The second day of the 11th Annual Kinus Mechanchos Chabad concluded with hundreds of Chabad educators immersed in professional development, inspiration, and meaningful connection, as the largest-ever gathering of Chabad Mechanchos drew to a close.

Nearly 1,000 participants representing 210 schools across six continents spent the day learning practical tools to strengthen their Chinuch while deepening the bonds that unite educators around the world.
Throughout the Kinus, this year’s theme, “ונפשו קשורה בנפשו – Enduring Connections,” served as a guiding thread, highlighting the profound and lasting relationships at the heart of authentic Chinuch.

The day began with opportunities to refresh b’gashmius and b’ruchnius, including morning exercise, swimming, and Chassidus Shiurim. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky of Rechovot delivered the morning maamar, while a parallel Hebrew Chassidus session enabled Hebrew-speaking Mechanchos to participate, a new addition reflecting the growing international reach of the Kinus.

The all-day Chinuch Resource Fair, exploring innovative curricula, educational tools, and classroom resources developed specifically for Chabad schools, enabled Mechanchos to stock up on high quality high-qualityr their classrooms before the coming year.

A highlight of the morning was “Connect 4,” an engaging panel discussion in which veteran Mechanchos shared insights into four essential connections that define successful Chinuch, and networking huddles for niche Chinuch topics took place as well.

Throughout the day, participants chose from dozens of workshops led by experienced Mechanchim, Mechanchos, Rabbanim, and educational professionals. Sessions addressed topics including helping students who have r”l lost a parent with Sarah Rivkah Kohn of Links, Your Chinuch Challenge Meets the Rebbe’s Chinuch Toolbox with Sara Blau and Shterna Rappaport of Merkos Chinuch Office, Connecting Students To Their Yiddishkeit with Rabbi Gluckowsky and Incorporating Multiple Skills Into One Chumash Lesson with Dr. Sara Rosenfeld, are just a few.

Specialized tracks also provided targeted guidance for school leaders, curriculum directors, teachers of children with diverse learning needs, and educators supporting students through personal challenges.

After an interactive networking lunch led by Mrs. Shterni Rosenfeld, and an additional round of workshops, the Kinus concluded with an uplifting closing session, “Never Alone,” featuring an address by Mrs. Nechoma Itkin alongside moving musical performances by students of Cheder Chabad of Monsey and Bnos Chaya Mushka. The program captured the spirit of the Kinus, reminding participants that although they return to communities spanning the globe, they remain connected through a shared mission and a common sense of purpose.

As the Mechanchos departed for their schools and shlichus around the world, they carried home renewed inspiration, practical tools, and strengthened friendships that will continue to support them throughout the coming school year.

The record-breaking participation at this year’s Kinus reflected the remarkable growth of Chabad Chinuch worldwide and the enduring commitment of educators to answer the Rebbe’s call to continually strengthen Chinuch, ensuring that every child receives the education, guidance, and personal connection they deserve.

Find out more about the Kinus Mechanchos Chabad at chinuchconvention.org, and follow MEF’s Whatsapp Status and Instagram Account.

By COLlive staff

In the Russian Far East, approximately 7,000 kilometers from the capital city of Moscow, lies the Birobidzhan region. This vast area, located near the Chinese border, was established about ninety years ago as a “Jewish Autonomy,” yet authentic Judaism only began to flourish there in recent decades.

Today, thanks to the dedication of the shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, this artificial vision has transformed into a vibrant, living Jewish reality. The active community, situated in a strategic location, is making the spiritual wasteland bloom and cultivating a fascinating mosaic of a complete Jewish life—from the meticulous observance of halacha, through Torah growth, to deep community involvement in the residents’ lives ahead of the New Year.

This awakening reached its peak last year when the community was privileged to welcome its very own Torah scroll to the local synagogue for the first time. The shliach, Rabbi Ephraim Kolpak, who navigates the community’s activities with great success, led the historic event where the city’s Jews marched through streets adorned with Yiddish signs. This spiritual momentum, developing with the encouragement and guidance of the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, establishes a solid foundation of Jewish identity and connects the Jews of the region to their roots.

The deep connection to tradition does not stop within the walls of the synagogue; it permeates the holiday tables of the community’s families as well. As part of the preparations for a good and sweet new year, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Marzel, rabbi of the Kashrut Authority of the Chief Rabbinate of Russia, visited the city of Obluchye in the region.

He came to closely supervise the production of pure, high-quality honey, which benefits from the area’s unique climate compared to general honey production in Russia. The meticulous supervision, adhering to the highest standards, is designed to ensure strictly kosher (mehadrin) produce for Rosh Hashanah and even for Pesach, symbolizing the personalized care given to the needs of every local Jew.

Alongside the flourishing Jewish life and the preparations for the month of Tishrei, the community serves as a beacon of chessed and support in times of both routine and crisis. Evidence of its close relationship with the authorities and local society was recently seen with the agreement to establish a unique memorial complex as part of the federal “Land of Memory” project.

Prior to this, during a working meeting held by the region’s governor, Ms. Maria Kostiuk, it was agreed that the complex would preserve soil from battlefields in memory of the holy fallen, Hy”d, with the community standing as a steadfast anchor alongside the families, offering them moral support.

“These memorial spaces are necessary for families today,” noted Governor Kostiuk when summarizing the joint initiative, while expressing her gratitude for the Jewish community’s involvement. The memorial complex will serve as a source of comfort, and the community will continue to provide families with whatever assistance is required. This integration of spreading Torah, hiddur mitzvah, and social involvement proves that Jewish life in the region is currently thriving more than ever, marching confidently toward a year of growth and good tidings.

By COLlive reporter

With some sheitels now selling for as much as $10,000 to $16,000, the soaring cost of wigs has become a growing source of frustration and debate in the Orthodox community.

The issue recently drew additional attention after an Israeli attorney Nechama Tzivin filed a petition calling for the Chabad Beis Din to take action over what she described as extreme pricing in the wig industry.

Now, Mendy Reiner, whose family operates ZC Wigs, is weighing in, arguing that even the highest-quality sheitels do not justify the five-figure prices being charged in parts of the market.

“There is no reason whatsoever that anybody pays more for a top-of-the-line wig,” Reiner said during an appearance on the Clappy and Frank podcast. “You can never justify a wig that’s $6,000 to $16,000. It’s unheard of… it’s unacceptable.”

Reiner, a real estate businessman who is also the founder of the kidney transplant organization Renewal, offered an inside look at what he says sheitels actually cost to produce and where the significant markups enter the process.

According to Reiner, processed hair, which has already been colored or chemically treated, can cost approximately $500 to $900 to manufacture and generally has a shorter lifespan.

Virgin, or unprocessed, hair can cost roughly $1,500 to $3,500 to manufacture, he said. The higher-quality hair can last considerably longer and provides greater flexibility for coloring and styling.

But even those costs, Reiner argued, do not explain sheitels selling for $8,000, $10,000 or more. “Why in the world is that wig $8,000?” he asked. “Explain to me why a wig is $8,000.”

Reiner said the issue is particularly troubling when families already struggling with the expenses surrounding a simcha feel pressured to spend thousands of dollars on a sheitel.

“It is, without a doubt, price gouging, and I find that the bigger problem is that it’s very rampant in Israel,” he said. “You have people who can’t make ends meet when they make a simcha, and they’re buying one wig and spending six, $7,000 on short sheitels.”

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According to Reiner, a significant portion of the final price comes from markups added as a wig moves through different stages from the manufacturer to the consumer.

His family’s ZC Wigs has instead adopted a manufacturer-direct model, which he says eliminates many of those additional costs.

“We started doing manufacturer direct sales. We’re going straight to the consumer, cutting out all the middlemen and middlemen down the line,” Reiner said. “People can literally save three, four, $5,000 on sheitels.”

“Why are we marking everything up just because I can? Just because we could do it?” he said. “It’s simply unacceptable.”

Reiner also challenged the perception that an exceptionally expensive sheitel must contain exceptionally rare or superior hair. “I keep telling people: you are crazy, you are allowing yourself to be taken advantage of,” he said.

He suggested that for some consumers, the high price itself can become part of the appeal. “Some people like to be taken advantage of. They walk in with a ‘look how much money I spent’ feeling,” he said. “They simply burnt money.”

Reiner said greater consumer education about hair quality, manufacturing costs and the supply chain could help buyers understand what they are actually paying for.

“First of all, we have to educate,” he said.

His contention is not that quality sheitels should be inexpensive. Virgin hair costs more, requires a greater upfront investment and can provide a substantially longer-lasting product. Rather, he argues that there is a point at which the price is no longer explained by the quality of the hair or the cost of making the wig.

For families facing the already significant expenses of Jewish life and simchas, Reiner says understanding that distinction could mean saving thousands of dollars on a single sheitel.

An extraordinary copy of one of the most important editions of Tanya ever printed.

Published in Vilna in 1900, this landmark edition established the definitive text of Tanya as it is known today. Carefully proofread by the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch, with corrections based in part on manuscripts of the Alter Rebbe himself, this edition became the foundation for virtually every subsequent printing of Tanya — hundreds of editions and hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide.

This particular copy is especially remarkable. It was printed on thick, luxurious “regal paper,” reserved for the finest and most expensive copies, and retains its original deluxe binding. According to the catalog description, this specific style of binding appears to be previously undocumented.

With the Rebbe Rayatz deeply involved in the publication through the Tomchei Temimim Society, this rare volume represents an extraordinary piece of Chabad history — the “Master Edition” that shaped the Tanya for generations to come.

CLICK HERE TO BID AND READ MORE.

One of the most revealing parts of architect Liran Shukrun’s thinking is the way he speaks about the home itself. A frum family does not always live inside the standard Israeli apartment formula. In many Torah homes, the center of gravity is different. It may be the dining room table. It may be the seforim. It may be the constant flow of children, guests, learning, meals, and Shabbos. A home like that needs scale, flexibility, and a different kind of attention.

That understanding shaped the apartments at Givat Hashalvah. The homes are large, open, and planned to adapt over time. Structural elements are kept away from the center of the living space wherever possible, allowing rooms and layouts to remain flexible as family needs change. Liran speaks about this almost as a moral responsibility: if a family is going to live here for many years, the home must be able to grow with them.
The same thinking appears in the windows and balconies. Bedrooms were planned with unusually tall openings so a person standing inside the room meets the landscape at eye level. Living rooms and bedrooms open toward the view, not through small, incidental windows, but through panoramic glass that makes the hills and courtyards part of the home experience. The balconies are large enough to live on, not just step onto, creating real space for hosting, sitting, breathing, and bringing family life outdoors.

That is what makes the planning feel so specific. Givat Hashalvah is not only responding to a market need for larger homes. It is responding to a way of life. The project understands that a home for a frum family carries learning, hosting, children, guests, privacy, flexibility, and daily rhythm all at once. The architecture was asked to respect that. And in the best parts of the plan, it does.

Explore Givat Hashalvah →

Ask any of the nearly 100 boys who spent their summer at CKids Gan Israel Wisconsin what camp was like, and you’ll get the answer every parent hopes for: “It was a blast! I had the best summer of my life!”

And there was no shortage of reasons why.

Throughout the nearly month-long session, campers took part in a packed schedule of activities both on and off the campgrounds. They created woodworking masterpieces, competed in sports leagues, challenged themselves on the high and low ropes courses, raced go-karts, played mini golf, and spent plenty of time swimming in the Olympic-sized pool on the campgrounds.

Beyond the daily activities, the session was filled with special experiences that gave campers plenty to look forward to. Senior division campers enjoyed an overnight trip to Devil’s Lake for camping and rock climbing, and the full camp gathered for a Fourth of July bonfire and Havdalah under the stars. Night activities added another layer of excitement, ending the day with activities campers would sum up as simply “epic!”

Together, these experiences helped create the kind of summer that leaves campers counting down the days until they can return the following year.

“We work all year to make sure CKids Gan Israel Wisconsin is a place where, from the moment our campers arrive, they are taken in by the infectious positive energy of the camp environment,” said Mrs. Misia Cohen, director of camp operations at CKids Gan Israel Wisconsin. “We want it to be a place where every child has the opportunity to grow, thrive and flourish, develop a strong sense of Jewish pride, build lasting friendships, have fun and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

But woven through all of it, so naturally that the boys themselves barely noticed it happening, was something else. Something deeper.

For many of these boys, camp is the one time all year they are surrounded by other Jewish kids. Many spend their school year as the only Jewish child in their class, without a Jewish day school or Jewish friends nearby. Campers come from places as far away as Hawaii, as close to home as small cities in Wisconsin, and everywhere in between!

So when Judaism shows up at camp, it does not feel like a separate lesson. It becomes part of the experience itself.

That idea was brought to life Midway through the summer when the camp marked a Siyum HaShas made by Rabbi Avremi Shapiro, the camp director, after completing the full cycle of Talmud study. The celebration was all games and music, and every boy walked away with his own CKids Siddur.

That’s when things started happening on their own.

Counselors noticed boys flipping through their siddurim, looking for the right bracha to make. At a local 7-Eleven, campers began pausing before their first sip of a slushie to check which bracha applied, without anyone telling them to.

“By the second week, boys were reminding each other to make a bracha before eating,” said Motty Gorman, the camp’s head of staff. “Nobody had to tell them.”

And then there were the yarmulkas and tzitzis. By midsummer, the boys were not just wearing them out of routine. They wore them with the kind of pride a kid might have in wearing a favorite team’s jersey.

Rabbi Shapiro said that was exactly the point. “The goal is to give the children the best camp experience possible, with sports, trips, activities and everything that makes summer special. But it is also important that they experience Judaism not only as information being taught, but as something that becomes part of how they live.”

That same enthusiasm showed up during Torah time, the camp’s daily learning session built around the CKids Camp Curriculum. It created an environment that was less like a classroom lesson and more like a conversation, connected to whatever the boys were already doing that day.

It became so second nature that near the end of camp, staff found themselves with an unplanned half hour after the boys finished packing. Someone jokingly suggested squeezing in one more Torah time.

The room cheered.

It was a small moment, but one that means everything. Boys who came into camp knowing the basics left camp actively looking for more, with not only excitement and Jewish pride, but a real enthusiasm for practical mitzvos.

Ten year old Elay, originally from Israel, did not hesitate when asked what he loved most about his summer: “I loved Torah time and the farbrengens!”

Near the close of camp, each boy wrote a letter to be left at the Rebbe’s Ohel. One camper needed help getting started and asked his counselor for a hand. When he finished, he asked if he could add just one more line.

“Thank you, Rebbe,” he wrote, “for the summer.”

To learn more, visit ckidsganisraelwi.com, or partner in the camp’s current campaign at charidy.com/summercampaign

For the first time, a comprehensive curriculum dedicated to the study of tznius in dress is being introduced in Lubavitch girls’ schools worldwide.

Tznius: It’s Not Just a Word, It’s You masterfully weaves together many facets of the subject, from nigla to Chassidus and hashkafa, all presented in a modern, visually engaging format designed for junior high girls.

The publisher began developing the curriculum after recognizing a growing need, prompted by questions and comments his oldest daughter was bringing home from school. It became clear that students needed a work that would take them on a journey through the development of the subject, beginning with Tanach, continuing through the Talmud and Shulchan Aruch, and concluding with contemporary poskim.

Students today do not want merely to be told what to do; they want to understand. Like every area of Torah, tznius possesses a rich history and depth of scholarship. Students deserve the opportunity to appreciate both the practical halachos and the sources from which they emerge.

Students will also get a glimpse into the many sources behind the halachos they learn, presented in end-of-chapter halachah summary charts. They will also get to know a bit about the lives of some of the major poskim behind the halachos through short biographies presented there.

The curriculum also features special ‘Style Points’ boxes that incorporate Chassidus, Midrashim, stories from Chazal and the Rebbeim, and other inspiring material that illuminate the beauty and meaning behind the subject.

Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking questions and space for journaling, along with exercises to help internalize what the student has learned. Multiple-choice tests are also included to test the student’s knowledge.

The curriculum has received enthusiastic haskamos from rabbonim including Rabbi Kasimov of Crown Heights, Dayan Raskin of London, and Rabbi Oberlander of Kingston, Penn.

“The author…toiled to gather the words of Chazal, rishonim and acharonim, and arrange them in a language suited to everyone, in a manner that will cause hearts to awaken and to implant a pure fear of Heaven,” Rabbi Kasimov writes.

“I have…been duly impressed with the up-to-date style, addressing so important a topic, including built-in initiatives for thoroughly understanding and memorizing the material.

Clearly geared toward teenagers, this book will hopefully provide clarity and encouragement to our youth to happily embrace this central aspect of Yiddishkeit, and to merit all the associated brochos,” Dayan Raskin writes.

“This booklet provides significant benefit in teaching young people the halachos of tznius in dress and in giving them the encouragement to embrace, with great joy, the value of tznius—the most beautiful of qualities, the crown of the Jewish daughter and woman.

The material is presented in a remarkably organized fashion, accessible to all, in clear and easy-to-understand language, and includes sources that facilitate both a deeper comprehension of the subject and effective review of the material,” Rabbi Oberlander writes.

Junior high principals in Crown Heights have likewise expressed enthusiasm about introducing the curriculum in the coming school year. They note that no comparable curriculum has previously been available and believe its comprehensive approach, rich in both scholarship and inner meaning, is just what the hour calls for.

For any questions or to preorder booklets for upcoming school year, contact: [email protected]

Stump The Rabbi | Rabbi Mendy Wolf

To ask a question and watch more episodes, visit:
https://stumptherabbi.org/

This summer marks the second season of Camp Gan Israel, a day camp directed by Mrs. Mussie Zakheim and Mrs. Sara Gila Gutnick.

Serving children from Hillside, Elizabeth, and the surrounding communities—including many students from Cheder Yaldei Menachem—the camp has exceeded all expectations and continues to provide an exceptional summer experience.

Camp Gan Israel is known for its warm, joyful atmosphere, where every aspect of the program is infused with the values of taharas hakodesh and living with Moshiach. Campers enjoy a wide variety of enriching activities, including swimming, arts and crafts, baking, sports, and engaging recreational programs.

The camp’s motto, “Where Every Child Counts,” is reflected in every part of the camp experience. Each child is valued, encouraged, and made to feel truly special and cherished.

In response to its remarkable growth, Camp Gan Israel expanded its operations and is now run in an Elizabeth Public School facility, made possible through the generous cooperation and support of Mayor Chris Bollwage and School Superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer.

For the families who are part of Friendship Circle of Brooklyn, the relationship doesn’t end when a program is over or the school year comes to a close.

It continues.

Throughout the year, Friendship Circle connects children with special needs with friends, volunteers, and staff who come to know them personally. They celebrate their milestones, share their happy moments, support them through challenges, and become familiar and trusted faces in their lives.

Beyond the multitude of programs and activities, Friendship Circle is a place where relationships run deep; where every member is known, valued, and genuinely cared about. These aren’t relationships that exist only during a program or school year. They continue throughout the year, because the children become a meaningful part of the community.

And sometimes, you get to see just how deep those relationships have become in a single, unforgettable moment.

This summer, Rabbi Berel and Chani Majesky made a special trip upstate to visit some of their Friendship Circle friends at camp.
One of their stops was Camp HASC, where they were warmly welcomed by campers and counselors. The visit gave the Majeskys an opportunity to see Friendship Circle members in their summer environment and, just as importantly, to show Hakaros HaTov to the dedicated counselors who spend their summer caring for them.

But one encounter in particular captured what these relationships really mean.
While walking around, Chani spotted Y. happily playing on a spinner in the playground. She went over to say hello and knowing how excited he would be, asked him if he would like to also see Berel. Y. immediately took her hand, ready to go. Berel was waiting near the entrance at the bottom of a hill. As they walked toward him, Y. suddenly spotted him from a distance, across the field. He gave a little jump. And then he ran. Y. took off toward Berel with an excitement that was impossible to miss. He ran straight to him and stayed by his side for the remainder of the Majesky’s visit.

His counselor later mentioned that he had never seen Y. so excited to see any of his visitors – or want to stay with someone for so long.

It was one of those moments that captures why Friendship Circle exists. The goal has never been simply to run programs. It is to build a community where every child is known, valued, and cared for – and where they know they truly belong.

Y.’s reaction said it all.

Watch the heartwarming moment here
Partner with Friendship Circle’s life-changing work in the community at FCBrooklyn.com/donate.

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By Yochanan Gordon

The truth is that Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul marks the 57th yahrtzeit of my great-grandfather and namesake, Reb Yochanan Gordon, or Reb Yochanan ben Reb Yisrael Gordon of Dokshitz. Yet, in a sense, it is on Rosh Chodesh Elul itself that we enter the 58th year since his passing.

The number 58 corresponds to the Hebrew word חן (chein), a word that carries special significance in my own life. It is embedded in both my name, Yochanan (יוחנן), and my wife’s name, Chana (חנה). As we enter the fifty-eighth year since my great-grandfather’s passing, I found myself reflecting not only on his life, but on what it means to carry another person’s name.

My great-grandfather possessed an extraordinary measure of chein. Perhaps it is no coincidence that he embodied the very quality encoded within his name. He possessed a Torahdik sense of humor unlike anyone I’ve ever heard described. Even in his sharpness, he brought smiles to people’s faces and joy to their souls.

On more than one occasion, he even made the Rebbe smile.

The story goes that my great-uncle, Reb Sholom Ber Gordon, was visiting home from his shlichus in Newark, New Jersey, when my great-grandfather, who served as the gabbai in 770 Eastern Parkway, honored him with Hagbah. He accidentally lifted the Torah and sat down with it rather than following the Chabad custom of first placing it back on the bimah so it could be rolled and wrapped by the gollel before sitting.

Without batting an eyelash, my elter-zaide quoted the verse from Tehillim, “ויתערבו בגוים וילמדו מעשיהם” — “They assimilated among the nations and adopted their ways” — loudly enough for the Rebbe, who was standing nearby, to hear.

The Rebbe chuckled.

On another occasion, my great-grandfather became ill during a Shabbos farbrengen and had to be escorted from the room. After the farbrengen ended, the Rebbe entered the stairwell on his way back to his office and noticed my elter-zaide sitting there. He asked him what had happened and how he was feeling.

“I fainted,” my great-grandfather replied. “My soul went up to Heaven for a moment. Gehinnom was closed because it was Shabbos, and Heaven didn’t want me, so they sent me back down.”

Even earlier, during the lifetime of the Frierdiker Rebbe, there was a period when the Rebbe was weighed down by the constant stream of devastating news arriving from Germany and Poland during the Holocaust. His gabbaim tried everything they could to lift his spirits. Having exhausted every other idea, they called my great-grandfather and urged him to come immediately.

As he hurried toward 770, he later recounted that he spent the entire walk praying that Hashem place the proper words into his mouth.

Standing before the Frierdiker Rebbe, he said: “One arrest is nothing to brag about. Everybody got arrested in Russia at least once. Twice is already a hiddur mitzvah. Three times is simply showing off.”

The Frierdiker Rebbe, who had been arrested seven times before arriving in America, burst into laughter like his forebear and namesake, Yitzchak Avinu.

These stories have always fascinated me. But perhaps even more fascinating than the stories themselves has been what it has meant to bear his name.

My father’s family hails from Crown Heights and, before that, Russia, while my maternal pedigree traces through Poland and Siberia, where my maternal grandfather learned in the Novardok Yeshiva under the auspices of Rabbi Yehuda Nekritz.

The decision was made to educate my siblings and me in the Litvish yeshiva system. Culturally and socially, that became the world in which I was raised.

Yet throughout those years, I lived with a constant awareness of my Lubavitch pedigree. Regardless of how distant I may have been from Chabad in practice, the fact that I carried my great-grandfather’s name always weighed heavily upon my consciousness.

It is uncommon in Chabad for anyone other than the Rebbe to become an object of public reverence. Chabad places such emphasis on bittul that if you’re not the Rebbe, you’re essentially a nobody. Ironically, to be a nobody in Chabad is perhaps the greatest compliment a chossid can earn.

Which is why I have always found it remarkable that, decades after his passing, people who never met my great-grandfather still react with awe upon hearing his name.

During the Yamim Noraim we recite: ושמך נאה לך ואתה נאה לשמך ושמינו קראת בשמך עשה למען שמך – “Your Name is fitting for You, and You are fitting for Your Name. You have called our name by Your Name; act, therefore, for the sake of Your Name.”

Many grandchildren stand in awe of their forebears.

I carry his name.

His name is mine, and mine is his.

Every visit to the Ohel eventually brings me back to the same question: Am I doing enough to honor the name that I was entrusted to carry?

Several years ago, before COVID, when I was still clean-shaven, I introduced myself to an elderly chossid. When I told him my name, he smiled mischievously and said, “You’re lucky your great-grandfather isn’t alive.”

I replied, “If he were alive, I wouldn’t have his name.”

He laughed. “If he saw you,” he said, “he’d kill you.”

I laughed it off. Yet over the years, I have often returned to that conversation.

More than anything, I wish I could have met my elter-zaide. I know the sacrifices he made to remain a chossid of the Rebbe. I also know that my grandfather, despite spending time in Chabad yeshivos, later learning in Torah Vodaath, receiving semichah there, and dedicating his career to representing the broader Orthodox world, remained deeply connected to his father. As far as I know, despite not wearing a beard like his siblings, the relationship between my grandfather, Nison, and his father, Reb Yochanan, remained unwavering.

So although my answer to the question of whether I have done enough to honor his name will probably always be “no,” I’d like to believe that from his vantage point, knowing my trajectory and where life easily could have led me had I not carried his name, he takes pride in the path that my wife and I have forged for ourselves and our children—bringing awareness of the Rebbeim and Chassidus to audiences that, not so very long ago, knew little about them.

I recently heard another story that beautifully illustrates the sophistication of his wit.

A Mincha minyan was struggling to find a tenth man. An impatient individual instructed a yeshiva bochur, who was deeply engrossed in learning, to leave the beis medrash and find someone.

The bochur returned empty-handed.

The man scolded him.

“You’re more worthless than the Golem of Prague. At least the Golem accomplished the missions the Maharal sent him to perform.”

My elter-zaide immediately objected. “Your comparison is completely backwards. When the Maharal sent the Golem on a mission, the Maharal remained in the beis medrash learning. In this case, you sent the Maharal out while the Golem stayed inside.”

There are many other stories to share. But in the interest of keeping readers engaged, I’ll conclude with one final episode.

Every Shabbos Bereishis, Reb Yochanan Gordon would don a shtreimel before sharing a Chassidic story or a Polishe vort. One year, however, a shtreimel could not be procured, and no one knew what should be done.

The Rebbe removed a kerchief and tossed it toward my elter-zaide.

“Let this serve instead of the shtreimel.”

That would be the very year that my great-grandfather passed away.

What makes the story all the more mysterious is that the Rebbe is said to have thrown that very kerchief to only three individuals, each during the year of his passing.

Only after putting these stories together did it occur to me that perhaps they correspond to the five levels of the soul.

The first story, in which my great-grandfather prayed that Hashem place the proper words into his mouth before speaking to the Frierdiker Rebbe, reflects the hidden essence of Yechidah, from which everything else emerges. The Hagbah episode speaks to Chayah, the flash of inspired perception that transformed an awkward moment into one that brought a smile to the Rebbe’s face. His defense of the yeshiva bochur embodies Neshamah, wisdom applied with compassion to protect the dignity of another Jew. His response after fainting reveals the warmth, vitality, and emotional richness of Ruach. And this final story, rooted in the Rebbe’s kerchief replacing the shtreimel shortly before his passing, finds expression in Nefesh, where a lifetime of avodah leaves its imprint upon the physical world.

Perhaps that is also what it means to carry another person’s name.

We are not called upon to become those who came before us. Rather, we are entrusted with carrying something of their soul forward into our own generation.

As we enter the fifty-eighth year since my great-grandfather’s passing—the year of חן—that is my prayer: that I continue to bring honor to the name we shared and to the legacy he left behind.

On Friday, the annual group photo of Fair Lawn Jewish Day Camp, under the auspices of Bris Avrohom Fair Lawn, was taken with the campers, staff, Bergen County elected officials and Bris Avrohom supporters taking part.

The Fair Lawn Jewish Day Camp consists of over 300 campers as well as many staff members bli ayin hara who come from 30 different towns in Bergen County. The children enjoy an amazing camp experience with daily swimming, trips 3 times a week, many overnight trips, and hot lunches. The children are provided with maximum enjoyment as well as relaxation by their trained and dedicated counselors under the leadership of Rabbi Mendel and Elky Zaltzman.

