I wanted to draw your attention to an article that talks about my recent efforts to upgrade a Jewish cemetery in Nizhyn, Ukraine, where the Lubavitcher Mitteler Rebbe is buried. The content originally appeared on the website COLLIVE.

Philanthropist Mouli Cohen and his wife Stacy Cohen have provided funding for the Jewish cemetery in Nizhyn.

The city of Nizhyn located in northern Ukraine was once a major center of Hasidic Judaism.

Today, Jews who visit the Ukraine come to Nizhyn on a regular basis to see the local Jewish cemetery and to pray at the site of the tomb of the the Hasidic master, the second Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber Schneuri, who was buried in Nizhyn in 1827.

With Cohen’s assistance, the facilities and services received an extensive upgrade allowing the Jewish cemetery of Nizhyn to have guest services for the first time.

Until recently the conditions were very poor and made it extremely difficult for guests and travelers to visit this sacred location. Electricity was not previously available at the site and the access was extremely limited, especially during the winter months.

The work done to renovate the site was significant and the site has been improved considerably. The newly refurbished site has been heralded by visitors.

“During the winter, it was impossible to stand there for more than a few minutes,” says Mendel Weiss, a visitor from New York, “but now, thanks to the generous help of Mouli and Stacy Cohen, we can spend hours at the site, at any time of day, or any season of the year.”

A new synagogue and study facility have been built in the cemetery recently and new lines of electricity have been installed to enable lights and electricity for the comfort who those who visit.

“I feel very lucky to be involved in such a valuable project and I am looking forward to more opportunities related to the preservation of ancient and important sites in the future,” says Mr. Mouli Cohen.

Since the improvements, the number of visitors has increased and those that do visit are spending longer hours in prayer and meditation as they enjoy the modern services and facilities.