A chocolate factory in Dnipro, Ukraine, is producing another type of sweets these days: The sweet sounds of Torah and davening, emanating from a new Chabad House under the leadership of Shliach Rabbi Yisroel Gurevitch. An impressive event on the first night of Chanukah celebrated the official opening.
Among Chabad Chassidim, the city of Dnipro, formerly Dnipropetrovsk, is known for being the city where Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson served as rov, and where the Rebbe was born and lived his early life. The city was home to tens of thousands of Yidden, flourishing communities, yeshivos and schools.
But the rise of Communism put an end to all of it. Yeshivos were shut, shuls were turned into clubs and warehouses, and the beloved Rov, Harav Levi Yitzchok, was arrested and exiled. The conquest of the city in 1941 by the Nazis and their subsequent murder of 30,000 Jews decimated the remaining Jewish community.
Over the next decades, Dnipropetrovsk was transformed into a center for weapons development and foreigners were banned from visiting, earning it the nickname “the rocket closed city.” It was only in the late 80s, with the start of the fall of the Soviet Union, that the tide began to turn.
In 1990, Rabbi Shmuel and Chana Kaminetsky were appointed as shluchim to the city, and quickly began to revitalize Jewish life in Ukraine. Today, Dnipro boasts a network of shluchim, schools and the famous ‘Menorah Center’ – the largest Jewish community center in the world.
Approximately two years ago, Rabbi Yisroel and Risha (nee Kaminetsky) Gurevitch joined the family of shluchim in Dnipro. The couple and their daughter Doba were appointed as shluchim to the Gagarina neighborhood of Dnipro, approximately an hour walk from the Menorah Center. Up until that point, a growing number of Shomrei Shabbos were walking every week to the Menorah center, and the need for a new Chabad House and center was acutely felt.
When looking for a location for the new Chabad House, Rabbi Gurevitch met the owner of the Millenium Chocolate Factory, the largest chocolate factory in Ukraine. Being Jewish and Shomer Shabbos himself, the owner offered to host the Chabad House in the factory’s huge complex.
At first, the offices and conference room that were offered were enough for the needs of the Chabad House. But very quickly, with the number of weekly attendees growing by the week, the space became too small to host the davening and programs.
Once again, the factory owner stepped up to supply the solution. Within three months, a new area in the factory was renovated and prepared to host the Chabad House. With a total of nearly 1,000 square feet, the new location provides ample room for a shul, kiddush room and an activity room for children.
On Chanukah, nearly 120 years after the Rebbe was born in the very same city, the new Chabad House was dedicated, in the presence of the local Jewish community, shluchim and dignitaries. The name chosen for the new center was Beis Chabad – Levi Yitzchok, after Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, who had left an indelible effect on the city. Decades after he was exiled from the city, his name is still mentioned with reverence, and locals take pride in that he had once served as the city’s rabbi.
The Ceremony
The ceremony began with a public menorah-lighting outside the new shul, which was followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ribbon was cut by Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, Head Shliach and Chief Rabbi to Ukraine; Alexander Petrovski, Yitzchak Dveris and Levi Sharinov.
This was followed by an address by Rabbi Kaminetsky, who noted the uniqueness of this milestone and the importance of this new and beautiful shul, which will bring light to the neighborhood.
Rabbi Gurevitch continued by warmly thanking his father-in-law Rabbi Kaminetsky. Rabbi Gurevitch noted that the Jewish renaissance in Ukraine was begun by Rabbi Kaminetsky, who had also personally accompanied them on every step of the journey as they set out to open their new Chabad House. He also noted the presence of community president Levi Sharinov and his partner Yitzchak Dveris, who own the Millenium Chocolate factory that is now home to the shul and who had taken upon themselves a large portion of the cost for the new center. The owners of the chocolate factory, who had begun a kosher chocolate brand a number of years back, have also decided to begin a line of chocolates that will be strictly cholov Yisroel. The new line will allow Jews across Ukraine to enjoy top-quality chocolate without compromising on kashrus.
Mr. Levi Sharinov then spoke, expressing his joy at being the one to enable the creation of this new shul, and his pride at seeing Jewish life in Dnipro blossoming.
The crowd then stepped up to enter the building, and greet a new Sefer Torah that had been donated by philanthropist Leonardo Farkas. Concluded during the coronavirus pandemic, the Torah was previously welcomed with little fanfare, and the crowd now had a chance to celebrate the new Torah as well.
Rabbi Gurevitch thanked the crowd for coming, and invited them back to daven or for a visit whenever they so desired. He announced that a minyan for Mincha and Ma’ariv takes place daily and a minyan for Shacharis every day would be beginning in the near future.
After enjoying refreshments, the attendees slowly tore themselves away from the wonderful sight, the complex from where both spiritual and physical sweetness will emanate across the country.
Moshiachs Tzeitin!!