By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
Two years ago, just before the Kinnus Hashluchim, I wrote an article (https://collive.com/is-it-time-to-change-how-we-talk-of-shlichus/ ) discussing the difficulties that Yungeleit are going through to find a place to go on Shlichus. In that article we discussed the idea that it could be that we have to shift the expectations by Yungeleit and to redefine what it means to be on shlichus of the Rebbe.
After that article was published I received a call from a very respected educator. He told me that he has read what I wrote and he agreed that there is a very big challenge for Yungeleiet that want to go on Shlichus but he fundamentally disagreed with the suggested solution.
He said that it is obvious that Tomchei Temimim needs to put a focus on shlichus, and Talmidim need to be instilled with that passion and fire, but there is one thing that needs to be figured out: How to convince Yungeleit that working directly for a Shliach, even without developing their own area, is considered shlichus. If we could figure this out, he continued, we could have hundreds of more Shluchim.
I am a person that tries to be objective and open to listening to other views and opinions, and what this person told me resonated with me. I spoke with many Yungeleit about this concept – why are they looking to be alone in a small city (which has so many challenges) if they can work for another Shliach in a bigger city and seemingly affect so many more people – and I was shocked by the answer.
I had expected the answer to be that they simply wanted to follow the “shlichus dream” and “conquering another city for the Rebbe”, yet I received a much more practical answer: They are simply protecting themselves and their families in the long term.
In simple words: There are too many stories and young couples putting their energy and life into communities and then things fall apart (for various reasons) and they are forced to leave. There are stories of couples that have worked for 20 years for other Shluchim and when they are “let go”, they are left with big families and limited options. Seeing these scenarios make Yungeleit decide that it is worth the struggle of developing their own shlichus and they can protect their own future.
After hearing this, I realized that this can’t continue and there must be awareness of some of the pitfalls that have caused the breakdown of these relationships, so that it can be prevented in the future. After hours of discussion with Yungeleit that have been fired by other shluchim (and discussions with the shluchim that fired them), I would like to share this feedback and understanding:
To the Shliach that is hiring: While it is true that you are bringing a new Shliach to your institution, you must act like you are bringing an employee to your institution. Thus:
A very clear job description must be written and agreed upon. In addition to the clarity that it brings, it also allows the young Shliach to measure his success and feel that he is doing what is expected of him. It also creates the proper red line of what is expected and what is considered extra. It also allows you to give clear feedback to the new shliach (they really want to hear that their boss is happy!) and even constructive criticism.
Don’t expect Mesiras Nefesh: There is a good chance that the shliach which is hiring went through years of hardships and struggles and he is available to his community 24/7. While this is admirable, it should not be expected of the young shliach that you are bringing. It is very natural for the hiring shliach to feel that “shlichus is Mesiras Nefesh and we are all in this together”, but it leads to tremendous frustration and conflict. By realizing that you are hiring an employee for a certain part of the shlichus, it will prevent these negative feelings from arising.
Don’t hire a “couple”, rather hire the husband and have no expectations of his wife. She needs to be the support of her husband and family and too many issues develop (between the couple themselves and the institution) when they both have shared responsibilities to the institution. If she wants to be involved in the shlichus, it is with a separate agreement.
Create built-in possibilities for financial growth for the shliach you are hiring. This will create motivation as well as preventing the feeling of “being stuck” and burnout as the years go by. An example: If the shliach is hired to run a day-camp, there should be agreed-upon raises when certain benchmarks of registration are reached.
[5) In a case where there is a father-son team that is hiring another shliach it is vital that all know clearly who the hired shliach is answerable to. If not, it will definitely cause confusion and dysfunction.]
The shliach being hired:
1) Understand the years of struggle and toil that the hiring shliach went through to be in the position that he is today. There needs to be a true sense of bittul and respect. This includes, but not limited to, giving updates on your activities and including him in big decisions and events.
2) Always be aware that how you act, speak and interact with the community-members can affect the entire Mossad. Relationships can take years to build and cultivate but can be destroyed in minutes or seconds. The senior Shliach has invested years into his institution and you must act accordingly.
3) Stay “in your lane” and take ownership of your shlichus. Your best “job-security” is excelling to a point that the hiring shliach can’t think of running this part of the institution without you. You make yourself indispensable to the institution.
4) Have an agreed upon intermediary, or mediator, where small issues can be openly discussed and settled before they become too big. If you are bothered by something, communicate it to the shliach that has hired you.
[ 5) Be aware: There is a good chance that the senior shliach will be living a better lifestyle (Gashmius) than you. He worked hard, experienced times of hunger and desperation, and has earned the right to live well and provide for his family. It is actually something that you would like to see in someone that is hiring you. If they are taking care of their family, they will understand your need to take care of yours.]
May we all do our best to give the Rebbe Nachas and to fulfill the shlichus of getting the world ready “Lekabel Pnei Moshiach Tzidkeinu B’Poel Mamash
Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above with me by sending me a personal email: [email protected]
Amazing perspective and advice. Thank you for your incredible clarity
Call Rabbi Aaron Herman if you are considering hiring/working for a shliach. Set yourself up for success.
-Been there, done that, BH it’s going great
Couldn’t agree more. Rabbi Herman is an excellent resource
It was very clearly stated and outlined.
However who follows rules today? Everyone has to keep his place and know his line. It’s self understood that no one wants to “understand.”
Hamasser Hu Haekar.
However since that doesnt happen
I totally agree with make your own shlichus then having a senior over you. Senior Shluchim today are not who they were before gimmel tammuz. Too much has changed and not for the better. Best to make your own.
I think going on shlichus to a place where there’s even just one yid is to help bring the people closer to Yiddishkeit
the jews who live where no shluchim are have NO one to find, no one to acquire Torah from. no one at all. for hundreds of miles away. how r they gonna find it unless you seek them out via the internet and drive to their house. the jews who live in big cities have COUNTLESS options of who they can cross paths with to have their souls saved by. to learn Torah from. to find Truth. they don’t have to go for even a mile to find. in the meantime you all should be seeking out those jews who… Read more »
That is for merkos shlichus! Who would support a full family in such a situation?
The truth is that today unless you are a relative of the shliach you can’t expect job security or getting a position.
There are so many stories of shluchim kicking out other shluchim for their children and putting their hired shliach as a placeholder for that position. Nowadays nepotism is the only way to get serious job security.
My parents were “shluchim” under the main shliach since the 80s. Once the main shliach died my elderly parents were left jobless, all the main shliach kids took over. My parents can’t even make a speech at shul let alone help run any events. They are too old to start over, they were at the same location for over 40 years and they feel like they lost their mission. They are shluchim just in name, people around don’t realize the politics around and why they no longer are active in the shul. My parents sacrificed everything, even mortgaged their home… Read more »
This is actually really sad to read. May Hashem Bent’s them with pure brochos from here on for what they’ve done for the sake of another yid
Every couple of months gershon avtzon picks up his pen and writes a masterpiece. But you know what ? Eventually someone has to tell him how it is. Every class of yeshiva students make a shul for the grade in crown heights, it’s called a class shul, and every year the amount of bochurim that look and take jobs grows, at this point the new class shul is 75 percent of guys who have or are looking for jobs, and Boruch hashem the community has made a platform for bochurim to get jobs and there are many industries like e-commerce… Read more »
let me tell you a story. i know a goy whose son got a university degree in physics and he can’t even find a job. just because people have college educations doesn’t mean they can find a job.
The bochurim you speak of do exist, however, so do the bochurim Rabbi Avtzon speaks of, and in this article he’s speaking to them. If you think that that section of bochurim doesn’t exist, maybe you’re the one that’s not down to earth.
