We are briefly in Kiev, as Baruch prepares to teach in the Ukraine for several days.  Yesterday we visited the largest synagogue here, the Brodsky Choral Synagogue.  It was built between 1897-1898.

Brodsky Choral Synagogue, Kiev, Ukraine.

For many decades, authorities did not allow a synagogue to be built in Kiev, as they thought it would create growth in the Jewish community in Kiev, which being a big trading and industrial city would then in turn make it an important Jewish religious center.  They did not want this to happen because Kiev was the center for the Russian Orthodox Church.

Inside the synagogue.

There was also on display a page from an ancient Torah scroll.

Tomorrow I plan to post after visiting a very moving site.  Stay tuned…..