Nalchik Jewish Community Offers Support Following Terrorist Attack

ALCHIK, Russia - In the aftermath of last week's terrorist attack in the North Caucasus city of Nalchik, the local Jewish community has expressed its readiness to help any person who suffered as a result of the assault. The announcement was made by Rabbi Levi Shabayev, the city's Chief Rabbi and a Chabad Lubavitch emissary.

It turns out that several members of the local Jewish community have already rendered assistance to persons injured during the recent attack. According to the official press release issued by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, many local Jews are neighbors to individuals affected by this tragedy.

The local Jewish community has also forwarded a message to Arsen Kanokov, the President of Kabardino-Balkariya, where Nalchik is situated, in order to express its condolences over this tragedy and to denounce terrorism.

The terrorist attack took place on Yom Kippur, at a time when nearly 300 community members were gathered in the Synagogue for prayer. A shoot-out between the terrorists and police officers occurred as close as 500 meters from the building. It is exceptional that not one of the city's estimated 2,500 Jews were affected by this incident. Despite the tense situation in the region today, the various programs and institutions run by the Jewish community continue to operate according to their normal regime.