The camp opened 19 years ago with just 50 campers and grew remarkably to become a very successful and educational camp. 

Majority of the children are not yet attending Jewish day schools, and the camp gives them an opportunity to learn and explore all the Jewish holidays both in theory and with tangible arts and crafts. They also learn the alef-bais and brachos, and above all, they receive a strong sense of Jewish pride. Rabbi Mendel and Elky Zaltzman, along with the devoted staff, give the children daily support and love of Yiddishkeit.

The elected officials of Bergen County made the effort to attend the photo session, and they presented proclamations in honor of the camp.

Just one year after the groundbreaking of Kiryas Anshei Lubavitch in the Pocono Mountains, the vision of a Chassidish summer community is quickly becoming a reality.

This past Sunday, families gathered in Mount Cobb, Pennsylvania, for an open house at the 65-acre development, touring the grounds and seeing firsthand how much has changed since the project was launched last summer.

Rabbi Yossi Garelik, Rov of Anshei Lubavitch Shul, led visitors on a tour of the property, while the developer showed families through the homes currently under construction.

The progress was evident throughout the development. A number of homes are already built and nearing completion, with approximately 40 plus homes at various stages of construction.

The homes are being built to a high standard, with quality construction and full winterization, making them comfortable not only during the summer months but throughout the year. With the village taking shape so quickly, some families are already considering living in Kiryas Anshei Lubavitch year-round, rather than using their homes solely as summer residences.

Close to 50% of the homes in the development have already been sold, reflecting the strong interest in creating a Chabad community where families can spend their vacations surrounded by Torah, Chassidishkeit and a vibrant communal atmosphere.

The infrastructure for the community’s recreational areas is also taking shape. Areas designated for playgrounds, pools, baseball fields, courts and other amenities have already been cleared and prepared, bringing the plans that were presented at last year’s groundbreaking one step closer to reality.

The open house was not simply a construction tour, but a community event. Families enjoyed a BBQ together, while children had plenty to keep them busy, including bouncy houses and rides.

In keeping with the spirit of a Chassidish event, participants also gave tzedakah, adding a meaningful dimension to a day focused on building a new community.

A year ago, the groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of Kiryas Anshei Lubavitch. This year’s gathering offered families the opportunity to see that the plans are no longer simply plans on paper: houses are standing, families are purchasing homes, and the foundations of the community are visibly taking shape.

By COLlive reporter

Chabad of Port Washington on Long Island, New York, has appointed Shlomie Rabin as its full-time cantor, formalizing a role that has steadily expanded over the past several years.

Rabin has led the High Holiday davening at Chabad since 2019, accompanied by a choir. As the community continued to grow, so did interest in bringing more songs and musical davening into the shul throughout the year.

What began with occasional appearances developed into a pilot program, with Rabin joining the community approximately once a month, and at times more frequently. Following a strong response from congregants over the winter and spring, Chabad decided to make his regular appearances a permanent part of the community’s programming.

The appointment comes following a significant expansion and renovation of the Chabad Center, adding another dimension to the growing congregation and its Shul experience.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel, the longtime Shliach and director of Chabad of Port Washington, is widely known beyond the community for his farbrengens and weekly in-depth Likkutei Sichos shiurim. In Port Washington, however, his primary role is serving the local Jewish community he has helped build.

“As a Shliach in a beautiful suburban area, I want to make the Shul experience as enjoyable as possible, but to touch people with song and music requires a different talent than a Rabbi’s speaking,” Rabbi Paltiel said. “Shlomie Rabin bridges that gap for us.”

Rabin said the new position represents both an opportunity and an honor.

“Getting a position like this is a rare opportunity and a special honor,” he told COLlive. “During the weeks I am not serving in Port Washington, I look forward to visiting other communities to share more songs and continue learning from each location.”

VIDEO: Filmed before Shabbos

Learn more about Chabad at https://www.chabadpw.org

Learn more about Shlomie https://app.jplacing.com/talents/shlomierabin

By Amit Segal

Within hours of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that Israel rejects the 15-point roadmap, Nikolay Mladenov—Director-General of the Board of Peace, the Trump-led body meant to oversee postwar Gaza—sat down with me to explain why Israel should want the very thing Bibi had just rejected.

His entire case reduces to one word: verification. Nobody is required to do anything, he insists, “last of all Israel,” before verified steps on the ground. The IDF sits at the yellow line agreed under the comprehensive plan; the Board’s ask is only that it hold there and not fire across unless troops face a real threat. The line moves back only after individual sectors are cleared and their weapons are certified, stored, and rendered unusable. If the next stage’s commitments go unmet, “the process stops.”

Why store the weapons in warehouses inside Gaza, where Hamas is “always one wall away from rearming”? Because they will be rendered unusable, he says, by the Board’s National Committee for the Administration of Gaza with backing from the international force. More a reassurance than an answer.

Who destroys the tunnels? Contractors, but at this rate it will take more than a decade, and, he adds, this is precisely why Israel needs the Board of Peace: together it will go faster.

What counts as the “personal arms” Gazans may keep—might that quietly include the Kalashnikovs that actually govern the Strip? No, he says; the framework covers everything, heavy weapons to personal ones. He acknowledges that Gaza is ruled from the barrel of a Kalashnikov—which is why, he insists, those rifles and every other weapon must pass to civilian authority.

And Turkey and Qatar—the two governments Israelis least want inside Gaza? Without Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, he says flatly, Hamas would never have agreed to the roadmap at all; their role was critical. Told that letting them help dismantle Hamas is the fox guarding the henhouse, he answers: “If I have to speak to the devil, I will speak to the devil”—to make sure no second October 7 ever occurs. The verification mechanism, he stresses, is American-led, backed by the ISF and, on paper, by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Morocco.

Pressed on whether Hamas will really disarm itself—whether the whole thing is too good to be true—he offers the tell. “I’m not building any of this on the basis of trust. And none of us are.” Clear-eyed about the risks, he says, and building on verification instead. If it doesn’t work, the process stops.

Mladenov’s offer is difficult. On the one hand, Israel isn’t being asked to withdraw from anywhere at the moment; it only has to stop firing—unless it sees Hamas rearming. On the other, a withdrawal will eventually come before Hamas is entirely disarmed.

The Americans are stunned by one thing. How can a plan this good—by their lights—draw the opposition of the entire Israeli political system, without exception? It’s one of the rare questions on which Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, Gadi Eisenkot, and even Yair Golan answer in chorus. Their reason is the same: in 79 days Israel votes. Nobody wants to run as a Hamas sympathizer and a signer of pullouts—even when no pullout would come before the election. Some of them privately suspect this is the best deal Israel is going to get. But compromise is a post-election pastime.

My take: In contrast to the entire political establishment, I support this plan. It won’t dismantle Hamas—nothing will, not completely. But if it nets a third of the tunnels and half the Kalashnikovs, I’ll take it. Will 100,000 Kalashnikovs be handed in? Of course not. But 40,000 collected and another 300 kilometers of tunnel mapped is not nothing—and the next round, which everyone knows is coming, gets fought on considerably more favorable terms.

VIDEO:

By COLlive reporter

The annual One Crown Heights Festival will return this Sunday, August 16, bringing Crown Heights residents together for an afternoon of live entertainment, activities and community programming.

The free, family-friendly festival will take place from 12:00 to 5:00 PM on Park Place between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues. One Crown Heights is funded in part by the NYC Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes.

This year’s program will feature live music headlined by children’s entertainer Rabbi B., who will perform popular children’s songs.

Other attractions will include roller skating, a coached basketball tournament and clinic, a local artists market, hands-on activities for children and opportunities to meet neighborhood organizations.

Festival attendees will also receive free admission to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum during the event.

The festival is organized by the One Crown Heights Coalition, a partnership of neighborhood nonprofit organizations, community leaders, elected officials and residents working to strengthen connections among Crown Heights residents.

Coalition members include the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Community Conversations & Collaboration, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC), Crown Heights Local Development Corporation, Crown Heights North Association, Epic Village Community Development, Friends of Brower Park, JCRC-NY, Jewish Children’s Museum, Save Our Streets (SOS/NIA), and the 67th, 71st and 77th Precinct Community Councils, as well as UJA-Federation of New York.

Community organizations, artists and local businesses interested in participating, setting up a table or sponsoring the festival can email [email protected]

By COLlive reporter

Shlomo and Shifra Klein, the Lubavitcher husband-and-wife team behind Fleishigs Magazine, have sold the popular kosher food publication and are moving on to new ventures.

The Kleins launched Fleishigs in 2018, returning to the kosher publishing world they had helped pioneer years earlier with Bitayavon, which they founded in 2011. Bitayavon later merged with Jamie Geller’s Joy of Kosher, which was eventually rebranded, and its magazine was discontinued.

Fleishigs became the only monthly Jewish publication devoted exclusively to food, while facing steady competition from the substantial and often expanded food sections of the weekly Mishpacha and Ami magazines.

The brand also launched Kosherpalooza, a major annual food festival in New Jersey, which was later discontinued.

In a video announcement on Motzoei Shabbos, the Kleins revealed that the transition took place earlier this year, with a new team now running the publication they built into a prominent voice in the kosher food and travel world.

“Earlier this year, we passed Fleishigs Magazine to a new team, with new people running the magazine,” the Kleins said in announcing the change.

While stepping away from running Fleishigs, they said they have no intention of leaving the kosher food industry. “We will be involved in the kosher food world, which we are passionate about,” they said.

The Kleins, residents of the Five Towns in New York, described their years at Fleishigs as “one of the best experiences of our life,” saying they were grateful to have played a role in revolutionizing the kosher food and travel markets.

They thanked the many chefs, restaurants, brands, contributors, readers and others who worked with and supported Fleishigs over the years, while saying they are now “starting a new chapter.”

That chapter will include several ventures, among them SSK & Co., a new business focused on connecting mainstream brands with the kosher consumer market. Its services will include custom campaigns for brands seeking to reach kosher consumers, distribution assistance and influencer representation.

VIDEO:

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The announcement drew messages from prominent figures in the kosher food world.

“Your fun and creative approach to kosher food has truly revolutionized the industry! I can’t wait to see what’s next!” wrote Chanie Apfelbaum, the cookbook author and food personality behind Busy in Brooklyn.

Elan Kornblum of Great Kosher Restaurants called the news “major.” “Shlomo and Shifra, wishing you guys nothing but the best in this new chapter,” Kornblum wrote. “I’m excited to see what you guys do and if I can help in any way, please reach out. Everyone is rooting for you.”

At Fleishigs, editorial leadership is now being shared by sisters Vicky Cohen and Ruth Fox, both veteran figures in food and recipe development.

“Today, I’m thrilled to begin a new chapter as one of the editors of this magazine,” Fox wrote in an introduction to readers. “Even better, I’ll be sharing the role with my sister, Vicky, who has spent the past 15 years developing, styling, and photographing recipes.”

The sisters were raised in Barcelona, Spain, in a Sephardic Jewish family and have each built careers around food, although in different areas.

Cohen is a recipe developer, food photographer and stylist who co-founded the food blog “May I Have That Recipe?” and co-authored the cookbook “Tahini and Turmeric.” Her work draws heavily on Mediterranean food as well as global cuisines.

Fox is a recipe developer and cookbook author as well as a trained nutritionist and dietitian. She specializes in developing recipes and menus for people with varying dietary needs and restrictions and also works as a medical interpreter in the Philadelphia area.

“Our paths might have been different, but they’ve always led to the same place: the kitchen,” Fox wrote.

She said readers can expect some changes under the sisters’ leadership, but not a departure from the publication’s core identity.

“Over the coming months, you may notice a few subtle changes: a fresh look here, a new voice there,” she wrote. “But the heart of this magazine will remain the same: celebrating Jewish food, the joy of making it, and the people who bring it to life.”

Meanwhile, Shifra Klein has indicated that her next chapter will extend beyond food. She recently posted a video promising a “new series” focused on parenting, offering another indication of the projects she plans to pursue after Fleishigs.

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A post shared by SHIFRA KLEIN (@shifraklein)

For the Kleins, the sale closes the chapter of running Fleishigs but not their involvement in the industry they helped reshape. With SSK & Co. and other ventures underway, they said their work in the kosher food world will continue in a new form.

As another incredible summer at Camp L’man Achai comes to a close, the camp celebrates the fun, growth, and Jewish pride created throughout the summer with the release of a brand-new original song, ‘Where I Belong.’

Created by the dedicated staff of Camp L’man Achai, this upbeat anthem tells the story of a place where every Jewish child feels that they belong, where they can thrive, build friendships, and let their Neshama shine.

From sports, trips, and activities to learning, Davening, and doing Mitzvos, Camp L’man Achai gives boys from all backgrounds the opportunity to experience the beauty of Judaism in a Torah environment while creating memories that last a lifetime.

With its catchy tune and uplifting lyrics, the song carries a powerful message for Jewish children everywhere: to connect with Jewish friends, celebrate Jewish values, and embrace their heritage. Whether in camp, at home, or beyond, the song inspires children to be proud of who they are and carry that pride with them wherever they go.

Filled with summer energy and Jewish spirit, ‘Where I Belong’ captures the unforgettable experiences of Camp L’man Achai.

Now available on all streaming platforms.

Composed and produced by Moti Muchnik (Yechida Studio). Sung by CLA camper Yasha Boyarskiy.

A trusted resource, now with a modern new look and an even better user experience.

Mikvah.org is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned MyMikvahCalendar app, offering women an updated experience with a sleek, modern interface, improved performance, and a host of enhancements designed to make using the app simpler, smoother, and more intuitive than ever before.

For years, MyMikvahCalendar has been a trusted tool used by women around the world to help calculate and track the dates and halachic milestones related to Taharas Hamishpacha.

With thousands of users relying on the app daily, Mikvah.org recognized the opportunity to invest in a significant upgrade – one that reflects today’s technology while maintaining the reliability users have come to expect.

The redesigned app features a clean, refreshed look with streamlined navigation, faster performance, and numerous behind-the-scenes improvements. Existing features have been refined, bugs and technical issues have been addressed, and the overall experience has been optimized to provide greater ease of use across devices.

In addition to visual and technical upgrades, the updated app introduces new features and enhancements that make managing a calendar more convenient than ever. Every improvement was carefully developed with user feedback in mind, ensuring the app continues to meet the evolving needs of women today.

“MyMikvahCalendar has become an essential resource for so many women,” said Mrs. Chaya Klein, founder of MyMikvahCalendar – “We wanted to create an experience that feels as dependable as ever while offering the functionality users expect from a modern app.”

The launch reflects Mikvah.org’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible, practical resources that support Jewish women throughout every stage of life. From educational content and classes to podcasts, articles, and digital tools, Mikvah.org continues to expand and improve its offerings to better serve communities worldwide.

Current users are encouraged to update the app to enjoy the new experience, while those who have not yet used MyMikvahCalendar are invited to download it and discover why it has become one of the most trusted digital resources for Taharas Hamishpacha.

For more information, visit Mikvah.org or download the updated MyMikvahCalendar app from the App Store or Google Play.

By COLlive staff

Most Jewish families never learned how money works. They never learned financial literacy in school, at home, or in their communities. By the time they ask for help, they are in their 30s and 40s saying, “I wish I had known this earlier.”

A Jewish family with four or five children now needs roughly $150,000 a year just to cover the basics before saving a single dollar. Collective Kindness’ own accounting of typical family budgets has revealed approximately $200,000 in gross pay to net it in a high-tax state. Day school tuition can run as high as $30,000 a year per child before scholarships. Housing, kosher food, costs that cluster around Shabbat and the holidays, insurance, a car, camp, clothing and the giving that is not optional in observant life stack up a significant income before a single retirement account is funded.

Collective Kindness today publicly launched CK Academy to make sure the next generation of Jewish families is equipped to navigate this math. CK Academy is the first nationwide movement dedicated to teaching financial literacy across the Jewish community, helping Jews at every life stage develop the practical knowledge needed to set up their lives correctly. Its work combines online courses, written guides, structured homework, one-on-one guidance counselors from within the community, in-person events, and programs.

The launch arrives just after the 2026 TIAA Institute–GFLEC Personal Finance Index reported American adults answered only 47% of basic personal-finance questions correctly, the lowest score in the index’s 10-year history. Adults with the weakest financial knowledge are four times more likely to struggle to make ends meet.

CK Academy is the education arm of Collective Kindness, the nonprofit behind Kosher Debt Help, which has erased more than $3.8 million in total interest for over 1,240 Jewish families since its launch. The Academy is the preventive counterpart to that work.

“You cannot coach a person from soft skills to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” said Shalom Goodman, co-founder and executive director of Collective Kindness. “That ceiling is structural, not motivational. Most of the existing Jewish job-placement models assume a $90,000 to $110,000 role is the goal. For a large Jewish family, that role does not clear the bar. It is not assistance, it is the same family back in our office a year later.”

CK Academy’s first offering is “Newlywed Financial Mastery,” an 8-part video course for Jewish couples in their first years of marriage. The course, presented by healthcare executive and business development strategist Yosef Nathan, combines short video lessons with written guides, structured homework and guidance counselors who walk each couple through the curriculum step by step.

It opens with the lesson the Academy considers the most expensive to learn late: a 25-year-old who puts $300 a month into an account that returns 9% reaches roughly $1.4 million by retirement. Someone who begins the identical habit at 45 reaches about $500,000.

The gap has nothing to do with effort or income. It is two decades of compounding the late starter gave away. The lesson is already moving people. Collective Kindness soft-launched the course a week and a half ago. 150 couples signed up and nearly 80 people opened retirement accounts.

The eight chapters cover compound interest, career clarity, budgeting against real Jewish family line items, debt and credit cards, the financial checklist young couples are rarely given, growing income, major life decisions like housing and cars, and giving and legacy. “Newlywed Financial Mastery” is the first of numerous courses planned for parents, established families, students and anyone who feels behind on something no one bothered to explain to them.

“We are building the layer that makes the intervention unnecessary,” Goodman said. “We got tired of meeting families too late.”

VIDEO:

CK Academy exists so Jewish families can live securely and give generously, built on the Rambam’s eighth and highest level of tzedakah: helping a person before they fall. The community stopped waiting for families to figure out finances on their own.

The first 250 applicants can use code COLLIVE to receive the course free of charge. Sign up at https://collectivekindness.net/academy/newlyweds-course

By COLlive reporter

In recent weeks, Ukraine has faced some of the heaviest missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of the war, leaving communities across the country contending with frequent air raid alerts and the continuing threat of strikes.

Against that backdrop, Jewish parents are trying to give their children some semblance of a normal summer, even as the realities of war make traditional vacations difficult or impossible.

“The children need a break from the sirens,” one community rabbi said.

Emergency regulations add another complication. Most Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, while the financial pressures of years of war have left many families unable to afford travel abroad even when other family members are permitted to leave.

Some Ukrainian women and children who can afford to travel have sought brief respite in the Carpathian Mountains or other relatively quieter parts of the country. But thousands of Jewish families are remaining close to home, increasingly relying on their local Jewish communities for stability, social interaction and a sense of routine.

Jewish community centers and Chabad institutions across Ukraine have consequently taken on an expanded role during the summer. Programs and communal activities offer children opportunities to get out of their homes and spend time with friends, while even regular visits to the synagogue can provide families with a welcome change of environment.

At the same time, having entire families at home for much of the summer is adding to household expenses at a time when many Ukrainians are already facing serious economic hardship.

Chabad’s Jewish Relief Network Ukraine, known as JRNU, together with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, has continued humanitarian assistance throughout the summer, distributing thousands of packages of kosher food to elderly residents, people with illnesses and low-income families.

The assistance is delivered directly to recipients, including those living in isolated areas where obtaining basic necessities can be particularly difficult.

“We really don’t have the ability to take a vacation, and these food deliveries are a lifeline,” said a Jewish mother in Kyiv. “We are living in a state of day-to-day survival.”

Rabbi Simcha Levenharz of JRNU said that while winter has ended, the humanitarian challenges facing Ukrainian Jews have hardly eased.

“The long winter ended and summer brought warmer weather, but the reality on the ground has only become more difficult with the latest missile barrages,” he said. “Prices have risen sharply, and people are struggling for their most basic needs.”

“We have entered another year of war, and the pace of the attacks and the tension continue to increase,” Rabbi Levenharz said.

While many institutions traditionally reduce operations during the summer months, he said the humanitarian infrastructure serving Ukraine’s Jewish communities remains active every day.

“While institutions are on summer break, our kitchens continue operating nonstop, every day,” he said. “When the assistance and food reach families, there is enormous relief simply from knowing that they are not alone, that someone is thinking about them and supporting them through the exhausting and seemingly endless routine we are all experiencing here.”

Lemaan Yilmedu’s Smicha course was created specifically with bochurim in mind, taking the well established classic Lemaan Yilmedu Smicha curriculum and reconfiguring it to better fit the structure of a bochur who wants to learn Smicha while on Shlichus or in Yeshiva. This year the program is being offered at a special subsidized price of $2,040 instead of $3,420.

Every bochur knows that the Rebbe mentioned time and again that it is important for bochurim to learn and receive Smicha before they get married.

The knowledge they acquire will serve as the basis of the home that they will establish upon the foundation of Torah and Yiras Shamayim and will enable them to feel empowered to serve as the ‘Rav’ of their home.

Lemaan Yilmedu’s Smicha course was created specifically with bochurim in mind, taking the well established classic Lemaam Yilmedu Smicha curriculum and reconfiguring it to better fit into the structure of a bochur who would like to learn Smicha while on Shlichus or in Yeshiva. The program begins right after Tishrei and concludes on Gimmel Tammuz, just before all summer plans begin!

The year-long program will cover all of the topics that are generally covered in any Smicha: basar b’chalav, taaruvos and melicha.

At the beginning of the program, every participant will receive all the learning materials of LemaanYilmedu which includes a Shulchan Aruch with summaries and an English Translation, summary booklets and booklets with diagrams as learning aids.

The program will have a daily shiur at 1:15 p.m., for an hour. The shiurim will be given by Rabbi Yossi Barber who has over ten years of experience in giving shiurim in semicha, particularly to bachurim, both at the Machon Lemaan Yilmedu and in kollelim and yeshivos.

The shiur will be given over Zoom so that every bachur can participate wherever he is, in yeshiva or on shlichus. After the shiur, participants will be given access to a recording of the shiur, both video and audio, so they can review it (and in case it wasn’t possible to see the shiur when given live).

During the school year, there will be several tests and those who pass them will receive a semicha certificate signed by top Chabad rabbanim.

The Semicha program for bachurim is subsidized, leiluy nishmas Harav Zushe Wilhelm a”h, head of Machon Lemaan Yilmedu in the U.S., to enable talmidei ha’yeshiva to learn and receive a semicha certificate. Therefore, it is meant only for yeshiva students. Registration for the program requires confirmation that one is attending yeshiva for the upcoming school year.

This year the program is being offered at a special subsidized price of $2,040 instead of $3,420.

Course Details:

Start date: 30 Tishrei 5787, October 11, 2026
Course Duration: 9 Months
Class time: 1:15 – 2:15 pm

For more information and for registration: https://www.lemaanyilmedu.com/product/semicha-bochurim

In a moving ceremony at the Mayanot World Center in Jerusalem, Menachem and Dina Kranz dedicated the main mezuzah of the Beit Midrash in honor of his father, Rabbi Yaakov Noach “Yankel” Kranz OBM, the Head Shliach of Virginia.

The dedication carries particular significance as we approach Rabbi Kranz’s 35th yahrzeit on the 6th of Elul. Known as Chodesh HaTeshuvah, Elul is a time to reflect on who we are and who we aspire to become. Rabbi Kranz embodied what it means to be devoted to the Rebbe’s shlichus, to bring Jews closer to Torah, and to recognize the potential within every individual.

Mrs. Fay Kranz opened the event by reading the inscription on the new plaque in the Beit Midrash, joined by many of her children and their families for this momentous occasion.

Gathering alongside the Kranz family were Mayanot students, faculty, and leadership, including Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, and Rabbi Yisroel Noach Wichnin, to honor a legacy that continues to inspire Jewish life and learning.

Rivka Marga Gestetner (nee Deitsch), Director of the Mayanot Women’s Program, spoke about the long-intertwined history of the Deitsch and Kranz families, which stretches back to the early days of Danielson, Connecticut.

“Yankel and my mother came from the same small town in Danielson, Connecticut,” she shared. “They were among the very few from that farming community who became religious and went on to raise religious families.”

She recalled Rabbi Kranz’s extraordinary thirst for Torah and his willingness to learn wherever he could. “Rabbi Kranz was a physically tall man, but his thirst to learn was so great that he wasn’t ashamed to sit in a class with young children and learn alongside them. He quickly moved up through the classes until he was able to learn with students his own age and ability.”

“What a legacy for the students of Mayanot to follow in,” Rivka Marga reflected.

That legacy is particularly fitting in the Beit Midrash that now bears his memory. Today, students from around the world walk through the doors of the Mayanot Beit Midrash. They come from many different backgrounds and life experiences, united by a desire to discover something deeper and more meaningful.

Rabbi Kranz’s story is a reminder that growth begins with the humility to learn, the determination to keep growing, and the belief that there is always another level to reach.

Through this meaningful dedication, Menachem and Dina Kranz, together with their family, children, and grandchildren, have ensured that Rabbi Kranz’s example will greet and inspire every student, visitor, and member of the Mayanot community who enters the Beit Midrash.

A delegation of Bochurim from the Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, in conjunction with Chabad of Aruba, met with Aruba Prime Minister Mike Eman on Monday, 24 Menachem Av, 5786.

During the meeting, the Bochurim had the special opportunity to put on Tefillin with the Prime Minister.

The visit was part of the Bochurim’s activities together with Chabad of Aruba, bringing the Rebbe’s Mivtzoim to Jews on the Caribbean island.

Bochurim in attendance were Chanoch Wolf, Menny Blasberg, Zevi Susskind, Ari Goldman, Levi Harlig, Yudi Stern, Moshe Friedman, and Motti Hecht.

By COLlive reporter

A cup of coffee may seem like an ordinary part of the day. At the latest installment of the Mequon Torah Center’s Summer Fireside Series, it became the starting point for a journey spanning continents, centuries, and unexpected chapters of Jewish history.

Hosted at the Cedarburg Jewish Discovery Center, the evening featured Rabbi Moishy Korf, known as “The Caffeinated Rabbi,” and his presentation, The Secret Jewish History of Coffee.

The event was part of the Mequon Torah Center’s annual Summer Fireside Series, which brings a variety of speakers and topics to the community throughout the summer. This year’s series was coordinated by Rabbi Doobie and Mushka Lisker together with Rabbi Moshe and Sheina Luchins.

“Torah teaches us to see the world differently, to recognize that every part of creation carries a story and a purpose. This evening wasn’t just about coffee. It was about learning to look at the ordinary with fresh eyes and discovering the depth, wisdom, and Jewish history hidden in the everyday,” Rabbi Lisker said.

The evening began with four unmarked cups and a challenge to the palate: a blind tasting of specialty coffees from four origins. From there, the journey moved backward from cup to bean, and then across centuries, as Rabbi Korf traced coffee from Ethiopia and Yemen into some surprising corners of Jewish history.

Drawing on years of research and firsthand experience in the specialty coffee world, he wove together historical accounts, halachic discussions, Kabbalistic teachings, and practical coffee knowledge. The history included some unexpected detours, among them the story of a Jewish widow’s Shabbos coffee operation in Frankfurt that attracted the attention of the local fire department in 1775.

Along the way, participants encountered centuries-old responsa discussing coffee before Shacharis, learned why one halachic authority referred to coffee as “the Jewish drink,” and explored Kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings that find spiritual meaning even in the way a cup of coffee is prepared and enjoyed.

Alongside the Jewish sources, participants gained a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind every cup, from cultivation and processing to roasting, tasting, and the many different approaches to brewing.

By evening’s end, participants had traveled far beyond the contents of their cups, through coffee farms, centuries of Jewish history, rabbinic sources, and the world of specialty coffee. What emerged was more than a new appreciation for a familiar drink. It was a reminder of how much history, meaning, and depth can be found in the ordinary when we take the time to look a little closer.

Dozens of soldiers took upon themselves a good resolution to don Tefillin every single day.

The special moment occurred during a visit by the Nelken family from Miami, Crown Heights and Pennsylvania who chose to spend their summer vacation in the Holy Land to support IDF troops.

