By COLlive reporter
A Zoom video meeting was held this past week following the achdus agreement that has been reached between Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and Kazakhstan’s Chief Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen.
The agreement put an end to 2 decades of disconnect between the leaders of both Jewish communities and its announcement on Monday was welcomed by many.
Joining the two rabbis on the call were Vice Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Rabbi David Mondshine and Rabbi Shloime Peles of the Ohr Avner Foundation, Almaty’s Chief Rabbi Elchanan Cohen, and Rabbi Efraim Mintz, director of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institue (JLI).
Together, they praised the agreement and said L’chaim to usher in a new era of understanding, cooperation and development to benefit Kazakh Jewry.
At a farbrengen later, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen said: “I have a list of tens of people who expressed interest, wanted and pushed [for this to happen]. I mention them from time to time at the Ohel.”
He then added that “there is one dear Jew who is a businessman who doesn’t even live in this region” that has been tirelessly working on making the achdus happen.
Rabbi Cohen said that person is David Rogatsky, a resident of Crown Heights who is a member of Bais Shmuel Chabad and CEO of N.Y. Lead Abatement, a Brooklyn-based environmental consultant firm.
Some 4 years ago, Rogatsky visited Kazakhstan as part of a group from Bais Shmuel Chabad in Crown Heights who davened at the Ohel of Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, father of the Rebbe.
Rabbi Cohen said that Rogatsky was disturbed to hear about the discord between the neighboring Chabad Shluchim of Moscow and Almaty. “Such a thing cannot exist!” Rogatsky commented at the time.
Ever since, Rogatsky “did not leave me alone [about this issue] and approached each person who was involved in this for 4 years,” Rabbi Cohen said. “Through his efforts, we have eliminated a great controversy, many misunderstandings and lack of communication.”
Asked to comment, Rogatsky said: “When I started this 4 years ago, I said: whether I have to go through fire or metal, I am not going to stop. We will get it done by hook or by crook… I know that we put a smile on the Rebbe’s face. It was a long journey.”
Under the agreement, Rabbi Cohen will accept the authority of Rabbi Lazar as Head Shliach of the former Soviet Union, while Rabbi Cohen will be reinstated as the Head Shliach of Kazakhstan and the director of its Chabad institutions.
As of Shabbos, Rabbi Cohen’s name has yet to be listed in the Global Directory of Chabad centers that appear on the institutional websites Chabad.org, Lubavitch.com and fjc.ru.
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such amazing news we see here that a smile on the rebbes face is everything!!!!! I can learn so much about this thank you!!!!
MOSHIACH NOW!!! Sholom and ahava is what we need always to bring us to Geulah!!!!!
seems very much to be an incredible Mentch, and a devoted Chossid!
a true Chossid of the Rebbe! His selfless dedication to this cause was incredible! When no ego is involved and the ONLY purpose is for good and what is right he was the only kne able to get it done! really only to give nachas to the Rebbes!
Amazing!