Shuvu alumnus Rabbi Avigdor Moshe Borisov
A Born Leader – Avigdor Moshe
When Mr. and Mrs. Borisov enrolled their son Victor in Shuvu’s school in Arad, he was wary of attending a religious school. His parents insisted that the superior academic level at Shuvu outweighed his concerns.
Victor was a model student. He connected to his Jewish Heritage and before he reached his Bar Mitzvah he was committed to Torah and mitzvot. Victor was no longer wary about religion – he was a passionate and dedicated Jew.
During his high school years he transferred to an out of town, elite secular boarding school. With his kippa and tzitzit he stood out in his new environment. Having benefitted from a brief Jewish education at Shuvu, in no time, Victor assumed the role of religious leader. He organized daily prayers which began with a small group but grew to include his new principal, who began to say kaddish, and the dorm counselor who started to don tefillin.
Victor continued his Jewish education at the renowned Amshinover Yeshiva. He grew into an accomplished scholar and accumulated vast knowledge about his Jewish heritage and mitzvah observance.
Victor is now called by his Hebrew name – Avigdor Moshe. He married in Israel and recently moved back to Russia with his wife and family to assume the position of Rabbi in Voronezh. He coordinates the outreach program for the local Jewish community and is rebuilding the face of Jewish life in Russia, one individual at a time.
Each day when he dons his tefillin, Avigdor Moshe recalls the day he received the tefillin from Shuvu. He can still remember how he felt when he first put them on. He remembers asking G-d on that day to show him how to grow and succeed in his spiritual journey. Avigdor Moshe knows G-d was there, guiding and protecting him throughout.
Avigdor Moshe is grateful for the opportunity he has to make a difference in the lives of Russian Jews. In his mind, every soul he touches is his special way of thanking G-d for helping him become the committed Jew he is today.
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