Shmarya Yehuda Leib Medalia
Encyclopedia
Shmarya Yehuda-Leib Medalia (1872, Vegery, Lithuania
- April 19 1938, Moscow
) - was the chief rabbi
of Moscow
between 1933 and 1938.
Shmarya Yehuda-Leib Yankelevich Medalia was born to a family of Lubavitcher hasidim. He is an alumnus of the original Slabodka yeshiva
.
Between 1899-1903, he served as the rabbi of Tula, Russia
; and between 1905-1917, in Vitebsk
. In 1910 participated in the All-Russian Rabbinic Congress. In 1912, took part in the Agudat Israel
congress in Katowice, Poland. Between 1927-1931, again served in Tula. In 1933, received the appointment ot serve as the rabbi of the Choral Synagogue in Moscow. In 1938, he was accused in court of communicating with Lubavitcher rebbe Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, and with German agents, also with corrupting the youth. Upon conviction, he was shot and buried in the common tomb in the Kommunarka proving ground.
He was posthumously exonerated in 20 years. In 1991, rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt
, who held a post of the rabbi of Moscow in 1991, presented the Choral Synagogue with a parokhet or ark curtain, in memory of Rabbi Medalia.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
- April 19 1938, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) - was the chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
between 1933 and 1938.
Shmarya Yehuda-Leib Yankelevich Medalia was born to a family of Lubavitcher hasidim. He is an alumnus of the original Slabodka yeshiva
Slabodka yeshiva
Hebron Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Hevron, or Knesses Yisroel, and originally as Slabodka Yeshiva, is known colloquially as the "mother of yeshivas" and was devoted to high=level study of the Talmud. The yeshiva was located in the Lithuanian town of Slabodka, adjacent to Kovno , now...
.
Between 1899-1903, he served as the rabbi of Tula, Russia
Tula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
; and between 1905-1917, in Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
. In 1910 participated in the All-Russian Rabbinic Congress. In 1912, took part in the Agudat Israel
Agudat Israel
Agudat Yisrael began as the original political party representing the ultra-Orthodox population of Israel. It was the umbrella party for almost all ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, and before that in the British Mandate of Palestine...
congress in Katowice, Poland. Between 1927-1931, again served in Tula. In 1933, received the appointment ot serve as the rabbi of the Choral Synagogue in Moscow. In 1938, he was accused in court of communicating with Lubavitcher rebbe Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, and with German agents, also with corrupting the youth. Upon conviction, he was shot and buried in the common tomb in the Kommunarka proving ground.
He was posthumously exonerated in 20 years. In 1991, rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt
Pinchas Goldschmidt
Pinchas Goldschmidt is the Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Russia since 1993Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt is the spiritual leader of the Moscow Choral Synagogue, the head of the rabbinnical court of the CIS, and is an officer of the Russian Jewish Congress .Goldschmidt represents the Russian Jewish community...
, who held a post of the rabbi of Moscow in 1991, presented the Choral Synagogue with a parokhet or ark curtain, in memory of Rabbi Medalia.