New Shluchim to Contentious City

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Yona Elimelech and Esther Malka Zilberstrom, together with their son Menachem Mendel, will be moving as the new Chabad Shluchim to Tveria (Tiberias), one of the four holiest cities to the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

Located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, its Old City holds important Jewish pilgrimage sites including the Tomb of the Rambam and Abulafia (Etz Chaim) Synagogue.

They were appointed by Rabbi Yosef Kramer, Head Shliach and Director of Chabad of Tiberias. They join a large and growing team of Shluchim and institutions that include a synagogue, Colel Tiferes Zkenim for the elderly, Gan Chabad kindergarten, Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim.

Rabbi Zilberstrom will be directing what is known as the Old Synagogue in the area that is popular among Israelis and tourists. “The Zilberstrom family will serve as an address for everything Jewish and making Judaism accessible with a benevolent expression,” Chabad in Israel said.

Their appointment comes as the city has been dominating Israeli news because of the anti-religious campaign led by the city’s mayor Ron Kobi. He has promised to “prevent the Haredization” of the city and launched a public bus line on Shabbos, despite objections of rabbis and many residents.