This is the final installment of a four-part IllumiNations series featuring Rabbi Shlomo and Soshi Litvin of Chabad of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. In this closing chapter, Rabbi Litvin shares how Hashem guided their shlichus through unexpected moments: a $10,000 donation arriving just in time for Tishrei, missing lulavim finding their way through a radio-show caller, online Torah classes leading “Ruth” to discover her Jewish identity and grow into Shabbos, kashrus, seminary, and marriage, and a fallen Pesach tent turning into a powe
This week’s IllumiNations — Issue 230, Parshas Naso 5786 features Rabbi Shlomo and Soshi Litvin of Chabad of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. The issue shares several powerful moments from Rabbi Litvin’s shlichus in Kentucky. He helped pass a law protecting Jewish burial for unclaimed bodies, pushed forward the Rebbe’s Moment of Silence campaign, and turned a rushed trip to the Kentucky Capitol into a chain of hashgacha pratis that led to a menorah lighting in Ashland, tefillin for a Jewish judge, and later tefillin for Jo
This week’s IllumiNations features Rabbi Shlomo and Soshi Litvin of Chabad of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. What began with one mezuzah request from a Jewish student grew into a thriving Chabad House, a major campus presence, and eventually statewide impact. From comforting a Jew in his final moments, to building a Chabad House against the odds, to helping bring the Rebbe’s Moment of Silence initiative into Kentucky public schools, this story shows how one act of shlichus can ripple far beyond what anyone expects. A powerful rem
This week’s IllumiNations shares Part II of the story of CGI Poconos and the life-changing impact of Jewish summer camp. Girls from all kinds of backgrounds came to camp and discovered a warm, joyful, living Yiddishkeit. Through Shabbos, counselors, friendships, mitzvos, and real belonging, many began taking small steps that changed their lives — and often their families too. The message is powerful: one summer, one counselor, one Shabbos experience, or one mitzvah can ignite a spark that lasts a lifetime.
Rabbi Shmuli and Dvorah Leah Michaan, Chabad Young Professionals, Vienna, Austria New Beginnings in Vienna By: Chaya Chazan I grew up on shlichus in Brazil, and my wife helped her parents at their Zurich Chabad house in Switzerland, so shlichus was a foregone conclusion for us. We got married in the chaos of 2020, so it took a while for things to settle down enough to begin our search. We researched a few options, but nothing seemed to work out. We were blessed with a son, and we continued planning our next steps. M
Rabbi Shneor and Chanie Fagan, Chabad Israeli Center, Phoenix, Arizona Starting from Scratch By: Chaya Chazan People often consider starting a new shlichus as the exclusive purview of the young. We beg to differ. We got married in 2009, and settled in Crown Heights while searching for shlichus. When we welcomed a healthy baby boy a year later, we were sure our lives would continue to follow a predictable pattern. We never gave up on our dream to open a Chabad house, and continued to research options. Ou
Rabbi Mendel and Chani Leiberow, Chabad South County, Morgan Hill, California On the Cutting Edge of Shlichus By: Chaya Chazan Although both my wife and I grew up in large Jewish communities, shlichus was a recurring theme and a strong influence throughout our childhoods. I remember, as a first grader, when my principal asked our class what we wanted to be when we grew up. Rather than the expected answers of “policeman” or “fireman,” I, along with many of my classmates, proudly a
Rabbi Mendel and Nechama Danow, Chabad of Pensacola, Florida The Diamonds of the Emerald Coast By: Chaya Chazan My wife and I are both children of shluchim, and our parents taught us just how dedicated we’d need to be to get the job done. I grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden, and my wife was born in Rosh Pina, Israel. For various reasons, both of our parents moved to different cities and began their shlichus anew. My parents now run one of the largest Jewish university student centers in Europe, in Lee
Rabbi Menachem and Chanie Gruzman, Chabad of Salzburg, Austria Shlichus on Salzburg’s Ski Slopes By: Chaya Chazan For most people, moving to Austria would be considered a “challenging” shlichus. But for me, as a born and bred Viennese shliach, it was the most natural thing in the world. In fact, it felt so natural, I had to be convinced into it, as I was looking for something a little less familiar. In the end, we decided it would be a good fit for us. Unlike most of the continent, Sal
Rabbi Yossi and Shternie Lew, Chabad of Peachtree City, GA Everything is Peachy By: Chaya Chazan Our shlichus “story” was a series of twists and turns spanning many years and three different states. It exemplifies what the life of a shliach is truly about - doing what needs to be done, when and where ever needed. We started off in Long Island as a young married couple, when Chabad in the area was just getting started. After a while, we moved onto the school in New Haven, Connecticut. A few m
