Chabad Lubavitch of Rwanda
Chabad-Lubavitch in Rwanda: the Bar Sellas' Kigali centre since 2019, home to the country's first synagogue, opened at the request of Israel's first resident ambassador
| Chabad Lubavitch of Rwanda
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Chabad-Lubavitch emissary operation |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder(s) | Chaim Bar Sella and Dina Bar Sella |
| Headquarters | KG 566 Street, Kigali |
| Area served | Rwanda |
| Key people | Chaim Bar Sella and Nechama Dina Bar Sella |
| Remarks | Affiliations: Chabad-Lubavitch of Central Africa (Kinshasa); Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. Website chabadrwanda.com |
Chabad-Lubavitch in Rwanda was opened in Kigali in 2019 by Rabbi Chaim Bar Sella and his wife Dina, who came from Israel. Chabad says the centre includes "the nation's first synagogue", and that Bar Sella is "the country's first permanent rabbi".[1] It was the ninth centre under Chabad-Lubavitch of Central Africa.[1] The opening was welcomed by Ron Adam, Israel's newly appointed ambassador. He said: "When I opened the new embassy here, the first thing I decided to do is to request Rabbi Bentolila to help me establish a Beit Chabad ... We've become a team!"[1]
Emissaries and centre
- Before 2019, students from the "Roving Rabbis" programme had run "ad-hoc Jewish events, mainly for tourists".[1]
- The Bar Sellas had worked in Lagos and Kampala the previous High Holidays. They arrived in Kigali in 2019 with their 8-month-old son and gathered a minyan in their first week.[1]
- Their appointment "was made possible through the efforts of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky" of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch.[1]
- The centre is listed at KG 566 Street, Kigali.[2]
The Jewish community
Chabad describes a small but growing community of foreigners working in "poverty relief, health care and economic development", along with business people. It cites the Israel-based Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village as an example.[1]
Relations with the state and Israel
- Israeli embassy. Ambassador Ron Adam says he asked Shlomo Bentolila to set up a Chabad house when Israel opened its Kigali embassy. The Bar Sellas helped him put up a mezuzah at his office.[1]
Funding and donors
None found.
Controversies
None found.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | The Bar Sellas help in Lagos and Kampala over the High Holidays |
| Sep 2019 | Chabad of Rwanda opens in Kigali |
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Rwanda
- Chabad Lubavitch of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Chabad Lubavitch of Uganda