This week, a conference of Rabbis from the Jewish communities in Cyprus was held, headed by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Rabbi Aryeh Zev Raskin, in the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau.
In addition, Rabbi Lau visited community institutions, Jewish schools, the Jewish Museum in Cyprus and the “Friendship Circle ” and “European Center for Kindness” organizations built with the assistance of the European Rabbinical Center.
Later in the day, an official reception was held, attended by rabbis, members of the Jewish community, ambassadors, diplomats and local religious leaders.
The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Menachem Raskin, spokesman for the Chief Rabbinate of Cyprus. The visit of the Chief Rabbi of Israel was widely covered in local media and was received with excitement and great admiration.
The conference of rabbis opened with several workshops and lectures attended by rabbis from the communities of Cyprus: Rabbi Shneur Levitin, Rabbi Levi Yudkin and Rabbi Shneur Raskin from Larnaca, Rabbi Yair Beitch from Limassol, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Eisenbach from Paphos, Rabbi Mendy Raskin from Nicosia and Rabbi Zusha Neimark from Ayia Napa.
Among the speakers and topics studied at the conference led by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Rabbi Aryeh Zev Raskin, were: Rabbi Pinchas Althaus, head of the Marriage Department at Cholon Rabbinate spoke about Chuppah and Kiddushin, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gerlitzky, rabbi of Sea and Sun Synagogue in Tel Aviv – who spoke about guidance for synagogue rabbis and community leaders, and Rabbis Israel Mehl and Mendy Clapman from the “Lemaan Yilmadu” Institute spoke about the laws of prohibition and permission.
Afterwards, a halachic Q&A was held with Rabbi Lau on issues of Jewish identity verification and rabbinical authority in light of current events. Rabbi Levi Yudkin, chairman of the “Cyprus Kosher” kashrut system, reviewed the issue of kashrut for travelers and precautions when consuming products abroad.
After the conference sessions, a delegation from the Rabbinate met with important local leaders with whom the Chief Rabbi of Israel discussed friendly relations between Israel and Cyprus, raised awareness about challenges facing local Jewish communities and emphasized the need to strengthen and support their institutions to enable all Jews in Cyprus to live Torah-observant lives without limitations. Rabbi Lau praised the work of Rabbi Raskin who has been leading the Chief Rabbinate of Cyprus for 20 years and expressed his support for it while encouraging continued cooperation between them.
The next day, Rabbi Lau met with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia in the government cabinet room, along with Rabbi Raskin, Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik and members of the Rabbinical delegation.
During their meeting, President Christodoulides spoke about close cooperation with the Chief Rabbinate of Cyprus and particularly with Rabbi Raskin as well as strong ties between both countries that have strengthened especially in recent years while offering to assist local Jewish communities and their Chief Rabbinate.
Rabbi Lau shared with President Christodoulides about long-standing ties between Israel’s rabbinate and that of Cyprus on matters such as marriage certificates and kashrut dating back to days when Rabbi Yehoshua Ahrenberg served as rabbi in Cyprus during internment camps until present day. During their meeting, Rabbi Raskin spoke about various challenges facing Jewish communities in Cyprus while President Christodoulides pledged to assist.
