Lamternshtik, together with Chabad Outreach of Sheepshead Bay, expresses to say thank you to the community. Driven by the Rebbe’s vision, this year’s Chanukah mivtzoim was brought to life by hundreds of devoted volunteers, including families, bochurim, women, and children.

Over 180 high school and seminary girls, 200 children with their families, and 250 bochurim took part, took to the streets night after night with warmth, joy, and purpose. Families experienced what it means to be a shliach of the Rebbe, as they marched on Mivtzoyim.

The reach was simply mind-blowing! Over 6,000 families were reached, including 650 new Jewish families that hadn’t been reached before. More than 5,000 menorahs and donuts were distributed, and 150 homes were identified for mezuzah follow-up.

Behind these numbers are real people and real moments. In one home, volunteers met Alan, who was not well, and struggled to get a Menorah on his own. When the Mivtzoyim team arrived, he was really touched and happy. The visit brought real warmth into his home, and the connection continued, with follow-up underway to help with mezuzos and the potential of ongoing learning together.

In another encounter, bochurim met a young Israeli who had grown up in a frum home but found himself distanced. Despite that, he shared that he wanted to light the menorah and felt a spark in his heart with the desire to light the menorah. He was genuinely happy when the volunteers knocked on his door, as if godly angels were sent to bring him his Menorah. He later shared that he lit the menorah every night of Chanukah. Beyond that, the relationship is ongoing to further warm him to Yiddishkeit.

A special thank you to the Mivtzoyim Shop for the organization and for hosting the first-ever women’s and girls’ office, which expanded the ability to have a comfortable Mivtzoyim experience for women and girls.

Lamternshtik and Chabad Outreach of Sheepshead Bay, under the direction of Rabbi Yitzchok Schwartz, worked tirelessly to expand both the capacity and quality of Mivtzoyim, ensuring that every participant could have a successful and seamless mivtzoim experience.

A special thank you to Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Cohen, Executive Director of Chabad of Sheepshead Bay, for his constant support and guidance all along the way; all of this would not be possible without him.

Above all, thank you to every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and heart.

May the light be brought into thousands of homes this Chanukah continues to shine throughout the year.