Jonathan Markovitch

Jonathan Benyamin Markovitch was born in 1967 in Uzhhorod (Ukraine), in a rabbinical family. His maternal grandfather served as a rabbi and schochet (ritual butcher) in the city.

When he was 3 years old, he immigrated to Israel with his family. As a child, he studied in the school and yeshiva of Chabad in the city of Kiryat Gat. He continued his studies at Yeshiva Kfar Ganim, under the auspices of Rabbi Zucker.[1]

In 1986 he enlisted in the army, after 12 years of regular service[2] he was discharged to the reserve with the rank of major.[3]

Markovitch, Jonathan Benyamin, Rabbi

Rabbi Markovitch received rabbinical ordination from (Rav Ovadia Yosef), the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel

He has a rabbinic status certificate from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and has also been verified and received rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Eliyahu Aberjel, Rabbi of Safed, Rabbi Levi Bistritsky, Rabbi Yitzhak Yehuda Yaroslavsky of the Chabad Rabbinical Court, and the Chief Rabbinate of the Israeli Army.

In addition to his extensive Torah studies, he holds a bachelor's degree in equipment and control from the Technion and also a master's degree in education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.[2]

Rabbi Markovitch was awarded the title of diploma of the European Parliament.[2] He was revered by the European Union and received an honorary award for 2018 from the Ukrainian Bar Association.

In 2000, the Rabbi Markovitch and his family arrived in the city of Kiev. From the moment they arrived, they began to create educational institutions and community events.[4][5]

His wife, Rebettsen Elka Inna is the director of the network of institutions Or Avner in Kiev, founded by Levi Levaev. The network includes kindergartens and schools. In addition, a kindergarten has been created for children with autism during off-hours and extensive events are held for the Jewish population and the city’s population.

Hundreds of elderly and needy people regularly visit homes, hold social events, eat for food, medicine and hot meals. Dozens of young people are involved in social activities.

Hundreds of elderly and needy people regularly receive help - hot food, food kits, medicines, things. They take part in public events and are regularly visited at home. Young people from the Jewish community are also involved in community activities.[6]

In March 2020, Markovich supported the quarantine measures imposed in Ukraine in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rabbi Markovich is the chief rabbi of the city of Kyiv and the emissary of the Chabad movement.[4][7] He is a very respected figure in Ukraine, by the Jewish and non-Jewish communities.[8][9][10] The Rabbi is known for his good relations with Ukrainian government figures and key figures in the Jewish world.[11][12][13][14]

Order of Merit of the III degree for significant personal contribution to state building, socio-economic, scientific and technical, cultural and educational development of Ukraine, significant labor achievements and high professionalism.[15]

He is married to Elka Inna Markovich, who is the director of the network of institutions Or Avner.[16] They have seven children.

• Chabad-Lubavitch (Kyiv)
• Official page on Chabad-Lubavitch (Kyiv) website