On May 7, in Antevka, refugee town 30 km west of Kiev, hosted an official opening of a new Community Rehab Center – ‘Beit Shmuel’ – funded by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) and its President, Mikhail Mirilashvili, and Alexander Levin, Chair of the Kiev Jewish Community and EAJC Vice-President.

The Center was named after Alexander Levin’s brother, Shmuel, who tragically lost his life a few years ago, and is dedicated to his memory. The new Center occupies an area of 1,800 sq. m and spans three floors. The space will serve various community needs and function as a medical rehabilitation center.

Several hundred people attended event, including Vyacheslav Kucher, Vice Governor of Kiev region, Boris Lozhkin, President of Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, as well as rabbis and high-ranking officials from across Ukraine, Israel, and the United States.

From the EAJC side, the ceremony was attended by Emmanuil Grinshpun, EAJC Vice-President, Haim Ben Yakov, EAJC CEO, Meny Bushueyv, EAJC Treasurer and Chief of Staff and Professor Zeev Hanin, Chair of Academic Council of EAJC Institute.

Following the official opening ceremony, the guests were invited for a tour of an adjoining header, a Jewish day school for boys aged 5-13, and a unique wooden synagogue. The tour was followed by a celebratory luncheon for all the guests.

Anatevka is home to the grave of Rabbi Motel of Chernobyl (the Chernobyl Rebbe) and is on the way to Berditchev.