Thousands Gather in Almaty for Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Memorial in Kazakhstan

Over 2,000 Hasidim and Jewish pilgrims from Israel, the United States, and Europe are gathering in Almaty, Kazakhstan, starting this evening to commemorate the yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the revered Chabad rabbi and father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The event marks the 20th of Menachem Av on the Hebrew calendar. Due to the lack of direct flights from Israel and the US to Kazakhstan, many travelers endured long journeys with layovers in Muslim countries such as the UAE, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. A special charter flight also departed from Israel yesterday morning carrying hundreds of guests directly to the memorial.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was born in 1878 in Podvorne, Ukraine, and was a prominent rabbinic figure who received ordination from notable rabbis including Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik. He served as chief rabbi of Ekaterinoslav (now Dnipro) but was arrested by the Soviet communist regime in 1939 for his religious activities, subsequently exiled to Chiali, Kazakhstan, to isolate him from Jewish communities. His wife, Rebbetzin Chana, joined him in exile, supporting him and helping him write his Torah commentaries, later published as "Torat Levi Yitzchak." After falling ill, he was transferred to Almaty in 1944, where he passed away and was buried in a non-Jewish cemetery.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Rabbi Yeshaya Elazar Cohen has served as the chief rabbi of Kazakhstan and has established a strong Chabad presence with eight emissary families across seven cities. He has also developed the gravesite of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak into a pilgrimage site, with annual gatherings on the yahrzeit attracting hundreds. Rabbi Cohen expressed gratitude to Kazakh authorities for their security and support and reflected on Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s resilience against communist oppression, emphasizing the thriving Jewish life in Kazakhstan today as a testament to his legacy.

The memorial event includes prayer services, Torah lessons, and communal gatherings at the central Chabad synagogue near the cemetery. Rabbi Cohen called on the memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak to bless those supporting Jewish life in Kazakhstan, highlighting the spiritual continuity and growth of the community despite past hardships.