I want share some story from book of Rav Yitzchak Zilber zt"l - "To Remain A Jew"

I want share some story from book of Rav Yitzchak Zilber zt"l - "To Remain A Jew"

There was probably no harder period to practice Judaism than the history of Russian Jews in Soviet Russia

FORBIDDEN CIRCUMCISION (Brit Milah)

There were many mohels in Minsk, but when the Soviets (Comunists) forbade circumcision they all became frightened. Rav Asnin was the only one who bravely continued his job. Sometimes he performed twelve or thirteen brises at a time. He never took any money for this, only a little bit of lekach (honey cake) and a candle. He used to study by the candle and he brought the lekach(honey cake) to his grandchildren.

There was probably no harder period to practice Judaism than the history of Russian Jews in Soviet Russia. During the times of the Maccabees Greeks introduced gezeiros (decrees that banned circumcision, keeping Shabbos and Jewish holidays, eating kosher, learning Torah – in short they outlawed the Jewish faith), but after a few years the Jews revolted and won. In Russia these persecutions lasted for more than seventy years!

In other countries where Jews were persecuted they could at least escape, but from Soviet Russia there was no escape.

Rav Yitzchak Zilber zt"l - "To Remain A Jew"