By COLlive reporter
When planning a sit-down dinner for over 4,500 people that fly in for the elegant event from around the globe, many factors need to be taken into consideration.
A superstorm is not regularly one of them.
Organizers of the Kinus Hashluchim, the annual International convention of Chabad Shluchim, are scrambling to find a new location for the gala banquet scheduled for Sunday, Nov 11.
The Sandy storm of last week left the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn’s Red Hook area out of commission, leaving the area flooded with waters, growing mold and power outages.
When the storm broke out Monday, Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky estimated that it won’t be hard to have the warehouse cleaned up for the highly-anticipated event of Chabad, which many follow online via live feed.
But on Friday, organizers of the Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch were already looking for alternative locations.
One option would be one of the hotels used in the past for the banquet, but neither of them would be able to hold in one room the crowd that grows from year to year.
On Sunday, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who heads the organizing committee, is expected to continue with his efforts to find a proper and resourceful solution.
UPDATE:
COLlive.com has been told that the gala banquet of the 5773 Kinus Hashluchim will be held in Hilton New York hotel in Manhattan, located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas.
The 47-floor building located on the northwest edge of Rockefeller Center is the largest hotel in New York City and has hosted the Kinus banquet in the past, as well as the annual dinners of Collel Chabad charity.
According to Hilton, their Grand Ballroom Suite on the third floor can hold 2,800 people in a banquet or reception setting (or 3,300 in a teather set up).
The Kinus is most likely to be using that hall to capacity and spreading out the rest of the guests in other available setting, joining the main program via live feed.
The Rhinelander Gallery on the second floor can hold 1,247 people. On the third floor they have the East Ballroom for 930 people and West Ballroom for 520.
UPDATE (Sunday 2:46 AM):
RabbI Moshe Kotlarsky sent out the following to Shluchim worldwide (a copy was also sent to COLlive):
As the Kinus Hashluchim rapidly approaches, we are pleased to report that despite many challenges we encountered due to the recent Hurricane, the Kinus programs and sessions are all on course for what promises to be an inspiring and uplifting Kinus, B’Ezras Hashem.
We are deeply pained by the hardships our fellow shluchim and their communities are enduring due to the events of last week, and we are doing our utmost to assist them in their time of need.
We are certain that the Rebbe would want the Kinus to resume and be held as planned on Shabbos Mevorchim HaChodesh Kislev.
However, after ongoing discussions with the Port Authority and the tireless efforts of our staff to overcome the logistical, environmental and labor challenges to enable the Kinus banquet to take place as scheduled at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, we were informed Friday afternoon that the Terminal will not be available. We understood and readily accepted their notification due to it being requisitioned to dock government and medical relief vessels servicing the heavily afflicted Red-Hook, Staten Island and other nearby areas.
With few alternative options available large enough to accommodate the growing number of banquet participants, Boruch Hashem we were able to secure the New York Hilton, New York City’s largest ballroom. Along with its main ballroom and two adjacent ballrooms, the Hilton can comfortably accommodate the 4600 shluchim and their guests. We anticipate featuring segments of the program from each of the ballrooms, with live and ongoing video linkage throughout.
We hereby ask for your understanding and cooperation. Should you be attending the banquet without your Baalei Batim and are willing to volunteer and join with other chaveirim in taking a seat in one of the satellite ballrooms, please reply to this email or kindly login to your kinus registration page and note your choice and your seating preference.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation and look forward to welcoming you this week to a most successful and enjoyable Kinus and Hisvaadus Chaveirim with our brethren shluchim from around the world.
I too am a child of shluchim – the difference is that I can spell and think beyond the bubble.
63 – please write English
64 – the Rebbe is not “the boss” he is the Rebbe
Shluchim who can’t afford to come in to the kinus can watch the banquet live over tr Internet
From JFK You could take the B15 to New lots then transfer to #3 train, from LGA take a city bus to Manhttan then take #3 train for only $2
better yet, for the shluchim that have yet to buy a ticket, fly into Connecticut, rent a car there, fill her up and gas problem solved.
Even better, just don’t rent a car and take a taxi.
Even better, Perhaps There should be an entrepenuer who will take a school bus to lga and jfk throughout Thursday & fri morning and make a few bucks shuttling the shluchim to Crown Heights. Everyone wins that way. (Taxis are charging top dollar because it’s impossible for them to get gas.)
Any one coming in for the kinus should be prepared for the gas problem we are currently experiencing in New York. Makes it hard to get in from the airport and get around etc.. Hopefully it will be better by the end of the week but in case its not, make sure you have a plan.
