Mr. Bogolubov’s Initial Plan

By COLlive reporter

Following the inauguration of the world’s largest Jewish community center in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, on Wednesday locals and guests joined to open its elegant banquet hall.

The “Menorah Ballroom” which can seat up to 350 people is part of the center’s Menorah Grand Palace, a venue for large-scale elite events, concerts, cultural events and exhibitions.

But, as Jewish billionaire Gennady Bogolubov revealed during the gala dinner, the initial plan for the seven-towered 538,000 square-foot center was a bit different.

“When my friends showed me this project, I told them I couldn’t imagine something more delusional than that,” said Bogolubov who was the lead donor to Menorah along with his partner, Igor Kolomoyskyi.

“It took me a long time to grasp that the team of architects – led by Mr. Axlerod, of blessed memory – were simply geniuses,” he noted. “What it would take to build this in other places – 10 years or even longer – in Dnepropetrovsk it took only 2 years.”

Bogolubov, a mining and metal magnate who spends time in Ukraine and England, revealed that the city of Dnepropetrovsk wasn’t the first choice of location for the builders.

“The plan was to build a Jewish center in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, but from Heaven things changed, so that Dnepropetrovsk would serve as the Jewish capital city in Ukraine,” he said.

Formerly called Yekaterinoslav, the large industrial city was the childhood home of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. His saintly father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson served as the city’s fearless Chief Rabbi.

What might have added to the decision to build in the city was the fractured nature of the Jewish community in Kiev, with its many representing organizations. Evident of that was the participation of Rabbi Yaakov Bleich and Rabbi Moshe Asman, both claiming the title of Chief Rabbi of Ukraine and Kiev.

Dnepropetrovsk, on the other hand, has long enjoyed a unified and solid front, with Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky turning a small community into a thriving example with cutting-edge institutions and a powerful board of trustees.

“The Rebbe’s father for many years led the community here, despite the troubles and persecutions at the time,” stated Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chair of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and head of Bogolubov’s Simcha Fund for Shluchim worldwide.

“There is no doubt that the merit of the Rebbe and his father is standing for Rabbi Kamnetzky, that is beloved here and that raised a generation of baalei teshuva and chassidic community members,” noted Rabbi Kotlarsky who flew in from New York.

In addition to many Shluchim, guests included Israel’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, Brunoy Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yechiel Kalmenson, Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Israeli Minister Yuli Adelstein and the U.S., Israeli and German Ambassadors to Ukraine.

Special recognition was given to Levi Leviev, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia and the Ohr Avner Foundation, who was the lead donor behind the revival of Jewish life in the former Soviet Union, along with the Rohr family.

Renowned chazzan Itche Meir Helfgot sang at the sit down dinner that was produced by Michael Caplin Productions.