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Most Russian-Israelis (~80%) are secular (chiloni), a legacy of seventy years of Soviet anti-religious policy. The minority who returned to religion (chozer beTeshuva) often follow specific Russian-language Chabad rabbis. Major figures include Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (1937-2020, Talmud translator), Rabbi Yitzchak Aizik Kogan (Russian-language Chabad), and Rabbi Berl Lazar (Chief Rabbi of Russia). Religious Russian-Israelis cluster in Beit Shemesh haredi neighborhoods, Tzfat, and Bnei Brak Russian-speaking enclaves.
Cultural note, The "newly religious" Russian-Israeli phenomenon is sociologically significant: a Soviet-secular childhood combined with an Israeli religious revival produces strong commitment plus Russian-language religious infrastructure. Chabad runs the most successful Russian-language outreach. Rabbi Steinsaltz's "Russian Talmud" project, translating Mishna and Gemara into modern Russian, is foundational. Many religious Russian-Israelis identify as Chabad-Lubavitch rather than mainstream religious-Zionist.
Major Russian Rabbis
Religious Organizations
Religious-Russian Cities
Religious Practices
Vocabulary
Russian Chabad House Tel Aviv
A newly-religious Russian-Israeli describes the Russian Chabad House.