Before Kinus, 18 new communities join the fastest growing Shlichus

As thousands of Shluchim prepare to gather in Crown Heights for the international Kinus Hashluchim, Chabad Young Professionals (CYP) marks another milestone in its rapid global expansion, with 18 new communities joining its international network in recent months.

One of the fastest growing borders of Shlichus continues to gain momentum. Chabad Young Professionals (CYP), a division of Merkos 302, has grown into a global network of more than 350 centers across six continents, dedicated to engaging young Jews in their 20s and 30s.

The new communities reflect the growing demand for meaningful Jewish connections among young professionals around the world.

From international cities like Munich, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Lyon and Marseille, France, to growing communities across the United States, including Fort Wayne, Indiana; Des Moines, IA; El Paso, TX; and Jacksonville, Fla., Shluchim are opening new CYP chapters at a rapid pace. New chapters were also opened in Panama City, Panama and in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
What began in 2014 with a handful of pioneering Shluchim has grown into a global network helping to shape Jewish life for an entire generation.

“The Rebbe’s model is unique because it puts Shluchim on the front lines,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “They see Jewish life as it is developing and they respond. When young professionals were 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 at a defining stage in their lives: they are launching their careers, choosing their life partner and starting to start a family. These are the years when decisions shape not only the individual future but also that of the Jewish people. By meeting them with warmth, authenticity and vision, CYP Shluchim creates communities where Yiddishkeit is lived with pride and joy.

“Young professionals aren’t just looking for programs; they’re looking to lead,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, director of CYP International at Merkos 302. “The beauty of CYP is that young professionals partner with their Shluchim to build communities from the bottom up. It’s a grassroots model, exactly how the Rebbe envisioned Shluchim.”

The growing desire for Jewish connection and community is also evident in the overwhelming response to the upcoming CYP meeting in Crown Heights, which will take place January 15-17, 2027 (7-9 Shevat). Registrations for International Shabbaton have already more than tripled from last year’s opening week, reflecting the enthusiasm of young Jewish professionals eager to connect with a broader Jewish community.

“What we are seeing is that young Jewish professionals are actively seeking a community where they can feel at home,” said Rabbi Nissi Lepkivker, deputy director of CYP International at Merkos 302. “The incredible response to this year’s CYP meetup 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. Each new chapter of CYP means another city where young Jews can find that feeling of family, build meaningful relationships and become active members of a Jewish community.

CYP Encounter brings together young professionals from around the world, allowing them to discover 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 meeting initiative led by Shluchim. Around the world, they serve as dating coaches, matchmakers, and mentors, hosting Encounter shabbatons, offering CYP Academy Torah-based relationship classes, and guiding young Jews toward establishing meaningful relationships and Jewish homes.

Inspired by the Rebbe’s call to build sustainable Jewish homes, Met@Chabad provides Shluchim with tools, trained shadchanim, a values-driven matching algorithm, and a global network to help young Jews navigate dating with purpose and direction.

Alongside the many established shlichus areas, the expansion of CYP reflects the enormous 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 futures for decades to come.

As Shluchim around the world prepare to gather for Kinus Hashluchim, the continued growth of CYP highlights both the growing demand for young professional communities and the dedication of Shluchim to meeting that need.

From major international cities to small Jewish communities, the message is unmistakable: young Jewish professionals are looking for connection, meaning and a community in which they can feel at home.
With more and more Shluchim recognizing this opportunity and joining the CYP network, the next chapter of this rapidly growing frontier of Shlichus is already underway.

Shluchim interested in starting a CYP community in their city can contact us by email at (email protected) or via WhatsApp https://wa.link/d5te0l for more information.