The Chabad house for Israelis in Dnepr, Ukraine officially opened its gates on Sunday evening, the second night of Chanukah.
The event, held in the ballroom of the Menorah center, was followed by a festive dinner and was attended by members of the Israeli community in the city, comprised of businesspersons, diplomats and Israeli students. The Shluchim, Rabbi Yaacov and Bluma Goldstein organized the event.
The head Shliach to Dnepr and chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, was honored with lighting the Chanukah candles and welcomed the participants with a friendly speech. Rabbi Kaminezki said that the opening of the Chabad House is a historic event for Israelis to the city, “not only in Phuket, not only in India, Chabad of Dnepr reaches out to many Israelis who live here and visit the city,” he remarked.
The Dnepr Israeli consul Mr. Vetsheslav Smotkin, together with Mrs. Natalie Nevitovski, head of the Jewish Agency “Sochnut” in Dnieper, and Mr. Shmuel Katsav, executive and former Israeli consul were all there to warmly congratulate Rabbi and Mrs. Goldstein and all the Israeli Jews of Dnepr with the opening of the new Chabad house.
Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine and President of “Beit Chana” College, joined the shluchim, Rabbi Mendy Feldman, Rabbi Marinovski, Rabbi Noiman and Rabbi Levi Engelsman adding Chasidic warmth to the gathering by Farbrenging and singing nigunim.
A video of the Rebbe lighting the Menorah added holiness to the event.
The children enjoyed a program made especially for them.
The Chabad house for Israelis began to work with the local Israeli community and with many Israeli visitors to Dnepr who visit the city during the year and bring them to the light and warmth of Chasidic Judaism. Director of the Israeli Chabad house, Rabbi Yaacov Goldstein showed participants the new web site of the Israeli Chabad house in Dnepr, www.Chabad-dnepr4i.com.
There are more and more traders and Israeli businessmen discovering the business potential in Ukraine, which brings them to Dnieper, Rabbi Goldstein says. Exporters of kosher food to Israel, traders that export goods from the Ukraine, and high-tech personnel have discovered Dnepr. The recent economic crisis that hit the country and lowered the local currency unprecedented low, made labor force even cheaper than China ($150 monthly in average).
The Menorah business center offers a Kosher, luxurious stay in Dnepr. All under one roof are a hotel, synagogue, Mikvah, restaurants, shops, a bank, a travel agency, etc. in the luxurious Menorah complex.
Lately, we see more and more families, who come for vacation in Dnieper. They settle at the Menorah, in the 4-star hotel with kashrut of five stars. Everything is very affordable. David, who came for the weekend with his wife, said, “I went shopping and am going back to Israel with full suitcases and enough money left for my next trip…”
It is actually cheaper to get a flight and hotel room in Dnepr, than to have a weekend vacation in Israel!
The short distance between Dnieper and Haditch (3-hour drive) makes many visitors who come every year to Haditch to fly through Dneper and stay here for Shabbos in the wonderful Heimeshe environment of the Jewish community of Dnepr.
We are looking forward to seeing you here!
For more information visit www.Chabad-dnepr4i.com
Wow, very interesting. Schoyach!
Looks like an amazing & beautiful community. – MAZEL TOV !