Rabbi Levi Yitzchak
|
In 1907, when Rebbetzin Chana was 27 years old, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak became rabbi of the Ukrainian city of Yekatrinoslav—known today as Dnepropetrovsk. He served the community for 32 years, eventually assuming the position of chief rabbi, until 1939, when he was arrested by the NKVD (a precursor of the KGB) for his activities on behalf of strengthening yiddishkeit in the Soviet Union.
The Jewish community of Yekatrinoslav included many non-religious professionals, who also held Rabbi Levi Yitzchak in great esteem. Rebbetzin Chana, who was fluent in several languages, contributed to her husband’s success and influence as a communal leader. She was an elegant and personable woman whose home was a constant hub of communal activity. She communicated especially well with Jewish university students, in whom she took a special interest as she tried to draw them close to yiddishkeit. She frequently visited the congregants in their homes, counseling and conversing with them on matters personal, academic and spiritual.
