One Big Family: Campus Shluchim Conference

Over 800 men, women and children gathered together this past weekend at the Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. But these were no regular men, women or children. And this was no regular weekend.

The annual Chabad on Campus International Shluchim Conference is an event, unlike any other, specifically for the families who run Chabad Houses on university and college campuses around the world. From Rabbi Nosson and Miriam Rodin who serve the students throughout Beijing, China to Rabbi Yossi and Manya Lazaroff at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas to the large Jewish community of Rabbi Dov Yona and Sarah Korn at New York University, the breadth, scope and magnitude of Chabad on Campus was represented.

The International Shluchim Conference is a project of Chabad on Campus International Foundation who provides programming, support and structure to the current 191 centers worldwide. Yet this number will soon be increasing greatly. As Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, the Chairman of the Foundation as well as the vice chairman of the Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement stated, “This coming year marks 20 years since the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Therefore we must increase all the activities we do by 20% as well.”

An important part of the Kinus, which was directed by Rabbi Moshe C. Dubrowski, Director of Programming for Chabad on Campus, was the National Initiatives session where the opportunities offered by Chabad on Campus International were presented by representatives of various Chabad Houses that benefitted directly from them. This year there are many new initiatives are being launched to further increase support in areas such as fundraising, branding and marketing, learning and programming.

The session was moderated by Rabbi Eitan Webb, Shliach at Princeton University along with his wife, Gitty. “Although the Chabad on Campus network reaches in excess of 80,000 students each year, generally speaking each particular location is laser-focused on the needs of their campus. Coming together at a Conference like this affords us the opportunity to step back and be in awe of the larger picture. Until I was asked to moderate this session, I myself had no idea of the scope and I believe many others were similarly reached,” said Webb.

The extended weekend, which was chaired by Rabbi Dov and Runya Wagner of University of Southern California and Rabbi Chaim and Moussia Goldstein of Drexel University, began on Friday afternoon with a fully-packed schedule of seminars that engaged and addressed the needs of the Shluchim and Shluchos and the challenges they deal with on campus such as parenting, Jewish law and their own personal growth and inspiration. As well there was extensive coverage of vital issues that take place on campus such as student addiction, what signs to look for and what to do. Rabbi Shais Taub, an expert in addiction and world-renowned speaker, not only gave lectures but was available throughout the weekend for one-on-one discussions.

As there are always new Chabad centers opening on campuses, there was a special session that took place for four full hours for couples just starting to address the specific needs when beginning the process and how to best utilize the support offered by Chabad on Campus International Foundation. These couples had the opportunity to speak and hear from those who have been on campus for more than a decade and in some cases decades.

Unique to the women’s program on Friday was a presentation from the Ashreinu Society for Shluchos, an initiative of Chabad on Campus International and directed by campus Shluchos, which provides camaraderie, learning, support and collaboration. Twice a month small groups of women have phone conferences where they share their joys and challenges and receive and give input with others on campus who can relate and provide essential feedback.

Mrs. Henchi Fellig, who co-directs Chabad at the University of Miami, Florida and has participated in the Ashreinu Society of Shluchos since its inception three years ago explains, “The Ashreinu Society provides unconditional support where we encourage one another to grow and develop to greater heights. When connecting and sharing each other’s strengths we have abilities that we would never have on our own. We truly feel not just like friends, but sisters.”

At every turn and at all times the Shluchim and Shluchos could be overheard providing suggestions, anecdotes and advice to help the work of another. From tidbits as to what made one program successful or a fundraising pitch that was a huge success, the feeling was one of collaboration, transparency, unity and friendship. Actually, it was more than just friendship.

While the range of programming covered so many different topics, challenges and directives, there was one main goal that tied everything together. Ultimately the purpose behind the entire weekend from the meals, to the children’s program (which served around 500 kids) to the sessions was to let each and every Shliach, Shlucha and child know that they are not alone. They are part of a family. And family always is here for one another.

As stated by Rabbi Yossy Gordon, Executive Vice President of Chabad on Campus International, “We aren’t here because we are all in the same line of work. We are here because we are a family and families have family reunions. Our family is excellent and by coming together we become even more excellent.”

Rabbi Gordon shared some astounding statistics highlighting the impact that Chabad has on campuses throughout the world. He explained that any given week there are 12,000 students learning Torah, 9,000 attending Friday night Shabbat dinners, and 81,000 active relationships currently being nurtured.

And this is only going to grow for as Gordon stressed, “Shluchim don’t stop!”

This idea of not stopping and needing to increase was stressed as well by Mr. George Rohr, Chairman of the Chabad on Campus International Advisory Board and key partner and funder of the Chabad on Campus initiatives. Following a powerful show of respect for the Shluchos, in which he had all the Shluchim and men in the room give a long standing ovation, he stated emphatically that the day-to-day running of the Chabad Houses could never happen without the women. Following this he explained how Shluchim face non-stop demands and yet, he declared, “The demands should continue relentlessly!”

Even during the conference itself, the days were long to ensure that every moment was utilized. The incredibly organized babysitting program began at 8:30 am and ended at midnight, though for hours after the adults could be found strategically planning, discussing and connecting.

And while one would think that with so many children in attendance it would be hard to get anything done, nothing could have been further from the truth. A parallel comprehensive Kinus for the children was organized by MyShliach, the Merkos program which provides support to the children of Shluchim.

The children’s program fed, entertained and educated the children from morning until night so that their parents could fully focus and participate. From a carnival and moon bounce to an adorable show the kid’s presented Sunday evening, they were not only kept busy but had the unique opportunity to bond and create friendships with other kids just like them.

“My children are so proud to be Shluchim along with us on campus. For them to spend four days with kids their age, kids who understand them and are like them is an incredible gift. Just like I attend to gain inspiration and be rejuvenated, the same is provided for my children,” said Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel, who runs the Chabad on Campus at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign along with this wife, Goldie.

Undoubtedly one of the most moving part of the entire weekend was a talk given by Rabbi Shmuel Posner who, along with his wife, Chana opened their Chabad House at Boston University in 1985.

Rabbi Posner, with his wit and humor, managed to make the audience laugh one minute and then cry as he recalled the years in which he brought students to the Lubavitcher Rebbe to participate in farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings), and receive Sunday dollars. Rabbi Posner and his wife were working on a campus well before there was the type of support and initiatives available today. They were the trailblazers who have become the inspiration for all those who have followed. And there was not a dry eye in the crowd as he spoke about the challenges and the inspiration in the years that followed the Rebbe’s passing in 1994. The work had to continue. And that, he absolutely knew, was what the Rebbe expected from him.

While the conference is now over, the work has just begun. Immediately following the conference, Chabad on Campus International Foundation launched right into action holding two full day seminars dedicated to fundraising and marketing techniques with an expert in the field. Inspiration, connection and growth is essential to the work of Chabad on Campus. But ultimately, as the Chassidic saying goes, ha’maaseh hu haikar, “it is the action that counts.” And so, the work continues, the demands continue, and undoubtedly, Chabad on Campus will be ready.