By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shmuel Amit
Over 300 Chabad educators gathered for the Kinus Mechanchei Chabad, a three-day convention in which our community’s mechanchim and mechanchos gain tools and inspiration, ideas and strategies, and new methods to take back to their classrooms.
Held on Gimmel Tammuz, the day included learning the Rebbe’s Sichos on Chinuch and the awesome responsibility teachers hold in the Rebbe’s shlichus of Chinuch.
The day culminated in an evening gala Chinuch Banquet that celebrated Mechanchim and Mechanchos’ vital role in the community, as well as express the appreciation of the greater community for their boundless devotion to their students.
In a general session prior to the banquet, Rabbi Shimon Raichik, a renowned Mashpia from Los Angeles, California spoke about how Chinuch in this day and age can be considered the Pikuach Nefesh of our times. Rabbi Raichik emphasized how Mechanchim are at the frontlines of influencing the next generation and can impact children’s lives forever.
Rabbi YY Jacobson, noted lecturer and Mashpia, followed with a rousing lecture about the tremendous effect every action or word of a Mechanech can have on a student.
He emphasized that in today’s Shlichus oriented Chabad world, shluchim have every resource needed to reach the unaffiliated Yid, and called upon the community to ensure those same resources and investment is afforded to the Mechanchim who are doing the critical work of teaching our own children in our own schools.
The banquet itself, which took place in the Oholei Torah ballroom, honored both Mechanchim and supporters of Chinuch for their important work. Dr. Michael Maling, President of the Crain-Maling Foundation, was the Honorary Dinner Chairman and Mr. Yossi Popack was presented with the Partners in Chinuch Award.
The Mechanchim were addressed by Rabbi Velvel Lipsker, a Mashpia at Klurman Mesivta in Miami, Florida who highlighted how Mechanchim are the guardians of the Torah as the educators of Hashem’s chosen guarantors – the holy children. Mechanchim are the ones who transmit this gift to the next generation.
The keynote address was delivered by Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz, veteran Principal of Beth Rivkah Academy for girls in Montreal, Canada and was titled “The Rebbe’s Shlichus – Neiros Le’hoir: Our Awesome Zchus and Achrayus.”
Rabbi Minkowitz brought extensive examples from the Rebbe’s Haraos and teachings of how highly the Rebbe thought of the role of Chinuch and underscored the Mechanchim’s task as one of “Maleches Hashem.”
The evening also included an inspiring video presentation in honor of Gimmel Tammuz called “The Shlichus of Chinuch – Connecting to the Mishalayeach.”
The Chabad Chinuch Convention will conclude on Thursday, 5 Tamuz, (June 29). For more info, visit chinuchconvention.org.
Rabbi Shneur and Mr. Popack have contributed the most to Lubavitch in the last decade. Bruchnius and bgashmious. Keep up the great work!
Was a very inspiring evening. Thank you to all those who arranged it. I feel rejuvenated to return to my classroom.
The event was truly beautiful, and brings some well deserved pride into Mechanchim (besides for all the useful info. that was being given).
Thank You
That’s a million dollar picture, keep up the amazing work
Mr Abramson and Mr Schulman, both attorneys have been great supporters and true Chassidim helping out the Rebbes Shluchim for many many years, I salute them both ! (pic #35)
Rabbi Zalman Shneur you are an inspiration!
Yasher Koach to Zalmy Schneur for putting this together. You are mamash saving lives by educating the educators. I have seen your amazing influence on my child first hand, through his melamed who was educated in your program!
Additionally, I want to strengthen you and tell you, that all great things ultimately face opposition, and the sign of doing something amazing, is when its copied and reproduced. Please continue your holy work!