The visit and distribution were organized by ‘Ezer L’Chayal’, an organization that works year-round for the families of IDF soldiers and reservists. At the peak of the event, the family presented 25 pairs of mehudar Tefillin, donated in memory of their grandfather, R’ Yechiel Dov Nelken OBM.

Every soldier who committed to the mitzvah received a complete set, including mehudar Tefillin, a high-quality leather bag, an instructional booklet detailing the order of putting on Tefillin, and a branded yarmulke. The emotion in the field reached its peak as the soldiers wrapped themselves in Tefillin, singing with heartfelt devotion.

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Besides the immense spiritual encouragement, the Chabad volunteers also responded to a request sent in advance to the Ezer L’Chayal command center: due to the extreme heat in the field, the family purchased and brought powerful portable outdoor air conditioners to help relieve the soldiers during these sweltering summer days.

The soldiers and commanders expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Nelken family and to ‘Ezer L’Chayal’ for their extraordinary care—both spiritual and material—noting: “Thank you, Chabad, for not forgetting us even after nearly three years of war. The warm embrace and support from Jews in the Diaspora give us tremendous strength to continue our mission

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Rebbe introducing the special initiative to learn Hilchos Beis Habechirah during the Three Weeks, a special Beis Habechirah program was launched this summer at Gan Menachem Montreal for boys ages 8 and up.

The goal of the program was for the boys to finish the summer being knowledgeable about the Beis Hamikdash.

Each week, the boys received multiple-choice worksheets focusing on a different section of the Beis Hamikdash. At the end of class each day, the Rebbi showed them a 3D video model of the Beis Hamikdash. As they watched closely and learned the details presented, the boys circled the correct answers on their worksheets. At the end of each week, the completed worksheets were collected.

In the first week of the program, over seventy boys participated. As a reward for their efforts, special Rebbe pictures were given out for the boys to add to their personal Camp Rebbe albums. The albums were dedicated לעילוי נשמת הרב צמח יוסף יצחק בן ר’ יהושע, Rabbi Yosie Wilansky A”H, one of the founders of our camp.

The excitement continued throughout the following weeks. In the second week, participating boys received delicious popsicles, and by the third week, they were treated to a special ice cream party!

In addition, an Iyun track was offered for boys who wanted to take their learning even further. These boys took a written test each Friday on the material they had learned that week. In recognition of their extra effort and dedication, they were treated to a special pizza lunch.

Seeing so many boys enthusiastically invested in learning Hilchos Beis Habechirah and deepening their knowledge of the Beis Hamikdash, surely brought the Rebbe tremendous Nachas!

A special thank you to HC Rabbi Mendy Berkowitz for designing and leading the Beis Habechirah program this summer. Special thank you to our on-site directors, Rabbi Shmuel Vaisfische and Rabbi Moshe Berkowitz, and to all of our dedicated Rebbis and staff for a successful summer in Camp Gan Menachem.

Video

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By COLlive reporter

A major new development planned for the corner of Troy Avenue and East New York Avenue is prompting questions among Crown Heights residents about the type of housing being built in the neighborhood.

Permits have been filed for a 13-story, 94-unit mixed-use building at 767 East New York Avenue, with Yonah Grunhut of Grun Group LLC listed as the developer.

The project would replace the former 770 Auto, a longtime auto repair and maintenance shop, with a substantially larger residential and commercial building at the prominent corner.

According to the filings, the proposed apartments would average approximately 561 square feet per unit, a figure that has drawn attention in a neighborhood where many growing families are seeking larger apartments.

Community members familiar with the transaction say the property was sold by a Lubavitch resident, who owns the neighboring ODA building, to a Satmar developer from Williamsburg. They also say unused development rights from the neighboring property were included in the transaction, allowing for a larger project on the site.

The plans have prompted a broader discussion among residents about whether new construction in Crown Heights is adequately serving the needs of the existing community.

Some have pointed to Williamsburg, questioning whether a project of this scale, particularly one consisting largely of smaller apartments, would face greater community scrutiny there.

The concern is not about development itself. Crown Heights needs additional housing, and new construction can help address the shortage. But residents say adding units alone does not necessarily solve the problem if those apartments are not suitable for the families struggling to find housing in the neighborhood.

As longtime commercial properties and smaller buildings increasingly give way to larger residential projects, the development at 767 East New York Avenue highlights a question likely to become more pressing in the years ahead: Who is the new housing in Crown Heights being built for?

The neighborhood will continue to grow. The question is whether that growth will meet the needs of the community already living there.

Lemaan Yilmedu:

We’re pleased to share a new episode of “Lemaan Yishmeu,” the weekly halacha podcast with Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra, and a member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, brought to you by AskTheRav.com in partnership with the Lemaan Yilmedu Halacha Institute.

Each week, Rabbi Braun explores fascinating halachic questions across a wide range of practical topics — real inquiries that have reached his desk, along with his clear and insightful responses.

You can listen to the podcast on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 24Six, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts 

The podcast is also available at https://asktherav.com/podcast/#ep19, where you can see extensive marei mekomos for the answers.

In this week’s episode, the topics discussed by Rabbi Braun include:

Greeting others before davening

• What are the parameters of the halacha against greeting someone in the morning before davening, and how does going to a friend’s house differ from meeting him in shul or on the street?
• Since “good morning” is now a standard greeting, does it still count as a valid shinui from saying “Shalom”?
• Is calling someone on the phone comparable to going to his house, and does it matter whether the call is specifically to say hello or for another purpose?
• How do the Zohar’s stringency on one hand, and the mitzvah of hevei makdim l’shlom kol adam and kevod habriyos on the other, shape the practical approach?

“Words of inspiration” at a levaya on Chol Hamoed

• On days when hespedim are prohibited (e.g., Chol Hamoed, Rosh Chodesh), is saying divrei hisorerus a legitimate alternative, or merely renaming a hesped?
• If one may not even leave the coffin standing in the street lest people come to eulogize, would that apply also to speeches inside a shul or chapel?
• Is praising the niftar itself the problem on these days, or is anything said for kavod hameis permitted?
• What other factors can be relied on when using the opportunity to inspire those gathered to Torah and mitzvos?

Rashba’s view on bracha covering a more chashuv food

• According to the Rashba, who holds that a bracha on a less important food doesn’t cover a more chashuv one, is it enough to know you will eat the other food, or must you specifically intend to exempt it with your bracha (kavana liftor)?
• When a guest’s bracha covers whatever their host will serve later, does that apply even to more chashuv foods served by the host, since the guest never specifically intended to exempt them with his original bracha?
• What is the halacha l’maaseh, l’chatchila and b’dieved, when the bracha was made without specific intent to exempt the more important food?

Lemon squeezers on Shabbos

• If squeezing a lemon directly onto food is permitted on Shabbos, may one use a designated lemon squeezer, or is that uvdin d’chol (a weekday activity)?
• How does this compare to the Rivash’s prohibition against grating cheese with a formal grater, given that a squeezer is arguably made for permissible squeezing onto food?
• Do squeezers that trap the seeds involve a separate concern of borer?

Covering the tefillin shel yad

• Why don’t Lubavitchers cover their arm while wearing tefillin shel yad, and does “lecha l’os v’lo la’acheirim l’os” actually require tefillin to be covered?
• Does the Arizal’s practice of covering the shel yad apply only while putting on the tefillin or throughout davening, and does today’s protective box accomplish it?
• Is there a tznius concern with a bare upper arm, where the tefillin shel yad is placed?
• Is it disrespectful to daven before Hashem with one sleeve rolled up and one down, or is it dignified precisely because everyone knows it’s for the tefillin?

As summer draws to a close and thousands of guests prepare to arrive for Tishrei in Crown Heights to spend the Yomim Tovim by the Rebbe, preparations are underway at Moshe Rubashkin’s home, which serves as a major hub for Hachnosas Orchim throughout the month.

A major change this year will be the creation of a completely separate section for women and girls.

Following requests from community members and Rabbonim, a dedicated area is being prepared with its own sukkah and dining room, providing a more private and modest setting, separate from the bochurim.

The preparations also include renovations, the purchase of new stoves and kitchen equipment, and changes to the setup of the home.

Rubashkin’s home will be fully operational, hosting thousands of bochurim and men, while the newly designated area will provide a separate space for women and girls throughout Tishrei.

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 603 with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Sunday, August 9, 2026 / 26 Menachem Av 5786 – 8:00-9:00PM ET

Podcast         YouTube         Chassidusapplied.com

The topics in this week’s 603rd episode of the highly acclaimed MyLife: Chassidus Applied series, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, will include:

What should be our focus during these days as we transition from Av to Elul?

• Why is Elul a special month? 

• How do we maximize its opportunities?

• What is our main work this month?

• What is its personal relevance in our lives?

Shoftim

• What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha?

• What is the connection between Shoftim and Elul?

• Why does the Torah prohibit sorcery and witchcraft? How is it different from a doctor?

• Can this be applied to going to shamans today for plant medicine ceremonies?

• Why were those exiled to the cities of refuge freed upon the passing of the High Priest?

• What does this teach us about current leaders?

• What lessons do we learn from the Eglah Arufah?

• Why is a king prohibited from buying many horses?

• How does this apply today?

• Why did the Shaloh ask his son not to build a house more opulent than his needs?

• Why did the Rebbe reject a new car?

Vaetchanan

• Should we pray based on our merits or asking for G-d’s favor? Follow-up

Who named it Camp Gan Israel?

What was the relationship between Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and the Rebbe?

Are we allowed to take off our yarmulkas for any reason? 

How can I encourage my spouse to stop speaking negatively about one of our children to another child?

MyLife: Chassidus Applied is a weekly video webcast candidly answering
questions from the public about all life matters and challenges, covering the entire spectrum of human experience. This hour-long dose of insights, broadcast live every Sunday night 8-9PM ET, is meant to provide people with inspired guidance and direction, empowering them to deal with any issue they may face. 

In what has become a staple in so many people’s lives, MyLife: Chassidus Applied has provoked a significant reaction from the community, with thousands of people viewing each live broadcast and hundreds of questions pouring in week after week. At the root of every question and personal challenge tackled by the series is the overarching question: Does Judaism have the answers to my personal dilemmas?

MyLife demonstrates how Chassidus provides us with a comprehensive blueprint of the human psyche as a microcosm of the cosmos, and offers us all the guidance we need to live the healthiest possible life and build nurturing homes and families, bringing up the healthiest possible children, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. MyLife is brought to you by the Meaningful Life Center as a public service, free of charge.

Questions may be submitted anonymously at chassidusapplied.com/ask.

Also at: chassidusapplied.com/mlc-tv

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/mylife-chassidus-applied

By COLlive reporter

President Donald Trump has announced that Jewish attorney Will Scharf, one of the most visible members of his White House team, will become White House Counsel and Assistant to the President beginning September 1, 2026.

Scharf currently serves as White House Staff Secretary, a noted position overseeing the flow of documents and information to the president. In that role, he has become a familiar presence alongside Trump, frequently seen in the Oval Office handing the president executive orders and other documents for his signature.

His promotion to White House Counsel will place him in one of the administration’s most consequential legal positions, advising the president and senior White House officials on constitutional, legal and policy matters.

Scharf, a former federal prosecutor who previously served as one of Trump’s personal attorneys, was part of Trump’s legal team in several of the high-profile cases brought against him before the 2024 election. Trump credited Scharf with playing a key role in the legal effort that resulted in the Supreme Court’s landmark presidential immunity decision.

Before joining the second Trump administration, Scharf also worked during Trump’s first term on the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. He later ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Missouri attorney general.

Scharf’s Jewish background has also drawn attention as his profile in the administration has grown.

At the annual Chanukah reception at the White House, Scharf led the crowd with reciting one of the brachos. Trump then went to the microphone and commented, “I didn’t know you’re that Jewish… he’s seriously Jewish.”

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During the recent Living Legacy conference held before the Rebbe’s yartzeit on Gimmel Tammuz, Scharf hosted participants for a meeting at the White House and spoke of Chabad’s influence on him.

Raised in a Modern Orthodox Jewish family in New York and North Florida, Scharf has spoken publicly about his continued Jewish observance. He has said that he keeps kosher, puts on tefillin daily and attends Shabbos services at a Chabad shul, according to JTA.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Scharf served as a federal prosecutor before becoming closely associated with Trump and his legal team. During his years at Princeton, he was deeply involved with Chabad on campus, serving as president of the Chabad Student Board.

Rabbi Eitan Webb, co-director of Chabad at Princeton, told The Daily Princetonian that he had “personally gained and grown from Will,” describing Scharf as exceptionally organized, thorough, and respectful.

His observance has occasionally surfaced publicly during his White House tenure. After White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a photo of Scharf aboard Air Force One with plates of lobster tacos nearby, Scharf reposted it with a clarification: “For the record, I had the veggie tacos.”

Scharf has also taken part in Jewish activities within the administration, including co-hosting a Pesach event for White House staff, a Megillah reading on Purim led by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) and more.

Trump initially selected Scharf as White House Staff Secretary following his 2024 election victory, describing him at the time as a “highly skilled attorney” who would be a crucial member of his White House team.

His elevation to White House Counsel marks another significant rise for the Jewish attorney, moving him from managing the documents reaching the president’s desk to serving as one of Trump’s principal legal advisers.

VIDEO:

Parents, grandparents, and the Hanhala of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch Queens gathered Sunday for a grand and elegant Seudas Mitzvah celebrating the graduation of the Shiur Daled talmidim from Mesivta.

Joining in the celebration were 15 talmidim who marked an additional remarkable achievement: completing and being tested on the entire Maseches Bava Kama.

The banquet-style event was skillfully emceed by the Menahel, Rabbi Yosef Hendel, who set the tone for an evening celebrating Torah, growth, and achievement.

Rabbi Zalman Liberow, member of the Hanhala, opened with the Rebbe’s kapitel of Tehillim. The Pesachim Bichvod Achsania was then given to the Rosh Yeshiva of Tomchei Tmimim Poconos, Rabbi Menachem Aizenman, who delivered a Hadran and connected the four Avos Nezikin to the avodah of a Yid.

The Poconos Yeshiva’s Menahel Ruchni, Rabbi Mendel Silman, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated staff and highlighted the tremendous accomplishments of the Yeshiva. A special highlight was the Siyum HaMasechta, delivered by the talmid M.M. Lazarus, followed by words from Eitan Avital on behalf of the talmidim who completed the Masechta.

The devoted Mashpia of Shiur Daled, Rabbi Levi Liberow, connected the learning of Bava Kama to the personal growth of the talmidim, weaving together meaningful lessons with lively Chassidishe stories and humor.

The evening concluded with the graduation presentation, as Rabbi Hendel highlighted the unique qualities of each of the graduating Temimim and presented each talmid with his certificate.

The proud parents and grandparents marveled at the accomplishments of their children and grandchildren, as the evening left a deep impression on the entire Yeshiva community—especially the graduating talmidim of Shiur Daled.

As the Temimim now embark on the next stage of their journey, they carry with them the Torah, Chassidus, and experiences gained in Mesivta, with the hope and tefillah that they will merit to continue their journey together with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, now.

By COLlive reporter

A growing WhatsApp group is making daily practical halacha study accessible in just one minute a day. Participants receive a brief daily voice note covering a halacha from the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, offering a simple way to incorporate practical halacha study into their daily routine.

The initiative continues the legacy of Rabbi Peretz Feigenson OBM, a respected chossid and talmid chochom who devoted his life to organizing Torah and Chassidus shiurium throughout the Crown Heights community.

Following the Rebbe’s launch of Mivtza Torah in 5731 (1971), Rabbi Feigenson immediately took action. Working closely with Rabbi Dovid Raskin OBM, Chairman of Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach), he organized shiurim in shuls throughout the neighborhood.

Many in Crown Heights fondly remember the numerous shiurim and chavrusos he established and led over the years, helping make regular Torah study an integral part of community life.

In his tzava’ah, Rabbi Feigenson asked his children to learn one seif of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch each day.

In fulfillment of that request and in his memory, his son, Rabbi Mendel Feigenson, Chabad Shliach in Sugar Land, Texas, now shares a brief daily halacha voice note through the WhatsApp group, extending his father’s commitment to daily Torah study to a wider audience.

This week, the group begins studying the practical halachos of Tishrei. New participants are invited to join nearly 200 others who are already taking part in the daily one-minute halacha study.

To join the WhatsApp group: Join the Daily Halacha WhatsApp Group

At the 11th Annual Gala Chinuch Banquet in Connecticut last week, nearly 1,000 Mechanchos from around the world gathered to celebrate their vital Shlichus, through an unforgettable program centered on celebrating fifty years of transforming the world through Chinuch.

The inspiring program honored the dedication of Chabad educators and featured music with Moussia Mendelsohn, multimedia productions directed by Chaim Zippel, and moving reflections on the tremendous impact of Mechanchos around the world.

Five educators who each explored one decade since the Rebbe launched Mivtzah Chinuch, included: Mrs. Malka Katz, Veteran Teacher in Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy, Mrs. Sterna Krinsky, Teacher in Bais Rivka High School in Crown Heights; Mrs. Zlatie Benjaminson, Preschool Morah in Cheder Lubavitch in Morristown; Mrs. Chana Friedman, Principal of Bader Hillel High in Milwaukee and Mrs. Ahava Glaskie, Teacher in Bais Chaya Mushka in Los Angeles.

Musical performer Moussia Mendelsohn, led Mechanchos in song and dance, and moving multimedia productions explored how Mivtzah Chinuch unfolds, through a unique interactions of teachers and students many years later.

A moving address by Rabbi Zalman Shneur, Founder and Executive Director of the Menachem Education Foundation, highlighted the incredible growth of the Kinus over the past 11 years, and thanked the generous sponsors of the program for making this unforgettable experience possible.

The international representation created a special energy in the room – where Mechanchos from literally every corner of the universe, gathered over their shared mission of being Mechanech today’s children, and connecting to each and every one of their students. The spirited roll call by Name and dancing until the banquet’s end, showed how much joy each educator feels in her shlichus.

The inspiration continued late into the evening with a family farbrengen led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky with his daughters, followed by other Mechanchos-led farbrengens, providing meaningful opportunities for reflection, connection and personal growth.

VIDEO:

The Menachem Education Foundation extends their gratitude to Alyson Feldman of FFH Events, Dovi Abrams of Zikron Digital, Chaim Zippel, banquet director and Turk Caterers, for the unforgettable evening.

The dedicated Mechanchim of Oholei Torah’s Yeshivas Kayitz Program gathered for a group photo at the YKP campus in Pennsylvania, representing the experienced Chinuch team that guides hundreds of Talmidim throughout the summer.

A unique strength of YKP is the presence of devoted Mechanchim on site each day, providing shiurim, farbrengens, personal guidance, and a strong Chassidishe atmosphere across all four divisions.

YKP: Rabbi Mendel Blau, Rabbi Yisroel Levertov, Rabbi Yitzchok Klein, Rabbi Sholly Weiser, Rabbi Meir Heber.

YKP Mechina: Rabbi Meir Fischer, Rabbi Osher Broh, Rabbi Yossel Gerlitzky.

YKP Mesivta: Rabbi Moshe Silman, Rabbi Zalman Laufer, Rabbi Nissan Lagziel, Rabbi Peretz Kaplan, Rabbi Zalman Gurary.

YKP Beis Medrash: Rabbi Yossi Rubashkin, Rabbi Motty Hertz, Rabbi Lipman Heller.

Together with an outstanding group of bochurim serving as counselors, learning teachers, lifeguards, and staff, they create the warm, Chassidishe and uplifting environment that defines YKP each summer.

The grand opening and building dedication of the newly renovated Jewish Youth Library of Ottawa and Chabad of Wellington West on July 12 brought together 150 people to celebrate a major community milestone.

It marked the culmination of more than four decades of shlichus by Dr. Joseph and Devora Caytak and the beginning of an exciting new chapter under the leadership of their son and daughter-in-law, Rabbi Moshe and Sheina Caytak.

Housed in the beautifully restored Connor House, a landmark Prairie Style residence built in 1915 and designed by renowned Ottawa architect Francis Sullivan, an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, the new centre combines architectural heritage with a vibrant vision for Jewish life in Canada’s capital.

The celebration included greetings from Ottawa City Councillors David Hill and Jeff Leiper, as well as lead donor Rose Anne Friedman. The keynote address was delivered by internationally renowned author Rabbi David Eliezrie.

The opening represented the realization of a dream decades in the making. The Caytaks founded the Jewish Youth Library in 1983 in a corner of their basement. As the programs they initiated expanded over the years, including the Westboro Jewish Montessori Preschool, Camp Gan Israel, Friendship Circle, adult education, and numerous family and holiday programs, the library’s growing collection was gradually forced into storage for lack of adequate space.

When the Caytaks learned in 2020 that the historic Connor House at 166 Huron Avenue North was for sale, they envisioned the stately three-storey residence as the ideal permanent home worthy of the Jewish Youth Library. It was also perfectly suited to become a new Chabad centre to serve the rapidly growing Wellington West neighbourhood. The journey from purchase to grand opening was lengthy, involving years of obtaining permits to renovate the historic structure.

The centre reflects a vision inspired by the Rebbe’s longstanding call for public Jewish libraries in every community, making Jewish books and learning accessible to all. That vision has guided the Caytaks’ work since the library’s founding and now finds expression in a permanent home designed to inspire learning, connection, and Jewish pride for generations to come.

Unique Stand-Alone Jewish Library
Following an extensive renovation, the building now houses one of the few stand-alone Jewish libraries in the world. Its collection of nearly 20,000 books, periodicals, rare Hebrew volumes, Holocaust resources, and Judaica spans virtually every area of Jewish life and learning. Visitors can browse, borrow books, conduct research, or simply enjoy reading in one of several inviting reading rooms.

Beyond the library, the restored building serves as the permanent home of Chabad of Wellington West. Since arriving in the neighbourhood, Rabbi Moshe and Sheina Caytak have developed a warm and welcoming community and an array of programs for young professionals and families.
The opening of a vibrant new Jewish institution in Ottawa is particularly uplifting in light of other local Jewish organizations that recently shuttered, including a Jewish newspaper, kosher bakery, and school.

A campaign launched in 2025 to raise about $3.6M to cover the purchase, renovation, and furnishing of the new center has been halfway fulfilled, with a remaining $1.8M to be raised.

To learn more, contact Jewish Youth Library of Ottawa at [email protected] or 613-729-1619, and/or Chabad of Wellington West at [email protected] or 613-902-4394.

“Those who donate to alleviate the tremendous shortage of kollelim, will receive tremendous ashirus that will flow for generations.”

– The Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita

This is an exclusive opportunity for a very limited time to get the Posek Hador’s Shmirah Coin for parnassah. A promise of prosperity, personally guaranteed by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch shlita. His golden coin, for wealth that will pass down for generations.

Only 1000 golden coins have been minted, for the first 1000 donors who donate $1000 to help the Posek Hador establish more kollelim in this time of crisis.

There is a severe shortage of kollelim in Eretz Yisroel. As Torah learning reaches a critical turning point in Eretz Yisroel, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch shlita pours his kochos, his heart and soul into expanding Limud HaTorah throughout the country.

By supporting the Posek Hador’s mission to grow Torah, you are supporting the future of Torah – with a guarantee to support your family with ease, abundance and prosperity.

With the economy in a precarious state, nothing is certain except for one thing: Give for the Torah and the Torah repays you beyond measure.

Donate today to receive your golden Shmirah coin from the Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita, for ashirus, for hatzlacha, and for nachas.

The greatest riches await those who don’t wait to support the Torah and the next gedolei hador.

Donate now

By COLlive reporter

A five-year-old boy from the Chabad community in Lod, Israel, tragically passed away Sunday after being found unconscious in his family’s vehicle, where he had remained for approximately two hours.

The child, Betzalel Dovid Giller, OBM, was the son of R’ Menashe and Chaya Giller, a member of the Chabad community in Lod.

According to initial reports, the family had returned home, and Betzalel Dovid fell asleep during the drive. Family members exited the vehicle while the young boy remained inside.

Approximately two hours later, his father realized that his son was not in the house and returned to the vehicle, where he found him unconscious and showing signs of severe heat exposure.

Magen David Adom emergency services were immediately summoned, and rescue personnel carried out intensive resuscitation efforts in an attempt to save the child’s life.

Singer Avi Menachem, a resident of Lod who was at the scene, described witnessing the emergency response as one of the most difficult and distressing experiences of his life.

“Today I witnessed one of the most difficult and shocking sights I have experienced in my life,” Menachem said. “I was there and saw up close the attempts to resuscitate the young child who had been forgotten in the car.”

“It is difficult to describe in words what I saw,” he said, recalling “the rescue personnel who fought with all their strength for his life, and the pain and shock that were present at the scene.”

Menachem said he deliberately would not share further details about the condition inside the vehicle, saying they were “unnecessary and far too painful.”

Instead, he urged parents and caregivers to take additional precautions to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.

“Children are our lives,” he said. “We must do everything possible to prevent such a case, reminders on the phone, checking the car every time we get out, warning devices, and anything that can prevent the next tragedy.”

At the same time, Menachem strongly cautioned against assigning blame to the grieving family.

“There is no place here for judgment or accusations,” he said. “There is a family here that is going through, at this moment, the most terrible pain imaginable. My heart is with them.”

The levaya of Betzalel Dovid Giller, OBM, is scheduled to take place Sunday at 6:00 PM. He will be laid to rest in the children’s section of the municipal cemetery in Lod.

Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

To ask a question and watch more episodes, visit:

https://stumptherabbi.org/

By COLlive reporter

Some prizes are claimed the same day. Others take a little longer. In Betzalel Rais‘ case, it took 29 years.

Back in 1997, the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy in Massachusetts held its annual Lag B’Omer Carnival, bringing together students, families, and community members for a day of games, food, and fun. One of the most anticipated events was the Watermelon Eating Contest.

Among the competitors was a young Yeshiva Academy student named Betzalel Rais.

With determination—and no shortage of watermelon—Betzalel ate his way to victory, earning first place. His prize was to be a brand-new Tanya.

But in the excitement and commotion of the carnival, the prize was never claimed. Somehow, everyone forgot, and the years rolled on.

Fast forward nearly three decades.

Today, Betzalel Rais is known around the Jewish world as “The Herring Man.” His celebrated herring, gourmet specialty foods, and remarkable pareve ice cream have made him a familiar name at simchos and events everywhere.

Recently, while passing through Worcester with his beautiful mishpacha, Betzalel stopped in at Chani’s Kosher Deli located in Chabad of Central Massachusetts to say hello.

While reminiscing with Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, Betzalel casually mentioned, “You know, I won the watermelon eating contest at The Yeshiva Academy’s Lag B’Omer Carnival in 1997… but I never got the Tanya that was promised as the prize.”

Without missing a beat, Rabbi Mendel stood up, walked into his office, and returned moments later with a brand-new Tanya.

Not just any Tanya—but one that had been printed right here in Holden, Massachusetts, just a few miles from where that long-forgotten contest had taken place.

Nearly three decades after winning the contest, Betzalel finally received his prize.

It was a lighthearted moment, but also a meaningful one.

Sometimes life gets busy, and little things are forgotten. But Torah is timeless. A promise made to a child still matters, even many years later.

After 29 years, the champion finally got his prize.

Mazal tov, Betzalel!

Last week Kollel Anash of Crown Heights had the honor of hosting another kashrus shiur by Rabbi Yitzchok Hanoka. Rabbi Hanoka serves as the Senior Rabbinic coordinator in the tri-state region at OK Kosher. For many years he worked hand in hand under the direction of his esteemed father-in-law, Rabbi Don Yoel Levy AH, the longtime kashrus administrator of the OK.

In this shiur, Rabbi Hanoka shared general kashrus acumen accumulated from many years of kashrus experience. He delivered a collection of 53 insights he learned from working under the direction of Rabbi Don Yoel Levy. As well as from senior OK mashgichim – Rabbi Dovid Steigman and Rabbi Eliezer Teitelbaum AH.

Rabbi Hanoka told a story which occurred when the famous kashrus expert Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Goldzweig went into Yechidus with the Rebbe around fifty years ago. The Rebbe asked Rabbi Goldzweig to speak about kashrus with Neshei Chabad. Rabbi Goldzweig demurred saying what he can possibly teach them – they are yirei shomayim. The Rebbe responded: they are stringent in areas where one does not need to be and are lenient in areas where one should not be.

It is important that we gain a deeper insight into how hechsheirim operate. This way we can invest our efforts in the right direction.