Not trying to be sharp, just using your language 🫡
https://collive.com/is-it-time-to-talk-about-class-shuls-in-crown-heights/
New Shluchim process things in a completely different light
Each Shaliach should and deserves their own places
I personally think there are many amazing Shluchim out there, who hire other Shluchim. I actually think in those cases it’s the issue of the hired Shluchim who have crazy expectations and absolutely unreasonable demands at times. I have seen and witnessed so many cases where the Shluchim completely bent absolutely backwards to accommodate so much for the new Shluchim and the new Shluchim were still ungrateful and had such unrealistic demands…. I actually think a lot of the issues stem from the hired new Shluchim not so much their bosses, I have seen and witnessed this a lot….. A… Read more »
Definitely could of happened.
That’s not usually the case though
Reread the article. There were good points that both sides need to consider and it seems to be a very balanced article. In regards to your points yes there are such cases too. The question is which one is more prevalent and is the real issue to tackle. Unfortunately there is a reason why there is a thing about working for Shluchim vs a regular moissed. And I think that in 99 percent of the cases it doesn’t come from a bad place. The employers are great people but due to their own experience, toiling, living with less etc they… Read more »
in public school. who is rescuing them? who is seeking out their parents to convince them to drop out of public school? who is going to save their souls? why isnt anyone doing anything about it??????? go all over the entire usa and israel and rescue all the real jews from the public schools now.
Aren’t you a somebody?!
they focus on the older people whose souls have already been destroyed instead of the babies and young children who are still in public school who do not have any choice to leave school because of their parents. obviously chabad should still try to save older kids and people too but WHERE IS THE FOCUS ON THE YOUNGER KIDS AND BABIES
You obviously are not a lubavitcher. If you were, you would know that’s so false. But you’re more than welcome to help with the mission! Start something for the kids in your area in public school (if there isn’t a shliach already dealing with it (or ask how you can help)). Of course it must be done in the correct manner though, so make sure you know what that is
They need the money to afford a Jewish education. At least in FL most families in public schools cannot afford to make the switch. I know many families who switched back to public school because the chronic stress of paying for school was not worth it. My kids tuition is more than my mortgage.
A good new job should be fundraising for families to afford a Jewish education and actually lowering tuition. Every time the state of FL gives more money towards vouchers tuition goes up so parents never feel the relief.
shluchim in 1 city but then 0 for like hundreds of miles in places in the usa. who is going to save the jews who live in the middle of nowhere who dont have any shluchim without hours of their home
Dude! You’re hilarious 🤣🤣🤣
who is going to save their souls. i suggest people start finding and reaching them by the internet in the meantime until shluchim move to those areas.
Very similar to a recent piece in the Compass magazine
The chances of successfully getting along with the senior shaliach is nearly zero. In the corporate world, managers and CEO take courses to teach them how to deal with subordinates. That knowledge is critical to successful employee-employer relationship. Senior shluchim never learned how to best manage their employees. And this leads to failure, after years of discord, ill feelings, and friction. Yes, after 15 years my shlichos dream died when I was dismissed, and now I am starting from scratch at a beginner salary while I have children soon needing chasuna expenses. It hurts, and I am not alone in… Read more »
BS”D
When one is a shliach, with littls to no “normal” business/economics experience and yet have zero corporate experience, inevitably, he/she will get jealous fire the subordinate. The level of trust can be at an all-time low, and there’s no escape. Nepotism is the rule in the frum World.
the first thing i want to say is that no matter where you are in the united states, there are always LOTS of tinok shinoshba jews who have never heard of real Torah judaism who are wealthy. i recommend you find them and try to convince them to become frum and inevitably eventually they will probably donate money to you. obviously it’s not about money. it’s about you saving their soul from this evil world. but if you and other people like you would really really SEEK out ALL the tinok shinoshbas in the entire united states you would find… Read more »
The wealthy are already within someone’s “territory” and “belong” to that shliach. When I tried doing EXACTLY as you suggested, I was called to a din Torah by the shaliach who never spoke to these wealthy people, and charged with hasogas gevul – encroaching someone else’s territory and possessions. Guess what? I was ordered to cease and desist by bais din!!
