The Choral Synagogue in S. Petersburg has acquired two buses that were presented to the Jewish community of S. Petersburg. This purchase of the buses was made possible through donations by businessmen Ilya Kaganovich, Isaac Kaganovich and Valery Benaguev.
Rabbi Shaul Bruk, the S. Petersburg Jewish Community Representative, explained how the idea for the buses came into being. "I asked Isaac Kaganovich if he knew anyone who could provide the Jewish community with a bus for a day. Without batting an eye, Isaac answered, ‘My father will give you a bus!’ A short while later I received a call from Valery Benaguev who said ‘I'll give the community another bus!’ ”
The buses will be used to transport children from the Jewish schools and kindergartens to parks and on field trips. The elderly members of the community will benefit from the buses as well, with the buses comfortably transporting them to the recreation center and the community’s other facilities, as well as trips to the countryside.
A reception was held in the synagogue’s courtyard to welcome the new buses. Children performed as a way of thanking the buses’ donors and presented them with their own drawings of the buses. The businessmen also received beautiful Kiddush cups as well as blessings from Chief Rabbi of S. Petersburg Menachem Mendel Pewzner that they be blessed with great health and happiness. Each bus was ceremoniously equipped with a Chitas (Chumash, Tehillim, Tanya, as well as a prayerbook) and a charity box. This is in keeping with the recommendation of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that all vehicles carry these items as a spiritual means to enhance their safety.
The Jewish community of S. Petersburg is a prominent member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.