Just Announced: 40,500 Torah Books to Establish First of 360 New Libraries in Chabad Houses Worldwide
On the 6th of Tishrei 5733 (1972), the eighth yahrtzeit of his mother, the Rebbe urged every Jewish community to open a Jewish library for the local Jewish public. The Rebbe’s call to action led Jewish communities worldwide to invest in a local Torah lending library, giving thousands of Jews direct access to Jewish knowledge and spiritual nourishment.
Now, fifty years later, one-hundred-eighty Chabad houses worldwide are on the cusp of opening a fully-stocked Jewish library of their own.
As the 36th International Kinus Hashluchim sets in, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Chairman of The Kinus and Vice-Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, has announced the establishment of one-hundred-eighty new libraries in Chabad houses across the globe. “The Rebbe taught us that access to Torah books is vital for every Jewish community, just as every city needs a doctor and other professionals to be habitable,” he said.
Just as the Kinus Hashluchim launched on Wednesday, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch conducted a raffle to select the one-hundred-eighty shluchim who will receive the readymade packages of two hundred and twenty sefarim each. A shipment of 40,500 sefarim will soon fly to the fortunate Chabad houses, with another 40,500 to follow.
The winners of Merkos’ raffle were drawn from shluchim in over thirty countries that do not yet have their own community collection of Torah books. Participants in the raffle chose one of three library packages.
Following the guidance the Rebbe laid out fifty years ago, one package option concentrates on books for beginning students of Judaism. In contrast, the other two packages focus on advanced studies in Talmud and Halachah or Chassidus, respectively. But every package of sefarim has been carefully designed to include something for all age groups and backgrounds.
Merkos tailored the books bound for each shliach to suit the local community’s preferred language, including French, Spanish, and Russian. In addition, Shluchim were empowered to customize their sefarim bundle to appeal to children, teens, or adults.
Rabbi Kotlarsky launched the initiative by bringing Torah books to one-hundred-eighty new Jewish communities, but he aims to establish a total of three-hundred-sixty new Chabad libraries shortly. The sheer logistical challenge of packaging and shipping 72,000 books to remote communities across the globe is daunting. Still, Rabbi Kotlarsky is confident that Chabad is up to the challenge.
Fifty years ago, the Rebbe personally contributed sefarim to every new library established by any shliach or community. Today, with tens of thousands of Torah books involved, Chabad Headquarters is partnering with publishing houses and numerous members of the global Jewish community to meet the challenge of building and supporting individual libraries.
“For too long, a Jewish library was just a dream for many shluchim,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “Every community needs an open space where any Jew can come to learn Torah or borrow a Torah book, with no strings attached.”
RABBI AND MRS. CHANINA GRUNBLATT BEIT JABAD, BAJO BELGRANO, ARGENTINA
RABBI AND MRS. ZALMI LEVY, EL LAZO STUDENT CENTER, ARGENTINA
RABBI AND MRS. DANIEL ZELIONE , JUVENTUD JABAD OLLEROS , ARGENTINA
RABBI AND MRS. NISSIM KATRI, BEIT CHABAD DE BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL
RABBI AND MRS. YISROEL SIMON, CHABAD STUDENT CENTRE OF KINGSTON, CANADA
RABBI AND MRS. DOVID LEWIN, LA MAISON CHABAD, CANADA
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM HILDESHAIM, CHABAD RUSSIAN CENTER OF THORNHILL WOODS, CANADA
RABBI AND MRS. YITZCHOK EZAGUI, CHABAD OF THE LOWER LAURENTIANS, CANADA
RABBI AND MRS. YERACHMIEL BENSAID, CHABAD OF IVORY COAST, COTE D’IVOIRE
RABBI AND MRS. YAIR BAITZ, CHABAD OF LIMASSOL, CYPRUS
RABBI AND MRS. ISRAEL OUAKI BETH LOUBAVITCH, EME NORD, FRANCE
RABBI AND MRS. MENAHEM MENDEL ABITBOUL, BETH LOUBAVITCH LE PLESSIS ROBINSON, FRANCE
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL SUDRY, CHABAD SUCY, FRANCE
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF HAVLIN, CHABAD FRANKFURT, GERMANY
RABBI AND MRS. SHAIKA GARELIK, CHABAD NORTH GEDERA, ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. שמואל נחימובסקי בית חב”ד נווה נוי, ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. SHNEOR ZALMEN BROD, CHABAD POLEG – IR YAMIM, ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM MENDEL ASHKENAZI, CHABAD BEER ORA – CHEVEL EILOT, ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. שניאור זלמן רייניץ חב”ד בעליה ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. מנשה שטרנפלד בית חב”ד קרית יערים ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. שמחה גורליק בית חב”ד עיר ימים אשקלון ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. מנחם מענדל סוקניק בית חב”ד אור ים ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. MENASHE SCHWARTZ, CHABAD OF OR AKIVA CAESARIA, ISRAEL
