Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch
Encyclopedia
Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch is the central educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch
movement. Founded by the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, in 1943, the organization was initially directed by his son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
, who would later become the seventh Rebbe. Today Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky is Chairman and Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky serves as Vice Chairman.
One of the its most publicized divisions is the Merkos Shlichus division, which dispatches pairs of young rabbinical students, colloquially known as Roving Rabbis, to small and isolated Jewish communities around the world. A total of 400 students participate in the rabbinical summer visitation program, building Jewish awareness and spreading Torah knowledge. To date, the program has sent students to more than 150 countries.
. Cities in California
were added to the program in 1944, as were cities in the Southern United States
in 1945. By 1948, the summer program numbered 20 students and 100 American cities. Students were also sent to Jewish farmers residing throughout the Northeastern United States
, many of whom were European immigrants. The students were sent in pairs, usually one American student and one European-immigrant student.
In the early 1950s, the Rebbe added international destinations to the summer program, personally consulting maps and planning the itineraries.
Currently, 400 Roving Rabbis participate in the annual summer program. They distribute thousands of mezuzot
, other religious articles such as tefillin
and kosher food, and tens of thousands of Jewish information packets each year.
The students interact with both individuals and families. They often go door to door, teaching women how to light Shabbat candles
and showing men how to put on tefillin
for the first time. They speak about Jewish education, answer questions, and give bar mitzvah lessons.
Their visits are often anticipated by the local population. On their 2010 swing through the islands of Aruba
, Bonaire and Curaçao
, for example, the two Roving Rabbis were summoned to the office of Aruba Prime Minister Mike Eman
, who is Jewish. Eman spoke with them about Jewish heritage, listened as they blew the shofar
(it was the Hebrew month of Elul
, when the shofar is blown daily in synagogue
s), and donned a pair of tefillin. After completing their visit to the islands, the students returned to the Prime Minister's office so he could put on tefillin again, and he asked them to arrange for him to have his own pair of tefillin.
The Roving Rabbis share their experiences and communicate with each other on their own blog site.
Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Lubavitch is a Chasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism. One of the world's larger and best-known Chasidic movements, its official headquarters is in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York...
movement. Founded by the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, in 1943, the organization was initially directed by his son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
, who would later become the seventh Rebbe. Today Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky is Chairman and Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky serves as Vice Chairman.
One of the its most publicized divisions is the Merkos Shlichus division, which dispatches pairs of young rabbinical students, colloquially known as Roving Rabbis, to small and isolated Jewish communities around the world. A total of 400 students participate in the rabbinical summer visitation program, building Jewish awareness and spreading Torah knowledge. To date, the program has sent students to more than 150 countries.
Organizational structure
Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch has these divisions:- Central Chabad Lubavitch Library — home to 250,000 books and over 100,000 letters, artifacts and pictures
- Chabad.orgChabad.orgChabad.org is the flagship website of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. It serves not just its own members but Jews worldwide in general. It was one of the first Jewish internet sites and the first and largest virtual congregation.-History:...
— an online repository of Jewish knowledge and information that attracts one million users per year - Jewish Educational Media (JEM) — the broadcast and film production division of the Lubavitch movement, founded in 1980
- Jewish Learning InstituteJewish Learning InstituteThe Rohr Jewish Learning Institute is currently the largest provider of adult Jewish learning, offering courses on a wide range of topics at 325 chapters worldwide, with locations spanning six continents. Employing research-based instructional design, JLI aims to present Judaism in a manner that...
— provider of adult-education courses in hundreds of cities worldwide - Jewish Learning Network (Jnet) — a telephone study-partner program begun in 2005
- Kehot Publication SocietyKehot Publication SocietyKehot Publication Society and Merkos Publications, the publishing divisions of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, were established in 1942 by the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn...
and Merkos Publications — established in 1942, these publishing divisions have produced more than 100 million volumes in a dozen languages - Merkos Shlichus — the Rabbinical Student Visitation Program, which sends 400 "Roving Rabbis" to strengthen Jewish awareness in communities worldwide
- National Campus Office — coordinator of Chabad on Campus, a network of more than 100 Chabad Jewish Student Centers on university campuses worldwide, as well as regional Chabad-Lubavitch centers at an additional 150 universities worldwide
- National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education
- Office of Education — a guidance, training and service center for administrators, educators, students and parents of Chabad-Lubavitch educational institutions
- Shluchim Exchange — an online service founded in 2005 to facilitate communication among over 1,500 Chabad shluchim
- Shluchim Office — coordinator of Chabad's worldwide shaliachShaliach (Chabad)A Chabad shliach is a Chabad member sent out to promulgate Judaism and Chasidut around the world.Chabad shluchim as of 2010 number about 4,500 worldwide, and can be found in many of even the most remote worldly locales.-Origins:...
program
Roving Rabbis
The Rabbinical Student Visitation Program began in 1943, when Rabbi Schneerson dispatched the first pairs of students to ten cities in Upstate New YorkUpstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Cities in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
were added to the program in 1944, as were cities in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
in 1945. By 1948, the summer program numbered 20 students and 100 American cities. Students were also sent to Jewish farmers residing throughout the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
, many of whom were European immigrants. The students were sent in pairs, usually one American student and one European-immigrant student.
In the early 1950s, the Rebbe added international destinations to the summer program, personally consulting maps and planning the itineraries.
Currently, 400 Roving Rabbis participate in the annual summer program. They distribute thousands of mezuzot
Mezuzah
A mezuzah is usually a metal or wooden rectangular object that is fastened to a doorpost of a Jewish house. Inside it is a piece of parchment inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah...
, other religious articles such as tefillin
Tefillin
Tefillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form , it is loosely used as a singular as...
and kosher food, and tens of thousands of Jewish information packets each year.
The students interact with both individuals and families. They often go door to door, teaching women how to light Shabbat candles
Shabbat candles
Shabbat candles are candles lit on Friday nights, 18 minutes before sunset, to usher in the Jewish Sabbath.Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, but in the absence of a woman, it may be done by man...
and showing men how to put on tefillin
Tefillin
Tefillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form , it is loosely used as a singular as...
for the first time. They speak about Jewish education, answer questions, and give bar mitzvah lessons.
Their visits are often anticipated by the local population. On their 2010 swing through the islands of Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, Bonaire and Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, for example, the two Roving Rabbis were summoned to the office of Aruba Prime Minister Mike Eman
Mike Eman
Michiel Godfried "Mike" Eman is an Aruban politician who is the 5th Prime Minister of Aruba and the current leader of the Aruban People's Party , which holds the new majority in the Aruban Estates as a result of the seventh Aruban General Elections held on 25 September 2009...
, who is Jewish. Eman spoke with them about Jewish heritage, listened as they blew the shofar
Shofar
A shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
(it was the Hebrew month of Elul
Elul
Elul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days...
, when the shofar is blown daily in synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s), and donned a pair of tefillin. After completing their visit to the islands, the students returned to the Prime Minister's office so he could put on tefillin again, and he asked them to arrange for him to have his own pair of tefillin.
The Roving Rabbis share their experiences and communicate with each other on their own blog site.