Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Eliyahu Cunin (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

ברוך שלמה אליהו קונין) (Shlomo Cunin) is a

Hasidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

Rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

, associated with the

Chabad-Lubavitch Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic group ...

movement. Cunin is the director of Chabad-Lubavitch of

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

, and Chabad activities on the

West Coast of the United States The West Coast of the United States, also known as the Pacific Coast, Pacific states, and the western seaboard, is the coastline along which the Western United States meets the North Pacific Ocean. The term typically refers to the contiguous ...

.Pool, Bob (December 13, 1989)
"Hanukkah Dispute : Menorah in City Hall Shines Light on Controversy"
''Los Angeles Times''.

Activities

In 1965, he was appointed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi

Menachem Mendel Schneerson Menachem Mendel Schneerson (Modern Hebrew: מנחם מענדל שניאורסון; old-fashioned spelling: מנחם מענדל שניאורסאהן; April 5, 1902 OS – June 12, 1994; AM 11 Nissan 5662 – 3 Tammuz 5754), known to man ...

, as a head shaliach to the West Coast of the United States. Cunin built one of the first of over 5,000 chabad houses worldwide. Under his guidance Cunin has a network of over 200

Chabad House A Chabad house is a centre for disseminating traditional Judaism by the Chabad movement. Chabad houses are run by a Chabad Shaliach (emissary), and Shalucha (fem. for emissary) and their family. They are located in cities and on or near college ...

s throughout California and Nevada. Chabad of California's mission is to reach out to others with acts of goodness and kindness. West Coast Chabad is a community-based

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

whose efforts are rooted in traditional Jewish values—and many of its programs help the needy regardless of background or belief."About us"
West Coast Chabad Lubavitch.

West Coast Chabad

Cunin began West Coast Chabad in 1967. Chabad now runs the largest network of nonsectarian educational and social services under Jewish auspices on the West Coast. West Coast Chabad Lubavitch is a division of

, one of the largest religious Jewish organizations in the world. Chabad embraces a philosophy of study, meditation, and social outreach. Combining religious study with proactive community involvement, Chabad's growing array of educational and social services programs has made it a dynamic force in modern Jewish life.

Involvement with Chabad of Russia

Cunin is a member of

Agudas Chasidei Chabad Agudas Chassidei Chabad is the umbrella organization for the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The chairman of the executive committee is Rabbi Abraham Shemtov. History Agudas Chasidei Chabad was established by the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Ra ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...

and United States. He is involved in a recovery effort to reclaim ownership of a portion of the

Chabad library The Library Of Agudas Chassidei Chabad (also Chabad Library or Lubavitch library) is a research library owned by Agudas Chasidei Chabad. Its content had been collected by the Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbes. The library is housed next to the Lubavitch wo ...

, controlled by the

Russian government The Government of Russia exercises executive power in the Russian Federation. The members of the government are the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers, and the federal ministers. It has its legal basis in the Constitution of the Russ ...

Family

Shlomo Cunin married Miriam Loksen on November 19, 1964. They had 13 children together. Shlomo has one brother, Rabbi

Pinchas Cunin According to the Hebrew Bible, Phinehas or Phineas (; , ''Phinees'', ) was a priest during the Israelites’ Exodus journey. The grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar, the High Priests (), he distinguished himself as a youth at Shittim with hi ...

(d. 2011), who was a rabbi in the Crown Heights Chabad community.Pinchas Cunin, 72, OBM"
''COLlive.com''. July 11, 2012.

References

External links

Chabad West Coast Headquarters official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunin, Shlomo American Hasidic rabbis Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis Living people Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries Year of birth missing (living people)