Community news site covering Crown Heights and the Chabad-Lubavitch community.
Community news site covering Crown Heights and the Chabad-Lubavitch community.
CrownHeights.info33 minutes agoBy Schneur Reicher
Dovi Brody and Mendel Lieberman of South Florida have spent the last two years working on a project to revolutionize modern Jewish life. Here’s what they accomplished.
Dovi Brody met Mendel Lieberman in Pre 1a, and they’ve been friends ever since. Both of their families have been in Florida for quite some time, Mendel’s grandfather running ORB, and Dovi’s starting the first Kosher store in Florida. They’ve been here for it all. They’ve seen the community grow and flourish and really change over the years.
Two years ago, Dovi had an idea. What if everything Jewish was in one place? A directory that you could open and see all the Shuls, restaurants, businesses, Mikvaos, and everything else Jewish near you. So, he started making that directory of South Florida. But the list got too big. So, he made it an app. Together with Mendel Lieberman, they created the next big thing. Jewgo.
After a year of building it out, Jewgo 1.0 was launched. It was a massive directory of South Florida where you not only saw generic information, but information that was updated daily, so you didn’t go to an eatery that was closed.
Jewgo 1.0 was a major hit. In the first hours of launch, there were 800 downloads, and months later, 600 daily users. The momentum kept going.
And now, Jewgo 2.0.
To understand Jewgo 2.0, we need to understand why Jewgo is here.
Currently, Jewish life is run through WhatsApp.
Unending chats.
“Deals for You”.
“Free Clothes and Dishes”
“Chabad of Sunny Isles”
“Chabad of Aventura”
“Sunny Isles Pre-School”
And so much more.
Jewgo solved this issue by centralizing it into one app.
But that only helped with the directory aspect of life. There were still unsolved issues.
Come, Jewgo 2.0.
A culmination of three amazing apps, solving three issues that we all resonate with.
– Jewgo Nav
– Jewgo Card
– Jewgo Biz
Jewgo Nav: Find Jewish life near you
Jewgo Card: A digital Shidduch resume that you can control access and viewing of.
Jewgo Biz: Manage your small business, get discovered, and sell your product.
Coming Soon
Jewgo 2.0
Stay Tuned!
If you are interested in learning more, you can visit the Jewgo website at https://jewgo.app
Pictures for article:
CrownHeights.info2 hours agoIn the heart of Kyiv, surrounded by major logistics centers, a production line is working at full pace, filling jars of pure honey that will soon be included in tens of thousands of Rosh Hashanah packages for Jews across Ukraine. “We are operating under complex circumstances, but the sweet tradition of Rosh Hashanah will not stop,” organizers say.
Jewish communities throughout Ukraine are intensively preparing for the upcoming High Holiday season. Community rabbis and Chabad emissaries are working around the clock to ensure that every Jew can celebrate the holidays with dignity and a profound sense of connection. The preparations involve an extensive logistical effort aimed at providing both essential assistance and meaningful Jewish content.
JRNU, The Jewish Relief Network Ukraine, which coordinates the distribution of food and humanitarian assistance to Jewish communities across the country, has made a point of producing many essential food and holiday products locally in Ukraine, using specially prepared facilities operating under kosher supervision.
One example can be found in a major industrial area of the Kyiv region. Surrounded by warehouses and logistics centers is the facility selected to produce pure kosher honey for Jewish families throughout the country.
Production workers are moving steadily along the line, with the sound of machinery accompanied during the month of Elul by the traditional blowing of the shofar. The honey production has been certified under the supervision of Rabbi Yehoshua Vyshetsky of the Ukr-Kosher certification system. Special kosher slaughtering operations for meat and poultry have also been arranged in preparation for the holidays.
Soon, the central stage of the distribution operation will begin. A fleet of trucks will depart from supply centers for dozens of Jewish communities across Ukraine. Large shipments of essential food products will arrive at Jewish community centers in cities throughout the country, from where local teams will deliver the packages directly to community members’ homes in an organized and dignified manner.
Alongside locally produced honey, fresh meat and poultry, the holiday packages will include dairy products, special honey cakes flown in from Israel, festive honey cookies produced in eastern Ukraine, canned foods, spreads and other staples. The packages will also include accessible informational materials in the local language explaining the meaning and traditions of the Jewish holiday season, as well as a specially prepared Jewish calendar featuring Jewish content and photographs.
Jewish communities across Ukraine are anticipating particularly strong participation in synagogue services and holiday activities this year. “We are preparing for an unprecedented number of people to join us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayers,” said Rabbi Simcha Levenhartz, director of JRNU. “After such a challenging period, people are looking more than ever to be together and to reconnect with tradition. We will all pray together that the coming year will finally be a calm, peaceful and sweet one.”
CrownHeights.info3 hours agoWith Tishrei approaching, thousands of travelers will be making their way to and from Israel for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos. Chaim V’Chessed offers the following important reminders to help ensure a smooth journey.
Every holiday season, Chaim V’Chessed is contacted by travelers to or from Israel, who encounter a medical crisis and discover that they do not have sufficient medical insurance.
It cannot be emphasized enough that both Israelis traveling abroad and visitors to Israel must obtain appropriate travelers insurance before traveling.
Travelers entering Israel should be aware of customs regulations. The duty-free allowance for gifts is $200 per person. Items exceeding the allowance should be declared.
Jewelry and other valuables should never be brought into Israel in their original store packaging. New jewelry in boxes, especially multiple pieces, may appear to Customs officials to be newly purchased merchandise intended for resale, potentially resulting in customs charges and even suspicion of smuggling. Jewelry intended for personal use should be removed from its packaging and brought as a personal item.
Travelers leaving Israel with expensive jewelry, watches, electronics or other valuables that they intend to bring back should consider declaring these items to Customs before departure.
Food imports are subject to restrictions. As a general rule, travelers may bring up to 3 kg of food, with no more than 1 kg of any one type. Raw meat may not be brought into Israel.
Arba Minim
Those traveling to Israel for Sukkos with Arba Minim should be aware of Israel’s agricultural import regulations.
As in previous years, one esrog may be brought into Israel for personal use. Lulavim, hadassim and aravos may not be brought into Israel and may be confiscated at the airport.
Travelers whose lulav, hadassim or aravos are confiscated will be provided with replacement Arba Minim through arrangements made by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Passengers en route to Israel must obtain an ETA-IL before traveling. Travelers should apply only through the official government website, at this link. Beware of unofficial sites which charge additional fees.
Israeli citizens traveling on an Israeli passport do not require an ETA-IL. Additionally, Israeli citizens are currently permitted to enter Israel using a foreign passport, if they hold one. While technically they are exempt from the ETA-IL requirement, Chaim V’Chessed that they obtain one regardless. The same applies to student visa holders.
Before heading to the airport, check the validity of every passport in the family and make sure all travelers meet the entry requirements for their destination.
Foreigners traveling to Israel must have at least three months of validity on their passports to enter the country.
Whether you are traveling for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or Sukkos, a few minutes of preparation can prevent significant problems during your trip. Ksiva v’Chasima Tova!
CrownHeights.info3 hours agoOne hundred and fifty community members and supporters gathered on Sunday, August 23, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma.
Rabbi Dovid and Devorah Bush arrived in Petaluma in the fall of 2015 with a vision of building vibrant Jewish life in California’s North Bay. Beginning with programs in private homes, community spaces, and coffee shops, the community steadily grew, eventually moving into its current space in downtown Petaluma.
Today, Chabad of Petaluma has become a hub of Jewish life, with Shabbos and holiday celebrations, Torah classes, Camp Aleph, youth and family programs, and programming for teens and seniors. Its annual public Chanukah celebration has grown into one of the area’s most visible Jewish events, with thousands of chocolate gelt coins dropped this past year from a hot-air balloon.
The outdoor gala featured an elegant dinner, live Klezmer music, and a gratitude and awards ceremony honoring community members who have played an important role in Chabad’s growth. Rabbi Yosef Langer, the Bay Area’s “Rally Rabbi,” sounded the shofar, while Jewish pop artist Yitzchok Moully joined the celebration and led guests in creating “Overflowing Blessings,” a collaborative art piece depicting a cup overflowing with vibrant color.
The City of Petaluma formally proclaimed August 23 “Chabad of Petaluma Day,” with additional proclamations and resolutions from Governor Gavin Newsom and other state and federal officials recognizing the anniversary.
The Bushes also expressed their gratitude to Rabbi Mendel and Altie Wolvovsky, Shluchim to Sonoma County, who warmly welcomed them to Sonoma County and have been a source of friendship, guidance, and support throughout the past decade.
“It meant so much to see so many people come together to celebrate this milestone and the wonderful community we’ve built together,” Rabbi Bush said. “We’re truly grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.”
The anniversary was not only an opportunity to look back, but to look ahead—to the continued growth of Jewish life in Petaluma and the next chapter of the shlichus.
“Ten years ago, this was all a dream,” Rabbi Bush said. “Now it’s time to dream again.”
CrownHeights.info3 hours agoThere are tears that come from pain. And then there are tears that come from something even deeper: the overwhelming feeling of finally being seen, understood, and remembered.
These are the tears Aleph sees every day.
They are the tears of a Jewish man sitting behind prison walls as Rosh Hashanah approaches, surrounded by concrete and far from everything that once made Yom Tov feel like home. Then an Aleph volunteer arrives carrying a shofar. One piercing blast cuts through the silence of the prison walls, carrying with it memories of family, shul, and a life that suddenly feels impossibly far away. For a man who thought the world had forgotten him, that sound says something words cannot: you are still a Yid. You are still part of us. The volunteer sees the tears fall and stays beside him, making sure he knows he has not been forgotten.
They are the tears Aleph case managers see in the eyes of a young child too young to understand why his father is suddenly gone. His friends ask why his daddy never comes. He wonders when Tatty is coming home. He does not understand court dates or sentences. He only understands the empty chair, the missed goodnight, the Bar Mitzvah his father may not be there to celebrate.
And they are the quiet tears that slip from the closed eyes of a young Jewish Marine lighting Shabbos candles for the first time while stationed far from home. In that moment, those flames tell her something she desperately needs to feel: you belong. Your people are with you.
These are the stories no one hears.
Aleph sees the prisoner who needs a shofar behind the walls. The service member stationed in Japan who needs a lulav and esrog for Sukkos. The wife who cannot afford airfare to visit her husband incarcerated states away. The child who needs a new briefcase and school supplies. The boy approaching his Bar Mitzvah without the father who was supposed to stand proudly beside him.
Aleph steps into these stories with Yom Tov supplies, kosher food, prison visits, family advocacy, airfare, financial assistance, and a hand to hold through the darkest moments.
Aleph stays with them until they are home.
But until they are home, who will tell their story?
That is where you come in.
Today, on Chai Elul, Aleph has launched a three-day campaign to stand with the individuals whose voices too often go unheard. Your support helps Aleph make sure they are seen, remembered, and never forgotten. It brings a shofar to a Jew behind bars, Shabbos to a service member thousands of miles away, dignity to a struggling child, and hope to a family waiting for someone they love to come home.
Tell their story. Stand beside them. Help change how their story unfolds.
CrownHeights.info15 hours agoFor the auspicious days of Chai Elul, the Ohel Bus Service will be providing extra subsidized transportation round trip from Crown Heights to the Ohel on Monday, the 18th of Elul.
This service will be available for Men, Women, and Children for a fee of $7 roundtrip.
To get WhatsApp updates on the Bus to the Ohel Click Here, to follow the Bus to the Ohel Status Click Here
For More information go to bustoohel.com. For contact, or to leave a comment, email [email protected].
CrownHeights.info1 day agoShalom Dovber Baruch (Crown Heights) to Esther Hadassa Melamed (Chemed, EY)
CrownHeights.info1 day agoNYC has announced the start of a $36 million project to renovate and expand the Eastern Parkway Library, increasing the branch’s public space by more than 50% while preserving its historic site architecture. The renovations are expected to be completed in the summer of 2028.
“The Eastern Parkway Library has served Brooklyn for over a century. The renovation — which will bring more natural light into the branch, add modern technology and create inspiring spaces — will ensure that Eastern Parkway Library can serve the community for another 100 years,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. “Thanks to Settlement Housing Fund, Amazon and IKEA, we are opening a temporary library in the neighborhood this fall, ensuring vital library services remain accessible throughout the construction process.”
The Eastern Parkway Library has served the Crown Heights community since 1914. The Carnegie library is a two-story Classic-Revival building with a limestone façade and distinctive long, arched windows. The library features double-height reading rooms with abundant natural light and mezzanines overlooking the lower floor.
The expansion will add a large glass façade to bring more natural lighting into the library and make the building fully ADA-compliant with a new elevator and entrance ramp. The redesigned branch will include dedicated reading and learning spaces, including a multipurpose room with a projector, a main reading room, a teen zone, two children’s zones, a STEAM room, a community room and a classroom in the restored fireplace room.
Renderings of the renovated Eastern Parkway Library interior.
The library will also feature a renovated courtyard with outdoor seating and a third-floor reading terrace surrounded by greenery. Through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Percent for Art Program, artwork by New York-based artist Oasa DuVerneywill be displayed throughout the library.
The building will receive modern, energy-efficient lighting, as well as upgrades to its plumbing, HVAC and fire alarm systems.
During construction, library services will continue at a temporary pop-up location provided by Settlement Housing Fund, with furnishings donated by IKEA and additional support for interim library services provided by Amazon. When the pop-up library opens this fall, patrons will be able to check out books, attend programs and use technology.
Funding for the renovation is provided by the Office of the Mayor, the New York City Council, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and the New York State Assembly.
“The Eastern Parkway Library has been opening doors to opportunity for Brooklynites for more than a century, and I am proud to help fund the transformation of this beloved landmark,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Libraries are one of the most important public resources we can invest in, and this redesign will create more modern, accessible spaces that our communities deserve. Thanks to the Brooklyn Public Library and the Department of Design and Construction for ensuring that the Eastern Parkway Library continues serving Crown Heights and Brooklynites for generations to come.”
CrownHeights.info1 day agoLevi Sandberg (Los Angeles, CA) to Chaya Lewis (Bowdon, England) L’Chaim: Tonight, Sunday, 8:00pm at The Shull 481 Albany Ave
CrownHeights.info1 day agoby CrownHeights.info
A bike riding graffiti artist was caught red handed as he drew anti-Israel graffiti on a Crown Heights traffic box.
The incident took place Sunday morning at the corner of New York Ave and Carroll Street, with a local resident catching it, and the perpetrator on camera.
CrownHeights.info1 day agoShmuly Borenstein (Crown Heights) to Rachely Baitch (Crown Heights) L’Chaim: Tonight, Sunday, 7:00pm at Eshel
CrownHeights.info1 day agoA man is dead after an explosion and fire broke out at a NYCHA complex in Brooklyn on Friday night, according to police.
The fire was reported on the 12th floor of 162 Troy Ave. at the Albany Houses near Prospect Place in Crown Heights just after 7 p.m., fire officials said.
A man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead, police and fire officials reported.
Read More at Pix11
CrownHeights.info1 day agoFor five days this summer, the usual routines of work, errands, and daily responsibilities were replaced with full days of Torah learning and meaningful conversations.
Dozens of participants from across North America, including Kentucky, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and New York, gathered at the Jewish Discovery Center in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, for the JNet Torah Experience. The five-day program gave adults the opportunity to step away from their everyday lives and devote themselves completely to Torah study.
Since its launch 2006, JNet has connected tens of thousands of Jews around the world with volunteer chavrusas for weekly Torah study over the phone or Zoom. Over time, many participants expressed a desire for something more. They wanted the chance to experience what it is like to spend several days living in an environment centered entirely around Torah. The JNet Torah Experience was created to meet that need by combining serious learning, inspiring teachers, comfortable accommodations, and the friendships that naturally develop when people learn and live together.
“It’s one thing to study Torah over the phone or on a screen, but what people need now more than ever is to see it come to life, to be fully immersed in it alongside a like-minded community,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of JNet at Merkos 302. “Many of our JNet participants are the only Jews in their towns, so this experience of knowing they aren’t alone, of feeling part of a vibrant collective, is critical to strengthening their Jewish identity back home.”
The program followed the schedule of a yeshiva for adults. Each day included shiurim in Chassidus, Gemara, Halacha, Chumash, Jewish philosophy, and practical Judaism. Classes were designed for participants of every background, from complete beginners to experienced learners.
Rabbi Mendel Raichik of Gaithersburg, MD and Mrs. Chaya Teldon, Head Shlucha of Long Island, directed the men’s and women’s programs respectively, and invested months of planning into developing a learning curriculum that would be engaging, challenging, and accessible for participants at every level. From selecting the topics and organizing the schedule to personally teaching throughout the week, they worked tirelessly to ensure that every participant could grow in Torah learning and leave with a deeper connection to Judaism.
The learning was enriched by guest lecturers Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator overseeing the Tri-State area for OK Kosher Certification, Rabbi Yossi Serebryanski, Sofer, Rabbi Leibel Itkin, Shliach to Scranton, PA, Rabbi Yosef Rapaport, Education Director of The Jewish Discovery Center, and Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, Head Shliach of Long Island. Each brought his own style, personality, and area of expertise, exposing participants to a wide range of Torah perspectives. Their classes sparked thoughtful discussions and gave participants the opportunity to learn from experienced educators with diverse backgrounds and approaches.
Mrs. Mattie Hecht, Mendy and Breina Blesofsky, Sholom Bronstein, and Mendel Majeski served as chabura leaders, offering personal guidance and one, on, one learning throughout the week. They took the time to answer questions, review material, and help participants process what they were learning, making the experience more personal and meaningful.
Rabbi Benny and Chani Rapaport, the local Shluchim in Clarks Summit, warmly welcomed everyone and helped create the warm, inviting atmosphere that participants appreciated from the moment they arrived.
The learning did not end when the classes were over. Discussions continued during meals, while walking around the grounds, and late into the evening. Torah became part of every conversation and every interaction.
The peaceful setting made that possible. The Jewish Discovery Center sits on a beautiful 20-acre property with comfortable accommodations, a heated pool, inviting lounges, and a spacious dining room. Every physical need was taken care of so participants could focus completely on learning, reflection, and personal growth.
Shabbos was the highlight of the week. Inspiring davening, delicious meals, singing, and farbrengens brought everyone together and strengthened the sense of community that had developed throughout the program.
Participants left inspired by the experience.
“Learning this maamar with Rabbi Raichik first thing each morning was a highlight for me, an inspiring start to the day,” said Robert A. of Manhattan, New York.
James G. of Louisville, Kentucky, who had never studied Torah in such depth before, said the experience “helps to see the logic in how Gemara, Talmud, and Halacha are built.”
Others spoke about the atmosphere.
“It’s a beautiful location. It’s very relaxing. It’s a great atmosphere for learning,” said Paul N. of Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Barbara W. of Long Island praised the women’s program, saying, “Morah Chaya is wonderful. She leads with joy and understanding.”
