An Israeli rabbi has been sent to learn about Subbotniki Dec 17, 2008 Rough English translation of aticle appearing at http://izrus.co.il/diasporaIL/article/2008-12-17/3041.html

Rabbi David Vinnits from Jerusalem – the new representative of the organisation "Shavej Israel" in Russia: he will conduct work with Subbotniki in settlement Vysokii in the south of the country. He has been the rabbi of the city of Irkutsk and all Eastern Siberia and worked as the assistant at Judaism Institute. Israelis in the Russian Federation The rabbi will supervise over the Jewish formation and education, the study of Judaism, and also will organise joint prayers, courses in Hebrew and diverse educational activities for children and community youth, informs site Omedia. The rabbi Vinnitsa who has resided in Jerusalem for the last 35 years, owns a Hebrew, Russian and English, has the Candidate degree on stories, has finished the special program for students-honours pupils at the Jewish university (degree of the bachelor on a speciality jurisprudence, degree of the master – on a speciality business management). He has been the rabbi of the city of Irkutsk and all Eastern Siberia and worked as the assistant at Judaism Institute. The history of Subbotniki began over two centuries ago when the group of Russian peasants decided to accept a Judaism. They had to pay dearly for the choice – Alexander I banished them in the remote areas of empire. During the first alii thousand of Subbotni were repatriated to Israel and together with other trailblazers joined in building Jewish ishuva – in particular, Jasod Ha-Maale in Valley the Abuse. Among descendants of the first Subbotniki – such celebrated personalities as the former chief of the Joint Staff Raphael Ejtan (Raful), the general of police Alik Ron – and, certainly, the legendary pioneer Alexander Zajd, one of organisation "Ha-Shomer" founders. By available estimations, the Subbotniki community totals about 20,000 persons in all territory of the former USSR. A considerable part was repatriated to Israel last years from Ilyinka and Vysokii. Many of them live now in Bejt-Shemeshe. "The introduction of rabbi David Vinnitsa into numbers of" Shavej Israel "is connected with activization of work of the organisation with the Subbotniki community in Russia, - Michael Fruend, the chairman" Shavej Israel "has told. – Subbotniki – an integral part of history of the Jewish people and sionizma last two centuries. It is impossible to turn away from them – especially after everything that they had to worry. If we do not give a hand to them to the help now, we will not support them, - many of them can assimilate, and then they will be for ever lost for the Jewish people"