A Gift for the Rebbe, A Tribute to a Brother

With Yud Aleph Nissan fast approaching, energy filled the Shul at Tomchei Tmimim Ocean Parkway as the talmidim and rebbeim gathered for a special assembly: the launching of this year’s Mishnayos Baal Peh Drive. This schoolwide mivtza serves as the ultimate birthday gift for the Rebbe.

However, this year’s campaign carries an added layer of meaning. The Yeshiva is dedicating the learning cycle L’ilui Nishmas Mordechai Dovid ben Avraham Keller A”H, the brother of our beloved talmid, Yosef Keller.

The loss of Mordechai Dovid this past summer was a shock and tragedy for the community, but the talmidim are channeling their heartbreak into action. Yosef Keller, who, to this point, is TTOPs MBP leader, has his fellow chavairim rallying behind him. The Older Division has already broken an all time record surpassing an astonishing 1,000 lines in a short few days thus far. Boys can be seen reviewing lines of Tanya and Mishnayos Ba’al Peh while waiting their turn to play ping pong as seen on the video, while others pace the hallways back and forth filling the public spaces with words of Torah. This is also a call to action for the community at large, to take on something extra in the merit of Mordechai Dovid A”H. May it be in the merit of these undertakings, that we will be zocheh to the reunion with Mordechai Dovid, with the coming of Moshiach Now!

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Picture of the Day

As Told By A Shliach: I asked someone near TSA security if he would like to put on tefillin. He said no and told me he had never put on tefillin before. I asked if I could speak to him for just one minute, but he said no.

I was originally supposed to sit in seat 16, but at the last second I changed my seat to 19B because it had more leg room — someone had canceled 19B.

I sat down, and believe it or not, the same guy sat right next to me.

After he sat down, he looked at me and said, “This is fate — it’s not a coincidence.” I told him that I had also changed my seat at the last second, and he said, “Me too.”

This time, he didn’t say yes — but he also didn’t say no. I explained to him the mitzvah of tefillin… and the rest is history.

We were both blown away

More Snow Threaten Northeast Cities This Week After Being Pummeled by Record-Breaking Blizzard

FoxWeather

Just days after a historic blizzard buried millions across the Northeast, the region is bracing for more winter weather. Additional rounds of snow are expected to move in later this week, adding to the already record-breaking totals.

Forecasters are now warning that another round, possibly two, of snow is likely through the middle and latter part of the week.

Northern New England could see 1 to 3 inches of snow, while northern Michigan may receive 3 to 5 inches.

Read More at FoxWeather

When Raffles are Manipulated

A famous farbrengen with a historic ma’amar, which, as confirmed by the Rebbe in 5751 (1991), was connected to Stalin YMS”H’s downfall.

That part is well known.

But do you know what the ma’amar talks about?

With one week to Purim, embark on the behind-the-scenes trip of seder hishtalshelus and beyond, with the Rebbe explaining to us Haman’s evil-yet-brilliant plot, why this plot could only happen in the times of Achashverosh, where Haman’s fatal error lies, and what that tells us about our connection with Hashem.

Along the way, tune in to the chiddush of Chassidus about the atonement of Purim and Yom Kippur, feast in the Rebbe’s answer to Tosfos’s age-old question about Achashverosh’s party, and delight in the Rebbe’s deviation from the classic interpretation of “shomayim”.

Enter Purim inspired and invigorated by learning Al Kein Karu 5713 with Rabbi Shmuel Wagner, known for his clarity and passion in teaching c_hassidus_.

YJP Professionals Exchange Federal Holiday for a Day of Deep Learning at Hadar Hatorah

Ten young professionals from the New York area chose a different kind of “day off” this President’s day. In conjunction with YJP Shliach Rabbi Yosef Wilhelm, the group headed to Hadar Hatorah for a curated “Day of Learning” designed to give working men a taste of the authentic Yeshiva experience. The program was built on the idea that a day off from work is the perfect opportunity to disconnect from the corporate grind and reconnect with the soul.

The day featured a powerhouse lineup of magiddei shiurim, culminating with a lively session on “Jewish Dating and Marriage” with Rabbi Shea Hecht. Between these sessions, participants were treated to three fresh, hot meals that allowed the guys to bond and share reflections on their learning. Everyone took the opportunity to wrap tefillin during the yeshiva’s shachris– some even got aliyahs to the Torah.

“I had a great time,” shared Jordan, one of the participants. “It was great shteiging with great people. Yes, I would love to come back… Thank you for having me!”

A major highlight for many was the one-on-one chavrusa learning with the current Hadar Hatorah bochurim. The energy in the Beis Medrash reached a fever pitch as the professionals sat down to learn alongside those who live in the world of Torah every day “like real bochurim.” The impact of this immersion was immediate. Many participants were already asking how they could incorporate more learning into their weekly schedules, whether in the evenings or even returning for full-time study.

Sam, who attended the program, noted, “I really enjoyed my day yesterday, I felt really welcomed from you guys and really appreciate all the work you put in to it.” Sam was so inspired by the atmosphere that he even expressed interest in starting a “Yeshiva Day” on Sundays back at his local Chabad.

Rabbi Yosef Wilhelm summed up the success of the initiative: “I personally enjoyed it, my young professionals really enjoyed it. I’m happy Yidden got to learn in a Torah environment and you were really on top of things.”

The President’s Day program was just a taste of what’s to come. For those looking for a more immersive experience, contact [email protected] or call/WhatsApp 718-735-0250. We are also gearing up for our premier “Torah Under the Sun” summer program in the scenic Catskill Mountains. It’s the ultimate opportunity to combine a summer getaway with high-level learning and growth. Learn more at Hadarhatorah.org/summer.

Oholei Torah Brings Yeshiva to the Neighborhood Shuls During Blizzard

While heavy snowfall blanketed New York and many schools closed their doors, Oholei Torah once again demonstrated a tradition that has defined the Yeshiva for seventy years: Torah learning continues.

As the map of Crown Heights continues to change and expand, with many talmidim now living farther from the main campus, the Yeshiva responded by bringing Yeshiva to the talmidim. Instead of canceling, Oholei Torah operated special programs at six locations across Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Remsen Village, and Brownsville allowing davening and learning to continue safely and meaningfully.

Programs were hosted at Oholei Torah Main Campus, Oholei Torah Mechina on Troy Ave, Anshei Lubavitch, Lubavitch of East Flatbush, Lubavitch of Remsen Village, and Brownsville Anash. Each location held Shacharis, structured learning, and Mincha.

The turnout was extraordinary! In what has been the largest blizzard attendance in the Yeshiva’s history, hundreds of talmidim participated, several locations were jam packed with boys learning and davening with remarkable enthusiasm.

The message to talmidim was clear: davening, learning, and serving Hashem continue regardless of the weather. Despite the snow covered streets and blizzard conditions, many fathers joined their sons for tefillah. Mechanchim and menahelim ensured strong, structured programming. The result was a well organized and uplifting morning across the community.

Oholei Torah Mesivta operated from two locations, the Remsen campus and the 667 campus, maintaining its regular sedorim. In addition, a group of Cteen participants who remained in Crown Heights following the Shabbaton joined the Mesivta bochurim at the Remsen campus for learning and time in the gym. Other Cteen participants joined the Beis Medrash bochurim for learning at the 667 campus, adding to the vibrant atmosphere in both locations.

Oholei Torah extends sincere appreciation to the shuls that opened their doors and to the dedicated mechanchim and hanhala who made the program possible under challenging conditions. It was particularly moving that this remarkable day of steadfast davening and learning was on with the yahrtzeit of Reb Michoel Teitelbaum A”H, whose lifelong commitment to keeping the Yeshiva’s doors open continues to shape and inspire its mission today.

Mrs. Rochel Pinson, 102, Oldest Chabad Shlucha

by Tzemach Feller – Lubavitch.com

When Mrs. Rochel Pinson joined the annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchos a decade ago, she was the most senior Chabad representative present at 92 years old. A Chabad representative since 1953, Pinson had spoken modestly but briefly, like someone who lived her life knowing that actions matter more than speeches.

Hours before the Kinus began this year, Mrs. Pinson, 102, passed away on 16 Shevat — February 3, 2026. She leaves behind four generations of descendants and a community of thousands of North African Jews she led and inspired during her more than 70 years as a shlucha.

Born in 1924 in Leningrad (today St. Petersburg) in the Soviet Union, Mrs. Pinson witnessed Stalin’s henchmen take away her father, a Lubavitcher chassid, to be executed for the “counterrevolutionary crime” of teaching Torah. She married Rabbi Nissan Pinson and the young couple fled the Soviet Union, arriving as refugees to Paris.

While many of her peers emigrated to America, the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent her and her husband as Chabad representatives to Morocco in 1953, and then to Tunisia in 1959. In Tunisia, Pinson raised five children and established Yeshivah Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch—a school that, at its height before many Tunisian Jews left the country, had hundreds of students.

“There were difficult moments, but I don’t regret it,” Mrs. Pinson said to thousands of her colleagues at the Kinus in 2007. “As long as there are Jewish people there, we’ll remain. If today, the Rebbe would challenge us and say you are needed in a faraway place, I would do it.”

Boruch Sholom Blesofsky Releases New Music Video – Keli

Chabad singer Boruch Sholom Blesofsky has released his newest music video, “Keli”, a high-energy hit that blends the music of multiple generations.

Sometimes we lose focus and think that trying to do things on our own will bring us what we need. But we often forget that what truly needs to be done is to pray to Hashem. Just as Esther Hamalka first approached King Achashverosh, she ultimately turned to Hashem with a heartfelt prayer: “Keili, Keili, lama azavtani?”

These powerful words were featured in a song that Boruch Sholom released a few years ago, composed by the renowned ba’al tzedakah Reb Yoel Yisrael Zupnick. He is now renewing the song with beautiful new music, just in time for Purim.

Composed by: R’ Yoel Yisroel Zupnick
Produced by: Mendy Fekete / Dididum Studios
Original Song Produced by: Shlome Wechter
Mixing: Shlome Wechter
Post-Production: Avrumy Lunger
Video Shoot & Editing: The Schwartz Brothers Media
Directed by: Getzy Berkowitz
Digital Marketing: Motty Media

Special Thanks:
R’ Yoel Yisroel Zupnick
Aba Berkowitz

Niggun Simcha – A Tzamah Production

Watch and listen to this Tzamah production of Niggun Simcha.

Teens Draw Strength at the Rebbe’s Ohel as the Snow Began to Fall

Snow flurries began to fall, as buses of Jewish teens arrived at the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens on Sunday, letters in hand and coats pulled tight. For many of the 4,578 teens attending the CTeen International Shabbaton, this was the quietest moment of the weekend.

At the close of CTeen’s main event at Nassau Coliseum, a pre-Ohel program prepared the teens for the visit. They heard from five CTeen alums, who shared their personal connection to the Rebbe. The room, which had been jumping with music and energy just minutes earlier, became reflective.

“The feeling I get when I walk into the Rebbe’s resting place is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” said Sara Strent, from Long Island, “It’s like I get chills and I feel so connected to him. Almost every time I come here, you feel relieved and good because you feel like someone’s listening.”

Another teen spoke about what drew her to the Ohel. “The Rebbe’s legacy lives on,” she said. “People come into the room and there are tears on their faces. They’re still so affected by this ability to have this mentor who teaches them a way of living life in such a pure and holy way. When you come to the Rebbe’s Ohel, you feel sort of relaxed, because you just got something off your chest, something you’ve been wanting to express.”

“One of the most important things we do at the Shabbaton is bring these teens to the Rebbe’s Ohel,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “it becomes a spiritual anchor for them as they return home to their communities”

The lights in the coliseum lowered. A video of the Rebbe played on the screens. Then thousands of teens sat quietly with pen and paper and wrote their panim, personal letters to be placed at the Rebbe’s Ohel. For many, it was their first time writing to the Rebbe, and the start of a long lasting connection.

They boarded the buses and headed to the Ohel just as the snow began to fall. Bundled up in coats and scarves, they stood in line awaiting their moment.

With thousands of teens visiting the Ohel over the course of the Shabbaton, many groups were staggered throughout the weekend, split by language and region, each with its own tailored pre-program. Spanish-speaking teens, French delegations, Hebrew speakers, and English groups each had dedicated sessions before making the trip to Queens.

Photo Credit: Sholem Srugo

New Complex Dedicated At Tomchei Temimim Brunoy

A wave of excitement swept through Brunoy in recent days with the dedication of a new and impressive complex—“Beit Gorsed”—on the yeshiva campus.

The dignified inauguration ceremony was attended by members of the yeshiva’s administration, the mayor, rabbanim, and public figures. The new building is designed to expand and strengthen Torah study and communal life in the area.

The complex features a large and elegant shul for the local Anash community, alongside four new, spacious classrooms to better accommodate the yeshiva’s students. In addition, a modern, expansive mikvah has been constructed for the yeshiva’s use and will be dedicated at a separate, special ceremony in the near future.

The Yeshiva of Brunoy, one of the largest and most longstanding Chabad yeshivos in Europe, draws students from around the world. Over the years, a warm and vibrant Anash community has developed around the yeshiva in the picturesque town of Brunoy, a beautiful suburb of Paris. This new development marks another significant step in the continued growth of Torah and Chassidus in the region.

The building was made possible through a generous donation from the Gorsed family, pillars of the local community, who dedicated the complex in memory of their parents, R’ Aharon Natan and Aliza Gorsed OBM—people of truth and kindness, Torah and Chassidus. Their home was always open to all communal needs, where they raised a family to be proud of, alongside public service carried out with faith and integrity.

The dedication ceremony was emceed by Rabbi Shmuel Bradaovitch, director of Shiur Alef at the yeshiva. The program opened with remarks by the yeshiva’s director, Rabbi Yitzchak Namanov, who read a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent to the yeshiva on the occasion of a building dedication, connected to Parshas Terumah. He was followed by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yechiel Kalmenson, who shared words of Torah and emphasized the significance of expanding spaces of Torah and holiness.

Additional remarks were delivered by the mayor, representatives of the donors, and other distinguished guests. The evening concluded with heartfelt words from yeshiva director Rabbi Mendel Gurevitch, who movingly described the yeshiva’s development over the years and the clear Divine providence evident throughout the project—from its inception to its completion.

The event was organized with great dedication by the yeshiva’s secretary, Rabbi Shimon Lasri, together with R’ Shemaryahu Brock and his son R’ Yonah Brock. The gratitude of the many is extended to them for their selfless devotion to every need of the yeshiva.

NYC Blizzard Officially One of the Top 10 Biggest Storms on Record – and More Snow is Coming

New York Post

Blizzard-battered New York City is set to get slammed with even more snow this week — proving the groundhog was right.

The monster blizzard is now officially one of the city’s 10 biggest winter storms on record.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, the storm had dumped 19.7 inches of snow on Central Park in Manhattan, beating out the blizzard of January 2011’s 19 inches, which had held the No. 9 “biggest” snowstorm on record.

This Needed to Be Recorded: 3 Veteran Shluchos Share Their Stories

As Shluchos from around the world converged upon Crown Heights for the recent Conference of Shluchos, Rabbi Mendel Slonim, lead interviewer of JEM’s My Encounter with the Rebbe project, had the privilege of sitting down with three senior Shluchos to record their testimonies.

Each reflected on a lifetime of stories, from childhood memories to the guidance and direction of the Rebbe that shaped their lives and their work.

The My Encounter project, launched in 2004, is an ambitious effort to collect firsthand accounts of interactions with the Rebbe. Led by Rabbi Yechiel Cagen, thousands of individuals from all walks of life have shared their stories. Two decades later, the project continues to grow, thrive, and inspire hundreds of thousands.

We are pleased to share a brief glimpse into the profound memories and conversations recorded in the testimonies of these veteran Shluchos.

Make the Girls the Priority!

Mrs. Fradel Sudak, the UK’s senior Shlucha, was interviewed for nearly five hours and recounted the early days of Chabad in Britain.

In 1948, while her father was in France, the Frierdiker Rebbe instructed him to go to England and open a girls’ school, at a time when girls were generally not attending Jewish schools at all. It was a radical vision.

Fast forward ten years, and the Sudaks moved to London and helped make that dream a reality. Starting in an older facility, work began on developing a brand-new building for the school.

The general sentiment was that the beautiful new campus would be used for the boys’ school. Rabbi Sudak asked the Rebbe, who directed them to use it for the girls’ school.

As the project continued to expand and more land became available, once again the Rebbe directed them to use it for the girls. A property that seemed perfect for a men’s mikvah and shul was instead transformed into a second wing of the school, complete with a beautiful swimming pool and a brand-new library, even though a well-stocked library stood just around the corner with its own Jewish section. The Rebbe wanted the students to have everything they needed, both physically and spiritually, within the walls of this all-inclusive campus.

Years later, the importance of that pool became even clearer. A non-Lubavitch family explained why they chose the school: it was the only one with a pool. That family is now a family of Shluchim.

“Listen to the Mother”

Mrs. Rochel Goldman, a Shlucha in South Africa for over 50 years, shared a frightening episode during one of her pregnancies, and the Rebbe’s calming guidance and blessing.

It was 1991. Expecting her tenth child and preparing to deliver, the doctors raised an urgent concern: the baby was in a transverse (horizontal) position. She was advised to undergo an emergency C-section.

Mrs. Goldman wasn’t ready to proceed just yet. “It’s the year of wonders and miracles,” she said, a reference to the Hebrew year 5751 (תשנ״א), whose letters form the acronym “I will show them wonders.”

After calling in a second doctor and receiving the same prognosis and medical advice, the physician commented, “Why don’t you call New York?”

Rabbi Goldman immediately contacted his father in Crown Heights to relay the update to the Rebbe.

The Rebbe’s response was: “Seeing that the doctor suggested asking here, I trust he will not have a faribel (bear a grudge) if I suggest listening to the kimpetorin (mother-to-be) and waiting.”

As this overseas conversation was unfolding, the doctor performed another examination. He could hardly believe his eyes when, just twenty seconds later, the baby turned and was born naturally.

Two years later, they discovered an unexpected continuation to the story. After participating in this miraculous delivery, the physician began to observe Shabbos.

More Than Just a Cover

Mrs. Hindy Lew is a longtime emissary in London. Though she did not attend a Chabad school growing up, after meeting the Rebbe as a young teenager, she was all in.

Creative and driven, she launched a magazine called Chabad Times, a periodical published and distributed in Manchester.

In one Chanukah edition, she placed a sketch of a menorah on the cover. She was surprised by the Rebbe’s careful attention to detail. He pointed out that the shamash had been illustrated lower than the other candles instead of higher.

He then explained: On a practical level, the shamash is placed higher so it stands out. Since the Chanukah lights are holy and may not be used, the shamash is set more prominently to ensure that any benefit comes from it and not from the other flames.

But on a deeper level, the shamash represents one who lights another soul. And when you kindle that flame, you are elevated, reaching even higher than the one whose soul you helped illuminate.

Stories like these are printed and distributed to thousands of shuls and individuals around the world in the weekly Here’s My Story.

To receive them directly to your inbox, click here.

You can also explore the full Here’s My Story archive here.

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Shliach Shares Lifelong Search for Happiness in New Song “Already Happy”

Chassidic Italian singer and Shliach Yossi Rodal has released a deeply personal new song and music video, “Already Happy,” sharing his lifelong journey to find real Simcha after the passing of his sister Reizi a”h and, later, his Father a”h. 

The project continues his path of using music as a form of Shlichus, following earlier releases such as “Proud Jew,” “Dry Tears,” and “Moshiach Now.”

As a 12‑year‑old boy, Yossi watched his 10‑year‑old sister battle illness for six months before her passing, an experience that shattered his childhood and left a quiet ache beneath the surface. For years afterward, he tried to escape the pain in all the familiar ways: sports, entertainment, distractions, and constant activity, anything that could momentarily numb the sense of loss rather than confront it.