For Brad S. of Olney, Maryland, the relationships were just as meaningful as the learning. “The camaraderie, that’s what I enjoyed most. You all get together, you talk, you share, and then there’s the enlightenment of the learning.”
Candice S. of Newtown, Pennsylvania, summed up the week simply: “The experience has really been very, very wonderful. I’m learning a great deal and bringing it all back home.”
Many participants returned home determined to continue building on what they had learned. Some began new chavrusa partnerships through JNet, while others are already asking when the next Torah Experience will take place.
JNet Director Rabbi Mendel Groner added, “Seeing participants connect so deeply with their heritage and with one another confirms our mission. When you provide the right environment for study, the soul awakens. We are energized by the commitment these participants have shown and look forward to expanding this program in the coming year.”
With the enthusiastic response to this year’s program, JNet is already planning future Torah Experiences as it continues its mission, rooted in the Rebbe’s vision, of bringing authentic Torah learning to Jews wherever they are.
CrownHeights.info1 day agoby CrownHeights.info
A Hachnasas Sefer Torah will take place tomorrow, Sunday, in Crown Heights, with community members invited to join in the parade and Hakafos.
The procession will begin at 1305 Carroll Street, continuing to the new shul at 546 East New York Avenue, before concluding at 94 Beis Moshe – 630 East New York Avenue.
The event will feature Hakafos and Fleishig buffet.
Residents are encouraged to join the procession and take part in the special mitzvah and simchas HaTorah.
CrownHeights.info1 day agoby CrownHeights.info
A man was arrested early Shabbos morning after allegedly directing antisemitic threats at a Jewish man on Kingston Ave, according to the NYPD.
Police from the 71st Precinct responded at approximately 12:05am to the vicinity of 451 Kingston Avenue following a 911 call reporting a possible bias incident.
According to the NYPD, the victim, who was dressed in “traditional Jewish attire”, told officers that he had been walking when he was approached by a man accompanied by a dog. The suspect allegedly told him, “You dirty Jews, your kids are always blocking the street. Next time I see them I will kill them.”
The victim told police that he felt threatened by the interaction, prompting a third party witness to call 911.
Officers quickly identified and arrested the suspect at the scene. He has been charged with Aggravated Harassment as a Hate Crime and Menacing as a Hate Crime.
The incident is being investigated as a bias-motivated crime. The NYPD says hate crimes are investigated by its Hate Crime Task Force, with bias motivation considered when an offense is motivated in whole or substantial part by a victim’s religion, ethnicity, or other protected identity.
CrownHeights.info1 day agoby Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives
Life was not easy for Shlomo Beilin, or, as he was known Shlomo der Geller. His wife suffered a nervous breakdown, his children became communists, and he eventually became blind. Despite it all, he radiated joy and would break into dance even during the most difficult moments of his life.
Once, at a Chassidic gathering, he stood up and declared to those gathered: “Yetzer Hara, my beastly impulse, you are trying to depress me, but you will not be successful. I am thumbing my nose at you!” The blind man then danced for hours with the gathered.
At the time, there were few published Chassidic writings, and people would copy them by hand. In his home, the blind Chassid had many such manuscripts. Many people asked to borrow them, but he always refused, telling them that they could sit in his home and study them, “But the volumes should not leave my house.”
One time, a young man asked him, “Why do you need the books in your home when you can’t even study from them?”
He told him that he was mistaken. “Every morning I go to the bookcase, I place my hands on the volumes, and I feel the self-sacrifice each Rebbe had to recite the discourses. This gives me strength to continue through my challenges.”
Find Hasidic Archive’s, latest book Yards of Kindness here.
CrownHeights.info1 day agoby CrownHeights,info
A significant new development has emerged in the long-running legal dispute surrounding 770 Eastern Parkway, with New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department, denying a request by the Gabboim of 770 to take a further appeal in the case involving Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Agudas Chasidei Chabad.
The one-page decision, entered Thursday, August 28, 2026, concerns a motion filed by Zalman Lipskier, Avrohom Holtzberg and Shalom Ber Kievman seeking permission to appeal the January 2024 ruling of the Appellate Term to the Appellate Division.
The court denied that motion.
The ruling, while brief, represents another step in the lengthy legal battle over the properties and synagogue facilities associated with 770 Eastern Parkway and 784-788 Eastern Parkway.
What Did the Court Actually Decide?
The latest decision is important to understand in its proper procedural context.
The case has already passed through several levels of New York courts. The most recent motion was not itself an appeal deciding the underlying ownership dispute anew. Rather, the Gabboim sought permission from the Appellate Division to appeal the January 19, 2024 decision of the Appellate Term.
In its August 28 decision, the Appellate Division identified the motion as one by Lipskier, Holtzberg and Kievman “for leave to appeal” from the Appellate Term’s January 19, 2024 decision and order.
After reviewing the papers submitted by the parties, the four-judge panel simply ordered: “the motion is denied.”
In other words, the Appellate Division declined to take up the requested appeal.
The decision was signed by Justice Francesca E. Connolly, with Justices Linda Christopher, Helen Voutsinas and Laurence L. Love concurring.
How Did the Case Get Here?
The latest development follows a complicated series of court proceedings stretching back nearly two decades.
The dispute involves Agudas Chasidei Chabad, which the courts have recognized as the owner of 770 Eastern Parkway, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, which owns 784-788 Eastern Parkway, and Congregation Lubavitch, Inc., the corporation associated with the Gabboim.
The properties contain the central Lubavitch synagogue and various additional spaces, including offices and other facilities. The Gabboim have historically administered the day-to-day affairs of the synagogue.
The dispute has previously been litigated in New York Supreme Court, the Appellate Division, and the Civil Court.
In an earlier Supreme Court action, Agudas and Merkos successfully obtained an ejectment judgment against Congregation Lubavitch, Inc. concerning 770 and 784-788. The Supreme Court determined that Agudas and Merkos were the respective owners and entitled to possession, and the Appellate Division subsequently affirmed the portion of the judgment ejecting CLI from those properties.
The 2022 Civil Court Ruling
The most recent round of litigation began with summary proceedings brought by Agudas and Merkos seeking possession of the respective premises.
Agudas commenced proceedings concerning 770, while Merkos commenced proceedings concerning 784-788. Merkos also brought a separate proceeding concerning an office space at 302-304 Kingston Avenue that was identified in the proceedings as the “Gaboyim-CLI Office.”
Following a non-jury trial, the Civil Court entered judgments on January 6, 2022, awarding possession to the respective petitioners.
The Gabboim and Congregation Lubavitch appealed.
January 2024: A Complicated Appellate Ruling
On January 19, 2024, the Appellate Term issued its decision.
The ruling was more nuanced than some of the headlines that followed it suggested.
The court dismissed the proceedings against certain entities that had been improperly named as unincorporated associations and vacated the judgments against them. As to Congregation Lubavitch, Inc., the court modified the judgments concerning 770 and 784-788 by vacating the portions entered against CLI and dismissing those portions of the petitions. At the same time, the court affirmed the judgment concerning the 302-304 Kingston Avenue office space.
The central reason for the dismissal concerning CLI and 770/784-788 was res judicata, the legal doctrine that prevents parties from repeatedly litigating claims that have already been conclusively resolved.
The Appellate Term pointed specifically to the earlier Supreme Court ejectment case, noting that CLI had already been ejected from 770 and 784-788 and that the earlier judgment had been affirmed by the Appellate Division. The court concluded that the new proceedings, insofar as they sought possession from CLI of those same premises, were barred by the prior judgment.
At the same time, the court found that the 302-304 office proceeding was not barred by res judicata because that property had not been part of the earlier ejectment action. The judgment concerning that office space was therefore affirmed.
The Appellate Term also rejected arguments that the dispute was beyond the jurisdiction of a civil court because of its religious nature. The court explained that property and possession disputes can be resolved using “neutral principles of law”—including deeds, corporate documents and bylaws—without requiring a court to determine religious doctrine.
Another Appeal Was Already Denied in 2024
Following the January 2024 ruling, the Gabboim and CLI sought further relief.
In June 2024, the Appellate Term denied motions seeking to reargue the January decision or, alternatively, seeking permission to appeal that decision to the Appellate Division.
That left the parties with the option of seeking leave from the Appellate Division itself. That is the request that has now been denied.
Appellate Division Says No
The newly released August 28, 2026 order concerns precisely that request.
The motion was filed by Zalman Lipskier, Avrohom Holtzberg and Shalom Ber Kievman, seeking leave to appeal the January 19th, 2024 Appellate Term decision.
After considering the papers submitted both in support of and in opposition to the motion, the Appellate Division denied it.
Unlike the lengthy January 2024 opinion, the new order does not revisit the evidence, ownership claims, religious issues or the various legal arguments raised throughout the litigation.
It is a procedural determination: the Appellate Division declined to grant permission for another appeal.
What the New Decision Means
The significance of Thursday’s decision therefore lies in what it leaves standing.
The January 2024 Appellate Term decision remains the controlling appellate ruling in this particular proceeding, while the attempt to obtain further review from the Appellate Division has now been rejected.
That ruling must also be read together with the earlier Supreme Court and Appellate Division decisions concerning the ejectment of CLI from 770 and 784-788—decisions that the Appellate Term itself relied upon when applying res judicata in the 2024 proceedings.
The latest order does not contain a new declaration that the Gabboim have been removed from the physical synagogue, nor does it independently adjudicate day-to-day management of the shul. Rather, it closes another avenue of appellate review of the January 2024 decision.
The legal battle over 770 has consequently proceeded through multiple layers of litigation, with the courts repeatedly distinguishing between ownership of the properties, legal possession of the premises, and the practical administration of the synagogue.
For a dispute that has occupied the courts for years, Thursday’s order marks another consequential procedural development—and another indication that the latest round of appeals is reaching its final stages.
The complete August 28, 2026 decision and order is reproduced above.
CrownHeights.info1 day agoFour men pleaded guilty Friday to criminal damage charges over the arson attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Hatzolah charity in London earlier this year, reported euronews.
Three British aged 20, 19, and 18, and an 18-year-old British-Pakistani admitted their involvement in the March 23 attack during a hearing at London’s Old Bailey.
The ambulances were set ablaze in Golders Green, an area with a large Jewish population, and were parked near a synagogue. The attack caused an estimated £1 million in damage.
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CrownHeights.info1 day ago“Before I went to Israel,” said Aidan Hulnick of West Chester, PA, “I never imagined that I would be spending Tisha B’Av at the Western Wall.” He was one of dozens of teens who sat on the stones and said Eicha that night, most of them for the first time, midway through a 22-day CTeen Israel Journey.
CTeen ran two such trips this summer, separate twenty-day programs for boys and girls, bringing together Jewish teens from the United States, England, Canada, and beyond. The girls landed on July 1 and the boys on July 9. Between them the groups climbed the snake trail up Masada before dawn, hiked Nachal Amud and the Sataf, canoed the Jordan, packed food at Leket and Pantry Packers, volunteered in a hospital, walked through Chevron, and stood at the site of the Nova massacre.
“The Rebbe spoke about the idealism of young people, that when a teenager puts their mind to something, they give it their all,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “Many of these teens are the only Jewish kid in their grade. When we bring them to Israel for 22 days, we’re not giving them a vacation. We’re handing them the tools to be ambassadors of their heritage to their peers back home.”
The girls reached Sderot on their second day in the country. They toured the city, ate lunch at the Sderot Chabad house, and went on to the Nova site in the afternoon, where a survivor of the attack walked them through what had happened there. The boys made the same trip a week into their own program, and it was the part of the itinerary parents heard about first when their sons got home.
Parent Ruth Shneck from Manchester, UK said her son Raffi was extremely touched by the Nova survivor speaking, and by Yad Vashem, calling it an “important part of Jewish history to experience in person.” Raffi came away describing his newfound appreciation for Judaism as “something so strong that it is able to bounce back after so many atrocious acts against it.”
This year’s boys’ program was led by Rabbi Ben Bursk. A decade earlier, as a teenager in Manchester, England, Bursk experienced CTeen firsthand when his Shliach, Rabbi Sholom Cohen, encouraged him to join a CTeen summer trip, an experience that became an important part of his own journey in Yiddishkeit. Ten years later he returned in a very different role, leading a summer experience for the next generation. When Yosef Shusterman was asked for his three favorite moments of twenty days in Israel, the first thing he listed was late night story time with Rabbi Ben in the hotel hallway.
“Ten years ago, I was one of the teens on this trip,” Rabbi Bursk said. “Coming back now to lead it and seeing firsthand the impact these three weeks can have on a young person made the experience incredibly meaningful and truly brought things full circle for me.”
The trips also began well before anyone boarded a plane. As part of the RootOne initiative, participants completed 8 hours of pre-trip learning and were awarded with a $3,000 voucher to reduce the costs of the trip.
Both programs ran single gender, and the teens had opinions about it. The girls were the more unprompted and the more specific. “There is a sisterhood and I feel like everyone got closer because of it,” said Emily Levitt of Chicago, IL. Evie Weiss put it in terms of what the format took out of the room. “I loved it because it made us way closer than if it wasn’t an all girls trip,” she said. “I felt way more comfortable because there wasn’t as much judgment.”
What almost none of them anticipated was how the country itself would feel. Zayden Bavaro of New Haven, CT, found Judaism far warmer and more connected in Israel, and Benzi Ashkenazi of Syracuse, NY, described it as a living tradition that isn’t forced to be in hiding everywhere. On the girls side, Asenath Arshynova of Fairlawn, NJ, said the surprise was how little language mattered, and that she could connect deeply with Jews in Israel even when the two of them had no shared words.
Not all of it was heavy, and the teens were quick to say so. There was a floating water park on the Kineret, ziplining at Deer Land, laser tag, a trampoline park, jeep rides in the hills of Yerushalayim, pizza on Ben Yehuda after Havdala, and long afternoons haggling in the shuk. Alita Arnold thought the mix was the whole point, describing a trip that ran art, history, hiking, and learning about the past and future of Israel alongside simply having fun.
Parents describing the return home tended to reach for the same word.
“He came home a new kid,” said Jennifer Hulnick. “Wanting to participate in more Jewish activities, having Shabbat dinners as a regular part of our routine, and wanting to start going to synagogue more often. This was truly the catalyst to inspire him into engaging more with his Jewish identity.”
For Diana Rubenstein of Miami, FL it was the daily photos that did it, seeing her son Elad praying with the group at places she had only read about. Sabine Epelbaum of Wilmington, DE noticed the change in the routine instead: her daughter started praying regularly, and summed the summer up in four words her mother repeated back. “It was the best ever.”
The hachlatos teens carried home were concrete rather than sentimental, and tefillin came up more than anything else.
Shalom Bereznyak of the Bronx had committed to praying Mincha and Maariv after he was called to the Torah on the first Shabbos of the trip and intends to keep it. Melanie Mintz plans to keep Shabbos two weeks in a row, light candles, say Shema, and say Modeh Ani. Others are taking it further than a personal resolution.
Adam Peretz of Studio City, CA came home planning to open a Jewish club at his school and bring what he saw back to his local Chabad, and Yitzi Rich, already a leader at his chapter in Manchester UK, said he would carry on there and hold to the hachlatos he made. It’s the reason the trips exist in the first place.
Both programs ended the same way. A banquet, a drive to the airport, a flight out at five past midnight, and the words on the last line of the itinerary: next year in Yerushalayim.
Raphael Prout of S. Laurent in Montreal had a line for anyone thinking about going. “It’s not just a trip to understand Israel,” he said. “It’s a trip to understand yourself.”
RootOne is seeded through a generous grant by The Marcus Foundation and powered by The Jewish Education Project. Visit RootOne.org for more information.
Pre-registration for summer 2027 is open at cteensummer.com
CrownHeights.info1 day agoRabbi Chaim Dalfin, author and Chasidic historian shares interesting facts, many revealed for the first time. The purpose of his program is to inspire all but especially the youth. Watch another installment here on CrownHeights.info.
Visit Rabbi Dalfin’s website: Click Here
CrownHeights.info3 days agoYossi Rubinstein (Crown Heights) Devorah Leah Gorman (London, UK)
CrownHeights.info3 days agoShaiky and Chana (nee Alroy) Slopochnik from Crown Heights had a baby boy! Shalom Zachor: 425 Kingston Ave.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoby Rabbi sholom DovBer Avtzon
Everyone is well aware of what the Rebbe notes in Hayom Yom, about the seven teachings on the first possuk of this week’s Parsha, that that the Rebbe Rashab heard in Gan Eden from the Baal Shem Tov. However, the background to this amazing story, is not really known to many, so I decided to post it. It is taken from the Rebbe Rashab’s biography, which I am reviewing and making some corrections and additions (or clarifications) before I sent it for reprint.
As always, your feedback and comments are appreciate and greatly welcomed.
At the same time, I thank those who honored me by joining me in expressing my hakaras hatov for Renewal for choosing to be Hashem’s shliach in helping over one thousand five hundred individuals and their families, friends and associates in the happiness of having a second chance at life, by finding a match and facilitating a kidney transfer.
You can still participate by clicking here http://www.dryveup.com/renewal/2640
This week’s post is l’zecher nishmas my father-in-law HaRav Moshe Pesach ben Reb Shaul Goldman, whose first yahrzeit is this Shabbos, the 16th of Elul.
The final day of Sheva brochos in honor of his sister Chaya Mushka’s wedding was on Thursday, the sixteenth of Elul 5652 (1892). That morning he went to the ohel of his father, the Rebbe Maharash, and the sheva brochos began after he returned. During the sheva brochos he said the maamar Sois Tusis, and noted that this was the thirty-second maamar that his father, said in honor of his own wedding.[1]
To everyone’s surprise on Friday he went once again to the ohel and remained there for an extremely long time. When he returned, his eyes were swollen and everyone realized that something out of the ordinary had happened. Yet, even those in the know were clueless as to why the Rebbe went to the ohel two days in a row, and what had occurred.
On Shabbos morning, the Rebbe said a maamar on the words v’huyu ki suveh. Instead of concluding his davening between two and two-thirty (as he usually did), he finished much later. Normally, on Shabbos after davening Shacharis, he would learn for a while, then make kiddish and eat fruits and vegetables. He would then learn some more, daven mincha and then wash for the Shabbos meal. However, that Shabbos, everyone noticed that his davening was of a different caliber entirely; something else, es is gigusin fire, (it was much longer and engaging than usual) and being that it finished much later than usual, he made kiddish immediately after davening, davened mincha, and ate the meal.
The following month on Shemini Atzeres, the Rebbe Rashab related: “Last month, I was preparing to say the maamar, v’huyu ki suveh which I said today. As a rule, I do not say a maamar Chassidus, until I receive a directive or sign to/that I should say it. Generally, the sign is that I feel I was nisatzem (bonded) with the concept discussed in the maamar until it became one with me. However, with this maamar, even after I toiled on it, it did not become one with me.
