Historic breakthrough in Ulyanovsk: A huge Jewish community center to be built in the heart of the city
The Jewish community in Ulyanovsk, numbering over 3,000 people, has received municipal approval to build a new Jewish community center in the heart of the city. The center will include a synagogue, a mikvah, a guest house, a charity network, and an education wing. The project, initiated by the former city rabbi, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Marozov, has received support from the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and the 770 Russia Foundation.
The Jewish community in Ulyanovsk, Russia, has achieved a significant milestone with the receipt of municipal approval to build a large new Jewish community center in the heart of the city. The community, now numbering over 3,000 people, has grown significantly in recent years under the leadership of Rabbi Markovitz, and the historic building at 107 Lenin Street has become too cramped to accommodate ongoing activities, especially during community events, Shabbats, and holidays. The roots of the project date back to 2014, initiated by the then-city rabbi, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Marozov. After a decade of efforts, the Ulyanovsk city council approved the expansion of the designated construction area in the Leninsky district, along Karl Marx Street. The legal and municipal approvals were obtained with the guidance of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, under the direction of the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar. The architectural plans describe a multi-purpose complex including underground parking, a central synagogue, a mikvah, a guest house, a kosher cafe, a charity restaurant dining hall, a Chabad kindergarten, a Torah library, a senior citizens' club, and a museum. Community head Igor Debakarov and synagogue warden Lev Zingerenko described the approvals as "air to breathe." The project is being implemented with the support of the "770 Russia Foundation," founded by philanthropist Rabbi Yehuda Davidov. Construction costs have tripled since the initial planning, but the community's mobilization is enabling the start of work. Preparations for the cornerstone-laying ceremony are currently being completed.