Although the weather was challenging, Chabad of Kostanay, Kazakhstan, directed by Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Devorah Zalmanov, held the Lag Ba’Omer celebrations with great joy and festivity. The festivities included a Kinus, parade and of course great joy around the bonfire • Photos

Rav Yeshaya Cohen, the country’s chief rabbi and Chabad shaliach, told JTA on Friday that members of the Jewish community are sitting out the conflict and staying at home until the situation stabilizes. Rav Cohen said that there are eight shuls in the country and all have suspended their activities. Rav Cohen added that Jews and their property have not been harmed. Sadly, the situation dramatically changed only hours later with the death of Levan Kogeashvili • Full Story

Levan Kogeashvili, 22, and his parents moved to Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, from Israel in 2018, and he was attending dental school there. He was married and had an eight-month-old baby. The ministry is working with Kogeashvili’s parents to bring Levan’s body to Israel for burial • Full Story

Following the escalation of riots and ongoing violence in Kazakhstan, the country’s Senior Shliach and Chief Rabbi Yeshaya Elazar Cohen reassured those who reached out to him over the past several days and thanked them for their prayers for peace and tranquility • Full Story, Photos

On a state visit to Kazakhstan, Israeli Minister of Tourism, Yoel Razvozov, arrived to the Chabad Center in Almaty, the country’s largest city, to meet with Senior Shliach and Chief Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen. The minister, together with his entourage and Rabbi Cohen proceeded to the resting place of the Rebbe’s father, Horav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, where the minister prayed together with the Shluchim and local community memebers • Full Story, Photos