A new youth center and shul was dedicated this week in Beitar Illit in memory of Rabbi Zvi Kogan Hy”d, the Chabad shliach in the UAE who was murdered last year.

The new center, named “Migdal Or – Beis Zvi,” grew out of a tefillin stand established more than three years ago by Rabbi Pini Deitsch at the Kikar Ha’Ir commercial center. Over time, the activity expanded to include regular Torah classes and programs for local youth, and has now developed into a permanent center with minyanim, learning, and other activities during the week and on Shabbos.

The mezuzos at the new center were affixed by the gaavad of Beitar Illit, Harav Chaim Elazar Weiss, and the city’s Sephardic chief rabbi, Harav Yitzchak Moalem. The rabbonim later said l’chaim, encouraged Rabbi Deitsch in his work with local youth, blessed the teenagers attending the event, and joined them in dancing.

Rabbi Kogan Hy”d grew up in Yerushalayim and later served as a shliach in Abu Dhabi under the Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach of the UAE, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Duchman. On 20 Cheshvan, he was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists, and his body was found three days later.

During the dedication, Rabbi Alexander Sender HaCohen, Rabbi Kogan’s father, recalled an earlier visit to Beitar Illit with his son. Several years ago, Rabbi Kogan needed to take care of an urgent passport matter, and the only available appointment was at the local branch of the Interior Ministry.

On the way, they passed through Kikar Ha’Ir and met Rabbi Deitsch, who was helping passersby put on tefillin. Rabbi Kogan’s father said he had been impressed by the activity.

“Today, in the very same place where we met Pini, a center of Torah is being opened in memory of my son by that same shliach,” he said.

The dedication also coincided with the upsherin of Rabbi Deitsch’s three-year-old son, which was celebrated together with the opening of the center.

Among those attending were Deputy Mayor Rabbi Gedalia Eisenstein, Chabad askanim Rabbi Moshe Kahana, Rabbi Yaakov Hershkop, and Rabbi Boaz Beck, supporters of the project, and teenagers who regularly take part in Bayit BaKikar’s programs.

Rabbi Deitsch also visits a nearby Border Police base each Friday together with his father-in-law, Rabbi David Beck, where they help soldiers put on tefillin and distribute Shabbos candles.

As a result of the connection, soldiers at the base collected money to purchase a pair of tefillin for one of the young men involved with Bayit BaKikar. The tefillin were presented to him during the dedication, and he thanked the soldiers through tears.

The event concluded with a seudas mitzvah marking both the dedication of the center and the upsherin, held in a hall adjacent to the Chabad House.

Photography: Avraham Yeshayahu