Thousands of Jews Gather in Kazakhstan to Honor Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Father at National Cultural Site

Over 2,000 Jews, mostly Chabad Hasidim from the United States, Israel, and Europe, recently traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to commemorate the 82nd yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, a revered rabbinic figure, lived his final years and was buried in Kazakhstan after being exiled there by Soviet authorities in 1939 due to his steadfast commitment to Jewish observance under communist repression.

Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, Chabad emissary and chief rabbi of Kazakhstan, explained that despite the Muslim-majority country’s challenges, the site of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s grave has become a national cultural landmark and a pilgrimage destination for thousands of Jews worldwide. The rabbi recounted the hardships Rabbi Levi Yitzchak endured, including imprisonment and exile to the remote city of Chiali, and how his wife, Rebbetzin Chana, cared for him during his exile. After his death in 1944, he was buried in Almaty in a modest Jewish cemetery with limited official permission.

Rabbi Cohen himself arrived in Kazakhstan 32 years ago after the Soviet Union’s collapse to serve as a Chabad emissary. Since then, infrastructure has been developed to accommodate the growing number of visitors from diverse Jewish backgrounds. Today, Kazakhstan’s Jewish population is estimated at 10,000 to 15,000, with active communities in several cities supported by eight Chabad families.

Kazakh authorities, including President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, have expressed respect for the Jewish minority and recognize the grave site as a symbol of positive cultural heritage and cooperation between Kazakhstan and Israel. President Isaac Herzog visited Kazakhstan recently and met with local Jewish leaders.

Rabbi Cohen emphasized the spiritual significance of the site, highlighting Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s resilience against Soviet attempts to extinguish Jewish life. He stated, "They tried to bury the flame of Judaism in the communist wasteland, but nothing broke him. Today, standing by his grave, we can clearly say: they failed, and you triumphed."