WASHINGTON (JNS) – The U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad recognized Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and former present Nursultan Nazarbayev for “facilitating the commemoration” of the passing, or yahrtzeit, of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson—on Monday, the 20th day of the Jewish month of Av.
The rabbi, who was born in 1878, had spent years in exile in Kazakhstan.
Paul Packer, chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, said: “On behalf of the United States government, I want to honor Rabbi Schneerson and thank the great people of Kazakhstan for their steadfast support of the rabbi and his work.”
“Every year, thousands of Lubavitcher Jews make the pilgrimage to pray at Rabbi Schneerson’s grave. Just as Rabbi Schneerson was embraced by the people of Kazakhstan in 1940, so, too., are today’s Jews welcome there in open arms.”