Over five thousand participants of the annual International Kinus HaShluchos 5786 gathered for the festive gala banquet, the culmination of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s shluchos forum in the United States. This grand event, held in an atmosphere of unity, support, and spiritual elevation, once again underscored the global reach of the shlichus movement and the special role of Jewish women in community life worldwide. Among them, the Dnipro Jewish Community holds a prominent place, represented by a delegation led by Rebbetzin Chana Kaminezki.
The gala evening was not merely a celebratory gathering but a moment of reflection, inspiration, and inner renewal. Throughout the year, shluchos selflessly develop Jewish life in their cities and countries, often under challenging conditions. Yet here, among thousands of kindred spirits, each one could feel herself part of a vast and cohesive family.
The Kinus director, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotlarsky, addressed the participants, speaking about the challenges of the past year and emphasizing that resilience has become “the voice of our time.” He stressed that when faced with difficulties, shluchos do not retreat—they expand the boundaries of their work, strengthening the impact of Torah and mitzvos precisely where spiritual light is most needed.
One of the evening’s most emotional moments was the address by three girls from Sydney whose families were affected by the terrorist attack in the Bondi Beach area during Chanukah. Their words about faith, courage, and continuing their parents’ mission deeply moved the hall, which rose in a sustained standing ovation. Together, they recited Tehillim, transforming personal pain into a source of collective spiritual strength.
A particularly powerful impression was made by Anat Harari from Israel, who shared her personal journey. Once a secular activist and staunch opponent of the Chabad movement, she underwent a profound inner transformation that led her to Torah, Chassidus, and ultimately to her own shlichus mission. Her account of shattered stereotypes, spiritual searching, and new life became a vivid example of how Hashem leads a person along unexpected paths.
An important emotional highlight of the evening was the traditional international roll call, during which shluchos from different countries were greeted. Representatives from over one hundred nations rose in turn, including major centers of Jewish life such as Ukraine, as well as entirely new, recently opened shlichus destinations. The hall filled with song and dance as thousands of women united in shared joy and gratitude for the privilege of being part of the Rebbe’s mission.
As the evening drew to a close, the participants carried with them not only vivid impressions but also a powerful charge of spiritual energy—to bring back to their communities, to share with Jewish women everywhere, increasing the light of Torah and Chassidus and hastening the time of Geulah. Once again, the Kinus filled every shlicha with confidence in her own strength and the understanding that changes and challenges do not interrupt shlichus; they become part of the journey on which, day by day, step by step, Jewish life is built around the world.
With material from https://collive.com
