After suffering seventy years under virulent anti-Jewish Communism, the sight of a Sukkah in Russia today is like the thawing of snow after a long freezing winter, warming Jewish hearts even in Siberia’s farthest reaches.

In the last fifteen years since the fall of the USSR, Judaism has been coming back to life in Russia — especially on Sukkot, a holiday almost forgotten because of the dangers involved in erecting a Sukkah or obtaining an Etrog and Lulav.

I encountered a rare combination of the true dedication and the desperate ignorance of Soviet Jews under communism while visiting Kazan in the Muslim Tatarstan region. After a beautiful service led by Rabbi Yitzchok Garelik, I was introduced to Moshe Adinov, a 65-year-old dentist and a synagogue regular.

"My father Nachum Eliyahu Adinov was a sofer (Torah scribe) in Kazan before WWII. He encouraged us to keep Jewish traditions at home, but we had no Jewish school, so I attended public school, even on Shabbat. I grew up with traditions and holidays at home in secret, but would not dare reveal it so as not to jeopardize my parents’ lives.

“Rather than living in an apartment building like most people there, we lived in a small wooden home--which had a “besedka,” a porch in the back. That’s where father would build his little Sukkah booth which he faithfully covered with leaves and foliage to the best of his ability. We'd invite several Jewish friends to the only Sukkah in town, and father would make Kiddush and tell us stories. Those lovely Sukkot memories remained with me.

“I inherited the house when father died in 1965, and I wanted to continue his beautiful Sukkah tradition. I assumed that Father resorted to branches and foliage because he couldn’t afford to buy roofing materials, so I tried to build it better! I had friends in the metal industry, and every year since 1965, I put up a sturdy aluminum roof on the besedka, proudly continuing my father's tradition.

“In 1998, Rabbi Yitzchok Garelik and his wife Chana came to our community to encourage Jewish life and observance. It is so beautiful to have a young and dynamic Jewish family celebrating publicly what I always did secretly.

“Rabbi Garelik invited me over for a holiday meal. Walking into his Sukkah, I beheld Rabbi Garelik dressed in his finest, holding the silver Kiddush cup, the silver candlesticks in the center of a richly laden table, - and above was the same foliage like in my poor father’s old Sukkah!!

“Surprised, I asked Rabbi Garelik, ‘Why use sparse branches today, when we can afford better?’ Rabbi Garelik patiently explained to me that the natural vegetation cover is actually what defines the Sukkah.

“Oy Vey! I realized that father did it the way it's supposed to be, and for the last 30 years, I did it wrong, like a real idiot, with my aluminum roof!

“Rabbi Garelik comforted me: 'Your dear father is surely looking down now from Heaven and smiling. I promise you, G-d had the utmost pleasure of the beauty of your Sukkah with its aluminum roof more than any other Sukkah, because you did it with so much love and sincerity.'

“Since then, I continue to learn and understand our traditions better. My family and I are involved in the community and today we celebrate all the holidays properly."

In Russia today, Sukkot is an incredible communal event. Despite the cold, everyone comes out-- people singing, laughing and talking, enjoying Torah, as our beloved Sukkah keeps us all warm.

Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz is Director of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS