The virtual meeting included anywhere from 200 and 1,000 rabbis at any given moment, with discussions shifting between English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, French, Spanish and Portuguese. When logins into the Zoom meeting reached their maximum, participants were sent to Vimeo so they could watch.
The meeting started at the end of Shabbat on November 14, at 09:30 p.m. On Monday, November 16, discussions were still underway with no sign of them ending any time soon. In May, a popular radio show in New Zealand attempted to host the world’s longest Zoom meeting. The dedicated staff managed to reach nearly 24 hours, which seem like child's play when compared to this latest massive online gathering of rabbis from around the world.
The one-of-a-kind gathering was part of a series of events for the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, which was held online for the first time in 37 years and included some 5,000 rabbis from over 100 countries such as Australia, Thailand, Russia, Israel, France, the UK and the US.
As the Zoom meeting continued well after Shabbat, the call became even more energetic, including lively conversations about Torah, as well as stories and personal encouragement while sharing song, food and the occasional l’chaim – toast to life.
These kinds of informal gatherings serve as a spiritual anchor for many Jews around the world and strengthen their resolve in their communal work. This is especially true during a pandemic that has caused many to isolate.
The Zoom meeting gave participants the chance to share their experiences and hear others. Some rabbis chose to share memories of personal and familial encounters with Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, Chabad.org noted.
Rabbi Bentzion Butman, co-director of Chabad Jewish Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, noted that much like the miracle of Hanukkah, the ongoing nature of the Zoom was something that, while meant to last just one day, could continue well past even eight days.
“There are Chabad emissaries in almost every time zone; we can continue this conversation to find inspiration and share it with others going forward," he added.