Rabbi Mendy and Leah Gotsel have established the first-ever Chabad presence in Bendery. The couple is being sent by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky of Chabad Moldova. Chabad of Moldova was established by Rabbi Zalman Abelsky in 1990, and is currently under the leadership of his son, Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, and includes 5 families of Shluchim. This is the second satellite Chabad House opened this past year.
Bendery is part of Transnistria, which is officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), and is an internationally unrecognized state, recognized as part of Moldova. Bendery is a 1.5-hour drive from Kishinev, the closest Jewish community.
Over the past few years, Rabbi Mendy and Leah have been living as Shluchim in Kishinev, Moldova, and traveled to Bendery for Yomim Tovim and Shabbos to bring Yiddishkiet to the few Jews there.
Three months ago, Mendy and Leah, together with their two children, Yossele and Yudale, made the move to Bendery, to be able to be there all the time and establish a permanent Jewish presence in this small country, in which there are a total of 500 Jews. This is the first Jewish infrastructure to ever exist in Bendery.
Rabbi Mendy shares, “Our mission here is to bring Yiddishkiet to each individual. It’s not about big numbers and large events, we aim each day to reach individual Yidden and bring them closer to Yiddishkeit.”
On Chanukah, Rabbi Mendy, Leah, and their children went to light Menorah with people in their homes. One lady that they went to was an elderly woman, and when they came to her house, they were told that she wasn’t well, but she would be happy if they came in. Upon seeing the Menorah that the Gotsels had brought, the woman burst into tears. She emotionally shared with them how she made sure to light Menorah each year, but with being sick, she hadn’t managed to obtain a Menorah. “You were G-d’s messengers to make sure I had a Menorah this year,” she told them.
Please support the Gotsels in their new Shlichus and be a part of their incredible impact, at charidy.com/bendery
Wow what a Shlichus! Such a huge Mesiras Nefesh! Just donated! Do the same! Help them do their shlichus!
My alter zeide’s brother’s name was Avraham (“The Melamed”) HaLevi ben Noteh Labunsky. His wife was Rachel Rotfarb Labunsky.
His brother (my alter zeide) was Aharon Labunsky, who lived in Telenesht, married Chana Sarah (nee Leznik or a similar name?).
They all were likely niftar at least a few years before WWII (I do not know for sure.)
. . . Tighina.
I do not know the history.
It’s so impressive to see the Mesirus Nefesh these young couples have
I did some research on Bendery it is literarily in the middle of nowhere
I could not do what they are doing
one needs special strength
it must me so hard yet so rewarding
Kol Hakavod