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From November 27-December 1, some 6,500 Chabad rabbis and Jewish leaders from around the globe gathered in Brooklyn, N.Y., for the annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, the largest rabbinic gathering in the world. Westchester was represented by 12 of its own Chabad rabbis, including Rabbis Mendel Silberstein, Yehuda Heber, Arik Wolf, Dovid Labkowski, Benjy Silverman, Mendy Hurwitz, Levi Groner, Sruli Deitsch, Chaim Pinczower, Levi Levitin, Yossi Butman, and Zalmy Plotke.

The conference united rabbis and lay leaders from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries, from places as far-flung as Alaska to Zambia, for four days of workshops, networking, and spiritual uplift. This year’s conference came just days after Abu Dhabi-based Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan was buried in Israel, after being murdered by terrorists in Dubai at the age of 28.

“It feels like we just lost a brother,” said Rabbi Mendel Silberstein. “It’s particularly vital to connect with each other in the wake of this tragedy, to mourn, but also to double our efforts to continue Rabbi Zvi’s legacy: making joyful Judaism accessible to Jews no matter where they are.”

Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries, known as shluchim, are husband-and-wife teams who dedicate their lives to strengthening Jewish life in communities worldwide, often in remote locations without established Jewish infrastructure. They aim to reach both affiliated and unaffiliated Jews, welcoming everyone Jews from all walks of life. From the city streets of Los Angeles to the islands of Thailand, Chabad serves not only as a spiritual home but a focal point of Jewish life.

Rabbis often catch up with friends and colleagues at the Kinus, in between attending workshops on a kaleidoscope of contemporary issues that ran over the course of the weekend. Workshop topics covered included: disaster relief, combating hate, education, counseling and dealing with grief, and much more. Conference-goers who serve students on college campuses where Chabad has become the heart of Jewish life took part in a separate track discussing issues specifically relevant to campus communities.

Rabbi Benjy Silverman from Chabad of Dobbs Ferry takes this annual opportunity to connect with his brothers and brothers-in-law, who are shluchim at Chabad houses in Wakefield, Mass; Minneapolis, MN; Fairfield,  CT, Princeton University, and Venice Florida. 

“The Kinus is so much more than just workshops,” said Rabbi Silverman. “This is our once-a-year chance to reconnect with friends, yeshiva classmates, and family members who are serving as rabbis all over the country and around the world. It gives me strength to continue my mission, and it brings a lot of Nachas to see my friends doing amazing things to help the Jewish people.”

Rabbi Mendel Silberstein reflected that while he has been attending the conference for over two decades, he nonetheless enjoys sitting in on sessions for the new shluchim – the young rabbis who have recently established Chabad houses or joined existing institutions. This year’s presenter to the young shluchim, Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, shared a powerful message. 

As head rabbi of The Shul in Bal Harbor, FL, and founder and chairman of the Aleph Institute, the largest organization dedicated to caring for the wellbeing of Jewish prisoners and military personnel, Rabbi Lipskar often meets with high-ranking politicians and philanthropists. Despite this, however, he admitted that speaking to the young shluchim was the most important meeting of his year, as they represent the vitality and continuation of the Jewish people’s future. 

On Friday, the 6,500 Rabbis paid a visit to the Ohel, in Queens, the resting place of the Rebbe Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory. There, they prayed for their families, communities, and humanity at large, carrying with them countless prayer requests from people around the world. 

Sunday morning saw the snapping of the annual “class picture” under the iconic gables of 770 Eastern Parkway, the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The photo, featuring thousands of black-hatted rabbis, represented not just an annual conference tradition but also the many faces of the Chabad rabbis who bring Judaism to the world. 

The capstone of the conference was the gala banquet held at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, NJ, which was a powerful moment of remembrance and resilience. Speakers honored Ravvi Zvi Kogan, the U.A.E.-based Chabad emissary murdered by terrorists in Dubai, with emotional tributes that emphasized the importance of continuing their global mission. The conference was linked by video with the home of Kogan’s parents in Jerusalem, where his family is sitting shiva, and all 6,500 gathered shared the traditional text of comfort with the family.

The gathering culminated in an emotional roll call of Chabad emissaries, representing all 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries. The event featured a notable announcement that a new Chabad couple had been dispatched to  Andorra, highlighting Chabad’s ongoing expansion to an ever-growing list of locations around the world.

Chabad Rabbis at the eleven centers of Westchester are returning home from the conference with renewed vigor and commitment to their mission. This Chanukah, they will host public menorah lightings and other events around the county, spreading the light and joy of Chanukah to families, students, young professionals, and Jews of all ages.

C. List of Westchester Rabbis who attended the conference:

Yehuda Heber – Chabad of Yorktown

Arik Wolf – Chabad of Bedford

Dovid Labkowski – Chabad of Briarcliff

Benjy Silverman – Chabad of Rivertowns

Mendy Hurwitz – Chabad of Yonkers

Levi Groner – Chabad of Pelham

Sruli Deitsch – Chabad of Bronxville

Mendel Silberstein – Chabad of Larchmont & Mamaroneck

Chaim Pinczower – Chabad of Larchmont & Mamaroneck

Levi Levitin – Chabad of the Rivertowns

Yossi Butman – Chabad of Armonk, Chappaqua & Pleasantville

Zalmy Plotke – Chabad of White Plains