Rabbi Eli & Tanya Kogan, are Emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Staten Island, New York. They first met and got married, with the blessing of the Rebbe, in March of 1994. However, it all began many years before.

For little Tanya it began when her grandmother passed away, in the city of Leningrad in 1983. All the traditions in the family had stopped, so there was a need for a new start, a new beginning. So, she had decided to take over and to preserve traditions in her family. Using an old Jewish cookbook, she began to learn all about the holidays and the food associated with them. Using her father’s old siddur, she began to pray and learn, drinking in every bit of information about being Jewish.

G-d had seen what she had done, and at the tender age of 16, she was separated from her family and living in Canada. There she started a new life, learned about Torah and Mitzvos, and finished her high school education in Beis Yakov high school. She wanted to continue her studies in New York, but since her legal papers weren’t ready, she couldn’t leave Canada. With the blessings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, miraculously, the paperwork was approved for a new journey – to New York, the home of the Lubavitch movement and completion of her education. That’s where she met her husband, Rabbi Eli Kogan.
His journey began with studying math and sciences in one of the most prestigious universities in Moscow. He began searching for spirituality, and came across the Kabbalah - Jewish mysticism. Upon his search, he discovered the Chassidic yeshivah in Maryina Roschya. The journey began. After a few years, he was on his way to New York to visit the leader of the Lubavitch movement, the Rebbe. After another year of studying, the Rebbe gave him a blessing to get married. Within a month, he found his future wife and they began their life together.

They lived in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in order for Eli to complete his studying and to become an ordained Rabbi. Not long after, the family of 3 went off to New Jersey to spread the light of Torah to the Jewish people. Fast forward a few years, Rabbi Eli & Tanya with their 6 children, create a new organization - The Jewish Russian Learning Center. New destination- Staten Island, New York. A place, where there was no Russian speaking Rabbi and an overwhelming need for a warm Chabad house. Many people walked through their doors; many lives were touched. Unfortunately, not everything was easy, and under unfortunate circumstances, the Kogans needed to move, losing the place where they and their community put in so much. The community refused to let them walk away and, with true self-sacrifice, they stayed with their community, under very difficult circumstances with 10 children. They would travel every Shabbat, Sunday and holidays to continue their mission. After a couple of turbulent years, and a few different locations, where the Kogans continued to lead their community with self-sacrifice, and under the toughest conditions, JRLC finally settled at 44 Oswald Place in Prince’s Bay.

Through all those years, Rabbi Eli & Tanya had a dream… a beautiful big synagogue with a preschool and a place for all. The dream seemed unreal. The few people that they shared their dream with would say “It’s not realistic,” or, “It’s not going to happen”. But, as JRLC continued to outgrow its humble little place, they kept dreaming. On Rosh Hashana in the year of 5782 (2021), they must have prayed extremely well, because a miracle was going to take place right in front of their very eyes. The perfect piece of land, which they’d found a while ago at an outrageous price, was on the market again. This time, at a much lower price. However, it seemed that there would be no way for them to buy it. After the holidays, miraculously, they found a way to buy this piece of land and closed the sale right after Chanukah!!! Now, the dream is tangible. The architect has completed the plans for a beautiful 30,000 sq ft spacious synagogue with a preschool and so much more!!! The contractor reported that building can begin this coming summer. That is, if there is have enough funds for construction. The fundraising campaign has begun and is underway.

Rabbi Eli & Tanya would like to invite you to be a partner in this amazing project that will enhance the lives of everyone! You can help them build their dream! Through purchasing a dedication in their beautiful community center, you will forever be a partner in the future of the Jewish Russian community of Staten Island!

They are confident that their dream will become reality, and by the year of 2024, their community will be able to welcome you to your brand-new home, the home of the Jewish Russian learning center – a place for all! Will you be a part of it?