Parshas Mikeitz (Chanukah) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Dec 19, 2025
- 4 min read
ולעמך ישראל עשית תשועה גדולה ופרקן כהיום הזה ... (על הניסים)
The amazing story before us happened in Russia in 2017 (exactly 8 years ago) regarding a Jewish woman named Irena Dislevsky, who studied medicine for seven years, and then another seven years, specializing in head surgery. The law in Russia states that those who study medicine and complete their studies are entitled to receive a certificate, their medical degree. The certificates are handed out on a specific day, and those who do not come to receive their certificate will have no further opportunity to receive it. Anyone who does not come to pick up the degree on that date loses eligibility for the certificate and must complete another seven years in order to receive a new certificate. Everyone in Russian medical school knows that if he or she does not come to pick up the earned certificate, they lose their chance to become a practicing doctor.
Nobody failed to come on the appointed day to pick up their certificate. However, the date set for receiving the certificate for Irena Dislevsky fell out on Shavuos 2017. It was precisely at that time that Irena Dislevsky began to become stronger in observing Torah and mitzvos, and for several months she had been observing Shabbos and Yom Tov. She was at a loss as to how she could get her certificate. In her distress, she turned to the Chief Rabbi of Russia, R’ Berel Lazar shlita, to ask him what to do. The rabbi said to her, “Rent a room in a nearby hotel, and then you can walk over and pick up the certificate.”
She told the rabbi, “But I will have to sign all kinds of documents and paperwork confirming that I received the certificate.”
The rabbi told her, “If so, then I don’t see any halachic solution to allow the certificate to be picked up on Yom Tov.”
Her heart was broken within her; many years of hard work were about to go down the drain. But Irena refused to let the evil inclination break her. She became stronger and said to herself, “I have decided to keep Torah and mitzvos without compromise. I will not desecrate the sanctity of the festival for the sake of the certificate.”
The holiday arrived and the certificates were distributed. Irena Dislevsky did not go to receive her degree, and of course, she lost her opportunity. The day after the holiday, she tried to talk to the Russian Ministry of Education to request her certificate, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. She was told that she had lost her diploma, and to get a new one, she would have to go back and study for another seven years. She accepted it with love because she knew it was Hashem’s will.
In December 2018, a large conference was held in honor of the Hanukkah holiday at the Kremlin, the Russian parliament. On this important occasion, Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar lights the menorah and offers a few words about the holiday. President Vladimir Putin, who respects all religions, arrived at the lighting ceremony just as Rabbi Lazar was speaking. The rabbi spoke about the self-sacrifice of the Hasmoneans, the few against the many, and the significance of self-sacrifice for the sake of Judaism. He added: “I want to tell you a story about one contemporary Hasmonean woman, who took upon herself the yoke of Torah and mitzvos with self-sacrifice, and stood up for the principles of Judaism, even at a great personal loss.” He told of a woman who studied medicine for years, and all the labor of the past and all the hope of the future she gave away in order not to desecrate a Jewish holiday. He concluded by saying: “Do you have a greater devotion than this for the sake of Judaism?”
President Putin heard this and was very moved. He called Rabbi Lazar over and asked him, “Is the story you told true? And if so, what is the name of that woman?” Rabbi Lazar answered in the affirmative. “Irena Dislevsky is her name.”
The president bid farewell to Rabbi Lazar and left the scene. He immediately called the Minister of Education and said, “I ask that you bring me the medical certificate of Irena Dislevsky who was to have graduated back in June of this year.”
Of course, a minister in Russia who receives such an order immediately carries out the president’s request. President Putin received the certificate and asked that Irena Dislevsky be brought to him. Startled and scared, she arrived and was handed her certificate. To date, she is the only person in history to receive such a certificate from the Russian president. Shortly afterwards, she immigrated to the Holy Land and was hired to work as a deputy director of surgery in one of the large hospitals in Israel.
(This story was published in a recent issue of the publication “Mei Be’er” by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Altman shlita)