Miles of railway tracks, towering stadiums, sleek airport terminals and tons of snow stored from last winter are part of the gargantuan effort to ready the Russian city of Sochi and its environs for the millions of visitors expected for the 2014 Winter Olympics. At the same time, Rabbi Ari Edelkopf of the Sochi Jewish community says that Chabad in Russia has been preparing to serve the thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish visitors who will soon converge upon the coastal city at the southwestern tip of Russia. The 2014 Winter Olympics will take place from Feb. 7 to Feb. 23. RELATED Ever since Sochi was selected back in 2007 to host the games, Rabbi Berel Lazar, the chief rabbi of Russia and chairman of the Rabbinical Alliance of the Former Soviet Union, has been working closely with government officials and event organizers to ensure that Chabad’s programs and offerings are seamlessly incorporated into visitors’ experiences.

Two Temporary Centers Near the Games In addition to the three-story Jewish Community Center located in the city center, Edelkopf says there will be two temporary Chabad Houses strategically placed throughout the region. One will be at the Krasnaya Polyana Marriot, centrally located in the heart of the ski resort 60 kilometers from central Sochi, which will serve as the site of the snow events. The other temporary Chabad House will be located just outside the Olympic Park, on the coast of the Black Sea. It will be within walking distance of the Olympic Village and the indoor competitions, such as skating and curling, as well as the international broadcasting center. The facilities have fully functioning synagogues for prayers, Torah lectures, Jewish information centers and, of course, kosher food and Shabbat celebrations. “These will be places where visitors will instantly feel at home,” says Edelkopf. “We will have fully functioning synagogues for prayers, Torah lectures, Jewish information centers and, of course, kosher food and Shabbat celebrations.”