Shliach, Bodybuilder Team Up

By Yehuda Ceitlin, COLlive Editor

Israeli bodybuilder Eli Hannah, holder of the Mr. World title for three years, is today a regular in the Chabad-run Golden Rose Synagogue in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk.

But Hannah didn’t always care for Yiddishkeit and Jewish continuity.

Growing up in a secular Israeli home, he does not remember his parents making Kiddush on Shabbos, or remember them speaking about it either.

His path to spirituality began a couple of years ago unexpectedly when he was searching for a luxury item for his wrist – specifically, a Rolex watch from the retail website Perfect-Timing.biz.

“I called them for a watch, and when we made up to speak again, the person said he won’t be available from Friday afternoon until Saturday night, and politely asked that I don’t call when it’s Shabbat by me in Israel either,” Hannah recalls in an interview with COLlive.com.

The merchant on the line was Ziv Tamir, a Lubavitcher from Miami (and brother of Crown Heights Vaad Hakohol Chairman Zaki Tamir, if you were wondering).

“You can imagine how surprised I was by this, but I really appreciated it and was impressed by how Chabad people conduct themselves and care for every Jew, even if it can potentially influence a business deal,” Hannah says.

Tamir and Hanna have become good friends ever since: Hannah has purchased more Rolex watches and Tamir has made him the “face” and spokesman of Perfect-Timing.biz.

BEST JEWISH GYM

Hanna today does not work on Shabbos, and every Friday night he can be seen making Kiddush for his wife Olga and their children – with the encouragement of another Lubavitcher Chossid, Shliach Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky.

It’s been 7 months now that Hanna lives in a spacious condo in Dnepropetrovsk, and it is there, in Ukraine, where “I am feeling the real meaning of being a Jew and being proud of it.”

Under the guidance of Kaminetzky, the city’s successful Shliach and Chief Rabbi, Hanna is overseeing the building of a gym and sports center in the Menorah Center, what will be the largest Jewish community center in the world.

The $70 million Menorah complex is being funded by Bogolubov and his partner in the Privat group industrial holding Igor Kolomoysky.

“The gym will be the best Jewish gym in a huge state-of-the-art complex that will have the best of the best equipment and give Jewish people a place to work out, eat and meet,” says Hanna, who will also be training visitors and advising them on nutrition.

BIGGEST JEW AROUND

“After 20 years of competing in bodybuilding and being the champion of the world three times, you learn a lot about mind and body, and let me tell you: you cannot have a strong body if your mind is weak,” Hanna explains.

“Everything comes from our mind; happiness, depression and any feeling we have comes from our mind. Having a strong mind is something you must train, same as training your muscles.”

Watching Rabbi Kaminetzky at work has affirmed that notion.

“To build 2 kindergartens, a high school, a Yeshiva for boys, seminary for girls, an orphanage, a seniors home and more, all from scratch and in a country like Ukraine, you need a strong mind and will,” he says.

“What Rabbi Kaminetzky taught me was the I should always thank G-d for what He has done for me and helped me achieve. After all, I am the biggest Jew in the world…”