This year’s International Kinus Hashluchim will feature a full-day summit aimed at enhancing senior engagement within Jewish communities worldwide. Spearheaded by Chabad on Call at Merkos 302, the summit aims to address the needs and potentials of elderly community members.
Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of Chabad on Call and director of the International Conference of Shluchim, explains that the summit draws directly from the Rebbe’s teachings on the value and wisdom of the elderly. “The Rebbe taught us to revere the elderly for their life experiences and wisdom. This summit is our proactive approach to translating that respect into practical, compassionate action,” he says.
At the full-day program, Rabbi Levi Levertov of Downtown Phoenix, AZ, and Rabbi Ari Kievman of Sandton, SA will discuss effective outreach strategies for seniors in various living situations. Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz of West Orange, NJ, who helped shape the summit’s content, will moderate this first session of the day.
As a young Shliach, Rabbi Kasowitz unexpectedly landed a role that shaped his shlichus with seniors for years to come. “Rabbi Yisroel Gordon OBM used to teach a weekly class to seniors at the local JCC,” he recounts. “One week he asked me to cover for him, claiming he’d be out of town, then he showed up to watch, and once satisfied I did a good job, informed me with a grin that the shiur was my responsibility from now on.”
This led to starting a global initiative where shluchim match seniors with volunteers from their community, ensuring the elderly feel part of the community too. Eager to share tips and tricks from his experience, Rabbi Kasowitz says “Every Shliach has some connection with at least one or two seniors. Whether once a year on Chanuka, or the parents of their right-hand man who moved to town to be nearer their kids. Rather than reinvent the wheel, this summit will lay out the best way to maximize those connections, ensuring every elderly community member feels welcomed and included.”
Further sessions will explore creating meaningful volunteer experiences for community members of all ages. Rabbi Yosef Orenstein of Woodcliff Lake and Rabbi Shimon Partouche of Montreal, along with Rabbi Mendel Shemtov of West Bloomfield, will share insights on mobilizing volunteers to expand community outreach. They emphasize that seniors are not just recipients of care but are integral community members who contribute significantly to the community’s spirit and resilience.
An introductory session on chaplaincy will be led by Rabbi Yonason Meadows, BCC, MSW, Manager of Clinical Pastoral Education Midwest Region and Educator for Chabad On Call’s in-depth ACPE accreditated Chaplain course. Moderated by Rabbis Hillel Baron of Columbia and Sholom Freundlich of New York, the session will provide training in emotional and spiritual support, crucial for effectively supporting seniors in their later stages of life.
“Together with the content of the sessions, the true power of the Kinus Hashluchim lies in the communal spirit of the Kinus,” says Mrs. Chani Goldberg, Director of Chabad on Call at Merkos 302. “Whether seniors are a key focus of one’s Shlichus or not, this summit allows Shluchim to connect with others who face similar situations and collaborate on ideas throughout the year.”
The summit includes something for every Shliach and is sure to boost the engagement of Jewish seniors worldwide.
The Wellness Summit will be taking place on Thursday, Ulam Chana from 11:30 AM- 6:00 PM
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An underemphasized population