Seeking A Minyan Before Skiing Vail? Chabad Rabbi Dovid Mintz Is There For You.
A visit to Vail never disappoints. With spectacular runs, social media-perfect vistas, world-class dining and an après ski scene that Travel + Leisure recently proclaimed “the best in the world,” the famed ski resort has it all.
And, like thousands of locales around the globe, Vail also has a Chabad center. Situated in Vail’s tony Lionshead section, the center is led by Dovid Mintz, an outgoing, engaging rabbi with a boundless passion for Judaism and Chabad. “Meeting every type of Jew in every type of season,” he says, “is what makes Vail so unique and special.”

Encounters with the Rebbe
Although appointed to Vail in 2006, the origins of Dovid’s journey, like all Chabad emissaries, dates back much further, to the movement’s establishment in Russia in 1772. Throughout the ensuing centuries, Chabad faced persecution – the grandfather of Dovid’s wife Doba was exiled to a Siberian gulag for 10 years for the ‘crime’ of practicing Judaism and establishing Jewish schools for children – but persevered, ultimately taking a quantum leap forward under the leadership of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. Through the rebbe’s guidance, Chabad evolved into the world’s largest Jewish organization, with a presence on six continents.
Growing up in Crown Heights, Dovid recalls numerous encounters with the late rebbe. “He was a modern-day Moses. The Torah tells us there is a Moses in every generation that can shepherd his flock, and Doba (who also grew up in Crown Heights) and I were inspired by the rebbe’s selfless leadership for the Jewish people.”
The rebbe instilled in Dovid a fervent motivation to bring the teachings, guidance and warmth of Judaism to others. This same motivation is shared by his siblings. Dovid is the eighth of 10 children – six boys and four girls – and his brothers are all Chabad emissaries, as is Doba’s brother.
“A Beacon of Light in Vail”
“Chabad rabbis” Dovid explains, “are connecting Am Yisrael – our nation – to G-d, his Torah and one another. It’s who we are, and what we are.” He continues: “It’s an incredible movement of love, care and compassion, everywhere in the world. It’s astonishing that this exists.” He credits the rebbe, stating, “Never in the history of Judaism has anything like this happened.”
Dovid’s posting to Vail came about because “from a very young age, I was constantly volunteering, going to different locations.” Dovid assisted his brother in Aspen, and occasionally went to Vail to help with various aspects of Jewish life and tradition. “When Vail was ripe for a full-time Chabad presence, I was approached to move there.”
Dovid was 24 at the time, and he and Doba did not yet have children. When asked if it was a cultural shock to move from Brooklyn to one of the world’s most glamorous ski resorts, Dovid reflected, “Was it easier to live in Crown Heights? The answer is obvious. In Crown Heights, you don’t worry about kosher food deliveries being delayed because the highway is closed due to snow. It’s a challenge, but we wouldn’t trade the experience, and the blessing that came with it, for anything. I’m humbled, and proud, to be a beacon of light in Vail.”

A Ski Menorah
Upon moving to Vail, “We rented a small one bedroom apartment and started with classes around the kitchen table. A year later, we reached out to friends and were able to rent space in a hotel.” As space requirements grew exponentially, Chabad was able to secure the necessary approvals and zoning changes to purchase its own building.
Wandering among Lionshead’s ski shops, high-end stores and copious bars and restaurants, visitors will come upon something unique and unexpected – a large menorah constructed out of skis, positioned in front of the Chabad center. The base of the menorah is a snowboard “to make it inclusive,” smiles Dovid. He adds, “It was an idea I shared when chatting in class – wouldn’t it be cool if we made a ski menorah?” Additionally, Vail kippahs, decorated with mountains, gondolas and skiers, can be purchased at the center.

Taking the theme one step further, Dovid quips, “While many places are ski in and ski out, we are daven in and daven out.”
In a place like Vail, where skiing is top of mind, it’s not so easy to secure a quorum for a minyan. “We had to figure out how to make this happen.” Ultimately, Dovid relates, “A family member who was good with tech created a system through which participants could sign up with specific dates and times, receiving a text notification if the quorum was met.” And thus the Minyan Maker, now being used by Chabad centers throughout the world, was born.
“We’re Here to Stay”
Dovid says, “We are proud to be the only Jewish center of its kind in Vail for anyone who wants to come to celebrate, learn and grow.” Vail Chabad provides a variety of services and resources – Hebrew school, rituals, ceremonies and celebrations, even courses offering CLE credits for attorneys.
The center also has an ongoing speaker series, one of which, a special program featuring freed Hamas hostage Moran Stela Yanai, was attended by more than 400 people.
Dovid observes that “Everybody who comes here comes with a different background, place and story that enhances this house, making it a very special place.”

When circumstances permit, Dovid makes time for skiing. He and Doba now have three sons and a daughter, and, whenever possible, they partake in the adrenalin rush of the Vail downhill experience.
There are no limits on how long a Chabad emissary can remain at a particular post. Vail was Dovid’s first posting, and, he makes clear, “We’re here to stay. We’re growing with the community. Is there a struggle? Is there a challenge? Absolutely.” But, Dovid emphasizes, “Once you find your purpose, everything falls into place.”