Ever try to arrange workshops that would interest 25 people of varying ages from five continents? Daunting enough? How about multiplying that by 100 and coordinating workshops for 2,500 people? Or how about being responsible for a seating plan for 4,000 people? As Crown Heights and the pier that hosts the Queen Mary are readied for the annual Chabad Kinus Hashluchim, Mishpacha met with event organizers to learn how they prepare for the enormous event.
The shluchim are coming!
By land or by sea over the river and through the woods flying friendly or unfriendly skies — they’re coming. From the jungles of Africa to the pampas of Argentina from the rice paddies of Thailand to the outback of Australia from the tundra of White Russia to the hush of the Great Plains … they’re coming.
Thousands of shluchim emissaries of Torah and mitzvos sent by the Lubavitcher Chassidus live in self-imposed exile in corners of the earth both famous and forgotten. But from November 3 to 8 some 2 500 of them will descend en masse on Crown Heights for the annual Kinus HaShluchim. This five-day gathering combining spiritual revitalization professional development and social reunion is Chabad’s best antidote to burnout for its vast army of shluchim who work tirelessly to spread Judaism in places where they often have to dig their own mikvaos milk their own cows and chip away at apathy ignorance and assimilation.
The Kinus includes several days of workshops including a full day of programming for lay leaders and donors; a “Kinus Tzeirei HaShluchim” for the sons of shluchim many of whom have never had the chance to socialize with other frum kids their age; a resplendent Shabbos replete with fabrengens and the chance to catch up with far-flung family members; and a stirring banquet at which 4000 people gather to celebrate their shared mission.
A convention of this magnitude requires no small amount of organization.
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