World’s First Chabad Young Professionals Center to Host International Summit of CYP Shluchim

The bustling waterfront of Jersey City is set to welcome a different type of event next Wednesday as CYP Shluchim across the globe convene at the newly inaugurated CYP Center, for their annual Kinus. With over 250 chapters worldwide, CYP is the world’s largest network of young Jewish communities. The first purpose-built CYP center opened two months ago serving the Hoboken and Jersey City young Jewish community and is set to play host for the international conference of CYP Shluchim next week.

The state-of-the-art facility, designed to be a vibrant hub for young Jews seeking community and connection, will now serve as the backdrop for the annual Kinus. At this pivotal conference, Shluchim who focus on building young Jewish professional communities around the world will join together to share ideas, collaborate on innovative programming, and address the unique needs of their communities.

“The new CYP Center in Hudson County stands as a testament to the dedication and vision of the community we serve. It was brought to life by the young professionals themselves, from donating funds to sourcing contractors,” says Rabbi Shmully Levitin, who leads CYP of Hoboken & Jersey City together with his wife Esta. “It is an honor to host the Kinus where our community members will meet fellow CYP shluchim from across the world and no doubt spark new projects to enhance Jewish life for young Jews everywhere.”

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky OBM, whom the Rebbe entrusted with facilitating these regional gatherings of shluchim, will be remembered fondly at this year’s summit. “Rabbi Kotlarsky’s presence will be sorely missed,” says Rabbi Beryl Frankel, Director of Chabad Young Professionals International at Merkos 302. “His yearly huddle with the shluchim was always a highlight, offering invaluable insights and leaving everyone with a sense of purpose and camaraderie.”

“The Rebbe encouraged Shluchim to gather together and learn from each other whenever possible,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “For shluchim serving a similar demographic, despite serving communities in vastly different locations, there is so much they have in common. Critical initiatives were born out of these summits in the past and no doubt this year’s will be equally impactful.”

As the shluchim gather for this summit, they do so with the knowledge that their efforts have a collective impact. The conference is about sharing best practices and forging connections that will lead to transformative projects like Met@Chabad, the values-based dating platform, which was born out of a previous Kinus. This year’s event aims to continue that tradition, sparking new ideas and initiatives that will address the challenges facing young Jewish professionals around the globe.

“Shluchim are on the frontlines against the tides of intermarriage. It is our responsibility to adequately educate our community members on the importance of marrying Jewish and the dangers of intermarriage,” says Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov, author of ‘Rabbi, why can’t I marry her.’ He will be leading a session on the topic, empowering Shluchim to prevent untoward situations through healthy education.

Other critical topics include the Rebbe’s approach to antisemitism, the uptick in Jewish involvement since October 7th, and empowering young Jews to take an active role in their communities. With a wide range of sessions and roundtable discussions, Shluchim leave with renewed determination, tools, and relationships with peers, as they head back home for their goal of changing the world one mitzvah at a time.

The CYP Kinus will take place at CYP Jersey City, July 10-11, 2024 ~ Tammuz 4-5, 5784

The CYP Kinus is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky OB”M, Vice-Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Chairman of CYP International.

לעילוי נשמת הרה”ח הרה”ת ר’ משה יהודה בן הרה”ת ר’ צבי יוסף קאטלרסקי