Torah, Music and therapy slowly became the language through which he began to process his story. In “Already Happy,” Yossi brings together lyrics about purpose, love, and Bitachon with a vulnerable realization: happiness is not something you finally arrive at once life becomes perfect, but a way of walking with Hashem and with the people you love, even while life is still messy and unresolved.

The heart of the song is rooted in the well‑known sicha of the Rebbe of Teruma Nun Beis. When a Yid understands that, no matter what they are going through, they remain deeply connected to Hashem, that connection itself gives them the strength to go through hardship instead of trying to escape it. In this light, simcha in Adar is not an extra pressure “to be happy on command,” but a revelation of a stronger bond with Hashem, and with it, a clearer sense of purpose.

“This might be the saddest happy song you’ve ever heard,” Yossi says, laughing. “It’s me being honest that grief and joy can live in the same heart: that you can be walking with questions and still choose to live a life filled with meaning, love, and Hashem. When you know you’re always connected to Hashem, you don’t have to escape your pain; you can grow from it.”

The narrative behind “Already Happy” traces Yossi’s journey from a struggling young boy to a Husband, Father, and Shliach building a life of giving, through music, Torah, family, and community. It suggests that real simcha doesn’t erase painful chapters, but brings them into one’s relationship with Hashem and Shlichus, deepening a person’s mission in this world.

With “Already Happy,” Yossi continues his mission to speak honestly about struggle while sharing the Rebbe’s message of simcha in a way that feels authentic to today’s reality. The song is an invitation to every listener to recognize that even in the hardest moments, they are not alone, not disconnected, and perhaps,on a deeper level, already much closer to happiness than they think.

“Already Happy” is now available on streaming platforms, with the full music video released on YouTube.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5aYkFQRPTpuUdqmcYzsfCy?si=2AD83IjpScmr_i_ETL0PKQ

Shabbos Avos U’Banim Brings Fathers to Cincinnati

This past Shabbos, Parshas Teruma 5786, over 50 fathers (of talmidim of Shiuirim Aleph and Gimmel) arrived at Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati for the annual “Shabbas Avos U’banim”.

The fathers were greeted with a custom-designed welcome bag with information regarding the Shabbos schedule and program . 

The program started Friday morning with Chassidus. After davening and a delicious breakfast, the parents learned Seder NIgleh with their sons and heard shiurim from the Maggidei Shiurim Rabbi Zusman Oster (Shiur Aleph)and Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson (Shiur Gimmel), then went on Mivtzoim with their son. The Yeshiva moved into the local chabad shul for mincha and Maariv. 

After Kabalas Shabbos, the fathers and sons took their seats in the newly expanded  and renovated Beis Medrash, specially set-up for the occasion under the direction of the Menahel Gashmi, Rabbi Eliyahu Morrison. The yeshivah extends heartfelt thanks to Reb Elad Sayid – the new chef of Yeshiva – for the delicious food.

During the course of the seudah, divrei Torah and Hisorerus  were shared by hatmimim Shmaryahu Bronstein (PA) , as well as shluchim Rabbi Zalman Raskin (PA), Rabbi Shmuel Turk (CH) and Rabbi Mordechai Groner (Calgary).  The Seudah was followed by Farbrengens all night with Rabbi Sender Geinsinsky (Maryland) and Rabbi Dovid Abba Mockin (Rochester).

On Shabbos morning, there was a special seder Chassidus led by Rabbi Shmuel Granovetter and Shiur Tanya by  Eliyahu Landa. Following Shacharis, which included a strong chinuch-drasha by the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Gershon Avtzon, all the fathers and sons joined together for a Shabbos seudah with the fathers’ host families as well as in Yeshiva where there was a Farbrengen with the Shliach, Rabbi Sholom Heidingsfeld (CA).

After Minchah, there was a special  farbrengen in the Zal with Rabbi Levi Simpson. The farbrengen was followed by Maariv, a video of the Rebbe and dancing for Chodesh Adar. A special Melave Malkah – with the theme of “50 years of Mivtza Chinuch” was held in the building of the new Yeshiva Gedolah. 

The Keynote address was given by **Rabbi Mendel Scharf (**CH). Rabbi Avtzon spoke about the history of the Yeshiva gedolah of Cincinnati (established 50 years ago by the Rebbe) and the amazing answers recieved (through the Igros Kodesh) to restablish the Yeshiva.

During the Melava Malka, it was officially announced to the parents that the famous mashpia – Rabbi Mendel Levin – will be joining the staff of the Yeshiva Gedolah as Mashpia Klali.

At the conclusion of the Melavah Malka, Rabbi Moshe Wolf (Chicago) – from the Vaad of the Yeshiva – announced the establishment of a new “Hanhalla Simcha Fund” which will IYH participate in the lifestyle simchas (Births, Bar-Mitzvahs and weddings) of the Hanhalla IYH.

On Sunday morning there was a chinuch seminar for the fathers, organized by the Menahel of the yeshivah, Rabbi Menachem Benarousse. Later in the day, fathers had the opportunity to meet privately with the teachers to discuss their sons’ progress and growth.

The weekend concluded with parents, bochurim, and hanhalah alike inspired and energized to fulfill the Rebbe’s shlichus “to be mekabel p’nei Moshiach tzidkeinu bepo’el mamash!”

Alternate Side Parking Suspended Through Sunday for Snow Operations

The Mamdani administration today announced that Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended through Sunday, March 1, 2026, to facilitate snow operations. Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout the city.

Shomrim Responds To Call For Help As 150 Teens Stranded In JFK Airport

Shomrim responded swiftly to an urgent call from CTeen leadership to assist approximately 150 CTeens stranded at JFK Airport. Three vehicles and seven dedicated volunteers delivered food and water and provided critical logistics and transportation support, including assistance for an additional group of teens staying at a nearby hotel. In addition, Shomrim arranged and coordinated two buses to transport groups of teens back to Crown Heights.

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Thank you to Rabbi Yaakov Behrman for helping ensure a smooth process with JFK security and leadership, in coordination with city officials and the NYPD. Special thanks as well to community activist Isaac Cohen for his invaluable assistance liaising with the Port Authority and the TSA, helping ensure a smooth outcome.

Thank you as well to Rabbi Bender of the Achiezer Community Resource Center for mobilizing additional resources.

A big thank-you to all the drivers and volunteers who truly went above and beyond.

The Rashag – Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary – Yahrtzeit 6 Adar

Rabbi Chaim Dalfin gives a summary of the life of Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary – The Rashag, as he continues his series on important people in Chabad.

Kinus for Shluchim Across Ukraine Takes Place in Dnipro

A large-scale Shabbaton for the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s shluchim took place in Dnipro, bringing together over 50 shluchim from 16 cities across Ukraine. The forum was initiated by JRNU (Jewish Relief Network Ukraine) in partnership with the Dnipro Jewish Community and served as a vital platform for strengthening unity, sharing experiences, fostering camaraderie, and gaining renewed inspiration to continue the great spiritual mission of reviving Jewish life in Ukraine.

From the outset, the Shabbaton was conceived not as a formal gathering but as a space for deep spiritual work in an atmosphere of authentic Yiddishkeit and Chassidic joy. Participants were offered a rich program that combined strategic discussions, security briefings, experience-sharing, and a shared Shabbos experience in an atmosphere of achdus. A special role in realizing the forum was played by the support and personal involvement of JRNU director Rabbi Shlomo Neiman, thanks to whom this project achieved national scope and systemic resonance.

The working part of the program included a seminar on community security infrastructure, which holds particular significance in current realities for rabbis working in Ukrainian cities. This seminar was led by renowned security expert Ilya Goldberg, representative of the CWA organization in Ukraine.

A special place was given to the JRNU educational projects fair with discussion circles, where rabbis exchanged experiences, discussed program development, and sought new formats for supporting Jewish communities. These meetings enabled the integration of the Shabbos spiritual component with concrete tools for strengthening work in the regions. Professional discussions on educational and social projects also took place, where shluchim shared innovative ideas and approaches to developing community life.

It is worth noting that on the eve of the Shabbaton, a ceremony was held for the completion of a new Sefer Torah for Mykolaiv, in which many forum participants took part. This event, made possible through the generous gift of the Demchenko family—highly respected members of the Dnipro Jewish Community—organically preceded the Shabbos days and imbued the gathering with additional spiritual resonance.

A rich parallel program took place for the shluchos—lectures, interactive formats, workshops, meetings with Rebbetzin Chana Kaminezki, women’s classes, and a seder niggunim created a special space of support, gratitude, and increased joy during the month of Adar. An equally important part of the forum was a dedicated children’s program for boys and girls tailored to their ages.

The culmination of all Shabbaton events was Shabbos itself—communal prayers, festive meals in the magnificent Grande Hall, Chassidic lessons, and farbrengens created an atmosphere of true unity. A special place was held by the Melave Malka meal in the Ballroom of the Menorah Center, which served as a festive and emotional conclusion to Shabbos. This gathering brought together words of Torah, Chassidic stories, blessings, and a profound sense of brotherhood among the shluchim.

The Shabbaton was prepared by a dedicated team of organizers. Among the main coordinators were Rabbi Simcha Levengartz, who oversees many JRNU projects, Rabbi Reuven Kaminezki, Rabbi Shlomo Solomon and his wife Dina, Rebbetzin Sarah Stambler, and Rabbi Liron Edri. The organization of the Melave Malka was undertaken by Rabbi Moshe and Shoshi Weber.

The organizers express special gratitude to the Menorah Center for its high level of hospitality, as well as to Rada Romantsova, who provided technical and logistical preparation for the forum over the preceding weeks.

“This Shabbaton once again demonstrated the importance and success of collaboration between the Rebbe’s shluchim in various Ukrainian communities and JRNU, who share responsibility for the future of Jewish life—which is the foundation of resilience and development for communities throughout Ukraine,” said Chief Rabbi of Dnipro Shmuel Kaminezki. “It is especially significant to us that such a Shabbaton takes place in Dnipro and is implemented by the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine, providing shluchim with the opportunity to strengthen themselves, feel support, and return to their communities with renewed energy and inspiration.”

Picture of the Day

There is a child inside each and every one of us. It’s a snowstorm, so a snowman is called for.

RECAP: Jewish Teens Declare Torah’s Timely Relevance In Nassau Coliseum

In a powerful display of Jewish resilience, eight thousand Jewish teens filled Nassau Coliseum for the closing ceremony of the 18th annual CTeen International Shabbaton, showcasing stories of a generation turning to Judaism’s timeless teachings for strength and refusing to back down in the face of adversity.

After four days full of Jewish pride and practice, including Shabbos in Crown Heights, an iconic Times Square Takeover, as part of a weekend that brought 4,578 teens from 60 countries to New York. The largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world had its grand finale: Its closing event, titled “Live the Life,” was the largest international Jewish teen event to date.

“It feels like a bunch of souls getting together,” said Ghenna Aharonow, of Chisinau, Moldova, taking two long flights to get to New York. “As we learned at CTeen, a flame only gets bigger when other flames join it. The feeling of being together with thousands of Jewish teens, as one, was bigger than words.”

Eli Tsives, the UCLA student and Jewish campus activist who MC’d the afternoon, set the tone early, highlighting the event’s theme: “We’re not built for low-res living. We were made to live fully, boldly, Jewishly.

“Tonight highlights the tremendous surge in Jewish engagement we’ve seen among youth across the globe, as they turn to Torah’s eternally relevant answers for today’s timely questions,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International.

Throughout the event, Nissim Black, a renowned Chasidic hip-hop artist, had the crowd jumping to his high-energy beats, while Noam Buskila brought a traditional sound to the stage.

A fun and educational live game show inspired by the Rebbe’s Mivtzah Taharas Hamishpacha addressed today’s love and relationships questions through the lens of Torah, featuring Rebbetzin Goldie Plotkin, Raizel Namdar of That Jewish Family, and Miriam Ezagui. Taking the stage with buzzers, they fielded live questions from teens in the crowd: What is love? How do I know if someone is my soulmate? How to build a relationship that lasts?

Then the energy shifted. A video appeared on the screens showing Leibel Lazaroff, the young man shot during the Bondi Beach Chanukah attack, playing “Ani Maamin” on his guitar. Noam Buskila introduced teens from Sydney, including David on the saxophone, all personally impacted by the attack. And then, the surprise, Leibel himself walked out from behind the stage

The coliseum erupted.

“When I woke up from my coma, my first thought was: Wow. I’m alive,” Lazaroff told the crowd. “The doctors told me straight: if I’d gotten to the hospital five minutes later, it would’ve been over.”

He described the thousands of mitzvos taken on in his merit. “David in Tennessee put on tefillin for the first time. Sara from California lit Shabbos candles. When I saw the CTeen mitzvah campaign, I got emotional. You helped save my life.”

Lazaroff, who grew up at Chabad of Texas A&M, spoke about what carried him through months of recovery. “People ask me, how are you navigating this darkness? The truth is, I was raised in a home where Torah and mitzvos weren’t extra. They were the lens through which we saw the world. This is how I learned to live in HD.”

He closed with the Rebbe’s message that had played on the Times Square screens the night before. “The world can look like a jungle, wild, messy, out of control. But when we study Torah and view our reality through G-d’s lens, dirt becomes soil, weeds become flowers, and challenges become opportunities.” 

Then he led the coliseum in singing “Ani Maamin,” joined by Noam, David, and the Sydney teens, arms locked, 8,000 voices singing together.

Former Israeli hostage Ilana Gritzewsky presented the Az Kanamer Award to teen athletes Michael Shapira, Scarlet Gurevich, and Justin Schoen. Gritzewsky spoke about the courage it takes to choose Jewish identity. “You don’t have to be stripped of everything like I was to discover your neshamah,” she told the teens. “It’s already inside you, alive, powerful, and waiting to be heard.

Philanthropist Igor Tulchinsky, founder of WorldQuant and a longtime CTeen supporter, delivered the keynote. “Looking around this room, I don’t just see a Shabbaton,” he said. “I see leadership. I see responsibility. I see teens who are choosing Judaism, not because you have to, but because you want to.”

He challenged each teen to make Torah a daily commitment. “Ten minutes a day. One page. One chapter. A chavrusa. Tomorrow morning, before you open your phone, open a Torah book.”

The program then got down to business. Marcus Sharf, a young sneaker entrepreneur and founder of HYP Miami, sat down with his CTeen Bucks County Rabbi Chaim Shemtov for a live onstage interview about building a successful business through a Jewish lens. Sharf, who built his company as a teen, spoke about how Torah principles guided his approach to finances, discipline, and purpose. “Everyone wants to make money,” Sharf told the crowd. “But Torah teaches you what to do with it, and why it matters.”

“The Rebbe taught that a closing event isn’t an end, it’s a beginning,” said Rabbi Kotlarsky. “Now, these teens are bringing that light home to hundreds of communities, as ambassadors and leaders, in their hometowns, classrooms, and everywhere they go.”

Photo Credit: Sholem Srugo/Itzik Belenitzky/CTeen

How 10,734 People Got to the Rebbe this Month

Have you noticed the snow piles around Crown Heights this past month? The mountains to climb to reach your car, the curbs of slush to hack your stroller through, the black ice that makes a quick errand turn treacherous.

Yet this month, lots of important dates came and went. Yud Shevat. The Kinus. Chof Beis Shevat. While Crown Heights floundered in snow, over 9,600 Yidden seamlessly traveled to and from the Ohel.

How?

Gamechanger

For decades, getting to the Ohel was a “project.” If you didn’t own a car, your day was a puzzle: navigate multiple trains and buses for two hours, coordinate carpools on the corner of Kingston and Eastern Parkway,

From Manhattan? The trip was virtually unheard of.

Today, that barrier has vanished. What used to be a logistical nightmare is now as simple as hopping on a bus.

And in the process, the Ohel Bus changed the way thousands of Jews relate to the Rebbe.

The Power of “No matter what”

The real story lies in the consistency.

“The bus drives even if there is only one person on it,” the organizers explain. Rain, snow, or heat, the schedule is an ironclad promise. This reliability has shifted the communal mindset from “Can I get there?” to “The bus is leaving at 11:00, I’m going.”

One rider, Dana from Manhattan, experienced this firsthand during a particularly challenging time in her life. Facing a critical medical test, she needed to be at the Ohel. Despite being the only passenger on a new Manhattan route, the bus showed up.

“I was shocked when the bus showed up,” Dana recalls. “The driver told me, ‘My boss said there is one woman who needs to go to the Ohel, so this is why I’m here.’ I was so moved, I cried the whole way there.”

Deeply moved by this commitment, Dana later filled an entire bus with her own group of friends as a thank-you. She’s done it multiple times since, creating a ripple effect of connection that continues to grow.

Now she goes once a month, a schedule virtually impossible before the bus began. “I just have the peace of mind that if I want to visit the Ohel, I can always hop on the bus.” 

A High-Demand Item

The expansion into Manhattan and Borough Park has proven that the hunger for connection isn’t limited by zip codes. From Manhattan alone, buses now run four times a week.

“When you see a bus going four times a week, it tells you this is a high-demand item,” notes Rabbi Wilhelm, a shliach in Manhattan who has seen his community’s relationship with the Ohel transform. “It’s not just about the technicality of the ride. It’s about awareness. It normalizes the idea that the Rebbe is the address for everything in life: for happy times, for struggles, for every neshama.”

Rabbi Wilhelm’s community formed an “Ohel Crew,” about 20 young professionals and community members who go monthly. One local man travels from the Upper West Side every single week. 

To deepen the experience, the Ohel Bus ensures a Farbrenger is on board every Manhattan route, transforming the commute into a space for learning and connection.”We go as strangers and come back as friends,” one participant shared.

Who’s Using I?

One bochur in 770 says the bus completely changed his year. “It made consistent connection possible. I felt responsible to answer to the Rebbe for my year.”

For mothers in Crown Heights, it’s about spontaneity. A child’s birthday comes up? Hop on the bus. Need to say a quick tefillah between school drop-off and errands? No stress, no planning, just go.

“Whenever I pass Eastern Parkway and see the bus filling up, I feel a longing to go daven at the Ohel,” one resident shares.

Even the visiting groups changed. Out-of-towners who used to fill their free time shopping on Kingston Avenue now spend it at the Ohel. “It became a time of true hiskashrus,” one visitor notes. “Instead of shopping, it’s now: wake up, go to the Ohel, daven, learn.”

Revealed Good

The stories emerging from these rides reflect a truth the Rebbe taught: when we take a step to connect, we open ourselves to revealed good. For one woman, that good was immediate; she davened at the Ohel about a job situation and received a call about a significant bonus before she even stepped back off the bus. Another rider shared how a missed bus led to an unexpected ride that ultimately resulted in a shidduch at age 33. Even the bus drivers have been impacted. One non-Jewish driver, encouraged to ask for a blessing, requested $20,000 to help his family; ten days later, he won that exact amount in the lottery.

The Ohel isn’t about spectacular outcomes, however. For many, the “miracle” is the quiet, consistent transformation of their week. It’s about the clarity that comes from a Tuesday morning trip to Queens and the peace of mind that comes from knowing the Rebbe is always accessible.

Hop On

The sight of the bus filling up on Eastern Parkway or at a Manhattan corner is a silent reminder to every passerby.

“It’s a statement,” says one organizer. “A statement that we go to the Rebbe at all times of the day.” The bus is a constant, gentle nudge that the doors are open, the engine is running, and the connection is waiting.

This past year, 82,483 people made that connection. This month alone? 10,734.

Rain or shine. Snow or sun. One person or forty. The bus is there.

Your turn.

Visit bustoohel.com to see the full schedule.

Teen Launches Extended Shabbaton Program as 1,500 CTeeners From Dozens of Countries Await Rescheduled Flights Due to Winter Storm

Hours after 4,578 Jewish teenagers from 60 countries filled Nassau Coliseum for CTeen’s closing event, nearly 1,500 of them find themselves stranded in New York after a winter storm cancelled flights across the East Coast.

