As Ukraine pummelled, Russian military men make pilgrimage to birthplace of Chabad at Lubavichi
A group of Russian officers and servicemen visited this week the Russian town of Lubavichi, the birthplace of Chabad Hasidism.
The arrived group of officers included several people well known to the Russian public, including the “Hero of Russia” (a title awarded to only 1094 people) Lieutenant Colonel Gasan Rajab oglu Najafov, an internationalist soldier who was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the Order “For Service Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 3rd degree and 18 medals, retired colonel Alexander Ivanovich Shalatonov, chairman of the board of the Vitebsk regional organizational structure of DOSAAF Vasily Vasilyevich Korobov, chairman of the regional branch of DOSAAF of Russia in the Smolensk region Yuri Egorovich Tryasunov, chairman of the board of the "Union of Paratroopers" of the Smolensk region Alexander Viktorovich Lukin, Chairman of the Council of Veterans and Combatants of the Rudnyansky District of the Smolensk Region Oleg Valentinovich Zolotov and his deputy Nikolai Nikolaevich Onoyko,as well as the Commander of the Orders of the Red Banner of War, the Red Star and two Orders of the Red Star of the Republic of Afghanistan, General Alexander Ilyich Skachkov, who was the commander of the 317th Airborne Regiment, which ensured the exit of the 40th Army from Afghanistan and the last to leave the Afghan land.
Senior officers visited the cemetery on the 33rd anniversary of the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan - a war in which they took part - saying they had come to pray "for peace among the peoples of the region" and for the "prevention of war."
To the Jews who were praying there, who were extremely surprised by their appearance, the officers explained that, having learned that prayers at the graves of the righteous Jews reach better, they decided to visit this remote town and pray that there would be no more war.
The guests also visited the monument erected in memory of the Jews of the town of Lubavichi who died during the Holocaust, as well as the historical Chabad buildings scattered around the city.
As r. Gabriel Gordon, in recent years, the town of Lubavichi has become a place of monthly pilgrimage for thousands of people who want to pray here. “Most of them are Jews, but almost every day I also meet non-Jews who have heard about the holiness of this place,” said r. Gordon. “People from all over Russia flock here, and everyone who comes here is warmly and joyfully received. I believe that the officers' prayers will also be accepted - and possibly prevent a war."