Twenty-three years ago, Rabbi Dov and Racheli Muchnik arrived in Oxnard, California, with their baby daughter Yaffa in their arms, to serve as shluchim. Through the establishment of the Chabad Jewish Center and Lamplighters Jewish Academy, they transformed a quiet, picturesque beach town into a vibrant Jewish community, complete with a thriving and innovative day school.
Now, in a full-circle moment, their daughter Yaffa has returned to Oxnard together with her husband, Rabbi Mendel Orkin, and their baby daughter, Etty, to help continue the growth of the community and its mosdos.
Located about 60 miles north of Los Angeles in Ventura County, Oxnard is home to the renowned Herzog Wine Cellars and restaurant. Since the Muchniks’ arrival, the local Jewish population has steadily grown, including both full-time residents and visitors drawn by the presence of an active Chabad center.
Rabbi Mendel and Yaffa were officially appointed as shluchim by Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Cunin, West Coast head shliach, and by Rabbi Dov Muchnik, shliach of Chabad of Oxnard. The young couple is excited to join the dedicated team of educators at Lamplighters, a school built on the visionary Moshiach Model. In addition, they look forward to strengthening and expanding the many outreach programs of Chabad of Oxnard.
Guided by the Rebbe’s vision, the Orkins are eager to embrace this shlichus—building upon the strong foundations already in place while forging new relationships and further expanding Chabad’s reach throughout the region.
There’s a beautiful sense of continuity in this new chapter. Looking at recent photos of Mendel and Yaffa, we’re reminded of a strikingly similar moment from the Muchniks journey—captured twenty-three years ago when they first began their shlichus in Oxnard (see photo). Back then, Yaffa was just a baby in that beach photo. And now, Yaffa and Mendel are standing at Hollywood Beach, holding their own baby, continuing the story!
They will be formally welcomed at a community Lag BaOmer celebration next week.
Learn more about Chabad of Oxnard: https://www.chabadofoxnard.com/
Oxnard is like lucky- Mendel will make a great Rabbi
Oxnard got a good one