Thousands of women emissaries gathered on Thursday night at the Bedford Union Armory in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., for the opening general session of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries (Kinus Hashluchos), scheduled to run through Feb. 24, with a banquet dinner on Feb. 23.
Titled “Igniting the Flame,” the program was arranged by the Vaad Hakinus and hosted by Chaya Rochel Lieberman, an emissary from West Hempstead, N.Y.
It opened with a video featuring Bassie Garelik, one of the earliest Chabad emissaries, sharing her experience moving to Milan, Italy, in 1959. At the time, she was asked how she could leave the warmth of a religious community for an unfamiliar environment where Jewish life was sparse. And wouldn’t her passion cool over time? Her response: A shlucha never leaves the fire. The mission itself keeps the flame alive.
“We wanted the evening to reflect that idea,” said Mushkie Zimmerman, an emissary in Oro Valley, Ariz., and a member of the conference organizing team. “A shliach doesn’t grow distant. The Rebbe’s mission keeps us connected, no matter where we are.”
The program continued with Tehillim (Psalms) led by Henya Milecki of Melbourne, Australia, and Nechama Greenberg of Oceanside, Calif., followed by a song composed for the occasion, performed by Didi Konikov of Englewood, N.J., and Miri Lipskier, also of Melbourne.
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, director of the conference, addressed the audience, speaking of the tremendous role of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn, whose anniversary of passing is marked at the annual event. “The Rebbetzin spoke of the nachas (‘joy’) she received hearing reports of shluchos activities around the world,” he said.
A video tribute honored the late Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, longtime chairman of the Kinus, highlighting his support of emissaries and their families. The evening was dedicated to his memory.
A panel discussion followed, featuring four women from diverse communities—Rivky Herzel (Zambia), Chana Mayer (Charlottesville, Va.), Zeldie Richter (Queens, N.Y.), and Rivka Slonim (Binghamton, N.Y.)—who shared personal reflections on how they strengthen their connection to the Rebbe’s teachings in their daily lives.
The evening concluded with an emotional medley of songs, reinforcing the core message: Wherever their mission takes them, they remain on fire, always connected to the Rebbe’s teachings and each other, carrying his vision forward.