By COLlive reporter
The Kinus Hashluchim of the Holy Land held this past week in the Nir Etzion Hotel in northern Israel began on a somber note following the deadly crush that killed 45 people and injured 150 more while celebrating Lag BaOmer in Meron.
Meron Shliach Rabbi Yossi Halperin spoke with pain about the tragedy which has brought pain and suffering to many families and the Jewish world as a whole. He spoke of the efforts being made to bring comfort and positivity to families.
Along with that, the gathering itself provided a ray of hope as it was the first large gathering of Chabad Shluchim in Israel since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic which prevented such large-scale events.
Over the past year, annual gatherings such as the International Kinus Hashluchim in New York were shifted to virtual settings over Zoom and even WhatsApp discussions.
As many receive vaccinations from Pfizer, Moderna and other firms, health guidelines have been lifted in Israel, the United States and other counties. Global travel is bouncing back as well.
An indication of resuming regular activities in the USA is the Western Regional Kinus bringing together Shluchim from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
The in-person Kinus is being hosted by Shluchim Rabbi Sholom Ber and Blumah Wineberg in Overland Park / Leawood in Kansas and includes shiurim, farbrengens and discussions.
In related news, Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar notified that the upcoming Kinus Hashluchim of the Former Soviet Union will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This move signals the region’s bounce-back from the pandemic and also the recent achdus deal reached between Rabbi Lazar and Kazakhstan’s Head Shliach and Chief Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen.
The Kinus will be taking place on Chof Av, yartzeit of Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson OBM, the father of the Rebbe whose Ohel is in Kazakhstan.
Very proud of the Shluchim!