Has anyone thought of writing to the Rebbe via Igros kodesh? The opinions here are just each person’s opinion. Try consulting the Boss.
Gala banquet mos problably that is sponsor by a few donors(maybe 1 or 2) ,plus maybe close to 200 k coming from the balebatim from the $360 seats
Iow it’s not an extra expense
It doesn’t make sense to cancell it for any reason ,specially when
Financially It doesn’t make any difference to cancell it
Shluchim should all vote about this kinus:
a) Ignore as if Sandy never happened.
b) Acknowledge it happened and pay tribute but keep the kinus program as it was.
c) scale back the kinus to show we care about others who are suffering.
d) postpone the kinus till after the State of Emergency ends.
e) cancel the kinus and let the media know why it was cancelled.
Oh, so the kinus is all about bringing dollars to the CH economy and supporting the merchants…I did not know that. Can I just send my donation to the storekeeper and that will keep the farmers happy?
i couldnt stop laughing my sister was scared
You are welcome to bring along with you your own hot dog for yourself in your scaled down accessory (empire kosher bag or whatever it is). I will gladly eat whatever they serve and knowing that Rabbi Kotlarsky is a classy, caring, down-to-earth guy, I know they will serve an elegant meal to the thousands of shluchim and the hundreds of lay leaders/ guests. One last request, please don’t come clad in ashes and sack cloths. Mourning is good, but everything is good in moderation. Please don’t misunderstand, Sandy was indeed a horrible tragedy and we mourn greatly, it’s certainly… Read more »
The Media will be watching, it should be a theme about the latest crisis.
http://col.org.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%97%D7%91%D7%93_%D7%94%D7%91%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%A7%D7%98_%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%9E%D7%A1_2_15668.html
Galleries of pictures from last time the kinus was at the Hilton:
http://col.org.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%97%D7%91%D7%93_%D7%94%D7%91%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%A7%D7%A2%D7%98_%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%9E%D7%A1_3_15669.html
http://col.org.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%97%D7%91%D7%93_%D7%94%D7%91%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%A7%D7%98_%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%9E%D7%A1_2_15668.html
http://col.org.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%97%D7%91%D7%93_%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9C_%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%99%D7%96%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9F_%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%A2%D7%9D_%D7%92%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D_15665.html
With all the arguments, why have the Kinus at all let Reb Moshe sit in his office with R Krinsky and we will all watch it live on COL let him do the R. Call there. I think we should have the kinus, let us spend the money and more and the same time give every Shliach who have lost everything, the Shliach should give a list of things to R Krinsky and to R Kartlarsky of what they lost and they should be given everything they need. The best Chizuk you can give a person is to be there… Read more »
Me too! I already booked my tickets and so have my balei batim. The show must go on, but scale down the food and accessories. Keep it simple and plain in deference to the Natural Disaster. Skip the rib steak and serve plain hot dogs. Serve loads of ruchniyus instead of gashmiyus!! We will leave the kinus with our neshomos satisfied and sated.
As a shlucha i would be very upset if the kinus was cancelled (especially when people have already booked tickets etc) but i would be understanding if there was a scaled down banquet. And my husband agrees.
merkos is asking shluchim to volunteer to sit in the smaller rooms.
who rely on the business of the shluchim that the banquet is canceled, see how fast they will support such a move.
Bottom line CH needs the revenue from the kinus and the without a banquet you dont have the kinus
In a Disaster Area, where people lost so much and have not yet recovered, there is a concept of: I am with him, עמו אנכי immo anochi; as soon as the trouble comes, I are there. Imagine if in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina a group of l’havdil church ministers would have a lavish convention for 3000 members in the devastated city. Imagine the fall out from the bad publicity! Imagine how we would criticize their callous actions… Well, imagine no longer, that is us having a convention! Before we hire spin doctors to fix the bad publicity, maybe… Read more »
as a shlucha who lives far away, you have no idea what it means to sit at the banquet once ayear with other shluchos,this event is not just a party ,it gives energy to go back and to continue with that you face for the next year. And for the balebatim who come it is so important to be treated well after all the support that they have given the whole year
just leave 2 lanes open for traffic on the other side.
why are you posting here, this site is just a news site. Contact the kinus office, they will for sure help you. also, if you read the letter, kinus asked for ppl coming without balabtiim who would agree to sit in a side room.
having grown up on shlichus all my life i can attest to the fact that shluchim and bnei shluchim sacrifice their lives for the rebbes peulos. so to have the audasity to say while sitting comfortably by ur desktop in a nice frum community, that they (the shluchim) can push it off until next year,or that maybe THEY and not YOU (because theyr’e shluchim and thats their job) should help out with the relief efforts is a spit in the face to us all who sacrafice our lives on a daily basis for the rebbe, and for world jewry.
