Rabbi
Jonathan Markovitch
TitleChief Rabbi of Kyiv
Personal
Born (1967-10-21) 21 October 1967
Uzhhorod, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine)
ReligionJudaism
SpouseElka Inna
DenominationChabad
SynagogueBeit Menachem
Began2000
ResidenceKyiv Ukraine
SemikhahRav Ovadia Yosef

Yonathan Benyamin Markovitch (Ukrainian: Йонатан Бін'ямін Маркович; born 21 October 1967) is the chief Rabbi of Kyiv,[1] official representative of Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson and the official Rabbi of the country's prisons.[2]

Biography

Yonathan Benyamin Markovitch was born in 1967 in Uzhhorod (Ukraine), to a rabbinical family. His maternal grandfather (Rabbi Yehezkel Fiyvel Ostraicher) served as the rabbi in Uzhhorod and Schochet in the city.

When he was 3 years old, he immigrated to Israel with his family. As a child, he studied in the school and yeshiva of Chabad in the city of Kiryat Gat. He continued his studies at Yeshiva Kfar Ganim, under the auspices of Rabbi Zucker.[3]

In 1986 he enlisted in the Israeli Air Force, after 12 years of special service[4] he was discharged to the reserve with the rank of major.[5]

Education

Markovitch, Jonathan Benyamin, Rabbi

Rabbi Markovitch received rabbinical ordination from Rav Ovadia Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel [6]

He has a rabbinic status certificate from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and has also been verified and received rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Eliyahu Aberjel, Rabbi of Safed, Rabbi Levi Bistritsky, Rabbi Yitzhak Yehuda Yaroslavsky of the Israeli Chabad Rabbinical Court, and the Chief Rabbinate of the Israeli Army.[7]

In addition to his extensive Torah studies, he holds a bachelor's degree in equipment and control from the Technion and also a master's degree in education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.[4]

Chief Rabbi of Kyiv

In 2000, Rabbi Markovitch and his family moved to Kyiv. They founded educational institutions and a community.[8][9]

His wife, Elka Inna, is the director of the network of institutions Or Avner in Kyiv, founded by Lev Leviev. The network includes kindergartens and schools. In addition, a kindergarten has been created for children with autism during off-hours and extensive events are held for the Jewish population and the city's population.

Hundreds of elderly and needy people regularly receive help - hot food, food kits, medicines, and other essentials. They take part in public events and are regularly visited at home. Young people from the Jewish community are also involved in community activities.[10]

In March 2020, Rabbi Markovich helped the Ukrainian government obtain help for Ukraine in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rabbi Markovich is the chief Rabbi of Kyiv and the emissary of the Chabad movement.[8][11] He is a very respected figure in Ukraine, by the Jewish and non-Jewish communities.[12][13][14] The Rabbi is known for his good relations with Ukrainian government figures and key figures in the Jewish world.[15][16][17][18]

Awards

Order of Merit of the III degree for significant personal contribution to state building, socio-economic, scientific and technical, cultural and educational development of Ukraine, significant labor achievements and high professionalism.[19][20]

Rabbi Markovitch was awarded the title of diploma of the European Parliament.[4] He is revered by the European Union and received an honorary award for 2018 from the Ukrainian Bar Association.

Family

He is married to Elka Inna Markovich, who is the director of the network of institutions Or Avner.[21] They have seven children.

References

  1. ↑ "'From Here We Can Do a Lot More': Kyiv Chief Rabbi Lands in Israel to Lobby for Ukraine Aid". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  2. ↑ "Ukraine appoints official rabbi for Jewish inmates in its 171 prisons". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com.
  3. ↑ "גם במרצ אהבו את תורתו של הרב צוקר". 16 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "#НАШИЛЮДИ_2017". Issuu. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Йонатан Маркович: Главный раввин Киева Маркович обсудил c Нетаньяху важность развития еврейской общины Украины". site.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  6. ↑ https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-closes-down-for-rabbi-ovadia-yosefs-funeral/
  7. ↑ https://www.chabadkiev.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/4099893/jewish/Chabad-Kiev.htm
  8. 1 2 "Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Visits Kiev, Meets with Head Shliach".
  9. ↑ "President Asked About Pesach". 3 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Home - chabadypkiev.org". CYP Kiev. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Chabad-Lubavitch of Kiev".
  12. ↑ "Ukraine President: Racism Will Not Be Tolerated".
  13. ↑ "Kiev Mayor Marks Rebbe's Birthday; Receives Matzah".
  14. ↑ "Picture of the Day: Ukraine Governor Accepts Matza".
  15. ↑ "Ukrainian legislators observe lighting of Hanukkah candles in Kiev parliament". 22 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Ukrainian Parliament observes lighting of Hanukkah candles in Kiev parliament". 23 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "Ukrainian parliament hosts Hanukkah candle lighting". 23 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "Ukraine Government Celebrates Hanukkah". 22 December 2019.
  19. ↑ "Указ Президента України №335/2020". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  20. ↑ Liphshiz, Cnaan (8 September 2020). "Kyiv rabbi makes history with Ukraine parliament honor". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Kiev". The Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

Sources

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