Small Synagogue
Small Synagogue
 Small Synagogue is part of the Synagogue complex. Despite its diminutive size, it can boast a history as complicated and rich as its “Grand” counterpart. The Small Synagogue was the first to be constructed after the general design of the Synagogue complex was sanctioned by the Tzar government in 1893. It was concecrated on 13 October 1886, on the first day of Sukkot. The building’s interior design was performed with utmost skill. Its stucco ceiling was created by sculptor Moisei Anoli; Aron-ha-Kodesh was made by cabinet-maker Berman and gilder Solomon Antovil. The Small synagogue functioned as Temporary synagogue until the Grand Synagogue prayer hall was ready (1893). In 1894, when the seven Jewish chapels officially existing in the city were closed down by Government’s decree, the Small Synagogue began to be used as Chassidic merchants' chapel. It has remained Chassidic up to this day.
The Saint-Petersburg Small Synagogue has traditionally gathered the most religiously devoted set of people. In late 1980s, at the height of Jewish revival in Russia, it served as a stronghold of Jewish youth seeking to reclaim their Jewish heritage. The Prayer hall of the Small Synagogue was also used as a makeshift classroom for Yeshiva, which was opened in 1989 by Rabbi Michaeil Koretz  and had at first no premises of its own. And of course there were those memorable Kiddushim, when, after morning prayer, tables were arranged right in the prayer hall, so that all comers could partake of a regular Shabbat meal.
In the course of 50 years the position of the Small Synagogue shammes was held by legendary r.Avroom Aba Ezdrin, kohen, chassid, follower of Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. In 1990 r.Avroom Aba was succeeded by reb Zusha Gurevitch, a person with a rather peculiar destiny. Born in a religious family during a heyday of Stalin regime, reb Zusha graduated from an ordinary Soviet school and then from a military college, worked at a factory for years, and yet never failed to observe the mitzvot. In 1973 reb Zusha’s whole family emigrated to Israel. Reb Zusha alone was refused the right to leave Russia due to an insignificant error in the documents. Some years later he came to the Synagogue and asked Avroom Aba to hire him as his assistant. Thus Reb Zusha began working in the synagogue, where many still remembered his father, who had been head of “Hevra Kaddisha” for many years. (By the way, reb Zusha’s father, also a follower of Rebbe Yosef-Yitzhak Shneerson, was among those who saw the Rebbe off on the train when, in 1927, he was leaving Leningrad for good). Shortly afterwards Avroom Aba passed the position of a shammes to reb Zusha. Reb Zusha recounts:  “For many years on end Avroom Aba had been trying to obtain permission to leave Russia for Israel, and was invariably refused. When he saw me, he said: now I can go. That very year he was given permission from authorities and emigrated”. In more than 15 years that have passed since, reb Zusha has become one of the most prominent Synagogue workers and a living personification of Small Synagogue.
In a sense, Small Synagogue is a focus of day-to-day religious life in Jewish Saint-Petersburg. It gathers a chassidic minyan for all the three daily services (the nusach used in Small Synagogue is Arizal). Every day after morning prayer the students of kolel “Levi Yitzhok” have their lessons. Every caller can order memorial prayers “Yizkor”, “Kaddish” and a prayer for health “Mishebeirach”
Small Synagogue is open for visitors the following hours:
Monday – Thirsday: 11.00 – 16.00
Friday, Sunday: 11.00 – 13.00
Services timetable:
Shacharit
On Weekdays: 9.00
On Shabbat: 10.00
Minha, Maariv:
depending on time of the year. Feel free to contact us for specific information at 7 (812) 713-8186
7 (812) 714-0078
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