8 months ago

Chassidim Gather in Kazakhstan for 80th Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson

Hundreds of Chabad Chassidim, supporters, and members of the Jewish community gathered this past weekend in Kazakhstan to honor the Yahrtzeit of the Chossid and Mekubal Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, OBM, father of The Lubavitcher Rebbe, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of his passing • Full Story, Photos

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was buried in Kazakhstan, a Muslim country where he was exiled by the Soviet regime for the “crime” of spreading Torah and mitzvot throughout the former Soviet Union, particularly in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnipro), where he served as chief rabbi, and later more intensively during his exile in Kazakhstan.

The throngs of visitors arrived in Almaty (formerly Alma-Ata) after many hours of travel; most of them from New York, Florida, and California in the U.S., and from Israel, with others coming from France, Argentina, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and even Thailand and South Korea.

The central gathering for the 80th Yahrtzeit began at the Chabad House in Almaty, marking 30 years of dedicated service to the Jewish community in Kazakhstan, led by the chief rabbi of Kazakhstan, the Rebbe’s Shliach Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, together with the Shluchim Rabbi Elchanan Cohen and Rabbi Mordechai Cohen. In Kazakhstan, 12 shliach families are actively engaged in seven cities, revitalizing the spiritual landscape and, as it is said, “reaping with joy” what Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, of blessed memory, “sowed in tears” during his four years of exile there.

On Friday, the main Aliyah to the holy Tziyun took place, with the recitation of the “Pan Kloli”.

On Shabbat, lively farbrengens were held alongside a marathon of shiurim dedicated to the teachings of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak—both at the central Chabad House, where hundreds of guests, including rabbis, Mashpiim, Shluchim, and Jews from around the world, gathered together with the local community under the leadership of Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, as well as at the luxurious Rixos Hotel.

Throughout Shabbat, many walked from the hotel, an hour-long journey, to the ‘Levi Yitzchak’ shul and the smaller shul adjacent to the gravesite, without fear or hesitation.

Although Kazakhstan is known as a very tolerant country with no history of antisemitic incidents, security forces increased their presence along the route due to concerns about potential threats from foreign agents.

During the Shabbat Farbrengen, many noted that this is a clear manifestation of the principle “the advantage of light over darkness”: “Eighty years ago, during the funeral of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, of blessed memory, the authorities provided an escort only to later harass those who attended, but miraculously no one was harmed; and now we witness the respect and protection provided by the government and security forces to safeguard those praying at the gravesite of a Jewish leader buried in this country.”

It is worth recalling that during Chanukah of the year 5760 (2000), the Kazakh government granted Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, the chief rabbi, a “Certificate of Exoneration,” clearing Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of the false accusations leveled against him by the Soviet authorities who severely oppressed religious practice.

Alongside the shiurim with the guests, a series of engaging Torah classes were held for hundreds of members of Jewish communities across the country who gathered in Almaty for the Yahrtzeit, with the locals joining in unison, “as one man with one heart.”

On Saturday night, a banquet was held at the Rixos Hotel to honor the shluchim in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), initiated by businessman Mr. Avi Shaulzon, who has played a significant role in raising awareness and encouraging the large turnout for the 20th of Av. After Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, the chief rabbi of Kazakhstan, inspired the audience with his words and blessed them with the priestly blessing, he invited Rabbi Grami to speak. Rabbi Grami said, “I have come in honor of the Rebbe, I have come in honor of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. We are all Shluchim of the Rebbe, and the Rebbe is our father.”

On Sunday evening, the concluding event of the 80th Yahrtzeit Farbrengens and the 30th anniversary of Jewish outreach activities in Kazakhstan took place at the central Chabad House in Almaty, with the participation of about 500 members of the local Jewish community. During the event, recognition was given to Mr. Yosef-Yitzchak Cohen from New York and Mr. Moshe-David Cohen from Beitar for their significant support over the past 30 years.

Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, the chief rabbi of Kazakhstan and the Rebbe’s emissary, said, “Rebbetzin Chana, of blessed memory (daughter of Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, of blessed memory, the rabbi of Nikolaev), the devoted wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, of blessed memory, once remarked after his passing that he was a great Jew and should not be forgotten. The masses who have come with great self-sacrifice from all corners of the world are the proof that her wish has been fulfilled, thank G-d. I thank the Shluchim in Kazakhstan, the multitude of worshippers, and all who help now and throughout the year.”