As he readies for this year’s 100th Agudah Convention, Rabbi Naftali Miller shares his unlikely story
The radiant smile, the sheer positivity, infectious zeal and genuine love for each and every member of Klal Yisrael, has propelled Rabbi Naftali Miller into a very public role as chesed director, communal askan, and Agudah’s chief development officer. As he readies for this year’s 100th Agudah Convention, Rabbi Miller shares his unlikely story – of a struggling child from a broken home catapulted to success by a mother’s faith
When Russian forces invaded Ukraine before Purim this past year, the world witnessed a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions unfold before their eyes. The Jewish community of Ukraine in particular had to contend with an existential threat, facing not only physical danger but spiritual upheaval as well.
A desperate call went out to world Jewry, and a flurry of fundraising platforms were set up to assist in every way possible. With time, Agudath Israel’s Vaad Hatzalah proved to be a long-haul campaign, distributing tens of millions of dollars and providing for crucial rescue and resettlement efforts.
And they weren’t the only ones. Simultaneously, Chabad activists were working around the clock to ensure the safety of those fleeing from, and those still in, Ukraine. Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, one of the prime askanim involved in the Chabad effort, was approached by a friend who suggested that he meet with the Agudah — perhaps there was some overlap between the organizations, and perhaps they could streamline results by coordinating efforts. At first, Chabad leadership was skeptical — historically, each organization had played its own role with little intersection, but Reb Mendy agreed to a meeting of the two delegations. Heading Agudah’s Vaad Hatzalah was Rabbi Naftali Miller.
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