VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia -
Jewish Communities
across the Former Soviet
Union will mark and
commemorate the 9th of
Av, Tisha B'Av, which
begins tonight July 26th
and lasts till nightfall
onJuly 27th, by
refraining from eating,
drinking and following
the customs of the day.
The first Jerusalem
Temple was destroyed on
this day. Five centuries
later, as the Romans
drew closer to the
Second Temple in order
to torch it, Jews were
shocked to realize that
their Second Temple was
destroyed on the same
day as the first.
For this occasion,
the Jewish Community
Center in Vladikavkaz
hosted an event for the
unveiling of a
significant work of art.
The painting, a
reproduction of "The
Destruction of the
Second Temple of
Jerusalem by the Romans"
by Francesco Hayez, was
undertaken by prominent
Jewish community member
and artist Valery Pliyev.
The work became part
of the community's
permanent art exhibit
depicting Jewish life,
which community members
established last year at
the JCC.
Community members and
Chairman Mark
Petrushansky organized
the event. The local
leader opened the event
by thanking the artist
on behalf of local Jews.
"This is a significant
contribution to the
world of art and the
preservation of Jewish
history", stated
Petrushansky. The
painting now occupies
the most prominent
location in the JCC, not
far from the model of
the Second Temple, which
Pliyev created and
donated to the
collection a year ago.
Pliyev, who is a
member of the
RSO-Alaniya Union of
Artists, worked on the
reproduction of this
renowned painting for
more than seven months.
"This is an incident
that I consider to be
terrible, though very
significant event in
Jewish history", stated
Valery Pliyev.
A teacher from the
Jewish Sunday School,
Irina Nartikoyeva,
provided guests with
background information
regarding the history of
the Temple. Following
the lecture,
participants recited a
prayer. Organizers then
placed the painting
beside the model of the
Temple. The space
currently occupied by
the exhibit was made
available in 2000, when
the community
re-acquired part of the
original synagogue
building, which now also
accommodates the JCC.
Media representatives
are to arrive tomorrow
to provide coverage of
the occasion, which will
targeted at the public
outside the Jewish
community. Journalists
have also expressed
interest in publishing
photographs of the
painting, as well as the
model of the Temple, in
order to keep all
residents of Vladikavkaz
informed about the
cultural contributions
made by the Jewish
community.
To learn more about
Tisha B'Av and the Three
Weeks, please visit:
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/3weeks