On November 21, 2024, Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a resident of the United Arab Emirates, was kidnapped and murdered.
In response to the kidnapping and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Chabad-Lubavich, the Hasidic Jewish organization headquartered in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, has announced the creation of 100 new centers in various locations, including Portugal, France and Russia.
The decision was announced at the end of the shiva, the seven-day mourning period following Kogan’s death. Mendy Kotlarsky, the director of the International Conference of Shluchim and Keren Hashluchim, noted that the decision reflects the core values of the movement: “When evildoers seek to spread fear, the Rebbe taught us that the only response is positive and decisive action.”
He added, “By supporting new centers in places near and far, we honor the memory of Rabbi Kogan and fulfill the Rebbe’s vision of transforming pain into action.”
The first 50 centers will receive initial funding from Keren Hashluchim, while the remaining 50 will be announced in the coming months.