Do you relise how much money is dropped into your local economy over the weekend?
Every single theatre and entertainment facility in Manhattan has already reopened (besides Carnegie Hall which can’t reopen until they address the dangerous dangling crane). The city is buzzing with excitement already. The hotels have been receiving lots of cancellations from tourists and thus lots of tourism revenue (theaters, bars, restaurants etc.) has been lost. They are trying to signal to tourists with reservations to board the planes because the businesses need the business. Ask the owner of the new smoothie shop on Kingston if he wants the kinus weekend canceled or scaled down. I think you know the answer. New… Read more »
so cancelled
i understand is achizuk for everyone
but @ this time is in a bad taste to do someting GLORIOUS ve chulu vechulu!!
Maybe all the Shluchim K’Y and their baale batim sit together in the main big ballroom. Any extra space (if there is) goes to parents and other guests. This gives the shluchim the together feeling which is very important. The others can watch it on a screen from a different area.
Hatzlocha Rabbah to all!
The hundreds of thousands of dollars should not be spent on the banquet.
THIS SHOULD go to help shluchim and others who do not have food, shelter, electricity, etc.
THIS IS the right thing to do.
Why can’t there be a Kinnus in 770 or Oholey Torah Ball room for those who can really afford it and the rest can watch via skype ????
Remember in 5752 the Rebbe MH”M instructed that the shluchim that come should be reimbursed !!!
Just a thought
Nachman Sanowicz
Dunno I admit this one is a confusing issue.
On the one hand the rebbe wud have def gone thru with it.
On the other hand I totally understand the arguments about so many others including shluchim that are having a tough time now.
Both arguments are full of merit.
Tough call!
I am a Shliach from Europe. I spoke to many of my fellow Shluchim we are all ready to sit at a banquet in 770 with a hook up from The main event
NO ONE IS SAYING THEY DONT DESERVE A BIG BANQUET AND TO REAP THE BENEFITS AND CHAYOS THIS GIVES THEM FOR THE YEAR. IN CONSIDERATION OF THE LAST WEEKS EVENTS AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WER EFFECTED – ESPECIALLY SHLUCHIM, MAYBE DO A BANQUET A LITTLE SMALLER AND PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS REBUILDING THESE SHLUCHIMS HOMES. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL EVENT BOTH FOR SHLUCHIM AND BAALEI BATIM BUT EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND IF IT GETS DOWNSIZED A BIT. A LITTLE BIT OF SECHEL AND MENTSHLICHKEIT IS IN ORDER HERE….
Have the shluchim gather in smaller venues around the world in their own countries so as not to place an undue burden on the infrastructure of New York at this time. Have a satellite hook-up of all the events. The money that would have been spent to reserve a large venue with all its attendant catering, transportation, lodging, etc. should be given away to relief efforts for families that have lost their homes!
To all people writing that it is in bad taste to throw a party at this time… This isn’t a halloween party. This is an event to celebrate the sacrifice for communities around the world. Thousands of Shluchim sacrifice so much throughout the year to serve their communities around the globe, and the kinus serves as the event that reinvigorates them and equips them with the moral to go on for yet another year of service and sacrifice. It’s not an entertainment venue or a fundraiser. It’s the gas that keeps heros going for another year. The shluchim would be… Read more »
1) this is next week sunday, by then you can expect power etc, you cant morn forever
2) this isnt running through towns that are raridged
3) this isnt using up police and other resources that would otherwise be used for relief
4) this is a program empowering leadership, very useful at this time, it’s not a race.
Thanks to Merkos staff for working their backs off for us.
I am bringing a baal habos to kinus and it’s really important to me to bring him into the main ballroom so he can gain an appreciation for the event, in a way that is much deeper than being in a secondary ballroom with less than 1,000 shluchim, is it possible to give priority to those who are bringing along baal habatim in order that we can save face? It seems so selfish, but I placed so much koichos in getting baal habos to attend… And, nor I nor he is mega rich and we can’t afford expensive seating upgrades…
Nisim vinoflos !!! The rebbe is watching over u guys because u do things limala miderech hateva!!!
Crown st chosid!!!
It must be too small they held the women’s there. Few years ago
The rebbe wanted it that why it Shld be done.
