Chabad of Cambodia Acquires New Center for Growing Activities

[geovalin]

by Rena Greenberg - Cambodia

December 5, 2015

Chabad of Cambodia celebrated the inauguration of their new Jewish Center in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, December 1st. Located in Daun Penh district’s Chaktomuk commune, the new facility will serve Cambodia’s small expatriate Jewish community, estimated at around 200 Jews, as well as the large number of Israeli backpackers and businesspeople who make their way through Southeast Asia every year.

Rabbi Bentzion and Mashie Butman opened Chabad of Phnom Penh in 2009. With their move to a large, eight story building, all the needs of the Jewish community will be better served at one convenient address: synagogue, social hall, industrial kitchen, restaurant, kosher shop, preschool, Mikvah, residential unit for the rabbi, offices and storage space.

The opening was marked by 100 Jews from Phnom Penh as well as others from Siam Reap, Sihanoukville and Battambang. Nearly 50 guests arrived from abroad, including Chabad Rabbis from Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore.

The head Chabad emissary to Southeast Asia, Rabbi Yosef C. Kantor, from Bangkok, Thailand noted the significance of the building’s dedication, the 19th of Kislev, which marks the founding of the Chabad movement. “The only way to explain how a young couple can reach such a milestone in so few years after starting, is on the strength of the 210 years of the movement prior the their arrival.”

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who traveled in for the event from Chabad Headquarters in New York, affixed the Mezuzah to the main door post and dedicated the honor to American philanthropist Mr. George Rohr, whose grant funded a substantial part of the project.

The reception following the official inauguration was attended by a representative of the Royal Palace, HMH Prince Norodom Sirivudh. The prince apologized on behalf of the Royal Palace that HM the King was unable to accept the delegation of Jewish leaders present in the room, as he had to leave the country for several days.

In his greetings, he said: “I wish each and every one of you much success in what brings you to our country, and wish for Rabbi Butman and his wife to be a home for many Jews.”

source: http://lubavitch.com/news/article/2057081/Chabad-of-Cambodia-Acquires-New-Center-for-Growing-Activities.html