In yet another installment of this year’s Kinus Hachlatos, ahead of Rebbetzin Chana’s 58th Yartziet this Shabbos – Vov Tishrei, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Chairman of the Conference of Shluchim and Vice-Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch announced on Friday the next 24 Mikvaos grant recipients for Shluchim in communities in need of a local Mikvah.
Every year, the kinus serves as a situation room where hachlatos are made with global impact. And as much as the kinus has long-lasting results every year, this year’s kinus took an exponential turn. Standing at the podium of the Kinus banquet, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky announced an astonishing slew of hachlatos, tackling all areas of the Jewish community life in honor of Rebbe’s 120th year, a call to“Triple Our Efforts” in our mission to become a “Dor Shekulo Zakai.”
As a result of the Hachlatos, hundreds of Chabad House communities worldwide have been bolstered on numerous fronts, with a total of 36 new Sifrei Torah being written for communities without their own and grants for 120 Mikvaos being distributed this year, along with 120 New Shluchim, 120 CKids Hebrew Schools, and 6 CTeen Lounges, with more recipients being announced over the coming months. An Israeli Desk working with the network of shluchim serving Israelis in the Diaspora was launched as well. The Simcha fund and Yom Tov grants were reinstated, with more than 1,000 Simcha Fund grants and 3,000 Yom Tov Grants distributed already.
The latest batch of Mikvaos grants announced ahead of the Rebbe’s mothers Yahrzeit are the newest installment of this grand undertaking, and come at an appropriate time. “The Rebbe spoke numerous times regarding the significance of the name Chana alluding to the three mitzvos of challah, niddah, and hadlakas neiros,” said Rabbi Kotlarsky, “How appropriate that on the eve of her yartzeit 24 more communities will have the opportunity to fulfill the special Mitzvah of Mikvah connected to her name.”
In addition to the grants, numerous workshops and programs have been created to complement and amplify the impact of these critical undertakings. Workshops such as the Yesodos Seminar for new Shluchim and Shluchos, CKids Hebrew School Teacher Training and Kallah Teacher training seminars attended by hundreds of Shluchim and Shluchos, and organized by Merkos 302 took place over the past year, with more in the works.
“The ultimate goal of these commitments is to strengthen the global Jewish community,” explains Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302, “our team is working around the clock to create holistic and innovative programming to help the Shluchim engage, educate and grow their communities, using these new grants as a catalyst.”
Immediately after the initial Kinus announcement, numerous individuals looking to make a global impact and support the network of Shluchim stepped forth to partake in the tremendous undertaking, including The Rohr family, the Tabacinic family, the Meromim Foundation, the Yisroel Foundation, the Mashiyev Family Foundation, the Azar family, the Gniwisch family, and the tens of shluchim who have brought their donors on board to support these initiatives.
Grant applications are still open for Shluchim, visit kerenhashluchim.org to apply for a grant for your Shlichus.
If you’d like to sponsor a Sefer Torah, Mikva, or New Shliach, please reach out to Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky at [email protected]
The latest recipients of the Mikvaos grants are:
Rabbi Laima and Mushkie Barber
Grand Baie, Mauritius
Rabbi Mendel and Nechama Danow
Pensacola, FL
Rabbi Shaya and Devorah Deitsch
Fort Washington, PA
Rabbi Levi and Fraida Gerlitzky
Kailua-Kona, HI
Rabbi Mendy and Alta Goldstein
Naperville, Il
Rabbi Yerachmiel and Sterni Gorelik
Tyumen, Russian Federation
Rabbi Yosef and Sterna Havlin
Frankfurt, Germany
Rabbi Shalom Dovber and Devorah Hertzl
Chad Nas, Israel
Rabbi Aryeh and Devorah Lang
Camarillo, CA
Rabbi Yechezkel and Chaya Mushka Lazar
Simferopol, Crimea
Rabbi Mordy and Nomi Leimdorfer
Harrisonburg, VA
Rabbi Yossi and Esther Lerman
Norcross, GA
Rabbi Shmuel and Hava Lewin
Deauville, France
Rabbi Moshe and Chana Lieblich
Wilmington, NC
Rabbi Yosef and Sara Moscowitz
Chicago, IL
Rabbi Binyamin and Davida Murray
Middlebury, VT
Rabbi Yosef and Hinda Plotkin
Greensboro, NC
Rabbi Michoel and Chana Refson
Athens, GA
Rabbi Meir Simcha and Fraidy Rubashkin
Oneonta, NY
Rabbi Yosef and Chaya Spalter
Pine Brook, NJ
Rabbi Dovid and Goldie Tiechtel
Champaign, IL
Rabbi Avremel and Shulie Vogel
Newark, DE
Rabbi Levi and Sara Volovik
Pittsfield, MA
Rabbi Tzali and Rivkie Wilschanski
Kenosha, WI