So I decided on Thursday to visit my father, and discuss it with him, as it was based on a maamar he had said. Even though I could have discussed it with him when he visits me in my house, as I often do, I decided to go to the Ohel. However, even after being at the Ohel, I felt some points were lacking clarity, so I went again on Friday. Then everything clicked, and I said it today.
It is known that Hakodosh Boruch Hu doesn’t remain indebted to a person, and because of this dedication, my father rewarded me with a special gift.
That Shabbos was Chai Elul, the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov. My father appeared to me and said, Come with me and we will hear Torah from the Baal Shem Tov .[2]
On that Shabbos I heard from the Baal Shem Tov, seven Torah’s[3]
A Taste of Chassidus היום הזה Likkutei Torah Devorim p. 41C
The possuk states Today Hashem commands you [the Jewish people]. The Alter Rebbe asks, which day is it referring to (and why isn’t it noted explicitly)? Also, what is the purpose of a second vow, when we already make a vow before when we received the Torah at Har Sinai? So why is it necessary to make another vow before entering Eretz Yisroel?
By Matan Torah we were in the wilderness and the entire nation saw that Hashem / Elokus is everything. Under those circumstances it was easy to commit to fulfill all the mitzvos (especially as a majority of the mitzvos were not applicable at that time). But once the Jewish people are about to enter Eretz Yisroel, and they will have to work hard to toil the land, under those circumstances a person might feel it is too difficult, therefore, Hashem instructed us to make another vow. Or in simpler terms. When we are entering and then working the land, not necessarily do we see that everything is Elokus, we see that there is a physical world that we have to deal with. In order to deal with a world that we didn’t have before, you need a new vow.
The commentaries point out an interesting point: that when you add the final word of ודבש to היום הזה Hashem (which begins with a yud), the first letter of these four words spell out Hashem’s holy name. The word ודבש means honey which is sweet. The Alter Rebbe explains that this teaches us that there is a special sweetness to Hashem when we enter Eretz Yisroel. As we had to overcome obstacles to accomplish the fulfillmemy of His mitzvos, and standing firm in the face of an adversary is a feat, which gives Hashem tremendous happiness
Chassidus explains that every mitzvah, in addition to actually fulfilling it, it also applies in a spiritual sense. So now the Alter Rebbe is going to explain why this concept is mentioned in the month of Elul. And furthermore; whenever a possuk says the words Hayom hazah, without defining which day it is it is referring to Rosh Hashanah. So this special sweetness and enjoyment is connected to the month of Tishrei.
As is known there were two times the Luchos were given to us. Once by Matan Torah and the second Luchos were given on Yom Kippur. So the first vow is connected to the first set of Luchos, while this new vow is connected to the second set of Luchos which were given on Yom Kippur.
Our sages explain that there were some differences between the two sets of Luchos.
The first set was given with great fanfare; there was thunder and lightning, as well as it only contained the written Torah. Whereas, the second set was given quietly, and it was without any fanfare, and it included many aspects of the Oral Torah.
The Alter Rebbe explains that these two differences are connected one to another.
When a child is separated from their parents, and are finally reunited, the emotions of their happiness and relief are going to be expressed loudly. However, when the child is in their parents’ home, safe and sound, then their happiness is not proclaimed publicly, even though in many aspects it is a much stronger love than when they first met after a lengthy absence.
Therefore, by the first Luchos which was when we finally became a nation there was tremendous fanfare. However, on Yom Kippur which is the culmination of our Avodah throughout the month of Elul and proclaiming on Rosh Hashanah that Hashem is not only our King, but the king of the entire universe, and we are connected to Hashem for a period of time, then the love is not pronounced with much fanfare.
This also explains why by this second vow there is a sense of sweetness (as is implied from the honey).
As noted, the first Luchos represent the written Torah, while the second Luchos represent the Oral Torah. While the written Torah is the exact words and wisdom of Hashem, it is only through the Oral Torah that we know precisely how we are to serve Him. For example, the Torah says do not do work on Shabbos. However, the clarity of what is considered work is only taken from the Oral Torah, which gave clarity to it. The same thing is by the mitzvah of Tefillin, where to put them and how many parshios of the Torah are to be written and in which order, that we are guided by the Oral Torah.
So when we do a mitzvah, as we are guided by the defining guidelines of the Oral Torah, that fulfillment of doing His will is what gives Hashem tremendous happiness.
However, one may ask, being that the second Luchos were given on Yom Kippur, which is a day the Elokus is the only thing, so that should be compared to the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai, when Elokus was prevalent and we just said that then it is not such a grwat thing that we fulfill His mitzvos, so why is it a cause of celebration.
On this the Alter Rebbe answers, yes, on Yom Kippur Hashem’s essence is revealed, but we accomplished throughout the Ten Days of Repentance that not only is it revealed in the Heavenly Spheres, but we caused it to be revealed even in this physical world.[4] And that is the cause of Hashem’s happiness; as it is a step towards the fulfillment of Hashem’s desire to have a dwelling place in this world. May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
A Kesiva V’chasima Tova, L’shana Tova U’mesukah
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeiim and their chassidim. He is available to farbreng in your community and can be contacted at [email protected].
[2] The Rebbe Rashab described to his son what the Baal Shem Tov’s place in Gan Eden looked like.
[3] Sefer HaSichos 5697, pp. 189-192. In fn, 9 on p. 191 there it notes where each of the seven teachings are mentioned. See Hayom Yom entry chai (18th of) Elul.
[4] This is the meaning of Eloikeinu Melech Hu’Olam – After we reveal to the world that Hashem is our G-d, then He becomes the ruler and King over the entire Universe.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoThe Rebbe held 25 farbrengens on Shabbos Parshas Ki Savo. The sichos from these farbrengens span around 700 pages in the Yiddish Hanochos (transcripts) in Sichos Kodesh, and around 70 pages in the 9 English Hanochos published by Sichos in English.
Each farbrengen is a priceless treasure. It was the highlight of the week for those fortunate to be present when the Rebbe farbrenged. Nowadays, these farbrengens are preserved in thousands of pages, waiting to be relived by every chossid.
To get a taste of these farbrengens (Some selected excerpts appear below), visit taste.study/ki-savo to explore this week’s “Taste”. You can download and print it for Shabbos, with curated suggestions for which farbrengens to learn, along with a qr code to access each one.
To receive the “Taste” each week via whatsapp/email/sms, subscribe for free at taste.study/subscribe
May we merit to once again experience a farbrengen with the Rebbe—now!
CrownHeights.info3 days agoThe Mitteler Rebbe once heard the Tochacha—the frightening curses in Parshas Ki Savo—and became so physically ill that weeks later there was concern whether he would be able to fast on Yom Kippur.
They asked him: You hear these same words every year. Why did they affect you so terribly this time?
He answered:
“Every year I hear them from my father. And when father reads them, they don’t sound like curses.”
What an extraordinary way to hear the world.
The words may be frightening. Life itself may sometimes be frightening. But when you know that the One behind it all is your Father, you hear things differently.
Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts Chassidus gave the Jewish people.
This week we will celebrate Chai Elul—the 18th of Elul. Chai means “life,” and Chai Elul is the day that brings chayus—life and vitality—into Elul.
Appropriately, three major events in the history of Chassidus are connected to this day: the Baal Shem Tov was born on Chai Elul in 1698; the Alter Rebbe in 1745; and in 1897, the newly established Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch began its learning.
Three events. Three stages of one revolution.
Judaism Comes Alive
The Baal Shem Tov entered a Jewish world that had been battered and broken. Jewish communities across Eastern Europe had been devastated. Poverty was crushing, and many simple Jews felt distant from Torah scholars and perhaps even distant from G-d.
The Baal Shem Tov brought them back to life.
He taught that every Jew is precious. Every Jew possesses a Neshama, a spark of G-d that can never be extinguished. A Jew may know it or may not know it. His faith may be burning brightly or buried beneath layers of dust. But the Neshama is always there.
He taught Jews to rejoice in being Jewish. G-d was not only in the Beis Medrash with the great scholar. G-d was with the simple Jew saying Tehillim. G-d was in the marketplace. G-d was on the road. G-d was everywhere.
Judaism was not merely something you practiced.
It was something you lived.
Then came the Alter Rebbe.
The Baal Shem Tov ignited the fire. The Alter Rebbe taught us to understand it.
Chabad demands that our relationship with G-d should not remain merely instinctive or inspirational. Chochmah, Binah and Daas—the mind itself—must become involved. Think about G-d. Understand His closeness. Contemplate what a Neshama is and what it means to be forever connected to Him.
Then joy can come from somewhere deeper than whatever happened today.
Some people derive pleasure from food, others from music, others from intellectual stimulation. Someone absorbed in a profound idea can temporarily forget that he is hungry.
Chassidus tells us: Give your Neshama something even greater to become absorbed in.
Contemplate that G-d is your Father. You are never alone. He is with you wherever you are, and your bond with Him is deeper than whatever difficulty you may be experiencing.
Then even the curses begin to sound different.
Not because pain isn’t painful or problems aren’t real.
But because Father is reading them.
But Chai Elul did not stop with two birthdays.
More than a century later, the Rebbe Rashab established Tomchei Tmimim. The Yeshiva was founded on the 15th of Elul 5657, and on Chai Elul the actual learning began.
Now the revolution entered its next stage.
The Baal Shem Tov taught the Jew to live.
The Alter Rebbe taught the Jew to understand.
Tomchei Tmimim was established to produce Jews who would live what they understood—and carry it into the world.
And they would need every bit of it.
The Rebbe Rashab understood the enormous challenges that lay ahead. Tomchei Tmimim would produce young men with the knowledge, conviction and Mesiras Nefesh to confront them.
A remarkable story from Soviet Russia demonstrates what that meant.
Rav Yaakov Klemes, a respected non-Lubavitcher Rav in Moscow, was approached by a Jewish factory owner facing a terrifying dilemma. The Soviet authorities demanded that he work on Shabbos, and refusing could endanger his life. The Rav ruled that where life was genuinely at stake, he was permitted to work.
Then a student of Tomchei Tmimim came with essentially the same question.
This time Rav Klemes refused to give the same answer.
“You,” he told him, “are from the elite forces.”
The Tmimim had been trained to be those soldiers—the ones prepared to hold the position when everyone else had to retreat.
The joy of the Baal Shem Tov and the understanding of the Alter Rebbe had become courage and responsibility.
Chai Elul Is Talking to Us
That gives Chai Elul an entirely different meaning.
It does not merely commemorate people who brought life to Judaism centuries ago. It asks whether our Judaism is alive.
We are in Elul, preparing for Rosh Hashanah, making our Cheshbon Hanefesh and thinking about what needs to change.
And right in the middle of this serious month comes Chai Elul and says:
Live!
Don’t merely do another Mitzvah. Live the Mitzvah.
Don’t merely believe in G-d. Think about G-d until that belief becomes real.
Don’t merely study Chassidus. Allow Chassidus to change the way you see yourself, another Jew, your problems, your blessings and the world around you.
And then take it outside.
Moshiach told the Baal Shem Tov that he would come when his wellsprings would spread outward. Generations later, the Rebbe Rashab charged the Tmimim to become the soldiers of Beis David—to carry those wellsprings outward and prepare the world for Moshiach.
The mission that began with the Baal Shem Tov did not end with the Alter Rebbe. It did not end in Lubavitch, nor with the heroic Tmimim of Soviet Russia.
It landed on our doorstep.
The Baal Shem Tov gave us the fire.
The Alter Rebbe taught us to understand the fire.
Tomchei Tmimim produced soldiers prepared to carry that fire into the darkest places on earth.
And now it is our turn.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah and ask Hashem to inscribe us in the Book of Life, Chai Elul reminds us what kind of life we are asking for.
A life with faith. A life with understanding. A life with joy. A life with courage. And above all, a life with a mission.
Because when Judaism is truly alive inside us, we don’t merely live.
We give life to the world.
Have a lively, joyous and courageous Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
CrownHeights.info3 days agoby Yisrael Eliashiv – chabad.org
On their final day in Whitehorse, Yukon, in the extreme northwestern region of Canada, rabbinical students Avremy Matusof and Shloimy Stern were sitting with local Rick Karp in the hotel lobby when a young Brit at a nearby table struck up a conversation.
The young man, named Ben, had just completed a grueling, thousand-mile paddle race down the Yukon River. As they spoke, the two students learned that all four of his grandparents were Jewish—yet he had never celebrated his bar mitzvah, nor had he so much as heard of tefillin. When they offered to help him put them on, Ben hesitated. His mother, he worried, would be disappointed to miss the occasion.
Karp, president of the Jewish Cultural Society of Yukon, encouraged him to go ahead anyway. He could wrap tefillin now, in Whitehorse, Karp told him, and celebrate the milestone properly with his mother once he got home. Minutes later, Ben stood in the hotel lobby wearing tefillin for the very first time. The students and Karp danced and threw candy while his teammates snapped photos and video.
Before he left, Ben accepted a package of Jewish items and informational material.
“This is going to come with me down the Yukon River all the way up Alaska,” he told them, “and then I’m bringing this back to London.”
For Karp, a leader in a remote Jewish community, the moment captured something deeper about the whole trip: a Jewish visitor from the United Kingdom had put on tefillin for the first time in his life not in the Jewishly vibrant metropolises of London, Montreal or Toronto, but in Whitehorse.
Avremy Matusof and Shloimy Stern departing for their mission to Yellowknife.
Matusof, 23, of Calgary, Alberta, and Stern, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., spent nearly a month of their summer break traveling through northern Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories as participants in the Merkos Shlichut visitation program, which since 1943 has dispatched rabbinical students to Jewish communities with little or no permanent infrastructure throughout the United States and around the globe.
Working under the auspices of Merkos 302 and Chabad-Lubavitch of Alberta, the pair traveled from June 25 through July 21, with stops in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. While the program, often dubbed “Roving Rabbis,” had visited northern Alberta on previous summer trips, this was its first foray into the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
The young Chabad rabbis quickly discovered a deep well of Jewish interest in places few would ever expect to find one.
Visiting a family in Fort McMurray.
In Fort McMurray, a young Jewish family reached out after seeing the visit publicized on social media. Their children were thrilled to meet the students, the father put on tefillin for the first time, and a mezuzah went up on the family’s front door. The mother and daughter had recently begun lighting Shabbat candles on their own, and Matusof and Stern brought extra candles and informational materials to help them continue.
Elsewhere in Fort McMurray, a Jewish mechanic bought two mezuzahs. At a Canada Day gathering in Grande Prairie, a Jewish woman approached the students and told them about some other Jewish families scattered across the region.
A Whitehorse resident lays tefillin for the first time, with his newly purchased pair.
In Whitehorse, the students were welcomed by Karp, a longtime leader of Jewish life in the Yukon and author who contributed to a volume on the territory’s Jewish history, Jewish Presence in the Yukon, Before, During and After the Klondike Gold Rush.
Karp had for years maintained a relationship with Rabbi Menachem Matusof and Chabad of Alberta, arranging for Jewish calendars, shmurah matzah and other staples to be shipped north from Calgary. An in-person visit, though, was something entirely new—Whitehorse is 1,400 miles northwest of Calgary, about a 24 hour drive. Karp acknowledged that he was initially unsure how two visibly Jewish young men would be received.
His concerns began easing almost immediately. At Miles Canyon, Karp and the students had barely stepped out of their car when a passerby called out, “Rabbis! Rabbis!” The man, visiting from Southern California, was overjoyed to run into two Chabad rabbis in the Yukon of all places.
Meeting with Rick Karp, a longtime leader of the community and president of the Jewish Cultural Society of Yukon.
Towards the end of the rabbis’ time in Whitehorse, Karp shared his initial fears at a gathering of about a dozen locals. Rather than the hostility he had worried that their presence might invite, he told the group, he had watched their openly Jewish identity draw both Jews and friendly non-Jews toward them all week long.
Among those at the gathering was a Jewish school principal who drove nearly two hours to attend. For her, it was a second attempt. Once, while traveling through the Canadian Rockies, she had searched for a Chabad center and connected with Rabbi Dovid Pinson of Chabad of the Rockies—but got lost en route and never made it there. She and the rabbi stayed in touch through occasional calls and messages ever since. When she heard Matusof and Stern would be in Whitehorse, she made the two-hour drive to meet them, attending her first-ever gathering of the local Jewish community.
Another attendee, Barbara Curtis of Whitehorse, went to a Jewish overnight camp as a child and still says the Shema prayer nightly. When Matusof and Stern arrived in Whitehorse, her 25-year-old son Aaron put on tefillin for the first time.
“Being in the room with my son Aaron, watching and listening and being part of him putting on tefillin for the very first time,” she related, “I was thinking that my parents would be so happy and proud and as surprised as I was. Never in a million years would I have thought that would happen up here with one of my children.”
Wrapping tefillin in Whitehorse with a visitor from British Columbia.
Karp’s involvement deepened as the visit went on. At his home, Matusof and Stern showed him a Tanya, the foundational book of Chassidic philosophy authored by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, that had been printed in the neighboring city of Yellowknife decades earlier. Together they studied several lines from Chapter 32, which discusses the foundation of ahavat Yisrael, “love for one’s fellow Jew.” Karp, surprised that he had never encountered Tanya before, asked the students to send him a large English edition.
“They’ve moved the community to a whole new place,” he later told Alberta Jewish News. “We’ve never had anything like this here before.”
The final leg of the trip brought the young men to Yellowknife, where roughly 15 Jewish locals welcomed them into a private home. The local Jewish society there is still young, its members building infrastructure as they go: developing children’s programming, teaching traditions, arranging shofar-blowing and tashlich for Rosh Hashanah, and gathering children informally for Jewish learning, with the older ones helping teach the younger.
A local Jewish woman affixes a mezuzah to the door of her home.
At the gathering, the students displayed the Yellowknife-printed Tanya and played a video of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, teaching a lesson from Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement: Every Jew is like precious earth containing stones, diamonds and springs of water. The treasures are already there, waiting beneath the surface; all that’s left is to uncover them.
Recounting their trip, the students were careful not to describe these communities as empty ground onto which they’d brought Jewish identity. The truth, they said, was the opposite: the treasure was already there. Their only task was to fan the flames of inspiration, and help bring it a little closer to the surface.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoMrs. Henna Markel A”H, a Crown Heights resident and mother of three, was taken from us at the very young age of 45.
She suffered in silence for years as she fought for her health and to be a mother to her three dear sons, Mendel, Chaim and Arik and an Eishes Chayil to her husband Moishe.
Now her young Bochurim are left without a mother to care for them and lovingly raise them.
Please join the worldwide family of Chassisim in supporting Moishe and the boys at the time of terrible loss and grief.
By contributing to this campaign, you will be giving the Markel family the support they need during this most difficult and painful time.
