For two days this summer, Raleigh, North Carolina, better known for its craft breweries and tech hubs, was transformed into a nerve center for young Jewish life worldwide.
Inside the iconic beer distillery turned Chabad Young Professionals center, led by Rabbi Zalmy and Mushka Dubinsky of CYP Raleigh, Shluchim from six continents gathered for the annual Chabad Young Professionals International Kinus.
The conversations ran the gamut: from intermarriage, antisemitism, Israel, and AI to the surge in Jewish involvement and renewed pride in identity. Yet the heartbeat of the Kinus was the future, and the story of a demographic that hadn’t existed before, with numbers that chart its explosive growth.
In 2019, there were CYP chapters in 90 communities. Today, it’s 278, a staggering 209% increase that has made it the largest network of young Jewish communities in the world.
“Fifteen years ago, this demographic barely existed on the radar of Jewish organizations, and today it’s where the Jewish future is being decided,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CYP International and Executive Director of Merkos 302. “The Rebbe’s approach was clear: when you see a Jew who needs to be reached, you meet them there. This Kinus shows how far we’ve come, and how much farther we can go.”
Young Jewish Professionals are at a pivotal stage when they are shaping their Jewish identity, choosing community, and deciding their future, making life‑changing choices about where they will live, who they will marry, and what kind of home they will create, often, ironically, during the lowest point in their Jewish involvement.
They’ve aged out of the programs that once anchored them, Hebrew School, CTeen groups, Chabad on Campus life, and have yet to enter the communal spaces that serve established families.
They are building careers in transient cities, navigating antisemitism in the workplace, and juggling the pressures of dating, financial independence, and personal growth, all while wondering where, or if, Jewish life fits into the picture.
“This generation has been historically overlooked, not because the need isn’t there, but because most Jewish systems weren’t built with them in mind,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, CYP International Director at Merkos 302. “They’re waiting for someone to meet them in the life they’re actually living, and to see them not as a project, but as partners in building Jewish life. That’s why the network is growing so fast: the need is real.”
For new Shluchim, the Kinus acts as a launchpad, taking ideas from theory into a clear plan for the first months on the ground.
Rabbi Levik Gourarie, who, together with his wife Mushky, is heading out this month to spearhead CYP Cincinnati, called the Kinus “critical” ahead of moving out. “I’m now connected with many Shluchim in the same space as me, and I can call for guidance, best practices, and support as we chart our new Shlichus,” he said. “By the end of the Kinus, I was so excited to move out; all you want to do is start already.”
In Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Rabbi Eitan and Sonya Shilov are one year into their own CYP Shlichus. The Kinus, Shilov said, offered a rare “safe and supportive space” to share the reality of year one, including moments that didn’t go as planned, and to get “renewed energy from those who have already walked this path.”
“Simply sitting with other Shluchim who are dedicated to working with young professionals reminded me I’m part of something much bigger,” he added.
The inspiration flowed both ways, as seasoned CYP Shluchim said they left re‑energized by the new wave of colleagues.
In Austin, Rabbi Mendy Levertov, on CYP Shlichus with his wife Mussy for over a decade, said he expected to be the mentor, but ended up taking notes. “The young Shluchim are the ones who have the best ideas,” he said. “They come with fresh eyes and a refreshed perspective on what needs to be done, and how to do it.”
It wasn’t just style or branding. It was substance. Levertov described being struck by the way newer Shluchim were using tools like AI not as a novelty, but as a serious part of their workflow. “You can read studies, or you can go to people who intuitively match their communities. That intuition is extremely powerful.”
“Sitting with the newer CYP Shluchim at the farbrengen, watching them step into the mission with such passion, it gave us energy,” said Rabbi Henoch Rosenfeld, who, with his wife, Sarah, leads CYP Pittsburgh. “They’re not just ready to build; they’re already doing it.”
As part of the vision for scaling and sustainable growth, EOS Implementor Rabbi Mendel Shemtov led a session on how to 10X your Shlichus by fully understanding its potential and creating an actionable plan to achieve it.
In a panel led by Rabbi Sholom Brook of CYP Minneapolis, local CYP Raleigh leaders shared how CYP is the most dynamic force shaping a vibrant Jewish future, giving young Jews purpose and community. They described how the model built in Raleigh is taking root globally, as Shluchim and young professionals bring the Rebbe’s vision of grassroots partnerships and community building to life.
In rapid-fire TED-style bursts, ten Shluchim swapped strategies they’ve battle‑tested in their cities, Rabbi Henoch Rosenfeld shared about developing their own full-fledged young professionals shul, Rabbi Mendy Ulman of CYP Bondi focused on keeping communication and clarity in multi-layered Shlichus hierarchies, and Rabbi Mendy Dubrowski of South Tampa shared how to keep Shlichus strong without sacrificing family life.
“The Kinus was a chance to collaborate and hear directly from the Shluchim,” said Nissi Lepkivker, coordinator of CYP Encounters at Merkos 302. “Their input helped us fine-tune in real time, understand what’s happening on the ground, and lay the groundwork for what’s coming next: and a lot is coming.”
Late into the night, at a farbrengen led by Rabbi Efraim Mintz, Executive Director of the Rhor Jewish Learning Institute, he reminded the Shluchim that they are doing Hashem’s work, representing something higher than themselves, every challenge is simply an obstacle in fulfilling Hashem’s mission, for which Hashem will provide the strength and resources to overcome.
The next morning, as Shluchim boarded flights back to cities from Sydney to Montreal, the energy from the Kinus still lingered.
Rabbi Shmulik Friedman, who’s led CYP San Francisco with his wife Tzippy since 2012, said the Kinus spirit didn’t stay in Raleigh. “The new Shluchim brought a special youthful, creative vibe. Immediately after coming back, that Shabbos was just exciting. The energy was high. I felt passionate again. I felt renewed.”
Shluchim interested in launching a CYP in their community or joining the largest network of young Jewish communities can reach out to [email protected].
