Kinus Hashluchim Keynote Speaker To Be Rabbi Yehuda Stern, Shliach to Johannesburg

by CrownHeights.info

The Vaad Kinus Hashluchim has announced the Keynote speaker for this year’s annual banquet, naming Rabbi Yehuda Stern, Shliach to Johannesburg, South Africa and Rabbi of Sydenham Shul.

After serving the community as Associate and Youth Rabbi for 14 years under the leadership of Rabbi Yossy and Rochel Goldman, in 2021 Rabbi Yehuda was appointed as the Rabbi and Director of this community, which is at the forefront of Jewish Life in Johannesburg.

“Rabbi Yehuda and Estee Stern, together with their children, are a shining light of Jewish pride and passionate teachers of Torah and Mitzvos to their community and beyond,” the Vaad wrote in an email to the Shluchim. “Rabbi Stern will address the theme of the Kinus on behalf of all of the Shluchim.”

The Vaad HaKinus have made multiple changes this year as they grapple with the sudden hostilities in Eretz Yisroel.

“In light of these consequential events, the Vaad HaKinus has been working intensely to re-make the Kinus program so that it would better reflect what world Jewry is experiencing,” the Vaad wrote in an earlier email. “

To fit with re-make, the annual banquet will now incorporate strong elements of Chizuk for the Shluchim, their communities and indeed all the Jews of Artzeinu HaKedosha. In order to ensure their participation, the Vaad Hakinus has moved the time of the banquet due to the time difference between the US and Israel, making the banquet a lunch-time event with the program starting at 1:00PM EST sharp.