***

For the past fourteen years, Kollel Anash has been dedicated to assisting young married men master the laws of Shabbos and Taharas Mishpachah. The halachos are studied in-depth, from the sources in Gemara and Rishonim all the way down to halacha lemaaseh. The Kollel also has a unique three-year track for studying the halachos of Choshen Mishpat.
Kollel Anash is located at Congregation Anash 770 Montgomery Street and is under the leadership of Rabbi Michoel Lerner. The Kollel was founded and is sponsored by Rabbi Dovid Fischer, Rov of Congregation Anash.

Watch Rabbi Hanoka’s shiur here:

Mrs. Aidel Bloom, beloved mother, grandmother, educator, and pillar of the Sydney Jewish community, passed away on Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, 25 Av, 5786.

She was 73.

Mrs. Aidel Bloom was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Together with her late husband, Dr. Aryeh Bloom, she devoted her life to Jewish education and to raising her family with a deep love for Torah and Yiddishkeit. Her home was a place of warmth, love, laughter, and unwavering commitment to her values.

She was known for her larger-than-life, vivacious personality. Her presence could light up a room, and her stories, humor, and infectious energy left a lasting impression on all who knew her. She was steadfast in her observance of Torah and mitzvos and was deeply mekushar to the Rebbe, whose teachings and guidance were a central part of her life.

A defining hallmark of Aidel’s life was the extraordinary unconditional love and pride she had for her family. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy, and she took immense pride in each of them and their families.

She was a woman of profound emunah. Even through the most difficult moments of her life, she held firmly to the belief that everything comes from Hashem, that all is divine providence, and that ultimately everything is for the best. Her faith, strength, and spiritual depth were an inspiration to those around her.

She is survived by her beloved children, Carmella Markowitz (NJ), Talia Broner (LA), Sara Pugen (Toronto), Yonah Bloom (Sydney), Tuvia Bloom (South Australia), Sholom Ber Bloom (Philadelphia), Simcha Bloom (Seattle), and Shaina Levin (Sydney), and by her many grandchildren, who brought her immense joy and nachas.

The Levaya will take place at the Sydney Chevra Kadisha at 11:30am on Monday, August 10th.

Aidel Bloom — Funeralcast Live

Aidel bas Yehoshua

Minyanim times:
29A Napier Street Dover Heights

Mincha/Maariv – Monday to Thursday @5:10pm
Shacharis – Monday to Friday @8:30am
Friday Mincha @12:30pm
Maariv Motzei Shabbos @6:30pm
Sunday (final Shiva minyan and get up) @9:00am

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Rabbi Sholom Ber Schapiro, Director of the Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP), presents “Historic Treasures.”

Each program shares ‘treasures’ from the archives of Rabbi Schapiro’s father-in-law, Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel OBM, a prolific writer who served as a personal secretary of the 6th and 7th Chabad Rebbes.

The program uncovers fascinating stories, rare artifacts and precious documents from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

VIDEO:

R’ Moshe Levenhartz, a longtime member of the Kfar Chabad village in Israel, passed away on Friday, 24 Av, 5786.

He was 91.

R’ Moshe was the son of R’ Avraham Shmuel Levenhartz OBM, who was among the Chabad Chassidim who displayed great mesiras nefesh to preserve Jewish life and observance under Soviet rule.

After meriting to leave the Soviet Union, his father immigrated to Eretz Yisroel and, following the Rebbe’s directive, settled in Kfar Chabad.

R’ Moshe built his home on the foundations of Torah and Chassidus. For many years, he worked at the textile factory in Kfar Chabad together with members of his family. He was known as a modest, G-d-fearing man of fine character.

The Levenhartz family is among the well-known Chassidic families of the Chabad community in Eretz Yisroel. Over the years, members of the family played a role in building and strengthening the community following the years of mesiras nefesh they endured in the Soviet Union.

He is survived by his sons, R’ Yaakov Eliyahu Levenhartz of Kfar Chabad Beis and R’ Avraham Shmuel Chaim (Shmulik) Levenhartz of Kfar Chabad; his daughter, Mrs. Rivka Schiff of Lod; as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.

The levaya took place on Motzei Shabbos in Kfar Chabad with burial in Yerushalayim.

The family will sit shiva at the home of his son R’ Shmulik Levenhartz, 40 Admur HaRayatz Street in Kfar Chabad.

Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes.

By COLlive reporter

Members of Bais Shmuel Chabad Cong. in Crown Heights gathered at the newly opened The BH – Bespoke Hospitality to celebrate a Siyum on Chelek Alef of the Shulchan Aruch, marking the completion of nearly three years of consistent daily halacha study.

The initiative began in the wake of the October 7 attacks, when members of the shul accepted upon themselves a hachlata to dedicate five minutes each day to learning halacha in the merit of the safe return of the hostages.

The undertaking was inspired by the verse, “Tzion bemishpat tipadeh veshaveha bitzdoka” (“Zion shall be redeemed through justice, and those who return to her through righteousness”), with Chazal explaining that “mishpat” refers to the study and observance of halacha. The daily learning was embraced as a spiritual merit and expression of hope for the redemption of those held captive.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Lipe Kosofsky, the group maintained its commitment day after day, at precisely 12:58 pm, and completed Chelek Alef of the Shulchan Aruch in just two years and ten months.
The Siyum was held in honor of Chof Av, the yahrtzeit of Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe‘s father. In keeping with the Rebbe’s longstanding custom to mark a yahrtzeit by making a siyum, the occasion served as a fitting tribute while celebrating the group’s remarkable achievement.

Addressing the gathering were Rabbi Levi Garelik, rav of Bais Shmuel, and Rabbi Tuvia Kasimov, rav of Empire Shtiebel, who spoke about the importance of limud halacha, the impact that a commitment to Halacha has on the family as a whole, and inspired them to a life of real Ahavas Hatorah.

The evening concluded with renewed inspiration and a commitment to continue the daily learning, as participants embarked on the next section of the Shulchan Aruch, strengthening their dedication to Torah and their ongoing tefillos for the geula shleima.

The Siyum was hosted at the newly opened The BH – Bespoke Hospitality, a 7-room boutique hotel-style short-term rental in Crown Heights just a block from 770, designed to provide truly upscale accommodations for the discerning visitor to the Rebbe’s shechuna.

For more information, visit bespokehospitalitych.com

A moving moment unfolded during the central Chof Av farbrengen in Kazakhstan, held in honor of the yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.

At the height of the evening, the master of ceremonies invited all those present who bear the name Levi Yitzchak to come up to the stage, filling it with participants named for the baal hahilula.

Among them was Levi Yitzchak ben Chana Trebnik of Ulm, Germany, who had won the special raffle held among more than 1,200 Levi Yitzchaks registered with the newly established association of those named for the Rebbe’s father. Trebnik also marked the occasion by completing a masechta and making a siyum.

The ceremony continued with the Rebbe’s shluchim from all seven cities across Kazakhstan being called to the stage one after another. Together, they represent the network of shluchim responsible for rebuilding and expanding Jewish life throughout the country.

The event concluded with Kazakhstan’s Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, lighting a yahrzeit candle l’iluei nishmas Harav Levi Yitzchok.

Are you also named Levi Yitzchok in honor of the Rebbe’s father?

With Hashem’s help, beli neder, all those who registered, together with their families, will be included in a special pan and mentioned at the tziyun for brachos and success. Their names will continue to be brought to the tziyun bli neder every Rosh Chodesh.

Register now to have your name included! >> https://forms.gle/7ovVJpdWG6JMMJVZ6

Hosted by Chabad on Campus International, twenty-five Shluchos from campuses across North America came together at Chabad at American University in Washington, DC, for the first-ever JewishU Growth Summit for Shluchos.

JewishU, Chabad on Campus International’s flagship Jewish learning program, gives students a structured, incentivized learning experience, turning casual interest into consistent learning. For many students, it is the bridge between showing up for a Friday night meal and engaging deeply with Yiddishkeit.

“Shluchim and Shluchos are dedicating themselves to deepening Torah learning for their students with tremendous results,” said Rabbi Yossy Gordon, CEO of Chabad on Campus International. “Through JewishU, students are strengthening their connection to Torah, Judaism, and Jewish values in a profound and lasting way. By investing in the teachers, the dedicated Shluchos, we are multiplying the impact of Torah education and ensuring that its benefits reach the lives of students in the most meaningful and transformative manner.”

The summit was built around a single question: how do we get more students learning more Torah on our campuses?

Over the course of the gathering, the Shluchos moved through collaborative working sessions exploring how to turn the Rebbe’s focus on Mivtzah Torah into a pillar of their Chabad House and an irresistible experience for their students. They brainstormed on everything from content and methodologies to making time and marketing, walking away with practical takeaways for growing JewishU on their respective campuses.

“The purpose of this summit was to set real goals and direction for the year, and walk away with practical, targeted tools for implementation – objectives that are challenging to achieve in a group chat or Zoom call,” said Mrs. Esti Hecht, Director of Education and Shlucha at American University. “By attending the summit, Shluchos gained a new sense of clarity and confidence to level up the impact of Mivtzah Torah on their campus through JewishU.”

In addition to the innovative workshops, the peer-to-peer component at the summit allowed Shluchos who have spent years building learning programs to share their playbooks with those just getting started. The room generated a shared bank of ideas no single campus could have produced alone.

“The goal is to give Shluchos the time and space to think collaboratively about Torah learning on their campus,” said Rabbi Avi Weinstein, COO of Chabad on Campus International. “Shluchos know their students best. When they are in a room together, they come up with unique and creative ideas only they could have thought of. They are now returning to their campuses with the tools and the confidence their vital Shlichus deserves.”

Photos: Tzvi Levenhartz/COLlive

This week is Parshas Re’eh
Candle Lighting in Crown Heights: 7:48 PM
Shabbos ends: 8:51 PM

This week’s Shalom Zachors:
R’ Levi Cohen – 1495 Union St [Between Kingston and Albany Aves]
R’ Meir Moshe Altman – 842 Eastern Parkway – 1st Fl [Between Kingston and Albany Aves]
R’ Yossi Hus – 698 Rutland Rd [Between Albany and Troy Aves]

Good Shabbos from the staff of COLlive.com!

By COLlive reporter

A major new chapter is beginning for Jewish life on Manhattan’s Upper East Side as Park East Synagogue and Chabad of the Upper East Side announced a historic collaboration that will bring Chabad’s leadership and many of its flagship programs under the roof of one of New York City’s most prominent Orthodox synagogues.

Beginning this Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Ben-Tzion Krasnianski, who has led Chabad of the Upper East Side for the past 35 years, will serve as Associate Rabbi of Park East Synagogue alongside Senior Rabbi Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the longest-serving rabbi in New York City.

Chabad Shliach Rabbi Yosef “Yaya” Wilhelm, who directs the Chabad Young Professionals UES (Upper East Side), will join the synagogue as Assistant Rabbi, together with the broader Chabad team.

Park East Synagogue is one of New York City’s most prominent Orthodox congregations. Founded in 1890, the Upper East Side synagogue has been led since 1962 by Rabbi Schneier, a Holocaust survivor and internationally recognized advocate for religious freedom and cultural dialogue.

In a letter to congregants, Rabbi Schneier and Park East President Les Lieberman described the partnership as “an important new chapter” in the synagogue’s 136-year history.

“This collaboration brings together two vibrant Jewish communities with a shared commitment to Torah, prayer, education, and acts of kindness,” they wrote. “By working together, we will be able to expand the opportunities available to our members and create an even more dynamic and welcoming synagogue experience.”

The synagogue said the collaboration will enhance weekday and Shabbos programming, Torah classes, lectures, holiday celebrations, and opportunities for young professionals, families, and members of all ages, while building on Park East’s longstanding foundation and traditions.
In a separate letter to supporters, Rabbi Krasnianski reflected on the Rebbe’s decision to send him and his wife, Chanie, to the Upper East Side in 1991 to establish Chabad in the neighborhood.

“The Rebbe’s love for every single Jew knew no bounds,” he wrote. “He sent his emissaries across the globe with one simple but revolutionary mandate: No Jew should be left behind.”

Rabbi Krasnianski said the partnership marks “a giant leap forward” in that mission.
“This is about far more than two institutions sharing a building,” he wrote. “It is the coming together of two great Jewish legacies with one shared mission: to strengthen Jewish identity and Jewish pride in every Jew on the Upper East Side.”

As part of the collaboration, Park East will become home to many of Chabad of the Upper East Side’s divisions and programs, including its Young Professionals community, Friendship Circle, Young Families programming, the Upper East Side Kollel, Chabad at Hunter College, and numerous educational and communal initiatives.
Rabbi Krasnianski noted that what began with one shliach couple has grown into a network of shluchim serving every segment of the community.

He highlighted the work of Rabbi Boruch and Leah Jacobson at Hunter College, Rabbi Uriel and Shevy Vigler’s Hebrew-speaking community and B’Lev Echad, Rabbi Yosef and Devorah Wilhelm’s young professionals division, Rabbi Shlomo and Sara Gutnick’s Friendship Circle, Rabbi Sholly and Goldie Freundlich’s Chabad Care hospital network, Rabbi Moshe and Yocheved Krasnianski’s young families and Hebrew School programming, and Rabbi Yaakov Krasnianski’s work with seniors.

He also thanked the supporters who helped build the Schneerson Center for Jewish Life, home to the Jacques and Hanna Schwalbe Mikvah, the Upper East Side Kollel, Chabad Preschool, and worldwide Torah initiatives including TanyaClass.com and MyPrayerClass.com.

Calling the moment one of “Divine Providence,” Rabbi Krasnianski noted that Rabbi Schneier is a descendant of the Alter Rebbe and recalled his longstanding relationship with the Rebbe on matters affecting world Jewry.

Both announcements stressed that the collaboration is rooted in achdus and a shared commitment to strengthening Jewish life throughout the neighborhood.

“We ask you not to stand on the sidelines,” Rabbi Krasnianski wrote. “Join us this High Holiday season. Bring a friend. Invite a neighbor. Help another Jew reconnect with their heritage.”

He concluded that at a time of growing challenges facing Jews worldwide, the partnership sends “a powerful message: the Jewish people are here to stay. The more they attack us, the more we will unite, build, grow, thrive, and flourish.”

By COLlive reporter

Is my spouse really my bashert, or is that something people say to keep marriages together? Why does our relationship seem so different from the exhilaration we felt when we first met?  Why does my spouse push me to talk? Why does my spouse retreat and not talk to me? Why do our arguments feel so familiar? What is the secret to avoiding conflict? Are there practical ways to enhance our relationship dynamic?

Rabbi Pinney and Helana Herman discussed these and other marriage challenges on Tu B’Av at Chabad of Aventura South in Florida.

The Hermans served as shluchim in Raleigh, North Carolina, for over 30 years. They are trained in Imago Marriage Therapy and SRT somatic training. They lead Jewish marriage workshops and have spoken nationally and internationally on topics of sholom bayis, mikvah, and other Jewish themes. They currently live in South Florida, where they see clients both individually and together, in person and over Zoom. 

Following a delicious buffet dinner, over 70 people of all ages and relationship stages gathered for a very enlightening and informative evening.

“We are always looking to promote Sholom Bayis (marital harmony) for our community in any way we can. Rabbi Pinney and Helana were so relatable and entertaining,” said Mrs. Raizel Rosenfeld, Shlucha of Chabad of Aventura South. “They gave very practical tools and included real Jewish and Chassidic concepts in their presentation.” 

One of the participants echoed similar thoughts. “The Hermans never met me, yet it felt like they knew exactly what was going on in my marriage. My husband and I were able to relate to the issues they raised, and we are really excited to try the solutions they taught. It was also very refreshing to hear a couple share some of their own relationship experiences and not just listen to someone tell us what to do.”

A special thank you to Rabbi Mendy Boas, part of the Chabad of Aventura South team, for coordinating the entire event.

Among the many events held in Almaty over Chof Av, one promised to make a lasting difference for the local Jewish community. But unexpectedly, the fine weather was threatening to delay its opening.

The event was the dedication of a beautiful new mikvah on Monday, Chof Av, the yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson.

Thoughtfully designed and meticulously constructed, the mikvah was nearly ready for use. There was just one problem: Almaty had seen little rain for weeks, and rainwater was still needed to fill the otzar before the facility could become operational.

Standing before the donors and guests, Kazakhstan’s chief rabbi and head shliach, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, expressed his hope that rain would soon fall and fill the otzar, allowing the new mikvah to open without delay.

The facility was built on the ground floor of the residential building at the Chabad center, just steps from Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s tziyun. With a fully private entrance, an elegant reception area, several preparation rooms, a spacious bor tevilah and modern amenities, it was designed to serve Almaty’s growing Jewish community for years to come.

The facility was named Mikvah Chana, in memory of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and mother of the Rebbe.

The project was made possible primarily through the generosity of David and Sofia Yakubov of Moscow, who previously experienced a personal miracle connected with a visit to Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s tziyun.

Seeking to express their gratitude through a lasting contribution, the couple chose to fund a new mikvah for the local Jewish community, close to Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s resting place. Construction was carried out over the past year.

The Yakubovs traveled to Almaty for the dedication and, accompanied by Rabbi Cohen, unveiled the dedication plaque and toured the completed facility. The couple was visibly moved as they saw the result of their contribution for the first time.

They were joined by philanthropist R’ Levi Leviev and members of his family. Leviev was warmly welcomed by Rabbi Cohen and was honored with affixing the mezuzah at the mikvah’s main entrance.

Women from the local Jewish community personally thanked the donors, explaining how the new mikvah would strengthen Jewish family life and meet the needs of a community that has continued to grow in recent years.

Although Almaty already has a functioning mikvah, it was built approximately 30 years ago. The community’s growth and increasing demand made a larger, more modern facility necessary. Mikvahs also operate in several other Jewish communities across Kazakhstan.

Additional mezuzahs were affixed later in the day during the annual central farbrengen, attended by hundreds of Jews from communities throughout the country.

Those honored included Almaty Chief Rabbi Elchanan Cohen; Rabbi Yechezkel Lazar of Moscow, a personal friend of the donor; Tehran Chief Rabbi Younes Hamami; Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Turkey and chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States; philanthropist Rabbi Avi Shaulson; the Rebbe’s shluchim across Kazakhstan; and Adam Malashvili, gabbai of the Levi Yitzchok Synagogue.

Speaking at the event, Leviev recalled the extraordinary mesiras nefesh displayed by his mother, grandmother and countless Jews throughout the former Soviet Union to observe the mitzvah of mikvah under Communist persecution.

Yakubov expressed his gratitude for the privilege of taking part in such a central mitzvah and providing a lasting benefit to Jewish families in Kazakhstan.

Rabbi Cohen told the donors that the new mikvah would undoubtedly bring tremendous nachas to Rabbi Levi Yitzchok, Rebbetzin Chana and their son, the Rebbe.

Yet despite the celebration, the question remained: When would the rain come?

Two hours later, as the central farbrengen came to an end, the skies over Almaty opened.

A heavy rain began to fall.

Insights from Toras Reb Levi Yitzchok, a weekly class based on the teachings of Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, chief rabbi of the city of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, during the bloody Bolshevik revolution and the subsequent Communist oppression and father of the Rebbe.

The shiur is presented by Rabbi Dovid Dubov, Director of Chabad of Mercer County in Princeton, New Jersey, and author of Yalkut Levi Yitzchok, an anthology of commentaries collected from the works of Harav Levi Yitzchak, of blessed memory.

Organized by Irguntorah.org and aired on community news service COLlive.com.

From The Rebbe’s Father זצ״ל
RE’EH

Give him a generous farewell, a gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress
15:14

Question;

Why does the Torah specifically choose there 3
flock, Grain, Wine

תורת לוי יצחק ע׳ קכ

ילקוט לוי יצחק על הגדה של פסח
(שיופיע בקרוב ע״י קה״ת)
סימן ס

Get The Weekly Shiur On Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Gespf7sF2KKK0opfrv3SVO

For more shiurim and podcasts visit: irguntorah.org

Mrs. Miriam Meijers, a pioneering Shlucha who helped build Chabad life in Amsterdam alongside her husband, Rabbi Eliezer Daniel Meijers, the Rebbe’s first Shliach to Holland, passed away on Friday, 24 Av, 5786.

She was 82.

Miriam Meijers was a pioneering Shlucha whose home and family were at the heart of the early growth of Chabad in the Netherlands.

She was the wife of Rabbi Eliezer Daniel Meijers, OBM, who was sent by the Rebbe to Holland and became a pioneering figure in establishing Chabad life in Amsterdam.

After their marriage, the couple settled in Amsterdam at the Rebbe’s direction. At a time when maintaining a full Chassidishe way of life in postwar Holland presented considerable challenges, they built a warm and steadfast Jewish home and raised their children with an uncompromising commitment to Torah and Chassidus.

For decades, Mrs. Meijers stood devotedly alongside her husband in their Shlichus. The Meijers’ home in Amsterdam became known as an open house for Chassidim, Rabbonim, Shluchim and Jewish visitors from around the world.

Prominent Chassidim and Shluchim from Eretz Yisroel were hosted there over the years, as were members of the Rebbe’s Mazkirus while traveling through Amsterdam. Farbrengens were held in the home, sometimes continuing late into the night, making it a unique center of Chassidishe warmth and hospitality.

Mrs. Meijers also devoted herself to raising a proud Chassidishe family. She and her husband made great sacrifices to ensure that their children received a complete Chabad education, even when that required sending them far from home to study.

In their later years, Rabbi and Mrs. Meijers moved to Eretz Yisroel and settled in Yerushalayim.

Remarkably, Mrs. Meijers passed away on 24 Menachem Av, just one day after the 11th yahrzeit of her husband, who passed away on 23 Menachem Av, 5775.

She is survived by her children, Rabbi Pinchas Avraham Meijers, Av Beis Din in The Hague and author of Divrei Pinchas; Rabbi Dovid Eliyahu Meijers; Rabbi Baruch Mendel Meijers of Crown Heights; Rabbi Ezra Emanuel Meijers of Beitar Illit; and Mrs. Sarah Nemanow, wife of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Nemanow of Brunoy, France; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Levaya will take place Friday afternoon, leaving Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim for burial on Har HaZeisim.

The Meijers family will be sitting Shivah at:

8 Ezrat Torah Street, Jerusalem

Shivah hours:
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Shacharis: 9:00 AM

Mendel Meijers will be sitting in his house
591 Crown St
Aug 11,12,13-am
Tuesday and Wednesday, all day. Thursday getting up after shachris.
Shachris: 9:00am
Mincha: 7:45 pm
Maariv: 8:30 pm

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

The current 25th Knesset—elected on November 1, 2022 (7 Cheshvan 5783) and set to complete its term on October 27, 2026 (16 Cheshvan 5787)—holds the distinction of serving the longest tenure since the 20th Knesset, making it the first to complete a full term since the 11th Knesset.

During the intense final week of the summer session, the Rebbe’s emissary to Israel’s Ministry of Transportation, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilhelm, visited the Knesset building. He presented the remaining members of parliament who had not yet received it with the magnificent set of “Tanya HaShalem” (The Complete Tanya).The current 25th Knesset—elected on November 1, 2022 (7 Cheshvan 5783) and set to complete its term on October 27, 2026 (16 Cheshvan 5787)—holds the distinction of serving the longest tenure since the 20th Knesset, making it the first to complete a full term since the 11th Knesset.

During the intense final week of the summer session, the Rebbe’s emissary to Israel’s Ministry of Transportation, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilhelm, visited the Knesset building. He presented the remaining members of parliament who had not yet received it with the magnificent set of “Tanya HaShalem” (The Complete Tanya).

The distribution was dedicated by a prominent Chabad Rabbi in memory of the senior elder of Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis and mentors in Israel, the renowned scholar Rabbi Tuvia Blau, o.b.m. (16 Iyar 5796 – 23 Tammuz 5786).

Rabbi Blau himself guided and advised the entire distribution project. In his final days, with complete clarity of mind, he ruled—in accordance with the Rebbe’s directives in such matters—that the work must be completed to merit all members of parliament. He emphasized reaching every representative regardless of political views or religious affiliation, utilizing appropriate and receptive communication.

List of Knesset Members and Public Figures:

MK Dvora (Debby) Biton – Yesh Atid
MK Mati Sarfatti Harkavi – Yesh Atid
MK Michal Shir Segman – Yesh Atid
MK Yasmin Sacks Friedman – Yesh Atid (Chair of the Special Committee for Holocaust Survivors)
MK Shelly Tal Meron – Yesh Atid
MK Hamad Amar – Yisrael Beiteinu
MK Yulia Malinovsky Kunin – Yisrael Beiteinu
MK Sharon Nir – Yisrael Beiteinu
MK Tsega (Tseganesh) Melaku – Likud
MK Adi Aliza Azouz – Yesh Atid
MK Eliyahu (Eli) Dallal – Likud
MK Aida Touma-Sliman – Hadash
MK Yasser Mahmoud Hujirat – Ra’am (Chair of the Science and Technology Committee)
MK Merav Ben-Ari – Yesh Atid (Chair of the Yesh Atid Faction & Opposition Coordinator)
Yuval Chen – Knesset Sergeant-at-Arms (former Head of the Security Department at the Ministry of Defense)
MK Samir Ben Said – Ta’al
MK Walid Khalil Al-Huwashla – Ra’am
MK Ofer Cassif – Hadash
MK Naama Lazimi – Labor (Chair of the Special Committee on Youth Affairs)
MK Dan Eliyahu Yaakov Illouz – Likud
Naftali Bennett – Chairman of the ‘Together’ party
Matan Kahana – Member of the ‘Yashar’ party
Yoez Hendel – Chairman of the ‘Miluimnikim’ (Reservists) party
MK Walid Yosef Taha – United Arab List (Ra’am)
MK Efrat Rayten Marom – Labor (Chair of the Labor Faction)
MK Iman Khatib-Alshin – United Arab List (Ra’am)
MK Yael Ron Ben-Moshe – Blue and White
MK Mohammad Abu al-Hija – Yesh Atid

Arabic Edition Presented to Arab Parliamentarians

In addition to the “Tanya HaShalem” set, Arab Members of Knesset were presented with a special copy of the Tanya translated into Arabic.

These Arabic copies were provided through the generosity of the sons of the late scholar Rabbi David Bouskila, o.b.m., who dedicated himself with immense effort to the translation project under the supervision of the renowned emissary to Morocco, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Raskin, o.b.m.. This effort was facilitated by his son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Raskin, emissary to Côte-Saint-Luc, Montreal.

Upon arriving at the Knesset, Rabbi Wilhelm met the newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister from the Right National party, MK Michel Bouskila, who was appointed that very morning. Rabbi Wilhelm presented him with a special copy of the Arabic Tanya, translated by his late relative, Rabbi David Bouskila (1932–2020), head of the Ozar Hatorah educational network in Morocco and France. The Deputy Minister was deeply moved and proudly shared the volume with his colleagues at the government table and coalition benches in the Knesset plenum.

Historical Background of the Arabic Translation

The translation of the Tanya into Arabic (specifically the Judeo-Moroccan dialect) began in November 1971 (Kislev 5732). Several years later, when the completed translation of Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah was presented to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the editors received a rare and extraordinary response.

During a Chassidic gathering (Farbrengen) on Shabbos Parshas Shemos 1977 (5737)—published this past year by Vaad Hanochos B’Lashon Kodesh in a remarkable Divine Providence on the exact week this new edition appeared—the Rebbe expanded on the great significance of this Arabic edition. The Rebbe explained that this translation elevates not only those who speak the language, but effects a general refinement of all languages of the world as a preparation for the Era of Redemption, speedily in our days.

Jewish communities all over the world, both in Israel and the Diaspora, are remarkably diverse. But to what extent can an individual deviate from religious law?

The Avner Institute presents the Rebbe’s emphasis on adherence to accepted practice as the framework of Chabad, while acknowledging differences among the other streams of Torah observance and warning against the dangers of watered-down alternatives.

In loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h

“On its Divine authority”

By the Grace of G-d
7 Cheshvan 5715
Brooklyn, NY

Shalom u’Brocha,

Rabbi — conveyed to me your question as to why it is not the custom of Chabad Chassidim to decorate the succah, as well as to sleep in the succah.

This question calls for a lengthier explanation than this letter would permit. However, I trust the following points will suffice.