With rescheduled flights not expected until later this week, CTeen is extending the experience with workshops, activities, and programming, giving teens more quality time together in an environment most of them rarely get back home.

Kira Rothschild, who traveled with the Sydney delegation, is among those still waiting in New York. “Unfortunately, I have to miss some important schoolwork,” she said, “but I get to enjoy this experience with everyone and embrace the New York spirit. It’s just so amazing to be part of.”

The teens come from across the globe, from Brazil to Barcelona, and many have never seen snow before. For a large number of them, this weekend marked the rare experience of being surrounded by Jewish peers; back home, many are the only Jewish student in their school.

“The Rebbe taught us that one is never stuck,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “We can’t always control our situations**, but we can control** how we respond. Instead of seeing this as a setback, the teens are seizing the opportunity to grow and connect in an uplifting environment.”

The CTeen team worked around the clock with shluchim, Crown Heights vendors**,** and generous community members to create the extended program, with engaging workshops, activities, meals, and lodging.

Nava Emanuel of CTeen Skokie had planned to fly home, but instead finds herself on an overnight road trip back to the Midwest with 50 teens from six cities across three states. “We were all really worried about spending so long cooped up on a bus with 50 people,” she said. “But it’s actually been fun. Some of us got to study Torah with the rabbi, we all said Shema together, and we got to spend more time with each other and meet teens from other chapters.”

For teens who rarely have access to a large Jewish peer group, the unexpected detour gave them exactly that.

“Even though we may be ‘stuck’ in New York, to me, there is no use being worried**. G-d** put us all here for a reason,” said Ethan Hobbs, a leader at KCTeen Kansas. “I look forward to finding out!”

BDE: Reb Sholom Dovber Levine, 86, OBM

With great sadness we report the passing of Reb Sholom Dovber Levine OBM, a member of the Chabad community in Los Angeles, CA. He passed away on Sunday, the 5th of Adar, 5786.

He was 86 years old.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Tova Levine, and their children: Mrs. Matty Bryski (Agoura Hills, CA), Rabbi Yisroel Levine (Oak Park, CA), Mrs. Stery Zajac (Los Angeles, CA), and Mrs. Sarah Brenenson (Florida).

The levayah will take place today, Sunday, beginning at 2:00pm in Los Angeles, followed by burial at 3:00pm at Mount Olive Cemetery.

The family will be sitting shiva at 361 N. Vista St., Los Angeles, CA 90036.
Shacharis: 9:00am
Mincha followed by Maariv: 5:30pm

The family requests no visitors between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, and after 9:30 PM.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

Impressive Avos U’Bonim Gathering at Moscow’s Central Shul

An hour after Shabbos concluded on Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Terumah, a steady stream of fathers and sons could be seen making their way to Moscow’s central Marina Roscha Shul. As has become the custom throughout the winter months, the popular “Avos U’Bonim” learning program brought together Jewish boys from across Moscow, representing many segments of the community.

With Motzaei Shabbos now coming later, and many families traveling significant distances, this year’s program concluded with a beautiful and uplifting siyum celebration. Fathers and sons were encouraged to continue dedicating this special hour of joint Torah study—whether at home, in shul, or at their local Chabad House—ensuring that the flame ignited over the winter months continues to burn brightly.

The gathering was graced by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Harav Berel Lazar shlita, who noted that these days mark the beginning of the centennial year of the famous Maamar delivered in Moscow itself by the Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, zy”a. That historic discourse became a cornerstone of the spiritual resistance against the oppressive Soviet regime—and ultimately led to the death sentence that was later issued against him.

The Maamar, known by its opening words “Vekibel HaYehudim,” was delivered at a Purim Katan farbrengen in 5687 (1927) at the Arkhipova Synagogue in Moscow. In those days of terror and fear, when the regime sought to uproot every trace of Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe spoke openly and unequivocally about the sacred obligation to strengthen Jewish education—even at the cost of literal mesirus nefesh. There was to be no surrender, no compromise, no sending children to the Yevsektsiya schools, regardless of the consequences. “One must be prepared to jump into the fiery furnace,” he declared.

The maamar emphasized mesirus nefesh in the observance of Torah and mitzvos, and especially in the chinuch of Jewish children—olalim v’yonkim—regarding whom the possuk states: “From the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have established strength… to silence the enemy and avenger.” Chaza”l teach: “There is no strength other than Torah.” The Torah study of tinokos shel beis rabban is the power that silences all who seek to harm the Jewish people.

So it was in the days of Mordechai. He was not intimidated by Haman’s decree. He gathered twenty-two thousand Jewish children and learned Torah with them until they cried out, “Amcha anachnu—we are Your people!” When Haman heard their voices, he knew his decree was null and void. For when Jewish children proclaim “Al tira,” “Utzu eitzah v’sufar,” “V’ad ziknah Ani Hu”—no force in the world can prevail against them.

Nearly one hundred years have passed. And here we stand—in Moscow. Not far from the very site where that bold Maamar was delivered, hundreds of fathers and sons now sit together. Not in hiding. Not in fear. But openly, proudly, with light and with joy—learning a sugya together, reviewing what they have studied, singing a Chassidishe niggun, and strengthening their kvius in Torah.

Anyone who has studied what Moscow was like in 5687 can scarcely comprehend the scene. The very city where melamdim were persecuted, chadarim shuttered, rabbanim arrested, and shluchim exiled—is today filled with the clear, resonant sound of Torah emanating from children in yarmulkes sitting beside their fathers.

This is the “Kiymu V’Kiblu” of our generation—fulfilling what was accepted then with mesirus nefesh. Fulfilling the promise that the flame of Klal Yisrael would never be extinguished, no matter how fiercely it was trampled.

With the opening of this centennial year—and with the voice of Torah not merely surviving but growing ever stronger—the Chief Rabbi proclaimed that this year will be marked by increased Torah study and expanded efforts in Jewish education for Moscow’s children. New programs and major initiatives are being launched to further strengthen Torah learning and to magnify the voices of tinokos shel beis rabban.

On behalf of the entire congregation, the synagogue’s gabbai expressed heartfelt appreciation to the program’s director, shliach and mechanech Rabbi Yeshaya Gross, for his tireless dedication to the program’s success.

Each child received a personalized, branded thermos as a token of appreciation—encouraging the beautiful custom of enjoying something hot on Motzaei Shabbos after learning. In addition, the coveted raffle prize—a ticket to travel to the Rebbe—was won by the outstanding student Yisrael Diktshtein.

Photo Credit: Sergei Klatskin

Mamdani Enacts Travel Ban Over Impending Snowstorm, Violations May Be Punished

by CrownHeights.info

As New York City faces down a historic snowstorm that may bury the boroughs under two feet of snow, the Mayor has enacted a travel ban throughout the city, telling residents that they should stay home between 9:00pm Sunday night and 12:00pm Monday.

The announcement was made at a press conference held by Mayor Mamdani, at which he took questions from the media and noted that although the focus will not be on punishing infractions, the focus will be on “compliance”. When pressed, the Mayor did say that infractions are a class B misdemeanor offense.

This storm may hit the history books as one of the largest snowstorms to hit NYC in its history.

Mayor Mamdani Holds Press Conference to Provide Weather Updates https://t.co/d7txgmpbiH

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 22, 2026

Hamantaschen from Israel, Graggers and Fuel: Ukraine Prepares for Purim

While entire regions of Ukraine continue to grapple with damaged infrastructure, food shortages and an extremely harsh winter, Jewish communities across the country are preparing to celebrate Purim – four years into an unrelenting crisis. In Chernivtsi, volunteers will visit every elderly and isolated resident in the city. In Kryvyi Rih, where electricity flows for just three hours a day, the community is organizing a large festive meal. In addition, 24,000 ‘mishloach manot’ packages will be distributed nationwide this year, including humanitarian supplies.

Four years after the outbreak of the severe crisis in Ukraine, Jewish communities uniting tens of thousands of families throughout the country are preparing for Purim under extremely challenging conditions.

In Kryvyi Rih, celebrating the holiday will be no simple task. “For months now, electricity has been available in homes for only three hours a day,” said the city’s rabbi and Chabad emissary, Rabbi Liron Edri. “That means heating systems are shut down in the middle of harsh winter weather.”

Despite the difficulties, registration for holiday events is packed and preparations are in full swing. “Before the festive meal, we’re organizing a costume party for children and adults, and dozens have already signed up. More than 200 people have registered for the meal itself. We all pray that we will merit that there will be light and joy for all residents.”

Rabbi Menachem Glitzenshtein, rabbi of Chernivtsi, described similar challenges. “These days, when it is dark and freezing outside and there is no electricity for more than 20 hours a day, our role is to increase joy and bring the happiness of the holiday to the Jews of our city.”

“Instead of sitting another day in a cold, dark home,” added Rabbi Glitzenshtein “they will enjoy a rich festive meal in a warm and pleasant setting.”

Simultaneously, the community is organizing the distribution of hundreds of mishloach manot packages to elderly and disabled residents, including holocaust survivors. “Young members of the community will deliver the packages directly to people’s doors. Our goal is that the joy of the holiday reaches every Jew.”

24,000 Purim Packages for Ukrainian Jewry

In the coming days, JRNU, FJC and Chabad’s humanitarian emergency network in Ukraine, is launching a large-scale “Purim Campaign,” one of the most extensive initiatives since the crisis began.

In recent weeks, preparations have been completed for the distribution of 24,000 mishloach manot packages across 25 major cities and regions, as well as hundreds of small and isolated villages—some of which are still dealing with severe damage to basic infrastructure.

In parallel, thousands of humanitarian food packages will be distributed to families in need, many with young children. “There are families who have been unable to make ends meet for years,” said one Chabad emissary working in the capital, Kyiv. “Purim is a holiday of joy, but first we have to make sure there is food on the table.”

At JRNU’s large warehouses, volunteers are working in shifts around the clock. Trucks are constantly arriving and departing, packing lines are operating non-stop, and thousands of boxes are stacked and ready for distribution. “It looks like a military operation,” said Rabbi Simcha Levenhartz, director of JRNU. “But this is an operation of kindness and giving.”

What will Ukrainian Jews receive in their Purim packages next week? Hamantaschen baked in Israel, graggers, snacks, cookies and grape juice. In addition, humanitarian packages will include kosher poultry, dairy products, oil, sugar, natural juices, ketchup, mayonnaise, honey cookies, additional cookies, pasta, rice, buckwheat, oats, corn, tea, coffee and more.

This year, due to the ongoing crisis, there is an added layer: emergency equipment. Alongside the mishloach manot and food packages, generators, fuel, heaters and alternative energy solutions have been sent to communities in areas where electricity remains unstable.

“In some places, power outages are a daily occurrence,” Rabbi Levenhartz noted. “You can’t talk about celebrating a holiday when it’s freezing at home.”

Chabad Emissaries report a sharp rise in requests for assistance. “The economic reality is difficult, and the crisis has left wounds that have not healed,” said one of them. “We are trying to reach every location, even villages that can only be accessed with off-road vehicles.”

Alternate Side Parking Suspended Monday For Snow Operations

The Mamdani administration today announced that Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended Monday, February 23, 2026, to facilitate snow operations. Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout the city.

Over 3,000 Flights Canceled at NYC Airports as Historic Blizzard Threatens to Bury Region in 2-Feet of Snow

New York Post

Over 3,000 flights have been canceled at major Big Apple airports as a historic blizzard threatens to bury the region in at least two feet of snow, reports said.

With perilous conditions expected to batter the Northeast Sunday, several major airlines grounded flights Saturday at key hubs, including JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and airports in Philadelphia and Boston — and the number is expected to skyrocket once snow begins to fall, according to FOX Weather.

Major carriers, including Delta, American, and United, scrapped flights in the New York City area and Boston’s Logan Airport ahead of the massive nor’easter, with JetBlue cutting 40% of its Sunday schedule, according to FlightAware data reviewed by the outlet.

LIVE 12:15PM: CTeen’s Historic “Live The Life” at Nassau Coliseum

The largest gathering of Jewish teens culminates today at the Nassau Coliseum, where 8,000 Jewish teens and their families will gather for “The Live the Life Event,” the largest CTeen event to date.

After an unforgettable Shabbos in Crown Heights and a Times Square Takeover, the weekend’s final chapter moves to Long Island for an afternoon of music, inspiration, and Jewish pride.

The lineup includes headliners Nissim Black and Noam Buskila. And guest speakers include  Marcus Sharf, the 22-year-old founder of HYP Miami, Rebbetzin Goldie Plotkin, Mendel Richter, AKA “Reggie”, Raizel Namdar of That Jewish Family,

A cohort of accomplished and proudly Jewish teen athletes will appear. including Michael Shapira, Justin Schoen, and Scarlet Gurevich, as well as a virtual appearance by Leibel Lazaroff, who was shot and risked his life to save others during the Bondi attack.

“The Rebbe taught that young people are the leaders of today,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302 and Chairman of CTeen International. “When thousands of teens from 60 countries gather with that kind of clarity and pride, it creates positive energy that spreads to their schools and communities across the globe.”

Take part in this historic event.
Watch Live:

Promo Video:

Strong Collaboration Between Shomrim and the NYPD Ends In Car Thief’s Arrest

by CrownHeights.info

A phone call, A Volunteer, and an Arrest, all in five minutes.

Crown Heights Shomrim received a phone call from the NYPD’s 71st Precinct with a request for help after a local vehicle was stolen.

Volunteers from Crown Heights Shomrim’s Operations Team got on the case, and in a matter of minutes the vehicle was identified in the area. Another Shomrim volunteer quickly responded, responding to the stolen vehicle and keeping an eye as the NYPD responded to the location.

From phone call to arrest, just five minutes had passed.

Thanks to the strong collaboration between Shomrim and the NYPD another criminal now faces the consequences of his actions.

CTeen ’86: Times Square Takeover

The screens of Times Square glowed with Jewish imagery on Motzei Shabbos as thousands of Jewish teens packed the crossroads of the world. Energized by an uplifting Shabbos in Crown Heights at the 18th CTeen International Shabbaton, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world, they were now leading one of the most public displays of Jewish pride the world has ever seen.

“Throughout the year, these teens are on the frontlines, defending what it means to be Jewish,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “Tonight, Judaism is on the offense. The Rebbe taught us never to underestimate the power of youth, and this weekend is their springboard to change the face of Jewish life globally.”

“Am Yisrael Chai.” 18 years strong. 18 years united. 18 years unapologetic,” declared Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director of CTeen International at Merkos 302, marking CTeen’s chai anniversary. “Tonight, we celebrate the true life, the life of Torah.”

The annual Times Square Takeover, a signature moment of the CTeen International Shabbaton, drew 7,000 participants from 60 countries to the crossroads of the world for Havdalah, a live concert, and a night of unapologetic Jewish pride. CTeen, the world’s largest Jewish teen network, has held the takeover annually, transforming Times Square into one of the most visible displays of Jewish identity anywhere.

“Times Square is incredible, just that energy, thousands of Jewish teens all together.” said Ethan Hobbs, CTeen leader at KCTeen Kansas City. “I’m 18, CTeen is 18. I’ve grown up alongside this movement.”

Singer Benny Friedman led Havdalah on stage, marking the transition from Shabbos to a new week. Israeli singer Noam Buskila and Nissim Black performed concert sets that kept the crowd on its feet.

A milestone announcement brought the night to a roar. CTeen revealed it has reached 900 chapters worldwide, spanning over 60 countries. What began 18 years ago with a handful of chapters has grown into the world’s largest Jewish teen movement, with a presence on six continents, from Budapest to Asunción to Hong Kong.

“I’m excited to help my brother get ignited in his Jewish journey,” Hobbs said. “This is my last Shabbaton, but it’s my brother’s first. I’ve been co-president of my CTeen and helped grow it into the largest youth group in town. Now it’s time to inspire others to do the same.”

The emotional peak arrived when Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky, and Segev Kalfon, freed hostages, took the stage and declared “Shema Yisrael” together with the teens. Among them was Segev Kalfon, who had dreamed of saying Shema upon his release from Hamas captivity. He said it Saturday night, not from a cellar in Gaza, but from a proud Jewish stage in the heart of Times Square. Singer Noam Buskila then joined the hostages and teens for a heartfelt “Shir Hama’alos.”

        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by CrownHeights.info (@chinfo.official)

Rabbi Kotlarsky, who had just returned from the Kinus in Bondi, turned the crowd’s attention to Sydney, where on the first night of Chanukah, fifteen people were murdered at Bondi Beach, among them CTeen Bondi director Rabbi Eli Schlanger HY”D.

The Rebbe’s message played on the massive screens, addressing how Jews respond to tragedy with strength and action. Then Priva Schlanger, Rabbi Schlanger’s eldest daughter, took the stage. “One year ago, my father saw you, proud, connected Jewish leaders, and CTeen Bondi was born,” she told the crowd. “Losing my father shattered our world. But it did not shatter his mission. The answer isn’t why. It’s what can we do.” She paused. “Darkness doesn’t define the moment. Our actions do.”

Rabbi Kotlarsky, together with philanthropist Igor Tulchinsky, surprised Priva with the announcement of “Rabbi Eli’s Lounge,” a new CTeen Lounge to be built in Rabbi Schlanger’s memory.

“There’s one thing we will make sure of,” Kotlarsky told the crowd, “light will always have the final word.”

Photo Credit Itzik Belenitzki/MG InFocus/CTeen

Brunoy Yeshiva Dances Into The Month of Adar

The famed Yeshiva, Tomchei Temimim Brunoy, hosted a night of dancing for the month of Adar this Motzei Shabbat, Parashat Terumah.

Held in the Yeshiva’s large Zal, the event featured singers Shalom Djian and Mendy Gabay accompanied by the Ba’hour Acher Touitou and and its orchestra.

 Photo Credit: Mordechai Lubecki

Gallery: Friday Learning in 770 CTeen Shabbaton 5786

From the pre-shabbos chavrusah learning, visiting the rebbe’s room in 770, and followed by a powerful Kabbalas Shabbos where the Crown Heights community welcomed the teens to takeover the main shul, the CTeen Shabbaton ha rocked Crown Heights.

Photo Credit: Sholem Srugo/CTeen

Live at 8:30PM In Times Square: CTeen Concert and Jewish Pride

At 8:30 PM ET, the CTeen International Shabbaton’s annual Times Square Takeover will transform Duffy Square into a celebration of Jewish identity, broadcast live from the heart of New York City. The massive screens of Times Square will be substituted with Jewish messages of resilience and tradition, and videos of the Rebbe, as teens from 60 countries gather for Havdalah, a live concert, and addresses from freed hostages, community leaders, and public figures.

The event caps an uplifting Shabbos in Crown heights, where 4,578 teens from 486 cities traveled to New York for the 18th annual CTeen Shabbaton, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world. CTeen, the world’s largest teen movement, connects Jewish teens to their heritage through nearly 900 chapters worldwide.

“Throughout the year, these teens are on the frontlines explaining what being Jewish means to their peers and classmates,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “Now they’re walking into Times Square to show the world what Jewish pride looks like. Loud, proud, and unapologetic.”

For many of the teens, the moment is personal. They come from communities where they’re the only Jewish student in their school, from countries where wearing a Kippah takes courage. Tonight, surrounded by thousands who share that experience, they stand together in the most iconic intersection on earth, sending a powerful message to the world. It’s the vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who saw Jewish youth not as the future of the Jewish people, but as its leaders today.

The gathering carries a pointed message. Among those addressing the crowd will be freed hostages who endured months of captivity in Gaza. Two years ago, CTeen stood in this same spot and prayed for the release of former hostage Yosef Chaim. Tonight, he’s here to say thank you. Teens from Bondi Beach, whose rabbi was murdered in the Chanukah terror attack two months ago, will also take the stage.

