(JNS) – Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump, pledged on Monday that he and his wife, Ivanka Trump, would donate $1 million to Chabad of the United Arab Emirates in the wake of the killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan.
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Kushner, who was one of the architects of the 2020 Abraham Accords that established relations between Israel and the UAE, said the Emirates is committed to fostering harmony between Jews and Muslims.
“In the UAE, people of all faiths and backgrounds thrive together in an environment of mutual understanding and respect,” Kushner wrote. “Ivanka and I will be donating $1 million to the Chabad of UAE and will redouble our efforts to work with the Jewish community and the country’s leadership to build a resilient, vibrant Jewish community in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”
“To all who wish to aggravate these historic divides, know that your efforts only strengthen the resolve of the Jewish community to contribute to societies that respect and welcome us,” he added. “History has shown that those who embrace the Jewish people benefit, and those who persecute the Jewish people ultimately face spectacular defeat.”
Kushner’s brother Joshua announced that he and his wife, the fashion model Karlie Kloss, would match Jared and Ivanka’s $1 million pledge.
The Emirati police have arrested three Uzbek nationals suspected of murdering Kogan, a Moldovan-Israeli dual national living in Dubai as an emissary of Chabad, one of the largest religious Jewish organizations in the world, with branches in scores of countries.
Kogan went missing on Thursday, and his body was discovered in the Emirati city of Al Ain near the UAE-Oman border on Sunday. Iran has denied any involvement in the incident amid suspicion that the Islamic Republic might have orchestrated the killing.
A fund for Kogan’s widow Rivky seeks to raise $1 million. At press time, it has raised almost $700,000.
https://raisethon.com/zvi
Although there is no official count, the estimates of the number of Jews that permanently reside in UAE is between 500 – 3000. Plus hundreds of visitors on pleasure or business. Besides kosher food (stores and restaurants) and a minyan (shul, batei medresh), they need schooling (from nursery to high school), mikva, Juaica supplies (mezuzas, tefillin, tzitiz, seforim, lulov, matzos etc), community leaders, askonim (to advocate for the community needs(, rabbonim (for on-the-spot halacha) etc etc. I think a kollel from BMG would be really nice. It would add Torah learning to the desert. If Chabad funds such a kollel, I am sure we can get 8-10 chevra to sign on for a zman.
WOW! What a Kiddush Trump!!
To Yehoshua & anonymous : Actually there is a YERUSHALMY Gmure to support your posts :Where it tells about someone who was taking credit over the fact that his ancestors had been investing in buildings for Torah .Then an
Amore replied : ” Were there no needy Talmidei Chachumim to support instead ? “
Please don’t tell rich people how to spend -donate their money. It’s their money not yours.
Don’t be shocked if the Sheikh Mohammed gives a nice sum of money too.
Test post
To Nope : Sorry, I ve just seen your comment ( ok 15 hours ago ), better late than never . Anyway, I would be interested in your findings : Off their Internet, it must be interesting ( I wouldn’t bother you with the details, maybe just your assessment).
To Nope : Well , if You say so : I am accepting it. Anyway I understand our group is very much with solidarity of this
Lubavitch UAE , and I didn’t say anything to the contrary.
I can easily come up with a list of 1,000 causes more worthy of receiving $1 million in tzedaka than the Chabad house in Dubai. Why should anyone be investing in building “a resilient, vibrant Jewish community in Abu Dhabi and Dubai”? It is a playground for rich people.