Re DECORATIONS:

Generally, a mitzvah must be observed on its Divine authority with kabalos oel [accepting the yoke] and not on rational grounds, i.e., for any reason or explanation which we may find in it. An exception, to some extent, is the case when significance of the mitzvah is indicated in the Torah, and our sages have connected its fulfillment with it. At any rate, only a qualified person can interpret it more fully.
We have a rule that a mitzvah should be performed to the best of one’s ability, and as the Rambam explains at the end of Hilchoth Mizbeach (Issurei). This applies especially to the object of the mitzvah itself, e.g., a tallis [prayer shawl] should be the best one can afford, an offering should be the most generous, etc.
Unlike the sechah [covering] and walls of the succah, decorations are not an essential part of the succah, but an enjoyment which adds to the adornment of the person sitting in the succah; they are, as the name clearly indicates, supplementary objects which beautify the external appearance of the succah.
The attitude of the Chabad Chassidim in this connection, as taught by generations of Chabad leaders and teachers, if that the succah is to imbue us with certain essential lessons, which are explained in Chassidic literature and the Talmudical literature in general. It is expected of Chabad Chassidim that they should be impressed by the essential character of the succah, without recourse to the “artificial” make-up; that the frail covering of the succah and its bare walls, not adorned by external ornaments, rugs, or hangings, should more forcibly and directly impress upon the Jew and Jewess the lessons it is meant to convey.

SLEEPING IN THE SUCCAH

In order to safeguard and inspire a greater feeling of sanctity towards the succah, sleeping in it is not practiced by us. The basis for this is twofold:
First, we have a rule that suffering exempts one from dwelling in the succah.
Secondly, during sleep, a person is not in control of himself, and furthermore, the very act of dressing and undressing, etc., inevitably creates a commonplace attitude towards the place which serves as a bedroom. Such a depreciation of attitude towards the succah (by sleeping in it, as explained above) from what his attitude should be towards the mitzvoth of G-d, whereby He has sanctified all Jews, would be deeply felt by the Chassid Chassid by virtue of his Chassidic teaching and upbringing, and would cause him profound spiritual suffering. The combination of these two considerations, therefore, led to the custom not to sleep in the succah.

However, if a Jew feels absolutely certain that his sleeping in the succah will not in the slightest affect his attitude towards the sanctity of the succah, and is consequently free from any mental pain that might be caused thereby, he is duty- bound to sleep in the succah, in accordance with the fullest meaning of to make his succah a dwelling place to the utmost.

I hope the above will provide an adequate answer to your question, but should you desire further clarification, do not hesitate to write to me.

With blessing,

[signature]

“You may not change”

By the Grace of G-d
17 Teveth 5716
Brooklyn, NY

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter of 28th Kislev, in which you write that you have been davening Nusach Ari [Lubavitcher prayerbook], and found that it increased your kavanah [motivation], and you ask whether you should change back to your original nusach [version] to another nusach. In view of the fact that you heard that while you may change to Nusach Ari, you may not change from Nusach Ari to another nusach.

It is true, as you have heard, that one may change from Nusach Ashkenaz [standard Ashkenazic prayerbook] or Nusach Sephard [Chassidic prayerbook], but not vice versa, and this is explained in Responsa. The significance of Nusach Ari is explained in the introduction to Shaar Hakolel. Therefore, you should continue, without hesitation, davening Nusach Ari, and it will bring you added Divine blessing.

I am glad to read in your letter that you have a shiur [lesson] to learn Chassidus, which I trust you will study every day, including some study also on the days on which you have hitherto not studied it.

With blessing,

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“The inconsistency of it”

By the Grace of G-d
12 Iyar 5717
Brooklyn, NY

Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to receive your letter in which you write how you spent Pesach. You do not mention any activities on behalf of the students of the yeshiva, in connection with Pesach. But I trust that the opportunity had not been missed. Nor do you mention how you spent the latter days of Pesach, when it is customary among Chassidim to make a Farbrengen, especially on the last day of Pesach. I trust that you participated in such a Chassidic get-together.

You write in your letter that your friend, though Orthodox, sometimes attends also a Conservative temple. I trust that you will explain to him the inconsistency of it. Surely a person who thinks logically and is not afraid of the conclusion of such thinking should not fall into the inconsistency of a movement or ideology which is based on compromise, which is neither here nor there, and only a matter of personal convenience, and taking the line of least resistance, and, moreover, one which tries to make virtue out of a transgression.

As for his desire to visit me, I instructed the Secretariat to write to you about an appointment.

With regard to the discouraging thoughts of Granda Greenberg, as I have written to you previously, she should try to dismiss all such discouraging thoughts, since they have absolutely no basis.

With Lag B’Omer only a few days away, I trust that every effort is made to get together the largest number of Jewish children, especially as this year Lag B’Omer happens to be on a day when they are free from school, and the parents are free from work. Hence, it is an opportunity to attract many children, even such that do not attend religious schools. Who knows, but the opportunity of spending a few hours in the company of Jewish religious children, and in a religious atmosphere, may tip the scale, both with regard to the children and parents, in the proper direction.

Since you do not mention anything about the question of health, I trust that you, your wife, and your children are enjoying good health.

Hoping to hear good news from you.

With blessing,

[signature]

To receive to your inbox email: [email protected]

JEM:

Forty years ago, a surprise children’s rally took place in 770. Until now, it was known only through firsthand memories and written accounts.

That all changed when this old tape was found…

As the summer of 1986 came to a close and the children returned home from camp, everyone expected the annual children’s rally at 770. Each year, the Rebbe would come downstairs, join the children, and address them. But this time, because of a misunderstanding between the organizers, Tuesday passed without a rally – and no one knew whether anything would happen the following day.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, word spread that the Rebbe would come downstairs to daven Minchah with the children. It was made clear that the Rebbe would only come for Mincha, and the Rebbe’s secretaries strongly indicated that there would be no Sicha. Still, a microphone, a platform, and coins were prepared – just in case.

The Rebbe remained in his room, waiting for the campers to arrive. Some sixty boys from Camp Gan Yisroel entered the shul and sat on the front benches, with a smaller group of girls from Camp Emunah gathered in the women’s section.

A few minutes later, the Rebbe entered the shul, encouraging the children’s singing as he walked to his place. After Shmonei Esrei, he informed Rabbi Leibel Groner that he wished to speak to the children. The microphone was hurriedly brought forward, and the Rebbe then motioned for a Chumash. One of the shul’s Chumashim was brought to him, and the Rebbe studied it throughout the remainder of the davening.

The Surprise Childrens Rally

Immediately following the final Kaddish – without the customary recitation of the Twelve Pesukim – the Rebbe began a short Sicha. At its conclusion, he said that the talk should be translated into English for the children. When the translation ended, and Rabbi Avraham Shemtov (who had done the translation) hesitated, unsure what should happen next, the Rebbe motioned that the children should begin singing.

The Rebbe then stepped down from the platform and distributed three coins to every child and counselor: one for that day, one for the following day, and a third “to do with as they see fit.”

What had seemed so unlikely to unfold became one of the most intimate children’s rallies ever held with the Rebbe.

Nearly forty years later, while looking through old boxes, Avraham Berns discovered a tape bearing the date of the rally – 22 Av, 5746 (1986). There it was, faded and grainy, but preserved on film.

It’s not every day that a “new” moment with the Rebbe is uncovered. Nearly forty years later, it’s a privilege to be able to share this one.

WATCH HERE

Many thanks to Rabbis Mendel Gourarie, Motti Hazan, Memkeh Schmukler, Yossi Wolowik and Mendel Kaplan of the JEM team for going above and beyond to ensure the tapes were published.

ArtScroll’s celebration of 50 years serving the Jewish community wraps up this week, and it’s going out with two big announcements: the final week of its massive anniversary sale, and a first-ever sweepstakes worth over $50,000.

Enter To Win

For the first time in its history, ArtScroll is giving readers a shot at a prize package worth more than $50,000. Entry is free and only takes a minute.

This is the last week to enter. Once it closes, that’s it.

Enter the giveaway here »

Last Chance For 50% Off

Alongside the giveaway, ArtScroll’s fifth and final sale week is live, with 50 sefarim and titles marked down to their lowest prices ever at 50% off. When the week ends, the pricing disappears for good.

What’s on sale:

The Complete ArtScroll Digital Library – the full Schottenstein English and Hebrew Talmud, Ryzman Hebrew Mishnayos, Jaffa Edition Tanach, Kleinman Edition Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, both Smart Siddurim, and the complete Hebrew Rambam. Available as a digital download for $499.99, or preloaded on a new iPad or iPad mini with a custom leather cover.

Czuker Edition Hebrew Chumash Mikra’os Gedolos – 52 volume personal size paperback set, now $67.49. Lowest price this set has ever been offered.

ArtScroll Children’s Siddur – now $9.99.

Sefer Zera Shimshon, Student Size, 10 volume set – now $159.99.

Plus dozens more titles in hashkafa, halacha, and children’s books, all discounted for the final week only.

In prior weeks, featured items sold out fast, so shoppers are encouraged to move quickly.

Shop the full sale here »

Enter the giveaway here »

A letter from an older single:

I never thought I would be writing these words.

When I was younger and just starting shidduchim, I had a very clear picture of what I was looking for. Like many girls, I had my preferences, expectations, and ideas about what was important in finding my bashert.

One of those things was age.

I believed that the age of the guy mattered. I had a certain range in mind, and when a shidduch suggestion came along and the guy was older than what I had envisioned, I would automatically become hesitant.

Looking back, I realize that many times I was reacting to a number, not to the person.

As the years went by and I gained more life experience, my perspective changed. I started meeting more people, hearing more stories, and seeing that the assumptions we sometimes make about age simply are not always true.

In our community, there is often a lot of discussion about girls getting older in shidduchim — and rightfully so, because there are real considerations and challenges. But sometimes we unintentionally create another problem by treating an older guy as if his age automatically makes him less desirable.

It doesn’t.

A 37-year-old man is not a completely different category from a 33-year-old man. Those four years may sound significant when written down, but in reality, both may be at the same stage of life: looking to build a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel, ready for commitment, and searching for the right person.

The number alone does not tell the story.

A guy’s age does not tell you about his middos. It does not tell you if he will be a caring husband, a supportive partner, or someone who will build a home filled with warmth, Torah values, and chassidishkeit.

Those things come from who he is.

In fact, sometimes the extra years bring with them growth and maturity. A person may have spent those years learning more about himself, developing emotionally, building a career, strengthening his ruchniyus, or simply becoming more prepared for the responsibility of marriage.

Being older does not mean something is wrong. It does not mean he “missed his opportunity.” Every person has their own timeline, and every shidduch has its own hashgacha pratis.

I think many of us, myself included, can sometimes get caught up in an image of what a shidduch is supposed to look like. We focus on age, height, background, or other details before taking the time to see the person.

But when we talk about finding a partner for life, shouldn’t the focus be on the qualities that will actually determine the success of the marriage? Is he a mentch? Does he have good middos? Does he have yiras Shamayim? Does he have the ability and desire to build a loving home? Are we compatible?

Those are the questions that truly matter.

Of course, everyone has preferences, and nobody should ignore legitimate concerns. A shidduch has to feel right. But perhaps we should be more careful before automatically dismissing a wonderful person because he is a few years older than the number we had in mind.

To the girls in shidduchim, especially those who may be getting older: I understand. I once thought the same way. I know it can feel uncomfortable to step outside the expectations you created for yourself.

But sometimes the person Hashem sends your way does not arrive exactly how you pictured him. Sometimes the extra years are not a disadvantage. Sometimes those years are what helped shape him into the person you were waiting for.

Don’t let a number prevent you from getting to know a person. Because at the end of the day, you are not marrying an age. You are marrying a person.

Five thousand people from around the world joined the annual Chof Av campaign honoring the Rebbe’s father, raising more than $1 million to support the continuing Jewish revival in Almaty and across Kazakhstan.

The campaign was held in memory of the renowned gaon, chossid and mekubal Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, who was exiled to Kazakhstan by the Soviet authorities for his fearless efforts to preserve and spread Yiddishkeit.

Supporters from communities around the world joined the campaign, becoming partners in the work of Kazakhstan’s shluchim, the preservation of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s legacy and the care of his tziyun in Almaty.

“It was deeply moving to see thousands of donors from around the world unite to support the spread of Yiddishkeit in Kazakhstan, the country to which Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was exiled,” said Kazakhstan’s Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen.

“The Rebbe explained on Chof Av that a neshamah in the World of Truth seeks sparks in this world that will continue the work it began. Thousands have now answered that call. They have become active partners in continuing what Rabbi Levi Yitzchok began here in Kazakhstan and carrying his legacy forward.

“I have no doubt that the Rebbe derives tremendous nachas from the extraordinary success of the Chof Av campaign in his father’s memory.”

Rabbi Cohen thanked the campaign’s donors, fundraisers and professional staff, many of whom worked around the clock to ensure its success.

“We regard every donor as a genuine partner in the shlichus that began here more than 82 years ago through the baal hahilula and continues today through the Rebbe’s army of shluchim,” he said.

In a country where Jews once feared openly identifying as Jewish, and where organizing a Torah class, a bris or a public minyan could place lives in danger, a powerful Jewish revival is now underway.

The Rebbe’s shluchim continue to expand their activities, enabling Jews throughout Kazakhstan to reconnect with their heritage and live openly and proudly as Jews. It is a fitting transformation for a country about which the Rebbe once said that he had “personally concerned himself” throughout the years.

Rabbi Cohen points out that continuing his father’s legacy and perpetuating his memory were matters of deep personal importance to the Rebbe. He encouraged the publication of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s writings and show great care for the upkeep of the tziyun in Almaty.

“How much more so,” Rabbi Cohen said, “here in the very place where Rabbi Levi Yitzchok labored with tears and mesirus nefesh, and where he was laid to rest, do we bear the responsibility to continue his work with greater strength and on an ever-expanding scale.”

Kazakhstan’s shluchim care for the tziyun and provide hospitality for the many visitors who travel to Almaty to daven there. Those who participated in the campaign became partners in those efforts, as well as in perpetuating Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s legacy throughout the country of his exile.

The Rebbe once expressed the depth of his personal obligation to those who assisted in honoring his father, saying, “No matter how much I repay, it will not be enough for what I personally owe for kibbud av.”

“The Rebbe does not remain indebted,” Rabbi Cohen said. “We have already witnessed remarkable brachos in the lives of people who participated in the campaign and became partners in the Rebbe’s kibbud av.”

Donors may still contribute, submit names to be mentioned in tefillah at the tziyun, and enter the raffle for two airline tickets to Almaty.

VIDEO:

“Ensuring that every visitor receives the best possible accommodations during their stay is very important to us,” Rabbi Cohen said. “I invite groups and individuals to visit throughout the year, daven at the tziyun and stay with us at the Chabad center.”

Chabad of Kazakhstan currently operates eight Chabad centers in seven cities, led by the central Chabad center located near the tziyun in Almaty.

“With the support of the campaign’s many donors and partners, we will be able to expand our activities and move forward with even greater strength,” Rabbi Cohen said.

“We are committed to reaching every Jewish neshamah, in every city and even the most distant village, and bringing each person closer to Yiddishkeit. May the extraordinary achdus displayed through this campaign lead us together toward the coming of Moshiach immediately.”

“We offer our heartfelt thanks to every partner for their generous contribution,” he added. “Every dollar, euro, shekel or tenge donated through the campaign kindles another flame and illuminates another Jewish heart.

“May this zechus protect the donors and their families. We see clearly the expansion and growth that contributions bring to the Rebbe’s mosdos in Kazakhstan. Fortunate indeed are all those who participated.”

The raffle for two airline tickets to the tziyun in Almaty will be held, iy”H, on Vov Tishrei, the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and mother of the Rebbe.

Click here to join the campaign and receive its brachos.

Special thanks are extended to campaign strategist Bracha Tornheim and the TOP360 team for developing the campaign’s branding in four languages and overseeing its design, multimedia productions and international advertising. Their professionalism and dedication accompanied the campaign from its earliest planning and strategy stages through its remarkable success.

Special thanks to Yeshayahu Abba Cohen, who directed the campaign team, ambassadors, volunteers and on-site logistics.

Special thanks to Menachem Ziegelboim, editor of the special Hebrew publication produced in honor of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s 82nd yahrzeit, and to Motti Wilhelm, editor of the English edition.

Thank you to the campaign platform, Raisethon, led by Shloimy Greenwald and Levi Sudak.

Special thanks to Rizel Strategy and Media Consulting, led by Shloimy and Mendy Rizel, who provided coverage of the events from Almaty.

Our gratitude and appreciation also go to the Chabad news outlets and WhatsApp groups that reported from the campaign with remarkable achdus.

Special thanks to the shluchim and staff in Kazakhstan who handled the campaign’s logistical and technical needs:

Yehudis Cohen, Rabbi Mordechai Cohen, Mina Leah Liberow, Leah Cohen, Rabbi Elchanan Cohen, Rabbi Asaf Feinstein and Rachel Tumarkin.

Special thanks to the campaign team:

Shlomo Tornheim, Elliot Lamar, Eitan Chayoun, Shterna Sarah Wansover, Shoval Nizri, Saar Edri, Motti Wilhelm, Dovid Levi, Boruch Manuilenko, Rabbi Asaf Feinstein, Rafik Ziganov, Yisroel Shamayev, Gitti Cohen, Yehuda Cohen, Chayush Vigler, Yossik Zaitsev, Yisroel Chaski, Shmulik Shochat, Elky Mizrachi, Mendy Levin, Menachem Lutati, Shneur Zalman Cohen, Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Cohen, Mendy Shachar, Mendy Lipschitz, Mendy Cohen, Yosef Glitzenstein, Devorah Glitzenstein, Efrat Cohen, Levi Elituv and Shalom Solomon.

Heartfelt thanks are extended to the dedicated fundraising team and to everyone else who contributed countless hours to the campaign:

The Rapoport family; Eli Rabinowitz; Benjy Bruce; the Shimonov family; Rabbi Shmaryahu and Yocheved Butman; the Bleshnikov family; Yossi and Saraleh Meshi Zahav; Dovid and Sterny Zaltzman; Meir and Leah Levin; Chayaleh Clemenson; Moshe Dovid Cohen; Yossi Levin of Lev Hazchuchit; the Horowitz family; the Hamburger family; the Teichman family; Michael Goldman; Eliyahu and Chana Amoyal; Ruti Fash; Daniel and Sarah Lerner; Yosef and Devori Glitzenstein; the Shachar family; the Shochat family; Shneur and Mushky Clemenson; Ari and Esther Wolf; the Weinfeld family; the Eisenbach family; Menachem and Sheindy; Chaya Matusof; Yitzchok Glitzenstein; Avremi and Gitti Cohen; Shaya and Efrat Cohen; Avraham Tzvi Cohen; Chaim Cohen; Yossi and Chayaleh Weisfish; Yehuda and Saraleh Golan; Mendy Cohen; the Slavin family; the Tornheim family; Yossi and Chani Cohen; the Marasow family of Australia; Mendel Marasow; Benny Feigin; Leibel Bruce; Galia Crystal; Dovid Lipsch; the Hershkop family; Yisroel Gurkov; Yossi Oberlander; the Fife family; Roni and Ilan; Benny and Menachem; Rabbi Moshe Pinson; Chaya Jacobson; Chaya Rachel Aharonson; Ephraim and Shoshana Bender; Devori Greenberg; Choni Marasow; Rivky Shmokler; Avraham Schwartz; Bar Tzarum; Mina Marasow; Menachem and Rivka Shimonov; and Yisroel Baron.

Their boundless dedication and many hours of work helped make the historic campaign possible.

Rabbi Heschel Greenberg has launched a new series of classes on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah in response to the Rebbe’s call to learn at least one halacha in depth.

The Rebbe initiated a major effort to unite all Jews with the study of the entire encyclopedic work, Mishneh Torah, by learning three chapters a day and completing the entire work in less than a year. Alternatively, one can learn one chapter and complete the entire Mishneh Torah in close to three years. The Rebbe also gave a third option to study Maimonides’ companion work, Sefer Hamitzvos that parallel the Mishneh Torah.

In addition, the Rebbe requested that we learn one halacha in depth.

We recently began the 46nd cycle of Mishneh Torah which inspired Rabbi Greenberg to record brief classes on selected passages of the Mishneh Torah.

Rabbi Heschel Greenberg is a shliach of the Rebbe in Buffalo NY and the Director of the Jewish Discovery Center, and, for over 50 years, has taught thousands of classes on all aspects of Jewish knowledge.

Rabbi Greenberg has also authored dozens of works on diverse subjects including several volumes of commentary on the Mishneh Torah.

Many of Rabbi Greenberg’s classes can be accessed on his website rabbigreenberg.com.

Can a tithe that doesn’t work still make something holy? The Rambam says yes — and his own novel ruling on Maaser Beheima explains exactly how.

The Rambam paskens that you cannot tithe animals born in one year to cover the obligation of another year — just as you can’t tithe old produce to cover new, or new produce to cover old. This is derived from a hekesh: the Torah compares the tithing of animals (Maaser Beheima) to the tithing of produce (Maaser Dagan), each of which must be done year by year, independently.

By COLive reporter
Photos: GGphotography 929-701-9352

The Mesivta of Arizona held a Yarchei Kallah, welcoming the greater Phoenix community into a yeshiva atmosphere from morning till night. For one day, children, seniors, shluchim, businessmen, college students, and mekuravim joined together around one table to learn, daven, and farbreng.

The morning began with a shiur by Rabbi Levi Altein, Mashpia of Shiur Beis, who taught Perek Lamed-Ches of Tanya — the perek his class is currently learning — taking the Alter Rebbe‘s wording apart through the teachings of the Rebbe and his father, Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson.

After a lavish breakfast, all attendees sat down to learn with the bochurim. Rabbi Yehuda Frankel, Maggid Shiur of Shiur Gimmel, gave a Shiur on the sugya of acquiring a stolen object, from Bava Kama. He was followed by Rabbi Eli Filler, Shliach in Prescott, AZ, who gave a Shiur on Hilchos Beis HaBechirah as per the Rebbe’s instruction to learn those Halachos during the 3 weeks.

At night, before the farbrengen, Rabbi Eli Levitansky, Shliach to S. Monica, California, gave a shiur on how a person attains altruism. From there, it rolled straight into a farbrengen with unmatched energy that lasted well into the night.

The Yarchei Kallah was held under the hanhala of the Menahel, Rabbi Abi Naparstak, and the Director, Rabbi Yossi Levertov. The program was arranged and coordinated by Rabbi Mendy Thaler together with the Eltere Bochurim and Shluchim of the yeshiva.

All in all, nearly 100 people participated throughout the day, bringing a tremendous energy into the Yeshiva and the city at large.

By: Chami Levy

Every business begins somewhere.

Some begin with an idea. Some begin with a product.

CIARA began with a conversation.

Before there was a showroom, a collection, or even a name, there were conversations – around kitchen tables, after weddings, in living rooms, over coffee, and during everyday moments with women from different stages of life.

What emerged was not one dramatic story, but a pattern they could not ignore.

Women were searching for wigs made from fine virgin hair – pieces that looked natural, felt comfortable, and could become part of their everyday lives. They wanted craftsmanship and style, but they also wanted something that felt thoughtful and attainable.

When Meir and Dina Zarchi’s son became engaged, those conversations became even more frequent. As wedding plans unfolded, discussions about sheitels naturally followed. The more they listened – to kallahs, mothers, friends, relatives, shluchos, and teachers – the more they realized they were hearing a concern shared by many.

Neither of them came from the sheitel industry.

But their backgrounds had prepared them for something important: recognizing a need and searching for a meaningful response.

Meir had spent his life approaching challenges with creativity, curiosity, and a drive to build solutions. Dina’s path took her in a different direction. After years devoted to raising her family, she joined JLI’s Wellness Institute, working with schools and organizations to expand access to mental health education for teenagers and the adults who support them.

Different journeys, but the same instinct: when people share a genuine need, listen first – and then find a way to help.

This felt like one of those moments.

The conversations were not simply about fashion. They reflected something deeper: a desire among many women for a sheitel they could feel confident wearing while also being mindful of the financial responsibilities of family life.

Before moving forward, they sought the Rebbe’s blessing and guidance, as they had done with other significant decisions in their lives. With that direction, they began learning an industry that was entirely new to them.

For eighteen months, they immersed themselves in every aspect of the sheitel world.

Their journey took them across continents – from Asia to Israel – following every step of the process. They studied how premium virgin hair is sourced and selected, explored construction methods, evaluated manufacturers, reviewed countless samples, refined colors and textures, adjusted densities, and focused on the details that transform a sheitel from something attractive into something truly exceptional.

This was never about simply creating another sheitel line.

It was about understanding what women truly needed.

By the time CIARA quietly opened its doors in Crown Heights in April 2026, thousands of decisions had already shaped the company – each one guided by a simple question:

What would allow a woman to feel her most confident, beautiful, comfortable, and natural?

That philosophy extends beyond the sheitel itself.

Visit the showroom on a typical afternoon, and you may find Dina beside a client, not behind a desk. One appointment may involve customizing a hairline until it blends seamlessly. Another may involve comparing shades, textures, and styles. Another may simply involve listening as a young kallah describes how she hopes to feel when she looks in the mirror after her wedding.

There is no rushing the process.

Every woman arrives with her own story, her own expectations, and her own vision. Each appointment is approached with patience, honesty, and care.

CIARA was created for women who fulfill the mitzvah of covering their hair after marriage and want a sheitel that allows them to feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful while honoring that mitzvah.

The name CIARA, rooted in the Hebrew word for “hair,” reflects that vision. CIARA was never simply about just creating beautiful wigs. It was about creating sheitels that enable women to feel like themselves.

That same vision shaped CIARA’s most important decisions: pricing.

The goal was never to create the least expensive sheitel available. Affordable options serve an important purpose for many women, and every woman’s needs are different.

CIARA was created to fill a different space.

The challenge was not simply creating a cheaper sheitel. Lower prices can always be achieved by compromising somewhere. The real challenge was creating a sheitel without compromising the things women notice most – the quality of the hair, the craftsmanship of the construction, the movement, and the feeling when they put it on.

CIARA set out to bring together premium virgin hair, thoughtful construction, current styles, and exceptional workmanship – while making that level of quality available to more women.

Luxury without unnecessary barriers.

The Rebbe spoke often about the beauty and significance of the mitzvah of kisuy rosh. For those behind CIARA, it became important to help ensure that financial limitations would not become the reason a woman felt she could not experience this mitzvah in the way she hoped.

Their contribution cannot solve every challenge facing the community.

But it can create another option.

Because at the end of the day, CIARA is not defined only by the sheitels hanging in its showroom.

It is defined by the woman who walks through the door.

The kallah experiencing her first sheitel appointment.

The mother who has spent years putting everyone else first and is finally choosing something beautiful for herself.

The woman searching for a sheitel that reflects her style while honoring a mitzvah that is deeply personal.

A sheitel is not just something a woman wears. It becomes part of how she feels, how she presents herself, and how she experiences a mitzvah that accompanies her every day.

That is what CIARA set out to build: a place where craftsmanship, style, and personal attention come together in a way that feels welcoming and accessible.

After eighteen months of listening, researching, and refining every detail, CIARA opened its doors in Crown Heights.

Now, the invitation is simple:

Come experience it for yourself.

www.ciarawigs.com – Instagram ciara_wigs

I feel helpless, because no mother should ever have to stand by and feel unable to save her child. 😢

My name is Chaya. And my son is Chaim Rafael — my whole world. 💔

Chaim Rafael was born with HLHS (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome), one of the most complex congenital heart conditions.

It means the left side of his heart didn’t develop properly, and from his very first days, his life has been a fight.

He has already been through a long series of treatments and surgeries in Israel.

So many procedures. So many hospital rooms. So many nights I didn’t sleep. 😢

People tell me, “Be strong.”

But I’m a mother… and I’m scared.

Because now the doctors told us clearly: Chaim Rafael needs another critical stage of treatment — and it must be done abroad. 💔

We were offered treatment in three different places: Vienna, Germany, and Boston.

And in all three places, the costs are extremely high.

And the truth is crushing: I don’t even have the ability to pay the deposit required to secure his treatment. 💔

That is why we are raising $300,000 — to cover the deposit, medical costs, specialist evaluations, travel, lodging near the hospital for an extended stay, medications, and the follow-up care he will need to recover.