In a year marked by rising antisemitism worldwide, the teens’ presence in Times Square is a declaration: Jewish life is alive, vibrant, and not going anywhere.

Each teen will return home to their community carrying that message with them, serving as ambassadors of Jewish pride in their schools, their cities, and their countries.

Watch live at 8:30 PM ET:

The Shabbaton continues tomorrow with a closing event at Nassau Coliseum, where 8,000 are expected.

Travel Advisory Issued As Snowfall Estimates Balloon to 18-24 Inches

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) has issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory for New York City beginning Sunday, February 22 through Monday, February 23 as the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts 12-20 inches of snow citywide, with a chance of higher localized totals.

“As our city prepares for levels of snow not seen since 2016, my administration is ready. We are activating every tool at our disposal to keep New Yorkers safe, informed and indoors,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “We all have a role to play in keeping our communities and neighbors safe, and so while DSNY loads salt spreaders and DOT prepares our streets for snowfall, I am encouraging every New Yorker to stay inside and avoid travel.”

Hazardous travel is forecast to begin Sunday afternoon and become dangerous overnight into Monday morning as heavy snow, low visibility, and strong winds impact the city. According to NWS, the heaviest snowfall is expected between 10 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday, with rates of 1-2 inches per hour and periods of localized higher rates likely. 

Strong winds gusting up to 55 mph with isolated gusts up to 60 mph will produce blowing and drifting snow with the potential for scattered power outages. Widespread minor coastal flooding is likely Sunday night, with possible moderate flooding in vulnerable areas including Jamaica Bay, Staten Island, and The Battery.

NWS has issued a Blizzard Warning beginning 1:00 p.m. Sunday through 6:00 p.m. Monday. New Yorkers are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel from Sunday afternoon through Monday. Snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour, powerful wind gusts, and whiteout conditions will make roads hazardous and, at times, dangerous. Staying off the roads is critical to allow plows, salt spreaders, and emergency vehicles to operate safely and effectively. Public transit riders should anticipate potential service disruptions and delays and monitor the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the latest updates.

Alternate Side Parking (ASP) will be suspended Monday, February 23, and Sanitation crews will begin pretreating roadways and deploying plows and salt spreaders at full capacity.

Trump Raising Global Tariffs to 15% After Supreme Court Defeat

New York Post

President Trump said Saturday he’s going to bump his newly imposed global tariff to 15%, in the wake of the Supreme Court decision blocking his sweeping import taxes on international trading partners.

The increase was “based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social.

“During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again – GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!” he wrote.

The Rebbe Thought of the Parents

by Rabbi Asher Zeilingold, Clear Vision

For over a decade, Chabad had built an impressive network of Jewish educational institutions in Morocco and Tunisia. However, when the French – who had maintained a strong presence in many North African countries – were ousted, the situation for the Jewish communities in those regions deteriorated. Many Jews immigrated to the newly established State of Israel, while a sizable number relocated to France. The Rebbe urged the Chabad yeshivah in Brunoy, France, to actively recruit these immigrants and encourage them to enroll in the school.

The yeshivah wrote to the Rebbe asking that he send young students to assist the young North African students to acclimate. A few months later, in the winter of 1962, I was called into the office of Rabbi Elya Simpson, a member of the school’s presidium. He said that, together with five others, I had been chosen to travel to the French yeshivah. We would be the second such group, dubbed by the Rebbe “Student Shluchim,” to go to a far-off yeshivah.

It was a bold idea, since we didn’t know French and only a few among us knew Hebrew. Still, it seemed the Rebbe wanted the trip to be more than just for the North African students. As Rabbi Simpson explained, it was to “increase the vibrancy and enthusiasm of the students and communities there and intensify the fulfillment of the Chasidic way of life.”

A week before we left, on February 4th, we had an audience with the Rebbe. A week later, early on a Friday morning, we all arrived with our luggage at 770, from where we would take a bus to the New York Harbor and begin our journey to France aboard the RMS Queen Mary. 

Our friends and family came to wish us success in our new mission. As we were about to leave, the Rebbe – who on Fridays usually came to 770 only in the afternoon – also arrived. Standing near the entrance of 770, the rebbe joined the crowd in singing and clapping “ki besimchah taitzeiyu.”

The Rebbe saw us onto the bus, and stayed back as our immediate family and close friends joined us on the ride to the harbor. At the dock, they were allowed on board as well. To the astonishment of the hundreds of people on board, we all danced on deck. Moved by our enthusiasm, some of the onlookers joined in.

When we arrived in France, we informed the Rebbe that we had arrived safely, but sending other telegrams or making phone calls was prohibitively expensive. I assumed that my parents would understand that if they did not hear from us. However, the Rebbe felt differently, and he told his secretary to call each family and inform them that we had arrived safely. 

An excerpt from Clear Vision: Living by the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Guidance, available at ClearVisionBook.com

New York to Stop Giving Commercial Driver’s Licenses to Non-Citizens

New York Post

New York will no longer give commercial driver’s licenses to non-citizens, following the Trump administration’s tightening of restrictions and threats to withhold $73 million in federal funding from the state.

“Upon specific order from the federal government, New York’s non-domiciled CDL program is indefinitely paused, including renewals,” New York Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson Walter McClure told Newsday, which first reported the development on Friday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in December had warned the Empire State that it could lose out on million in federal dollars if it didn’t stop giving licenses to non-citizens.

Chabad History With Rabbi Dalfin – Tzfas #1: Tzanz-Shinov, Arizal & Kosovo Shuls and Complex

Rabbi Chaim Dalfin, author and Chasidic historian shares interesting facts, many revealed for the first time. The purpose of his program is to inspire all but especially the youth. Watch another installment here on CrownHeights.info.

Visit Rabbi Dalfin’s website: Click Here

A Powerful Nor’easter Heading for NYC: Here’s How Much Snow We’ll Get

New York Post

There’s no rest for the winter-weary.

Sick-of-the-snow New Yorkers could get buried by another half foot this weekend, as a powerful powerful nor’easter with possible “blizzard condition” churns off the Atlantic coast, meteorologists said Friday.

The Big Apple is likely to be hit by 3 to 6 inches of snow Sunday evening into Monday morning with strong wind gusts up to 40 mph, said AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter.

Coloring The Grey Skyline With Mitzvos, CTeen Brings Their Pride to the Streets of New York

Kira Rothchild traveled nearly 24 hours by plane from Sydney, Australia to New York City, and standing among thousands of Jewish teens from around the world, she felt it was worth every minute. “Being in New York City with thousands of Jewish teens shows that we are not alone, we are a community, and we are together,” said the Sydney teen. “I love showing my pride of being Jewish with everyone else.”

For the Sydney delegation, that pride carries extra weight. In the wake of a terror attack that shook their community, showing up, loudly and visibly Jewish, was itself a statement. And show up they did, alongside 4,578 teens from over 60 countries descending on New York for the CTeen International Shabbaton, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world.

You couldn’t miss them. Across all five boroughs, the iconic CTeen beanies became a sea of color and identity, on the subway, at the Statue of Liberty, at the Empire State Building, at the Ohel. Thousands of Jewish teens, unmistakably proud, unmistakably together.

“Walking into this room, you feel it instantly, Jewish life isn’t just alive; it’s thriving,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “Our teens are showing the world what Jewish pride looks like, and that energy is what will carry our people forward. The future is bright.”

“The theme of this year’s Shabbaton is ‘Live the Life,'” shared Rabbi Rivkin, “all about how teens are showing up to live openly and fiercely Jewish.”

Running Thursday through Sunday night, the Shabbaton fans teens out across 23 different tracks through New York City before drawing them back to Crown Heights for a powerful Shabbos candle lighting, opening 25 hours of tefillos, meals, learning, and inspiration.

At registration, alongside swag bags and the iconic CTeen hoodies, teens filled out personal mitzvah commitments in the merit of safety and protection for their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. From lighting Shabbat candles to putting on tefillin to acts of kindness, each pledge turned Jewish pride into Jewish action.

Photo Credit: Itzik Belenitzky/Sholem Srugo/CTeen

Thousands of Teens Wrap Tefillin in 770 With Freed Gaza Hostage

For two years, as Segev Kalfon languished in a tunnel in Gaza, held hostage by Hamas terrorists, he clung to a single dream. When he would finally be released, and expecting to be released in a public ceremony as the hostages before him, he would stand before his captors and proclaim Shema Yisrael for all to hear.

In the end, Hamas halted the grotesque release ceremonies before Segev’s freedom. But he remained determined to proclaim Hashem’s unity to the entire world. “They didn’t let me shout Shema Yisrael in Gaza,” he said. “I’ll shout Shema Yisrael in New York.”

That moment came on Friday morning at 770. Surrounded by thousands of teens from the CTeen Shabbaton and hundreds of onlookers, Segev donned tefillin, took the microphone, and, in a voice filled with emotion, called out:  “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad!”

The words were answered instantly, echoing back thousands of times over as the teens, who had joined him moments earlier for a mass tefillin laying, responded in unison.

“For two years, CTeens around the world prayed for the hostages, performed mitzvos for their release, and carried them in their hearts,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “To finally meet one of them, and to hear a message of emunah directly from him, struck a very deep chord.”

Following the massive tefillin laying and the recitation of Shema, Segev shared a brief message. Remarks were also delivered by Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director of CTeen International.

“Segev spoke powerfully about recognizing that everything comes from Hashem,” said Ethan Hobbs, a CTeen leader who is here with his delegation from KCTeen Kansas City. “He shared that his chances of surviving October 7 were only one percent, yet he survived with Hashem’s help. It was a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, trusting that Hashem is in charge gives us the strength to persevere.”

Segev also shared that while he had only put on tefillin a handful of times before October 7, since his release, he has committed to putting on tefillin every day. “If I don’t put on tefillin one day,” he said, “I feel like I can’t go on with my day.”

The Friday morning tefillin and Shema was just one moment in a packed weekend, as 4,578 Jewish teens gathered for the Shabbaton, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world.

Beginning Thursday and continuing through Sunday night, the Shabbaton showcases vibrant Jewish pride across New York, with major events across the city 

On Friday, the teens fan out on 23 different tracks across New York City, visiting iconic sites including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, sacred sites such as the Ohel and an insider shtetl tour of Crown Heights. Before the teens return to Crown Heights to welcome Shabbos, with a powerful candle lighting ceremony, ushering in 25 hours of spirited tefillos, meals, learning sessions, and high-energy inspiration.

“The theme of this year’s Shabbaton is ‘Live the Life,’” shares Rabbi Rivkin, “teaching, and showing, the teens how to live fully and fiercely Jewish. On Friday, they saw it in action, from emunah forged in the darkest places, to visible, confident Jewish pride in the heart of New York City, the world’s most public stage.” 

Photo Credit: Itzik Belenitzky/Sholem Srugo/CTeen

New York City Officials Welcome 4,500 Jewish Teens With Sydney Solidarity Event at CTeen Summit Opening

New York City’s top elected officials joined more than 4,500 Jewish teenagers from 60 countries on Thursday night to kick off the 18th annual CTeen International Summit—the world’s largest gathering of Jewish teens—with a powerful solidarity event highlighting Jewish resilience and pride.

The message was clear: Jewish teens are stronger and prouder than ever. The evening held special meaning for a delegation of teens from Sydney, Australia, including survivors of the deadly Chanukah terror attack two months ago.

The international conference , held in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, brought together New York City Comptroller Mark Levine; Speaker of the City Council Julie Menin; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Council Member Crystal Hudson; Jahmila Edwards, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; District Leader Pinny Ringel; Deputy Consul General Mr. Michal Kaplan of the Czech Republic; and Carmen Esser, Head of the Political Section at the German Consulate.

Video Credit: Eliezer Tewel/CTeen

NYPD Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, Chief Charles Minch; Ronald Perez, Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct, accompanied by Jonathan Connors, Community Affairs; NYPD  Chief Richie Taylor; and Kenneth S. Gorman, Inspector, Transit Bureau Brooklyn.

Representing Chabad was Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen, as well as Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, the PR Liaison at Chabad Headquarters, and Rabbi Shimon Rivkin of CTeen International.

The event was the first of numerous uplifting programs at the four-day Summit, which runs through Sunday and is organized by CTeen, the Chabad Teen Network, the world’s largest Jewish teen organization. CTeen operates 900 chapters in over 60 countries worldwide, empowering Jewish teens to explore their identity, develop as leaders, and build connections to Jewish life and community.

The evening’s most powerful moment came when 17-year-old Priva Schlanger took the stage together with the Sydney delegation. Schlanger’s father, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was among 15 people murdered during the Chanukah terror attack at Bondi Beach on December 14.

Just months before his death, Rabbi Schlanger had launched CTeen Bondi and begun planning for this trip. His daughter traveled to New York with a delegation from CTeen in Sydney to continue what her father started.

Together with 4,500 teens from 486 cities, the Bondi delegation joined in singing “Oseh Shalom”, a traditional Jewish prayer for peace.

Comptroller Levine welcomed the teens from more than 60 countries in Spanish, French, and Hebrew, sharing a message of solidarity and support.

“This is a challenging time for Jews around the world,” Levine said. “But we are inspired by the strength of the teens from Sydney, including Priva. You are the pride of the Jewish people.”

Speaker Menin, the first Jewish Speaker of the New York City Council and the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors whose family found refuge in Sydney, Australia, addressed the teens.

“This is the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world, and I can’t describe the hope and pride I feel looking out at all of you,” Menin said. “You embody Jewish pride, and that is exactly what we need more of.”

Turning to the Sydney delegation, Menin added, “Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your bravery. You are our heroes. The fact that you are here is a reflection of your strength.” She noted a personal connection to Australia, sharing that after the Holocaust, Australia was the only country that accepted her mother and family. “We are so thrilled to have you here.” 

Rabbi Kotlarsky, who had just returned from a conference of Chabad rabbis and leaders at Bondi Beach, spoke about the impact of the Australian teens’ decision to attend.

“These teens lived through something no teenager should ever have to experience,” Kotlarsky said. “And their response has been to show up, be more Jewish, and be more proud.”

Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez pledged to the gathered teens that fighting antisemitism extends beyond any single community.

“It’s not just the responsibility of the Jewish community. It’s the responsibility of everyone,” Gonzalez said. “antisemitism has no place in this city.”

Council Member Hudson, who represents the Crown Heights district where the event took place, urged the teens to take pride in who they are. “Be proud of your heritage. Be proud of your religion. Be proud of who you are,” she said.

Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director of CTeen International, who emceed the evening, recalled that only months ago, Rabbi Eli Schlanger had sat in his office at Chabad Headquarters, requesting to open a chapter in Bondi. Seeing Priva carry that work forward, Rivkin said, was a continuation of her father’s mission.

The Summit will continue through the weekend with programming across NYC and will conclude with a closing ceremony at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island on Sunday. The 2026 gathering represents the largest in the event’s 18-year history, with over 8,000 in attendance.

Photo Credit: Rivkah Laber/CTeen

BESHT: Adar Happiness

Shabbos at the BESHT: Rabbi Levy Djian, Shliach in Manhattan, is the founder and Director of Torah on Demand, a network of one-on-one Torah lessons for businessmen. His passion and love for learning brought him to lead a weekly Chassidus class in Crown Heights that inspires many. He will be giving this week’s Shiur on Adar Happiness.

Weekly Story: I Am Truly Present

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

This week I am going to post something I mentioned by a farbrengen last Shabbos, adding additional insight which I heard from Rabbi Nissin Mangel. As always, your feedback and comments are greatly appreciated and welcomed. 

HaRav Adin Eivehn Yisroel (commonly known as Rabbi Stensaltz) related the following thought in a farbrengen. When I was a student in Yeshiva, my mashpia was Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman. After one particular farbrengen, I got up and said, this was an exceptional farbrengen. 

The next day, I began wondering to myself what was so exceptional about last night’s farbrengen? Why did it make such a powerful impression on me, more than other farbrengens? After all the stories that he said, either he has said them in previous farbrengens, or I knew them from other places. The insights and lessons that he extrapolated from those stories were also things that I heard from him or from others. The songs are the same songs we sing by every farbrengen. So what made last night’s farbrengen different than other farbrengens? 

Thinking it over I came to the following conclusion, because last night I came to participate in the farbrengen, and not just to listen as a bystander or as spectator or even a student that is coming to the farbrengen because that’s the proper thing to do. I came because I wanted to come, and I wanted to hear and be inspired. I was completely present and focused on the farbrengen. In Yiddish Ich Hub Tzu’gi’trugin – איך האב צוגיטראגן.

This Insight of his perhaps gives us a greater sense of clarity in the following story, which the Frierdiker Rebbe related. Once, when the Mitteler Rebbe was in cheder, he entered his father’s room and asked him the following question. In chapter 20 possuk 4 in Shemos parshas Mishpatim, the Jews told Moshe Rabeinu “We will do whatever [Hashem instructs us], and then three pesukim later, in past 7, the Jews said the famous words of Na’aseh V’nishma, we will do and we will try to understand the meaning of the mitzvos. Tatty, my question is, what happened in those three pesukim that caused the Jews to rephrase their answer from Naaseh to Naaseh V’nishma? 

His father the Rebbe replied, originally the Jewish people said Naaseh, we will do whatever Hashem commands us, [whether we understand it or not, and whether we enjoy it or not].

However, Moshe Rabeinu who is a faithful Shepherd wanted to instill into the Jewish people the proper perspective, and he spoke and explain to them the beauty of having the ability to fulfill Hashem’s Mitzvos, until the Jews rephrased their reply and said we will do whatever Hashem wants us to do, and we will learn its reason that we will have a sense of pride and enjoyment in having the opportunity and merit to fulfill his mitzvos. 

The change was in their approach. The Mitzvos were the same mitzvos, just it was a change in their approach to what a mitzvah means and is. Originally, they replied we will do all the mitzvos(commandments), because we are obligated to do them. After all Hashem performed tremendous miracles, just to save our lives numerous times.

 But after Moshe spoke with them, their approach was we will do the mitzvos because we realize it’s a beautiful opportunity and a tremendous merit that Hashem is granting us to be able to come close to Him, [as mitzvah has the meaning of connection or bonding]. So now the mitzvah is being done with enjoyment, happiness and vibrancy and not out of a sense of duty and obligation.

When young DovBer left his father’s room, he was met by the chossid Reb Shmuel Munkis, who asked him what did your father, the Rebbe, tell you?

Replying mischievously, he said, My father said, the misnagdim replied Naaseh, while the chassidim replied Naaseh V’nishma.

To explain what I understand to be his reply, I will relate something that Rabbi Yosef Dov (commonly referred to as Rabbi J.B.) Soleveichik once related.

My father hired for us various melamdim, one of them was a chossid, who although he was told by our father not to teach us the Tanya, secretly he did so. Once my father entered the room unexpectedly and the melamed tried to hide it, but my father noticed him putting the Tanya away and warned him that he must stop, but my grandfather told him to continue, as it is important for us to learn it.

I realized that the melamdim were from different communities and perspectives, and I wanted to see for myself what is the difference between chassidim and Litvish (misnagdim). After all, I noticed that both were meticulous in every mitzvah, so I probed deeper until I realized that the Litvish melamed fulfilled every mitzvah with the same feeling of obedience (kabbolos ol) and holiness. He danced on Simchas Torah because there is a mitzvah to dance, and also fasted on Yom Kippur, because it was a mitzvah to do so. 

While the chassidishe melamed danced on Simchas Torah because he was happy and on Yom Kippur it was noticeable that he was being reflective. One may ask, what is the difference if I do a mitzvah with inner Joy or I just do the mitzvah because that is what Hashem wants me to do? 

This can be answered with the well-known story of Reb Gavriel Noiseh Chein – Rav Gavriel who found favor in the eyes of others. Gavriel was a very well-to-do person, who helped others with an open hand and gave large amounts of money every time a messenger came to collect on behalf of the Rebbe. 

