New Shluchim to Southern California

As the week of the Kinus Hashluchim comes to a close, two new lamplighters are preparing to head out to Southern California to further the Rebbe’s mission of spreading light.

Rabbi Dovi and Devorah Leah (née Konikov) Paltiel will be bringing their signature energy and passion to the role of Youth Rabbi and Rebbetzin at Chabad of Laguna Niguel.

Founded in 2005 by Rabbi Mendy and Kreinie Paltiel, Chabad of Laguna Niguel has touched thousands of Jews over the past twenty years. It boasts a thriving daily Minyan, a vibrant Hebrew School, and well-attended Yom Tov programs, but there is still tremendous potential to unlock.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface,” says Rabbi Mendy Paltiel. “Even after all this time, there are still hundreds of Jewish families to connect with.”

The new Shluchim were appointed by Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, who serves as the Head Shliach and Director of West Coast Chabad.

Shlichus is nothing new for the young couple, who both grew up on shlichus themselves. Dovi himself was raised in Laguna Niguel, while Devorah Leah hails from Satellite Beach, FL, where her parents, Rabbi Zvi and Shulamit Konikov, run Chabad of the Space and Treasure Coasts.

“We always knew that we wanted to go on Shlichus,” says Dovi. “We’re thrilled that, with the Rebbe’s brachos, we have the opportunity to make it come true.”

Laguna Niguel sits roughly halfway between Los Angeles and S. Diego, in Southern California’s Orange County. Of the city’s 65,000+ population, roughly 7,000 are Jews, of which about half are families with children. As Youth Directors, the Paltiels will focus on forging connections with these young families,

The couple will also be taking the wheel of the local Cteen chapter, bringing together local teens to discover the joy of Judaism and take an active role in bringing Moshaich. “There’s nothing like working with kids and teens,” says Devorah Leah. “They have this brightness and sense of wonder to them that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Ultimately, like all Shluchim, Paltiels are committed to the one true goal of the Rebbe’s army around the world: To bring Moshiach. “We were both born after Gimmel Tammuz” says Dovi. “We feel the burning urgency to finally bring about the Geulah. Though we have never seen the Rebbe physically, we know he is here with us. We hope to make him proud, and finally bring about the revelation of the Melech Hamoshiach.”

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