Every day I look at my son and I try to smile for him… 😢

But inside, I’m terrified that time will run out. 💔

I’m begging you — please don’t let us face this alone. 😢

If you can donate, please donate. 💔

If you can’t donate right now, please share. 😢

Because for my son… every day matters. 💔

And every donation brings Chaim Rafael closer to the treatment that can keep him alive. 😢

Donate today

By COLlive reporter

Community leaders and advocates are stepping up their opposition to a proposal that would transfer control of Maimonides Medical Center to NYC Health + Hospitals, warning that the move could permanently change one of Brooklyn’s most important medical institutions.

For generations, Maimonides has been closely connected to Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community. Many families value the hospital’s familiarity with halachic considerations, its willingness to accommodate patients’ religious needs whenever possible, and its longstanding relationships with local rabbonim and askanim.

Opponents of the proposal argue that becoming part of the city’s public hospital system would replace local oversight with a larger government bureaucracy. They say that could lead to slower decision-making, less flexibility in responding to community needs, and reduced influence for local leaders who have helped shape the hospital for decades. Supporters also worry that decisions affecting Maimonides would increasingly be made by city officials rather than the hospital’s own leadership and board.

The proposed takeover comes as Maimonides faces serious financial challenges. According to public reports, the hospital has accumulated approximately $300 million in operating losses over the past several years, prompting state officials to support a merger with NYC Health + Hospitals as a path toward long-term financial stability.

Those opposing the merger contend that other solutions have not been fully explored. They point to operational improvements, including upgrades to the hospital’s billing and revenue systems, along with proposals from outside healthcare organizations that they believe deserved greater consideration before moving forward with a transfer of control.

The dispute has also moved into the courtroom. Several members of Maimonides’ Board of Trustees have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the transaction, arguing that the hospital’s nonprofit assets should not be transferred without a full judicial review and that other viable options remain available.

A recently released podcast featuring one of the hospital’s board members takes an in-depth look at the history of Maimonides, its financial challenges, the proposed takeover, and the ongoing legal battle. The discussion also explores alternatives supporters believe could preserve the hospital’s independence while addressing its financial difficulties.

VIDEO: Marty (Motty) Waisbrod, a board member of the Maimonides Hospital, about the pitfalls of its impending takeover by the City of New York.

Photos: Fishel Kleinman

By COLlive reporter

For the first time ever, frum families in New York will be able to use WIC to purchase Cholov Yisroel infant formula.

The New York State Department of Health has confirmed that it will add the first Cholov Yisroel formula to the state’s WIC formulary later this month.

The landmark change is the culmination of a three-year campaign led by Met Council and a decision made under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.

The change will benefit tens of thousands of frum families across New York, including families in Boro Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Crown Heights and Far Rockaway, as well as growing kehillos such as Monsey and Kiryas Joel. In the years ahead, as more children are born and new families enroll in WIC, this one fix will help generations of New Yorkers.

WIC, the federal nutrition program for women, infants and children, is administered by each state, with every state determining which infant formulas its program will cover. As of early 2026, New York’s formulary included more than 40 formulas. Many carried kosher certification. Not one was Cholov Yisroel.

The result was that a mother in Boro Park could qualify for WIC, walk into a grocery store with her benefits and still walk out empty-handed because not one formula on the list was permitted in her home.

The barrier came down to one-tenth of a milligram of iron.

Cholov Yisroel formulas already existed, but the products previously considered fell 0.1 milligrams short of the USDA’s minimum iron requirement. That tiny gap kept every Cholov Yisroel option off New York’s WIC list and left frum families without a single approved choice.

“No mother should have to choose between keeping Cholov Yisroel and feeding her baby,” said David Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “This may look like one more item on a government list. For the families affected, it is life-changing. It means a benefit they were always entitled to will finally work for them.”

The issue first surfaced at the annual convening of Met Council’s Kosher and Halal Food Network in early 2023, when a member agency reported that WIC-eligible mothers were leaving stores without formula because nothing on the approved list met their religious requirements.

Met Council’s Food Programs and Policy teams spent the next three years working with the Department of Health, WIC advocates and formula manufacturers to find a solution.

In 2025, Hannah Lupien, Met Council’s Managing Director of Food Programs, identified a Cholov Yisroel formula that met the USDA’s iron standard. Met Council brought it directly to the state with a simple message: this product meets the federal requirements, so put it on the list.

Met Council was uniquely positioned to lead this fight. It operates the largest kosher food pantry network in America, feeding more than 350,000 people every year, and runs the largest public policy and advocacy operation in the Jewish community dedicated to fighting poverty.

That combination—feeding the community every day while fighting for it in Albany and Washington—is what turned one agency’s complaint into a statewide solution.

This victory builds on Met Council’s successful advocacy to create the USDA’s Kosher Foods in TEFAP webpage and increase the number of kosher products available through the federal emergency food program to 13.

Met Council will continue pressing local, state and federal agencies to remove barriers that keep families from fully using WIC, SNAP, school meals, emergency food assistance and other benefits for which they qualify.

“There are still too many government programs that work on paper but fail families in practice,” Greenfield said. “Our job is to find those gaps and keep pushing until they are fixed, so that every family receives every benefit they qualify for.”

The days of the month of Menachem Av, bringing with them a breeze of comfort and renewal, are deeply felt throughout the pastoral educational campus in the Istra neighborhood in the suburbs of Moscow. In this uplifting atmosphere, the 5786 graduating class of the Central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva Ketana of Russia gathered for a moving end-of-year ceremony, blending the culmination of their hard work and dedication with a new beginning as they ascend to the Yeshiva Gedolah. The event opened with “Maros Kodesh” featuring words from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, explaining that in Torah study, there is no such thing as an end; rather, one must always continue to add more and more.

The MC, Mashpia Rabbi Chanan Teichtel, opened by speaking about the magnitude of this moving event and warmly welcomed the excited parents who traveled from near and far. Next, the dedicated Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaChasid Rabbi Moshe Lerman, was invited to deliver the keynote address. He spoke with great emotion about the “Nachas” of seeing the students elevate themselves in Torah and Chassidus since they first entered the walls of the Yeshiva. The excited parents and students also had the privilege of hearing from the Mashpia of the graduating class.

The climax of the event came with the screening of a special blessing from the Yeshiva’s founder, the Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Russia, HaGaon Rabbi Berel Lazar. In his remarks, he discussed the virtue of a conclusion, which is actually a beginning on a higher level, much like Simchas Torah, where immediately after completing the Torah, we start anew. Rabbi Lazar wished the Temimim that they merit to study diligently with true joy and sweetness in Torah.

The meticulously planned event, organized with great taste by the campus director, Shliach Rabbi Yosef Moshe Weisberg, and the Yeshiva director, Shliach Rabbi Chaim Moshe Weber, concluded with a profound sense of spiritual elevation. The Temimim embarked on their new path, equipped with immense spiritual reserves and ready to continue dedicating themselves in the tent of Torah with even greater vigor.

Speaking on behalf of the parents, the CEO of Chabad Institutions in Petersburg, Shliach Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, served as the voice for all the parents, expressing profound gratitude for the immense and unceasing dedication to the students. He also presented a gift to each of the educators on behalf of all the excited parents.

The conclusion of the event was dedicated to appreciating the fruits of their labor, as graduation and appreciation certificates were distributed to all Shiur Gimmel students. Alongside these, elegant Chitas sets embossed with each student’s name were awarded. Acknowledgments were also given to the student Shluchim who worked devotedly for their peers throughout the entire year.

The full transcript of Rabbi Lazar’s blessing screened at the event: “Dear students of the Yeshiva Ketana in Moscow. First, I would like to bless you upon the conclusion of the academic year and ahead of the new beginning that stands before us starting today. As is known, every conclusion carries with it a great joy, similar to how we celebrate the ‘completion of the Torah’ on Simchas Torah, only to immediately begin anew with ‘Bereishis Bara.’ This means that we proceed right away, with renewed strength, toward a new period and a higher level of learning. After all, every year, with the conclusion of our studies, we ascend a level thanks to the knowledge we have acquired, and we embark on a new path filled with limitless possibilities.

In light of this, my hope and wishes are that, with G-d’s help, the rest of your journey will be even more successful. May you invest your utmost energy into Torah study with diligence and perseverance. As we request every morning: ‘V’ha’arev na Hashem Elokeinu et divrei Toras’cha’ (‘Please, L-rd our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah’) – our goal does not merely end with the study itself, but with studying out of true joy; that the Torah should be sweet to us, creating a connection of pleasantness and sweetness. It goes without saying that one should aim to study ‘Torah Lishmah’ (for its own sake), but beyond that – we must feel the ‘Giving of the Torah’ every single day. Indeed, the Rebbe always emphasizes that they should not just be ‘like new,’ but ‘truly new.’ Our aspiration is that every time we open the Gemara, the Maamarim, the Halacha sefarim, or any other area of study, we will learn it with a sense of new discovery, accompanied by all the vitality and enthusiasm characteristic of new beginnings.

This enthusiasm is especially important, because when you finish a chapter of study in one place and move to a new chapter, you must invest immense vitality into it. I recall from my own time studying in Yeshiva, the thought occurred to me that the ideal approach would be to open a new ‘Zman’ (semester) or move to a new Yeshiva every single month, because the beginning of a new year brings with it an abundance of vigor, fresh energy, and great enthusiasm. This is exactly my wish for you – that every single day should be for you like this kind of new beginning. How much more so now, with the start of the summer season – a period which the Rebbe notes is capable of bringing a significant increase in Torah study. I ask that you channel all the vitality pulsing within you toward your learning, and that you embody the concept of ‘Maalin Bakodesh’ (ascending in holiness), through constant elevation and unstoppable progress.

Finally, alongside my wishes for abundant success, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the entire dedicated Yeshiva staff: the Rosh Yeshiva, the Ramim, the Mashpiim, the Mashgichim, and the student Shluchim – to all those who invested immense effort and endless resources in you.

The greatest reward you can give them is for them to see how you continue, both this year and in the upcoming good year, to reap great success in Torah study with joy and a glad heart. Once again, a blessing of Mazal Tov is sent to you, along with my sincere wishes for great and immense success in your continuing journey!”

Photography: Levi Nazarov

In a historic milestone for the Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, Tzach), founded by the Rebbe in 1955, nearly seventy Shluchos from across New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island gathered on Tuesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, for the organization’s first-ever full-day program dedicated exclusively to Shluchos.

Hosted by Rabbi Mendel and Brocha Teldon at the new Chabad of Mid-Suffolk center, the “Summer Recharge” brought together Shluchos for a day of inspiration, practical learning, personal renewal, and meaningful connection.

The day began with a welcoming Tea Room, giving participants an opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends and meet neighboring Shluchos for the very first time. Throughout the day, attendees took part in a variety of engaging sessions, including Pilates, clay art, sheitel care, healthy-eating tips, and a virtual tour of the Beis Hamikdash.

One of the day’s highlights was an interactive session titled “Let’s Be Real,” in which participants responded to real-life scenarios drawn from the unique experiences of Shlichus. Randomly assigned situations sparked spontaneous discussion, laughter, thoughtful debate, and shared appreciation for the challenges and rewards that accompany life on Shlichus.

Another popular session, “Shlichus Geography,” explored how the nature of Shlichus is shaped by the community it serves—whether in an urban neighborhood, suburb, beach town, or on a college campus. Despite the differing settings, the discussion repeatedly returned to the shared privilege of fulfilling the Rebbe’s mission by bringing Yiddishkeit to fellow Jews, with special emphasis on simchah as an essential ingredient of successful Shlichus.

For women who spend the year opening their homes and hosting others, being the guests themselves was a welcome treat. Beautifully presented gourmet meals catered by Holesome Bagels added to the atmosphere of appreciation and renewal.

The day concluded with a candlelit dinner that opened with words of Torah and ended on a note of warmth and inspiration. Participants departed with renewed strength for their Shlichus, a deepened sense of achdus and ahavas Yisroel, and an even stronger bond with fellow Shluchos united in the Rebbe’s mission.

Rabbi Shlomo Friedman, a member of the Lubavitch Youth Organization’s Board of Directors, noted that the gathering reflected the organization’s ongoing commitment to those on the front lines of Shlichus.

“This inaugural program for our Shluchos recognizes the extraordinary role they play in every aspect of the mission of shlichus. Providing them with an opportunity to recharge, learn from one another, and deepen their sense of camaraderie ultimately strengthens the countless communities they serve throughout the year.”

The event was organized by a dedicated Vaad comprised of Shulamis Blokh (Queens), Rivka Kugel (New York City), Miriam Labkowski (Briarcliff Manor), Rochel Leah Lipszyc (Woodbury), Raizy Metzger (New York City), Gillie Shanowitz (New York City), Sorah Shemtov (Riverdale), Chaya Teldon (Long Island), and Esther Winner (Brooklyn).

A Crown Heights family is asking the community for help after a family member recently underwent a severe mental health episode. This life-threatening crisis required immediate action, and will necessitate many long months of expensive hospitalization, treatment and therapy

Compounding this heartbreak, the individual’s parents are older and already bearing a heavy physical and financial burden. The father suffers from a chronic medical condition that prevents him from working, leaving the household with limited income.

With their focus devoted to supporting their loved one through this grueling recovery, the parents are stretched far beyond their capacity. They urgently need the support of our community to help shoulder the rising cost of medical bills, ongoing therapy, and everyday necessities during this extremely challenging time.

Click Here To Help

A Message from Harav Shlomo Segal

​”The matter of beri’as hanefesh is of supreme importance, yet it remains a quiet, agonizing battle that so many in our community are secretly struggling with every single day. We must break the silence and recognize that taking care of your mental well-being is not a luxury—it is a sacred, binding Torah obligation.
​The Torah commands us: ושמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם (‘And you shall guard your souls exceedingly’)

According to the literal meaning , it warns against straying into foreign beliefs, but in Halacha and tradition, the concept was expanded into a supreme obligation for active preservation of health, body, and soul, and it was ruled that “danger is more severe than a prohibition.סכנה חמורה מאיסורה

​We must also ask ourselves: why are we seeing such an unprecedented rise in these crises today? Much of this modern plague can be Somewhat linked to the toxic environments of the internet and social media—nisyonos and pressures that simply did not exist thirty years ago. The constant comparison, isolation, and digital noise are actively breaking down our emotional resilience and disturbing the heiligkeit of our homes.

​Because the world outside has become more isolating, our interpersonal mitzvos between a yid and his fellow must become stronger. When you walk into Shul and greet someone with a warm ‘Good Shabbos’ or a genuine smile, that is not just politeness—it is a vital mitzvah of ahavas yisroel.

You never truly know the silent battlefield a person is walking through or the heavy situation they are carrying under the surface. Taking a real, heartfelt interest in a fellow Jew’s well-being can literally save them from the brink.

Click Here To Contribute to a family in desperate need

Righteous Helping is a non-for-profit 501(c)(3) federally tax-exempt charitable organization. (Tax ID: 92-3827720)

Campaign is Endorsed By Harav Shlomo Segal, Rabbi Mendel Feller, Zalmen Hertz
​

Across more than 1,000 Chabad House communities, shluchim are calling local singles. They are sending messages, answering questions and encouraging community members to take the next step.

That effort has helped the initiative pass 12,000 signups. The milestone comes just before its global dating event on August 9.

Singles from more than 30 countries will take part. Each person will meet five matches through nine-minute video dates. Every participant is checked by a local rabbi.

“The Rebbe charged us to reach every Jew and use every tool to help build the next generation,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “Technology can help people find each other. Shluchim bring the trust, care and support that help those connections grow.”

The idea began in June 2021. About 50 shluchim who serve young professionals met in Stamford, Connecticut, for their annual Kinus. They were all hearing the same question on the ground: Where should a Jewish single go to find someone who wants marriage?

Their answer was a global system built around local Chabad Centers. Singles fill out profiles about their values, Jewish life and family goals. A local shliach or shlucha confirms each person’s identity. Shluchim and matchmakers then help guide the process to make sure that the algorithm’s suggestion adds up in real life.

“Today’s young Jews are looking for more than another dating app,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, director of Chabad Young Professionals International. “After everything happening in the world, many want someone who understands them, shares their values and wants to build a Jewish home.”

The system uses matching technology developed with input from Yale researchers. Still, the work starts with people. Shluchim know the singles in their own communities. They encourage them to join. They also speak with other shluchim when a match may live in another city or country.
Together, they form a worldwide support network that can connect singles far beyond their own communities.

Since 2021, the network has led to more than 23 engagements and marriages. Many of those couples lived far apart when they first met.

“Each signup starts with a real conversation,” said Dassi Gansburg, who leads Met@Chabad. “A shliach knows the person behind the profile. If a match lives elsewhere, another Shliach can step in. That gives both people support from the first call onward.”

“Technology can point to a strong match,” said Gansburg. “But people still need someone who knows them, follows up and can guide them.

On August 9, screens will light up across six continents. Thousands of singles will wait for a new face to appear. Behind each date will be a shliach or shlucha who believed one more introduction could lead to a Jewish home.

Registration is still open at metatchabad.com.

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A post shared by Chabad Young Professionals International (@cyp_international)

Aliya Institute:

After two incredible years, Bnei Aliya Yeshiva is excited to announce that registration is now open for our third year.

When we launched Bnei Aliya, our dream was to create a yeshiva where every bochur—especially those who struggled elsewhere—could feel understood, valued, and capable of succeeding. Looking back, we can only thank Hashem for the incredible brachos we’ve witnessed, together with the Rebbe’s guidance that continues to inspire and direct every step of this journey. Time and again, we’ve seen what can happen when a bochur is given the right environment, the right guidance, and people who truly believe in him.

Over the past two years, we’ve watched boys transform in ways we never could have imagined. One bochur had been asked to leave multiple schools and camps—including the three-day Kinus Hashluchim camp. Even his therapist eventually stopped seeing him. Today, after joining Bnei Aliya, he is a completely different person. His confidence, attitude, and outlook on life have been transformed. His story is just one of many.

Baruch Hashem, every single one of our students has shown meaningful growth. Our boys successfully completed their Regents exams, but even more importantly, every bochur left stronger—emotionally, spiritually, socially, and academically—than when he arrived.

At Bnei Aliya, we constantly ask ourselves one question: What does this bochur need to succeed? Every year we continue to refine and strengthen the program to better meet the needs of today’s teenagers.

Last year we expanded our experiential programming with weekly trips, equine therapy, ropes courses, woodworking, and other hands-on experiences that have become an integral part of our students’ growth.

This year, we’re excited to welcome renowned mechanech and chinuch coach Rabbi Moshe Leibler, founder of Hamasifta, who will be providing ongoing teacher training for our staff and workshops for parents, helping strengthen the partnership between school, home, and each individual bochur. We are also expanding our evening programming to provide our students with even more positive structure, meaningful activities, and connection beyond school hours.

As we begin our third year, we do so with tremendous excitement, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to helping every bochur discover his strengths and reach his full potential.

For more information about Bnei Aliya Yeshiva or to register, click here.

Those who would like to help another bochur experience the same life-changing opportunity by sponsoring a student or a month of tuition are warmly invited to click here as well.

Moshiach Now.

Fulfilling the Rebbe’s Horaah to continue Cheider throughout summer, talmidim of Cheder Ohr Menachem concluded their school year with a spirited Chagigas Siyum for Kitos Daled-Zayen.

Fathers, mothers and the graduating grades gathered on Tuesday in Anashi Lubavitch hall for a spectacular graduation. The unique event captures Cheder’s spirit – immersive Torah learning, chassidishe warmth, and unwavering hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

The program was emceed by the Menahel, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Dov Yusewitz.

The ceremony opened with a Dvar Malchus – a video Sicha of the Rebbe, emphasizing how each Siyum is a springboard for further growth.

Rabbi Zalman Goldstein of the Hanhala then read the Rebbe’s letter addressing the Talmidim HaMesaymim, summarizing the Rebbe’s words on the avodah of the summer months for the talmidim and their parents.

The Menahel Kloli of our continuum Mosdos, Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen Hendel, gave Birchas Kohanim, setting a tone of heartfelt tefilla for the imminent Hisgalus.

The crowd then rose to recite the Rebbe’s Kapital, led by Rabbi Zalman Liberow, member of the Cheder’s Vaad Haruchni.

In a special display of Yegia BaTorah, Rabbi Yosef Overlander, Vice Principal, came up to congratulate the Mishnayos Baal Peh leaders of every Kita, who then led the Kahal in the Yud-Beis Pesukim – the Chassanim and Sganim of each class.

The assembly was honored to hear a Dvar HaBadatz from Harav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra and a proud parent, who addressed the talmidim and parents.

Rabbi Oren Popper, Parents Representative of the graduating class, addressed the crowd on behalf of the parents, expressing appreciation to the Hanhala and Melamdim for their dedication.

A highlight of the Ohr Menachem graduation is the personal Teuda ceremony. The talmidim of each Kita – Daled, Hey, Vov and Zayen – came up to receive their certificates from their Melamdim. Menahel Rabbi Yusewitz announced for each boy the unique Shevach – the special praise chosen by his Melamed to define his unique light and contribution to the class this year.

While every Kita came up, a year-in-review video was screened, showcasing the chayus, the learning, the mivtzoim and the special moments of Shnas HaLimudim 5786.

The climax of the evening was the Siyum Maseches. Talmidei Kita Zayen, together with Rabbi Yisroel Greenberg, completed Maseches Tomid, which they had been learning throughout the year, and recited Kaddish with great chayus.

The graduates of Kita Zayen then received their graduation certificates, marking their transition to Mesivta.

The event concluded on a high note with an exclusive screening of the 7th grade students’ play about Shmuel HaNovi – a fitting finale that brought their learning to life and left parents beaming with nachas.

A special Memento, a set of ‘Divri Tuvia’ was gifted to all dedicated Mechanchim. The set of Shaalos and Tshuvos authered by a Rav in our very own Kehila Rabbi Tuvia Kasimov, simplifies dilemmas, complex and common situations alike.

In time for the upcoming Yomim Tovim, the Shluchim Office announces a dedicated Chazzan Placement track on the newly revamped Shluchim Placement platform.

The platform gives both Shluchim and Chazzanim one central place to connect for Tishrei. Shluchim can post available positions, while Chazzanim can create profiles and explore opportunities that match their experience and availability.

The beloved Shluchim Placement program was revamped this past year, with new updates and features designed to connect Shluchim with potential staff and help those seeking Shlichus opportunities find the right position.

Shluchim Placement was one of the first programs established by the Shluchim Office in 5749. The program matches those seeking Shlichus opportunities with Shluchim looking for staff.

After putting in an application and getting administrative approval, Shluchim can view Chazzan profiles, while Chazzanim can access open positions and use customized filters to find the right fit.

“In addition to the existing options for couples, Bochurim and girls, Chazzan Placement is an important tool for both Shluchim and Chazzanim this time of year,” shared Director of Development Rabbi Mendy Shemtov. “With a simple, user-friendly system, connecting the right people has never been easier.”

ShluchimPlacement.org includes four categories: Girls, Bochurim, Chazzanim and Couples. Each category has its own track, with unique application questions and filters specific to that group.

Shluchim seeking a Chazzan for Tishrei and Chazzanim looking for an opportunity are encouraged to register at ShluchimPlacement.org.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Shluchim Placement is a project of the Shluchim Office.

An apparent accidental shooting at an IDF training base in the Jordan Valley left a Lubavitcher soldier seriously wounded Tuesday evening.

The soldier, Chaim Hershkovitz, was immediately rushed to the hospital. Friends say his condition is now stable, boruch Hashem, and he is conscious.

The IDF said the shooting appears to have happened during the improper handling of a weapon involving three soldiers. The Military Police are investigating the incident.

Bochurim in Crown Heights will join a learning event to learn the Rebbe’s Sichos in the merit of his full recovery Thursday evening in 770 after Maariv.

Please daven for Chaim Yisroel ben Yonit for a complete refuah shleima.

By COLlive reporter

Hundreds of educators from around the world gathered for the opening day of the 11th Annual Kinus Mechanchos Chabad, an inspiring day of learning, connection and celebration centered around this year’s theme, “ונפשו קשורה בנפשו – Enduring Connections.”

The day began at the Armon Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, where participants were welcomed with registration and breakfast before choosing from over 40 professional development workshops tailored to every stage of Chinuch.

The opening workshop sessions featured topics such as building purposeful teacher-student relationships with Rabbi Dr. David Fox; supporting high-needs students in mainstream classrooms with Mrs. Yocheved Shapiro, M.Ed.; cultivating a learning-focused classroom with Mrs. Hadassah Shemtov; and practical strategies for Chinuch in Halacha and Chassidishe Hashkafa, presented by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky of Rechovot.

During the welcoming brunch, attendees were greeted by the Kinus leadership before hearing opening remarks and words of inspiration from Rabbi Gluckowsky and Mrs. Mushkie Zaltzman, setting the tone for two days dedicated to strengthening educators personally and professionally.

Throughout the afternoon, participants selected from an extensive lineup of workshops addressing today’s most important topics in Chinuch. Sessions included “AI A to Z: How to Use (and Not to Use) AI in the Classroom” with Sarah Gordon, “Connecting Through Coaching Conversations” with Ita Selengut, M.S.Ed., “The Science of Learning” with Mrs. Tanya Rubin, M.Ed., “Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Relationships and Abuse Prevention” with Mrs. Devorah Fox, LCSW, and practical classroom strategies presented by leading educators from across the Chabad school network.

Educators also participated in structured networking huddles designed specifically for their roles, allowing preschool, elementary, high school, curriculum, and specialty educators to collaborate, exchange ideas, and build lasting professional relationships with colleagues facing similar opportunities and challenges.

The theme that tied each session together was “connection.” In the 50th year since Mivtzah Chinuch, when the Rebbe emphasized the importance of connecting every child to their Torah inheritance, this year’s Kinus is giving educators the tools to connect through every aspect of Chinuch.

After a short break during which they posed for a group photo, educators continued to enjoy the 11th Annual Gala Chinuch Banquet and evening program, featuring multiple Farbrengens.

“This is oxygen for my year,” shared Mushka Weinstein, sixth-grade teacher at Cheder Lubavitch Morristown, after the full day of programs.

To stay updated on the 11th Annual Kinus Mechanchos Chabad, follow @menachemeducation on Instagram or MEF’s Whatsapp Status. 

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Eliyohu Golomb

Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York, celebrated its 70th anniversary on Thursday, 16 Menachem Av, with a full day of immersive programming inspired by the Rebbe’s three historic visits to camp.

From sunrise until late into the evening, campers were immersed in a living journey through the camp’s history—retracing the Rebbe’s footsteps, exploring the stories and significance of his visits, and joining together in a joyous celebration of the camp’s seventieth summer.

Campers awoke to a transformed campground, where replica banners, signs, and displays recreated the atmosphere of those historic visits. Throughout the morning, each division retraced the Rebbe’s route through the campgrounds, recreating the route he took during his visits when the camp was located in Ellenville and Swan Lake, stopping at the same locations he visited during his tours.

Accompanied by their learning staff, campers heard the fascinating stories, historical background, and significance behind each stop, gaining a vivid appreciation for the Rebbe’s deep involvement in every aspect of camp life.

That afternoon, the celebration continued with a special lineup, as the entire camp assembled in the shape of the number 70, commemorating seven decades since the camp’s founding.

The day culminated in a regal anniversary banquet celebrating the camp’s 70th anniversary. Among those in attendance were Executive Director Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov and Director Rabbi Yossi Futerfas, who joined campers, staff, alums, and guests in marking the historic milestone.

The anniversary banquet was coordinated by staff members Levi Teldon, Nosson Shur, Binyomin Zarchi, and Mendel Zaklikovsky.

The banquet opened with a beautifully produced video highlighting the Rebbe’s vision for Camp Gan Israel, featuring excerpts from his sichos during his visits to the camp provided by JEM, together with narration by current campers. The presentation connected the camp’s rich history with its vibrant present, setting the tone for an evening celebrating seven decades of the camp and the enduring impact of the Rebbe’s vision.

The banquet was masterfully emceed by Rabbi Levi Greenberg, Chabad Shliach in El Paso, Texas, who served as Head Counselor during the summer of 5769.

A highlight of the evening was the address by Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein, the longest-serving Jewish Chaplain in the US Military, who attended Camp Gan Israel during its inaugural summer and personally witnessed one of the Rebbe’s visits to camp.

He recalled receiving the Mincha-Maariv booklet from the Rebbe. He shared how the Rebbe paid meticulous attention to every detail of the campgrounds—including the sports fields—reflecting the extraordinary importance the Rebbe placed on the camp.

Chaplain Goldstein reflected that the lessons, values, and sense of purpose he absorbed at camp accompanied him throughout his life, inspiring and strengthening him through both opportunities and challenges.