While it seemed that he had everything and was a happy person, personally he was broken and devastated, as it was already fifteen years since his marriage, and they have yet to be blessed with a child. Furthermore, every time he mentioned this to the Rebbe and requested a brocha, the Rebbe did not respond with a brocha. However, even this aspect of his life did not last, as the Wheel of Fortune turned and he now became extremely poor. 

He accepted his poverty without a complaint and thanked Hashem for the years that he was blessed with comfort and continued his life as if nothing changed. 

However, one day he came from shul and his wife noticed a downcast look on his face. Gavriel she kindly said, why are you so upset, didn’t you tell me that whatever Hashem does is for the good and He is the true judge? 

You are definitely correct my dear wife, he replied. I am not upset that we do not have the money to buy the food and clothing that we used to be able to afford. Rather, today I noticed that a messenger of the Rebbe came to raise money and he’s intentionally avoiding me because he is aware that I don’t have the money to give the Rebbe. 

Hashem is just in His actions and knows that I don’t deserve money, but why should this affect the poor person who is in desperate need of the tzedokah I used to give? Why does he have to suffer because of my shortcomings? And Gavriel let out a sigh.

His wife thought for a moment and then said to him, there’s still one piece of jewelry that I have. I will pawn it and the money we get for it; you will give to the Rebbe. She immediately searched for that piece of jewelry and took it to the pawn shop and received some copper coins.

However, she began to think, this is the last item of value we own, who knows if we will ever have the ability and merit to give tzedoka again? Let me at least do it the proper way. She then took sand and began rubbing each coin so that they should be shining and presentable

Unintentionally, her tears started to flow and they mixed with the sand that she was rubbing the coins, until the coins were shining brightly.

Being that the Rebbe’s messenger continued on his journey to other towns and villages and was planning on returning in a few days, Reb Gavriel decided to personally bring the coins to the Rebbe. He was fearful that during the next few days, he might be tempted to use the coins to buy some food for himself and his wife.

When he handed the coins in a handkerchief to the Rebbe, the Rebbe asked why did he bother to bring the coins himself, and not give it to the messenger?

Reb Gavriel then informed the Rebbe of his true situation. The Rebbe opened up the handkerchief and noticed how brightly the coins were shining. Reb Gavriel explained what his wife did.

The Rebbe face shined with happiness and said, the women took their copper mirrors and Moshe used them to build the kiyor (fountain) in the courtyard of the Mishkan. He then blessed Rav Gavriel that he should find favor in other people’s eyes and promised him that he would become wealthier than before. He advised him to begin dealing in precious stones. He then concluded, because of the purity of your wife’s deed, you will be blessed with offspring.

That my friends is the reward of doing a mitzva with happiness and enthusiasm. 

After the farbrengen someone asked me, but how does one make themself present at a farbrengen or at or in any situation?

On this I would like to mention a saying of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

In the first years of Tomchei Tmimim, he was appointed by his father to be the executive director of the Yeshiva. In order to have a crystal-clear understanding of where the students were holding and progressing, from time to time, he would personally farbreng with the students. 

He once said, there are certain students that develop into the young men that the yeshiva is proud of, while there are others that the yeshiva is not so proud of. Some say the reason is because the first group spent a long time in the yeshiva and were able to absorb the teachings and guidance of the yeshiva, while the other students weren’t so fortunate. However, the truth is, that is not the situation and reason for the two opposite outcomes. It is possible for a student who was in the yeshiva for only one day to develop exactly as a student of Tomchei Tmimim is expected to, while a student can be here for many years and not develop properly. 

The difference between them is, the first student knew he was going to be here for only one day. However, during that day nothing else existed he was truly here. The other student who may have been here for many years, was indeed here. However, he was always thinking, what am I going to do when I leave the yeshiva? So while he was physically here, he wasn’t completely here, his mind was elsewhere.

To bring out this thought with more clarity, I will repeat something that Rabbi Mangel mentioned last Shabbos.

In the early chof’s (60’s), a large group of chassidim were coming to the Rebbe for Tishrei. Some came for the entire month, while others were able to come only for Sukkos and Simchas Torah.

During a farbrengen, one of the older chassidim said to the Rebbe, L’Chaim for those [chassidim of Eretz Yisroel] who have already arrived from Eretz Yisroel, to the Rebbe, and L’chaim for those who have to arrive.

The Rebbe replied, L’chaim for those who have arrived [physically], but have yet to be here [emotionally].

Rabbi Mangel connected this thought with the possuk (Shemos 24:12), that Hashem told Moshe, Come up to me on the mountain and be there. Meaning it is not enough that you are merely present, but you should realize this is where you are meant to be, and desire to be.

Yes, it may be only for a short time period, but for the duration of the time, I am completely there!

A Taste of Chassidus 

Mi Yiten Ki’uch Lee  לי כאח  יתן מי Torah Ohr p. 79 

In this Maamor, the Alter Rebbe is explaining the reason why Hashem commanded bnei Yisroel to make and form the Cherubim. In the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash there are numerous vessels, such as the two altars the table, Menorah, the Aron, and so on. Each one of these utensils and all the other utensils, it is clear to everyone, why Hashem instructed us to make them, as each one has a specific purpose and function. In other words, a person can see and easily understand why they are needed. However, when it comes to the Cherubim the Torah does not explain what their purpose is.

But as Chassidus explains, that when the Torah says And you shall make for Me a Mishkan and I will dwell in it, that wasn’t a commandment just for that time, it is for all people, in all times and wherever they may be. In other words, the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash are not just holy places where we are to bring korbonos (sacrifices) as well as other actions, but it is an eternal guide on how we are to serve Hashem. 

Being that there is no obvious function or purpose for the Cherubim, it is clearly coming to guide us how we can and are to serve Hashem on a spiritual level, [and we can understand that there are lessons that we are to learn from each of the vessels and services]. 

In this maamor the Alter Rebbe is bringing out certain insights which we can learn from the Cherubim. 

As a preface I would like to point out, that although the Cherubim were made out of gold (a hard metal), nevertheless, they moved three times every day, as the wings uplifted themselves when the Jewish people davened. Additionally, we also know that there were times that the two Cherubim embraced each other, and sad to say there were other times that they separated. In other words, the Cherubim showed us how our actions bring us closer to Hashem to the point that we embraced or G-d forbid the opposite. 

We learn in the Talmud that there were four images on Hashem’s chariot, a man, a Cherub, an eagle and a lion. The talmud then asks, isn’t the face of a cherub the face of a man, so essentially it was the same thing twice? And the talmud answers the face of a man, means the face of a grown-up man, but the face of a Cherub is a face of a child. So by understanding this difference, we can glean many insights from the Cherubim. 

Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim (122, 8-9) for the sake of my brothers… for the sake of the house of Hashem (the Beis Hamikdash). We learn from this, when are we considered brothers – very close – to Hashem, that is  when the Beis Hamikdash was standing. Interesting to note that the possuk states with the Cherubim, and its face was to His brother, so we see clearly that it is referring to this relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people.

This gives meaning and understanding to the words that this maamar begins with, that the Jewish people [when they are in exile, cry out to Hashem] how can we be on that level of being brothers? When the Beis Hamikdash was standing, the Cherubim showed us that we were connected, as the talmud (Yooma 54A) states that during the three pilgrimages, when the Jewish people came to the Beis Hamikdash, the Cherubim were embracing each other, which demonstrated the deep love and bond between Hashem and the Jewish people. But now that we are in exile, we long for that wonderful relationship once again.

Now, we can understand  what was meant, that there were two faces, one of an Adult and one of of child. The Adult is a reference to Hashem, while the child is a reference to the Jewish people. 

Although Hashem has no form, but the Torah uses forms and images as metaphors to Hashem and His actions, so we can have an understanding of Hashem. As it says And Hashem saw, His outstretched arm and so on

The adult man is referring to Hashem, as the prophet says, On His chair, is the form which resembles the image of a man. The reason Hashem is compared to a man, is because mans greatness is his power of intellect, and the Zohar states that the Torah came from Hashem’s Chochmah (wisdom), and it also notes that Hashem and His Chochmah is one and the same.

The reason why intellect (and not attributes) is connected to Hashem is simple. Hashem’s essence is that there is nothing besides Hashen. When a person is using pure intellect, there is only one thing, what is Hashem saying with this halachah. However, when thee are attributes, that automatically means that there are other entities, and with the essence of Hashem there is nothing besides Him.

Additionally, the possuk notes that when Hashem spoke to Moshe, His voice came from between the two Cherubim, that is a reference of the way Hashem gave us His Torah, which is higher and above the world, and it descended into the physical world, retaining its holiness.

However, now that we are in exile because of our sins, and we are involved in the materialistic aspects of the world, we feel that we are not relating to spiritual aspirations, and we lost that connection.

But the Cherubim tell us a different story, that the Cherubim which were above the cover of the Aron, were from the same piece of gold as the Aron. That is telling us, that although we as represented by the child like face of the Cherub, and we are facing the other Cherub, which is on the other edge [or extreme opposite of us], both come from the same gold.

In other words, Hashem is informing us that the materialistic world is not a separate entity from Him, which we nullified to Him, but in reality, it is Hashem, Himself. So our actions are revealing its true essence.

So not only can one who nowadays [in our exile] is involved in Torah study can be a “brother” to Hashem, because he is pursuing spirituality, and as noted he is pursuing his learning with pure intellect, so there is nothing besides the word of Hashem. This concept is expressed in the saying of our sages, “Once the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed, Hashem has (or is foubd) only in the four cubits of Halachah (Jewish law).

But even one who is involved in the world of business and commerce, with worldly items, when he utilizes them for fulfilling Hashem’s mitzvos, he is bringing out and revealing the true essence of the universe, and they too, are a “brother” to Hashem, while we are still in exile.

The main factor is if you fulfill the mitzvos with genuine love and fear of Hashem.

This is the reason why the Cherubim had wings. As the Alter Rebbe explains in Tanya, the body of a bird represents the fulfilling of the mitzvah, itself, while the two wings represent the two emotions of love and fear of Hashem the mitzvah is elevated to Hashem, only when it is done with these feelings, otherwise, it is like a bird that wants to soar, but doesn’t flap its wings.

So the Cherubim demonstrated that when we served Hashem with feeling, its wings soared higher and above them. In other words, our actions inspired Hashem’s reaction to sustain us from Above, and equally embrace us.

The way to demonstrate our feelings to Hashem, even though we are involved with our livelihood work, but when we daven properly and set designated times to learn Torah, that uplifts us above our mundane actions and we embrace Hashem, just as the Cherubim did in the times of the Beis Hamikdash.

This accomplishes a second thing,  we say Friday night after Shemone Esreh, the words קונה שמים וארץ – that Hashem acquired the heaven and earth. Being that Hashem is the creator, it is His, so why does He have to acquire it, for it to be His.

But Hashem created the world, that the world should think that it is an entity of its own, and through our service to Hashem, we transfer a world that felt as if it is its own entity, to a world that realizes that it is merely an extension of Hashem, and it is nothing on its own.

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Weekly Dvar Torah: A Home for G-d – A Home for the Jewish Nation

This week is very exciting for me and my wife, Tamara. Our daughter Rochelle got married. And to be honest — it takes over everything. It fills the mind, the heart, the house, the schedule. At this moment, I am simply full — full of joy, full of anticipation, full of hope for a beautiful future filled with nachas.

We invite and welcome all your Brochos. Wherever you are, please say l’chaim with us. Rejoice with us. This is how Jews celebrate — not alone, but together. When one family dances, the entire people dance.

A wedding is never just a private event. It is not merely a union between a man and a woman. A Jewish wedding echoes something cosmic. It mirrors the union between Hashem and the Jewish people at the giving of the Torah.

At Sinai, we became His. And He became ours.

After Matan Torah, Hashem asked something astonishing: “Make for Me a dwelling place, and I will dwell within them.” Not only in a physical structure — first the Mishkan, later the Beis HaMikdash — but within each and every Jew.

And the Torah tells us something remarkable. When Hashem asked the Jewish people to contribute to the Mishkan, everyone gave. But after the donations were tallied, it turned out that the women gave more than the men. The men were donating in addition to the women.

That is how central the Jewish woman was to building Hashem’s dwelling place.

And this is not the first time.

In Egypt, when the future of the Jewish people seemed impossible, it was the women who ensured continuity. With their mirrors, they brought joy and connection into homes darkened by slavery. They teased their husbands gently, lovingly, reminding them that there would be a future. That from this darkness would come children, and from those children a nation.

Hashem did not dismiss those mirrors as vanity. He highlighted them. From them was made the washbasin of the Mishkan — a holy vessel.

The message is clear.

The Jewish woman is not a side character in Jewish history. She is its foundation. Akeres Habayis — the essence of the home.

Without her, there is no Jewish nation. And with her, the nation is nurtured, shaped, elevated.

And perhaps that is why, it seems like the woman is not found on center stage. That is only because we are still in middle of construction. As I have written in the past, when a palace is being built, the queen does not linger at the construction site. Not because she is less important — but because she is not a construction worker. The entire structure is being built for her.

When Moshiach comes, the palace will be finished.

And who will move in?

The Queen.

We are building it all for her.

And we are told that in the future, “Eshes Chayil Ateres Ba’alah” — the woman of valor will be the crown of her husband. The crown sits above the head. What was once hidden will be revealed as higher, deeper, more essential.

This is what a Jewish daughter is about.

This is what fills my heart this week.

I am happy and proud to marry off my daughter — a Jewish princess who will become, with Hashem’s help, a Jewish queen. Together with her Chosson, Dovvy, they will build a Bayis Ne’eman B’Yisrael — an everlasting Jewish home.

An edifice of Torah.

A home illuminated with warmth, with laughter, with children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Continuity.

This brings joy to us now.

It brings joy to Hashem.

And it will bring ultimate joy to the Jewish people when Moshiach comes and all that remains will be revealed good — revealed joy.

A wedding is not only about today. It is about the future of the Jewish people. It is about another link in the golden chain stretching back to Sinai and forward to redemption.

So yes — this week we are a little overwhelmed. A little busy. A little emotional. But mostly — we are grateful.

Grateful for our daughter. Grateful for her Chosson. Grateful for the privilege of watching another Jewish home come into existence.

Please join us in our simcha. Wherever you are, raise a glass and say l’chaim. Send your Brochos. Rejoice with us.

And may we all share in one another’s joys, returning simcha for simcha, dancing from wedding to wedding, from redemption to redemption.

Mazal Tov. Mazal Tov.

And may we merit very soon the ultimate wedding — the union of Hashem and His people in the rebuilt Beis HaMikdash, speedily in our days.

Have a Dancing of a Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman

Marko Dashev Spent Years Shooting Fashion. Now He Photographs Leading Rabbis

by Rena Vegh – chabad.org

The photograph of Rabbi Yoel Kahn captures him as he lived: bent over a text, absorbed in study, indifferent to the camera’s presence. It took photographer Marko Dashev four years to get the shot. Leah Kahn, wife of the ascetic scholar, who had spent his life as chief oral scribe of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, had laughed when Dashev first pitched the idea, telling him plainly that it was never going to happen. When it finally did in 2018, the preeminent scholar of Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidism, who passed away in 2021, greeted Dashev with a handshake, then immediately returned to his studies.

“It was almost a relief that he was so disinterested in being photographed,” Dashev recalls. “If there was any character who was so incredibly dedicated to the Rebbe’s teachings—and little, if anything else—it was Reb Yoel. It was almost intimidating to bother such a special person. Fortunately, the portrait that I got captured him in his element, studying and explaining the Rebbe’s teachings long into his old age.”

Dashev’s portrait of Reb Yoel is part of the photographer’s ambitious Rabbi Project: Some 200 portrait sessions conducted across more than a decade, creating what Dashev calls “an encyclopedia of contemporary Jewish rabbis and personalities.” A number of them have appeared in publications such as The New York Times.

To understand the journey of how the former fashion photographer got to documenting rabbis, one has to go back a step.

Reb Yoel Kahn – Marko Dashev

From Fashion to Faith

Dashev grew up in a Jewish home affiliated with the Conservative movement in Toms River, N.J.. From a young age, he says, he didn’t feel any particular attachment to his Jewish heritage.

“After my bar mitzvah, when I took the obligatory lessons and had the whole ceremony and celebration, my mother asked me if I wanted to continue attending services,” Dashev recalls. “I said no, without a second thought.”

Always creative, Dashev pursued art and film, studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York. By 1998 he was assisting photographers shooting for Neiman Marcus and Vogue magazine. It was during this time that he met his Israeli-born wife, Yael, and they started their life together in Manhattan before moving to Miami Beach, Fla.

Within a few tears Dashev had “made it” in industry terms, booking jobs with Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, DKNY and Burberry. Success in fashion photography is rare enough that most who achieve it never leave. But by then, Yael was being drawn to her latent Jewish faith. She began expressing an interest in learning more about Torah and mitzvahs, and began lighting Shabbat candles at home. Within two years, she was regularly attending synagogue services and Torah classes. But Marko wasn’t there yet.

“As a freelance photographer, weekends were just like any other day of the week in the fashion world. We really needed the money, and it was a challenge to even consider thinking about observing Shabbat,” says Dashev. “On top of that, I just didn’t feel that inspired in my Judaism. Yael was on a certain track and speed, and I was on another.”

With effort, they successfully navigated the difficulties of maintaining their relationship while juggling their shifting values. Nevertheless, as High Holidays approached in 2003, things came to a head.

Dashev was offered a job in the south of Spain, a fashion shoot in a picturesque location overlooking the Mediterranean. It sounded perfect—except the dates fell out over Yom Kippur. Despite his wife expressing her reservations about him working on the holiest day of the year, Dashev accepted the gig.

In the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Dashev had a grueling work week, and by the time he arrived at the beach town near Malaga, for the shoot, it was already Yom Kippur and Dashev had come down with a bad stomach virus. He found himself bedridden for the next 24 hours. As Yom Kippur came to a close, Dashev was feeling better and able to resume working.

“It was clear to me G‑d was showing me there was room for me to be able to do what I love while learning more about my faith,” Dashev says unequivocally. “I needed that push and moment of realization, and from there my religious journey took off.”

In Crown Heights, Dashev grew steadily in his Judaism. “I finally felt I had found my Jewish home,” he remembers.

The couple was living in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn at the time, and soon thereafter moved to nearby Crown Heights.

In Crown Heights, Dashev grew steadily in his Judaism. He began attending the Chassidut classes of Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, and found himself transfixed.

“I enjoyed it way more than I expected, and being in the heart of the Chassidic community for Shabbat took my appreciation for it to a whole new level,” he says. “I began learning Yiddish and studying the Rebbe’s teachings in their original language with a group of friends. I finally felt I had found my Jewish home.”

Dashev was still shooting women’s fashion—his primary source of income. Various rabbis had given him latitude on the matter, since it was his livelihood. His wife urged him to seek a more definitive answer.

He met with Rabbi Gavriel Zinner, a world-renowned Halachic decisor, who indicated that while it was OK for Dashev to continue, ideally he should pivot away. A lesson from Rabbi Paltiel, his primary teacher, on the importance of maintaining the soul’s sensitivity, sealed the deal.

In March 2018, Dashev pulled the trigger: Even if his income suffered, he resolved, it was worth it. When he informed his last client, they chose not to contract him for future work. He was unemployed.

The following month, he received a call: a major job opportunity offering half a year’s salary with a two-week timeline. “I tried to elevate this part of my life, and then this job suddenly came out of nowhere. We could say G‑d works like that. We do our best to serve Him, and He takes care of the rest.”

Rabbi Yossi Paltiel – Marko Dashev

The Rabbi Project

For years, Dashev had viewed photography purely as craft, not art.

“I knew that I had nothing to say in photography except to make money,” he acknowledges. “And suddenly, I was making lots and lots more money. And still, I didn’t feel any kind of maturity as an artist.”

