ARMAVIR, Russia - In the southern Russian city of Armavir, located 200 kilometers from Krasnodar, the Jewish community has celebrated a long-awaited event. Actually, they've been waiting for about 100 years for such an occasion.

What they are celebrating is the first Brit Mila ceremony to take place in the past century for an eight-day-old baby, as is done in accordance with Jewish tradition. The family that decided their baby should fulfill this important mitzvah takes an active part in the life of the Jewish community of Armavir and has done so for quite some time now. They are known to most community members, who have been all too eager to congratulate them on this
joyous event.

The circumcision was conducted by Russia's Chief Mohel, Rabbi Yeshaya Shafit of the Brit Yosef Yitzchak organization. Rabbi Shafit traveled to Armavir from Moscow especially for this special occasion. This latest development in Armavir is part of a growing region-wide trend towards fulfilling this important mitzvah, which is catching on in Jewish communities across the Former Soviet Union.

The Jewish community of Armavir is a member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.