Chabad Hired New Rabbi

Chabad of Kentucky, now marking its 25th year in the Commonwealth, has hired Rabbi Chaim Litvin, the son of Rabbi Avrohom and Golda Litvin, to assist with its operations and programming.

“One of the main things I want to do,” Rabbi Litvin said, “is to make it more fun to be Jewish in Louisville.

“I’m working with national kosher organizations to make the variety of kosher foods available here bigger and the price lower,” he explained.

“Louisville’s not a tiny little town, but it’s not as easy to keep kosher here as it is in Chicago, Atlanta or Miami. … I want it to be just as easy here as it is in larger cities.”

One of Rabbi Litvin’s goals is to establish a kosher café along the lines of a Starbucks where people can just hang out without worrying about the food.

He also hopes to implement study programs “and fun holiday programs geared toward young adults, couples and families.”

He’s put together his first event for Lag B’Omer. Billed as Louisville’s first Lag B’Omer Parade and Family Fun Day, Rabbi Litvin is encouraging people to meet at the Louisville Jewish Day School on the Anshei Sfard campus on Sunday, May 2, at 11:45 a.m. to make signs for the parade, and march together at 12:15 p.m. At 1 p.m., the fun continues at the Jewish Community Center with a petting zoo and activities for the entire family. Kosher snacks will be available for purchase.

Rabbi Litvin came to Louisville, he said, because “I was born here, and I love this town. I think it could be a great Jewish location. I know tons of people who are looking for a place, and Louisville’s not on the map because it’s not easy [to be an observant Jew] here.” He hopes to implement enough changes to make Louisville the place to be.

Rabbi Litvin attended Eliahu Academy through the sixth grade then traveled to other communities to complete his education. He received his smicha (rabbinical ordination) in Sydney, Australia and finished his yeshiva schooling in Montreal, Canada. He also did similar work to that which he will do here in Richmond, VA.

Rabbi Litvin and his wife, Fraidy, have a daughter, Chanale.