New Youth Center and Synagogue Open in Beitar Illit in Memory of Rabbi Zvi Kogan

A year after the brutal murder of Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates, a new synagogue and youth center named "Migdal Or - Beit Tzvi" was inaugurated in Beitar Illit in his memory. The center, which began as a modest tefillin stand initiated by Rabbi Pinny Deitsch in the local business district, has grown into a permanent warm space dedicated to youth and the community.

The opening ceremony featured the participation of prominent city rabbis, including Rabbi Chaim Elazar Weiss and Rabbi Yitzchak Moalem, alongside public figures and hundreds of youths. Rabbi Alexander Sender Cohen Kogan, Zvi's father, emotionally shared a personal story about the location's significance, noting that years earlier his son had passed by the exact spot where he later met Rabbi Deitsch and became involved in community work.

The event also included a traditional "chalakah" haircut ceremony for Rabbi Deitsch's son, symbolizing life and growth amid loss. The center's activities cross community lines and include close cooperation with security forces. Recently, Border Police fighters stationed nearby personally donated funds to purchase a high-quality pair of tefillin, which was presented during the ceremony to a local youth who was moved to tears.

Migdal Or is set to operate daily, including Shabbat, aiming to provide a warm home, educational framework, and spiritual beacon for the area's youth.