As many chassidim visit Alma-Ata for the yahrtzeit of Harav Levi Yitzchok to daven at his kever, Chabad of Kazakhstan, led by Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, welcomes the guests, providing them with all that they need – b’gashmiyus and b’ruchniyus.

Over a thousand Chabad Chassidim – from Eretz Yisroel, the US, and Europe – have arrived over the past day to the city of Almaty (Alma-Ata), the largest city in the country and formerly the capital of Muslim-majority Kazakhstan, located in the heart of Central Asia, to daven tomorrow, Chof Menachem Av, at the kever of the holy mekubal Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the father of the Rebbe.

This year marks the 81st yom hahilula of Harav Levi Yitzchak. He passed away and was buried in Kazakhstan a few years after being exiled there by the communists, for the “crime” of spreading Torah and chassidus among the Jews of the Soviet Union.

In recent years, the number of visitors to the tziyun for the hilula has increased.

“This is important to us for several reasons,” says Rabbi Shmulik Ofner, a Chabad chassid from Lod. “First of all, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, whose yom hahilula it is, was a great Torah scholar, an extraordinary genius, who gave his life for the Jewish people in the most literal sense. He passed away after great suffering in exile, far from his community in Dnipro, Ukraine.

“Second, this is kibbud av: the Rebbe greatly valued those who acted on behalf of his father, and the effort involved in coming all the way here is for the gift we received from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak – our Rebbe.

“And in addition, miracle stories here ‘roll under the tables.’ Last year, I met a couple here who had no children after six years of marriage – and this past Iyar, nine months later, their firstborn son was born. The Rebbe also, on rare occasions, blessed those who contributed to the elevation of his father’s soul.”

The visitors are welcomed by the country’s Chief Rabbi and the Rebbe’s head shliach to Kazakhstan, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, together with other shluchim active in Almaty and additional cities.

Local staff and volunteers also come especially to assist in organizing the aliya to the tziyun, the hospitality arrangements in the buildings near the Chabad House – providing meals, drinks, and lodging for the guests – and the ongoing shiurim and tefillos held without pause in the hall of the central Shul.

“It is a great privilege for us to welcome guests who come here from all corners of the world, including a large group from Miami who traveled more than 12,000 kilometers,” Rabbi Cohen shared. “We try to help them elevate themselves and receive everything they need, both materially and spiritually. We prepare for the arrival of the crowds for many months with planning and logistics.

“Boruch Hashem, the numbers increase from year to year, and it is very moving. Tonight, on the eve of Chof Av, and tomorrow evening after the hilula, we will hold large farbrengens – both for members of the community in the local language and for the guests.

“We hope that already today we will merit to ascend together to Jerusalem, the Holy City, along with Harav Levi Yitzchak, with techiyas hameisim.”

To contribute to the Chabad of Kazakhstan Chof Av campaign, click here.

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