IT’S COMMENDABLE TO AIM TO BE A SHLIACH! THE PROBLEM ARRISES WHEN: 1. THE SALARY DOES NOT COVER TUITION, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND BASIC NEEDS. 2. WHEN A MEKURAV GIVES THE SHLIACH (WHO IS NOT THE HEAD SHLIACH) A BONUS OR MONEY, HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO KEEP IT. SOME HEAD SHLUCHIM DEDUCT THE MONEY FROM THE SALARY OF THE SHLIACH WHO IS UNDER THEM. 3. WHEN THE WIFE WORKS IN THE SHLICHUS SHE SHOULD ASO RECEIVE A SALARY. 4. SHLICHUS IS WHAT WE AIM FOR OUR CHILDREN AS LUBAVITCHERS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CVER EXPENSES. 5. YOU… Read more »
Yes. When a bal habos gave me a $1000 personal gift (cash – no receipt) for pessach, when the ball habos mentioned it to the head shaliach, he demanded it!
As a child of parents who were asked to leave shlichus, I do say, this is great advice.
It’s also interesting to think about how
those shluchim that fired hired shluchim impacted how future generations look at shlichus
While a lot of these suggestion are good it is nothing new. I went out 15 years ago with a detailed contract… still didn’t work. Both shluchim and aspiring shluchim needed to develop a healthy work ethic on an individual basis. Some have some haven’t. If you ask me, it is bigger mesiras nefesh to work under a shliach then to move to a much further little town… My family works for big corporates and they make so much effort to keep their employees happy. It is possible if they try… obviously some do…
with hiring the new couple as a team and describing each of their responsibilities? To say not to hire the woman, that it is her job to support her husband, in my opinion is somewhat condescending. Shouldn’t they be a team, and can’t they each have important roles described?
That for ONE salary, he is hiring two full time people.
When I hire one person, I do NOT expect to have TWO full-time employees working! I expect that ALL the children also “volunteer” full time!! They must run shabbos children’s groups, go on mivtzoyim, help pack boxes in the Chabad House, buy supplies etc Shlichus is a TEAM effort and if you are on the team, you gotta be active.
That isn’t what he said. If the woman wants to be hired as well, no problem, but it should be a separate job description to avoid confusion and conflict
I work in a city with other shluchim and it is so hard to do anything because other shluchim get upset so rather many people don’t have their spiritual needs met than shluchim fighting…. It’s the sad painful reality. I’ve tried it many times and the shluchim here have big egos and want to be in control so I stopped doing the good work I was doing because I don’t want to be fighting with shluchim. It’s galus reality, I wish it would e different
This subject should be the main subject at the Kinnusim even if it only happens
rarely.
When I moved to a big city my husband would do mitzvoyim as he was accustomed to always doing on Friday. No one in this big city was doing it at the time the shluchim asked him to stop doing this since this was their town and these spots were for their kids in the future. My husband was not trying to build a community or be a leader. When I held learning classes in my home because the main shlucha told me that she does not like to learn and the learning at shul was only chabad.org printouts I… Read more »
Every senior shliach should sit down with the new shliach in the presence of a mediator before signing a contract and at various intervals after that. Rabbi Aaron Herman is an experienced mediator specializing in shluchus; he has saved many shluchim a lot of agmas nefesh.
Great article by Rabbi Avtzon, however I don’t think it is the only reason (though it’s definitely a reason for some). At least when I was looking for Shlichus, there wasn’t many options under other Shluchim and the ones that were available were mostly “specialized” roles such as teen Shluchim and the like which is not relevant to everyone, as opposed to the typical all around shlichus of programming, shiurim etc. I was actually more interested in the financial security of working under someone but took a smaller new place because of the availability and desire to go out on… Read more »
Thank you you made some very clear and true points!