But fashion clients had begun requesting portraits alongside their standard work. This required a different skill set: drawing out personality, focusing on the subject as a person rather than a mannequin for merchandise. Dashev proved talented enough at this to book jobs alongside his

fashion work, and began finding his voice and style in the portraits he took.

Back in 2012, the fashion industry underwent seismic shifts, and the financial rewards dwindled amidst a new corporate atmosphere. Dashev sensed his time in that world winding down, though he would still be taking jobs for the next few years. He was 35, uncertain about next steps.

One day, paging through a book of Chassidic tales compiled by Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, Dashev turned to the back cover and studied Zevin’s photograph—the expression, the pose, the shadows. His immediate thought: “I can do that better.”

He set up a small studio on the corner of Carroll and Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights, offering subjects a simple deal: five minutes for a portrait session, a free copy for their use, while Dashev retained the image for his own projects, all while still maintaining his work in the fashion industry.

This style was new to him, as was the customer base.

“It really did feel like starting at zero, because as much as I was Jewishly involved by then, nobody knew me,” he explains. In the fashion world, access follows reputation—one major client vouches for you to the next. Dashev understood he’d need the same currency here, which meant setting his sights high from the start. He began by building a series of noted rabbis and Jewish personalities.

He took photos of Rabbi Paltiel, then Rabbi Dovber Pinson, which led to a session with Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Woodmere, N.Y., among many others. The Rabbi Project was born.

“It was amazing to spend time with all these learned rabbis, but getting a photo of Reb Yoel Kahn—the quintessential Chassid of the Rebbe in our time—was the holy grail,” Dashev says with a smile.

Reb Yoel Kahn – Marko Dashev

He first connected with Leah Kahn in 2014, when she politely declined. Some time later, Yael began caring for an ill community member who typically attended the Kahn’s Passover seder, and Mrs. Kahn extended an invitation to the Dashevs. After Passover, she agreed to organize her husband’s portrait session.

Her warning proved accurate: “Reb Yoel will be learning, he won’t look at you, but take some pictures, and when you’re satisfied, you can leave.”

“I have done hundreds of portrait shoots, and the results are almost exclusively—besides the technical aspects—based on the personal interaction between photographer and subject,” reflects Dashev. “Even the most reserved and reticent people I’ve photographed engage in the process of crafting an honest portrait if not an intriguing one. For Reb Yoel, I was only a witness, and that seemed appropriate for the caliber of person he was.”

During a “Soul Encounters” symposium hosted by the Jewish Learning Institute in 2014, the Rabbi Project got traction. Until then, Dashev had only shot a handful of the rabbis that he specifically wanted to photograph. Going to that event that day, held at Queens College, he planned to capture as many of the speakers that he could.

Dashev set up a makeshift studio in a hallway, photographing speakers between lectures. It was there he encountered Rabbi Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz), the legendary scholar known for his commentaries on the Talmud, Tanya, Maimonides and countless other works.

“Every portrait I took leading up to my time with Rabbi Adin, my anticipation grew greater. I knew the image of him that I wanted to capture.”

Rabbi Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz) – Marko Dashev

Rabbi Even-Israel finished his talk around 10:30 p.m., and Dashev pulled him aside before the building closed.

The rabbi immediately launched into a monologue: “Photographers are the most powerful people in the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re a president or an emperor. As soon as you’re in front of the photographer, the photographer tells you what to do.”

As images appeared on the monitor, Rabbi Even-Israel began laughing. “You should have taken my picture when I was three years old. Before they cut my hair, I had this full head of curly blonde hair.”

“I probably should have been more intimidated,” Dashev admits, “but he was somehow not intimidating. He was so down-to-earth and accessible. I loved his look, and seeing it, you just know that the mind that lives in there is just spectacular.”

Rabbi Sholom B. Lipskar – Marko Dashev

Rabbi Sholom B. Lipskar, the Rebbe’s indefatigable emissary in Miami, founder of the Shul of Bal Harbour and the Aleph Institute who until his 2025 passing had played a leading role establishing Jewish life in South Florida, sat for his portrait at the same Queens College event. The interaction was brief and serious, but left Dashev with a lasting impression of Lipskar.

“I think that’s who he was,” Dashev observes. “He needs to be doing his business. He does not need to be doing anything else. Just working as a rabbi; everything else was noise.”

It’s an accurate insight into the man whose epitaph quotes one of his most oft-repeated mantras: “Get it done.”

Rabbi Nissen Mangel – Marko Dashev

Another rabbinical scholar to accept Dashev’s proposal was Rabbi Nissen Mangel, who after surviving the Holocaust as a young boy became a renowned author and translator, including of the Tehillat Hashem prayerbook. Mangel invited the photographer to his Crown Heights home.

“I think we all approach Holocaust survivors with a sense of awe. We could never, and should never know what they have experienced. Rabbi Mangel built his life post war in family, Torah and Chassidut. He went from raging devastation, where many walked away from observance, to become a leading Jewish scholar and teacher,” Dashev says. “Entering the rabbi’s house and seeing the dining table set with several volumes of Hemshech Ayin Beit [a deep and encyclopedic Chassidic text authored by the fifth Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer, beginning in 1912] , I felt the gravitas of his character in the air. Despite the friendly and casual conversation that pervaded the portrait session, throughout, I felt humbled.”

Rabbi Berel Lazar, chief rabbi of Russia – Marko Dashev

‘Work With What’s in Front of You’

By now, Dashev has completed over 200 portrait sessions, “and my goodness, I would like to do another 200 at least.”

The shoots vary wildly; sometimes, they are elaborate studio set-ups with extended conversations and sometimes just lighting equipment in a quiet study.

“It’s usually a little more interesting when it’s their space, because they really live in it,” he notes. “But I learned long ago that you should never go into a photo shoot with a lot of expectations. You work with what’s in front of you.”

That flexibility extends to his assessment of the subjects themselves. “Definitely meet your heroes,” he advises. “With all the rabbis I’ve gotten to meet, they’re all pretty amazing people.”

For all the special moments he had with interesting figures, the session Dashev found to be the most poignant came in 2019. For years, Dashev had attempted to photograph Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, the energetic vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, but Rabbi Kotlarsky always demurred.

In 2019, Dashev was diagnosed with a brain tumor requiring surgery, and Rabbi Kotlarsky had begun his own battle with pancreatic cancer.

“I told him, ‘That’s it. You’re being treated, and I have no idea where my brain’s going to be in six months.’”

There is a teaching that says if someone prays for salvation for another, he will merit that same salvation. Dashev proposed an exchange: “As a sick person, you can bless me to be healed, and I, as another sick person, will bless you for a speedy recovery.”

The shared battle opened the door.

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky – Marko Dashev

“I still get choked up about this. It was a very unsettling time in my life, and the only thing that I could stick to at the time was taking more and more portraits. Even with a sense of desperation. Rabbi Kotlarsky had rebuffed my many requests over the years to take his portrait. He just wasn’t connected to the idea of a portrait sitting, not intellectually nor spiritually. It just wasn’t part of his being. Somehow, it took this awful commonality to make it happen. And yet, poetically, it seems right that this would be the only circumstance where he’d agree to sit.”

While Rabbi Kotlarsky succumbed to his illness in 2024, Dashev’s surgery succeeded, though the recovery was long. With no job prospects and a pandemic rising, the family relocated to Florida. Finances were tight. Two weeks later, government stimulus checks for self-employed business owners began.

“It was Divine Providence. I couldn’t work, and I was in a really bad place. With the timing of the benefits, G‑d was telling me, ‘here’s your money for recovery. You are taken care of. Everything’s fine.”

Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin (“Josh”) Gordon, the beloved Torah scholar, congregational rabbi and educator who taught thousands of students around the globe through the world’s most widely viewed daily Torah classes on Chabad.org. His 10th yahrtzeit was marked this week. – Marko Dashev

‘Shine a Light on the Observant Community’

At the outset of The Rabbi Project, Dashev contemplated his project’s purpose. He wanted to increase Jewish pride, to document impactful leaders and teachers within the world. He hoped to open a window into a world he’d come to love through a visual medium he felt was missing.

By the reception he’s received, it’s clear that it’s working.

“I want to shine a light on the observant community. I’ve been approached by every stripe of society about the project and how it has affected them,” he says. “Many go on to find out more about who was photographed and what they stand for, which is one of the project’s goals. Even among Orthodox Jews, who I assumed would be less interested, the response has been amazing to me.”

Four years ago, Dashev mounted a traveling exhibition featuring sixty images from the project. The show opened at Miami Beach’s JCC before moving to the Palm Beach and Aventura JCCs. Dashev envisions converting the exhibition into a book in the future.

“These past several years, I feel that the urgency to take more portraits has become compounded. We shouldn’t experience the loss of any individual, but time is marching on, and some of the people that I’ve photographed have moved on to the World of Truth. The necessity to document and celebrate our luminaries is only increasing over time.”

Dashev talks of his own motivations: “The Rebbe said innumerable times that we have to work our talents and abilities for the sake of Heaven, to help others, to spread the light of Judaism. I just want to serve my purpose, to serve the Creator. As long as portraits are how I can do this, I can only hope I do it with an even greater result and impact.”

Rabbi Zalman Yudkin, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 98, fought to keep the flame of Judaism alive under Soviet persecution. – Marko Dashev

Dr. Naftali Loewenthal – Marko Dashev

“I just want to serve my purpose, to serve the Creator. As long as portraits are how I can do this, I can only hope I do it with an even greater result and impact.”

Preparations for the Yud Aleph Nissan Parade Underway In Florida

This year, the goal is to bring 20 Mitzvah Tanks to the streets of Miami. The convoy will depart from the Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) and drive through the city before the tanks disperse to their various mivtzoim locations to distribute Shmurah Matzah and help Yidden with Tefillin.

To support the growth of the fleet, a $25,000 fundraising goal has been set to cover the costs of vehicle rentals, city permits, and mivtzoim supplies. You can help by contributing to the campaign and ensuring that the light of Yud Alef Nissan reaches as many people as possible.

Click Here to Support the South Florida Mitzvah Tank Parade – https://www.charidy.com/Mtpsf

“Stop Trying to Cope”: The Rebbe’s Radical Response to a Student in Despair

In the years following the Holocaust, a 19-year-old university student wrote to the Rebbe expressing deep disillusionment and suicidal despair.

The Rebbe’s response was not a single letter, but a sustained, multi-year correspondence that challenged the young man’s perspective, gave him a historic sense of purpose, and ultimately saved his life.

Now, for Rosh Chodesh Adar (the month of increasing in joy), Sichos In English is releasing this entire 8-page exchange to the public for the first time as a free PDF download.

Featured in the newly expanded edition of “Healthy in Body, Mind and Spirit — Mental Health” the letters offer a direct and nuanced approach to mental and spiritual crises. Rather than simply offering comforting words, the Rebbe addressed the crisis head-on. He noted that the student’s initial letter was “full of your own expectations and disappointments, as if everybody owes you everything, but no one has a claim on you“.

To pull the student out of his paralysis, the Rebbe offered a firm shift in focus:

“Stop being concerned with your own problems. The way to cope with such an emotionally charged situation is to stop trying to cope with it. You must get away from yourself, and begin to think of others… It is time to begin an active participation in the society; to give, and give generously”.

This guidance was immediately paired with a profound sense of mission. Speaking to the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Rebbe elevated the student’s purpose:

“…especially in this day and age, after one third of our people… have been annihilated. For, everyone who has been spared that fate must now contribute not only his normal share, but also make up the terrible gap that has been created in the life of our tortured people. One must now work for at least two…”.

Over the following years, the Rebbe continued to guide the student with practical, grounded advice. When the student wrote about his moods, the Rebbe reassured him: “there is nothing really wrong with you“.

Addressing the student’s guilt and inner turmoil, the Rebbe advised that “…brooding over past failures is bound to be depressing and discouraging… Therefore it is advisable to dismiss such thoughts for the time being, and leave them for more propitious times“.

Yet, despite the demanding nature of the correspondence, the Rebbe ensured the student felt completely comfortable reaching out. Encouraging total transparency, the Rebbe wrote:

“I want to say that there is no need for you to be embarrassed in expressing your attitude towards me, whether you have any trust or lack of trust, etc. Such feelings are best to be expressed openly…”.

These letters are an eye-opening display of how the Rebbe guided a soul from the brink of despair to a life of action. This 8-page exchange is a must-read, demonstrating the Rebbe’s unique blend of compassion, candidness, and clarity.

Excerpt – Healthy in Body Mind & Spirit – Mental HealthDownload

_________

These letters are just part of one chapter in the newly expanded “Healthy in Body, Mind and Spirit – Mental Health.” For those looking for a meaningful Mishloach Manos, Sichos In English is currently offering the full expanded book at up to 40% off. It makes for a gift of clarity, mental well-being, and spiritual purpose.

Special Thanks: To Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann for making these archival treasures available.

Please Note: The Rebbe’s approach was tailored to this individual and his specific circumstances; such guidance is not a substitute for clinical intervention or crisis management.

[Click Here to Download the 8-Page “Life for Others” PDF Excerpt]

[Click Here to Buy the Full Book on Sale at SIE.org]

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Crown Heights, Ohel, to See Record CTeen Crowds This Weekend

As participation in this weekend’s CTeen Shabbaton reaches a record high, organizers are sharing schedule highlights to help Crown Heights residents plan around peak congestion times.

PSA from CTeen International: 

Record numbers of teens are already arriving in Crown Heights for the 18th annual CTeen Shabbaton. More than 4,500 teens, together with their shluchim, representing over 60 countries, will be joining this year’s Shabbaton for what promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.

From Thursday through Sunday, participants will take part in a once-in-a-lifetime program, including visits to 770 and the Ohel, experiencing the renowned hospitality of Crown Heights, and witnessing firsthand the vibrancy of authentic Jewish life.

“This Shabbaton would not be possible without the incredible warmth and generosity of the Crown Heights community,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International at Merkos 302. “We are deeply grateful to them; their hospitality is integral to the Shabbaton itself, and to the lasting impact it has on these teens.”

To help ensure smooth navigation, community members are encouraged to review the times and locations expected to experience the heaviest congestion, both in Crown Heights and at the Ohel, and to plan accordingly. The community’s cooperation and support play a vital role in making this Shabbaton a powerful and meaningful experience for thousands of Jewish teens.

Crown Heights: Bus loading areas

Teens will be boarding buses in the following locations. Locals are advised to expect congestion at these times and to consider using alternate routes

Thursday evening: President (Kingston/Albany), and Empire (Kingston/Albany),
Friday afternoon: Crown St. (Albany/Troy), Empire Blvd. (Kingston / Albany)
Sunday morning: President St. (Kingston / Albany) and Eastern Pkwy (Kingston / Albany)

Weekly Letter: The Unique Role of the Women in the Construction of the Mishkan

In the Rebbe’s letter for this week, of the construction of the mishkan as we begin our journey through the desert, the Rebbe underlines the unique role of the women in the construction.

By the Grace of G-d

25th of Shevat, 5746

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mrs.

S.D., Ca. 92122

Blessing and Greeting:

Your letter reached me with some delay. As requested, I will again remember you and your husband in prayer for the fulfillment of your heart’s desires for the good.

There is surely no need to remind you that all blessings come from HaShem and the channel to receive them is through the everyday life and conduct in accordance with His Will. Therefore, every additional effort in matters of Torah and mitzvos, though a “must” for their own sake, widens these channels. And of course, there is always room for advancement in matters of goodness and holiness, Torah and mitzvos.

At this time, when we are beginning to read a series of sidras about the construction of the mishkan in the wilderness soon after Mattan Torah, I trust you know that the women had a particularly important share in the mishkan through their precious personal possessions (jewelry, brass mirrors, etc.) and in fact, brought their donations even before their husbands brought theirs. Thus they showed that they understood the importance of the Sanctuary, which was the visible and tangible symbol of G-d’s Presence in the midst of His people, in accordance with His desire and promise: “Make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in your midst” – in the midst of and within, every Jewish heart and every Jewish home. Indeed, as Akeres Habayis – a Jewish housewife and mother is in large measure the foundation of the Jewish home and family.

                                    Wishing you hatzlocho in all above,

                                                             With blessing,

P.S. Enclosed is a copy of my message to the recent Convention of Neshei u’Bnos Chabad  which dwells on the above.

Since writing the above, your letter was received. The only thing to add to it is to suggest that you consult with knowledgeable friends in regard to the problems about which you, in accordance with the teaching of the Torah, “Help comes with the abundance of counsel.”

Rabbonim Meet with Vaad Hakohol for an Uplifting Discussion

This week, the Rabbonim of the neighborhood—members of the Beis Din, Rabbi Osdoba and Rabbi Braun—met with the Vaad Hakohol Executive Director Meir Bukchin and members**, Berel Hildeshaim, Shmuel Rosenstein, Zalman Friedman,** Dovid Halon, Yitzie Kamman and Meir New (not pictured), for an uplifting and forward-looking discussion focused on the needs of the community and the continued strengthening of our communal institutions.

During the meeting, the Rabbonim expressed sincere appreciation for the Vaad’s ongoing work and for its consistent support of the Rabbonim as they serve the tzibbur with dedication and responsibility. The Rabbonim encouraged the Vaad to continue progressing with unity, peace, and clarity of purpose, emphasizing the strength that comes when the community moves forward together.

The gathering reflected the shared commitment of the Rabbonim and the Vaad Hakohol to promote achdus and to build in a way that brings benefit to the broader community.

The meeting concluded with a tefillah that through achdus we should merit the Geulah Ha’amitis V’Hashleimah, with the Rebbe leading us.

Kingston Avenue Comes Alive as Teens Arrive From Every Corner of the World

Up and down Kingston Avenue, The streets are alive. Sounds of singing fills the air as thousands of Jewish teens pour into Crown Heights from every corner of the globe.

They’ve come from Morocco, Moldova, and Slovakia, from rural towns where they’re often the only Jewish kid in their school. By Thursday evening, 4,578 teens from 486 cities and 60 countries will have arrived for the 18th annual CTeen International Shabbaton, the largest gathering of Jewish Teens.

Kira Rothschild, a teen from Sydney, shared her excitement from the airport before boarding. “It takes a five-and-a-half-hour plane ride, followed by a fifteen-and-a-half-hour plane ride,” she said. “It is full of stress, excitement, and shared joy.” 

Last year’s Shabbaton truly inspired her spiritual growth. “I now keep Shabbat, dress more modestly, pray every day, and so much more,” she said. My CTeen helped me so much to show that this is me and this is my identity.”

Twelve Spanish-speaking countries will be represented at this year’s Shabbaton, led by Merkos 302’s Spanish desk. France is sending one of its largest delegations ever, of over 500 teens, And from Perth, Australia, teens have logged more than 30 hours of travel to be here.

Accompanied by their dedicated shluchim and shluchos, groups of teens can be seen visiting 770, putting on tefillin, learning in the Rebbe’s shul, and visiting the Rebbe’s room. Flags of all stripes and colors mark the arriving delegations, each one representing a city, a chapter, a community sending its teens to Crown Heights.

Kira, for her part, knows exactly what she’s here for. “I hope to bring back this high spirits and joy,” she said, “and show we are brave and strong and we are Jewish and proud and we’re not afraid.”

Bonei Olam Chabad Thanks The Community For Showing Up

On Monday night, our community showed up in a powerful way. Now, there is one final action that can make all the difference. If you haven’t entered the raffle, this is your last chance. Every ticket directly funds fertility treatments, medical procedures, and vital emotional support for couples who cannot do this alone.

This isn’t just a raffle entry. It’s a chance for someone else to finally hear “YES.” A chance to turn waiting into possibility. Raffle drawing will take place this Motzei Shabbos, so nows the time!

