Young Jewish Leaders from Houston Attend International Summit

The summit brought together over 1,000 emerging Jewish leaders from 100 cities and 30 countries to tackle global challenges.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 12:31am

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A delegation of 10 young Jewish professionals from Houston joined more than 1,000 of their peers from around the world at the International Young Jewish Professionals Leadership Summit held in New York. The summit focused on leadership development, community building, emotional well-being, and strengthening Jewish pride during a time of rising global challenges and increasing antisemitism.

Why it matters

The summit provided a supportive environment for young Jewish professionals to process their experiences, build connections, and find inspiration to lead and strengthen their local Jewish communities. It comes at a time when many young Jewish adults are grappling with identity pressure, workplace isolation, and the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

The details

The Houston delegation represented a wide range of professional fields and was led by Rabbi Chaim and Chanie Lazaroff of YJP Houston, a branch of Chabad of Uptown. Participants joined peers from around the world for a multiday program that included leadership development, community building, emotional well-being workshops, and strengthening Jewish pride. A highlight was the visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Ohel, the most visited Jewish sacred site outside of Israel, where hundreds gathered for prayer and reflection.

  • The summit was held from January 16-18, 2026 in New York.
  • October 7, 2023 was identified as a significant date when many young Jewish adults' engagement began or intensified.

The players

Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff

Co-director of YJP Houston, a branch of Chabad of Uptown.

Chanie Lazaroff

Co-director of YJP Houston, a branch of Chabad of Uptown.

Gal Arad

A featured guest speaker at the summit, currently training in Houston for the 2028 Olympics and widely recognized as the fastest Jew in the world.

Eliya Cohen

Spoke about faith, hope and resilience after being held hostage in Gaza for 505 days following the October 7, 2023 attacks.

YJP Houston

A branch of Chabad of Uptown that is part of a global network of more than 325 communities for young Jewish professionals empowering more than 400,000 young Jews worldwide.

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What they’re saying

“Dancing together on Saturday night with people from Houston and from all over the world was incredibly uplifting. You could feel the joy and strength that comes from being part of something so much bigger than yourself.”

— Gal Arad (Instagram)

“The summit reminded our young professionals that they are not alone. Seeing a thousand peers choose Jewish life with confidence and pride gives them the strength to return home ready to lead, build community and live their values openly.”

— Chanie Lazaroff, Co-director of YJP Houston (jhvonline.com)

The takeaway

The International Young Jewish Professionals Leadership Summit provided a much-needed opportunity for young Jewish leaders from Houston and around the world to connect, find inspiration, and develop the skills and confidence to tackle global challenges and strengthen their local Jewish communities during a time of rising antisemitism and identity pressure.