400 Gather to Strategize, Conquer Through Torah with JLI

Over 400 Shluchim gathered at the 15th Annual JLI conference to strategize and hone their skills in lesson delivery, marketing, branding, recruitment, pedagogy and fundraising for the thriving network of the Rohr Jewish learning Institute.

JLI’s largest conference to date was held at the spacious and modern facilities of Queens College, where affiliates were addressed by fellow shluchim who shared their best practices for success as well as pedagogic expert, Dr. Michael Brandwein, marketing specialist Gedalya Robinson, and world renowned academics Dr. Edward Reichman and Dr. Jonathan Sarna prepared the affiliates for the upcoming courses on medical ethics, and Judaism in the Free World.

Charged and inspired to fulfill the Rebbe’s directive of ‘conquer the world through Torah study, the 400 were encouraged by JLI’s Chairman and driving force,Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, to increase student participation by 20% in the coming year, in honor of 20 years since Gimmel Tammuz 5754.  Rabbi Kotlarsky spoke movingly about the Rohr family’s commitment to JLI’s ongoing expansion and success, while sharing insights on the life and legacy of the late Mr. Sami Rohr, Z”L.

Following the 13 breakout sessions, the plenary session in the Lefraq Concert Hall, chaired by Rabbi Hesh Epstein, focused five new initiatives, designed to expand the scope of each shliach’s reach, broaden JLI’s appeal in their communities and increase the number of students participating in their JLI courses. The plenary session featured remarks by fellow shluchim: Rabbi Peretz Mochkin who shared the rapid growth and success of his local JLI chapter by forging partnerships  with several prestigious institutions and agencies in Northern California; Rabbi Ruvi New addressed the impact and success of JLI’s groundbreaking partnership with the Kohelet Foundation, featuring a two-year Jewish learning experience focused on parents of Jewish day school students, welcoming them to study Jewish texts with JLI or YU and participate in community learning events, while receiving tuition breaks from their schools, funded by the Kohelet Foundation and its partners; Rabbi Dovid Teichtel shared JLI’s new partnership with OLLI and encouraged affiliates to consider expanding their JLI chapter by partnering with the prominent academic institution, while Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan urged all affiliates to maximize JLI’s potential in each and every city by applying JLI’s new Marketing for Results program to overhaul the branding and positioning of Chabad’s adult education apparatus and multiply our reach and scope exponentially.

JLI’s principal benefactor, Mr. George Rohr concluded the plenary session by sharing anecdotes of his late father, Mr. Sami Rohr, Z”L and his passion for Torah study and adult education within the Chabad network. Mr. Rohr also announced the founding of a new initiative in memory of his father, aimed at providing Shluchim with research on any subject in Torah on demand.

Following the plenary session, shluchim were addressed during dinner by Rabbi Yosef Y. Jacobson, who is part of a team working on a groundbreaking JLI course on the Transformational Life Teachings of the Rebbe, scheduled to debut next spring in 350 locations worldwide.