VIDEOS & PHOTOS: The International Conference Of Shluchim 5772-2011

[MULTIPLE VIDEOS & HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS POSTED BELOW]

A warehouse at Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Pier 12 erupted in dance Sunday night as approximately 4,500 people got on their feet, locked arms, and circled around the giant room to the rhythmic chords of traditional Chasidic melodies.

Coming just after the traditional roll call portion of the gala banquet of the 28th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, the dancing included everyone, from Chabad House directors from Asia to Torah teachers from Europe to billionaire philanthropists.

All told, emissaries and their supporters came to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal from 76 countries, demonstrating a Jewish unity that transcends national boundaries.

“The whole point of the conference is to bring emissaries and their supporters from around the world together in one place so that we can inspire each other and derive the strength to inspire those around us,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, conference director and vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch. “The work of countless people, emissaries and conference committees always awes us.”

Making the guest list of the banquet session were a number of well-known Jewish leaders who joined Chabad representatives. They listened intently as UK Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks talked about the lessons he took from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

The banquet dinner for 4,600 came at the end of a 5-day conference that brought Chabad emissaries from the far-flung parts of the globe together at Lubavitch Headquarters. A rare opportunity for them to draw more energy and inspiration for their life’s work, they spend a good part of the Conference sharing heart-to-heart conversations. For many, especially those in distant places where Jewish life is thin, loneliness is a constant. Fundraising pressures are another constant. And the Jewish education of their own children is still another hurdle.

That others take them for granted is a sign of their great success. But for Shluchim, it is only by living mindfully, always conscious and conscientious of their mission—to reach out in love to the Jewish people—that they feel empowered to continue despite the difficulties.

Leading the conference, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Lubavitch Headquarters explained this year’s conference theme “Es geht a Chossid.” Difficult to translate from the Yiddish, the idea is that one can identify a Chabad emissary by something as mundane as their “walk.”

It’s that carriage that exudes confidence and purposefulness, and a perpetual awareness that there’s yet more, so much more still to do. For those who remember, it’s a walk not unlike the steady, quick clip of the Rebbe’s gait.

“We will never manage to do it fully, but we will do our best to walk as he walked,” said Rabbi Sacks in his closing comments, urging his listeners to embrace Jewish leadership as the Rebbe did, by creating others who will lead, and by recognizing that despite Chabad’s great achievements in transforming Jewish life, the work is far from completed.

“In the silence of our souls we can hear what the Rebbe would be saying to us now: ‘You think you’ve done enough? There is always more of the mountain to climb.’”

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