Athol, Idaho, with a population of about 700, and at most a handful of Jews, is not high on the priority list of most Jewish organizations.

But it is one among thousands of locations worldwide to be visited this summer by Lubavitch rabbinical students participating in the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Community Enrichment Program.

Two Rabbinic interns, Chaim Cohen and Berel Kesselman, have arrived from Brooklyn this week. They will spend the next few weeks traveling throughout Idaho, where they will meet locals and reach out to individuals, families and others with a wide range of spiritual and educational resources.

"We are honored and excited to offer Jewish people a connection to their faith and heritage, especially those in places without established Jewish services," Cohen said.

Their mission will address community needs on many levels. The rabbinical students, hailing from Montreal, Canada, and London, England, respectively, will run intensive seminars on the Jewish lifecycle, holidays and mysticism.

They will advise community members on matters ranging from Jewish law and ethics, to launching successful Jewish educational programs. The rabbis will connect members of the community with the Chabad Jewish Center, the movement's headquarters in Boise, to help facilitate continued Jewish activity after they leave.

Rabbi Mendel Lifshitz, director of Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho, said there are more than 2,000 Jews in Idaho, excluding the Treasure Valley. Most, he said, are unaffiliated with any Jewish organization.

"Lubavitch is concerned with every single Jew," explains the organization's Idaho representative.

For many, this becomes a first encounter with a rabbi, and a first exposure to Judaism, perhaps resulting in a personal renaissance of Jewish heritage.

The students will organize "Shabbaton" weekend Sabbath celebrations in Coeur d'Alene on Aug. 10 and in Pocatello on Aug 17.

Also planned are seminars - including a community get-together in Sandpoint on Thursday at the beach - to teach the tenets of Jewish practice and kabbalah.

Throughout the ensuing year, Chabad will maintain close contact with communities and individuals, often visiting during the holiday seasons, sending shipments of Jewish literature and other Judaica, or answering questions long-distance, all in an effort to make Judaism a viable reality for all Jews, everywhere.

The Rabbinic interns have worked extensively in Jewish communities around the globe. Some of their recent assignments have been in Mexico, Texas, Brazil, Mississippi, Sweden and Thailand.

Meetings may be arranged by calling the Roving Rabbis at (248) 298-9279 or rovingrabbis@jewishidaho.com.

Info: Rabbi Mendel Lifshitz of Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho at (208) 853-9200 or rabbi@jewishidaho.com. Or check www.rovingrabbis.com.