Five thousand people from around the world joined the annual Chof Av campaign honoring the Rebbe’s father, raising more than $1 million to support the continuing Jewish revival in Almaty and across Kazakhstan.
The campaign was held in memory of the renowned gaon, chossid and mekubal Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, who was exiled to Kazakhstan by the Soviet authorities for his fearless efforts to preserve and spread Yiddishkeit.
Supporters from communities around the world joined the campaign, becoming partners in the work of Kazakhstan’s shluchim, the preservation of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s legacy and the care of his tziyun in Almaty.
“It was deeply moving to see thousands of donors from around the world unite to support the spread of Yiddishkeit in Kazakhstan, the country to which Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was exiled,” said Kazakhstan’s Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen.
“The Rebbe explained on Chof Av that a neshamah in the World of Truth seeks sparks in this world that will continue the work it began. Thousands have now answered that call. They have become active partners in continuing what Rabbi Levi Yitzchok began here in Kazakhstan and carrying his legacy forward.
“I have no doubt that the Rebbe derives tremendous nachas from the extraordinary success of the Chof Av campaign in his father’s memory.”
Rabbi Cohen thanked the campaign’s donors, fundraisers and professional staff, many of whom worked around the clock to ensure its success.
“We regard every donor as a genuine partner in the shlichus that began here more than 82 years ago through the baal hahilula and continues today through the Rebbe’s army of shluchim,” he said.
In a country where Jews once feared openly identifying as Jewish, and where organizing a Torah class, a bris or a public minyan could place lives in danger, a powerful Jewish revival is now underway.
The Rebbe’s shluchim continue to expand their activities, enabling Jews throughout Kazakhstan to reconnect with their heritage and live openly and proudly as Jews. It is a fitting transformation for a country about which the Rebbe once said that he had “personally concerned himself” throughout the years.
Rabbi Cohen points out that continuing his father’s legacy and perpetuating his memory were matters of deep personal importance to the Rebbe. He encouraged the publication of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s writings and show great care for the upkeep of the tziyun in Almaty.
“How much more so,” Rabbi Cohen said, “here in the very place where Rabbi Levi Yitzchok labored with tears and mesirus nefesh, and where he was laid to rest, do we bear the responsibility to continue his work with greater strength and on an ever-expanding scale.”
Kazakhstan’s shluchim care for the tziyun and provide hospitality for the many visitors who travel to Almaty to daven there. Those who participated in the campaign became partners in those efforts, as well as in perpetuating Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s legacy throughout the country of his exile.
The Rebbe once expressed the depth of his personal obligation to those who assisted in honoring his father, saying, “No matter how much I repay, it will not be enough for what I personally owe for kibbud av.”
“The Rebbe does not remain indebted,” Rabbi Cohen said. “We have already witnessed remarkable brachos in the lives of people who participated in the campaign and became partners in the Rebbe’s kibbud av.”
Donors may still contribute, submit names to be mentioned in tefillah at the tziyun, and enter the raffle for two airline tickets to Almaty.
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“Ensuring that every visitor receives the best possible accommodations during their stay is very important to us,” Rabbi Cohen said. “I invite groups and individuals to visit throughout the year, daven at the tziyun and stay with us at the Chabad center.”
Chabad of Kazakhstan currently operates eight Chabad centers in seven cities, led by the central Chabad center located near the tziyun in Almaty.
“With the support of the campaign’s many donors and partners, we will be able to expand our activities and move forward with even greater strength,” Rabbi Cohen said.
“We are committed to reaching every Jewish neshamah, in every city and even the most distant village, and bringing each person closer to Yiddishkeit. May the extraordinary achdus displayed through this campaign lead us together toward the coming of Moshiach immediately.”
“We offer our heartfelt thanks to every partner for their generous contribution,” he added. “Every dollar, euro, shekel or tenge donated through the campaign kindles another flame and illuminates another Jewish heart.
“May this zechus protect the donors and their families. We see clearly the expansion and growth that contributions bring to the Rebbe’s mosdos in Kazakhstan. Fortunate indeed are all those who participated.”