Concluding his remarks, he looked out at the packed room and said with a smile, “Judging by the atmosphere in this room tonight, I’d like to sign up for next summer!”

The banquet concluded with spirited singing led by camp alumni and noted musicians Baruch Sholom Blesofsky and Bentzi Marcus, featuring beloved camp songs spanning generations.

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came as the program drew to a close, when the entire dining room rose onto the benches to sing the camp’s 70th anniversary theme song with electrifying energy, led by Marcus.

Staff and campers then broke out into joyous dancing, filling the room with an atmosphere of tremendous simcha as they celebrated this historic milestone together.

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The celebration left campers and staff with a profound sense of pride and gratitude for being part of the Rebbe’s army and for taking part in the seventieth summer of the camp.

‘Celebration 70’ Project Coordinator Rabbi Bentzion Pearson reflected: “Witnessing the incredible creativity, passion, and investment of our staff throughout ‘Celebration 70’ was truly inspiring and humbling. Despite our entire staff having been born years after Gimmel Tammuz, they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to bringing the Rebbe’s vision to life for today’s campers. It was a powerful reminder that the Rebbe’s vision is alive today, continuing to inspire a new generation with the same passion, purpose, and devotion. The future has never looked brighter.”

As Camp Gan Israel enters its eighth decade, Celebration 70 stood as both a tribute to its remarkable past and a clear affirmation that the Rebbe’s vision continues to inspire and shape a new generation of Chassidim around the world.

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A commemorative journal of memories and reflections is being prepared. Alumni campers and staff are invited to contribute a personal memory, reflection, or story from their time at CGI NY. Please send your submission to [email protected]

In Crown Heights, more young people than ever are stepping into the business world — but many are doing so without a clear roadmap.

The KFactor Podcast, an initiative of CHYE (Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs) & COLlive.com was created to change that.

In episode #5 of The K Factor Podcast, Izzy Rosensweig, founder of Portless, shares the story behind his entrepreneurial journey, offering a look at how persistence, adaptability, and strong mentorship helped him build and reinvent multiple businesses over more than a decade. Rosensweig’s path began in the early days of e-commerce, when he launched a Canadian daily-deal business and grew it from a small operation into a multimillion-dollar company.

Over time, the business evolved into a larger marketplace model, eventually scaling across international markets. After facing major disruption from shifting digital advertising conditions, Rosensweig and his team pivoted again—this time building Portless, a B2B logistics and fulfillment platform designed to help brands grow more efficiently.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that your first plan is rarely your final plan,” said Rosensweig. “You have to be willing to adapt, keep learning, and build with the long term in mind.”

Portless was created to help modern brands reduce the burden of inventory and cash flow pressure by using a more flexible supply chain model. Today, the company supports brands looking for a healthier way to scale in an increasingly competitive e-commerce environment.

Rosensweig credits much of his success to a combination of persistence, smart hiring, and advice from trusted mentors. He says the strongest businesses are built not just on vision, but on a willingness to stay grounded, learn from setbacks, and make thoughtful decisions about growth. His story will resonate with local business communities, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the realities of building a company from the ground up.

Season 3 is made possible in part by Ainsworth Gorkin Law, a legal services firm that works closely with small and mid-sized businesses across New York and New Jersey, helping them navigate legal challenges and build strong foundations.

For CHYE, the podcast is just one piece of a larger vision: creating a community where young people feel supported, equipped, and empowered to succeed.

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For feedback and to recommend entrepreneurs for interview please contact: [email protected]

By anonymous

A person’s word matters – or at least, should. A person’s reputation is often worth more than any contract, because at the end of the day, a handshake and one’s word are supposed to mean something.

That is why my recent experience renting an apartment in Crown Heights has been so disappointing.

On July 1, 2026, I signed a one-year lease for an apartment in Crown Heights. Like many people, my circumstances unexpectedly changed just a couple of weeks later, and I realized I would have to move. I immediately contacted my landlord, who is part of the Jewish community, and explained the situation.

I proposed what I believed was a fair solution: if another tenant could be found to take over the apartment, my responsibility would end when theirs began. If no one was found, I understood that I would remain responsible under my lease. That seemed fair to both of us.

In our text message conversations, the landlord wrote that she hoped to return my $1,900 security deposit if someone could be found for August 1. She later clarified that if another tenant paid August’s rent and provided a new security deposit, she hoped to return mine.

As August approached, I repeatedly asked whether anyone had rented the apartment. The answer I received was the same: no. I was told that nobody had rented the apartment for August 1, and because of that, my security deposit would not be returned. Like most people, I accepted what I was being told after all, why would I have any reason to doubt it?

But I later learned someone was renting the apartment after me. What that tenant shared with me completely changed my understanding of the situation.

The documents show that on July 28, the landlord emailed the lease agreement to the new tenant. That same day, the tenant replied with a single word: “Confirmed.” The lease itself clearly begins on August 1, 2026. If those documents accurately reflect what happened, then the apartment had already been committed to a new tenant for August 1 while I was still being told that no one had rented it.

At that point, I expected the matter to be resolved. Instead, I was told, “See you in court.”

I assumed my experience was unusual. Then I spoke with the tenant who had lived in the apartment before me, and according to him, his experience was remarkably similar. He had lived in the apartment for more than a year and wanted to move into a larger apartment before his lease officially expired. He says he asked whether he could leave early if he found another tenant, and he was told that if someone took over the apartment, everything would be worked out. That replacement tenant was me. I signed a lease beginning July 1. Yet, according to him, he was later told that no replacement tenant had been found in time, and his security deposit was not returned. As of today, he tells me he is still waiting.

I cannot speak to every detail of his situation. I can only say that after hearing his account, I couldn’t ignore how similar it sounded to my own. Maybe there is an explanation for both situations. Maybe there isn’t. That is for the facts and, if necessary, the courts to determine.

What I do know is that I have preserved every document: my original lease, the text messages discussing the return of my security deposit if another tenant was found, the messages stating that no tenant had rented the apartment for August 1, the July 28 email showing the replacement lease being sent and confirmed, and the replacement lease itself beginning August 1. Those documents tell a timeline, and that timeline is why I believe this dispute deserves to be heard.

This article isn’t about winning a lawsuit. It isn’t even about $1,900. It’s about something far more valuable: trust.

If my experience were an isolated misunderstanding, that would be one thing. But after hearing what the previous tenant said happened to him, I couldn’t help but wonder whether this was simply history repeating itself. That thought is far more troubling than the money itself.

I will let the courts decide the legal questions. But there is another question that belongs to all of us—neighbors, landlords, tenants, and members of the same community: What kind of community do we want to be? One where agreements are honored only when someone is forced to enforce them? Or one where honesty, fairness, and keeping your word are simply the way we choose to live?

I hope it’s the second. Because communities are not built on leases. They are built on trust. And once trust is lost, it is far harder to recover than any security deposit.

He may be unable to see, but Rabbi Asher Zeilingold continues to teach, connect, and inspire. Since the publication of his books, Clear Vision, which reveals for the first time how the Rebbe guided him over more than four decades, he has become something of a celebrity.

Here, at the wedding of his grandchildren Moshe Yitzchok and Miriam Leah Piekarski, a crowd gathered around him to ask questions about the books and hear stories that never made it into their pages.

In a moving and uplifting ceremony, the completion and dedication of the ninth Torah scroll of the Children’s Sefer Torah took place after three years of registering Jewish children from across Eretz Yisroel for this unique Torah.

The project, dedicated entirely to children, was launched by the Rebbe in 1981 with the goal of uniting Jewish children and serving as a source of protection and blessing for the Jewish people. As has become the tradition, the Torah was dedicated on 20 Menachem Av, the yahrtzeit of the renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father.

The final letters of the Torah were completed by leading rabbinic and Chassidic figures, including Rebbes, rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, chassidim, and community leaders. The Torah united 304,805 children from around the world, who were registered through thousands of the Rebbe’s shluchim who led the campaign in their communities. Many of those honored with writing the final letters have themselves played a major role in registering children and organizing the historic event.

Following the completion of the final words, “L’einei Kol Yisrael,” the new Torah was read publicly for the first time, lifted, rolled, adorned with a magnificent crown, and then carried in a joyous procession from the Tzemach Tzedek Shul to the Kotel, accompanied by spirited singing, dancing, drums, and celebration.

At approximately 6:00 p.m., the procession arrived at the Kotel Plaza, where a beautifully decorated stage had been prepared. The new Torah was brought with great honor to the center of the stage.

After an opening round of joyous singing, including “Sisu V’Simchu B’Simchas Torah” and other lively niggunim as the crowd danced with enthusiasm, a festive Mincha service was held with a massive gathering of participants from across the country.

Tens of thousands of Jews arrived by organized buses, private vehicles, and public transportation from throughout Israel. They came from near and far, representing every background and community, viewing participation as both a privilege and an obligation despite the long journeys and intense summer heat.

The first to carry the ninth Torah at the conclusion of the ceremony was Rabbi Shmuel Greisman, a member of the committee overseeing the Children’s Sefer Torah project and one of the Rebbe’s shluchim in Eretz Yisroel, who has devotedly directed the campaign since the very first Torah. The Torah was then passed among the distinguished guests on the stage. The event was emceed by Rabbi Shneur Raskin, the Rebbe’s shliach and director of Chabad of Alfei Menashe, who also played a central role in organizing and producing the celebration.

The heart of the gathering was the recitation of the Atah Hareisa verses traditionally said before Hakafos on Simchas Torah, followed by Hakafos themselves. In keeping with the unique character of the Children’s Sefer Torah, additional elements were incorporated into the program. Among the most meaningful was the recitation of the Twelve Pesukim and Chazal’s teachings that the Rebbe selected and encouraged Jewish children to memorize by heart.

The celebration featured continuous singing and dancing, accompanied by Nemuel Harush and Simcha Friedman. During the nearly three-hour event, only four brief addresses were delivered by Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Israel’s Chief Rabbi Dovid Yosef, former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, and Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Hachaim and a member of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah.

Following the recitation of Atah Hareisa, the Hakafos continued in an uninterrupted display of pure, uplifting, and deeply moving joy. At around 9:00 p.m., the official ceremony concluded with an emotional rendition of Ani Maamin.

The new Torah was then escorted with great honor back to the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, where it now joins the eight Children’s Sifrei Torah that preceded it.

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Friends and supporters of the Released Time Program, a project of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE), gathered in a luxury suite at Yankee Stadium for an evening dedicated to advancing Jewish education for children in public schools.

In an uplifting and spirited evening high above the field, supporters came together to help the Released Time Program reach its newest milestone, transitioning 100 Jewish children from New York City public schools into Jewish day schools.

With New York City public schools opening on Thursday, September 10, this year’s first week of Released Time will take place between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Released Time is poised for another landmark year of inspiring Jewish children and strengthening the future of Jewish education.

Friends, community leaders, and corporate sponsors gathered in the suite to enjoy a gourmet kosher buffet, premium open bar, and lively conversation while watching the Yankees in action. According to organizers, the evening reflected a shared commitment to giving every Jewish child the opportunity to receive a Jewish education.

Special thanks were extended to the evening’s generous corporate sponsors, whose partnership helped make the event possible: FundMate, The Hecht Team, Bbros, AWS, Shield Funding and in memory of R’ Tzvi Moshe Ben R’ Elimelech Lasker.

“We are grateful to our supporters and corporate sponsors for standing with us in strengthening Jewish education,” said Rabbi Shimon Hecht, a member of NCFJE’s Executive Committee. “Together, we are giving more Jewish children the opportunity to build a lifelong connection to their heritage.”

Among the evening’s highlights was a special raffle for a treasured dollar received from the Rebbe. Congratulations to Meir Posner, whose ticket was drawn as the winner of this meaningful prize.

Alex Wolf of AWS reflected on why he supports the organization. “Helping a child receive a Jewish education is an investment that lasts a lifetime. It’s an honor to be part of that mission.”

As the Yankees energized the crowd on the field, the enthusiasm inside the suite reflected something even greater, the collective commitment of a community investing in the future of the Jewish people, one child at a time.

by Rabbi Dovid Hordiner

The COLlive article “Why the Arts Matter in Yiddishkeit” highlights the importance of the arts – how creative work bridges spirituality and physicality to create a Dirah b’Tachtonim.

By providing a space for a deeper connection with Yiddishkeit through visual art, music, writing, dance, drama, and film, Tzohar Seminary has fulfilled a critical need for close to 300 young women (visit www.tzoharseminary.com to learn more). Tzohar’s approach is in line with the maimer Yom Tov Shel Rosh Hashanah 5659, where the Rebbe Rashab clarifies how creative expression impacts us beyond what we would have imagined.

In the scheme of creation we are called “medaber” — the speaker. Speech is a product of thought. In addition, because thought is more internal than speech, ideas and feelings are more revealed in thought than they are in speech. And yet we know from experience that putting a thought or feeling into words actually deepens our understanding and emotional experience beyond what pure thought achieves alone. Speech is creative. Putting thoughts and feelings into words forces something deeper to rise up and reveal itself to us.

Putting love into words makes us feel more love, yelling at someone about how angry we are makes us feel much more angry, writing down a thought deepens our comprehension and causes novelty to emerge. How does this work? Speech just receives from our thoughts, so how can it give rise to something new that wasn’t there before? If you have $1,000 dollars and I ask you for $1,000,000, the act of giving me the $1,000 doesn’t make you discover that you had $1,000,000 in some hidden pocket that you were not aware of! So why does expression enable us to give something new that we didn’t have previously?

The Rebbe Rashab explains that because speech is rooted in a deeper place in the soul than thought or feeling, it has the capacity to reveal new thoughts and feelings and amplify and deepen existing ones. This is why Torah study is meant to be spoken. And this is why we build close relationships through conversation and emotional expression.

The arts, like speech, function as a “levush” – as unique languages of understanding and communication. Someone who paints or writes a poem to express what she feels during davening is not depicting an emotion she already fully possesses. Someone who choreographs a dance or play to convey a Torah concept comes to understand the concept more completely because she has externalized it in words. The act of creating itself brings the ideas and emotions into fuller existence than had they remained unexpressed.

This is why the arts hold such a critical role in building a deep connection with Yiddishkeit. Not just because they can inspire someone else in their fulfillment of Torah and Mitzvos, but just as important, the arts transform us. Creative expression enables us to have a more profound comprehension in our Torah learning and causes us to bring more emotional depth into our performance of Mitzvos. The arts are a gift given by Hashem. Let’s use this gift to transform the world and ourselves.

How Yosef and Sarah Shidler turned their Toms River home into the address young people reach for when they have run out of others.

BUNKER OF LIGHT

There is a phone call the Shidlers have learned to recognize. A young person is stranded, or in crisis, or has nowhere to sleep. Sometimes the caller has met them before. Sometimes a friend has passed along their number. The details change; the answer is usually the same.

“Come over.”

There is a street in Toms River where, most Shabbosim, the lights stay on a little later and the table runs a little longer than anyone planned. People come for a meal and remain for hours. Someone claims a corner of the couch. Someone opens a cabinet. A dog settles beside the quietest person in the room. On the ground level are five guest bedrooms with fifteen beds, and on many weekends and Yamim Tovim, nearly every one is taken. When the rooms fill, the couch becomes the overflow.

The place is called Bunker of Light, after Bunker Hill Drive, the street where Yosef and Sarah Shidler bought their home in 2019. But the young people who come do not speak first about a program. They speak about a house.

“It just feels like a home,” one teen says. Another remembers arriving alone and leaving with the feeling that she had found “a new family.” A third calls it an extra place she can go whenever she needs it. Across hours of interviews for an upcoming video, young people keep returning to the same words: home, family, safe, accepted.

That says more than any mission statement could. The first thing Bunker gives them is not an answer. It is an address.

The Moment in the Parking Lot

The idea began, as these things sometimes do, with a man alone in a parked car. It was night, outside the Bun in Lakewood, and Yosef was not looking for a mission. He was a Chabad guy with a wedding-photography business and a houseful of Shabbos guests most weeks. Then he noticed a cluster of teenagers, boys and girls, hanging around outside. They did not look like the Lakewood crowd he knew: the boys were not wearing kippahs; the girls were not dressed the way he expected on that block. For a moment—and he is not proud of the thought—he wondered whether they were even Jewish.

Then it landed on him all at once.

Of course they are. I am sitting in front of a kosher restaurant in Lakewood. These are our own brothers and sisters. They are struggling right in front of me—and I am a Chabad guy. What am I actually doing to help them?

He did not move. He had no program, no connection to that world, and no room; his house was already full every Shabbos. But something had shifted.

“Once you see something like that, you can’t un-see it.”

The hosting had begun long before the name. Ask Yosef and Sarah when it started, and Yosef goes back to the chuppah: even during sheva brachos, if friends needed a place, they were told to stay with them. It was not framed as outreach. It was simply how they lived.

For Sarah, hospitality is less an inheritance than a debt she has spent her life repaying. She did not grow up religious, and she did not grow up in an open home. She grew up, in crucial stretches, in other people’s.

“My mom had a chronic illness and was in the hospital for most of middle school,” she says. “My friends’ families took me in while my dad handled the medical stuff. They took me on vacations. I guess this is my way to pay it forward.”

When her parents divorced, she moved to Israel for high school and was hosted nearly every week for four years by people who owed her nothing.

“I learned firsthand what darkness really looks like—and what it looks like to be taken in by complete strangers. So of course we were going to have an open home. It’s not something I went looking for. It just kept coming to me, and I let it happen.”

Yosef came to it from a different direction. He was raised in Denver, became frum by his bar mitzvah, and was the first in five generations of his family to attend yeshiva. Both he and Sarah had needed to find their own way in. It made sense that their home would never check credentials at the door. They married, moved to the Lakewood area in 2016—not to become anyone’s shluchim, but to build a life outside Brooklyn—and three years later bought the house on Bunker Hill Drive.

“I can’t even remember a time our house didn’t have extra people in it,” Sarah says. Single guys stayed for months; her siblings each took a turn. “We’re just that kind of family.”

Building Room for Whatever Came Next

The vision Yosef carried home from the parking lot needed room the Shidlers did not have. About three summers ago, they took out a loan and began expanding, taking on debt without yet knowing how they would repay it. They built more beds and more space for whatever was coming. Yosef had a working name and a picture he could not yet bring fully into focus: a Shabbos home, a Chabad-style place for teens, a landing spot for people in crisis, and perhaps one day a property with land and animals.

“The mission chose me,” he says. “I didn’t choose the mission.”

Then Yosef became the contractor—a man who says he could not build a sukkah, teaching himself framing and building codes on YouTube while overseeing the crews. Looking back at the permits, timing and resources that came together, he sees yad Hashem and what he calls open miracles. Faith did not spare him the learning curve, but he never felt he was building alone.

Even before the work was formal, he once opened the house to a group of boys and watched the weekend run further off the rails than he had imagined, drugs included. He files it as the year he learned that good intentions without presence and boundaries are not enough. During construction, another group spent Shabbos running on the roof of the half-built house. The crowd has since settled into a somewhat older group—late teens and young adults—but those early weekends taught him an important lesson: warmth still needs rules, attention and a steady hand.

By this past Rosh Hashanah, the house was ready. Yosef posted in Lakewood groups that anyone who needed a place could come. He planned a boys’ program; within days, sixteen to eighteen had asked to join, most between fifteen and twenty-two. A few days before Yom Tov, the scale of it—and the fear—hit him.

“Who said I’m the right person to handle this?”

He had written rules: no smoking, no drugs, no alcohol. The boys arrived with skateboards and a street energy he had not braced for, some barely wearing yarmulkes. As Yom Tov came in, he stood in his kapote with sixteen teenagers downstairs and no script. So he did the most Chabad thing available: he walked down and said, “Guys, let’s go outside and make Maariv.” They built a small minyan in the backyard.

The seudah that followed was holy and chaotic at the same time. There were boys at a Yom Tov table who had nowhere else they felt comfortable. There was also the unmistakable smell of weed drifting in from the backyard, where they had gone to half-hide it. Yosef was caught between enforcing a boundary and humiliating young people who might simply leave. A girl arrived unannounced; a few more people appeared at four in the morning, and he sent them elsewhere when the night began tipping toward a party in the middle of Rosh Hashanah.

Still, the scene told him something more important than any rule: how badly these young people wanted somewhere they could feel at ease.

“The room smelled like weed, and at the same time we had just blown shofar for these kids,” he says. “And I kept thinking—if they weren’t here, where would they be?”

After that first Rosh Hashanah, Yosef and Sarah asked each other whether to continue. Then, on the first Shabbos of the year, a boy sat down with Yosef on Friday night and did not get up until four in the morning. They walked the neighborhood for hours. The boy spoke about a family that had come apart, about being handed between parents who could not hold him, about the pull of the street and the substance use that came with it.

“He was crying in front of me,” Yosef says, “and I was crying with him.”

What Yosef had first seen as rebellion began to look more like pain. Sometimes a young person came from a broken home. Sometimes the family was loving, but the child simply did not fit the school or system around them. Some were carrying deep abuse and trauma that had never been treated. Others were saying something simpler: I do not fit Lakewood’s cookie-cutter mold, but I still want to be Jewish. I am just lost and confused about what that means. Whatever the story, a lecture was not what they needed first. They needed a relationship.

Human First

Sarah can explain the whole approach while standing in front of an open cabinet. In her home, the order is simple: before a word of Torah, before a conversation about God, a person needs to feel physically safe.

“Physical safety and security come before anything,” she says. “If they want to talk Torah, talk God, we’re here. But first they need to feel secure and connected as people.”

In daily life, that looks surprisingly simple: cabinets overflowing with snacks, a refrigerator stocked with drinks the family cannot really afford, a candy jar, blankets and pillows. Sarah’s grandmother was a Holocaust survivor; her father grew up with the penny-pinching and watchfulness that can gather around a single slice of bread. Sarah has built the opposite on purpose. Cookie Corner, Yishtabach, Beru, Lechem and Epstein’s are among the local businesses that regularly send leftovers to help keep the house stocked for Shabbos guests.

None of it is an extra. It is what the house believes, expressed in seltzer and cookies: You are worth feeding before you are asked for anything at all.

A therapist interviewed for the Bunker film explains why that matters. Even when a boy or girl is doing serious personal work, there are times when treatment alone is not enough. A young person may also need a safe place to spend an afternoon or a Shabbos—a home where they can breathe and feel what the therapist calls “the warmth of being accepted.”

That warmth is what the teens notice.

One girl puts the difference simply: “You feel safe there. You feel comfortable. Like, it’s a home. You can share whatever is on your mind.” Then she adds, “It feels way homier than going to a regular Shabbaton. It’s like a family.”

For another teen, the relief comes from not having to put on an act. “I feel like I could be myself,” she says, “and just relax and just chill.”

One young woman came in after experiencing homelessness. Her belongings and documents had been stolen; she lacked even the basic identification needed to move through ordinary life. A friend gave her the Shidlers’ number.

“They picked me up right away,” she says. “No questions asked.”

The invitation was not forever. Yosef set a time frame and a goal: get steady, put the pieces back together and begin living independently. During those months, the Shidlers helped her get a birth certificate and other documents, connect with mental-health care, and find work. At first, she says, all she could think about was surviving. Knowing she had food and a bed gave her enough room to start moving forward.

She says the Shidlers gave her the space and support she needed at that moment. Now, when she needs help at a doctor’s appointment, she can call a mentor or the Shidlers. She has even listed them as an emergency contact.

That last detail is not unusual. Young people the Shidlers first met over Shabbos have put their names on hospital forms. Sarah finds it moving and heartbreaking at the same time: a “random family,” as she puts it, becoming the people a young person wants called in an emergency. Those calls are not rare. Many of the young people are still trying to find their place in life after a world that has not always been kind about how they dress, look or think. But, Sarah says, before any of those differences, they are our brothers and sisters.

The line their rabbanim gave the Shidlers, and the one Sarah returns to, is simple: “First make a human being. Then you can make a Jew.” Tend to the human first—fed, safe, steady, seen—and trust that the rest will have room to grow.

The Shidlers are careful about what that does and does not mean. “We’re not going against the grain or against authority,” Sarah says. “We work with our rabbanim on all of it. That matters to us.” Separate boys’ and girls’ Shabbosos are run with rabbinic guidance. The girls’ weekends began with two or three guests and grew to seven or eight, sometimes fifteen. Capacity is fifteen beds, and word of mouth fills them most weeks.

Seven Dogs and a Place to Exhale

The family dogs can sound like a funny side note until the teens describe them. Then it becomes clear that the dogs are part of what makes the house feel safe.

One young woman remembers walking in from the snow and being met by seven dogs barking and licking her. During the four months she lived there, rough nights and difficult calls often ended on the couch with the dogs pressed around her—one on a shoulder, another across her legs, others at her feet.

“I was getting this for free from seven dogs,” she says with a laugh. Then she turns serious: “It helped me with my anxiety when I was stressed. It just calmed me.” The Shidlers call it free doodle therapy.

Another teen had just finished a painful phone conversation when Dunkin, a golden doodle, came over and settled into her lap. “It was really comforting,” she says. Other teens say the same thing: the dogs seem to know who needs them. They ask no questions. They simply come close.

That is the feeling the house tries to offer. There are rules, and no one promises that life will suddenly become easy. But for a while, a young person can stop expecting rejection and begin thinking about what comes next.

Their Own Family Comes First

The calls that reach Sarah are rarely as simple as a bed. A young person says he was kicked out; she pulls the thread and learns the offense was staying out late or smoking weed—a teenager still in yeshiva made homeless over behavior that, however serious, should not cost a child a roof. The Shidlers help find jobs, line up care and sit beside young people at medical appointments because many have never had an adult advocate they truly felt comfortable with.

The need becomes especially clear around the Yamim Tovim. This past Pesach, when families travel and those with nowhere to belong feel it most, the calls came in waves. The Seder grew to more than twenty people, many of them young and with nowhere else to be that night. Some families called the Shidlers directly, asking whether they could send a struggling teen because Bunker was the one place that seemed to make sense.

None of this is free of cost, and the Shidlers do not pretend otherwise. Their children come first.

“People worried our own kids would get sidelined,” Sarah says. “No—that’s exactly why we built bigger, so they’d still have their own rooms. We take each of our kids on a date every week. They’re our number-one priority, and they feel it’s part of their mission to make the guests welcome.”

The couple sits in therapy, keeps coaches and rabbanim close, and returns to the same question: How do we make this work for our own children, too?

“Sometimes they complain,” Sarah says. “I’m not going to lie.” This is not a picture-perfect family. It is a real one weighing the needs of its children and guests every week.

They have also learned that live-in help works best when it is not forever. During construction, they took in a fifteen-year-old girl from a fractured home who was struggling with an eating disorder. She flourished for months with support the Shidlers funded themselves, until a trigger led to a suicide attempt. The crisis threw the family into emergency rooms and advocacy systems they did not know. One month later, their own daughter experienced a medication crisis; this time Sarah knew whom to call.

The lesson was not to close the door. It was to be clear about why it was open: to give someone a place to get steady, and then help them take the next step. Not a permanent solution. A floor to stand on.

Meeting Fear With a Wider Door

No honest account skips the pushback. The Shidlers live on a mostly Jewish block, and they understand why a house full of arrivals and departures can make anyone uneasy. They work to protect the peace of the street. The most common complaint is cars on Shabbos. It is not constant, but it happens: now and then someone chooses to drive to a Friday-night meal rather than to a bar.

Yosef compares the situation to a Hatzalah vehicle moving through a neighborhood on Shabbos. No one flinches, because someone may be having a heart attack. “Maybe we’re not dealing with a physical heart attack,” he says. “But we are dealing with spiritual heart attacks.” He is also quick to say that not every crisis is spiritual. Some are emotional or mental. Others are painfully practical. A warm bowl of soup and a listening ear may be what keeps a bad night from becoming worse.

Community concern is not always unkind. It can come from fear for one’s own children, questions about boundaries, or discomfort with struggles people do not know how to handle. The teens sense that discomfort instantly. As the therapist puts it, their radars are finely tuned to whether they are truly wanted. Young people can tell when someone is only going through the motions. The welcome has to be real.

Sarah has also watched the influence go both ways. Some of the older girls whom others feared might be a bad influence have become trusted mentors to her own children, taking a daughter or son for ice cream and offering attention. In her home, the young people others were wary of are sometimes the babysitters.

The questions are real, but so is the person standing at the door. A hoodie does not tell you someone’s whole story. Neither do a young person’s doubts, clothing or past. The Shidlers do not answer every concern with an argument. They answer by meeting the person, setting clear limits and keeping the relationship.