Please picture the family, think about them lovingly and give generously for their sake.
May Henna’s Neshomo have an Aliya, may the family find comfort and may you be blessed with a Ksiva Vchasima Tova, Lishono Tova Umesuka.
Oversight Committee
Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, Lahak
Rabbi Ovadia Goldman, Chabad of Oklahoma City
Rabbi Yecheskel Raeburn, Los Angeles
Rabbi Shmuly Rothman, Boynton Beach
Rabbi Benjy Stock, Crown Heights
CrownHeights.info3 days agoNew York City’s contentious takeover of financially ailing Maimonides Medical Center was approved by state regulators Thursday — despite stiff opposition from the Orthodox Jewish community and other nearby Brooklyn residents.
As part of the merger agreement, the city’s public hospital system — Health + Hospitals — agreed to maintain kosher meals and other religious customs for the Borough Park facility with historical ties to the Jewish community.
“We’re not here to change Maimonides. We’re here to support Maimonides,” said Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of Health + Hospitals, during a hearing in Albany.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoOver 150 campers and staff from across the UK, Europe, U.S., Israel and South Africa joined for a summer of Chassidishkeit, growth and unforgettable experiences.
Camp Gan Yisroel UK has concluded another highly successful summer, with over 150 campers and staff from around the world enjoying a summer filled with Chassidishkeit, friendship, personal growth and non-stop fun.
Directed by Rabbi Shmuli Brown, with Menahel Ruchni Rabbi Folly Dubov, the camp combined a strong ruchniyus program with an action-packed schedule. Campers learned Mishnayos, Tanya, Maamorim and more, while taking on personal hachlotos for their Aliyos on Shabbos and importantly, commitments to continue throughout the year.
Head Counselors Yudi Brown and Dovi Pink, led a committed team of counselors and staff who worked around the clock to ensure that each camper felt cared for, included and truly at home.
A major milestone this summer was the first ever separate Masmidim site. Due to the division’s growth, the Masmidim campers (ages 14-16) had their own dedicated campgrounds, with a Zal, dining room, classrooms, accommodation and outdoor grounds. Division Heads Shloimy Shtern and Avremi Matusof, together with their staff, created a powerful atmosphere of learning and Chassidishkeit. A special raffle for the opportunity to spend Tishrei by the Rebbe has already inspired a large group of campers to join the annual CGI UK Tishrei trip, led by Shloimy Shtern and Zushi Borenstein.
The Chassidisher atmosphere was felt throughout camp, from spirited davening and bentching to Shabbos meals filled with singing, farbrengens and inspiring stories.
At the same time, the boys enjoyed an action packed summer, including a major theme park, ice skating, bowling, mud trails, snow and aqua parks, go karting, water sports, BBQs, bonfires, sports activities and midnight runaways. The summer reached its peak with the much anticipated Color War, bringing tremendous Chayos and team spirit.
Behind the success of the summer was the extraordinary dedication and devotion of the counselors and entire staff, who gave of themselves day and night to ensure that every camper felt cared for, included and able to enjoy an unforgettable experience. Their commitment and personal investment in each boy helped create the unique atmosphere that defines CGI UK.
Rabbi Yechiel Wilhelm and Sara led the kitchen team, while Tzivia Brown, together with General Managers Davidi Ben Yoav, Yankel Weinbaum and Binyomin Kahanov, coordinated the extensive logistics and operations.
The summer concluded with a grand banquet, prize giving and emotional farewells accompanied by the traditional singing of “Goodbye Gan Yisroel.”
While the summer may be over, the inspiration continues, with year round programs helping campers maintain the friendships, hachlotos and Chassidishkeit they experienced in Gan Yisroel UK.
Parents expressed tremendous appreciation for the genuine care shown to their children and the noticeable growth they saw in their sons throughout the summer.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoYankel and Chaya Mushka (nee Katzman) Raskin from Ellenville, NY had a baby girl!
CrownHeights.info3 days agoAs we celebrate the auspicious birthday on Chai Elul of the two luminaries of chassidus – its founder, R’Yisroel Baal Shem Tov and the Baal Ha’Tanya, R’Schneur Zalman – we share a letter of the Rebbe, in answer to a young man who says he doesn’t have anything to take out from his periodic study of the Tanya. The Rebbe clarifies a misconception and gives some specific advice.
By the Grace of G-d
5713
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting and Blessing:
I duly received your letter, in which you describe your studies at the Yeshivah and express your bewilderment at not having anything to take out from the shiur (periodic study) of Tanya, although you have already reached chapter 18.
I am greatly surprised that you cannot follow the shiur, although, as you state, the Rabbi explains it well. No doubt this is the result of interference by the yetzer distracting your attention.
You also write that something tells you that the Tanya is only for tzadikim. This is wrong, of course, for apart from the fact that the very name itself – Sefer Shel Benonim – clearly defines itself, it is also explained in the hakdama and in chapter 17, as well as other places, that it is intended for all. The best proof is in the fact that all those who study the Tanya (not allowing the yetzer hara to hinder them), have benefitted so much as to be completely inspired by its teachings.
As to your complaint that you have nothing to take out from the Tanya, I will point out some lines which are obviously full of meaning. For example, in chapter 6 (page 20), in the ten lines from the 7th to the 17th, you will find enough material to occupy your mind for hours and days.
Likewise, the first four lines on page 19; or on page 14, from the end of the 5th line to the 10th. In the same way, you can find some lines on each page which will inspire you to Ahavas Hashem and Yiras Hashem, and the more you will think about these meaningful teachings, the higher you will rise spiritually. In the course of a letter it is impossible to say more about it, but the teachers at the Yeshiva and senior talmidim will surely help you if you will ask them.
The important thing is not to be discouraged for to learn Tanya is like learning any other profound subject. In the same way as when you begin Gemara, or even Chumash, you cannot expect to delve very deeply in the subject matter at first as you will years later. So with the Tanya – you will gain depths as time goes on, and your mind will grasp more and more chasidus.
I am pleased to hear that you are a madrich helping younger children to understand and observe more Yiddishkeit. Helping others understand is a segula for G-d’s help to give you, too, a deeper understanding.
With the blessing of Talmud Torah b’Yirat Shamayim,
CrownHeights.info3 days agoPresident Donald Trump said Thursday he is renaming Lake Ontario to be known as “Lake America” in the United States as he exacerbates his trade war with Canada.
The Republican president signed an executive order that updated the lake’s name for the U.S. geographic naming service. Trump cannot force Canada to follow his preferred naming convention, however.
The move is reminiscent of his move last year to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.’”
Read More at Pix11
CrownHeights.info3 days agoTomchei Tmimim Ocean Parkway opened its doors for the new school year, welcoming back talmidim who arrived with big smiles, high energy, and a real excitement to begin learning.
From catching up with old friends to greeting their rebbeim, the boys brought life and warmth back into the building. Classrooms quickly settled into learning and davening, setting a chassidishe Avir for the months ahead.
Wishing all of our talmidim, rebbeim, and families a successful year of growth and learning!
CrownHeights.info3 days agoOholei Torah Preschool and Pre1A opened its doors this week with an atmosphere of joy and excitement as talmidim began a new year filled with discovery, growth, and Chassidishe chinuch.
Across both Preschool locations, at the main campus on Eastern Parkway and the East Flatbush site, bright classrooms, warm Morahs, and the lively energy of eager little boys set the tone for a wonderful year ahead.
With the leadership of Preschool Director Morah Rishi Bendet, together with Miss Mushky Sanowicz and Mrs. Sara Kievman, the dedicated Morahs and staff worked tirelessly to prepare both locations and create a smooth, warm, and welcoming start for every talmid.
With new briefcases in hand and big smiles on their faces, the boys settled into their classrooms, learned new routines, joined in song, and took pride in being part of Oholei Torah. These early experiences build a strong foundation for years of Torah, Yiras Shamayim, and simcha in learning.
Oholei Torah’s Pre1A talmidim also began their first day, excited to join the Cheder division and take this important next step in their Yeshiva journey. The boys enjoy their own dedicated floor, complete with two play areas, a lunchroom, and facilities designed especially for them, providing a quiet and comfortable environment separate from the older grades. Under the leadership of Menahel Rabbi Berel Greenfeld, the boys began the year with enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. A special thank you goes to the dedicated Pre1A mechanchim for the tremendous preparation and care invested in welcoming each talmid and beginning the year on a strong and positive note.
Photos by: Yossi Fajnland
CrownHeights.info3 days agoClick here for a PDF version of this edition of Here’s My Story, or visit the My Encounter Blog.
I vividly recall my father, Samuel Sydney Schwartz — Shimshon ben Menachem Mendel HaKohen — telling me in my youth, “I can trace my family back to Aharon the High Priest. That’s where I come from. So you must marry Jewish. If you don’t, you break the chain.”
That made a strong impression on me, especially because neither of my parents was Torah observant during my formative years, and it makes the story I am about to tell even more poignant.
In 1986, I was living with my husband and children in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and my parents joined us there so that they could be closer to me and their grandchildren. A year later, Rabbi Mendy Teitelbaum came to the area as the Chabad emissary, and my father developed a close relationship with him. Rabbi Teitelbaum knew that if he was short a man for the minyan, or if he needed help with a particular mitzvah, he could always count on my father.
When my father was subsequently diagnosed with cancer, of course, he had to let Rabbi Teitelbaum know he would not be available: “I want you to know that I’ll be having surgery so I won’t be able to join you for prayer services for a while. It looks like I’ll be out of commission for months, so don’t count on me.”
Naturally, Rabbi Teitelbaum asked, “What kind of surgery?”
“For lung cancer,” my father replied.
“I’ve been a smoker my whole life and this is the price I now have to pay. They are going to remove my left lung.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Can I tell this to the Rebbe?”
At that time, my father had no special connection to the Rebbe, so he merely said, “Sure, if you want to tell your rabbi, tell your rabbi; it’s okay with me.”
Rabbi Teitelbaum picked up the phone to call New York and came back to my father with: “The Rebbe says you should get a second opinion.”
“Not a bad idea,” my father responded, and he followed through. But the second opinion was no different from the first: “You’ve got cancer in your left lung and you should have it removed immediately.”
When my father related this to Rabbi Teitelbaum, Rabbi Teitelbaum again called New York and came back to my father with: “Get a third opinion and listen to whatever that doctor says.”
This was a little hard for my father to accept, largely because there were no more surgeons specializing in pulmonology in Colorado Springs, so he’d have to go far out of town. But Rabbi Teitelbaum convinced him that it would not be wise to disregard the Rebbe’s advice, and my father ended up making an appointment at a hospital in Denver — what was then called National Jewish Health Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. They had specialized for many decades in tuberculosis and asthma, and thus it was an appropriate place for treatment of my father’s lung issue.
Oddly, the doctor there wanted to know where my father was born. He was surprised to hear the response: Philadelphia. Why? Because his tests showed what appeared to be a lung fungus common to people in the South.
But then my father clarified, “My parents moved to Memphis when I was six years old, and I lived in Memphis for thirty-five years!”
“Well, that explains it. And I am happy to tell you that you don’t have lung cancer. You’ve got histoplasmosis. It’s a fungus that comes from birds or bats and it’s in the soil in the South. You do need to quit smoking, but you don’t need surgery.”
You can imagine the relief our whole family felt, and how grateful we were to the Rebbe for insisting on a third opinion.
About a year later, I moved with my family to Miami Beach, Florida, and my parents opted to return to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where they had lived previously. After seven years there, my father was again diagnosed with lung cancer — this time in his right lung — and surgery was again recommended.
Unfortunately, this cancer was for real, and he did have his right lung removed. But none of us failed to appreciate that had his left lung been erroneously removed years earlier, he would not be able to have this life-saving surgery now. Obviously, a person can’t have both lungs removed. So had the Rebbe not advised as he did, my father would not have had this option for treatment. His life would have ended with a long painful death from terminal cancer.
As it happened, he was able to have the surgery, which was successful. He lived another five years during which he saw another grandchild born to him, and his older grandchildren marry. None of this would have been possible without the Rebbe’s intercession.
Now, there is an addendum to this story.
After my father’s second lung cancer diagnosis, my parents decided to move to Palm Beach, Florida, where they became close to Rabbi Moshe Scheiner, who led the local synagogue. Years later, after my father passed away, my mother went to Rabbi Scheiner and said, “I want to keep Shabbat now.”
Rabbi Scheiner informed her that if she wanted to keep Shabbat properly, she couldn’t drive to prayer services. He convinced her to move to Delray Beach, where my sister lived, and where she would be within walking distance of a synagogue.
And so it was that through this chain of events my mother became Shomer Shabbat at age seventy-two and ended up keeping Shabbat for the next twenty years.
One beautiful story on top of another.
Ms. Judy Waldman, a yacht broker, has been living in South Florida for the past thirty-six years. She was interviewed in June 2026.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoby CrownHeights.info
The theme for this year’s International Kinus Hashluchim has been announced, placing the Rebbe’s Kapital “הטיבה ה׳ לטובים” at the center of the annual gathering of thousands of Shluchim from around the world.
The theme reflects the primary purpose of the Kinus: to strengthen one another, in the spirit of the words, “איש את רעהו יעזרו ולאחיו יאמר חזק” — each person helping his fellow and encouraging his brother to be strong.
For Shluchim on the front lines of Jewish life around the globe, the message carries particular significance.
Every day presents a Shliach with a choice. A challenge can become a setback, or it can become an opportunity. A difficult situation can lead to frustration, or it can become a catalyst for growth. The difference, organizers say, is often found in the lens through which the situation is viewed.
This year’s Kinus will focus on the Rebbe’s call to choose tov — to seek out the good, cultivate it and bring it to the forefront, both within oneself and in others.
The words of the Kapital — “הטיבה ה׳ לטובים” — express a deeper connection between the goodness a person brings into the world and the goodness that is drawn down from Above.
The Rebbe explained that the conduct of the Ribbono Shel Olam follows the principle of “מידה כנגד מידה”, measure for measure. When a Yid places himself in a state of goodness, he creates a vessel for the revelation of Divine goodness.
In a sichah on Chof Cheshvan 5745, the Rebbe explained:
“מדתו של הקב”ה היא מדה כנגד מדה. ולכן, כאשר רוצים שתהי’ המשכת בחינת הטוב מלמעלה, ‘הטיבה’ – צריכים בני ישראל להיות במעמד ומצב המתאים לכך – ‘טובים’, שעל ידי זה מעוררים את המשכת בחינת הטוב מלמעלה – ‘הטיבה ה’ לטובים’, ‘מדה כנגד מדה’.”
The message will serve as more than a slogan for the Kinus. It is intended to shape the atmosphere of the gathering itself.
Shluchim will be encouraged to strengthen one another through optimism, generosity, positive encouragement and genuine care — recognizing the good in a fellow Shliach and helping bring out the best in one another.
The Kinus Hashluchim has long served as a unique opportunity for Shluchim to step away from the day-to-day responsibilities of Shlichus and come together with their fellow Shluchim.
For a few days, thousands of Shluchim who spend the year strengthening their communities gather to strengthen each other.
That sense of achdus and mutual chizuk has become one of the defining features of the annual Kinus. Alongside farbrengens, learning sessions, workshops and meetings addressing the practical realities of Shlichus, the gathering provides Shluchim with an opportunity to share experiences, encourage one another and return home with renewed energy.
This year’s theme places that relationship at the forefront.
The “טובים” are not simply individuals seeking personal growth. They are a collective — Shluchim looking out for one another, celebrating each other’s successes, offering support during difficult times and creating an environment in which every Shliach knows that he is part of something far greater than himself.
And when thousands of Shluchim make that choice together, the impact extends far beyond the walls of the Kinus.
The chizuk experienced by a Shliach in Crown Heights returns with him to his community. The encouragement he receives becomes encouragement for his family and the Yidden he serves. The achdus among Shluchim becomes a source of strength for Chabad communities around the world.
The theme therefore carries a broader message: our choice to bring more tov into the world can itself become the vessel for greater brachah from Above.
As the Shluchim gather and strengthen one another, the hope is that their collective commitment to goodness will bring about the corresponding “הטיבה” — an outpouring of Divine goodness upon their Shlichus, their families and all of Klal Yisrael.
And ultimately, the greatest expression of tov is the Geulah Shleimah.
CrownHeights.info3 days agoMendel and Sara Perlstein from Norwood Park, IL had a baby girl!
CrownHeights.info4 days agoFrom a concerned resident.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon several weeks ago when I went on a walk with my kids In Southern Crown Heights. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining, everything was calm but suddenly out of the midst of the peaceful CH streets I was approaching the intersection of Clarkson Avenue and Albany Avenue the sound of the scene changed rapidly with a screeching aggressive tone of intense large scale construction. Surprised by the heavy noise I looked up at the side when i was shocked to see what’s for coming. It felt really dark to stare at the construction of the biggest homeless shelter in North America right here in front of my eyes in the Crown Heights backyard.
It was concerning and fundamentally alarming to say the least.
As soon as I was able to I did some research on 681 Clarkson Avenue and was horrified to find out what was planned.
It was in impounding 1,081 apartments for mentally ill chemically addicted vagrants, some larger apartments will have multiple beds so it will be thousands of criminals moving into our neighborhood, all this being built at accelerating intense speed (probably violating many NYC 311 construction laws in the process).
Racing thoughts of intense concern for the future of Crown Heights started racing my mind at night.
What will be the future of CH?! Will our neighborhood become the center of homelessness, crime, drug usage, mental illness and poverty in New York City?! Is this what we really want for our future. What I wrote here is only a little note of how horrifying of a reality can come if we don’t take action now. All this is besides for the multiple homeless shelters rapidly expanding, biking Lanes and the soon to be Albany Avenue MTA city bus route directly running through the heart of Crown Heights taking away critical parking at Rapid pace on A scale which we cannot keep up with this rate.
The shocking silence from our local leadership is just as concerning as the future of Southern Crown Heights, but I am optimistic that with a unified community approved plan of action hopefully we can turn things around. I am doing what I can, but I am also calling up on all those that don’t want Southern Crown Heights to be worse than Downtown San Francisco with dozens of dangerous drug addicts loitering 24/7 at every single corner—to get involved as well & do what you can.
This is inherently unfair and strikingly concerning for ch residents.
CrownHeights.info4 days agoDelta Air Lines announced Wednesday that it will restore daily nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, with flights set to resume in September.
The first departure from JFK is scheduled for September 6, with the aircraft due to arrive in Israel the following morning. The return flight will leave Tel Aviv on September 7 and reach New York later that day. Delta said the route will be operated using Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
“The resumption of service follows a thorough review of the evolving security environment in the region. The safety and security of our customers and employees remain our top priority, and Delta will continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with aviation authorities and government agencies. Customers are encouraged to check delta.com and the Delta app for the latest flight updates and travel information,” the airline said.
