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Shliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Zalmanov recently met with Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Gat and Rosh Yeshivah of the Chabad yeshivah in the city, and presented him with the newly published book “R’ Zalman Der Lubavitcher,” Volume I, which documents the life and activities of the renowned Shliach and educator Rabbi Zalman Tuvia HaKohen Abelsky A”H, Chief Rabbi of Moldova and Chisinau and the first Shliach to Kiryat Gat.

Rabbi Zalmanov, the book’s editor, is a grandson of Rabbi Abelsky.

During the meeting, Rabbi Havlin shared remarkable memories from the early years of the Chabad yeshivah in Kiryat Gat. He recalled coming to the yeshivah as a Shliach through the influence of Rabbi Abelsky’s students and followers, and spoke about Rabbi Abelsky’s central role in establishing the Chabad community and its educational institutions in the city, including the Chabad-Lubavitch school.

Rabbi Havlin described Rabbi Abelsky’s instrumental role in laying the foundations for Chabad’s institutions in Kiryat Gat. He recalled his vigorous efforts with various authorities to secure the land on which the school, yeshivos and other educational institutions were eventually built, driven by a clear vision to establish a center of Torah, education and Chassidus that would serve the city’s residents for generations.

Rabbi Abelsky invested every effort in securing the future of the institutions and their many students, working with dedication and persistence until the vision became a reality.

As the first Shliach to Kiryat Gat, Rabbi Zalman HaKohen Abelsky devoted his energies to developing and expanding the community, accompanying families, reaching out to Jews and spreading Yiddishkeit and Chassidus. His unique Ahavas Yisroel, warm approach to every person and unwavering dedication to the Rebbe’s shlichus left a deep impression on the city’s residents. Many continue to remember his leadership and positive influence to this day.

From Kiryat Gat to Moldova

The book also chronicles the next chapter of Rabbi Abelsky’s shlichus, when he became Chief Rabbi of Moldova and its capital, Chisinau, continuing the work of the shlichus he had undertaken in Romania at the direction of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

For decades, Rabbi Abelsky worked with extraordinary mesirus nefesh to rebuild Jewish life following the years of Communist rule. He established and revitalized shuls, educational institutions, mikvaos and chesed organizations, kindergartens and schools, bringing the light of Torah and Chassidus to thousands of Jews throughout Moldova and beyond.

The book, the product of years of research and collection by Shliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Zalmanov, paints a comprehensive picture of Rabbi Abelsky’s life and activities, including his youth and his years studying at the underground Tomchei Temimim yeshivos in Lubavitch.

It documents the life of Rabbi Zalman Tuvia HaKohen Abelsky, who first served as Shliach to Kiryat Gat, founded and directed the Chabad school there, and helped establish the Chabad community and its institutions.

He later became one of the first Shluchim to the countries of the former Soviet Union, establishing his base in Moldova and becoming a spiritual father to the Jews and Jewish community of the country.

Through decades of mesirus nefesh, he dedicated himself to spreading Torah, Yiddishkeit and Chassidus.

The compelling biography of Rabbi Abelsky’s life seeks to inspire readers to learn from his ways—to continue his path of shlichus, Ahavas Yisroel and spreading the light of Torah and Chassidus, in preparation for the complete revelation of Melech HaMoshiach and the true and complete Geulah.

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