One doesn’t easily forget the great joy that was felt thirty years ago when the one who was known as “The Tzaddik from Leningrad” was finally granted exit visas from Russia for himself and his family.
The joy was widespread as, after many refusals from the Russian authorities, Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan and his family made Aliya and settled in Yerushalaim.
Rabbi Kogan, who had been actively helping Jews behind the Iron Curtain, threw himself wholeheartedly into helping his fellow brothers in Israel as well. Then the Rebbe sent him back to Russia, this time to Moscow.
Here he succeeded in redeeming the over-200- year-old, historical Bolshaya Bronnaya shul, which is steps away from the Red Square, and turning it into a lighthouse of thriving Yiddishkeit. Rabbi Kogan has also been serving as the Chief Shochet for all of Russia, under the Hashgocha of Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar.
In appreciation and admiration to Rabbi Kogan for his longtime support, the Shaarey Tzedek Chesed Organization arranged a big birthday farbrengen to celebrate his 70th. At the farbrengen, Rabbi Lazar shared many stories of those first difficult years. Stories of sowing, plowing, watering, and tending to tiny seeds that have now sprouted and grown into beautiful trees all over Russia and beyond.
The highlight of the event was when the MC announced that a new, mehudar Sefer Torah would be written in honor of Rabbi Kogan and his family. Rabbi Lazar was called up to write the first letter, followed by many friends, supporters and community members.
The renowned Baal Menagen from Tzfas, Rabbi Shmuel Greiniman wove together songs of thanks to Hashem for the past, and hope for the future, along with prayers for the success of Am Yisroel, much to everyone’s delight. May Hashem bentch Rabbi Kogan with good health, and lots of strength to continue spreading light wherever he goes, for many more happy, healthy years to come!
Harav Kogan is truly the Tzaddik of Leningrad and then some. Met him last year at his SHUL and Chabad House – Bolshaya Bronnaya SHUL on 17th of Tammuz Nidche. (5775 was the same Hebrew calendar setting as this year 5776) Harav Kogan after Mincha and Maariv like 9:45 p.m. we broke our fast at the rooftop restaurant of his Jewish Center and SHUL. It is a beautiful building and more importantly it is filled with young Jewish people celebrating and living Jewishly. He FARBRENGED with us until well past Midnight. No pretentiousness – no ersatz and no self promotion.… Read more »
My husband, Hirsh Gansbourg a”h and I were sent by Lishkas Ezras Achim to the Soviet Union in 1984 to meet with and bring item to the Jews living there. Our contact in Leningrad was Yitzchak Kogan and we tried to contact him but couldn’t reach him with the phone number we were given. Our only alternative was to go to the Shul there on Shabbos. We couldn’t carry a map and had to memorize the way. We finally arrived while they were leining. We did meet some Lubavitchers who then took us to the home of the Kogen’s. They… Read more »
We should be happy for our brothers and sisters in Russia that things are going well for them like here in the USA. And if it doesn’t seem to be going so well for us here maybe it’s time for a true ‘Cheshbon Hanefesh’?
I remember when we used 2 send them r left over pasach Matza , look what there eating now !
Obviously someone who has had mesiras nefesh for Yiddishkeit. Yasher Choach! Beautiful!