Read More at israelnationalnews
CrownHeights.info4 days agoMendy Dubov (Orlando, FL) to Rochel Croitoru (Coral Springs, FL) L’Chaim: Thursday, August 27th, 8:30pm at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Crown Street
CrownHeights.info4 days agoThe Markel family will be sitting Shiva in Crown Heights following the passing of Mrs. Henna Markel OBM.
The Markel family will be sitting Shiva at: 763 Eastern Parkway, Apt. F3
Tefillah Schedule:
Shacharis — 9:30 AM
Mincha — 2:20 PM
Maariv — 9:40 PM
Visiting Hours:
One hour following Shacharis
One hour following Mincha
8:30 PM until Maariv
CrownHeights.info4 days agoNew York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) has issued a Travel Advisory for Thursday, August 27, as periods of rain and thunderstorms could bring locally heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts to the city.
In the latest forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS), showers and thunderstorms are possible beginning late Thursday morning and continuing off and on through the evening. The greatest chance for rain and thunderstorms is currently expected between approximately 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Rain chances are expected to taper overnight, although an isolated shower remains possible through midday Friday. New York City is under a Flood Watch from noon until 11 p.m. tomorrow.
The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center has placed New York City under a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding, Level 2 of 4, for Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center has also placed the New York City area under a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms, Level 1 of 5. No excessive rainfall or severe weather risk is currently forecast for Friday.
Current forecasts call for 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain across the area, with localized totals up to 2.5 inches possible where isolated thunderstorms develop. Higher totals are more likely north and west of New York City, slightly lower amounts currently forecasted across southern Brooklyn and Queens. Rainfall rates are generally expected to remain below 0.5 inches per hour, but thunderstorms could produce brief periods of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour.
Localized flash flooding is possible where isolated downpours move over, but low-lying and poor-drainage areas are at highest risk, particularly Thursday afternoon and early evening. Thunderstorms may also produce damaging wind gusts and small hail. The overall severe weather risk remains low, but an isolated stronger storm could produce wind gusts up to 65 mph.
NYCEM is coordinating with the NWS and City agencies ahead of Thursday’s weather to monitor the forecast and issue emergency weather updates through Notify NYC. The City’s Flash Flood Plan was activated on Wednesday at 8:00 AM, and the Downed Tree Task Force has been placed on alert to support any potential tree removal operations.
CrownHeights.info5 days agoThe US State Department is halting the processing of all US visa applications worldwide.
As part of an effort to prevent immigrants who would require financial support during their stay from entering the United States, the State Department announced that all US visa applications from around the world will be suspended for the coming period.
A State Department official quoted by Britain’s The Guardian said that the State Department has issued guidelines and is developing special training tools to give consular officials the ability to assess whether an applicant will be able to support themselves financially in the United States and will not require welfare benefits or public assistance from the authorities.
Read More at israelnationalnews
CrownHeights.info5 days agoTwo decades after the establishment of the Central Yeshiva Ketana “Tomchei Temimim” in Istra, outside Moscow, the sounds of Torah learning continue to resonate in a city once synonymous with the persecution of Torah and Yiddishkeit.
That milestone is now being marked with the publication of a new volume of Torah scholarship, “Armeia Admora,” bringing together chiddushim, notes and analytical Torah writings produced by the yeshiva’s rabbonim and talmidim over the years.
The publication comes during the month of Menachem Av, around the yom hillula of the Kabbalist Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and carries particular significance in the Russian capital. In a country where Chabad Chassidim once risked imprisonment and worse for maintaining Torah observance, the flourishing of a Torah institution and the publication of a substantial sefer represent a remarkable transformation.
The Central Yeshiva Ketana “Tomchei Temimim” was established in Istra two decades ago by Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, shlita.
The newly published volume serves as a collection of Torah scholarship that has emerged from the yeshiva’s ongoing learning program. Its pages contain chiddushim in both Nigleh and Chassidus, reflecting the intensive learning of the yeshiva’s talmidim and staff.
A central focus of the sefer is Maseches Bava Basra, which was studied in depth by the yeshiva during the past year. The volume also includes pilpulim and analyses on the Rebbe’s sichos, developed as part of the Temimim’s winter learning campaign in Likkutei Sichos.
Among the most significant features of the sefer is a section containing four rare handwritten maanos kodesh from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, published here for the first time.
The handwritten responses were addressed to the chossid Harav DovBer Levy and deal with matters connected to Chabad activities behind the Iron Curtain.
The publication of these documents provides a rare glimpse into the Rebbe’s guidance regarding Jewish life and Chabad activities in the Soviet Union during a period when maintaining Jewish observance required tremendous mesirus nefesh.
Another historic section, titled “Dovev Sifsei Yeshenim,” brings to light a shiur that had never previously been published.
The shiur was delivered by the renowned gaon Rabbi Nachum Partzovitz, zt”l, one of the prominent Roshei Yeshiva of Mir. The manuscript was discovered in the genizah of the Chabad House in Lugano, Switzerland, and is now being published for the benefit of the Torah world.
The volume also contains historic halachic responsa from two prominent rabbonim who served Jewish communities in the Soviet Union: Rabbi Moshe Avigdor Chaikin, zt”l, and Rabbi Zalman Antzilevich, zt”l.
Adding another important dimension to the collection is an extensive halachic correspondence between Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, shlita, and HaGaon Rabbi Chaim Lieberman of Jerusalem.
The sefer is arranged in alphabetical order, emphasizing the unity of Torah despite the diversity of subjects and contributors.
It opens with a series of Chassidic maamarim exploring the spiritual significance of the twentieth year, setting the tone for a publication that seeks not only to document the yeshiva’s accomplishments, but also to give expression to the deeper significance of reaching this milestone.
The project was brought to fruition with the support and encouragement of the yeshiva’s director, Rabbi Chaim Moshe Weber. The extensive editing and coordination were overseen by the yeshiva’s Ra”m and Mashpia, Rabbi Chanan Teichtel.
The publication was completed under the leadership of the current Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Lerman, who continues the work begun by his predecessor, Rabbi Mordechai Yona Klein.
The publication of “Armeia Admora” represents more than another addition to the shelves of Torah literature. It is a tangible expression of the remarkable growth of Torah learning in a part of the world where, only a generation ago, such learning was suppressed and persecuted.
Many of the yeshiva’s alumni have gone on to join the ranks of Shluchim serving Jewish communities around the world, carrying with them the Torah and Chassidic education they received in Moscow.
As the Central Yeshiva Ketana enters its third decade, the publication of its Torah chiddushim stands as a testament to the power of Torah to overcome darkness and flourish where it was once forbidden.
The hope and aspiration of those involved is that the Torah being learned and written in Moscow will itself serve as a zechus for the Jewish people, adding another “one act” that tips the scales and hastens the coming of the complete and ultimate Geulah.
CrownHeights.info5 days agoWith great sadness we report the passing of Mrs. Henna Markel OBM, a young wife and mother living in Crown Heights. She passed away on the Tuesday, 12th of Elul, after a lengthy illness.
She was 45 years old.
Mrs. Markel, née Margolis, was the wife of Rabbi Moshe Markel, who is involved in the distribution and sale of Chassidus seforim published by Kehot Publication Society.
She is survived by her husband, Rabbi Moshe Markel, and their three sons, Menachem Mendel, Chaim, and Arik.
She is also survived by her parents, Shaul and Yita Gittel Margolis of Oak Park, Michigan, and her siblings: Sora Milecki of Coral Springs, Florida; Avromie Margolis of Los Angeles, California; Devora Leah Stern of Lauderhill, Florida; Mendy Margolis of Southfield, Michigan; Dovid Margolis of Chicago, Illinois; and Shea Margolis of Southfield, Michigan.
The levaya will pass by 770 Eastern Parkway on Wednesday, 13 Elul, at 12:30 PM and continue to Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, where burial will take place at 1:30 PM.
Shiva information:
Her husband, sons, parents, and siblings will begin sitting shiva together at the Markel home: 763 Eastern Parkway, Apt. F3
Tefillah Schedule:
Shacharis — 9:30 AM
Mincha — 2:20 PM
Maariv — 9:40 PM
Visiting Hours:
One hour following Shacharis
One hour following Mincha
8:30 PM until Maariv
Rabbi Moshe Markel and the children will remain at this address.
The following family members will subsequently continue sitting shiva in their respective cities:
Rabbi Shaul and Yita Gittel Margolis, together with Mendy, Dovid, and Shea Margolis, will sit shiva beginning Friday morning at:
23170 Gardner Street
Oak Park, MI
Sora Milecki and Devora Leah Stern will sit shiva beginning Friday at:
6540 NW 46th Street
Lauderhill, FL
Avromie Margolis will sit shiva beginning Thursday evening at:
1807 South Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
Baruch Dayan Hoemes
CrownHeights.info5 days agoThe halls of Oholei Torah came alive today as over 1,100 talmidim began a new Shnas Halimudim across the Cheder and Mechina divisions, filling the classrooms with the vibrant sounds of Torah and tefillah.
Cheder Oholei Torah warmly welcomed talmidim in grades 1 through 7 for a year of growth in Torah, Yiras Shamayim, and Chassidishe chinuch. The talmidim entered their classrooms with excitement, reconnecting with friends and meeting the devoted Rebbeim who will guide and inspire them throughout the year.
At the Troy Avenue campus, the Mechina welcomed its 8th grade talmidim as they began this important stage of preparation for Mesivta. Through a strong focus on Nigleh, Chassidus, personal responsibility, and disciplined learning, the Mechina provides a structured and uplifting environment in which every talmid is encouraged to reach his fullest potential.
A tremendous Yasher Koach goes to the Menahalim, Rabbi Meir Shimshoni, Grades 1 and 2; Rabbi Yossi Evers, Grades 3 through 5; Rabbi Eli Simpson, Grades 6 and 7; and Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Wilhelm, Mechina, together with the dedicated mechanchim who invested significant time and effort preparing their classrooms and programs to welcome the talmidim and begin the year successfully.
The successful opening followed weeks of extensive preparation throughout the summer. The operations department, led by Director of Operations R’ Hersh Meilech Rosenfeld, worked tirelessly to prepare the buildings, classrooms, and campuses to welcome the talmidim.
Behind the scenes, the financial office, led by Rabbi Dov Klyne, worked extensively on staff onboarding, payroll, and the financial arrangements needed for the new year. The registration office, led by Rabbi Sholom Rosenfeld, together with R’ Yanky Vorcheimer and Mrs. Moussia Mondshine, carefully coordinated with families, processed registrations, and organized student records to help ensure a smooth opening for every talmid.
With 1,103 talmidim learning across Cheder and Mechina, the new year begins with tremendous energy and anticipation for a year filled with learning, growth, and meaningful accomplishments.
Photos by: Yossi Fajnland, Shalom Ross, Yanky Telsner
CrownHeights.info5 days agoJust six months ago, construction began at Lubavitcher Yeshiva to add two additional floors to the Yeshiva.
Today, just six months later, those floors are complete and ready to welcome the talmidim as they begin the new Shnas Halimudim in beautiful new classrooms.
To see a project of this size go from construction to completion in just six months is truly remarkable. It is something we could only accomplish with the Rebbe’s brachos and the tremendous support of our community.
The new floors give the Yeshiva much-needed space to continue growing and, most importantly, to continue giving every Talmid the pure, uncompromised Chassidishe chinuch that the Rebbe demands of us, raising proud Temimim and true Chassidim of the Rebbe.
CrownHeights.info5 days agoEveryone knows that when it’s time to make a simcha in Crown Heights, it’s also time to dig deep into your wallet. Between the hall, the caterer, the musician, the photographer — and the list goes on — you can expect to shell out thousands of dollars toward the special occasion. It’s all in service of a mitzvah, but the numbers in your head can still be staggering.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
With a little transparency, true costs, side-by-side comparisons, and real-time vendor availability can all be laid out simply and clearly — no guesswork, no endless phone calls, no surprises.
Don’t believe it? Take a look at BookBeSimcha.com, where Crown Heights simcha vendors have made their availability and pricing public for everyone to see.
Halls – Halls on BookBeSimcha.com range from completely free to around $1,000, with pricing that stays reasonable across the board. Several venues even offer outdoor options for families who want that setting.
Event Planners – Event planners on the platform range from $1,500 to $10,000, covering virtually every style and budget — from an intimate gathering to a full dream event.
Musicians and Photographers – Looking to add a musician or photographer? Both are available on BookBeSimcha.com, including male and female photographers, with a wide range of price points to fit any budget. Every step can be booked entirely online.
Hair and Makeup Artists – Hair and makeup artists are listed as well, complete with availability, pricing, and links to past work, so you can compare options with confidence before booking.
The bottom line, booking a simcha doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal. With transparent pricing and real availability all in one place, it can be done — fittingly — BeSimcha.
CrownHeights.info6 days agoby CrownHeights.info
Crown Heights Shomrim has released a Scam Alert for the Crown Heights community as a “Car Dent Fix” Scam returns to the Shchuna.
“Two men in a red sedan, sometimes accompanied by a child, are stopping people on the street offering to fix dents in your car for several hundred dollars,” Crown Heights Shomrim wrote. “They are reportedly very pushy and use a spray/sanding method while promising results within 24 hours.”
DO NOT ENGAGE OR GIVE THEM MONEY.
These scammers promise to fix a dent, but instead use other methods that look at first like they work, while in fact they are only causing more damage.
“Shomrim located and confronted them, and they left Crown Heights,” they wrote. “Our advanced technology team is monitoring for their return.”
If you were approached, call Shomrim: 718-774-3333.
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CrownHeights.info6 days agoAhead of the new school year, a throwback to the Kinus HaMechanchim keynote address by Rabbi Benjy Korf, Head of School at Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami, Florida, who focused on the theme of raising פרומע, ערליכע, ווארעמע, חסידישע אידן.
Surrounded by hundreds Lubavitcher Mechanchim from across the globe, Rabbi Korf spoke about the tremendous growth in the world of education and the many skills expected of today’s educators. Pedagogy, curriculum, differentiated instruction, classroom management, technology, and professional development all matter, he said, and a mechanech has a responsibility to continually improve his craft.
But none of those things, important as they are, can replace the foundation of Chabad chinuch.
Drawing on the Rebbe’s approach to chinuch, Rabbi Korf emphasized that education is not only about what a teacher knows, but who the teacher is. There are lessons that can be taught, he explained, and there are values that are transmitted simply through the presence, dedication, and example of the mechanech.
At the heart of his address was the unique shlichus of a Chabad mechanech. Rabbi Korf emphasized that children can sense when a teacher approaches chinuch not simply as a profession, but as a mission, and that the mesiras nefesh, hiskashrus, and sense of purpose a mechanech brings into the classroom are felt by his talmidim.
Professionalism, he explained, should strengthen that mission, not replace it. “Professionalism can never replace hiskashrus. It can only become a tool to support it.” The true uniqueness of Chabad chinuch is the connection of the mechanech to the Rebbe and what that connection allows him to transmit to his talmidim.
Rabbi Korf also spoke about the daily mesiras nefesh of mechanchim, the consistency of walking into the classroom each morning and giving another piece of themselves, day after day, often without recognition or applause. It is precisely that steady devotion, he said, that makes the shlichus of a mechanech so special.
He concluded with an uplifting charge to the mechanchim gathered at the banquet, they are the ones entrusted with transmitting Chassidishkeit and Hiskashrus to the next generation.
CrownHeights.info6 days agoThis Wednesday, the Chabad world will mark the twenty-fifth yahrtzeit of the philanthropist Dovid Deitsch. For close to five decades, Dovid and his wife, Sara, supported numerous educational institutions, but one stands out today in his hometown of New Haven.
Now bearing his name and operating in three locations, Yeshivas Beis Dovid Shlomo has, under the leadership of his children and grandchildren, grown into one of the largest out-of-town Chabad yeshivos. Its flagship campus occupies the former St. Brendan Church, the largest house of worship in New Haven.
When Senator Joseph Lieberman visited his hometown, once home to only a small Jewish community, and saw Hebrew letters on the main campus building, he recalled thinking, “I would not be surprised if Moshiach came this afternoon.” As he told Dovid Zaklikowski for his book Yards of Kindness, had someone told him even a few years earlier that Chabad would one day occupy that building, he would not have believed it. Now, he could only say, “Wow!”
Rabbi Yosef Kalmenson, the longtime rosh yeshivah of the zal who recently passed away, said that when he first arrived in New Haven, he could not have fathomed how much the community would grow. Nor could he have dreamed of having an employer like Dovid.
“He upheld the material needs of the yeshivah,” he said in Yiddish, “and he never mixed into the spiritual aspects of it.” Rabbi Kalmenson described Dovid as a soldier who did whatever needed to be done: “A refined person, a cherished person.”
Dovid never made Rabbi Kalmenson feel as though he were the boss. Instead, he became his study partner. Each weekday, the rosh yeshivah visited Deitsch Plastic to study with Dovid for forty-five minutes. Before they began, the businessman would tell his secretary that he was unavailable until the rabbi left.
The Deitsch-supported educational institution has grown to include a mesivta and a day school. Even during difficult financial times, the rosh yeshivah heard no complaints from its benefactors, the children and grandchildren of Dovid and Sara Deitsch. “They were still dedicated to the yeshivah,” he is quoted as saying in Yards of Kindness. But their commitment went beyond merely covering expenses; “it was done with breitkeit [expansiveness].”
The community, Rabbi Kalmenson said, has grown exponentially over the past two decades, with more shuls and more organizations. “It is a dream that Dovid wanted,” he said, “and is now being fulfilled by his children and grandchildren.”
The new book Yards of Kindness captures the life of Dovid and Sara Deitsch.
CrownHeights.info6 days agoWest Philadelphia is witnessing a renewed chapter in Jewish life as a new Chabad Shlichus is being launched by Rabbi Mendel and Mushka Dubrowski to serve the growing Jewish community in the area.
Once home to a thriving Jewish population during the mid-20th century, West Philadelphia has seen a resurgence of Jewish life in recent years. As young professionals, families, and others put down roots in the area, the Jewish population continues to grow, with an estimated 4,000 Jews now living throughout West Philadelphia.
Recognizing the tremendous potential to build upon this momentum, the Dombrowski’s’ are embarking on a new Shlichus to establish a Chabad presence in West Philly and create a welcoming Jewish home for the community.
The Dubrowskis’ vision is to build a warm and inclusive environment where every Jew, regardless of background, affiliation, or level of Jewish knowledge, can feel a sense of belonging, connection, and inspiration.
From the outset, the new Chabad will seek to offer a broad range of programs and services, including Torah classes, opportunities to perform mitzvos, holiday celebrations, community Shabbat dinners, and engaging programming for children and families.
The goal is not simply to establish another Jewish institution, but to lay the foundation for a vibrant Jewish community that can grow and flourish for generations to come.
