The Roving Rabbis program from Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta is making a historic summer visit to Canada’s Far North, arriving in Yukon for the first time to meet residents, deliver religious items and bolster connections with the local Jewish community.
New outreach to remote communities
The initiative, led by Rabbi Menachem and Rebbetzin Rochel Matusof, expands a program that has traditionally focused on communities across Alberta to include both Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The visit marks the first time many residents in Canada’s North have had this level of direct access to Chabad programming and resources.
Young rabbis participating in the trip — Avremy Matusof of Calgary and Shloimy Stern of Brooklyn, both aged 23 — coordinated closely with local leadership to maximise contact with Jewish residents through community gatherings and private visits.
“At Miles Canyon, as soon as we stepped out of the car, we heard someone call out, ‘Rabbis! Rabbis!’ It turned out to be a Jew visiting from So…”
Local relationships and delivered resources
In Yukon, the visit builds on a longstanding relationship between the Jewish Cultural Society of Yukon and Chabad leadership. Over the years Chabad of Alberta has provided a range of supports to Whitehorse, including:
- Shmura Matzah for Passover
- Chanukah kits
- The Alberta Jewish Calendar, which lists Whitehorse Shabbat candle-lighting times
- Ongoing guidance and other Jewish resources
During the Roving Rabbis’ northern trip, visitors were able to purchase and receive ritual objects brought north by the team — including tefilin and mezuzas — as well as Jewish books and educational material.
Impact on community and identity
Organisers say the visit has already prompted additional engagement. In Yellowknife, news of the rabbis’ arrival encouraged more local Jewish residents to connect with their community. In Whitehorse, the opportunity to access ritual items and speak directly with visiting rabbis brought a visible surge of interest.
| Organisation | Representative(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta | Rabbi Menachem & Rebbetzin Rochel Matusof; Avremy Matusof; Shloimy Stern | Roving Rabbis program — outreach and resource delivery |
| Jewish Cultural Society of Yukon | Rick Karp (president) | Local coordination and community liaison |
For residents in smaller or isolated communities, such visits can be meaningful for maintaining cultural and religious practice, offering not only material supports but personal connection. While the program is modest in scale, local leaders describe it as significant in nurturing a sense of Jewish communal life in the North.
Details about the Roving Rabbis’ schedule, further stops or follow-up programming were not provided in the material released about the trip. Community members interested in future visits or resources are encouraged to contact the Jewish Cultural Society of Yukon for information about local supports and events.
This report was compiled from accounts provided by the Jewish Cultural Society and partner organisations involved in the Roving Rabbis program.