What do you suggest to shluchim who hire shluchim to their area- some are their children, and some are not…. what’s important to keep in mind?
But I think the most basic thing is to treat everyone equally
Once you define it as ‘employment’, and ‘optional’ for the wife, you have changed the concept altogether. Too much focus is to say ‘I am on shlichus’ or ‘I am a shliach’ and sometimes your real job description is office manager or yeshiva cook. Running community programs and/or learning with others is being the baale abusse of an aspect of shlichus and not just an employee Sometimes the shlucha is sought after and the community needs to figure something for the husband to do. That scenario doesn’t always play well All your points about communication, respect and understanding the community… Read more »
The head shliach should respect the shliach he is hiring, and should not take him for granted
While I agree in theory with many points in this article, in reality this doesn’t work on both ends. The senior Shliach expects Mesiras Nefesh which by definition has no boundary and at the very same time, he expects the younger Shliach to stay in his lane and there is no room for growth which makes the younger couple feel like shmates. If I may, I believe that today’s Shllichus is with our own tayere neshamos of anash! Yes! While a shliach feels accomplished that he put on Tefillin with one yid or convinced one woman to light shabbos candles,… Read more »
One of the major issues I have witnessed as a BT who grew up watching growth in my home state here in the US is Nepotism. The young couple not related to the head shliach comes and helps out enhances the community builds it for 20-30+ years then they kick out the family in favor of the Eldest Child of that head shliach instead of helping that family start a branched shlichus. The favoritism of family members over non family is very problematic as it inherently lacks Ahavas Yisroel. Also who’s to say that the growth in the community would… Read more »
While Rabbi Avetzon has emerged on a hot issue. I have another reality check on this: Many today are doing the Rebbes work without being official shluchim. Wether in bussiness or in Chinuch. Working in many capacities that are even not associated with Chabad. Some are Rabonim some deliver Shiurim. Some write books some are involved in the political spectrum. Etc Yet, they are not recognized as shluchim as they aren’t under the shlichus banner or have official authority to act as shluchim. In my opinion this is wrong and creates an unnecessary stress for many to charter a course… Read more »
Beautifully written
There also should be guidelines of “where you can fundraiser from in your territory under a shliach . If our goal is to reach every yid and make the Rebbe proud and we all have emunah and bitachon that this is what is meant for me ? then why would a senior be bothered at the new guy if he is capable of fund raising from a new person in his territory. Let’s all figure this out properly and Moshiach will truly be celebrated in a revealed way now !
Unfortunately many families fell apart because of this very issue. Son-in-law working for his Father-in-law on Shlichus, brother-in-law etc etc… Many times it is much worse to work for family. I know of many capable people who specifically chose not to work for family.
A problem may be that the shluchim are in charge. Do they have anyone to answer to? This doesn’t pertain only to the hiring of other shluchim to help but also to their programs, halachic ramiifications such as mechitzas for shuls and gatherings, even the exclusive use of Lubavitch shechita.
The umbrella organization that sends out shluchim should be more involved in the hiring, firing and salary, including benefits, of those the shliach hires. Shluchim are not an entity to themselves or their domain – what they do or don’t do affects the whole Lubavitch movement.
Very good point
Unfortunately, Rabbi Avtzon has too many blind spots on this topic. He writes that he spoke to a “respected educator” who said that “Tomchei Temimim needs to put a focus on shlichus, and Talmidim need to be instilled with that passion and fire….” Let’s not kid ourselves, the entire OT zal is modeled on getting (bochurim) shlichus and throughout the yeshiva (and girls) system in Lubavitch, Shlichus is in fact a MASSIVE focus. And yet, and yet, only a small fraction of Lubavitch end up going on shlichus. I’d like to know who this educator is and what yeshiva he… Read more »
These are all very good ideas, but they imply that if carried through, it will be successful.
It won’t be.
You simply cannot move out and work for head shluchim. It is always either a disaster and implodes/explods, or you’re living your life with resentment.