Monday’s 5th Annual Women’s Show Up event for Bonei Olam Chabad showed what happens when a community stands together with heart and purpose. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our MC, Aidy Bendet, whose warmth, sensitivity, and steady presence guided the evening with grace and heart, holding space for every story shared.

We were deeply moved by the words of Rabbi Bochner, who reminded us that behind every child is a journey of tefillah, resilience, and unwavering faith. His message grounded the evening in what Bonei Olam truly represents: belief in possibility, even when the road feels impossibly long. The sand art presentation by Naomi Zeivald, brought all the way from Israel, visually told the story of Bonei Olam’s mission in a breathtaking way. From longing, to struggle, to hope, to miracle. The spoken word performance by Chanchy Tenenbaum gave voice to the silent pain so many couples carry, and to the courage it takes to keep hoping. It captured raw emotions so often carried quietly, leaving not a dry eye in the room. And then there was the Bonei Olam Chabad documentary on saying Yes. For ten years, Mendy and Adelle Bryski waited and prayed for their baby. They heard “no” more times than they could count. Until Bonei Olam said something different:

Yes. It’s possible. We will not give up. Because of support like yours, they are now holding the child they once only dreamed of. This is what your presence does. This is what your generosity makes possible. This is what a simple raffle ticket makes possible.

www.giveforgratitude.org/raffle

Let’s keep showing up.

With gratitude and hope, Bonei Olam Chabad

Photo Credit: Shalom Burkis

A Treasure in Every Yid: Parshas Terumah with a Geulah Lens

In a generation where so many adults, teens, and children alike are grappling with self-worth, comparison, and the question of “Do I really matter?”, the Rebbe’s last message of Parshas Terumah lands with great relevance.

As we read Parshas Terumah and learn about the precious materials donated for the Mishkan, one material stands out: gold.

Gold is the rarest and most valuable of the materials. It is not easily found, nor easily acquired, but it is the first on the list of donations. In the sichah of Parshas Terumah 5752, the Rebbe reveals its deeper message: every Yid should recognize that he or she is gold. Each neshamah is precious, rare, and entrusted with a unique mission to bring the Shechinah into this physical world.

This powerful idea is at the heart of Good and Geulahdik, a featured segment of the Live with Geulah Now curriculum from The Moshiach Office at Merkos 302,  available as a free download.

To live with Geulah means learning to see what’s “shiny” and special in ourselves and in every other Yid, recognizing our true worth and the kochos Hashem gave us to transform the world. The learning booklet presents this idea in an engaging, practical format for children, students, and campers, helping them build a Geulah perspective they can actually use.

👉Download it here!

Bonus: Along with the booklet, for a limited time only, the Moshiach Office is making available a companion game, Pots and Gold, usually included only in the paid full-package Digital Aids Portal for teachers (with games, worksheets, slideshows, workbooks, and more):

It’s recommended to play Pots and Gold before starting the booklet; it includes instructions for setup and a printable file.

This Parshas Terumah, bring the message of “gold” into your classroom, home, or camp. Download the Good and Geulahdik learning booklet, play the companion game, and empower the next generation to live with Geulah now.

Here’s My Story: It Didn’t Take A Rocket Scientist

Rabbi Kalman Shor

Click here for a PDF version of this edition of Here’s My Story, or visit the My Encounter Blog.

My mother came from a Lubavitcher family, that had lived in the chasidic village of Schedrin for generations, and arrived in America with her mother in the 1920s, when she was a little girl. They had intended to go to Brownsville, Brooklyn, but they took the wrong boat and wound up in Brownsville, Texas. Seeing that they didn’t belong there, the immigration authorities deported them across the border, and they had to hitchhike 1,000 kilometers to Mexico City. They spent the next few years there, until they straightened out their papers and made it to Brownsville — in New York.

Meanwhile, my father was a Gerrer chasid from Poland. He survived the war as a slave laborer, first in the local munitions factory and then in Germany, and was eventually liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp. After spending a couple of years in a Displaced Persons’ camp, he made it to the United States. They married in 1952, and I was born a year later.

When the time came, because of my parents’ different backgrounds, there was a discussion about which school I would go to. My grandmother immediately said that I should go to Lubavitch, and ultimately my father agreed. So I went to Lubavitcher Yeshiva for elementary school and high school.

There was no such thing as a “gap year” in those days, but after high school I spent a year studying Torah full-time at the Tomchei Tmimim yeshivah on Ocean Parkway, in Flatbush.

Now, both of my parents came from completely religious homes, and had no doubts about raising me to be observant on a day-to-day basis. However, even though the Rebbe would often discourage yeshivah students from attending college, they came to the conclusion that I needed to go to college after yeshivah.

My grandmother had been widowed back in Russia and remarried after coming to America. Her second husband was a Lubavitcher, and his son — my mother’s step-brother — was a Torah-observant professor of engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He also worked for NASA, on the Mercury and Gemini space programs.

“Sender Yona went to college, and he’s a religious Jew,” his father, my mother’s step-father, told me. “And you’re at least as bright as Sender Yona,” he added, which may or may not have been true.

I was a good boy, so I agreed to try and get into aeronautical engineering, but I wasn’t going to do anything until I received the Rebbe’s blessing.

Meanwhile, my father had fallen seriously sick. He had been hospitalized for a number of health issues, mostly connected to his heart and lungs, but his condition deteriorated to the point that the doctors said that there wasn’t a lot they could do for him. “Let him go home,” they basically said, “and whatever happens,
happens.”

In early 1971, in honor of my birthday, I was able to have an audience with the Rebbe. I prepared a note for the Rebbe beforehand in which I wrote about my father’s condition, of course, and about college. I didn’t even ask whether I should go to college; it was a given that I would go. I just wrote what my parents wanted for me and assumed that the Rebbe would give his blessing.

Preparing me for the audience, my friends told me that the Rebbe would look at me when I came into his room, and then read my note while marking it up with a pencil. Then he would answer me, and watch me as I walked out of the room.

But when I opened the door and walked in, at about 2:00 AM, I noticed that the Rebbe was looking down, his beard pressed against his jacket. Without picking up his head, the Rebbe took my note from me, made his marks, and asked me whether I was called up to the Torah that past Shabbat — as is the Chabad custom before a birthday. He then gave me a blessing for success and a blessing for my father as well.

Then, the volume of his voice picking up suddenly and dramatically, he added: “You should go to learn in a yeshivah next year, and that will help your father, too!” He said those words so forcefully, he was practically yelling. He was still looking down, but I understood that the meeting was over, and so I backed out of the room.

I took the Q train to Brighton Beach, where we lived at the time, and got home at about 3:00 AM. Everybody was asleep, so I went straight to bed.

By the time I woke up late the next morning, neither of my parents were home. My father owned a butcher’s shop, which my mother had taken over during his illness, so I went there and asked her about my father.

“Do you know what happened?” she asked. I didn’t.

“He’s better!”

I did a double take. “What?”

My father had woken up that morning feeling fine, and went straight to the doctor to get everything checked out. He was still at the doctor’s office when I went to the store.

The Rebbe had told me that I should go to yeshivah and that would help my father — and it was as though I received the reward before I even did anything. It wasn’t a complete recovery, but we did have a few more years with him, until his passing five years later.

For some reason, I decided not to tell my parents what the Rebbe had said; I only told them that I was going to yeshivah for another year — without putting it on the Rebbe. At that moment, keeping this information to myself seemed like the right thing to do. They weren’t thrilled that I wasn’t going to college, but I did what I had to do, and the next year I went to the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah in Morristown, New Jersey.

By the end of that year, I decided that I wanted to stay in yeshivah for longer, and when my next birthday rolled around, in 1972, I came for another audience with the Rebbe.

This time, when I knocked on the door and walked in, the Rebbe was looking at me with the warmest smile I ever saw. He watched me as I walked from the door to his desk, smiling all the while — except for when he looked down to read the note I handed to him. Even when he answered me, he smiled as he spoke.

The Rebbe actually talked to me for a while, and several times, I heard the door open and close, as the secretary checked in to make sure that I wasn’t just eating up everyone else’s time.

When it was finally time for me to leave, the Rebbe kept on smiling at me as I walked all the way to the door.

In the end, I didn’t go to college at all. Instead, after I got married, I took a few computer programming courses. I have been in that field since 1981, and things ended up working out just fine. Actually, around the time that I got married and was looking for work, there was a dip in government contracts for aeronautical engineers. So, had I become one — like Sender Yonah — it would not have helped much.

While working as a software engineer, Rabbi Kalman Shor has also been teaching Torah classes and providing other community services at Chabad of Henderson, Nevada, since 2003. He was interviewed in December 2025.

Information To Be Menachem Avel The Jaffe Family

The Jaffe family is sitting Shiva in Crown Heights following the passing of their brother Mendy Jaffe OBM.

Shiva will take place at 529 Brooklyn Ave Apt 3C (Door is open push).

Shachris: 8:00am

Mincha: 5:00pm

Maariv: 6:000pm

Shiva Times: 9:00am – 2:00pm and 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Monsey Cheder Completes Purchase of Expansive Five Acre Campus

Right at the start of Chodesh Adar, the Cheder Chabad of Monsey closed on 228 New Hempstead Rd in New City, NY.

The property, set on a beautiful 5 acre campus, was the former site of Temple Beth Shalom, a local reform temple. The site currently has a space that can be used as a shul with capacity for 350 people, social hall with capacity for 280 people, a commercial kitchen, offices, and a wing with classrooms that until today has been rented as the home of our preschool.

This acquisition allows the school to plan thoughtfully for continued growth. In the first phase the Cheder plans on building a 30,000 square ft wing to meet the demands of our ever growing boys’ school.

The new campus will feature bright classrooms, indoor spaces for physical activity, and outdoor facilities. Planned highlights for the development of this site include sports fields, outdoor learning areas, and an educational garden, giving our students the ability to grow to their fullest בגשמיות וברוחניות. The total cost of the project once completed will be $12.5 million.

“This purchase will propel our Cheder into a new era of growth, allowing us to meet the demands of our growing community and to further enhance the quality of our Chinuch,” shared Rabbi Dovid Brawer.

AskTheRav Unveils AI-Powered Search for Instant Halachic Answers

AskTheRav has launched a major upgrade to its website this week, introducing one of the most significant improvements since its founding: a brand-new, powerful search engine.

This completely rebuilt system makes thousands of halachic Q&As more accessible than ever, allowing users to quickly and easily find authoritative answers from their extensive archive of responsa.

Since its founding under the guidance of Harav Yosef Braun of the Crown Heights Beis Din, AskTheRav has fielded nearly 50,000 questions, becoming a central address for clear and reliable halachic guidance for Lubavitchers in Crown Heights and around the world, and hosting one of the largest searchable halachic databases available.

Over the years, tens of thousands of shailos – covering Shabbos, kashrus, davening, business, minhagim, and countless real-life scenarios – have been published and organized online.

The new search system allows users to locate relevant answers quickly and efficiently, with multiple search options, including a brand-new AI-powered engine.

This AI-powered search understands the meaning of your question – not just the keywords – and finds the most relevant halachic answers, even if the user is unsure of the exact terminology, makes a typo, or phrases the question differently.

A major addition to the AskTheRav database is the new Exact Match search feature – a tool previously almost nonexistent on frum online sites or halachic databases. Unlike a basic keyword search, this upgraded engine intelligently identifies what users are looking for and delivers precise, relevant results.

Exact Match allows users to pinpoint specific phrases or patterns within the AskTheRav archives. Users can search for words exactly as typed, appearing next to each other in a specific order, or within a set number of words.

It also handles Hebrew prefixes, spelling variations, wildcards for partial words, and uncertain letters. Additional options let users choose between alternative terms, exclude unwanted words, or combine multiple criteria in a single search – providing unmatched precision and control.

Whether researching a detailed halachic topic or locating a previously seen answer, users can now find exactly what they need in seconds. This is in addition to the regular search option and the ability to search by topic according to the order of the Shulchan Aruch.

Already, users are sharing how the new search engine has transformed their halachic research:

“I was in the middle of preparing for Shabbos and couldn’t remember a halacha. The new search engine instantly gave me the answer I needed. I don’t know how I ever managed without it!” said Leah S. from Crown Heights.

“The search engine is like having a Rav at your fingertips,” added Chana R. from Melbourne. “I could find exactly the shailah I remembered from years ago – no other resource comes close.”

These upgrades are part of a broader, behind-the-scenes effort over recent months to enhance the entire AskTheRav platform. Improvements include uploading and organizing thousands of additional Q&As, standardizing formatting across posts for greater clarity, improving site structure and navigation, integrating Halacha2Go content more seamlessly, and strengthening overall system performance and reliability.

In addition to these upgrades, the AskTheRav Hotline has also continued to grow. Since its launch several years ago, it has answered thousands of questions, providing live, direct, and immediate access to rabbinic guidance.

Due to popular demand, the Hotline has recently expanded its hours, with further expansions planned to ensure that anyone seeking answers can receive timely and authoritative guidance whenever needed.

“I called the hotline late one night,” says Mendel K. from Montreal, “and got a clear, sourced answer immediately. The expanded hours are truly a lifesaver for anyone in a pinch.”

AskTheRav has also recently launched a weekly podcast with Harav Braun, in collaboration with the Lemaan Yilmedu Institute. Each episode tackles fascinating, real-world halachic inquiries sent directly to the Rav’s desk and is available on all major streaming platforms.

What began as a local service has now become a global address for halachic questions. The AskTheRav website and Hotline function as a virtual Beis Hora’ah, providing accessible and valuable guidance to rabbanim, shluchim, and tens of thousands of individuals worldwide.

Under Harav Braun’s guidance, a dedicated team of experienced rabbanim responds to inquiries with expertise and sensitivity. Every published answer is thoroughly reviewed, ensuring clear, reliable, and fully authoritative halachic guidance.

NYC Bracing for Potential Blockbuster Nor’easter Snowstorm

FoxWeather

The Philadelphia, New York City and Boston metro areas are bracing for a potential powerful nor’easter this weekend that could dump significant snow for millions across the Interstate 95 corridor, as well as other parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

However, much of the forecast remains uncertain.

“While some snow appears to be the most likely outcome, all scenarios remain on the table, from a complete miss that tracks out to sea, to a major Nor’easter,” the FOX Forecast Center said Thursday.

Read More at FoxWeather

JLI: What Makes Judaism Different from Other Religions?

Step inside the world of Chabad at Emory University as Miriam Lipker shares a hilarious, eye-opening, and deeply meaningful story about raising Jewish children in the heart of the Bible Belt.

When she and her husband moved to Atlanta to open a Chabad House, everyone warned them about “the Bible Belt.” But nothing prepared them for the day two well-meaning missionaries knocked on their door, only to be met by their 9-year-old son Mendel, whose brilliant response left them speechless.

Students of Moscow’s Yeshiva Ketana Amaze with their Knowledge in Learning Be’al Peh

Nearly eighty students of Yeshiva Ketana ‘Tomchei Temimim’ in the Istra neighborhood of Moscow participated in a special campaign to study by heart the entire 25th volume of ‘Likutei Sichos’ – a very fundamental volume in a forty-volume series of talks delivered by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the weekly parshiyos. The talks include all 4 levels of “Pardes HaTorah” and their comprehensive study encompasses hundreds of topics, in which the beauty and depth of the Rebbe’s great teachings are wonderfully captured, in a manner which is also suitable for the young students.

Indeed, many yeshivos conduct numerous study campaigns, outside of regular school hours, in order to accustom young students to invest their time in studying and getting to know the foundations of Torah and Chassidus, as is explained very well in this volume in particular.

Since the beginning of the year, the students have been studying the entire volume from cover to cover, during their spare time. During the campaign, periodic tests were held on the talks, and at the end of studying the complete sefer, a general test was held that included dozens of questions on the entire volume. The twenty young men who received the highest scores qualified for the final stage and entered the public stage of the ‘Grand Chidon’.  The Chidon was held in the yeshiva hall with the participation of the guest of honor from Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Chitrik, chairman of the Kolel Chabad in Tzfas and Director of the Beis Chana Seminary, who tested the students back and forth and stood in awe of their knowledge. He then delivered a key message to all the students and the educational staff, about their obligation to invest in studying without interruption and without distraction. He shared with the audience his memories as a student in the yeshiva adjacent to the Rebbe’s holy room in 770 and the constant demand to diligently and punctually observe the yeshiva’s rules.

In his speech, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Lerman, expressed his gratitude to the founder of the yeshiva, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, who provided great support and encouragement throughout the entire period of the campaign, and who constantly cares for the success of the yeshiva, along with the other yeshivahs in the capital city of Moscow.

The educational staff, who are witness to the students’ great efforts, expressed their gratitude to Rabbi Yehuda Davidov, who sponsored the campaign, and to the community director Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg, who stands by the yeshiva with all his heart and soul.

Australian and New Zealand Shluchim Gather for Kinus in Bondi: Transforming Pain into Purpose

Chabad of Bondi hosted Shluchim from across Australia and New Zealand for a historic Regional Kinus Hashluchim on Rosh Chodesh Adar 5786.

The gathering was particularly poignant, held just two months after a devastating terror attack at a Bondi Beach Chanukah event that claimed 15 lives, including beloved colleagues Rabbi Eli Schlanger HY”D and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan HY”D.

The Kinus was the realized vision of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who had worked tirelessly to bring his fellow Shluchim together. In his honor, the program focused on the theme “From Pain to Purpose,” emphasizing the transformation of grief into a renewed sense of mission and dedication to Shlichus.

Throughout the two-day convention, participants engaged in intensive sessions and collaborative workshops designed to strengthen their impact. Under the guidance of moderators Rabbi Chanoch Sufrin and Rabbi Menachem Aron, the Shluchim developed concrete Hachlotos for their local communities and shared personal commitments to strengthen their own Shlichus.

Round-table exchanges covered critical areas such as emotional support, youth programming, and organization management. A somber yet resolute highlight was the Tahalucha to Bondi Beach, where the group recited Tehillim at the site of the attack, davening for the victims and for strength to carry their mission forward.

The Gala Banquet, emceed by Rabbi Eli Feldman, from Young Adult Chabad, opened with a formal welcome by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, director of Chabad of Bondi, and included addresses from Rabbi Pinchus Feldman OAM, head of Chabad NSW, Rabbi Joseph Gutnick, shliach and Philanthropist, and guest speaker Larry Diamond, founder of Zip Co, a digital finance company.

The Keynote address was given by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, From Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, who flew in to support and address the shluchim on behalf of Chabad headquarters. Speakers and sessions focused on the goal of Shlichus: preparing the world for Moshiach through daily work and communal growth.

The dedicated group of individuals and organizations who made the Kinus possible include Rabbi Pinchus Feldman OAM, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner, Rabbi Joseph Gutnick, Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, and Chabad of Bondi.

Shluchim returned to their communities fortified by a deep sense of Achdus, ready to carry forward their sacred work with renewed and added strength.

Alternate Side Parking Back in effect Thursday

Pix11

Alternate Side Parking is back in effect for New York City so sanitation crews can dig out what’s still left of last month’s snowfall.

The city’s Deputy Sanitation Commissioner is not mincing words, saying if you’re a driver parked on a city street, you need to do your part and get out of the way.

The Deputy Sanitation Commissioner clarified that staying in your car and waiting to move it once a sweeper gets close is not in compliance with the law.

Bondi Teens Head to New York for CTeen Shabbaton, Continuing Rabbi Schlanger’s Legacy

Two months after the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre claimed the life of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, HY”D, his eldest daughter Priva and a cohort of teens from his community are heading to New York this week for the CTeen International Shabbaton. It’s a trip Rabbi Schlanger had been planning since he launched CTeen Bondi just months before the attack.

“Eli started CTeen Bondi five, six months ago,” said Rabbi Avremi Joseph, Schlanger’s brother-in-law and a Chabad shliach in Sydney. “It’s been in the works for a long time. Doing this trip was a dream for Eli.”

