Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Eliyahu Cunin (Hebrew ברוך שלמה אליהו קונין) (Shlomo Cunin) is a Hasidic Rabbi, associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Cunin is the director of Chabad-Lubavitch of California, and Chabad activities on the West Coast of the United States.[1]

Rabbi Cunin, third (visible) on left, with a delegation representing the "American Friends of Lubavitch", presents a menorah to president Ronald Reagan, White House, 1984.

Activities

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In 1965, he was appointed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, 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 Houses throughout California and Nevada.[citation needed]

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 whose efforts are rooted in traditional Jewish values—and many of its programs help the needy regardless of background or belief.[2][3]

West Coast Chabad

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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.[citation needed]

West Coast Chabad Lubavitch is a division of Chabad-Lubavitch, 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.[3]

Involvement with Chabad of Russia

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Cunin is a member of Agudas Chasidei Chabad of Russia and United States. He is involved in a recovery effort to reclaim ownership of a portion of the Chabad library, controlled by the Russian government.[4]

Family

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Shlomo Cunin married Miriam Loksen on November 19, 1964. They had 13 children together. Shlomo has one brother, Rabbi Pinchas Cunin (d. 2011), who was a rabbi in the Crown Heights Chabad community.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Pool, Bob (December 13, 1989). "Hanukkah Dispute : Menorah in City Hall Shines Light on Controversy". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ Greene, Velvl. "West Coast was a challenge to Chabadniks and they defied odds to rekindle faith". Chabad Cronicals. Chabad of California.
  3. ^ a b "About us" Archived 2013-06-02 at the Wayback Machine. West Coast Chabad Lubavitch.
  4. ^ "U.S. Senate Asks Yeltsin to Return Sacred Hebrew Texts". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ Pinchas Cunin, 72, OBM". COLlive.com. July 11, 2012.
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