They’re back now, returning to full inboxes, packed calendars and communities that don’t really pause. But for a few days last week, more than 4,500 Jewish women leaders from around the world stepped away from their day-to-day work to compare notes, share hard truths and reset together.
Among them were Chabad women from St. Louis, attending the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Female Emissaries in Brooklyn, N.Y., the world’s largest Jewish women’s leadership gathering.
Comparing notes, globally
The agenda covered familiar ground: supporting Jewish college students, responding to antisemitism, addressing mental health and trauma and helping young Jews build relationships and families. But for many attendees, the real value wasn’t in any single session. It was in hearing, again and again, that the challenges they’re facing locally are shared across communities and continents.
On campus, right now
“With antisemitism and campus tension at a high point, I support students facing real fear, anxiety and isolation,” said Mushka Cohen. “They are dealing with big questions about identity, belonging and safety. Being there for them emotionally is now just as important as any event or program I run.”
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In her first year working at Chabad at Washington University, Cohen came to the conference hoping to connect with other women navigating similarly intense campus environments. What she found was perspective.
“The real gift was learning from others and making new connections,” she said. “I’m returning to campus with fresh energy and focus. The conference reminded me that even when this work is tiring, it’s deeply meaningful, and that I’m part of a global network of women doing the same thing.”
A longer view from St. Louis
For Shiffy Landa, the longer view is a familiar one. She co-founded Chabad in St. Louis with her husband, Rabbi Yosef Landa, in 1981 and has attended the women’s conference since its inception in 1991.
“Every generation has its challenges and opportunities, but today’s challenges feel more layered than ever,” Landa said. “People aren’t just asking for more programs or answers. They are seeking deep, authentic connections. They want to be understood without judgment.”
Landa said the conference reinforced how much the work has evolved over the decades. In addition to teaching and organizing, Chabad women are increasingly expected to show up as people.
“That asks more of us emotionally,” she said. “But it also makes shlichus (mission) more meaningful and deeply human.”
What they’re carrying forward
Back in St. Louis, Landa said one message from the conference has stayed with her.
“That today’s real job is about presence, listening and inner strength,” she said. “I’m walking away with a renewed sense of commitment and with the reminder that I was chosen for this moment with exactly the tools I need.”
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