In the months before his murder, Rabbi Schlanger had dedicated himself to building a CTeen chapter, organizing programs that drew hundreds of teens. Now Priva Schlanger, only 17, is stepping into her father’s role, leading the first Bondi CTeen delegation to Crown Heights.

“She’s taken on the task of continuing her father’s legacy, and we’re going to support her every step of the way,” Joseph said. “The goal is to take what Eli built to the next level, and make sure Priva shines in her shlichus.”

Priva and the three teens will join 4,578 participants from 486 cities at the Shabbaton. The delegation will be recognized at Thursday evening’s solidarity event, where elected officials and dignitaries will welcome them alongside teens from around the world.

Joseph, who was at the Chanukah event when the shooting began, said the trauma for the community’s teens runs deep. “It was very, very difficult,” he said. “People screaming, running, getting shot before our eyes, for these kids, that doesn’t just go away.”

But the teens traveling to New York are channeling that pain into purpose. In the days before departure, one of the teens said, “I don’t usually travel with my tefillin, but this time I will.” Another said, “For me, dealing with the tragedy means making sure that I continue Eli’s legacy.”

“There’s a big connection here,” Joseph said. “The kids had a bond not only to Rabbi Eli but to his ability to connect to their souls, to see through people in a deep way. They hold onto that.”

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302 and Chairman of CTeen International, traveled to Bondi in the weeks following the attack and returned again this week for the regional Kinus. He saw firsthand how the community and its teens have responded.

“These teens lived through something no teenager should ever have to experience,” Kotlarsky said. “And their response has been to show up, be more Jewish, and be more proud. It’s unbelievable.”

Priva, who addressed thousands at the recent Kinus Hashluchos gala in New Jersey, spoke about the impact of growing up in a home of shlichus. “When you involve your children in your community work, it leaves such an impact on your kids and the community,” she told the crowd. “It’s so inspiring for us kids because we feel it’s ours.”

Rabbi Schlanger once offered a simple formula for how Jews should respond to antisemitism: “Be more Jewish, act more Jewish, and appear more Jewish.” This week, his daughter and his teens are doing exactly that.

INBOX: The $18 Insult

We all know the cycle: staff work 20-hour days and feel betrayed by a small tip. But who is really to blame?

“Who do they think they are not to tip me?? You know what I did for their kid??”

The same complaints are heard each year. Staff in camps around the world are working tirelessly, and they feel underappreciated.

From Modeh Ani in the morning until Hamapil late at night, the staff are around, working, worrying, helping, providing and preventing. And what do they get from the parents? “TYSM for the summer!!” Or a stupid $18 tip. That’s called appreciation!?

But then you hear the parents, “I’d love to tip you, but I’m already paying $4,000 for my kid. Do you want me to sell my house?”

In my opinion there’s one person at fault. Not the parents, not the camps, but the staff.

The parents can’t afford tips, the camps can’t afford to pay their staff either. So why then did you accept the job? You knew you were only getting paid $180 in canteen! No one asked you to work here. Especially since you probably squeezed your way to get the job, or would’ve been devastated without it. Don’t pretend like you’re selfless.

I’d love to vouch for you, but you’re the doofus. Don’t accept a non-pay job, and then become the victim of poverty. There are many good paying options for the summer. Camp just isn’t one of them.

Let’s be vocal about this now, in Adar. Before we see all the articles and complaints this upcoming summer.

Don’t pretend you didn’t know what was happening. Camps don’t pay, and parents don’t tip. Now make the decision, take it or leave it.

Daily Rambam — One Perek a Day, With Clarity

Learning Rambam one Perek a day is a serious undertaking.

It’s 1,017 days — nearly three full years. A person can begin the cycle at one stage of life and complete it at another. One might start while single and finish married with children. That’s the scope of one Perek a day.

Rambam itself is vast. It spans the entire system of Halacha. Each Perek can contain twenty or more Halachos, written concisely and entirely in text. Over time, many learners experience the same challenge: they are learning faithfully, covering ground every day, but not always feeling fully oriented. Where is this Perek headed? How do these Halachos connect? What is the bigger picture?

It can sometimes feel like moving through a large body of material without a clear anchor.

A new Rambam project is now launching to address that practical reality. This project is being made possible through a generous grant from Dovid and Malkie Smetana.

The first phase focuses on something direct and concrete: every single Halacha is paired with a visual.

As you learn, you see the text together with an illustration that presents the Halacha clearly. You can go one Halacha at a time and see the text with its visual directly beneath it. Or you can open the full Perek and expand the visuals as you move through the chapter. The purpose is simple — to give each Halacha something visible and concrete to attach to, so the learning does not remain abstract.

There are also short videos for each Halacha, using the visual, text, and audio together. If preferred, you can watch the entire Perek in one sitting.

Built-in quizzes allow you to review what you learned. You can choose to have a question after each Halacha as you go, or take a general quiz at the end of the Perek. Your results are saved so you can track your progress over time. The dashboard shows your streak, your completion progress, and how much of each Sefer you’ve covered. As you complete sections and Seforim, they are clearly marked off.

When committing to a three-year cycle, it helps to see where you are and what you’ve accomplished. Being able to track progress, review material, and visibly mark off completed Seforim gives the learning direction and weight.

The long-term goal of the project is not only to provide visuals, but also to bring clearer organization and flow to the material — helping learners see how individual Halachos fit within a broader framework. That process is developing over time. The current focus is clarity at the level of each Halacha.

If you are already learning one Perek a day, this platform can provide structure and reinforcement. If you have wanted to begin but felt overwhelmed by the scope, this offers a clear and practical way in.

What the platform includes:

– Hebrew text with clear English
– A visual for every single Halacha
– Short videos for each Halacha and full-Perek options
– Personal dashboard with progress tracking and completion markers
– Additional Shiurim from Rabbi Yossi Lipskier and Rabbi Mendy Yusewitz

It’s 1,017 days.

Start with today’s Perek.

RambamAcademy.com

Join the WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GuiClnpvI3HHUDuxUC2nZ4?mode=gi_t

Jewish Pride to Shine Bright as 8,000 Fill Nassau Coliseum for CTeen Main Event

On Sunday, February 22, an expected 8,000 teens, shluchim, and community members will fill Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for “The Live the Life Event,” the largest CTeen gathering to date.

The event marks the culmination of a four-day Shabbaton bringing 4,578 teens from 486 cities across 60 countries to New York for the largest gathering of Jewish teens. For the first time, CTeen is opening the closing event to the broader Jewish community, inviting families, supporters, and community members to join.

“CTeen has become a global phenomenon,” said RabbiMendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302 and Chairman of CTeen International. “The growth is driven by teens themselves. They want more, and they’re showing up for it.”

This year’s theme, “Live the Life,” is a call to live fully, fiercely, and Jewishly, seeing the world through the lens of Torah. The lineup brings together musicians, educators, activists, entrepreneurs, and teens who live that message, each one a voice for Jewish pride in their own right.

Headlining the concert is Nissim Black, the internationally known rapper whose journey to Chassidic life has made him one of the most recognized Jewish musicians in the world, and Israeli sensationNoam Buskila, a singer, musician, and paratrooper in the IDF.

Also taking the stage are viral Jewish social media influencers Mendel Richter from “Reggie Torah Shorts,” lifestyle content creator Miriam Ezagui, Raizel Namdar from “That Jewish Family,” sports entrepreneur Marcus Sharf, proud Jewish athletes Michael Shapira, Justin Schoen, and Scarlet Gurevich,and Rebbetzin Goldie Plotkin, educator and shlucha. Hosting the event is Eli Tsives, the UCLA student whose stand against campus antisemitism made national headlines.

A special delegation from Bondi Beach will also appear on stage, including Leibel Lazaroff and CTeen Bondi representatives led by Priva Schlanger.

Among the most anticipated moments, three freed hostages will address the crowd, sharing words of hope and inspiration with thousands of Jewish teens.

The program also explores love, identity, and finances through a Torah lens, with interactive games, a live game Show, and a closing Ohel workshop where teens will write personal letters to be placed at the Rebbe’s Ohel.

“Every person on that stage chose to live their Judaism out loud,” said Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director of CTeen International. “That’s exactly what we want these teens to see. There’s no single way to do it. You find your way and you go all in.”

CTeen, which began with 40 teens in a Crown Heights dining room, now spans nearly 900 chapters in over 60 countries. The move to Nassau Coliseum reflects that growth.

The event will be livestreamed at chabad.org/7210744. Tickets for the in-person event are available at cteen.com/livethelife and are already 80% sold.

Picture of the Day

In a scene of true venahafoch hu, the hallways of Tomchei Tmimim Ocean Parkway were transformed into a learning space as talmidim of the Older Division were seen early this morning learning their first Gemara shiur.

Freed Hostage Segev Kalfon to Launch Chabad Houses Tour At CTeen

For 738 days, Segev Kalfon held onto one dream: to stand on stage and shout “Shema Yisrael” in front of the world. Hamas never gave him the chance. Now, this week in New York, he’ll get it.

Kalfon, 27, was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, and endured two years of starvation, beatings, and psychological torture in Hamas captivity before being freed on October 13, 2025.

Now, Kalfon is launching a “Chabad House tour’ across the United States and beyond, facilitated by Merkos 302. In his first-ever speaking tour, he brings his firsthand testimony of survival and faith to Jewish communities nationwide. His first stop: the CTeen International Shabbaton, where he’ll lead a mega tefillin wrap with thousands of teens Friday morning

“For two years, Jewish communities across the globe have prayed for the hostages and advocated for their freedom,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “This will bring them face-to-face with the miracle they have so tirelessly fought for.”

During captivity, Kalfon watched fellow hostage Ohad Ben Ami’s release on a screen and imagined his own moment. He dreamed of stepping onto the Hamas release stage, surrounded by his captors, and declaring “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad” before the cameras. Hamas stopped holding the public ceremonies before his release. “They didn’t let me shout Shema Yisrael in Gaza,” Kalfon said. “I’ll shout Shema Yisrael in New York.”

Kalfon and five other hostages survived on scraps of food, often sharing a quarter of a tomato and a bowl of rice between them. He was beaten regularly, confined to underground tunnels, and subjected to an “execution game” in which his captors drew lots to choose which hostage would be killed.

Kalfon observed Yom Kippur in captivity. He recited Shema Yisrael daily. Fellow hostage Ben Ami, who described himself as secular, was drawn to the younger captives’ faith. “Suddenly, you see five people, depressed all week, singing on Shabbat, joyful,” Kalfon recalled.

After his release, Kalfon visited the Rebbe’s Ohel alongside fellow freed hostages Matan Angrest, Nimrod Cohen, and Bar Kuperstein. His father, Kobi, had prayed there throughout the two years of captivity. This time, they stood side by side and recited Tehillim in gratitude.

Kalfon took it upon himself to “Sanctify Hashem’s name.” The Chabad House tour is how he plans to do it.

Following the CTeen Shabbaton, Kalfon will be speaking at Chabad Houses and institutions across the country at subsidized rates. His message centers on the faith that sustained him through 738 days of captivity and the miracles he experienced along the way.

Communities interested in hosting Segev Kalfon can contact Shneur from Merkos 302’s Hostage Desk at [email protected] or call +1 (646) 824-9763 to book a visit.

Pervert Arrested After Exposing Himself On Crown Heights Street

by CrownHeights.info

A pervert who exposed himself to multiple women on a Crown Heights Street was quickly arrested Tuesday after the victims called Crown Heights Shomrim for help.

Shomrim recieved the call around noon Tuesday with a report that the man had exposed himself just moments before to multiple women walking on President Street.

Volunteers responded to the call for help and were on scene in record time, identifying the suspect before he made it far. The police were called, and the suspect was apprehended.

The victims were able to positively identify the suspect, who was taken to the 71st Precinct to face the consequences of his actions.

BDE: Menachem Mendel Jaffe, 43, OBM

With great sadness we announce the untimely and sudden passing of Menachem Mendel Jaffe, a Tomim and a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend.

He was 43 years old.

Mendy was a very kind and warmhearted soul, known for his radiant smile and the countless favors he naturally and generously extended to others. He was hardworking and conscientious, honest and sincere, loyal and deeply dedicated to those privileged to know him.

Educated in United Lubavitcher Yeshiva, he carried himself with strong faith in Hashem and a quiet strength that touched many.

He is survived by his dear mother Mrs. Rivka Roitblat, his father Bentzion Yehoshua Jafee, as well as his siblings; Yechiel Moshe Jaffe, Nechama Dina Jaffe, Devorah Leah Jaffe, Dovid Tzvi Jaffe, and Aryeh Nachman Jaffe.

The Levaya will take place today, Wednesday, passing 770 at approximately 12:00pm, with burial at Old Montefiore Cemetery at 1:00pm.

Shiva information to be announced.

He was deeply beloved, and will forever remain so. He will be sorely and painfully missed.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

Music Legend Avraham Fried Pays Emotional Visit to the Jewish Orphanage in Moscow

Upon arriving in Moscow for the historic Rambam Siyum attended by thousands, renowned Chasidic singer R’ Avraham Fried expressed a heartfelt desire to visit the city’s Jewish orphanage – to personally encourage the children, uplift their spirits, and bring them joy and comfort.

On the morning of his performance, accompanied by his musical ensemble, R’ Avraham Fried made his way to the expansive and beautifully developed campus of the ‘Beit Chaya’ Jewish Orphanage in Moscow, also known as “the Pension.” The institution operates under the leadership of Russia’s Chief Rabbi and Head Chabad Emissary, Rabbi Berel Lazar, and is devotedly managed by Rabbi Menachem Gol and his wife.

The orphanage, which functions under the umbrella of the Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC), was built with the generous support of the Keshet Foundation and continues to grow and expand its vital work.

The visit began with a warm and inspiring Shacharit morning prayer service, together with the children. Following the prayer service, the delegation received a comprehensive and moving overview of the orphanage’s founding and ongoing operations. They heard powerful stories illustrating the life-saving impact of the institution, including personal accounts of children who have grown up and been educated there, past and present.

The legendary singer was visibly moved particularly during the tour of the campus, as he witnessed firsthand the extraordinary level of care and investment in the children. No detail is spared in providing exceptional living conditions for youngsters whose life circumstances have, sadly, not been favorable.

From the therapeutic swimming pool and warm mikvah, to the children’s bedrooms, decorated hallways, playrooms, and sports hall — where R’ Avraham Fried, world-renowned conductor Yuval Stupel, and virtuoso pianist Achia Cohen showcased impressive basketball skills — to the dining hall that felt more like a restaurant, and finally the direct and emotional encounter with the children themselves, which evolved into a concert of its own.

“Which songs do you know?” R’ Avraham Fried asked the excited children, immediately breaking into a medley of his beloved hits together with them — including the nostalgic “Shalom Aleichem,” “Sheyibaneh Beit HaMikdash,” “Abba,” and many others. At the children’s request — and with complete enthusiasm on his part — each child merited a personal photo and warm words of encouragement from Fried, who made sure no child was left without a smile and a compliment, despite the late hour.

This year, nearly eighty Jewish children from communities across Russia and neighboring countries are being raised and educated at the orphanage. Among them are children who have lost one or both parents, youngsters from broken and severely disadvantaged homes, and children facing complex medical and emotional challenges. Without the orphanage, many of them would be at risk of life-threatening situations or crime, completely disconnected from their Jewish identity.

HY’D: IDF Soldier Killed in Friendly Fire Incident in Gaza

An IDF soldier was killed in an incident of “friendly fire” in the southern Gaza Strip overnight, the military announces.

The soldier is named as Staff Sgt. Ofri Yafe, 21, of the Paratroopers Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit, from HaYogev.

The military says the circumstances under which the soldier was hit by gunfire carried out by other forces is under further investigation.

Crown Heights Residents Must Speak Out to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Attention Crown Heights Resident’s, Our Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who we all Voted for in the Democratic Primary will be holding a Community Listening Session Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Brooklyn Public Library – Central Branch, located at 10 Grand Army Plaza.

This is an important opportunity for our community to respectfully raise serious concerns and ask questions about issues directly affecting Crown Heights.

1. Homeless Shelters in Crown Heights

Residents strongly oppose the placement of any additional homeless shelters in Crown Heights. Our neighborhood is home to many families, schools, yeshivas, and seniors, and safety must remain the top priority. We do not want more shelters in our community, especially given that our congressional district already carries multiple shelter facilities. In other areas, additional shelters have led to serious quality-of-life concerns and increased public safety issues.

2. Protected Bike Lanes on Kingston Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue

While bike safety is important, residents have expressed concerns about traffic flow, emergency vehicle access, parking loss, and pedestrian safety. In other Brooklyn neighborhoods, including parts of Williamsburg such as Bedford Avenue, some community members have reported increased serious injuries and accidents following street redesigns. Many are asking for careful review, data transparency, and community input before further changes move forward.

3. Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center / Kingsbrook Shul (South Crown Heights)

Residents are deeply concerned about reports that the historic Kingsbrook Shulon the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center campus — a nearly 100-year-old synagogue that has been an important part of our community’s history — is facing demolition as part of a large state-funded housing redevelopment plan. Congregants and local leaders have filed legal action to protect the shul and preserve its role in the neighborhood’s religious and cultural life, and public officials have been urged to ensure the building is saved and respected as part of any future development.

4. New MTA Bus Route on Albany Avenue

The proposed MTA city bus route along Albany Avenue, passing Lubavitcher Yeshiva, has raised concerns regarding student safety, traffic patterns, and congestion standing Gridlock during school hours.

5. Her stance on Eretz Yisroel

Many in our community feel that Yvette Clarke has not always aligned with the strong pro-Israel stance that many Crown Heights residents support. In 2015, she publicly supported the Obama Iran deal (JCPOA) — the Iran nuclear deal — a position that drew significant criticism from organizations and constituents who felt the agreement did not sufficiently prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. 

This listening session is an opportunity to speak respectfully, ask these questions, and ensure that Crown Heights residents are fully heard. Community participation matters!

AI Training Series Empowers Educators With Practical Skills

The Merkos Chinuch Office, in collaboration with the Menachem Education Foundation, recently concluded a two-part AI training series for educators that left participants equipped with practical tools to elevate their Chinuch work.

The first session featured Rabbi Mendel Blau, Rosh Moised Oholei Torah, who explored the immense potential of AI to support teachers while emphasizing the need to use these emerging tools responsibly and in alignment with Chassidishe Chinuch values. Educators gained clarity on how AI can be a meaningful partner in their work without compromising core Torah principles.

“AI, like every new technology, is an opportunity to strengthen Torah and mitzvos when used with purpose,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of the Merkos Chinuch Office at Merkos 302. “When directed with clarity and responsibility, it can empower mechanchim and expand the reach of authentic Chinuch.”

Also presenting in the first training was Rabbi Shneur Zalman Munitz, Rebbi at Cheder KIngston, PA, who showcased a range of AI tools that enhance lesson planning, classroom management, and student engagement. Attendees walked away with concrete techniques they could immediately implement in their daily routine.

The second session built on these foundations with an advanced training led by Rabbi Shmuly Gniwisch, Mechanech at TDS Houston, TX. This deeper, hands-on workshop guided participants through more sophisticated ways to integrate AI into their classrooms, from streamlining administrative tasks to creating personalized learning experiences and boosting overall classroom engagement.

Educators described the series as both inspiring and highly practical, noting that the trainings didn’t just discuss theory, they provided usable skills that teachers can apply right away to support their students and enrich their own professional lives.

For those who were unable to join live, replays of both sessions are available:

• First Training: https://www.youtube.com/live/8fCBPEZrr7U?si=DaWq4KLa88w3cwXA• Advanced Training: https://www.youtube.com/live/9NQU_jZKtYA?si=O6rn2vQXwkb5N-oe

To get access to the updated slideshows shown in both trainings, click here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Uuazf7DNJpwGQiI37sTGUUWREq2sxQZj?usp=sharing