“Homel”: A New Link in the Chain of Shlichus to the Historic Chassidic City

The pages of Eastern European Jewish history are woven with golden threads of Mesirus Nefesh and Torah. Among the cities that hold a special place in the annals of Chassidic history is Homel (Gomel), Belarus—once a thriving center of Chassidic life and a gathering place for thousands of Chassidim.

The city was home to the rabbinate of the famed Gaon and Chossid Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Epstein, known as R’ Isaac Homiler, who was appointed to serve as Rav by the Alter Rebbe, the author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch. Homel also witnessed the establishment of a clandestine branch of Tomchei Temimim during the Soviet era, as Chassidim worked with tremendous Mesirus Nefesh to preserve Torah and Yiddishkeit under Communist rule.

Following decades of upheaval and spiritual desolation, Homel is now poised to enter a new chapter in its Jewish history.

A New Shliach to Homel

This renewed spirit was palpable at a warm and Chassidic Tzeischem Leshalom farbrengen held this week in Moscow, led by the Rosh Kollel, HaGaon HaChassid Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Marzel.

Members of the Kollel gathered to bless and bid farewell to their fellow student, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kot, who is departing together with his family to establish themselves as Shluchim in Homel.

For Rabbi Kot, a life dedicated to Shlichus is deeply rooted in his family heritage. He grew up in the home of his father, the Rabbi and Shliach of Estonia, HaGaon HaChassid Rabbi Shmuel Kot, who has led a remarkable transformation in Jewish life throughout the country.

His commitment to Shlichus was further strengthened in the home of his father-in-law, the Shliach in Kfar Daniel, HaRav HaChassid Rabbi Moshe Marinovsky.

Now, the family’s longstanding chain of Shlichus is extending to another corner of the Russian-speaking Jewish world.

“Adding Vitality to the Existing Community”

The Chief Rabbi of Russia, HaGaon Rabbi Berel Lazar shlit”a, who oversees the development of Jewish communities throughout the region, addressed the gathering and blessed the Kot family’s departure.

Rabbi Lazar spoke about Homel’s illustrious Chassidic history, while emphasizing that the city already has an active and impressive Jewish community today.

The community is led by its president, Mr. Yosef Zholdov, a dedicated communal leader who has played a central role in maintaining and developing Jewish life in the city.

Rabbi Lazar warmly welcomed the Kot family to Homel and its Jewish community, noting that their arrival will bring additional vitality to the existing activities, expand their reach, and introduce an even greater measure of Torah, Yiddishkeit and Chassidic content to the community.

Looking Toward Tishrei

As the Shluchim family packs their belongings and makes the final preparations for the journey, their focus is already turned toward the tremendous work that lies ahead.

The timing is particularly significant, as the family arrives on the threshold of the High Holidays and the month of Tishrei—a period filled with opportunities to reach and inspire every segment of the Jewish community.

Homel’s streets, once filled with the melodies and stories of generations of Chassidim, are preparing to welcome a new generation of Shluchim.

Working in close cooperation with the local community leadership, the Kot family will seek to expand and strengthen the existing Jewish activities, bringing renewed energy and Chassidic warmth to the city and its surrounding communities.

The hope and vision is that Homel will once again become a beacon of Torah and Yiddishkeit, with its light extending throughout southeastern Belarus and joining the network of cities across the country where dedicated Rabbonim and Shluchim serve the Jewish population with Mesirus Nefesh and devotion.

Photography: Community Spokesperson