Beila Grossman and her family live in Boro Park but when Shabbos arrives they may be in Dallas or Denver in West Point or Ottawa. They’re part of a group called The Traveling Chassidim a division of the Belz kiruv movement. Beila’s husband had already been involved in kiruv when the Traveling Chassidim was formed so it was only natural that the Grossmans would join. Several times a year they travel often venturing far from their native Boro Park both in miles and mindsets. “We don’t come as kiruv professionals ” Beila explains. “Our role on these Shabbosim is to enlighten and inspire simply by being ourselves.” Rebbetzin Amalia Lassry on the other hand is part of an organization called Arachim which is specifically geared to promote kiruv among secular Israelis. Arachim arranges Shabbos seminars for Israelis and as both Amalia and her husband are trained kiruv speakers they’ve been away for Shabbos every week for the last five years. “The condition of Klal Yisrael demands it ” explains Rebbetzin Lassry. “You can’t sit at home while people long to hear words of Torah. People are less distracted on Shabbos so it’s easier for them to disconnect from their regular lives and connect to Torah. We get 400 to 500 participants at each seminar. The stereotype of hard-core secular Israelis is not our only audience. We have participants who are graduates of Bais Yaakovs and yeshivos who want to strengthen their emunah as well as those who unfortunately went off the derech. It’s a tremendous kiddush Hashem every Shabbos. Even if we only manage to be mekarev one neshamah it’s all worth it.”