By COLlive reporter
This week’s edition of the Kfar Chabad magazine is dedicated to the International Kinus Hashluchim, which has concluded on Monday morning in New York.
Articles include interviews with young rabbis who embarked on Shlichus this past year, the current Shliach in Mumbai about his challenges, and highlights of the Kinus.
One article speaks with 5 Shluchim, who told why they did not fully participate in the convention this year:
1. Rabbi Danny Cohen – Chevron, Israel
“I come to the Kinus each year on Sunday morning, because Shabbos Mevarchim Kislev that the Rebbe set for the Kinus happens on Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah, when we host many Jews in the city of Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu. To leave during this time would mean leaving my Shlichus exactly when I am most needed to be there. Around 40,000 people participated this year.”
2. Rabbi Yossi Halperin – Varna, Bulgaria
“On Shabbos Breishis we were blessed with a baby girl, our 7th child. I was debating whether to travel to the Kinus or skip it this year when we got a notice from the embassy that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be visiting our city. We were requested to assist from a material and spiritual aspect. I understood that I won’t be coming to the Kinus this year. The visit went smoothly and we provided kosher meals and welcomed Shabbos together. It left a powerful mark on the local Jews.”
3. Rabbi Chaim Barkahn – Dusseldorf, Germany
“We had our daughter’s Bas Mitzvah right before the Kinus and there were also meetings set up with government officials (Armin Laschet, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and others) about a new building for our Chabad House which will bring a dramatic change to our Shlichus work here. The Kinus is a time to gather strength, but sometimes there are constraints.”
4. Rabbi Asher Yaras – Rochester, New York
“The Kinus is the only time I can meet friends, refuel and draw strength, so it was difficult for me to miss the Kinus but I didn’t have a choice. After the shooting attack in Pittsburgh, there has been an awakening at the University of Rochester, which we serve. Many students wanted to come light candles and over 100 people attended the Shabbos meal. I couldn’t leave my Shlichus although I really wanted to be with fellow Shluchim.”
5. Rabbi Chaim Drukman – Luzern, Switzerland
“I didn’t travel to the Kinus for a happy reason but I really missed everyone – especially when I walked by the group photo of the Shluchim that is hanging on the wall of our Chabad center. The reason was we had the bris for our baby boy Yisroel Aryeh Leib – the newest Shliach in Luzern and the first bris held in our new building. I was lucky to have Rabbi Zalman Wishedski, the Shliach in Basel, come to visit.”
Kfar Chabad magazine is running a subscription campaign, offering 2 months free for any new subscribers from around the world. In addition to the main magazine, included in the weekly package is the women’s supplement Mishpacha Chassidit and the children’s supplement Kinderlach. To sign up, visit https://lp.vp4.me/etep
And don’t forget the many Shluchim from states within driving distance to NY (4,5 hours away) who came in Wed/Thu but drove back to be with their communities on Shabbos, and then drove back again to NY for the banquet..
He was at the banquet.
Like Hasidim were saying, those who active in Rebbes shlichus is closer to Rebbe when anyone
There were many more missing shluchim especially campus shluchim who would have loved to be in CH for the Kinus but made the sacrifice of staying home to continue their shlichus and not leave so many Yidin stranded for the weekend. Keep up your great work!!
Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld did not join the Kinus this year–he stayed with our community in Pittsburgh to be Menachem Aveilim and give us all much-needed strength!