Yosef found perspective at the shloshim of Rabbi Chaim Abadi, who led a parallel effort whose boys often reach Bunker as well. Rav Aharon Kotler Jr. recalled how much opposition that work drew before people understood it. Yosef heard something familiar in the story. New work is rarely trusted—or fully formed—at the beginning.

Yosef does not see similar organizations as competition. “You could have twenty more places like this in town before we’d start seeing real change.”

A Floor to Push Up From

The story Yosef returns to began with a phone call a few days before the High Holidays, before Bunker had officially opened. A twenty-three-year-old said he had nowhere to sleep and asked whether he could come.

“I asked him, ‘Where have you been sleeping the last few nights?’ He said, ‘In the forest.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean, the forest?’ And he said, ‘Yeah. The forest.’”

The history was long and complicated, as these stories usually are. He was originally from Lakewood and had moved around, living without one steady address. In the place where he had most recently stayed, his appearance made people uneasy. A young man from the community ended up sleeping in the woods—not in a tent—because no one would let him land long enough to get back on his feet.

He came to the Shidlers and stayed for the month of Tishrei. In those thirty days, with the holidays giving the time its shape, he found a job, found a place to live and moved out on his own feet. He had not needed to be saved so much as he needed a floor to push up from.

Yosef does not turn the story into a neat tale of religious return. Most of their conversations were about the young man’s doubts about God and his place in the world. But on the first morning, Yosef walked downstairs and saw him putting on tefillin.

“I never asked him to,” he says, “and I never saw it again after that morning.”

Yosef has thought about that moment many times. Perhaps the young man was nervous, unsure whether he would have a bed the next night, trying to make a good impression on the family that had taken him in. Yosef does not read that as failure. Many guests come through the door expecting to be rejected again. The house is where they get to put that fear down.

The Future

For all the ambition around Bunker—a larger property, more beds, land and animals—Sarah’s real vision is not mainly a building. It is that more people will open their homes and that fewer young people will need an emergency address at all. “These are your brothers and sisters,” she says. “The ones who need extra love, not to be dismissed from the public eye.”

Yosef expresses the same idea in the language of his Chabad upbringing: “We seek out Jews with love.” Not to force an outcome. Not to win someone back. To make clear that a place remains for them.

One line from the interviews holds the whole story: “Sometimes the journey back home begins with finding a home away from home.”

Ask Yosef why a month of his home and money for a stranger from the forest was worth it, and he reaches for the Hayom Yom, the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s book of a thought for each day. The entry for Hey Iyar—Yosef’s birthday—teaches in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that a soul can descend into this world and live seventy or eighty years in order to do another Jew a single favor in material matters, and how much more so in spiritual ones.

A whole soul, a whole lifetime, for one material favor for one other person. That, Yosef says, is the job. Not to fix everyone. Not to win anyone back. To give a person a floor—a plate, a bed, a stocked cabinet, a month—and trust that the favor itself is reason enough for a soul to have come all this way.

Back on that street in Toms River, the lights are still on. The table is still longer than anyone planned. And somewhere is the next phone call, from the next person with nowhere to go, who is about to hear the same answer.

Come over. There is an address after all.

More information @ BunkerOfLight.org

VIDEO:

By Faygie Levy Holt – Chabad.org

Three wildfires continue to burn across eastern Washington State, having already consumed more than 10,000 acres and damaged or destroyed at least 600 structures. Roughly 60,000 residents of Spokane and Stevens counties have been ordered to evacuate since the fires broke out on Saturday morning.

More than 900 firefighters, some arriving from neighboring states, are working to contain the blazes, which a government incident report listed as zero percent contained as of Tuesday morning, though two of the three fires have “moderated significantly.”

“Gusty winds will continue to influence fire behavior today as firefighters continue their full suppression efforts,” the report noted, adding that additional equipment has been brought in to assist.

Rabbi Yisrael and Chaya Sarah Hahn have led Chabad-Lubavitch of Spokane for two decades. The fires erupted on Shabbat, when Jewish law prohibits the use of electronic devices such as phones and computers, and the couple learned of the conflagration when an employee told them the flames were “out of control.” The Chabad center sits roughly 20 minutes from the fire zone.

The Hahns have since been checking in on members of their community. Some had been evacuated, but were spared the worst of the destruction. By Sunday, the rabbi was touring the wider area to assess what Chabad could do to help.

“I went from one place to another, and there’s a lot of blocked areas,” he said.

What he encountered, he said, was destruction that felt “surreal”: water pouring from broken pipes, smoldering embers where houses once stood.

“You see these pictures, and you don’t realize; there’s nothing like seeing it for real,” Hahn said. “You can tell it was a beautiful house, a gorgeous, well-maintained home. You can imagine the family running away in minutes, and thank G‑d, alive but losing everything, and then you see there’s another house and another house. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Unlike an earlier wildfire that struck the region several years ago, this one reached into the city itself, Hahn said: “If you look at the pictures, the fire took a bite. There were tremendous winds, and it just went inward.”

Among his stops on Sunday was the regional fire command center, where Hahn met with Marty Cohn, a California fire official deployed to Spokane as part of an interagency response to the wildfires.

On Monday, Hahn said, Chabad began delivering snacks, electrolyte drinks and hygiene supplies, including wipes and toothbrushes, to firefighters on the front lines.

The need, he said, extends well beyond those battling the flames. Though he believes that most residents affected by the fires carry insurance, Hahn said many face an immediate gap before claims are processed. Chabad of Spokane has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover residents’ urgent needs, including clothing, toiletries and medication, while they wait.

“We shouldn’t have the attitude that we are safe, we’re taken care of, our house isn’t burned down, let’s move on,” Hahn said, recalling how the Rebbe sent his shluchim to every corner of the world to help others. “Rather, when something happens, we see what we can do to help.”

VIDEO:

To contribute to Chabad of Spokane’s efforts, click here

You keep Shabbos every week. But somewhere along the way, actually learning the halachos got pushed to “one day.”
It’s understandable. Hilchos Shabbos has a reputation for being complicated, and that’s usually enough to keep it on the back burner.

Here’s the thing: this course is built around the real questions you already run into. Can I add water to the crockpot? Can I move the matches off the Shabbos table? I left my phone on my bed before Shabbos, can I still sleep there? Over one year we cover all 39 melachos plus kiddush, havdala, hadlokas neiros, muktza, and eiruvin, always with the emphasis on halacha l’maaseh: how it actually applies in your home today. The custom workbooks, with English translations and visual aids, make even the fine details clear.

The shiurim are on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in the world. And every class is recorded, so if you ever miss one, you can always go back to it.

Shabbos comes every week. This is your chance to finally be ready for it.

Course Details:

Start date: 14 Elul 5786, August 27, 2026
Course Duration: 12 Months, 45 classes
Course Days: Thursdays
Class time: 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Have a look: https://www.lemaanyilmedu.com/product/shabbos

Rabbi Yosef and Basya Stevenson, together with their daughters Chaya and Rivka, will be establishing Chabad of Golden and the Colorado School of Mines in time for the new school year.

Golden, CO sits in the foothills of the Rockies just west of Denver and is home to the Colorado School of Mines, one of the top engineering and science schools in the country. The area has a growing local Jewish population alongside hundreds of Jewish students at Mines, but until now there has been no permanent Jewish address for the community, nowhere for a Shabbat dinner, a Passover seder, or the kind of everyday connection that turns neighbors and students into family.

Chabad of Golden will serve both groups under one roof, with Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, weekly Torah classes, one-on-one learning, and community social events, bringing together longtime local families and students navigating Jewish life on their own for the first time.

The Stevensons bring their own personal connection to this mission: both Yosef and Basya discovered their commitment to Yiddishkeit while on campus, an experience they hope will help them relate to the Mines students who walk through their doors searching for the same connection.

Originally from S. Barbara, CA, Yosef studied computer engineering at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where the campus Chabad House, run by the Sharfstein family, became a home away from home and the place where his connection to Yiddishkeit took root. He went on to learn in Mayanot and later Tiferes in Morristown, and continued his learning in kollel after getting married, before bringing his engineering background into conversation with the students at Mines.

Basya grew up in Miami, FL, and was studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan when she connected with campus shlucha Malka Werde, an encounter that set her on her own path in Yiddishkeit. She went on to learn at Machon Alta, and looks forward to creating that same sense of connection for the women and families of Golden.

The Stevensons most recently completed a three-year internship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Chabad House under Rabbi Mendel and Henya Matusof, gaining hands-on experience serving a campus Jewish community before taking on their own shlichus in Golden.

Together, the Stevensons look forward to building a home in Golden where every Jewish resident and student knows there’s a place waiting for them.

You can partner with the Stevenson family in launching Chabad of Golden through their campaign:
charidy.com/golden

Somewhere between a jet ski on a Utah lake and a Shabbos table in Las Vegas, forty Jewish teenagers were putting on tefillin, wearing tzitzis, and committing to keep Shabbos.

Many teens who came to this summer’s sold-out CTeen Xtreme boys trip are the only Jewish kids in their school. A few had never wrapped tefillin before boarding the bus.

“I never imagined I’d be in the desert or riding on a jet ski with a rabbi,” said Bobby Cohen, one of the teens who came from Manchester, UK.

CTeen Xtreme is CTeen’s flagship summer trip, a two-week road trip across the American West planned by Rabbi Mendy Lepkivker of the CTeen Summer team at Merkos 302, and led by Shluchim doing CTeen in the field. This year the group pushed through national parks, white-water rapids, mountain biking, rappelling, horseback riding, and a Six Flags run.

“The Rebbe understood that young people have an idealism you can’t manufacture. You just have to give them the right environment,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “These are teens who are often the only Jewish kid in their school. When they finally have the space to live their Yiddishkeit openly, surrounded by peers who get it, you see something remarkable happen.”

The adventure is real. But what parents and teens kept coming back to wasn’t the rapids or the mountains. It was the people. This year, two CTeen Shluchim joined the trip alongside their teens, and both say it changed the way they think about summer programming.

Rabbi Zevy Geisinsky, CTeen Shliach in Great Neck, New York, came for a week of the trip to see his teens in action. He was so struck by what he saw that he came back, unplanned, for the second week’s Shabbos. He showed up as a surprise.

“Shia was so happy for Rabbi Zevy to surprise them at the end,” said Dina Kalaty of Great Neck, NY, whose son was on the trip. “He’s especially thankful for Rabbi Zevy.”

“I feel I made a stronger connection with the boys in just one week than I did over the past year,” said Rabbi Geisinsky. “The hashpa’ah was next level, with real, tangible outcomes.”

Rabbi Sholom Cohen, CTeen Shliach in Manchester, England, brought a group of Manchester boys and stayed for the full two weeks. The Manchester families couldn’t say enough.

“The best part of this trip was Rabbi Cohen,” said parent Hannah Salomon. “He thought of everything and cared for each participant and staff member on another level.”

Parents Melanie and Ed Anderson agreed: “Sholom was absolutely incredible. He gave us reassurance, confidence, and full trust.”

The fact that the program was sold out this year wasn’t a coincidence. When the Shluchim committed to the trip, they recruited harder, and families who might have been on the fence saw their own Shliach going. The sign-ups quickly reached the capacity.

The teens, for their part, described something that went well beyond a road trip.

“I learned Judaism is more than a religion,” said Joseph Attias of Manchester. “Judaism is a community where people are always there to help you wherever you’re from, and it provides opportunities to grow and connect.”
Nathan Lyubarsky said the trip inspired him “to become more observant and feel proud appearing visibly Jewish. I came to enjoy wearing a kippah and tzitzis in public. It made it easy to do mitzvos.” At the end of the trip, Nathan was one of the teens who committed to put on Tefillin daily and received a gift at the farewell program: his very own pair of Tefillin along with a custom CTeen bag.

Nearly every teen on the trip resolved to continue specific mitzvos at home. Tefillin was the most common, followed by tzitzis, Shabbos, brachos, and Torah learning. Avi Hamburger said his first move when he got back would be to “sign up for the Shabbaton in September.”

By the time the two-week trip wrapped, the effect it had on the teens uplifted their homes and communities. Sharon Fox said her son came home putting on tefillin every day. Jessica Makhluf, a parent from Boca Raton, said her son came home wearing tzitzis. Shluchim saw the impact it made on their teens as well; New Haven CTeen Shliach Rabbi Shalom Cheruff noticed how one of the boys he sent on the trip started putting on tefillin every day.

This summer, CTeen is running multiple trips across the globe: separate boys and girls CTeen Xtreme trips across America, Israel journeys for both, a combined Poland-Israel Heritage Quest, and a separate boys and girls program for French teens in Vietnam.

The Boys Xtreme numbers tell their own story. Forty boys from communities around the world. Two Shluchim who came along and saw it firsthand. And a busload of teens who came home ready to keep going. Next summer, the bus has room for more. Pre-registration for the upcoming summer is already open at CteenSummer.com.

By Altie Seigel

I see the post on COLlive: a women’s trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan, for Rav Levi Yitzchok’s yartzeit on Chof Av, generously subsidized for single women to Daven for Shidduchim. I think about it for a beat and then put it aside.

My sister sends me the link. For you maybe? She asks. Hm, ok. Maybe it’s a sign.

I call Rivka Goldschmidt and Nechama Shemtov, two of the organizers, to ask for more information. After debating a while, I decide to take the plunge and send payment to the travel agent. How weird, I think. I’m going to Kazakhstan.

As the days pass and the trip comes closer, I think about what this trip means to me. I know about Chof Av, about the exile, Rebbetzin Chana collecting berries for ink. But I don’t really know. I find Rebbetzin Chana’s memoirs on Chabad.org and start reading. I read it hungrily leading up to the trip and then on the flight, page after page. The arrest, Rebbetzin Chana running around using all the influence she could just to locate her husband, advocating for his release, bribing officials to help him get better living conditions. And when all else fails, joining him in exile.

Step by step, I follow their journey alongside them, from Dnipropetrovsk to the remote Kazakh village of Chili with its horrible living conditions, and eventually to this very city, Almaty, where he sadly passed away a few short months after their arrival.

The story is one of heartbreak. Of survival. But it is also our story. I can’t comprehend the depths of suffering that the Rebbe’s parents went through, but each one of us here has something they’re going through, some heartache they are bringing here.

The Rebbe’s parents were absent from their children’s wedding, and thereafter only communicated through telegrams and letters. The Rebbetzin writes about celebrating the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s wedding without them, “Our longing for him was indescribable.”

Shortly before her husband’s 5-year sentence was to be over, they started thinking about where they would go, even as the rumors spread that Russia might not release exiles before the war was over, or at all, and certainly not allow them to live in large cities. The Rebbetzin writes, “In our hometown of Dnepropetrovsk, Hitler had killed all the Jews, and we had no reason to consider returning there. We wanted to improve our situation and to think about the good times that might await us. We imagined moving to a city where we could live among normal people. Perhaps it would be possible to speak to our children by phone, or even to see them, too, by means of a television. But my husband never lived to that point.”

It just makes me so sad to read that.

Now, we are on our way. After an 18-hour journey to this remote part of the world, we are here. We join the throngs of people coming to visit the kever on this special day. Our group of women will have an exclusive hour at the kever. And so we go.

I walk down the path a little apprehensive, a little unsure of what to expect. My Rebbe, after all, is in Queens. I’m not even sure how to address my Pan.

But the words come. After reading about the pain and suffering Rebbetzin Chana and Reb Levik went through, it is hard not to feel something.

I stand in front of the kever and daven, and read all the names people sent to me. Then I take a moment to make my own request, to ask Reb Levik to intercede on my behalf, to ask Hashem to send me my bashert, and I can only hope our relationship will be half as great as the Rebbe’s parents’ devotion to each other was. I rip up my pan. The kever is very narrow, with only a small space on either side that fits about 4 people. After a while, someone shifts, and a space opens up for me to stand next to the kever.

I move into the space. It becomes very quiet. The structure over the grave has an opening to the sky that creates this hushed feeling. The second I move in front of the grave, I start crying. I feel this wave of sadness engulf me, like a part of his spirit, the part that suffered, is still here. It is a sadness born of suffering. A sadness that says, I see your pain, I feel your pain, I’m here with you. It is a heavy burden to carry.

I cry silently, letting the emotions wash over me until I am calm enough to say the tehillim we split. Then I leave to give others space to daven.

I walk down the path out of the cemetery still crying, still feeling the pain and sadness of a life spent in suffering, a life spent in service of others, a life of trying to do Hashem’s will in the face of unimaginable opposition.

And all the time it took to get here, all the lost sleep and preparation disappear. Here I am for a reason. Whether I will see my requests fulfilled immediately or not, there’s a reason I had to come here.

And when it comes time to leave, I don’t want to go. I feel my heart is back at the cemetery, with the Rebbe’s father, telling him- you’re not alone; we’re here with you.

We have a chance to have Rabbi Lew from London speak to our group Monday night. It is beautiful to listen to the stories, both personal and widely known. The Rebbe specifically asked Chassidim who were able to visit his father. I encounter Rabbi Lew again at the airport, as we are preparing to leave. We chat as we walk to the gate, and he tells me that the first time he visited Alma-Ata 40 years ago, they couldn’t locate the grave. There wasn’t the beautiful enclosed structure it has now. And I feel privileged to have joined the many thousands of Chassidim who make the annual pilgrimage on this holiest of days.

Returning to JFK, we complete the journey by visiting the Ohel and reading a Pan Klali. We visit the Rebbe’s kever and Rebbetzin Chana’s. The silence of the Ohel at night is calming, just us and the Rebbe—just us and Rebbetzin Chana. We’re here to say thank you, to give a report.

And when I leave Almaty, I leave knowing one day, soon, I’ll be back to share good news.

Thank you to the generous sponsors who made this trip possible – Mr. Sam Stern and to Mrs. Mica Soffer and other additional sponsors. Thank you to the trip organizers, Rivka Goldschmidt, Nechama Shemtov, Devorah Leah Andrusier. Thank you to everyone who joined and made this trip so special.

By COLlive reporter 

Initial construction has begun on New York City’s controversial bike-lane project in Crown Heights, with city crews installing pedestrian ramps along busy avenues to accommodate the new lanes.

Under the current plan, protected bike lanes will be installed on Kingston and Brooklyn avenues from East New York Avenue south to Winthrop Street. Standard bike lanes will also be added along Rutland Road and Winthrop Street between Kingston and Brooklyn avenues.

The project is part of a citywide effort to expand New York City’s bicycle network. The original proposal called for the protected lanes to begin at Empire Boulevard. However, after the Jewish Future Alliance conducted a survey in which more than 900 people participated, with 90% opposing the plan, and after Beth Rivkah raised concerns, the Department of Transportation revised the route to begin at East New York Avenue.

Bike-lane projects fall under the authority of the Department of Transportation commissioner, who is appointed by the mayor. Although local elected officials are typically consulted and may publicly support or oppose a project, they do not have the authority to approve or block it.

In February, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city would restart construction on four previously halted street redesign projects in the Bronx and Brooklyn, including new bike lanes in Crown Heights.

Opponents fear incidents similar to those reported in Williamsburg, where children getting off yeshiva buses have been struck by cyclists, could occur in Crown Heights.

They argue that the risks could be even greater on Brooklyn Avenue because the roadway is relatively open and slopes downhill, potentially allowing cyclists, mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters to travel at higher speeds.

Council Member Rita Joseph told COLlive that traffic safety is personal to her.

“I have seen firsthand the pain that traffic tragedies cause families,” Joseph said. “I lost a cousin to a drunk driver, and throughout my teaching career, three students in my classes were killed in motor-vehicle accidents. This is personal to me.”

“I support measures that will make our streets safer, including bike lanes,” she continued. “But I believe these projects must include meaningful input from the community, as well as from professionals who specialize in transportation and public safety when decisions are made about specific designs.”

On July 22, a Flatbush coalition filed an Article 78 proceeding against New York City seeking to stop the planned installation of bike lanes in the neighborhood. The lawsuit followed opposition from all the local elected officials representing the affected area, including Council Members Simcha Felder and Inna Vernikov and Assembly Members Simcha Eichenstein and Kalman Yeger.

It remains unclear whether the Flatbush challenge will succeed. In January, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Inga O’Neale dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Court Street Merchants Association seeking to overturn another protected bike-lane project in Downtown Brooklyn.

“The DOT has broad authority over New York City streets,” the court stated, including the power to “establish, determine, control, install and maintain the design, type, size and location” of signs, signals, markings and other devices used to regulate traffic.

The decision also noted that the DOT has authority over “designing, constructing and repairing public roads” and that the City Council has directed the agency “to prioritize the installation of protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety features on the City’s streets.”

Chabad.org

On Monday afternoon a prison commander stood before a small crowd at the Lukyanivka Detention Center in Kyiv, Ukraine, and acknowledged the unjust persecution decades earlier of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, of righteous memory, at the facility he oversees.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, longtime chief rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk, Soviet Ukraine, was the father of the Rebbe.

The most eminent Jewish religious leader remaining in the Soviet Union, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was arrested by Stalin’s secret police—known at the time as the NKVD—at 3 a.m. on March 28, 1939, at his home in Dnepropetrovsk. The next morning the regional NKVD transferred him to Kiev (today’s Kyiv), capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, placing him in the Lukyanivka Detention Center where they beat and interrogated him for months.

At least a dozen Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidim had been arrested in Kiev, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk in the preceding month, and it appears the NKVD was initially planning on staging a large show trial. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s case was later severed from those of the other Chassidim and on Oct. 4, 1939, he was sentenced to five years of internal exile in a remote village in Kazakhstan. As a result of the harsh treatment at the hands of the authorities, he passed away on Aug. 9, 1944, 20 Menachem Av on the Jewish calendar, and was buried in what is today Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Eighty-two years later, on 20 Menachem Av of this year, corresponding with August 3, Ukrainian authorities unveiled a permanent plaque honoring Rabbi Levi Yitzchak inside Lukyanivka, which continues to operate as a prison.

Leadership Amid Persecution

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was born in 1878 and by the time he was in his 20s widely recognized as an authority in Kabbalah and Halacha. After his marriage to the future Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson he lived in Nikolayev, where the couple had three sons, the Rebbe being the eldest. In 1908 he became the chief rabbi of Yekaterinoslav—known in the Soviet era as Dnepropetrovsk and since 2016 called Dnipro—a post he held for three decades, during tumultuous times for the Jews of Russia.

He guided his community through the blood and mess of World War I, the Bolshevik Revolution and the subsequent campaign to destroy Jewish life in the Soviet Union. After the Sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory, was forced to leave the USSR in 1927, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak became the leading rabbinical figure in the Soviet Union.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak arranged matzah distributions, funded the families of imprisoned Jews and pushed through construction of an illegal mikvah. In the months before his arrest, he refused to certify government-baked matzah as kosher unless it met his standards, and won that fight.

Just days before Passover of 1939 the NKVD arrested him. The arrest decree declared that “under the guise of religious activity, SCHNEERSON, L.Z., conducts active anti-Soviet agitation of a slanderous and defeatist character.” It continued:

Maintaining regular contact with his son—the chief rabbi of Warsaw, who is a major agent of Polish intelligence—and also with his close relative, the chief rabbi of Riga, SCHNEERSON organizes and consolidates cadres of the anti-Soviet clerical underground and is suspected of espionage. [Additionally,] he uses his right to preach weekly in synagogue to slander Soviet power and its leaders….

The son claimed by the secret police to be chief rabbi of Warsaw—and a Polish agent to boot—was the future Rebbe, who, in fact, was neither. Meanwhile, the “the close relative” with whom he was accused of maintaining connections was the Sixth Rebbe, who likewise was not the chief rabbi of Riga.

Neither was Rabbi Levi Yitzchak a spy for a foreign entity. But that was besides the point. He was an unbending and influential Jewish leader who inspired Jews to hold strong to their heritage, and that was more than enough to make him a target of the regime.

Over the following months he was shuttled between five prisons, including Lukyanivka, and subjected to interrogations that sometimes stretched 15 or 16 hours. Sentenced to five years of internal exile, he was sent to the remote village of Chi’ili on the Kazakh steppe.

At great personal sacrifice, his wife Rebbetzin Chana joined him in Chi’ili, and the two found ways to sustain other Jews in distress even while enduring their own hardship, accounts of which she later recorded in her own memoirs. By early 1944, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was allowed to relocate to the city then called Alma-Ata. Already gravely ill, he passed away on 20 Av, 5704, at the age of 66.

An Apology Half a Century Late

For decades, the Soviet government made no acknowledgment of what had been done to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. That silence broke in August 1991, when, in the final chaotic months of the USSR, the Ukrainian KGB formally apologized for its treatment of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak.

A senior KGB official told two Chabad representatives that the arrest and everything that followed had been wrong, and that responsibility lay with a previous generation of the agency. During the historic meeting, the Ukrainian KGB also handed over documents relating to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s arrest.

“The KGB has admitted that its forerunner framed and imprisoned a Hasidic Jewish leader, leading to his death … the official Tass news agency reported…,” the Associated Press reported at the time. “Tass said the Ukrainian branch of the security police handed over documents this week to the Lubavitch movement about the persecution of Rebbe Levi Y. Schneerson….”

The KGB files were flown directly to New York and given to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s son, the Rebbe.

Further documents followed in the years after: hundreds more pages from Ukraine in 1993, and additional files from Kazakhstan in 1999, each cache shining further light on Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s heroism under the most brutal and trying of circumstances.

In 2020 the Kazakh government formally designated his Almaty burial site a National Heritage Site, an event attended by representatives of the United States and local Kazakh officials.

Monday’s ceremony at Lukyanivka continued the historic acknowledgment of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s persecution. The dedication was arranged by Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, who leads Chabad-Lubavitch of Kyiv and also serves as rabbi of Ukraine’s prison service, together with his son, Rabbi Ariel Markovitch. The two spent months securing approval from facility administrators for a permanent marker inside the active detention center.

“There is profound significance in the fact that on the yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, we have gathered to establish a memorial at the very place where his freedom was taken from him simply because he was a rabbi spreading Judaism,” Markovitch said.

The prison’s commander, speaking alongside his deputy, reiterated that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak had been held there for no offense beyond serving as a spiritual leader, and that the episode deserved to be remembered and commemorated, rather than left buried in the past.

Along with the plaque, the facility received a volume of Nitzotzei Levi Yitzchak, a selection of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s own Torah writings.

Across two campuses in Lakewood, PA and Crown Heights, NY, more than 1,200 talmidim are spending their summer immersed in the Oholei Torah experience. Each program is thoughtfully designed to provide an uplifting experience in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus, combining meaningful learning with exciting, age appropriate activities tailored to every age and stage.

This past week, three annual group photos were taken, capturing five vibrant divisions that together reflect the remarkable scope of Oholei Torah’s summer programming. While each division has its own unique identity, they all share one mission: to provide every talmid with the most enjoyable and impactful summer in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus.

📍 Lakewood, PA
 Yeshivas Kayitz Program (YKP)

With over 475 bochurim, including talmidim and staff, YKP continues to provide an exceptional summer yeshivah experience across its three divisions:

• YKP Mechina
• YKP Mesivta
• YKP Beis Medrash

United in one inspiring group photo, the annual photo captures the energy and spirit that define YKP each summer.

📍 Crown Heights, NY
 Gan Menachem

Serving over 770 talmidim, Gan Menachem’s two divisions provide an exciting, nurturing, and enriching summer experience:

• Gan Menachem Kiddie Camp
• Yeshivas Kayitz Gan Menachem

From engaging learning and davening to sports, swimming, trips, crafts, shows, and countless memorable experiences, every camper enjoys a summer carefully crafted to help him grow while having the time of his life.

Together, these three photos tell one story: a summer in which more than 1,200 talmidim and bochurim are growing, learning, and creating lifelong memories.

Five divisions. Two campuses. One extraordinary summer. One mission.

To give every talmid with the most enjoyable and impactful summer in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus

Nearly 1,000 Mechanchos from around the world pose for a group photo during the first day of sessions and workshops at the Kinus Mechanchos Chabad.

This annual photo grows each year, and this year’s program features Mechanchos from 210 schools across six continents, and countries including: South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Israel and Hungary. This unique photo displays the power of Mechanchos coming together to learn, grow and gain inspiration for the unique role that they each play in the lives of thousands of children.

Find out more about the Kinus Mechanchos Chabad at chinuchconvention.org, and follow MEF’s Whatsapp Status and Instagram Account.