communities. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, the first shaliach to encounter the celebrated refusenik, Eliyahu Essas in high-risk times, the one who discovered the Jews of Kuba, is recruited to dedicate himself to the efforts in Kishinev. Rabbi Hershel Lieber then joins him, followed by Yitzchak Mashitz, each taking on additional responsibilities regarding the physical and the spiritual needs of the Russian communities. Rabbi Zev Rothschild has almost become a commuter to Russia in the past several years, and he has 18 mikvaos already built and functioning to show for his "mileage."

In the States, the list of members of the Vaad is constantly growing. No one who has made the trip can refuse to add this project to his or her already overcrowded list of priorities. And so add it they do! As the Mashgiach, Rabbi Salomon, has stated, "We have come and seen what is being done and have learned what has to be done. This makes us all chayav-liable and responsible-more than others, to see that the job does get done"

A Year Makes A Great Difference

There were several members of our group who had made trips to visit Vaad institutions or to actually do work on the projects that were underway several times in the year previous to our arrival. One day in Baku, we were being shown a site that the Vaad shaliach, Rabbi Kishon, was anxious to convert into a new dining hall and dormitory facility. This churban (ruin) that previously, of all things, was part of a drive-in movie, and part of an unfinished section of the building, which housed the day school, produced looks of cynical disbelief on the part of the first-time visitors like myself. As Rabbi Kishon guided us verbally through his dream for the site, the condition of the property fortified our certainty that it could not be accomplished, in spite of the way he spoke excitedly about his plans. But those who were veterans and who were more baki (expert) about possibilities for progress in Russia dispelled our cynicism.

"If you had been with us just last year when we visited the site of the beautiful mikveh that we dedicated today," Rafael Zucker a Vaad member responsible for the institutions in Petersburg said, ìthen you would understand what can be done here with a little time, some money and a dream!î

This "what can be done" theme is an aspect of the trip that was proven repeatedly in every stop on our itinerary. It is important for all of us living comfortably here in our developed host country, the United States of America, to accept that there is a lot that must be done over there. But, more importantly, it is vital that we all understand how much can be done in a short time span. I look forward to future trips where I pray Hashem will grant me the opportunity to see this year's dreams as vibrant accomplishments.

The Community Responsibility

We made the trip and we came home. The experience has changed all those who made the time to go and see, from being curious and "intellectually" involved into active participants in the momentous task of furthering Jewish revival in the former Soviet Union.

We were riding on the bus one evening after a grueling day of travel and draining emotional encounters with the Jews of Russia. One of us took note of the tired look on the Mashgiach's face and gathered together the nerve to ask, "The Mashgiach has so many responsibilities back home. What makes him feel that the right thing for the Mashgiach to do is to take a full week and come to Russia?"

In his concise manner, he replied, "All of the other duties and mitzvos that I left behind in America-there are many others who will pick them up and take care of them. This is something that I feel I must do, and if I donít, chas v'shalom (Heaven forbid) it will not be done."

There is much to be done. The few first "baby" steps have been taken. They came with much suffering, high costs in money and personal sacrifice by the pioneers of Jewish revival. What is needed is very clear. Money, for sure, is a key element. Certainly, this qualifies as pidyon shevuíyim (rescue of captured Jews), which is a "priority mitzva," when weighing where our tzedakka money should be apportioned. But money alone will not fulfill our obligations to this cause. The dedicated few cannot do it alone. They need the active participation of more and more stones in the giant pyramid that must be constructed to reach success. It is difficult for people to find a week to get away and see for themselves; I understand that perfectly. When someoneís spiritual eternity is at stake and a mission of rescue must be performed, however, then every Jew must feel that they are the only hatzala volunteer available and they must leave their home, their shul, their business and their family to save the needy soul crying desperately for assistance. Should an opening for you to travel to Russia and see for yourself come your way, seize the opportunity. Only your eyes and your heart will enable you to understand all that ink and paper cannot convey. Only then, will you too appreciate all that we who have been there feel about our brethren who, as the Mashgiach said, "Having been suffering the darkness of galus on our behalf for over 70 years."

Raymond Beyda, a retired businessman who resides in Brooklyn, NY, is a noted lecturer (over 500,000 cassettes of lectures distributed worldwide), Director of Shaare Zion Torah Center (the largest Sephardic congregation in North America), and is involved as an outreach professional at the Avenue J Torah Center.

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