Achdus Achieved in Central Asia

Following a call to shluchim worldwide to end feuds and reach achdus with fellow chassidim, Russia’s Chief Rabbi set a personal example and ended a years-long fall out with the Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan.

By Anash.org reporter

Following a call to shluchim worldwide to end feuds and reach achdus with fellow chassidim, Russia’s Chief Rabbi set a personal example and ended a years-long fall out with the Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan.

The achdus deal came as a result of a now-famous farbrengen on Zoom, where Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar urged shluchim and chassidim to make peace as a way to bring an end to the pandemic and the golus.

By the farbrengen, Rabbi Lazar promised to also resolve a fall out “with a neighboring country.” He was referring to Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, who had built an empire of institutions and schools in Kazakhstan, but was not recognized by Rabbi Lazar.

On Thursday, the two Chief Rabbis met for the first time in decades and pledged to work together in the future.

According to reports, the Chief Rabbis also signed an agreement laying out the details of the achdus. Under the new agreement, Rabbi Cohen will accept the authority of Rabbi Lazar as head shliach to the former USSR. Rabbi Lazar, on his part, will recognize Rabbi Cohen as head shliach to Kazakhstan, and will assist in the development and expansion of Chabad institutions, Chabad Houses and schools throughout the country.