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Lubavitch Rabbi Meir Kirsch, who runs a day school for 50 kids and a yeshiva, deserves some of the credit.

So does the umbrella Russian Jewish Congress, which mobilized a group of local businessmen to raise funds to help the Jewish community.

"It is only the first step," said local construction magnate Yakov Oks, who plans to build community center nearby.

In a short time, the group collected enough local money to build the synagogue — which can house 300 worshippers — with little outside help.

The Moscow director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee praised the Russian Jewish Congress for helping to elevate philanthropy, which has little tradition in Russia.

"In many places they managed to turn donating money for the community into a popular and prestigious activity," said Joel Golovensky.

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