The raffle for two airline tickets to the tziyun in Almaty will be held, iy”H, on Vov Tishrei, the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and mother of the Rebbe.
Click here to join the campaign and receive its brachos.
Special thanks are extended to campaign strategist Bracha Tornheim and the TOP360 team for developing the campaign’s branding in four languages and overseeing its design, multimedia productions and international advertising. Their professionalism and dedication accompanied the campaign from its earliest planning and strategy stages through its remarkable success.
Special thanks to Yeshayahu Abba Cohen, who directed the campaign team, ambassadors, volunteers and on-site logistics.
Special thanks to Menachem Ziegelboim, editor of the special Hebrew publication produced in honor of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s 82nd yahrzeit, and to Motti Wilhelm, editor of the English edition.
Thank you to the campaign platform, Raisethon, led by Shloimy Greenwald and Levi Sudak.
Special thanks to Rizel Strategy and Media Consulting, led by Shloimy and Mendy Rizel, who provided coverage of the events from Almaty.
Our gratitude and appreciation also go to the Chabad news outlets and WhatsApp groups that reported from the campaign with remarkable achdus.
Special thanks to the shluchim and staff in Kazakhstan who handled the campaign’s logistical and technical needs:
Yehudis Cohen, Rabbi Mordechai Cohen, Mina Leah Liberow, Leah Cohen, Rabbi Elchanan Cohen, Rabbi Asaf Feinstein and Rachel Tumarkin.
Special thanks to the campaign team:
Shlomo Tornheim, Elliot Lamar, Eitan Chayoun, Shterna Sarah Wansover, Shoval Nizri, Saar Edri, Motti Wilhelm, Dovid Levi, Boruch Manuilenko, Rabbi Asaf Feinstein, Rafik Ziganov, Yisroel Shamayev, Gitti Cohen, Yehuda Cohen, Chayush Vigler, Yossik Zaitsev, Yisroel Chaski, Shmulik Shochat, Elky Mizrachi, Mendy Levin, Menachem Lutati, Shneur Zalman Cohen, Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Cohen, Mendy Shachar, Mendy Lipschitz, Mendy Cohen, Yosef Glitzenstein, Devorah Glitzenstein, Efrat Cohen, Levi Elituv and Shalom Solomon.
Heartfelt thanks are extended to the dedicated fundraising team and to everyone else who contributed countless hours to the campaign:
The Rapoport family; Eli Rabinowitz; Benjy Bruce; the Shimonov family; Rabbi Shmaryahu and Yocheved Butman; the Bleshnikov family; Yossi and Saraleh Meshi Zahav; Dovid and Sterny Zaltzman; Meir and Leah Levin; Chayaleh Clemenson; Moshe Dovid Cohen; Yossi Levin of Lev Hazchuchit; the Horowitz family; the Hamburger family; the Teichman family; Michael Goldman; Eliyahu and Chana Amoyal; Ruti Fash; Daniel and Sarah Lerner; Yosef and Devori Glitzenstein; the Shachar family; the Shochat family; Shneur and Mushky Clemenson; Ari and Esther Wolf; the Weinfeld family; the Eisenbach family; Menachem and Sheindy; Chaya Matusof; Yitzchok Glitzenstein; Avremi and Gitti Cohen; Shaya and Efrat Cohen; Avraham Tzvi Cohen; Chaim Cohen; Yossi and Chayaleh Weisfish; Yehuda and Saraleh Golan; Mendy Cohen; the Slavin family; the Tornheim family; Yossi and Chani Cohen; the Marasow family of Australia; Mendel Marasow; Benny Feigin; Leibel Bruce; Galia Crystal; Dovid Lipsch; the Hershkop family; Yisroel Gurkov; Yossi Oberlander; the Fife family; Roni and Ilan; Benny and Menachem; Rabbi Moshe Pinson; Chaya Jacobson; Chaya Rachel Aharonson; Ephraim and Shoshana Bender; Devori Greenberg; Choni Marasow; Rivky Shmokler; Avraham Schwartz; Bar Tzarum; Mina Marasow; Menachem and Rivka Shimonov; and Yisroel Baron.
Their boundless dedication and many hours of work helped make the historic campaign possible.