You can’t deny that a large part of the kinus and the banquet in particular with all the donors is big PR, and holding the banquet at this time is NOT good PR. This may sound harsh to the true believers here, but the world does not care what the Rebbe might have wanted – I say might because I find it incredibly pretentious to put words in the Rebbe’s mouth. Would the Rebbe have wanted the banquet to become what it is today? The world sees a lavish banquet going on minutes away from total destruction and misery.
A couple of years ago the kinuss was held in Crown Heights, where the Rebbe wanted it to be held,On 21st Kislev last year
Satmar held their Gala event in an army hanger in Crown Heights, why couldnt`t the organizers follow suit.
They give 365/24. This one night is for them – they deserve it.
Don’t cancel – just increase.
The real thinking is never in shelili – negative – cancellation etc. The thinking is how, even with the kinus and the banquet we galvanize shluchim/bal habatim to be seen to be doing something special as part of a relief effort. That’s what we in Chabad do best! I am sure it will be mentioned and I am sure it will generate some kind of innovative response. That’s how we do it – and that’s what we do so right.
the Rebbe MHM would not have this cancelled. it is not okay to cancel such an event!
The banquet will create hundreds of short term jobs, many from the frum community, photographers, waiters, food delivery, the list goes on
And unlike the marathon, it doesn’t take place in all 5 boroughs and doesn’t require hundreds of police to
Protect it
Is it right to be spending these huge amounts of money at such a time for a huge gala banquet , when 100’s out there , including OUR own shluchim have lost so much, due to the hurricane; some have even lost their homes as we all know. . . maybe its time to re think????
A shliach!
Those who are advocating c’v diminishing the size and scope of the kinnus are, please forgive me, thinking pretty narrowly. This is the International Kinnus HaShluchim. While the “rest of the world” have seen the pictures of the horrible devastation r’l, and are sympathetic, they have also already moved on, or will by Tuesday when there is an election. Shluchim and thier Balay Batim have planned on this Kinnus for months and months. They need it, they deserve it, let them have it. Think a little (or a lot) bigger. Have you considered whether the Rebbe would agree to have… Read more »
The Rebbe’s perspective was always maalin bakodesh and even in times of disaster not to stop good things. How many shluchim organised Shabbos meals when their own homes were destroyed? They didnt say “lets get out of here!”
Omg! Take a deep breath!
Just like how having the marathon would have been in very poor taste, so is throwing a big elegant banquet. I personally know at least 10 Jewish families (and unfortunately I imagine that there are many, many more) who have lost everything. Why not turn this into a major Chabad project, where shluchim and others do what they do best and help these people? CH’ers can join them and we can make a gigantic kiddush Lubavitch!!! What would the Rebbe really want…everyone dining in Manhattan, or helping Jews (and others) in desperate need??
Oh boy! Seriously???
it is in very bad taste to have the kinus now.the money that this kinus would cost could be better used towards helping the shluchim who lost everything rebuild their chabad houses!
the citi field stadium will do and we can bring in the whole c.h to fill it up
Wouldn’t it be distasteful to hold a gala banquet at this time? Hundreds of thousands of people have lost everything. Perhaps instead of the banquet the shluchim can spend a few hours visiting the displaced, suffering people and offer them encouragement and hope.
Major components of center
410,000 s/f Upper Exhibition Hall
250,000 s/f Lower Exhibition Hall
100,000 s/f Special Events Hall (seating capacity 3,800)
If it’s available, I haven’t a clue. If it’s affordable, I get scared just imagining cost of kinus shabbos meal/ farbrengen!
there is a game there on nov 11
its not right that in such a time make a big party for out of towner put the banquet for next time save the money for those who need it and say its donation from chabad.
Bracley center!
Tones of money is needed just for the Shluchim that were hit by SANDY, להבדיל he marathon is canceled. Perhaps part of the money for this huge banquet should go to the relief and find a simple alternative?
MOSHIACH NOW!
No tables just seats and have a buffet meal
in the bais hamikdosh!
the new Barclays center. right near crown heights
Madison square garden?
Even if they put up tents in say, Floyd Bennett Field, where will they get generators? This may be sacreligious, but perhaps this year they should just abandon the en masse banquet and have Shluchim gather at smaller locations & watch the activities from main location on big screens. Those who registered early will get to be at the main location. What can you do? We’re in the middle of a disaster and if we get this storm they’re saying may hit on Wednesday, my kids won’t be able to fly in anyway. 🙁
Maybe set up in the MetLife stadium?
Put up a mega tent in front of 770.
Eastern pkwy gets used for all kinds of events.
Thats’ the way it really should be in the first place.
“kan tzivah hashem es habracha”