6,500 Chabad Rabbis Gather in NYC With an Answer to Antisemitism

Nov 6, 2026 by The Jewish Voice And Opinion Staff

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – From November 5-8, more than 6,500 rabbis and Jewish leaders from over 100 countries will gather in New York City for the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, the largest rabbinic conference in the world and one of the largest Jewish gatherings outside Israel. The conference meets as antisemitism remains at historic levels and as the landscape of American Jewish life undergoes a seismic shift.

The emissaries arrive as new research confirms that the post-Oct. 7 “surge” in Jewish engagement is holding, and that Chabad is where many of these newly-engaged Jews are going. A newly released Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) found that this “surge” grew to 38% of American Jews this year, up seven points from 2025. Among communally engaged Jews in this surge, the plurality turned to Chabad.

For decades, Chabad has championed the strong, proud, and confident expression of Jewish life both in private and in public, an approach that refuses to let antisemitism set its terms. It reflects the vision of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, whose teachings continue to guide the emissaries and inspire Jews of all backgrounds. Chabad emissaries around the world put giant menorahs in city squares, open new Jewish centers on campuses, cities, and suburbs, and areas with few Jews, drawing those with little or no prior Jewish involvement to engage more deeply with their Jewish faith and heritage.

Chabad’s growth comes against a shifting landscape of American Jewish life. Between 2001 and 2020, the number of Chabad congregations in the U.S. nearly tripled — from 346 to 1,036 — whereas Conservative and Reform congregations fell 36% and 15% during that same period. As many Jewish denominations struggle to fill pulpits, Chabad sees a steady rise in young rabbis and their wives volunteering for new posts in both established Jewish centers as well as areas with few Jews, like rural Arizona.

Over the five-day conference, the rabbis will attend workshops and programs and meet with colleagues they may not see the rest of the year. Conference sessions will focus on sustaining Chabad’s rapid growth, and will cover building campaigns, new CTeen and CKids chapters, outreach to Jews in isolated areas, and ways AI can free up the Chabad emissaries’ time for the personal relationships that are at the center of their work.