Launching a new Shlichus requires building an entire infrastructure from the ground up. Without an existing Chabad House, established programming, or a base of financial support, the Dubrowskis are turning to friends, family, colleagues, and supporters to help kickstart the Shlichus.
Their campaign seeks to establish the foundation necessary to begin serving the Jewish community and create a sustainable home for Jewish life in West Philadelphia.
Every partnership will help make it possible to bring Torah, mitzvos, Jewish education, and meaningful community experiences to thousands of Jews who are increasingly calling West Philly home.
At the heart of the new Shlichus is the timeless mission of Chabad-Lubavitch: to reach every Jew with warmth and love, strengthen Jewish identity and practice, and bring more light into the world through Torah and mitzvos.
The Dubrowskis hope that the new Chabad House will become a place where Jews can celebrate their heritage, ask questions, learn, connect, and discover the beauty of Jewish life.
As they begin this new chapter, Rabbi Mendel and Mushka Dubrowski are inviting the wider Chabad community to partner with them in establishing this new center of Jewish life.
“Our goal—as is the goal of every Chabad House around the globe—is to bring more light into the world by adding in Torah and mitzvos, ultimately bringing about the Coming of Moshiach, may it be speedily in our days. Amen!”
With a growing Jewish population and a new generation putting down roots, West Philadelphia presents a significant opportunity for the growth of Jewish life. The arrival of the new Shluchim marks the beginning of what they hope will become a lasting and vibrant Jewish presence in the community.
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CrownHeights.info6 days agoby CrownHeights.info
History was made in Montecito on Sunday, August 9th, as approximately 150 people gathered for a joyous Hachnasat Sefer Torah—welcoming a newly dedicated Torah scroll to Chabad of Montecito.
The celebration, led by Rabbi Chaim and Mushkie Loschak, directors of Chabad of Montecito, brought together Jewish families and community members of all ages, from babies and young children to grandparents, along with local rabbis and their families. The new Torah, generously dedicated by the Ruimy family, marks a significant milestone for the growing Jewish community.
Until now, Chabad of Montecito had relied on a borrowed Torah for its services. The arrival of a Torah of its own represents far more than the addition of a sacred scroll. It establishes a lasting connection between the community and one of Judaism’s most enduring symbols of Jewish identity, continuity and faith.
The festivities began with a lively procession, as the new Torah was carried amid music and celebration. Mendel Kudan provided the music from an open truck driven by Elizabeth Peck, while Rabbi Chaim Loschak, his brother Rabbi Mendel Loschak of Chabad of Santa Barbara, and Bryan Gindoff accompanied the Torah.
As the procession made its way down the private driveway toward the celebration’s host home, singing and dancing filled the gathering. Families, children and friends joined together to escort the Torah into its new home, continuing a tradition that has united Jewish communities throughout the generations.
Following the procession, the community gathered on the patio for blessings and the ceremonial lifting of the Torah, allowing those present to view its handwritten letters. Rabbi Chaim used the occasion to share a powerful message about the meaning of community.
“Every single letter matters,” he explained, drawing a parallel between the Torah scroll and the people who make up a Jewish community. Just as a Torah is incomplete when even one letter is damaged or missing, he said, every individual has a place and a role within the community.
“Nobody is a spare part we don’t really need. We need everyone. And everyone belongs.”
The Ruimy family, whose generosity made the dedication possible, expressed their hopes for the Torah’s future in Montecito.
“Welcoming a new Sefer Torah is a deeply meaningful and joyful celebration,” the family shared. “We are truly honored to dedicate this Sefer Torah to the new Chabad Montecito Community Center and to contribute to the growth of this wonderful community.”
They added that they hope the Torah will “serve as a source of learning, inspiration and celebration, bringing people together and enriching Jewish life in Montecito for generations to come.”
The formal ceremony soon gave way to the unrestrained joy that accompanies a Torah celebration. Men danced with the Torah, while women and children joined in their own dancing. Food, photographs and warm conversations filled the afternoon as community members celebrated the milestone together.
For Rabbi Loschak, the occasion represented the beginning of something even greater.
“For generations, Jews have gathered around the Torah—carrying it, dancing with it, learning from it, and passing it from one generation to the next,” he reflected. “And now, Montecito has its very own Torah.”
The arrival of the new Sefer Torah comes as Chabad of Montecito continues to build Jewish life and community in the area. With its own Torah now at the heart of the community, the scroll will accompany future Shabbat services, holidays, celebrations, classes and countless personal milestones.
The dancing may have ended and the guests may have gone home, but the Torah’s journey in Montecito has only just begun.
With deep gratitude to the Ruimy family and to all those who took part in the celebration, Chabad of Montecito welcomed not simply a new Torah, but a new chapter in the story of Jewish life in Montecito.
Montecito has a Torah—and the community is ready to write the next chapter.
CrownHeights.info6 days agoThere is something that has always bothered me, both as a bochur and now as a Yungerman in Kollel.
Boruch Hashem, I try to follow the guidance of my Mashpiim and Rabbonim and, as a Frum Yid, I use only filtered devices.
On a side note, I have always been perplexed by how commonplace Spotify has become among Frum Yidden bichlal, and us Lubavitcher Chassidim bifrat. People openly talk about having Spotify and play it in public. Even more concerning is when parents, teachers, counselors, Shluchim in Yeshivos, and head counselors use it around Talmidim and children. Yet Spotify is (in the meantime) completely unfiltered, with access to virtually anything.
But that brings me to my real point:
One of the tremendous Berachos we have today is accessibility. There are so many incredible podcasts and interviews being produced today by some of the best people around the world: Chassidim sharing their zichronos, interviews with Mashpiim, Shluchim, Mechanchim, professionals, people sharing their fascinating stories and experiences, discussions about dating, Sholom Bayis, chinuch, and really so much more.
I have always wanted to listen to them. I really feel like there is so much I can learn from them. And at times I really felt like I needed them.
So much time, effort, and money goes into producing this content, and much of it is genuinely valuable. It is a tremendous tool for someone who wants to learn and grow.
But I keep coming back to one simple question:
How can I listen to them?
If I want to maintain the standards I have accepted, and I don’t want an unfiltered device, unrestricted internet access, YouTube, or Spotify, what is the solution?
It seems to me that there is a real need here. We have invested so much time, effort, and resources into creating valuable content, but many Frum Yidden who would genuinely benefit from it have no appropriate way to access it without compromising the standards they are trying to maintain. Now we need to find a way to make sure that the people who need this content have a way to access it.
Maybe it’s time we start thinking about that.
Because the question isn’t whether this valuable content exists.
The question is:
How can I listen to it?
CrownHeights.info6 days agoWhat does it mean to be there for every Jew?
In Bowie, Maryland, the answer was brought into sharp focus this summer through two very different events — one a devastating tragedy in the woods of Bowie, the other a joyful Jewish celebration at the local baseball stadium.
Late Saturday night two months ago, a single-engine plane carrying three young Jewish men crashed into a wooded area of Bowie.
By early Sunday morning, the wreckage had been located. When Rabbi Eli Baron, director of Chabad of Bowie, learned that three Jewish souls had been lost less than two miles from his home, he headed directly to the scene.
There, amid the wreckage and emergency personnel, Rabbi Baron recited Tehillim and Shema for the three young men and helped ensure that they were treated with the dignity required by Jewish law. Working together with fellow Chabad shluchim, ZAKA, Misaskim, chaplains and local authorities, he remained involved as the victims were recovered and transported, accompanying their remains and reciting the traditional prayers.
“As the rabbi of a small community, a tragedy like this, thank G-d, is not something we regularly see,” Rabbi Baron later told Chabad.org. But, he explained, the mission of a shliach is to be there for every Jew, in moments of both “joy, and tragedy.”
Just two months later, that mission took Chabad of Bowie to a very different setting: the concourse of Prince George’s Stadium.
For the Chesapeake Baysox Jewish Community Day on August 23, Chabad of Bowie brought a kosher concession stand to the ballpark, answering a question Rabbi Baron told the Bowie Patch he had heard repeatedly from local Jews: “Why isn’t there a kosher deli in Bowie?”
So, for one afternoon, there was.
Fans and community members stopped by for kosher Jewish favorites, while Chabad also offered opportunities to wrap tefillin, pick up Jewish literature, connect with other Jews and simply stop by for a shmooze.
The settings could hardly have been more different: a wooded crash site in the middle of the night, and a bustling baseball stadium on a beautiful summer afternoon.
But the mission was exactly the same.
Wherever a Jew is in Bowie — in sorrow or in celebration, searching for a mitzvah or simply looking for a kosher bite to eat — Chabad is there.
For the past two years, Rabbi Eli and Mushky Baron and their family have been building that Jewish presence in Bowie, operating Chabad’s activities out of their rented home. Shabbat services and Kiddushim, Hebrew School, classes, large-scale Yom Tov celebrations, community events and countless personal encounters have all grown from those humble quarters.
Now, that growth has reached the point where a permanent home is no longer simply a dream — it is a necessity.
Chabad of Bowie is currently under contract to purchase a property that will become a permanent home for Jewish life in Bowie: a place where more Jews can participate in a mitzvah, daven, learn Torah, celebrate a holiday, bring their children to Hebrew School, or simply discover a Jewish community they may not have known was waiting for them.
But Chabad needs YOUR help to make it happen.
YOU can become a partner in establishing a PERMANENT Jewish home in Bowie — one that will be there through the celebrations, through the difficult moments, and through the ordinary days in between.
Please give generously at ChabadBowie.com/Permanence.
Help Chabad of Bowie build the space it needs to reach the thousands of Jews who don’t yet know what they’re missing.
CrownHeights.info6 days agoThe halls of Mesivta Oholei Torah are once again filled with the vibrant sound of Torah as 225 talmidim begin a new Shnas Halimudim at the Greenwald Campus on Remsen Avenue, making it the largest Lubavitch Mesivta in North America.
Many of the bochurim arrived directly from a summer at Yeshivas Kayitz Program (YKP), Oholei Torah’s overnight summer program, carrying the energy and growth of the summer into the new year.
Led by Menahel Rabbi Moshe Silman, the Mesivta provides each talmid with the guidance and environment to grow in Nigleh, Chassidus, and Chassidishe hanhogo. Shiur Alef is guided by Sgan Menahel Rabbi Eli Oster, while Shiur Beis and Gimmel are led by Sgan Menahel Rabbi Zalman Laufer. With each division situated on its own floor and learning in its own zal, the bochurim benefit from a focused setting tailored to their stage of growth.
Joining the Mesivta this year is Rabbi Yitzchok Polter, who will serve as a Maggid Shiur in Shiur Gimmel. Rabbi Polter joins the Mesivta’s dedicated team of Mashpiim, Maggidei Shiur, and Mashgichim who devote themselves to the learning, growth, and wellbeing of every talmid.
The Mesivta also welcomed a large group of 17 shluchim, whose energy, warmth, and Chassidishe chayus contribute greatly to the atmosphere of the Mesivta. Through learning with the talmidim, arranging programs, and serving as positive role models, the shluchim play an important role in strengthening the spirit of the Yeshiva.
Located just 15 minutes from Crown Heights, the Greenwald Campus enables every bochur, including those who live at home, to experience a complete day in Yeshiva. Comfortable facilities, three daily meals, and all three tefillos on campus provide an immersive Yeshiva environment centered around learning and Chassidishe growth.
This year, 80 bochurim are residing in the Mesivta dormitory. On Shabbos, the Mesivta hosts sedarim in two locations: at the Greenwald Campus for the dormitory bochurim and those living in Remsen Village, and at Oholei Torah’s main campus at 667 Eastern Parkway for bochurim living in Crown Heights.
Throughout the summer, extensive preparations took place to ensure that every detail was ready for the arrival of the talmidim. Menahel Gashmi Rabbi Sholom Gordon invested tremendous time and effort coordinating the many practical needs of the Mesivta and preparing the campus for a smooth opening.
Director of Operations Rabbi Hirsh Meilech Rosenfeld, together with Rabbi Shneur Zalman Oster, Shaina Rosenfeld, and the entire operations team, worked diligently to ready the batei midrash, classrooms, dormitories, and campus facilities.
The financial office, led by Rabbi Dov Klyne, devoted significant effort to staff onboarding, payroll, and the many financial preparations required for the opening of the year. The registration office, led by Rabbi Sholom Rosenfeld, together with Rabbi Yisroel Cohen, worked closely with families to process registrations, organize student information, and ensure that each talmid could begin the year smoothly.
With spacious learning areas, a state of the art mikvah, a full gym, an outdoor sports field, and comfortable dormitory facilities, the Greenwald Campus offers an ideal setting for the complete development of every bochur. With the new Shnas Halimudim now underway, the talmidim are poised for a year of dedicated learning and personal growth.
Photos by: Yossi Fajnland
CrownHeights.info6 days agoThe Crown Heights Jewish Community Council is launching a new Small Home Repair Initiative to help Crown Heights residents with small but important jobs around the house.
The program will provide labor at no cost for eligible minor repairs, with priority given to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and residents who may have difficulty taking care of these jobs themselves.
Examples may include installing handrails or grab bars, changing light fixtures, hanging shelves, repairing or tightening household fixtures, and other minor home maintenance.
“Sometimes a small repair can make a big difference, especially for a senior or someone with a disability,” said Shmuly Rosenstein, Acting Chairman of CHJCC. “We want CHJCC to provide practical help that makes people’s homes safer and more comfortable.”
The initiative is for Crown Heights residents only and is limited to small repairs. It does not include renovations, construction projects, or work requiring a licensed contractor. The program is available for a limited period of time and is subject to capacity and availability.
How It Works
Please email your name, phone number, a description of the repairs needed, and clear pictures of the work that needs to be done.
CHJCC will review the request and, if the project can be accommodated, will advise what materials or supplies are needed.
CHJCC provides the labor at no cost; residents are responsible for purchasing and supplying all necessary materials. Once the materials have arrived, CHJCC will coordinate an available time to complete the work.
Please do not email for general information and please do not call. Email only if you have a small repair request and are ready to provide all relevant information and pictures so that we can review the request.
Requests should be sent by email only to:
CrownHeights.info7 days agoForeign Passport Travel Rule Extended Again
Good news for Israelis who hold dual citizenship: the Population and Immigration Authority has extended the temporary arrangement allowing Israeli citizens to enter and leave Israel using a valid foreign passport through December 31, 2026.
For decades, Israeli citizens – including those who hold an additional citizenship – were generally required to use an Israeli passport when entering and leaving Israel.
The temporary exception was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when passport offices in Israel and Israeli missions abroad were operating with limited capacity or were closed altogether. Many Israelis found themselves unable to obtain or renew Israeli passports, creating significant difficulties for international travel.
The temporary arrangement has since been extended repeatedly. It had most recently been extended through September 30, 2026, and the Population and Immigration Authority has now extended it again, this time through the end of 2026.
This means that Israeli citizens who have a valid foreign passport may continue using that passport to exit and enter Israel through December 31, 2026, subject to the applicable requirements.
Important Reminder Regarding ETA-IL
Foreign visitors from visa-exempt countries traveling to Israel are required to obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) before traveling to Israel. Since January 1, 2025, visa-exempt travelers are required to have an approved ETA-IL before boarding their flight.
Israeli citizens are technically exempt from the ETA-IL requirement. However, Chaim V’Chessed strongly recommends that Israeli citizens who are traveling to Israel using their foreign passport obtain an ETA-IL before their trip, unless they will be traveling with their Israeli passport.
This can help avoid confusion or difficulties at airline check-in when traveling on a foreign passport.
Important: There are numerous imposter sites which charge inflated prices for this inexpensive travel document. Apply only through the official Israeli government website, available here. The ETA-IL costs NIS 25, and applicants should allow up to 72 hours for a response.
Widespread Interior Ministry Branch Closures This Week
At the same time, anyone who needs to visit an Interior Ministry/Population Authority branch should be aware of significant closures taking place this week.
Most Population Authority branches throughout the country will be closed through Thursday, August 27. Some branches may provide limited service by appointment only.
This means that individuals who were hoping to visit a branch this week for passports, identity cards, visas, status matters, or other Population Authority services should not assume that their local branch is operating normally.
In addition, many Population Authority branches will also be closed on Tuesday, September 1.
We strongly recommend checking the status of your specific branch before traveling there, particularly if you have an urgent need or an upcoming appointment. See here for information on specific branches.
CrownHeights.info7 days agoIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed this evening (Monday) that Iran has attempted to assassinate one of his children. The information was previously prohibited from being published.
In a conversation with Channel 14 News, Netanyahu said, “There is something here that is unbelievable. Iran targeted one of my children. Iran tried to murder one of my children.”
When asked whether this was intelligence information that was presented to him, Netanyahu did not elaborate and repeated his words: “Iran tried to assassinate one of my children.” According to him, security for his children is not a luxury: “It is something without which this attempt will simply succeed.”
Read More at israelnationalnews
CrownHeights.info7 days agoShmuli Cunin (Los Angeles, CA) to Musi Krichevsky (Russia) L’Chaim: Tonight, Monday, 8:00pm at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Crown Street
CrownHeights.info7 days agoShmuli Marozov (Cleveland, OH) to Richa Marasow (Paris, France) L’Chaim: Thursday, August 27th, details to follow
CrownHeights.info7 days agoHaviv Haim Ben Aryeh has released his newest single “Shirat HaPitgamim” Of Chabad.
CrownHeights.info7 days agoCould a tiny gold ring discovered in the City of David have meant much more to its owner than simply being a beautiful piece of jewelry?
A tiny gold ring set with a red stone (most likely garnet) believed to have belonged to a young girl, was discovered during excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University at the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David.
The ring, just 1.2 cm in diameter, was found beneath the floor of a large Hellenistic-period building, alongside three bronze earrings. Another gold ring and other gold jewelry were also discovered in and around the building, dating to the late 3rd and early 2nd centuries BCE.
The fact that these valuable, intact pieces of jewelry were found beneath the floors, in different locations throughout the building, raised a question: Why had they been placed there?
A new study by Dr. Marion Zindel, Efrat Botzer, Riki Zlot-Har-Tov, Prof. Yuval Gadot, and Dr. Yiftah Shalev, published in Issue 121 of the scientific journal Atikot, examined the circumstances surrounding the burial of the jewelry.
The study suggests that the jewelry was not buried together, but found at different points throughout the building, likely as the result of several separate acts of deposition. According to the researchers, the repetition of the same practice strengthens the possibility that this was a custom rather than a one-time event.
The way the jewelry was distributed also does not resemble a hoard hidden in a time of danger. In a hoard, we would expect to find a concentration of valuables intended to be retrieved later. Here, however, a single piece or a small number of pieces of jewelry were found beneath the floors in different locations.
The jewelry was discovered in a large, high-quality residential building that the researchers attribute to a wealthy family, likely part of Jerusalem’s elite. The gold jewelry and the valuable materials from which it was made point to the residents’ high economic status.
