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Yerzhan Ashikbayev has had a busy few months. As Kazakhstan’s ambassador the United States, Ashikbayev, who was appointed in April, has held numerous meetings with diplomats and government officials. The goal is to strengthen the ties between Central Asian countries and the United States. http://www.chabadrc.com/templates/fundraising/partners_cdo/aid/3668445/jewish/Partners.htm The ambassador together with Consul General Almat aidabekov, held a gathering with Chabad to talk about Jewish lifestyle in Khazakstankhstan.

Participants at the meeting included Rabbis Mendy Kotlarsky as well as Shimon Rivkin of Merkos Suite 302 in Chabad Headquarters, as well as Mr. Emmanuil Grinshpun. He serves as vice-president of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and as an Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan. They discussed together the history and current state of Jewish life in Kazakhstan and the work of Chabad, Kazakhstan’s Chief Rabbi and the head Shliach, Yeshaya Cohen.

After the meeting, the President. Grinshpun said that it was an “extremely productive meeting”. “We are very blessed to have leaders like the former president and Prime Minister, Mr. Nazarbayev or the current President Mrs. Tokayev. They have fostered such warmth in religious tolerance in our nation. “We believe that we all are convinced that the government is truly a friend to the Jewish people,” the Consul General and Ambassador repeated the government’s support for any religious minority and the Jewish community. They expressed an desire to work with Chabad in order to further grow Jewish lifestyle in the Republic.

The government of the majority Muslim population is proud of being religiously inclusive and is in close collaboration with all sorts of religious leaders to promote the wellbeing of the country. Ashikbayev was the Deputy Minister of foreign affairs back in Kazakhstan and has been working with Chabad Shaluchim as well as Mr. Abraham Shaulson , an philanthropist. Due to COVID-19 causing all flights to be grounded Ambassador Ashikbayev was able to arrange special permission for a small number of American citizens to fly to Kazakhstan on 20th Av to pay a visit to the gravesite Reb Levi Yaitzchak Schneerson that marks the date of his death. The delegation was able to transport necessary PPE and medical equipment. During the pilgrimage , the Kazak government held a celebration to make Reb Yitzchak’sKever Kazakh national heritage site.

Emmanuil Grinshpun Emmanuil Grinshpun Two months before the 20th anniversary gathering, participants also talked about plans for next year’s pilgrimage. Emmanuil Grinshpun Around 600 pilgrims are scheduled take part in the celebration this year. A conference organized by Chabad Shluchim, headed by Rabbi Moshe Kokotlarsky as well as Rabbi Berel Lázar is also scheduled. The meeting was focused on what the government can do to support these large-scale projects. Mr. Ashikbayevconfirmed Kazakhstan’s “…commitment to provide all assistance in scheduling visits for prayer and study at the resting place of the great Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.”

Rabbi Kotlarsky expressed gratitude for the Kazak government’s open support. Emmanuil Grinshpun “It is an incredible opportunity for me to work alongside people like the Ambassador and the ConsulGeneral. Our aim is to provide for the physical and spiritual requirements of each and every Jew, and the government of Kazakhstan has been an excellent partner in furthering this mission.”