Hospital Shluchim Convene to Strengthen Their Frontline Ahavas Yisroel Mission
Chabad on Call held its annual Kinus for Hospital Shluchim at Healing Hearts in Hollywood, Florida, bringing together Shluchim and Shluchos from across the country with one mission: to offer warmth, support, and Yiddishkeit when it’s needed most.
Over two days of learning, sharing, and workshops, they focused on infusing Chabad’s quintessential Ahavas Yisroel into the hospital setting, offering Yiddishkeit, dignity, and warmth so that every Jew feels at home, even in the most trying times.
“In a hospital, we cannot promise answers to every question or solutions to every challenge,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “But we can promise that no Jew will face these challenges alone. That is the global support system the Rebbe envisioned, and it is exactly what this Kinus strengthens for hospital Shluchim everywhere.”
Sessions combined uplifting inspiration with hands-on guidance. Workshops such as Managing Hospitality Suites with Care offered step-by-step guidance on creating welcoming kosher spaces for families in need.
A live tour of Healing Hearts provided a firsthand look at a beautiful Chabad hospitality center, complete with kitchens, guest rooms, and volunteer systems; a model that Chabad House communities can adapt globally to meet local needs with care and sensitivity.
Throughout the Kinus, the warmth and care of Rabbi Yochonon and Esti Klein, directors of Healing Hearts, were felt by all. From the moment Shluchim arrived, every detail was attended to with genuine hospitality. As one participant expressed, “If we felt this cared for during a short visit, imagine how hospital patients and their families feel when welcomed into this environment during some of the hardest days of their lives.”
But the Kinus didn’t stop at inspiration, it focused on action. Shluchim rolled up their sleeves, put on aprons, and helped pack kosher meals for hospital patients and their families, a tangible reminder that small acts of care can make an immeasurable difference in someone’s most challenging hours.
Much of the Kinus addressed the unique demands of hospital Shlichus, from building relationships with doctors and administrators to sustaining volunteer teams and creating the warmth of a Chabad House in a hospital setting.
The discussions highlighted how vital it is to keep hospitality suites running smoothly and to have a reliable team of volunteers, as these are key to offering steady comfort and care to patients and their families.
Attendees shared personal stories about what inspired them to begin this work and the impact it has had. Rabbi Yona Matusof of Madison, Wisconsin, who has been on Shlichus for 45 years, reflected, “I joined the Kinus to renew my commitment to hospital visits. In the beginning I would go regularly, then it slowed, and this gathering has reignited my dedication to focus on this important Shlichus with consistency and intention.”
The program also featured a spirited farbrengen, where Shluchim shared stories of hope, strength, and positive hachlatos. These heartfelt moments gave participants the energy and clarity to return home with a renewed vision and a deeper sense of mission.
As Rabbi Yochanan Klein said, “I was humbled to see the devotion and care my fellow shluchim have to help families in need, despite whatever they might be going through. This Kinus showed the power of this type of Shlichus and how it reaches people in ways that last far beyond the hospital walls, bringing light into some of the hardest moments of a person’s life.”