RABBI AND MRS. KRAMER CHABAD LUBAVITCH LATVIA RIGA, LATVIA
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL KRINSKY, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF KAUNAS (KOVNO), LITHUANIA
RABBI AND MRS. ELCHANAN KUPERMAN, CHABAD NORTHLAND, NEW ZEALAND
RABBI AND MRS. DOV BER ORGAD, CHABAD OF CLUJ NAPOCA ROMANIA, ROMANIA
RABBI AND MRS. GAVRIEL GORDON, מקומות הקדושים, בית חב”ד בעיירה ליובאוויטש RUSSIAN FEDERATION
RABBI AND MRS. PINNY WEINMAN, CHABAD OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
RABBI AND MRS. OSHER FELDMAN, GARDENS SHUL, SOUTH AFRICA
RABBI AND MRS. NISSEN GOLDMAN, CHABAD ON CAMPUS CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF HAZDAN, JOHANNESBURG TORAH INSTITUTE, SOUTH AFRICA
RABBI AND MRS. ARIEL MARKOVITCH, CHABAD LUBAVITCH KYIV, UKRAINE
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF TEITELBAUM, CHABAD KHMELNITSKY, UKRAINE
RABBI AND MRS. SHNEUR WINEBERG, CHABAD OF NOTTING HILL, UNITED KINGDOM
RABBI AND MRS. SHAYA GREEN, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF PINNER, UNITED KINGDOM
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL CHEIN, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF TRAFFORD, UNITED KINGDOM
RABBI AND MRS. YITZCHAK LEW, CHABAD OF MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM HOCH, JEWISH LIFE CENTRE, UNITED KINGDOM
RABBI AND MRS. BENTZI SUDAK, CHABAD HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB, UNITED KINGDOM
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY MENTZ, CHABAD WEST BEL AIR, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. NISSAN KORNFELD, CHABAD MERCER ISLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAYIM RIVKIN, CHABAD OF KIRKLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. JOSEPH BRONSTEIN, CONGREGATION JUDEA CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSSI ELIAV, CHABAD OF CLINTON HILL AND PRATT, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. DOVIE KIVMAN, CHABAD OF ERIE COUNTY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHLOIME ADLER, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF SPRINGFIELD-BURKE VIRGINIA, US
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM TENNENHAUS, CHABAD OF NE HOLLYWOOD DANIA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. DOVBER SASONKIN, CHABAD AT KENT STATE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM BRYSKI, CHABAD OF THOUSAND OAKS, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. NISSI EBER, JEWISH LEARNING EXPERIENCE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM WILANSKY, CHABAD OF BANGOR, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVROHOM DYCE, CHABAD OF GRESHAM, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MORDECHAI GERSHON, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF SOUTH LOOP UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL LEHRER, CHABAD OF GATEWAY CITIES, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MEIR FRIEDMAN, CHABAD OF ESCONDIDO, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVROHOM ITKIN, CHABAD OF ULSTER COUNTY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHAUL WERTHEIMER, CHABAD ON CAMPUS OF QUEENS, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. KOPEL SILBERBERG, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF TAMARAC, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI CUNIN, CHABAD OF MALIBU, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHLAME LANDA, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF FAIRFIELD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI SPUTZ, CHABAD LEARNING CENTER OF NORTHERN NEVADA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHNEUR BENDET, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF GREATER S PAUL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. EPHRAIM SILVERMAN, CHABAD OF COBB, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SCHNEUR BROOK, CHABAD OF SHELTON, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ZEV JOHNSON, UT CHABAD HOUSE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YANKY BARON, CHABAD ELLICOTT CITY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YAKOV RASKIN, EZRATH ISRAEL CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MOTTI WILHELM, CHABAD SW PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YANKIE DENBURG, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVREMEL MINSKY, CHABAD OF NEWARK, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM MARKOVITS, CHABAD RURAL GEORGIA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. HERSHY HECHT, CHABAD OF ORANGE-WOODBRIDGE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MEIR SHMOTKIN, CHABAD OF ALAMEDA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. TZEMACH FELLER, CHABAD OF MACALESTER-GROVELAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI KATZMAN, CHABAD OF THE SOUTH SHORE OF STATEN ISLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVRAHAM STOLIK, CHABAD OF DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM DRAY, CHABAD OF THE DIAMOND DISTRICT, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YAAKOV CHAITON, CHABAD OF ROBBINSVILLE AND HAMILTON, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF SCHTROKS, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF OLYMPIA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. VELVEL BELINSKY, ARIEL CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI GERLITZKY, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF THE BIG ISLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY KESSELMAN, CHABAD OF FRISCO, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL PRUS, CHABAD OF DOYLESTOWN, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YAAKOV CARLEBACH, CHABAD OF ATWATER VILLAGE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF SPALTER, CHABAD MONTVILLE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHMUEL SEREBRYANSKI, CHABAD OF EASTERN ORANGE COUNTY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI PERELMUTER, SHUL BY THE SHORE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL MISHOLOVIN, CHABAD OF CORTE MADERA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL LIBEROW, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF NORTH S JOSE & MORGAN HILL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MEIR GORDON, CHABAD OF PASO ROBLES, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY DUBROWSKI, CHABAD OF SOUTH TAMPA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY BEGUN, CHABAD OF CHULA VISTA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. GEDALIA POTASH, BAIS MENACHEM YESHIVA DAY SCHOOL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHMUEL SPUTZ, CHABAD OF THE CALDWELLS, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI DUBINSKY, CHABAD CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE – MOUNTAIN LAKES, BOONTON, DENVILLE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MIRIAM FERRIS, CHABAD OF THE EAST BAY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ZALMAN BLECHER, LUBAVITCH OF YARDLEY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ABBA RUBIN, SARATOGA CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YEHUDA HEBER, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF YORKTOWN, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVROHOM BUKIET, CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE ARLINGTON BELMONT, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MAYER BROOK, CHABAD PORTOLA VALLEY & WOODSIDE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHLOMO ELKAN, CHABAD AT OBERLIN COLLEGE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YECHEZKEL THALER, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF UWM INC, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVREMI RAICHIK, CHABAD OF CAPE ANN, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ELI BLOKH, CHABAD OF REGO PARK CORONA INC, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM GOLOMB, CHABAD OF MODESTO, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY HURWITZ, CHABAD OF YONKERS, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. NAFTOLI SCHMUKLER, CHABAD COASTAL BEND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSSI RUBIN, CLIFTON PARK CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. DOVID BUSH, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF PETALUMA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YISROEL NISSIM, CHABAD OF GREENPOINT, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM CAYTAK, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF TROY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAYIM MISHULOVIN, CHABAD PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF FINE, CHABAD OF MELROSE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM LEVERTOV CHABAD YOUNG JEWISH PROFESSIONALS AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MEIR RAPOPORT, CHABAD OF GALLOWAY & STOCKTON UNIVERSITY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSSI LABKOWSKI, CHABAD OF CAPE CORAL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHIMON STILLERMAN, CHABAD OF ISLIP TOWNSHIP INC, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ZUSHE GUREVITZ, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER ABINGTON, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHAYA BERNSTEIN, CHABAD DTSJ, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM LEVIN, CHABAD OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL FOGELMAN, CHABAD OF GREATER LAUREL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVROHOM LITVIN, CHABAD OF KENTUCKY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL POLICHENCO, CHABAD CARMEL VALLEY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSSI LIEBERMAN, CHABAD OF WEST HEMPSTEAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. OSHER KRAVITSKY, CHABAD OF GREAT