Chaptzem Blog!      

In what's considered the largest Jewish gathering in North America, thousands of rabbis from 86 countries are in New York City for International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries. And this morning, they visited the gravesite of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.

 

Schneerson died on June 12, 1994 and he "is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century", as head of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

Chabad says this is a year of Hakhel, a time to promote Jewish unity (here's another explanation). At this weekend's conference, rabbis will discuss efforts to expand at college campuses and how to have more gatherings, to observe and study the Torah, through synagogues and organizations across the world.

 

If you happen to be near Chabad's headquarters (Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights) on Sunday morning, at 8:30 a.m., you'll see the 5,200 rabbis gathering for their "class picture." Later that night, they're having dinner and "spirited Hasidic dancing" in Sunset Park.