New Shluchim to Zambia Depart With a Chassidishe Dance

Rabbi Mendy and Rivky Hertzel, the new shluchim to Zambia, departed from Alaska to begin a 30-hour journey to their makom hashlichus, but not without a chassidishe dance before leaving.

By Anash.org reporter

Rabbi Mendy and Rivky Hertzel, the new shluchim to Zambia, departed from Alaska to begin their journey to their makom hashlichus, but not without a chassidishe dance before leaving.

The shluchim, the first to the African country, were appointed by Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila, Chief Rabbi of the Congo and Head Shliach of Central Africa.

Born and raised in the Golan Heights, Rabbi Mendy Hertzel studied in yeshivos in the US and Eretz Yisroel. From a young age, he was always been active in mivtzoim and working with Jewish youth. He also served as a maggid shiur in Yeshivas Menachem Mendel of Detroit, Michigan.

Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, Rivky was raised in an open home where shlichus was the daily routine, and was constantly involved in assisting and eventually creating activities for children and teens. She went on to study in Michigan and Eretz Yisroel, and later worked as a successful teacher and program director in multiple Chabad schools and Jewish Centers, including Brooklyn, Michigan, and North Carolina.

The new shluchim headed out from Alaska on Thursday to travel to Zambia and settle there permanently. The trip is a 30-hour long journey, with multiple stops from the northwest American State to the country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa.

Right before they headed out, Rabbi Hertzel joined a chassidishe dance with his father-in-law Rabbi Yoske Greenberg, head shliach of Alaska. Rabbi Greenberg and his wife then offered their warmest wishes to the young couple as they set out on their new stage of life.

“In 5729, the Rebbe asked a member of anash in Crown Heights to travel to Zambia and spread Yiddishkeit, and it is truly amazing to see his request being fulfilled over fifty years later,” Rabbi Greenberg told Anash.org.

“It is also the realization of the Rebbe’s words during the seforim court case, that the didan notzach should continue spreading and conquering up to the furthest corner in the world, that there too, ‘Eretz Yisroel should spread out’ even before Moshaich comes,” he said.