NECK, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. GROSSMAN, CHABAD OF NORTHWEST VERMONT, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YONAH GROSSMAN, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF NORTH DAKOTA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YITZCHOK MINKOWICZ, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. BENTZION SHEMTOV, CHABAD AT MSU, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ZEVI SCHTROKS, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF ROYAL PALM BEACH, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. BEREL LEVERTOV, SANTA FE JEWISH CENTER CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY BRONSTEIN, CHABAD OF ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YAKOV DOVID BORENSTEIN, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF LONGMONT, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. BENTZY STOLIK, CHABAD OF OLNEY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL SUPER, CHABAD OF LAKE HAVASU CITY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MORDECHAI LIGHTSTONE, TECH TRIBE (CYP), UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM SCHMUKLER, CHABAD OF NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI CUNIN, CHABAD AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVRAHAM KAGAN, CHABAD OF RIVER NORTH AND FULTON MARKET, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM LANDA, CHABAD OF NOVATO, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI PARTOUCHE, CHABAD ON CALL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL SLAVATICKI, CHABAD ISRAELI CENTER, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM GROSSBAUM, VILLAGE CHABAD – CHABAD AT STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SRULY SHEMTOV, CHABAD OF VAIL, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHMUEL GREENBERG, CHABAD OF WICHITA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ELI FILLER, CHABAD OF PRESCOTT INC., UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ZALMAN MENDELSOHN, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF WYOMING INC., UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. AVREMEL MATUSOF, CHABAD MADISON, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHNEUR MARASOW, CHABAD OF NORTH SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YITZCHOK TIECHTEL, CHABAD OF NASHVILLE PRESCHOOL, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY FELLIG, CHABAD AT U MIAMI, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHAIM WILHELM, CHABAD NORTHEAST PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. BEREL GARELIK, CHABAD ON CAMPUS AT FIU, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDEL KATZMAN, CHABAD OF NEBRASKA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MOSHE SCHWARTZ, THE CHABAD CHAI CENTER, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ASHER HECHT, CHABAD RGV, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENDY SCHAPIRO, CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF MONROEVILLE, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YAACOV SHUSTERMAN, CHABAD NW NJ WESTERN REGION, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHNAI LEVITIN, CHABAD OF QUEEN ANNE – MAGNOLIA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHALOM LIPSZYC, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF MOSCOWITZ, CHABAD OF BUCKTOWN, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSEF KALMANSON, JEWISH DISCOVERY CENTER, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ASHER HERSON, CHABAD CENTER OF NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YOSSI SHUCHAT, CHABAD EAST LAS VEGAS, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. SHLOMO SILVERMAN, CHABAD OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LIGHT CHABAD OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ZALMAN VILENKIN, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF CHAUTAUQUA, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. DOVID GOLD, CHABAD OF PLATTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. PINNY ANDRUSIER, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF SOUTHWEST BROWARD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YAAKOV KAPLAN, CHABAD OF SOUTH BALTIMORE AND UMB, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. CHONI MAROZOV, CHABAD OF SCV, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. RAFI ROSENBERG, SKYLAKE CHABAD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. LEVI MENDELOW, CHABAD NEW CANAAN JEWISH CENTER, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. ELI GUREVITZ, ROHR CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE, CHABAD HOUSE UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. YITZCHAK GOLDWASSER, CHABAD OF GREENFIELD, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MOSHE LIEBLICH, CHABAD OF WILMINGTON, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. NECHEMIA SHUSTERMAN, CHABAD OF PEABODY, UNITED STATES
RABBI AND MRS. MENACHEM HERZEL, CHABAD OF ZAMBIA , ZAMBIA
