Kentucky Human Rights Commission Convenes at Chabad

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights held its monthly meeting at Chabad of the Bluegrass in Lexington, marking the first-ever government meeting in Kentucky to take place inside a Jewish center. The meeting, held in the center’s Heichel Moshe Hall, brought together Commission members and Lexington civic leaders for a gathering focused on human rights, community, and the importance of standing against hatred.

The Heichel Moshe Hall is named in honor of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, a longtime leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement who dedicated his life to strengthening Jewish communities around the world.

Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, Director of Chabad of the Bluegrass and a Commissioner on the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, spoke about the personal and historical significance of hosting the meeting at the new facility, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks against Israel.

Wearing a pin honoring Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the two young brothers kidnapped from their home in Israel by Hamas and murdered in captivity in Gaza, Rabbi Litvin reflected on the enduring pain of October 7 and the importance of responding to hatred with resilience, faith, and a commitment to building community.

“After a particularly heinous terror attack, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, my personal mentor and the foremost Jewish leader of the modern era, wrote to the community and said, ‘Through your building you will be comforted,’” Rabbi Litvin said.

“In the aftermath of October 7 and the onslaught of hate against the Jewish community, we have followed the Rebbe’s example and opened this new building—the first permanent Jewish Student Center at the University of Kentucky. We are providing a place, as the Rebbe envisioned, where every Jew can feel welcome and call home.”

The historic gathering represented a meaningful moment for Kentucky’s Jewish community, bringing the state’s human rights commission into a Jewish communal space for an official meeting for the first time. It also highlighted the role religious institutions can play in fostering dialogue, strengthening civic relationships, and advancing the principles of human dignity and religious freedom.

As antisemitism and other forms of hatred continue to challenge communities across the country, Rabbi Litvin emphasized that the Rebbe’s example of building lasting institutions, supporting vulnerable communities, and cultivating meaningful relationships are essential parts of the response.