In 2003 Rabbi Arie Zeev and Shaindel Raskin together with their four children (Menachem Mendel, Shneor Zalman, Chaya Batya Yente and Libah) relocated to Cyprus in an effort to introduce Jewish life into Cyprus. Later on 2008 the fifth child Malkah was born in Cyprus.
They needed to find a house with a good location big enough to hold a large amount of people. Their vision was to build a Jewish community for all Jews living in Cyprus. They wanted to establish a Chabad house where Jewish people and their families can come to pray, eat kosher food, socialize and build a strong community here in Cyprus.
Thanks to the kindness, and generosity of the Rohr family who made the Synagogue possible, Rabbi Raskin and his wife Shaindel have established a Jewish presence in Cyprus. Chabad of Cyprus currently boasts a synagogue, kindergarden, Mikvah, Kosher certifying agency, a Cemetery fund and special summer programs.
They continue to reach out to Jews living in Cyprus through a wide variety of classes and programs designed to reach all ages and levels of Jewish learning. Activities include a discussion groups on Jewish Issues, weekly Talmud & Torah Study Groups, Special Holiday Programs, Jewish E-mail Service and website, Shabbat Meals and Tourist assistance.
Rabbi Raskin was given the great honor of being crowned as The official Rabbi of Cyprus on Monday 12th September 2005, at the dedication ceremony of the Chabad house. The official crowning of the Rabbi was performed by Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger and a representative of Rabbi Jonathon Sacks of the UK, Reverend Weissman. The ceremony was emotional, and very traditional. It took place inside the synagogue, where Rabbi Raskin was draped with a tallit and officially took on the leadership of the Cyprus Jewish community. Afterward, the crowd moved outside where supporters laid the foundation stone for the new mikvah, a welcome development for the local families who currently make use of the Mediterranean Sea. Guests that also attended the ceremony were the Israeli ambassador Tzvi Cohen, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of the Lubavitch educational division at Lubavitch World Headquarters, traveled from New York to participate in the event, the Cypriot Education and Culture minister Pefkois Georgiades, and Larnaca’s deputy mayor Alexis Michaelides also attended along with members of government, politicians, diplomats and other local figure heads.
In 2006 and we have completed the building of Mikva Mei Menachem, such an important project to be finished for the community, as it is an essential part of Jewish family life. Other projects that Rabbi Raskin and his wife Shaindel are working on are, A Jewish School and a Kosher Market.
"Our primary goal is to improve the quality of Jewish life for every Jew in Cyprus: the moral values and rich traditions that Judaism has to offer are things that no Jew should be deprived of."
Rabbi Arie Zeev & Shaindel Raskin
Cyprus Jewish Community Centre - Chabad Lubavitch of Cyprus
Apollodorou 4, 6020 Larnaca, Cyprus
Mailing Address: P.O.Box 42461, 6534 Larnaca, Cyprus
Tel: 357-24668753
Mob: 357-96388624
E-mail:
[email protected]