Lubavitch of Arkansas will host a conference Friday-June 5 in Little Rock for Chabad-Lubavitch representatives from 20 states. Delegates are expected from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Rabbi Pinchus Ciment, executive director of Lubavitch of Arkansas, said each delegate serves as a "shliach," meaning emissary in Hebrew, for each state. As such, they are ambassadors of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, and are to "bring light to their respective communities and states" and are tasked with sharing his principles -- love of fellow man, love of God and love of Torah.
The Chabad-Lubavitch movement has roots in the Hasidic movement of the 18th century and today has thousands of centers around the world. Arkansas is home to two such centers, one in Little Rock and the other in Rogers. The goal of the centers is to serve all Jews, regardless of differences in affiliation.
Ciment hopes that Chabad's focus on battling hopelessness will bring comfort to the nation as the delegates gather in Little Rock.
Religion on 05/28/2016