Shluchim of Florida Democratically Elect New State Vaad

By COLlive reporter

Chabad Shluchim in Florida participated in an election on Tuesday to choose a new “Vaad,” a committee that will oversee the institutions and activities in the state, which is one of the largest in the United States.

The voting process was securely processed and accurately tabulated by the independently managed service of Simply Voting, a firm based in Montreal, Canada, led by Brian Lack. Out of the 291 rabbis eligible to vote, 273 participated (93.8% turnout).

Voted in were:

Rabbi Yosef Raichik – West Boynton (Broward/Palm Beach)
Rabbi Yossie Biston – Parkland (Broward/Palm Beach)
Rabbi Berl Goldman – Gainesville (Central/North)
Rabbi Eli Lipskar – Downtown Miami (Miami/Dade)
Rabbi Zalman Levitin – Northern Palm Beach Island (Broward/Palm Beach)
Rabbi Meir Kessler – Jewish Recovery (Broward/Palm Beach)
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos – Naples West Coast

The Shliach with the 8th most votes who will serve as a ready substitute to keep the Vaad fully functional if any of the current 7 Vaad members are no longer able to serve is Rabbi Sholom Dubov – Orlando (Central/North).

This ballot is a novelty in the world of Shlichus of yesteryear when the Rebbe himself and Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch led by Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Hodakov would dispatch Shluchim to each location. The ones who were first appointed first were considered the “Head Shliach” of that city, state, country, and even area.

In the years since, when a Head Shliach passed away, the oldest son or the relative most involved in the Shlichus would be appointed to succeed him with the title (such as Rabbi Chaim Kaplan in Tzfas).

In other areas, the role was shared (brothers Rabbi Mendel Azimov and Rabbi Levi Azimov in Paris), or divided and overseen (in Illinois – Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz as Head Shliach and Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz as Executive Director, with an oversight Vaad).

In Florida, Head Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Korf appointed a committee to share the “tremendous burden” of his role and deferred to all of their decisions, on 24 Shevat 5780 (February 19, 2020).

He also named his son Rabbi Benjy Korf, Dean and Director of the Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) in Miami, as acting Head Shliach. Chabad of Florida is the largest Jewish organization in the state. LEC is the largest Jewish school in Florida.

Such an election was held 4 years ago. Newly elected members will be advising Rabbi Avrohom Korf and Rabbi Benjy Korf.

“It is obvious to all how important this election is and how much trust the hundreds of Shluchim in Florida have invested in the newly elected Vaad,” the election committee wrote on Tuesday.

In a letter to fellow Shluchim, the election committee added: “With thanks Rabbi Benjy Korf for his help and direction, we wish all the Shluchim in the state of Florida much Bracha and Hatzlacha in their holy Shlichus!”