Fire Destroys Chabad Founder’s Synagogue Complex Near His Grave in Ukraine

A major fire devastated the synagogue complex adjacent to the grave of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of the Chabad Hasidic movement, in the city of Haditch, Ukraine, over the past weekend. Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deitsch, the city’s chief rabbi and caretaker of the site, reported that fortunately no one was injured. At the time of the fire, a large group of guests from Kyiv were staying at the complex for Shabbat and managed to rescue four Torah scrolls from the burning building. Rabbi Deitsch described receiving hundreds of supportive calls worldwide and announced plans for an urgent fundraising campaign to rebuild the complex, which will be larger and more magnificent than before.

The destroyed complex was a spacious and ornate facility capable of hosting hundreds of visitors simultaneously. It included a large synagogue, a mikveh, numerous guest rooms, and dining areas, some of which were also damaged. The site is considered the second largest Jewish pilgrimage destination in Ukraine, attracting around 10,000 visitors annually despite the ongoing war, including many during the annual yahrzeit of Rabbi Shneur Zalman in the Hebrew month of Tevet.

Rabbi Meir Stambler, chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, expressed gratitude to local authorities and firefighters for their efforts and said the federation is preparing to provide replacement sacred items. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Haditch site has historical significance as Rabbi Shneur Zalman died there in 1812 and was buried in the city. The complex had been under continuous development for nearly 20 years, with restoration efforts initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the early 1990s after decades of hardship under Soviet rule.

Rabbi Deitsch emphasized the community’s resilience and commitment to restoring the site, stating, “With God’s help, the glory of this house will be greater than before.”