Trust me. The ones that work don’t really work.
After reading this article I believe rabbi avtzon not understanding the dream of every yunger man, to move out and WORK HARD in THEIR OWN mokom hashlochus
WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR OWN PLACE YOU ARE MUCH MORE MOTIVATED!!
Maybe let’s talk about shluchim should be ready to give away a geographical part of their shlichis which they are anyways, not servicing properly, and that way the shliach Brought down will be fully motivated!
There needs or be a forum for Corporate Management Training for Shluchim. A mandated course for the leaders and subordinates.
There needs to be formal training for Shluchim heads and junior Shluchim.
….and it is immaterial. There aren’t enough shlichus jobs (that are not already being given to shluchim children) to employ all of our young post-yeshiva men and women. This article is only useful for a sliver of our population….
Let”s address nepotism. Is it an example of the dynasty phenomenon?
We find ourselves, normal people, trying to navigate something which at its very core is not normal. Running on human nature one does not pursue shlichus, which is dependant on (either (hopefully not) the actualisation or (at least) a theoretical willingness of) mesiras nefesh. It’s simply a bad idea in terms of ensuring personal gain and survival, especially to the new standard of responsibility that comes with getting married. Yet a bunch of us strive for it, due to whatever influence. So when there’s friction around the money, no one’s to be judged for being normal. On the other hand,… Read more »
doesn’t bring happiness or satisfaction. it’s a trap. dont chase after it.
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there’s one digit too many in your phone number
Very nice guidelines not really applied le maisse New Shliach has to be independent It’s the only long term solution iOw Shluchim have to hire their relatives It’s very sad to be a Shliach for 15-20’years and then to have to go to businesses to support family It would be nice to have numbers of how many second shluchim were kicked out , and how many fights . And how many continue with bad feelings ,and how many stay and for how many years We would be surprised to find out that it’s not even an option to be subordinated… Read more »
A smart relative, in responding to my praise of a person who filled most of the job openings in his moisid with relatives, strongly disagreed. He stated that you shouldn’t hire someone whom you can’t fire. Something to serve as food for thought.
Shlichus is a very challenging job, no matter what setup. If you’re looking for financial stability, or if you think that you can only be happy with x amount of money, then shlichus isn’t for you. It takes a lot of bittul and ibergegebenkait for it to work, whether it’s your own moised or under someone. From a professional standpoint, the expectation to be in the same job for life is far fetched. Even big guys in corporate America lose their jobs a few times in their career, and go through a whole struggle and identity crisis too. Changing shlichus… Read more »
Everyone is so quick to blame the senior shliach, Saying that it’s their fault that there doesn’t work. What about the young whippersnappers who move out and try to oust the Shluchim?? where do they get the chutzpah to do that?? It has happened several times in the last few years. Why is nobody teaching these kids BASIC job culture?? You Get hired as a basic employee and a company, you don’t jump to be CEO overnight! It takes two years of growth and trust. Same with a Shlichus. It takes years of growth and trust. And most importantly: The… Read more »
Read his article
Statistically, maybe 30% of bochurim will marry and go out on shlichus to out of town locations (some under shluchim, some on their own). The other 70% are working in chinuch/klei Kodesh or working in the ‘velt’. The ones who work in the outside world – those choose those hustle jobs or businesses like cash advance – why not choose to print money? Bh many of them making good money and giving tzedaka But for those who choose to go on shlichus – it’s a prospect fraught with complexity whether you’re under someone or branching out. But which talent, capable… Read more »
From the 30% that go out on shlichus, how many return? Is it 10-20% or much more?
The Rebbe once told one of the head rabbanim of Lubavitch ( not living any more) concerning a shaliach that worked as the right hand of the head shaliach of the largest state .That if this head shaliach could not work out things with this shaliach then he does not need the entire state that he runs . (not Florida ). To my knowledge he did not work out things with this shalich!