Photo Credit: Nadia Popova/Merkos
For two days, the medieval ramparts of Budva, Montenegro, became a nerve center of global Jewish life. One hundred Shluchim—serving as the Jewish infrastructure across 40 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East—gathered to reinforce one another and map the next phase of Jewish life in a post–Oct. 7 world. High on the agenda: the influx of Israeli expats and the renaissance of Jewish life now unfolding in regions many once thought dormant.
Representing over a third of the countries served by the world’s largest Jewish organization, the Kinus brought together Shluchim from communities large and small to tackle the rising challenges of this new reality. The tone was both strategic and deeply personal.
Much of the discussion centered on the massive influx of Israelis who have relocated abroad since the war—over 80,000 to date—and how to ensure that those arriving in unfamiliar countries are embraced, not lost.
“The Shluchim are the Jewish people’s global support system and first-response network,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, director of the International Conference of Shluchim and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch’s efforts to drive Chabad’s global growth and expansion. “When Israelis arrive in Accra, Reykjavik or Dubai, the local Shliach is often the only familiar address they know. This Kinus sharpened our strategy to fulfill the Rebbe’s vision: that every Jew should have a home wherever they may be.”
At the same time, Shluchim spoke of the renaissance of Jewish life—especially amongst young families, teens, and young professionals, who are seeking connection and meaning in ways not seen in decades. In response, new CKids, CTeen, and CYP chapters are taking root across the region, even in countries where Jews once kept a low profile. Cities like Bratislava, Copenhagen, and many others are now welcoming second-generation Shluchim, focused on building Jewish community for the next generation, ensuring a bright, enduring Jewish future in regions that once had little or no infrastructure at all.
This year’s Kinus was also marked by emotion.
It was the first since the passing of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who had been entrusted by the Rebbe to expand global Shlichus and personally facilitated these regional summits. Last year’s Kinus in Krakow was his final project. This year, it was dedicated to his memory.
Shluchim shared personal reflections on how Rabbi Kotlarsky had invested in their communities, guided their growth, and in many cases, made their Shlichus possible.
There were also emotional moments of spiritual celebration. Rabbi Baruch Myers from Bratislava completed a Siyum HaShas in memory of his mother. Rabbi Mendy Chitrik—alongside the Alliance of Rabbis in Muslim Countries—presented a new Sefer Torah dedicated in memory of Rabbi Kotlarsky. The scroll will be used to service Jewish communities in Muslim countries that don’t yet have permanent Torahs of their own.
It was a living testament to Rabbi Kotlarsky’s legacy: dedication to the Rebbe’s vision of building where others hadn’t dared.
Hosted by Montegro Shluchim, Rabbi Ari and Chani Edelkopf, and Rabbi Leizer and Mushky Ehrenfeld, the two-day regional Kinus HaShluchim opened with a groundbreaking for Montenegro’s first mikvah and a moving Yom HaZikaron memorial in Budva’s medieval citadel.
“For two days, our quiet streets became an incubator for Jewish continuity,” Rabbi Edelkopf said. “We were honored that Rabbi Kotlarsky and the organizing Shluchim chose Montenegro to recharge and plot the next wave of growth.”
The memorial and the entire summit were masterfully coordinated by Rabbi Shneur Najar, the Merkos 302 Office, and the Vaad HaShluchim.
The iconic “Tshuva Brov Yo’etz” think tank session allowed Shluchim to share challenges facing themselves and their communities and brainstorm solutions. Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky led this session as he filled the role of his father, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky OBM, beloved Chairman of the International Shluchim Conference.
Throughout the gathering, Shluchim held late-night farbrengens, engaged in fruitful strategizing sessions, shared resources, mapped regional collaboration, and reaffirmed their shared mission. In many of these countries, new Chabad Houses and mikvaot are either under construction or recently completed. The scale of growth reflected a movement not only sustaining Jewish life—but expanding it.
