BERLIN, Germany — Dozens of prominent political and religious figures, along with some 2,000 other people, descended on a Berlin building Sunday to take part in the official opening of Germany's first privately-funded Jewish center in more than 60 years.
Berlin’s New Chabad House Opens With an Eye to the Future
BERLIN, Germany — Dozens of prominent political and religious figures, along with some 2,000 other people, descended on a Berlin building Sunday to take part in the official opening of Germany’s first privately-funded Jewish center in more than 60 years.
With a gleam in his eyes and a smile on his face, Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel, the 35-year-old co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Berlin, presided over the ceremony at the Szloma Albam House and Rohr Chabad Center in the German capital.
One year after moving into the former schooling center and power station of Berlin’s largest electrical company ñ and 11 years since establishing the first synagogue in the living room of his and his wife Leah’s apartment ñ Tiechtel pronounced the enormous building, which houses a synagogue, restaurant, student and education center, library, mikvah and Judaica shop, as central to the revival of Berlin Jewish life.
The panel of speakers, not the least of whom was German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, seconded Tiechtel’s assertion, proclaiming the rabbi “a major factor in the rebuilding of Jewish life in Germany today.”
Itkin Cousins
Go Yudi and Leah!!! We are all so proud of you, we know how long you’ve planned and worked on this special day, and boruch hashem, it was a success!!!