Historic Jewish Center Approved for Construction in Ulyanovsk
A major milestone has been reached for the Jewish community of Ulyanovsk, Russia, with municipal approval granted for the construction of a new five-story Jewish community center in the city.
The project, which has been in development for more than a decade, will replace the community’s existing facility at 107 Lenin Street, which has become too small to accommodate the growing number of Jewish residents participating in its activities.
The community, which serves more than 3,000 Jews throughout the region, is led by the city’s Rabbi and Shaliach, Rabbi Binyamin Markovitch. The project was originally initiated in 5774 by his predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Morozov.
On Chai Elul, the Ulyanovsk municipality approved the expansion of the designated construction area in the Leninsky district, along Karl Marx Street in the center of the city. The municipal and legal process was advanced with the assistance of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FJCR), under the leadership of Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar.
According to the plans, the new center will encompass approximately 4,400 square meters across five floors, with an additional underground level containing parking facilities.
The building will feature a large synagogue, a mikvah, Shabbat and Yom Tov hospitality facilities, a mehadrin kosher café and a dining hall that will serve as part of the community’s extensive chesed activities, including assistance for the needy, elderly and isolated.
A significant portion of the center will be dedicated to Jewish education and community life. Plans include a Chassidic kindergarten, Sunday school, modern classrooms, a Jewish library, facilities for seniors and a museum documenting the history and heritage of the Jewish community of the region.
Community president Igor Dabakarov and synagogue gabbai Lev Zingarenko, who have worked to advance the project, welcomed the approval, noting that the new facility will enable the community to significantly expand its activities and accommodate many additional families.
With the necessary permits now secured, preparations are underway for a cornerstone-laying ceremony and the beginning of construction. The project is receiving support from the Russia 770 Fund, founded by philanthropist Rabbi Yehuda Davidov.
Despite construction costs having risen substantially since the project was first conceived, the community and its supporters are continuing efforts to bring the ambitious project to fruition.
For Rabbi Markovitch and the Ulyanovsk Jewish community, the new center represents a significant step in the continued development of Jewish life in the city, providing a permanent home for Torah, tefillah, education and chesed and advancing the vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to bring the light of Yiddishkeit and Chassidus to Jewish communities throughout the world.
Photos: Community Spokesperson
