The Jewish community of Krivoy Rog hosted a visit by famous Russian star and comedian Klara Novikova. Her new show "And Still We Laugh" was debuting in Krivoy Rog.
Ms. Novikova visited the Beit Stern Shulman synagogue, met with the city’s Chief Rabbi and Chabad-Lubavitch emissary, Liron Ederi, and with a group of Jewish women. The entertainer also enjoyed a tour of the synagogue and the Mikhail Marmer Museum and was impressed with its content, as well as one of the exhibits devoted to the Holocaust. Ms. Novikova said that the Holocaust must never be repeated and recalled the story of how her parents were saved. The actress noted that her family has roots in the Zhitomir region and shared how her mother miraculously survived the Holocaust.
Ms. Novikova was interviewed on the Jewish community’s television program “Shofar” and spoke about her impressions of the local Jewish community, her family, and her creative development. She also had a pleasant surprise for her hosts. Before her concert in Krivoy Rog, she arranged for the organizers to offer members of the Jewish community tickets at a 50% discount, as well as 25 free tickets for Jewish community members who are from low-income families, pensioners and students.
“We are very grateful to Klara Novikova for her kind gesture,” commented Tatiana Kutz, the Director of the Krivoy Rog Ohr Avner Charitable Foundation. “People are thrilled by the show. Everyone is touched by the depth of this beautiful artist’s soul. Klara has not forgotten about her people and her roots.”
Ms. Novikova thanked the leadership and members of the Jewish community of Krivoy Rog for the warm welcome and wished the community success in its continued growth. “I did not expect to see such a developed community. The synagogue is truly beautiful. Everything is centered on people who know how to unite and encourage growth, so thank you to Rabbi Liron Ederi, to the leadership of your community, and to all the people who are engaged in the revival and development of Jewish life in Krivoy Rog. A Yiddish neshume – a Jewish soul – is always with me and a part of my neshume will stay with you,” Ms. Novikova said upon leaving.