On June 30th at 15:00, one of the most important events in Ust-Kamenogorsk Jewish Community life took place - opening of a Synagogue. Over 500 people were present at this important historic event.

  The opening ceremony was directed by Akim of East Kazakhstan Oblast Saparbayev, Geller, Menahem Vulf, Executive Director of the European Association of Rabbis Philip Karmel, Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Eshaya Kogen, Chief Rabbi of Strasburg Gutman, Chief Rabbi of Brussels Gaigy, Rabbi of Cologne Engelmayer, Rabbi of Amsterdam Evers, Rabbi of New York Levin, Rabbi of Brussels Pinson, Rabbi of Antwerp Liberman, and other well-known rabbis from the U.S., Israel, Belgium, Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland; Israeli boys choir, and delegations from Jewish communities of Astana, Almaty, Pavlodar, Semey, Ridder, and Jewish community of Ust-kamenogorsk.

  The ceremony belt was cut by Akim of East Kazakhstan Oblast Berdybek Saparbayev, chief sposor Silvan Geller, and a Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Eshaya Kogen.



  The Ust-Kamenogorsk Synagogue was built according to the design made by architects Kennet Vetlin-Papally (Belgium) and Pol David Perroden (France). This building is unique and there is no anything similar to it in the world. Special materials were brought from the Holy Land to decorate the Synagogue interior. The place by the box where Torah scrolls are kept, was lined by famous white-yellow Jerusalem stone and is made similar to the Western Wall.

   In Synagogue Ohel Elizer - Chabad Lyubavich all necessary conditions for practicing Jewish traditions were created: there is a prayer hall, room for celebrations, working offices, cafeteria, library, learning classes. The synagogue has over 2,200 square meters of space; its height is 12.5 meters. Construction was implemented thanks to businessman Silvan Geller and is devoted to the memory of his farther.

  Ust-Kamenogorsk is the fifth fully functioning religious Jewish center in Kazakhstan. Similar centers work in Astana, Almaty, Pavlodar, and Kostanay.

  The family of envoys of Lyubavich Rebbe - Rabbi Shlomo and Rabbanite Brahi Turnaim will execute in East Kazakhstan all religious practices related to Jewish way of life under the guidance of the Chief Kazakhstan Rabbi Eshaya Kogen.

Community Center of Ust-Kamenogorsk