shliach

Shliach is a Hebrew term meaning emissary, envoy, or messenger. The word comes from the root shin-lamed-chet and denotes a person sent to perform a task on behalf of another. In English, it is often transliterated as shliach, shaliyach, or shliach tzibur in specific contexts.

In Jewish law, the concept of shlichut describes a person authorized to act on behalf of another. When a shliach acts within the scope of his mission and with proper intent, the principal’s obligations and outcomes are, in many cases, attributed to the principal. This principle applies to various religious and legal tasks, such as delivering documents, performing commands, or conducting ritual actions authorized by the principal. A related term, shlichut tzibur, refers to a designated leader or emissary who leads communal prayer or officiates in a public capacity.

In modern usage, the term is widely used beyond strict halakhic contexts. In particular, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement popularized “shluchim” (emissaries) as rabbis and laypeople sent to establish and support Jewish communities, schools, synagogues, and outreach programs around the world. The Shluchim are typically commissioned by a central organization and operate as a worldwide network aimed at education, communal service, and Jewish outreach.

Overall, shliach denotes a person entrusted to act for another, with its strongest associations in Judaism with formal agency, ritual leadership, and organized communal outreach. The concept highlights the ethical and legal idea that actions taken by a designated representative may reflect the will and authority of the one who sent them.