The Chief Rabbi of Israel and Head of the Beit Din, Rabbi David Lau is currently visiting Dnipro as a guest of the Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.
Rabbi Lau is visiting together with Rabbi Pinchas Althaus, to see for himself Dnipro’s dynamic Jewish community and all its educational, social and communal activities.
Rabbi Kaminezki accompanied the visitors as they toured the various sites – the Shul, Mercaz HaSta”m, the Menorah Center, the kindergarten, the cheder, the yeshiva and the beautiful mikveh.
Rabbi Lau visited the new campground of the community where camp YEKA girls is currently taking place. Rabbi Lau spoke to the girls who were full of chayus and excitement to meet such an important person!
During his visit to the community’s medical center, Rabbi Lau was Sandek at the Brit Mila of a local Jewish gentleman. He also gave some very enlightening shiurim to the men, the women and also the students in the city’s mosdot.
Rabbi Kamenetzki invited Rabbi Lau to give the drasha in the shul, where he spoke about the importance of unity and peace in Am Yisroel. During his shiur to the women, Rabbi Lau referenced the story in Mesechet Shabbat which speaks about the importance of judging favorably and seeing the good in every situation.
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kamenetzki hosted Rabbi and Rebbetzin Lau in their home for the seuda on Erev Shabbat followed by a farbrengen in preparation for Gimmel Tammuz, together with representatives of the Jewish community.
The daytime seuda was held in the plush banquet hall of the Menorah Center and was also attended by the Head of the community and benefactor, Mr. Zvi Hirsh Bogalubov, the Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine, Rabbi Leon, Rabbi Pinchas Althaus and his family and friends of the community.
The Melaveh Malka was held in honor of the Shluchim and Shluchot in Dnieper and Rabbi Lau spoke on the subject of Shlichut.
The Melaveh Malka went on well into the night full of Simcha, appreciation and Hachlotos toivos.
On Sunday Rabbi Lau and Rabbi Kaminezki, together with community officials, visited the mosdot situated on the other side of the Dnieper River – including the Chasidic Yeshiva Ketana, the only one of its kind in Ukraine; Rabbi Lau enjoyed learning with the tmimim and was impressed with the standard of their knowledge. They went on to the Jewish senior center, Beit Baruch, to see the beautiful premises for the elderly residents in Dnipro.
Rabbi Lau’s visit made a very positive impression on Dnipro’s Jewish community who hope to keep in touch in the future.
