Florida Shluchim Elect New Vaad To Help Oversee Florida Shluchim

by CrownHeights.info

The election results have arrived, and a big Mazal Tov and Yaasher Koach to the seven newly elected members of the Florida Vaad Hashluchim.

“Thank you to the 273 Shluchim who voted in this election and showed your care for the future of Chabad in Florida,” the Vaad Habchiros who oversaw the lection wrote in an email to the Shluchim. “With a 93% turnout, it is obvious to all how important this election is, and how much trust the hundreds of Shluchim in Florida have invested in the newly elected Vaad.”

For many years, Rabbi Avrohom Korf – the head Shliach of Florida – would appoint a Vaad to help oversee common interests of Florida Shluchim, and four years ago he implemented a change in the process for appointing this vaad, which would from then on use a democratic method.

The election of that year was the first held democratically, electing seven Shluchim who would help make decisions in matters such as placement of new Shluchim, contracts between Shluchim, and arbitration. This year’s election was the second one held democratically, as well as the second held online.

To help in the election process, the Vaad Habchiros used an online election company, keeping the private decisions, such as who voted for whom, private.

Here are the new Vaad members, in order of votes:
Rabbi Yosef Raichik
Rabbi Yossie Biston
Rabbi Berl Goldman
Rabbi Eli Lipskar
Rabbi Zalman Levitin
Rabbi Meir Kessler
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

The Shliach with the 8th most votes, Rabbi Sholom Dubov, will serve as a ready substitute to keep the Vaad fully functional if any of the current seven Vaad members are no longer able to serve.

“We wish all the Shluchim in the state of Florida much Bracha and Hatzlacha in their holy Shlichus,” the Vaad Habchiros said.

They also gave special thanks to Rabbi Benjy Korf for his help and direction.