One of the largest and most significant events in the Jewish world is taking place in New York—the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries, “Kinus HaShluchos 5786,” the world’s largest forum for Jewish women leaders. It brings together thousands of community leaders from all continents annually. This year, about 4,500 shluchos and their guests from over 100 countries are participating. The Dnipro Jewish Community was represented by a delegation led by Rebbetzin Chana Kaminezki.
The conference traditionally takes place in New York, in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, and is timed to coincide with the date of the 22nd of Shevat—the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson—which lends the entire gathering special spiritual depth. In the first days of the forum, participants registered at the Jewish Children’s Museum, where they warmly greeted each other after long separations, sharing experiences and news about their activities in different countries.
From the very beginning of the Kinus, the spiritual component took a central place. The shluchos visited the Rebbe’s house on President Street, where they could spend time in personal prayer and reflection, preparing themselves for the intensive days of work. The professional program also commenced in the first hours, comprising dozens of seminars and working meetings held at various venues across Crown Heights.
The educational part of the forum covers a wide range of topics that shluchos encounter in their daily work. This year, the focus is on strengthening communities amid rising antisemitism, youth and family outreach, mental health matters, and the use of modern technology in educational and informational projects. Seminars are conducted in several languages, allowing participants from different countries to fully engage in discussions and exchange practical experience.
During one of the days of the forum, the participants visited the Ohel of the Sixth and Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbes and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. They held a collective prayer for world peace, the wellbeing of all Jewish communities, and the immediate coming of the Geulah. The delegation from the Dnipro Jewish Community brought personal messages—Panim—from the Jewish women and girls of our city to the Ohel.
One of the most memorable moments of the forum was the traditional group photo in front of the building of the Chabad World Headquarters, the “Seven Seventy” synagogue (770 Eastern Parkway). Thousands of shluchos, representing Jewish communities across the globe, gathered together, demonstrating the power of unity, dedication to their mission, and responsibility for Jewish life in the most diverse corners of the world.
The culmination of the forum will be the traditional grand gala banquet, which we will report on in more detail soon.
