LIVE at 1:00PM: Kinus Hashluchim Gala Banquet
Today, more than 6,500 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and guests will gather for the closing gala of the International Conference of Chabad Emissaries. The banquet, the largest sit-down meal in the New York City area and the largest kosher sit-down meal in the world, marks the conclusion of the largest gathering of Jewish leaders.
“Around the world, Jews are asking what the future holds,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, director of the International Conference of Shluchim. “Here you see the answer. Thousands of Shluchim and their visionary partners are fulfilling the Rebbe’s vision: building, teaching, supporting, and uplifting every Jew everywhere. This gala celebrates a dynamic movement that will carry our people forward with confidence and hope.”
The event, streamed live to a global audience, has become an annual highlight for Jewish communities around the world. Known for its personal stories, iconic roll call, and spontaneous dancing, the banquet offers a rare look at the energy and global impact of the world’s largest Jewish movement, and celebrates the dedicated individuals behind it.
Each year, the conference is a springboard for new initiatives, from new Chabad Houses and Mikvaos to innovative platforms like OneMitzvah.org. Last year, just days after the murder of Shliach Rabbi Zvi Kogan HY”D, seed funding for 100 new centers were announced in his memory. These Kinus commitments reverberate well beyond the banquet hall, impacting Jewish life worldwide.
This year’s program will showcase powerful stories of resilience and outreach under extreme circumstances.
In Montego Bay, Jamaica, Rabbi Yaakov Raskin leads Jewish life in a setting marked by distance, limited resources, and violent storms. Just weeks ago, Hurricane Melissa tore through the island with 185 mph winds, blowing out windows and flooding the Chabad House. With power failing and communication cut off, the Raskins sheltered in the dark mikvah room, protecting their family and Torah scrolls. His segment, “Shlichus Through Fire and Water,” captures the quiet strength it takes to stand firm when everything else is falling apart.
In “From One Army to Another,” U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ben Crage and Air Force Chaplain Rabbi Levi Pekar reflect on the Rebbe’s call to stand up for Jewish life in every setting, especially those on the front lines. For Crage, the Rebbe’s teachings offered a framework to deepen his Jewish identity while serving; for Pekar, it’s a mission to help others do the same.
A Torah scroll will be completed and dedicated in memory of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky A”H, the beloved Vice-Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Chairman of The International Conference of Shluchim, who dedicated his life to fulfilling the Rebbe’s vision of building Jewish life across the globe and ensuring every Shliach had the support they needed to succeed.
The banquet will culminate with the iconic International Roll Call, in which representatives from every continent rise as their countries are named. From Paris and Sydney to isolated communities where Jewish life relies on a single Shlichus family. The climactic moment showcases a movement that spans the globe to ensure no Jew stands alone.
Watch live at Kinus.com/live
