As thousands of Shluchim prepare to gather in Crown Heights for the international Kinus Hashluchim, Chabad Young Professionals (CYP) is marking another milestone in its rapid global expansion, with 18 new communities joining its international network in recent months. Full Story As thousands of Shluchim prepare to gather in Crown Heights for the international Kinus Hashluchim, Chabad Young Professionals (CYP) is marking another milestone in its rapid global expansion, with 18 new communities joining its international network in recent months. One of the fastest growing Shlichus frontiers continues to gain momentum. Chabad Young Professionals (CYP), a division of Merkos 302, has grown into a global network of more than 350 centers on six continents, dedicated to engaging Jewish youth in their 20s and 30s. The new communities reflect the growing demand for a meaningful Jewish connection among young professionals around the world. From international cities such as Munich, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Lyon and Marseille, France, to growing communities across the United States, including Fort Wayne, Indiana; Des Moines, Iowa; El Paso, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida, Shluchim are opening new CYP chapters at a rapid pace. New chapters have also opened in Panama City, Panama, and Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. What began in 2014 with a handful of pioneering Shluchim has grown into a global network that is helping to shape Jewish life for an entire generation. “The Rebbe’s model is unique because it puts Shluchim on the front line,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “They see Jewish life as it develops and they respond. When young professionals were being overlooked, Shluchim recognized the need and built CYP, which has since become the fastest-growing frontier in Shlichus.” The need is clear. Young professionals are in a decisive stage of life: they start careers, choose life partners and begin to form families. These are the years in which decisions shape not only the individual future but also the future of the Jewish people. By welcoming them with warmth, authenticity, and vision, CYP Shluchim is creating communities where Yiddishkeit is lived with pride and joy. “Young professionals are not just looking for programming; they are looking for leadership,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, director of CYP International at Merkos 302. “The beauty of CYP is that young professionals partner with their Shlichim to build communities from the bottom up. It’s a grassroots model, exactly the way the Rebbe envisioned Shlichus.” The growing desire for Jewish connection and community is also evident in the overwhelming response to the upcoming CYP Gathering in Crown Heights, which will take place January 15-17, 2027 (7-9 Shevat). Registration for the international Shabaton has already tripled the numbers from last year’s opening week, reflecting the enthusiasm of young Jewish professionals eager to connect with the broader Jewish community. “What we are seeing is that young Jewish professionals are actively seeking a community they can call home,” said Rabbi Nissi Lepkivker, deputy director of CYP International at Merkos 302. “The incredible response to this year’s CYP Gathering is just one example of that. These young Jews want to be connected, they want to belong, and they want to be part of something bigger. of a Jewish community.” CYP Encounter brings together young professionals from around the world, allowing them to experience the strength of a global Jewish community while deepening the connections they have built with their local Shluchim. Another important dimension of CYP’s impact is Met@Chabad, a dating initiative led by Shluchim. Around the world, they serve as dating coaches, matchmakers and mentors, host select Encounter shabatons, offer CYP Academy Torah-based relationship courses, and guide young Jews toward building meaningful relationships and Jewish homes. Inspired by the Rebbe’s call to build lasting Jewish homes, Met@Chabad provides Shluchim with tools, trained shadchanim, a values-based matching algorithm, and a global network to help young Jews navigate dating with purpose and direction. Along with the many established areas of shlichut, CYP’s expansion reflects the tremendous opportunity to reach young Jews at one of the most influential stages of their lives, when decisions about identity, relationships, and community can shape their future for decades to come. As Shluchim from around the world prepare to gather for the Kinus Hashluchim, the continued growth of CYP highlights both the growing demand from young professional communities and the dedication of Shluchim stepping up to meet that need. From major international cities to smaller Jewish communities, the message is unmistakable: young Jewish professionals are seeking connection, meaning and a community they can call home. With more Shlichim recognizing this opportunity and joining the CYP network, the next chapter of this rapidly growing Shlichus frontier is already underway. Shluchim interested in launching a CYP community in their city can contact by email at [email protected] or via WhatsApp https://wa.link/d5te0l for more information.
