Bobruisk. The Jewish courtyard and the Wailing Wall.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Bobruisk was called the "city of 40 synagogues" – and this is not a metaphor, but a real historical fact. At that time, the Jewish population was up to 70 percent of the inhabitants, and the city became the real Jewish capital of Belarus. Yiddish was heard on the streets here, dozens of prayer houses of various "workshop" accessories were operating - for tailors, tanners, cabmen and butchers. Today, the Jewish community of Bobruisk has about 700 people and remains one of the largest in the country.

Rebirth: the idea of Rabbi Shaul Hababo

The new life of the Jewish heritage of Bobruisk began with the arrival of Israeli Rabbi Shaul Hababo. An amazing twist of fate: his wife Mindy turned out to be from Bobruisk - her grandmother lived here. The rabbi did his best to revive the Jewish community, and today the Bobruisk synagogue is one of the official spiritual centers of Belarus, along with Orthodox and Catholic shrines.

Jewish Courtyard: an open-air museum

A few minutes from the functioning synagogue, at the intersection of Chongarskaya and Bakharova streets, there is a Jewish courtyard. These are the preserved ruins of the "butchers synagogue", a prayer house built in the 19th century at the expense of wealthy meat merchants. Only two walls of the old Rosenberg brick with the brand of the manufacturers have been preserved from the building. Rabbi Hababo did not give time to destroy the remains: the ruins were reinforced and turned into an open-air museum.

The territory is landscaped with paths, flower beds and gazebos. On the walls there are large-scale copies of paintings by Israeli artist Yehiel Ofner, telling about the life and traditions of Jews. In the future, they plan to add QR codes for self-guided tours. Locals call this place "salted" - there is a special atmosphere here.

The Wailing Wall in Bobruisk

The main shrine of the courtyard is a miniature Wailing Wall, created as an analogue of the Jerusalem shrine. Anyone, regardless of religion, can leave a note with a secret wish here. The notes are collected daily, and once a month Rabbi Hababo sends them to Jerusalem, where they are laid in a real Wailing Wall on the Temple Mount.

The rabbi tells amazing stories: one woman, who had not been able to get pregnant for 15 years, found out that she was expecting a child after her note was delivered to Jerusalem. Believers believe that the requests sent through the Bobruisk Wailing Wall really reach a place of power. In recent years, thousands of messages from all over the world have passed through this miniature analogue.

Commemorative sign "From life to life"

There is a memorial sign "From Life to Life" next to the Wailing Wall, a broken star of David dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust and the revival of Jewish life in Belarus. It is a reminder of the tragic fate of the Jewish population of Bobruisk, destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, and at the same time a symbol of hope for the continuation of traditions.

A functioning synagogue and tourism

The restored synagogue building on Sotsialisticheskaya Street is not only a place of prayer, but also a cultural center. There are Torah lessons, classes with children, guided tours for tourists, workshops on making matzo and cooking kosher food. During the year, the synagogue is visited by up to 35 thousand people from different countries, including Pakistan and abroad. The plans include the creation of a full-fledged museum of Jewish culture with a cafe, souvenir shop and exhibition halls.

How to find and visit

The address of the Jewish Courtyard (open-air museum): 31 Chongarskaya St. (intersection with Bakharova St.).

Current synagogue: Sotsialisticheskaya St. It is open to all comers daily from 9:00 to 17:00.

The Jewish Courtyard is accessible around the clock, and you can leave a note here at any time. This is a place where history comes to life, and the walls preserve the memory of centuries-old traditions, connecting Bobruisk with Jerusalem across four thousand kilometers.