How Coaching Helps Shluchim Thrive

By Shayki Rotenberg

A Shliach who needed guidance on a bureaucratic matter and didn’t know where to start, another Shliach who didn’t know how to begin to find Jews in his area, and yet another Shliach who wanted to understand the best way to start and develop a new project he initiated in honor of the Rebbe’s birthday.

Then I remembered the story of Avremi (a fictitious name).

One day, I received a call from an unknown number, and on the line was Avremi: “Hello, I got your number from Rabbi — (a Shliach that I have worked with), and he recommended I reach out to you. My dream has always been to go out on Shlichus, but as things turned out, my wife and I have been living since our wedding in one of the Chabad communities in the U.S., close to our family, and here we raised our children.

Now, finally, the opportunity has come for us to go out on Shlichus in a different state. The issue is, I don’t know where to start: how do we do it? What do we do? Do we just run in the streets and ask people if they want to put on Tefillin? There are tens of thousands of homes in our city! I tried contacting some of my friends who have been Shluchim for many years, but they’re too busy to help or guide me at every step. On top of that, I’m moving with my whole family, not just my wife and our little Mendy.”

I reassured him and said, “Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place – we’ll find a path that suits your needs and capabilities.”

We scheduled our first session to begin the process. I got a clear picture of the family’s current lifestyle and routines, and what would need to be adjusted for their new life on Shlichus. I understood what he hoped to accomplish on Shlichus and what resources were available to him in every possible area.

Together, in a series of sessions, we developed an action plan with short-term and long-term goals. We examined all the ways to find Jews in his area, what programs and events to create, and ensured that the transition would happen smoothly and the best possible way for the family. We made sure all the systems and forms would be ready on time and wouldn’t surprise anyone down the road. And three months before Tishrei, the family moved to their Makom haShlichus!

Thanks to the pre-established action plan and the clear goals set, in the three months leading up to the holidays, enough Jews joined the growing community so that there was already a minyan for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur! The congregation also received a well-organized plan for the upcoming year in terms of classes and community gatherings.

My coaching with Avremi continues today. We meet weekly to ensure that the Chabad House is growing and that the activities are expanding from strength to strength.

This story is not a one-time success – it could be the story of any Shliach who is open to receiving professional external help and not only relying on “my own strength and might.”

This should not only be seen as asking for help in times of crisis, Coaching can be used as a tool to grow, expand, and flourish your existing Chabad house or Mosad.

Wishing all the Shluchim a great year of growth and improvement in all areas.

–Shayki Rotenberg is a certified life & executive coach for Shluchim and nonprofits. He can be reached at rootz1coaching@gmail.com, +1-612-666-9327 and and rootz1.com