Fascinating discovery!
Photo: Eliyahu Yanai, Reut Wilf and Asaf Perry from the City of David, Emil Aljem and Clara Amit from the Israel Antiquities Authority
CrownHeights.info7 days agoOholei Torah Beis Medrash has opened the new Shnas Halimudim with remarkable continued growth, welcoming 540 talmidim across its two divisions, an increase of more than 15 percent over last year. The bochurim come from 247 cities, 29 states, and 18 countries, and 35 different Yeshivos, reflecting the remarkable reach of Oholei Torah and its place as a destination for bochurim from communities around the world.
As enrollment continues to grow, Oholei Torah has continued to invest in strengthening the team of mechanchim who learn with, guide, and support the bochurim throughout their years in Beis Medrash, providing hundreds of bochurim with an environment dedicated to growth in Nigleh, Chassidus, and Chassidishe hanhogo.
Under the leadership of Menahel Rabbi Nissi Deitsch, Shiur Aleph and Beis opened its doors for its second year in the Michelashvili Beis Medrash, building upon a strong first year with an exceptional team of mechanchim dedicated to the learning and growth of every talmid.
The Nigleh faculty includes Maggidei Shiur Rabbi Shmuel Bluming, Rabbi Levi Y. Broner, Rabbi Mendel Broner, Rabbi Lipman Heller, and Rabbi Shmuel Klyne, providing the bochurim with a strong and comprehensive program of learning.
The bochurim are guided in their Chassidishe growth by Mashpiim Rabbi Moishe Teitlebaum, Rabbi Levi Matusof, and Rabbi Fitche Pevzner, while Rabbi Yossi Rubashkin serves as Mashgiach, providing guidance and individual attention throughout the day.
The team of Meishivim includes Rabbi Zelig Klyne, Rabbi Mendy Havlin, and Rabbi Nissim Polter, giving the bochurim additional opportunities to review, clarify, and deepen their learning.
The dedicated staff continues to build Shiur Aleph and Beis into a strong environment where bochurim can develop in their learning, Chassidishe growth, and personal avodah.
Shiur Daled, under the leadership of Menahel Rabbi Elchonon Lesches, continues to flourish in the Raitport Beis Medrash, with the Hanhala and faculty expanding further this year to meet the needs of its growing body of talmidim. As part of this expansion, the new position of Sgan Menahel was added, with Rabbi Dovid Frankel joining the Hanhala in this role and working alongside Rabbi Lesches in overseeing the division and its talmidim.
Three new Mashgichim, Rabbi Mendel Korf, Rabbi Yisroel Korf, and Rabbi Chaim Piekarski, have joined the dedicated team for both Chassidus and Niglah. Each will oversee and care for a group of approximately 150 talmidim, ensuring they receive individual attention, guidance, and support.
Newly appointed Maggidei Shiur Rabbi Yehoshua Blasenstein and Rabbi Meir Shur join Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Shlomo Kaplan and Maggidei Shiur Rabbi Avrohom Shneersohn, Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Stern, Rabbi Dov Popack, Rabbi Fishel Oster, Rabbi Avrohom Gerlitzky, Rabbi Shlomo Hurwitz, and Rabbi Mendel Wolvovsky, further strengthening the Nigleh faculty and expanding the breadth of learning available to the bochurim.
The dedicated team of Mashpiim continues to inspire and guide the bochurim in their growth in Chassidus and Chassidishe hanhogo. Two newly hired Mashpiim Rabbi Aharon Rappaport and Rabbi Binyomin Vichetsky join Rabbi Nachman Shapiro, Rabbi Schneur Zalman Vilenkin, Rabbi Shalom Charitonow, Rabbi Mendel Mochkin, Rabbi Yekusiel Feldman, Rabbi Shmuel Shur, and Rabbi Sholom Korf.
The team of Meishivim has expanded as well, with newly hired Meishiv Rabbi Shmuel Morosow joining Rabbi Nochum Chaikin, Rabbi Mendy Silberberg, and Rabbi Yosef Schmukler as Meishivim for Nigleh, together with Rabbi Mendel Eidelman as Meishiv for Chassidus Erev, providing the bochurim with additional opportunities for guidance and assistance in their learning.
Beyond expanding the existing faculty, several new positions have been created this year to further enhance the Beis Medrash program and provide additional layers of learning, guidance, and personal support for the bochurim.
Rabbi Berry Zirkind has joined as Meishiv and Limmud Halacha Coordinator, a new position dedicated to strengthening the opportunities for bochurim to receive guidance in their afternoon learning while developing a strong foundation in practical Halacha.
Rabbi Yossel Gerlitzky has joined in the newly created role of Talmid Liaison and Advocate, serving as an additional resource for talmidim and helping ensure that each bochur receives the individual support and attention he needs.
Further strengthening the learning environment, Rabbi Levi Lebovitz has joined as Head of Kollel, overseeing a group of Kollel Yungeleit who have joined the Beis Medrash to strengthen the one-one-one learning and atmosphere for the bochurim.
The unprecedented size and geographic reach of the Beis Medrash has also required significant expansion beyond the walls of the Zal. Of the 540 talmidim, 93 percent of the student body, totaling 504 bochurim, reside in the Yeshiva’s dormitories. To accommodate the growing need for housing, Oholei Torah has expanded its dormitory capacity with two additional dorm locations on the adjacent blocks, ensuring suitable accommodations for the hundreds of bochurim who have come from across the country and around the world to learn in Oholei Torah.
Beyond providing housing, the Yeshiva continues to strengthen the support and care provided to bochurim throughout their daily lives. R’ Mottel Bronchtain serves as Menahel Gashmi of the dormitory, with R’ Shmuel Edelman and R’ Avremi Pevzner serving as Dorm Counselors and overseeing a team of bochurim Dorm Counselors who provide guidance and support to their fellow talmidim.
As another part of the expanded support structure, the new position of Medical and Talmid Health Liaison has been created, with Rabbi Sholly Weiser serving in this role to help coordinate and address the health needs of the talmidim.
Together, the expanded team of mechanchim and support staff reflects Oholei Torah’s commitment to ensuring that its continued growth is matched by the personal attention and care each talmid needs, both in the Zal and beyond.
Menahel K’lali Rabbi Yehoshua Lustig and Rosh Moissed Rabbi Mendel Blau, together with the Board of Directors, have devoted considerable time and attention to ensuring that both divisions of the Beis Medrash are thoughtfully prepared to accommodate this continued growth, in close collaboration with their respective Hanhala.
Behind the opening of the new Shnas Halimudim was an extensive effort to ensure that the facilities, dormitories, classrooms, and countless logistical details were ready to welcome 540 talmidim. R’ Hersh Meilech Rosenfeld, together with R’ Schneur Zalman Oster, Shaina Rosenfeld, and the entire Operations team, worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the opening, coordinating and overseeing the many preparations necessary to have both divisions and the expanded dormitory facilities fully ready for the arrival of the bochurim. Their tremendous work behind the scenes played an integral role in enabling the year to begin smoothly and successfully.
“We have invested significantly in raising the overall standards of the Beis Medrash and developing it into a truly vibrant makom Torah,” said Rabbi Mendel Blau, Rosh Moissed. “Our goal is to help every bochur succeed and solidify his path in Torah, avodah, and hiskashrus.”
“The upcoming campus at 402 Eastern Parkway holds tremendous promise for the coming years and will enable the Beis Medrash to continue growing and expanding,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Lustig, Menahel K’lali. “At the same time, we did not wait for the new facility to begin advancing our vision. We have already initiated key elements of the plan, including the new Kollel program and more, strengthening the Beis Medrash today as we prepare for its future.”
With the new Shnas Halimudim now underway, the entire Oholei Torah Beis Medrash looks forward to a year of continued learning, growth, and hatzlacha, as the talmidim and staff work together to reach new heights in Nigleh, Chassidus, and personal avodah.
Photos by: Shalom Ross
CrownHeights.info7 days agoNine years after Shluchim set out to print the Tanya across Nigeria, the one edition they were unable to complete has finally been printed in Calabar.
In 2017, Rabbi Israel and Haya Uzan, Shluchim in Abuja, asked bochurim Mendel Raskin, Mendy Sternbach and Heschel Yarmush, who had come to Nigeria for Tishrei to assist Jews across the country with their Yom Tov needs, to print Tanyas in cities where Jews were living.
Eight editions were reserved from Kehos for cities across Nigeria. Traveling with printers, generators and mashke in armored vehicles with security, the bochurim succeeded in printing seven.
Calabar was the exception. By the time they returned for Chanukah, the Jews who had been there had left, and the printing was postponed.
Recently, a ma’ane of the Rebbe concerning printing Tanya in Nigeria was published, in which the Rebbe writes: “באם יש שם עכ״פ יהודי אחד” — if there is at least one Jew there.
Rabbi Mendy and Mazal Sternbach, Shluchim in Lagos, together with Rabbi Israel and Haya Uzan, looked into Calabar and found that there was indeed one Jew living there, Yossi Dueni.
Nine years after it was first planned, Tanya edition 6,936 was printed in Calabar, becoming the 10th Tanya printed in Nigeria.
The printing took place on the birthday of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, in whose memory it was printed, recognizing his years of personal involvement in developing Yiddishkeit and supporting the Shluchim families in Nigeria.
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CrownHeights.info8 days agoAhead of the 2026–2027 academic year, the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU) has once again launched its annual “Together to School” initiative, providing new school backpacks to hundreds of Jewish children from families facing financial hardship across Ukraine. The primary beneficiaries are children entering first grade, while older students with particularly urgent needs are also included.
Timed ahead of the traditional “First Bell’ on September 1, the initiative helps needy families meet some of the practical expenses of sending children back to the classroom while giving young students the excitement and confidence of beginning the year with their own new school supplies.
The annual campaign is part of a broader, long-standing effort to support vulnerable Jewish children and their families. Beyond backpacks, JRNU and its partner programs provide families in need with assistance ranging from food packages, clothing, and basic necessities to medical care, emotional support, and other individualized services throughout the year.
“A new backpack may seem like a small thing, but for a child in need it can represent a fresh beginning and the feeling that someone cares and is thinking about them,” says Rabbi Simcha Levenhartz of JRNU.
“Our goal goes far beyond preparing children for the first day of school. Together with our network of support and communities, we look at the needs of the entire family and provide ongoing support so that every Jewish child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a healthy and independent future.”
CrownHeights.info8 days agoChaim Eliezer Filler (Montreal, Canada) to Ahuva Zilpah Fisch (Los Angeles, CA) L’Chaim: Tonight, Sunday, 5:00pm – 8:00pm at 442 North Gardner Street Apt. #2
CrownHeights.info8 days agoYisroel Arkush (Lauderhill, FL) to Matti Zaklikovsky (Monroe, NJ) L’Chaim: Tonight, Sunday, 8:00pm at Albany Manor
CrownHeights.info8 days agoThe month of Elul, bringing with it a breeze of renewal and the sounds of Torah, is deeply felt across the pastoral grounds of the educational campus in the ‘Istra’ neighborhood in the suburbs of Moscow. After the Bein HaZmanim break, and following a dedicated period of material and spiritual preparation, the doors of the “Tomchei Temimim” Yeshiva for young students opened, and the study hall came to life with the return of the Temimim to their studies.
In an uplifting atmosphere of a new beginning, the excited students and parents were welcomed by the Rosh Yeshiva, the Gaon and Chassid Rabbi Moshe Lerman, alongside the campus director Rabbi Yosef Moshe Weisberg and the yeshiva director Rabbi Chaim Moshe Weber. It is evident that the current year is marked by a significant step forward: the educational and physical systems have been upgraded and are now operating in a more monitored, professional, and vibrant manner than ever before.
The refreshing tidings of the new school year are reflected both in the renovations to expand the facilities—accommodating additional students who deeply desire to join this high-quality yeshiva—and in the direct pedagogical investment. Substantial effort has been invested this year in delivering the shiurim (classes) to the highest grade, a step that broadens and deepens the personal connection with the students, preparing them for their studies next year in Yeshiva Gedolah. Simultaneously, the yeshiva’s teaching staff is growing and expanding with the addition of a new faculty member, Rabbi Yosef Edrei, son-in-law of the orphanage director, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gol. Rabbi Edrei will serve as a Ram and Mashpia for the Shiur Aleph students, providing them with guidance and Chassidic warmth during their first steps within the yeshiva.
The uplifting atmosphere and evident investment inspire a spirit of tremendous enthusiasm. The yeshiva, established by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, the Gaon Rabbi Berel Lazar shlita, continues to solidify its status as a beacon of pure Chassidic education, alongside the other existing yeshivas in Moscow. With a profound sense of responsibility and gratitude for the excellent conditions, the Temimim began the new zman in the tent of Torah. They are ready to diligently pursue their studies and grow in Torah and Chassidus through immense dedication, learning from early morning until late at night with great vitality and joy.
Photo: Alexander Pratkov
CrownHeights.info8 days agoAnyone who’s spent time in a Crown Heights classroom knows the drill: the wall calendar shows one month, someone asks about a date two months out, and everyone starts doing math in their head. Rabbi Sruli Mochkin, a teacher at Lubavitch Hebrew Academy, got tired of that math.
“You can’t really plan a year if you can only see one month of it at a time,” he said. “I wanted the whole year up on the wall at once, every English date, every Hebrew date, so I could actually plan around everything instead of getting caught off guard.”
So he built The Big Jewish Calendar: one giant wall calendar with the entire school year on a single page, English and Hebrew dates side by side. It’s not an app. It’s a real calendar you hang up and write on.
It comes dry-erase, with color-coded stickers included, so it can be personalized right on the wall. One color for birthdays, another for off days, another for whatever else needs tracking, all visible across the whole year instead of one month at a time.
Rabbi Mochkin built it for his own classroom first. Since then, other teachers looking for the same kind of full-year view have started asking about it too. It’s now available for schools to order in bulk for their staff, with a discount for larger orders.
“Once the whole year is actually in front of you, planning stops feeling like a scramble,” he said.
The Big Jewish Calendar is available now at https://bigjewishcalendar.com
CrownHeights.info8 days agoby CrownHeights.info
A major milestone for the Jewish community of Palm Coast was celebrated this week as Chabad of Palm Coast officially closed on its new permanent home.
The purchase marks the culmination of a decade of building and strengthening Jewish life in Palm Coast, where Rabbi Levi and Tzivie Ezagui have worked to establish a vibrant Chabad presence and serve the growing local Jewish community.
“Ten years ago, we began with a dream. Today, we have a home,” the Chabad of Palm Coast announced.
The Chabad leadership expressed tremendous gratitude to Hashem, to the Rebbe for his constant brachos and guidance, and to the many individuals who helped make the purchase possible.
While the closing on the building at 1 Yacht Club Drive represents a significant achievement, the Shluchim emphasized that it is only the beginning of the next chapter.
The newly acquired property will now undergo renovations and improvements as it is transformed into a warm and welcoming Jewish center designed to serve the Palm Coast community for generations to come.
The anticipated move-in date is early 2027, when the new center hopes to open the doors of its new home to the community.
“With tremendous gratitude,” Rabbi Levi and Tzivie Ezagui said, “we look forward to sharing the journey with you as our new Chabad Jewish Center takes shape.”
Community members who would like to learn more about the project and participate in helping make the new Jewish center a reality can visit ChabadPalmCoast.com/thefuture.
The new center is expected to provide Chabad of Palm Coast with a permanent home from which to expand its programming and strengthen Jewish life throughout the growing community.
CrownHeights.info8 days agoA hefty new tariff on a wide range of products from Canada took effect early Saturday after last-minute negotiations to avert the duties collapsed.
“Tonight, Canada declined to finalize the trade deal under the terms agreed earlier this week, despite the US offer to Canada to receive the best treatment of any major exporter to our market,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters.
“New demands and walk backs of other commitments by Canada have upended the careful balance reached in the past days,” he added.
CrownHeights.info8 days agoby Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives
In the mid-1920s, Rabbi Yosef Katzanelson arrived in the United States. It was shortly before the United States largely shuttered its borders to immigrants from Eastern Europe. In the preceding decades, hundreds of thousands of Jews fleeing pogroms and antisemitism, or simply looking for a better life, had moved to the United States.
Many Americans resented the Jewish immigrants, accusing them of taking away their jobs and making the streets filthy and bring sicknesses to its borders.
Rabbi Katzanelson, an alumnus of Tomchei Tmimim in the town of Lubavitch, was hired as a rabbi in his hometown of Babruysk, Russia, in 1921. He was not only beloved at the Lubavitch-Minsker Study Hall, where he served as rabbi, but his Torah knowledge and humility earned him the respect of the local rabbis.
His return to the city was fraught with the aftermath of World War I, during which the city had been captured by Poland. With an uncertain future, like many Jews at the time, he wanted to head to the United States. Hearing that it was easier to obtain papers for the United States with a visa for a religious position, he learned how to be a shochet.
In New York, where he changed his family name to Nelson, he became the beadle of the Tiferes Israel Congregation and a shochet on Slaughterhouse Row, along the East River in Manhattan. In the mid-1940s, the area was cleared to become the home of the United Nations, and the slaughterhouse shuttered.
At the time, it was difficult for a kosher poultry shochet to find a new job, and he looked for a position outside New York. He received offers from Maryland and Illinois; however, his wife did not want to move away from where their son was studying at the United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth.
To support his family, he painted homes and became lovingly known as Mr. Nelson. He was good at his job, and his services were in great demand.
He was once hired to paint the hallways of 346 Brooklyn Avenue, where Rabbi Mendel and Rebbetzin Moussia Schneerson resided. At the end of the day, balancing two buckets of paint on a stick as he walked out of the building, he felt someone holding the second bucket steady.
Seeing Rabbi Mendel, then known as the Ramash, assisting him, he was taken aback. Out of respect for the son-in-law of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he would not continue walking.
However, the future Rebbe would not let go. After what seemed to Mr. Nelson like a long time, the Ramash asked him, “Why do you care if I fulfill the mitzvah of ‘And you shall surely help him’ (Shemos 23:5)?”
Find Hasidic Archive’s, latest book Yards of Kindness here.
CrownHeights.info8 days agoRabbi Chaim Dalfin, author and Chasidic historian shares interesting facts, many revealed for the first time. The purpose of his program is to inspire all but especially the youth. Watch another installment here on CrownHeights.info.
Visit Rabbi Dalfin’s website: Click Here
CrownHeights.info10 days agoMendy Stern (Chicago, IL) to Goldie Leiberman (Lauderhill, FL)
CrownHeights.info10 days agoYosef Goldberg (Crown Heights) to Shaina Rosenfeld (Crown Heights) L’Chaim: Wednesday, Sep. 2nd, 8:00pm at Ulam Chana
CrownHeights.info10 days agoThe Lubavitch Youth Organization (LYO), which recently marked its 70th anniversary since the Rebbe personally established LYO, has launched a new website providing a comprehensive overview of the mosdos, programs and activities it sponsors throughout the year.
