Thousands of Jewish leaders from around the world gathered in Brooklyn, N.Y., this morning for their annual “class picture.” The women, attendees of the 35th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries (Kinus Hashluchos), serve in crucial positions of Jewish communal leadership from Anchorage, Alaska, to Lusaka, Zambia, and everywhere in between.
The conference is the women’s counterpart to the annual Chabad rabbis’ gathering, which took place in November. The Kinus Hashluchos began on Feb. 19 and will conclude with a gala banquet bringing together 4,000 female emissaries and lay leaders for an evening of recognition and appreciation on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Female Chabad emissaries, or shluchos, embrace multiple roles and responsibilities in their work. These too-often unsung communal leaders plan, coordinate, teach and direct massive parts of the global Jewish community’s infrastructure, while at the same time creating an inviting home atmosphere for students and travelers, businesspeople and locals. They provide warmth, advice and a shoulder to cry on, all while making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Despite the cold weather, the massive group photo took place outside of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters, the iconic red-brick triple peaks of 770 Eastern Parkway peeking out from behind the erected bleachers. All told, the women represented thousands of Jewish communities from 111 countries around the world.
On Thursday morning the women visited the Ohel, the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, as well as the nearby grave of his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, of righteous memory.
The conference is a tribute to Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s legacy, and is annually timed to coincide with the anniversary of her passing on 22 Shevat, which this year corresponded to Thursday, Feb. 20.
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