Rabbi Yisroel Brod at Ohel Chana

MELBOURNE, Australia [CHI] — This week, we had the honor and privilege of having Rabbi Yisroel Brod from Kfar Chabad, Israel visit Ohel Chana and address us. Rabbi Brod, whose responsibilities include the management of Kfar Chabad magazine, is a highly regarded consultant and mentor to shluchim worldwide. Drawing on his vast experience on Shlichus, Rabbi Brod enlightened us on many aspects of Shlichus, answering our many questions about Shlichus in todays world and within todays culture and environment.

Rabbi Brod began his presentation by acknowledging our concerns about Shlichus and examining the issues that Shluchim face today. He validated our concerns about financial difficulties, raising children, excessive and demanding workloads and the physical and emotional impact on family life by saying that these are all issues that every shliach acknowledges and faces. However, he reassured us, he has yet to meet a shliach who would exchange this lifestyle for one of comfort outside shlichus!

He enthused and inspired us by explaining the Rebbe’s special and extraordinary connection to his Shluchim. Rabbi Brod illustrated this with encounters showing how the Rebbe is with his shluchim every step of the way, wherever they are and in whatever situation. He drew a marvelous picture of 3,000 happy and enthusiastic Shluchim throughout the world, with thousands of young bochrim and girls dreaming of the day they become one of the Rebbes front line emissaries. The work Shluchim undertake has become ever more varied and every couple seeking shlichus have a wide range of options open to them – from Chabad Houses to Friendship Circle, Chabad-On-Campus to JLI , from working in home towns to the most remote of third-world countries.

After hearing an enthralling Rabbi Brod, we all gained a clearer picture of what Shlichus is really all about. In general, our whole learning experience here “down under”, living the year in a country remote from our families and homes, has given every one of us a new and deeper meaning to “Ashreinu Ma Tov Chelkeinu” and has inspired and enthused us in our role as chassidim of the Rebbe and as his future shluchim.