Shaliach (Chabad)

A shaliach (Hebrew: שליח, pl. שלוחים‎, shlichim/shluchim, literally "emissary" or "messenger") is a member of the Chabad Hasidic Jewish movement who promotes the practice of Judaism and/or Hasidism to those of Jewish background in locations around the world. Usually operating in husband-and-wife pairs, shluchim operate Chabad Houses, Jewish day schools, and Jewish summer camps. As of 2021, there are over 6,500 Chabad shluchim families worldwide, operating over 3,500 institutions in over 110 countries.[1][2] Chabad runs the largest network of synagogues as of 2023.[3]

This article is about the Chabad term. For the article discussing the general legal term, see Shliach.
Group photo of Chabad-Lubavitch shluchim, 2015

History
A Chabad emissary lighting a public menorah in a German city together with the mayor

Starting in the 1950s, the Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, sent many thousands of shluchim all over the world, often to remote locations, to bring Jews closer to Judaism through his mitzvah campaigns, and to assist Jewish communities worldwide in their religious needs.

The first permanent Chabad House on a college campus was established at UCLA in 1969.[2]

Kinus HaShluchim

The Kinus Hashluchim (Hebrew: כנוס השלוחים, lit. Assembly of Emissaries) is the annual gathering of Chabad shluchim held in the fall of each year. The conference is typically held in New York City on the weekend prior to the Hebrew month of Kislev. Over 5,600 shluchim gather each year, making the assembly the largest rabbinical conference in the world. A similar conference is held each winter for the shluchos (wives of the rabbis), typically proximate to the yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. The 2011 Kinus Hashluchos was a four-day event including general sessions, nearly 100 workshops, an expo, and resource fair, and a banquet attended by close to 3,000 women. One of the highlights of the banquet is the roll call, which calls on shluchos from every part of the world to stand for applause.[4]

Both Kinusim are simulcast in multiple languages and have extensive tracking, including programs for lay leaders and children.[5][6]

Notable shluchim

References
  1. "International Roll Call, Conference of Chabad Emissaries (2021)". Chabad.org. Chabad-Lubavitch. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  2. "Facts and Statistics". Chabad.org. Chabad-Lubavitch. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  3. Yellin, Deena (November 18, 2022). "Dinner for 6,500: NJ to host record gathering for growing Chabad Jewish movement". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  4. "Kinus Hashluchos 5771", Binah, 7 February 2011, p. 42.
  5. "Course explores the soul's journey". Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  6. "Kabbalah course in Madison explores the soul". October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
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