For decades, LYO has been the main address for hafatzas hamayonos emanating from Crown Heights. That dedication to carrying out the Rebbe’s directives continues with full strength.
The new website features a complete listing of more than 200 Shluchim and the Chabad Houses serving the five boroughs, Long Island and Westchester, including contact information.
It also highlights more than 30 diverse activities of LYO, based at 305 Kingston Ave. These include the renowned Levi Yitzchak Library, Crown Heights tours, the world’s largest Menorah in Central Park, annual Tahaluchas for Shabbos and Yom Tov, and many other programs.
The site also includes a listing of all 50 college campuses served by Tzach, with both full-time and part-time Shluchim.
The impressive website demonstrates how, over the past 70 years, LYO has grown into one of the largest Chabad mosdos based in Crown Heights.
In addition, a dedicated history and audio/video section will, be’ezras Hashem, feature hundreds of photographs and recordings from LYO events spanning the past 70 years. An announcement will be made when this section is ready for viewing.
When you have the opportunity, please visit ChabadLYO.org to see the full scope and breadth of what Lubavitch Youth Organization is accomplishing today.
For more information, contact LYO at [email protected] or 718-953-1000, or visit us at 305 Kingston Ave., Brooklyn, NY.
CrownHeights.info10 days agoA New York Supreme Court judge has temporarily halted the remaining construction of Crown Heights’ controversial protected bike lane project, following a lawsuit challenging the city’s procedures for moving forward with the project.
New York Supreme Court Justice Rachel Freier granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) from proceeding with additional portions of the project on Kingston and Brooklyn Avenues and several surrounding streets. The order remains in effect until the case returns to court, with the next hearing scheduled for September 16, when the court will consider the matter further.
The lawsuit was brought by Crown Heights resident Yosef Wolf from the Chabad community against the City of New York, the Department of Transportation, and DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. Wolf argues that DOT began implementing the project without completing the formal notifications, consultations, and certifications required by city law before a major transportation project can proceed.
The order came after construction had already begun. DOT had completed the protected bike lane on Kingston Avenue between East New York Avenue and Winthrop Street and was preparing to continue the project on Brooklyn Avenue and other locations. That includes the planned protected lane on Brooklyn Avenue, remaining Kingston Avenue work, pedestrian islands, curb extensions, planters and concrete barriers, a protected loop around the Wingate campus, and additional bike lanes planned for Rutland Road and Fenimore Street.
The city argued that extensive community outreach had already taken place. DOT says it presented the project to elected officials, FDNY, NYPD and other city agencies, as well as Community Board 9 and Crown Heights organizations including Shomrim, Hatzalah, the Crown Heights JCC and Jewish Future Alliance.
Wolf’s lawsuit, however, argues that community outreach alone was not enough and that DOT failed to complete the formal legal procedures required before construction began. His filing claims that Councilmember Rita Joseph had not been notified that DOT was beginning implementation and that Councilmember Crystal Hudson was also not properly notified. The lawsuit further alleges that DOT failed to provide required certifications documenting consultations with FDNY, NYPD, Small Business Services, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
The court filings also show that DOT had already modified the original project following community opposition. The initial plan extended farther north toward Empire Boulevard, while the current version begins at East New York Avenue. DOT also reduced the projected loss of parking spaces and made other design changes.
Parents are concerned about the children’s safety, while the lawsuit centers on the city’s legal procedures, many Crown Heights residents have also raised concerns about the safety of protected bike lanes, particularly for children boarding buses on their way to Yeshiva.
Crown Heights resident Boruch Sholom, who is not involved in the lawsuit, said he supports bike lanes generally but has concerns about protected lanes. “I’m a cyclist, and I use bike lanes, but protected bike lanes are dangerous, especially for children boarding buses.” Sholom said that if the goal is safety, the safety of everyone—including children getting on and off buses—must be taken into account.
The case is also notable for being heard by New York Supreme Court Justice Rachel Freier, whose background and familiarity with the Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish community are well known. For many Crown Heights residents, having a judge who understands the community’s way of life and the practical concerns facing its families provides a meaningful sense of reassurance. Justice Freier’s temporary restraining order, however, is based on the legal issues raised before the court, and the case will now proceed through the judicial process.
Wolf is seeking not only to stop the remaining construction but ultimately to overturn DOT’s decision to implement the project and require the city to restore portions of the streets that have already been altered. For now, Judge Freier’s order puts the remaining construction on hold, giving the court an opportunity to examine the legal questions surrounding the project before the city moves forward.
CrownHeights.info10 days agoby Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
Last year I attended Renewal’s Shabbaton, and the keynote speaker was Rabbi Donald Trump, a Rov in the Five Towns.
I am sharing a poignant thought he delivered, not only in speech but in action by donating one of his kidneys, to another Jew, whom he had never met or spoken to before.
As always, your feedback and comments are greatly appreciated and most welcomed.
Before one is accepted or allowed to donate a kidney (or another organ), their doctor has to verify that they are in good health, and the operation would not cause a negative impact on them. This is of course after they medically verified that they are a good or even excellent match for the recipient.
He related, when I had that appointment with my nephrologist (kidney specialist), I said, “Doctor can I ask you something?”
“’Yes, you can and should ask whatever is concerning you,’ my doctor replied.
“Doctor, you are signing a paper affirming that I am healthy and able to donate one of my kidneys. You mentioned how altruistic and remarkable it is to donate an organ to someone who I have never met. My question is, would you yourself consider donating one of your kidneys?
“’If it is a family member, [such as] my parents, siblings, children and my spouse, I wouldn’t hesitate a moment. But if it is not a family member, rather a stranger, then I would do so only after I am sixty, after I achieved whatever I was able to.’
“I replied, doctor we basically agree on everything yoi just said. [So the question is, why at my relative young age, I am going ahead and will shortly be donating one of my two kidneys? The answer is that] we just define family differently. To you family means your immediate relatives, your parents, siblings, children and spouse. To me it means the Jewish community at large.”
I chose to post this story for two reasons: A. We are in midst of the month of Elul, when we are trying to come closer to Hashem, and a father desires to see his children getting along with each other and when the children give him this happiness, he in turn blesses them and fulfills all of their hearts desires.
Additionally, just as I and an additional fifteen hundred individuals were assisted through Renewals auspices, so too there are hundreds more of our brothers and sisters who are hoping and praying for a kidney match.
My benefit is unmeasurable, (and indirectly everyone who enjoys this weekly story or my books are benefitting to a much lesser degree) from Renewal facilitating my transplant, So I turn to each one of you with the request to please join me in assisting Renewal help others as well. Sadly to say there are hundreds of our brothers and sisters, including members of Anash and those who are members in Chabad shuls and schools that are on the waiting list to receive a transplant.
To participate, in whatever amount you can, and help another Jew gain a new lease on life, please click on this link https://www.dryveup.com/renewal/2640
This Yud Aleph Elul, is a major milestone for me, as it is three years since with Hashem’s miraculous ways, Renewal was able to find me an almost perfect match.
The first Hakaras Hatov goes to the Eibishter, who created such a possibility and created another Jew, who was a better match than one of my own nephews. Before, while and after the operation, I promised to add something in my avodah, and that is the reason I began adding A Taste of Chassidus three years ago.
Additionally, just as my donor, gave a kidney without knowing who it was for and without any renumeration, I learned that I too should be willing to help others without expecting anything in return, and therefore as you remember I requested that you please participate in helping Chasdei Avrohom Eliezer, enable parents to send their children to camp. Boruch Hashem, due to your and others generosity we were able to raise over 130.000 dollars and help over 230 families.
I am eternally indebted to my donor Reb Aryeh Kolton, who with the encouragement of his wife Mrs. Aliza and their children granted me one of his kidneys, which allows me to live a regular and hopefully a productive life.
So please participate in this life saving and changing request at https://www.dryveup.com/renewal/2640
This was supposed to be posted last week. But due to technical difficulties I didn’t send it out, so I am posting it this week.
We all know the parable of The King Is In the Field, however, generally speaking, most of us don’t know the background on how this Moshol (parable) formed. Two weeks ago, I mentioned in a footnote that the Moshol was already said by the Baal Shem Tov, and after studying it, the following is my understanding about the background to the Moshol.
The Baal Shem Tov explained, the Talmud’s reconciliation between the following two pesukim.
In one possuk it is stated Hashem is close to all who call out to Him in truth, this means that He always hears our prayers. While another possuk states, Seek Hashem when He is accessible and call out to Him when He is close, which is clearly stating that there are only specific times that our prayers will be accepted.
On this the Talmud responds, when a congregation is praying, their prayers are always accepted, however, if an individual prays by themself, then it has to be an auspicious time for it to be accepted.
The Talmud then inquires, “And when is this auspicious time,?” and the response is, during the ten days of repentance.
On this the Baal Shem clarifies, why does Hashem accept an individual’s prayers during these days and not during the rest of the year?
So he says, these days are compared to when a king is traveling, while the majority days of the year are compared to when a king is in his palace.
When a king is in his palace, he will not leave the palace to eat a meal or sleep in someone’s house or an establishment as exquisite as they may be. However, when he is traveling, he will eat and sleep in a house or establishment, as long as it is clean and decent. The same thing is concerning one’s prayers: essentially there are conditions or criteria that must be met in order that the prayers should be accepted, and one of the primary ones is that it be said with a minyan. However, during the ten days of repentance even an individual’s prayers are accepted.
Seemingly, this explanation of the Baal Shem Tov means to say that because the king is not in his royal dwelling place, he has to lower his standards and expectations.
This assumption becomes stronger when we continue with the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching as he states this is the reason why in the time of exile, Hashem grants proper people the power of Ruach Hakodesh even though if they were living in the time of the Beis Hamikdash they wouldn’t have been deemed worthy of being among the select few who had Ruach Hakodesh.
On this the Alter Rebbe asks, why does Hashem accept an individual’s prayers these days? [After all these days are the days of judgement and this individual is not raising his level of respect and awe to make the effort and pray with a minyan as is prescribed in the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).
But the Alter Rebbe explains that the answer is that during these days Hashem’s thirteen attributes of mercy (compassion) are revealed. So while during most of the year, an individual’s prayers are not accepted, but during these special and auspicious days, when His thirteen attributes of mercy are revealed and active, they are accepted.
But the Alter Rebbe explains that the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are around and available to be activated In the Month of Elul. How Do We Know That?
The Alter Rebbe begins the maamar with the words of אני לדודי ודודי לי, and he quotes from our sages that the opening letter of these four words spell the word Elul. Yet our sages also state that the first two words refer to the month of Elul, while the latter two refer to the Ten Days of Repentance. In other words, that means that the concept of the Thirteen attributes of mercy, which is the theme of the ten days of repentance, is an integral part of the month of Elul. The Alter Rebbe emphasizes this by pointing out that the final letter of all four words is a Yud, which has numerical equivalent value of 10, and four times ten is forty, referencing the one unit of forty days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur.
So the Alter Rebbe asks, being that the revelation of the thirteen attributes of mercy is so special that we don’t say tachnun on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, why do we say tachanun during the month of Elul?
Explaining the answer of the Baal Shem Tov the Alter Rebbe clarifies, that we don’t say tachanun on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because then the thirteen attributes are revealed (as we clearly see the King in His glory, as he is sitting in his palace). However, during the month of Elul, they are available but not revealed. Therefore, he says the King is in the field in regular clothing; Yes he is the king and is available and accessible for all, but he is not presenting himself in the clothing and glory of a king.
According to this explanation, it is not that the king lowers his standard because he is not in the palace, but rather he is so exalted that there are no limitations of who, where and when. He can and actually conducts his royal functions in every circumstance, even when one might not recognize that he is the king. So there is no difference where he is.
In simple chassidic terminology, the lower level of Hashem’s glory is mimaleh kol almin, which means that Hashem’s presence is measured according to each world. In other words there is a higher and lower and everything has its rightful place. So in that world, prayers are accepted when they are said in a Minyan, but not when the person says it by himself. However, the higher level is Soivev kol Almin, that Hashem surrounds all worlds equally, and there is no higher and lower. In that circumstance even an individual’s prayers are accepted.
A Taste of Chassidus
כי תצא למלחמה Likkutei Torah Devorim p.34C
While the simple translation of these words is telling us how we are to conduct ourselves when we go to war [and capture enemies], that is the way it is portrayed in this physical world. However, as Chassidus teaches us, everything in the physical derives from the spiritual, and in this maamar the Alter Rebbe explains the spiritual war that we are being guided to conduct. And being that the Torah is eternal, this is a daily battle.
Yaakov Avinu said to his son Yosef, I am giving you the city of Shechem which I took [from them] with my sword and bow. In other words, Yaakov was saying I went to war [and captured it]. But Targum Onkelos translates those words to mean, which I took with my supplication and prayer. So we see that Tefillah (prayer) is a form of battle.
Here too the Alter Rebbe explains that these words are speaking about the spiritual war that we are to wage every day against our Yetzer Hora, and that is done every day when we daven.
So we have to understand, what is the nature of this battle? And being that davening is in place of [bringing] sacrifices, it must mean that the korbonos also epitomized, the concept of this battle, so what is it?
One goes to war / battle to fulfill or accomplish their goal and mission. And the mission and reason Hashem sent our Neshoma down into this world is to elevate every spark of holiness and return it back to its source.
The reason they have to be returned is because, at the beginning of Creation, these sparks were so powerful that they could not be contained in the world, without being concealed. However, through our avodah of Torah and Mitzvos, their unlimited G-dly essence is revealed even in this limited physical world.
Essentially this concept of connecting the spark as it is in this world to its source, is seen and brought out when we offer a korbon (sacrifice).
Everything is created from a combination of the basic four elements of fire, wind, water, and dirt. However, each creation is mainly aligned with one of them.
Passion, desire, and vibrancy are connected or are derivatives of the element of fire. Heat is a symbol of fire, and being that every living mammal, fowl, and fish have a body temperature, that demonstrates that their source is the fire Above. It is our mission to not only reveal this connection but to elevate it back to its source, and we accomplish this by placing the animal (after it is slaughtered) upon the alter, and a fire, which our sages describe comes in the form of a lion and burns it.
The lion is representing the lion that is on the right side of Hashem’s throne, and that lion nullified itself to Hashem, so the concept of bringing a korbon is telling and guiding the person to also nullify their passions and desires, that instead of obtaining and receiving physical pleasures, we should strive to obtain spiritual ones by devoting ourselves to serve Hashem.
This is also the purpose of davening; Hashem sent the Neshoma into this world to refine and elevate the Nefesh Habehamis (animal soul). The spiritual source of the animal soul is the lion which is on the right side of Hashem’s throne. As it passed through the supernal worlds, it gave life to angels (and that is why in many pesukim angels are called fiery, for as we noted animals are created from the element of fire).
So in davening (specifically in Shacharis), we describe how all creations animals and angels are humbled and nullified to Hashem. Telling our nefesh habehamis, that your source or lifeline nullified itself to Hashem. It put aside any self-interest and passion aside, with the goal to serve Hashem with passion and vitality. Therefore, here on this world, we too should put aside our personal interests and desires, just to serve Hashem.
This is the reason why we place the blood (which represents one’s passion) and burn the fats (which represents one’s enjoyment) on the mizbeiach. It demonstrates that our personal self-interest and indigence or passions and desires should be put aside to serve Hashem with a passion. In other words elevating the passion or FIRE to its source. Just as in its source it is completely and totally devoted to Hashem, so too on this materialistic world it is devoted purely for and to fulfill Hashem’s will.
This also explains two other points:
Generally speaking, we say that davening (shemoneh Esreh) is in order to request things that we are lacking or in need of from Hashem. If that is the only reason why our sages instructed us to daven, why is there a guidance to daven daily, even on a day that the one davening isn’t aware of any need?
But as noted, an important aspect of davening is to refine and elevate those sparks that came down on this world, back to their source. This is a daily objective and battle.
It also explains a second aspect. Why are we allowed to bring a korbon only in the Mishkan or Beis HaMikdash? This question is so more relevant if as we said that this is the mission and purpose of why Hashem forced our G-dly Neshoma to descend into this world!
But the explanation is, the only way one has the ability to to refine and elevate their sparks, is by being humble and nullify yourself in front of Hashem. That was accomplished in its truest sense in the Beis Hamikdash, and therefore a korbon which symbolizing I am giving up my passions and desires just to serve Him, has to be at a moment when I am standing and humbling myself to Hashem.
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeiim and their chassidim. He is available to farbreng in your community and can be contacted at [email protected].
CrownHeights.info10 days ago“When you go out to war against your enemies, and G-d will deliver him into your hand, and you will take his captives.”
This week’s Parsha, “Ki Seitzei”, begins with a war.
Chassidus reads these words much closer to home. This is the war every Jew enters from the moment the Neshama comes down into the body.
Every Jew has two souls. The G-dly soul, a part of G-d above, wants G-dliness, Torah, Mitzvos, holiness, and closeness to Hashem. The animal soul is interested in this world. It wants to eat, sleep, enjoy itself, and satisfy its desires.
So the battle begins.
Sometimes the Neshama wins. Sometimes the animal soul wins. That is why the Torah says, Ki Seitzei Lamilchamah—when you go out to war. Life is the battlefield.
But the Torah reassures us: Al Oyvecha—against, literally above, your enemy.
The animal soul may be loud and persistent, but it is not the real you. The essence of a Jew is the Neshama, the spark of G-d within him. You begin the battle already standing above the enemy.
And Hashem promises: Unesano Hashem Elokecha Beyadecha—G-d will deliver him into your hand.
But what does victory mean?
Normally, defeating an enemy means eliminating him. But that is not the Jewish objective.
We don’t want to destroy the animal soul.
We want to capture it.
We want yesterday’s enemy to become tomorrow’s ally.
This takes us directly to another seemingly unrelated law in our Parsha. The Torah speaks about a man with two wives, “one beloved and one despised.” Surprisingly, the firstborn belongs specifically to the despised wife, and the Torah insists that he retain all the rights of the firstborn.
These two wives represent the two souls.
The G-dly soul is beloved. It recognizes Hashem and longs to fulfill His will. The animal soul is the despised one. It sees the food, the money, the physical world, but not the G-dliness concealed within it.
And yet the firstborn belongs to the despised one.
Because there is something the animal soul can accomplish that the G-dly soul cannot.
Hashem deliberately created a physical world where His presence is concealed, and an animal soul that naturally feels at home in that world. Then He gave the G-dly soul a mission:
Don’t destroy the animal soul.
Transform it.
Take its passion for material pleasure and make it passionate about a Mitzvah. Take its stubbornness and make it stubborn for Yiddishkeit. Harness its energy to Torah, Tzedakah, helping another Jew, and serving Hashem.
The G-dly soul never had to be convinced that Hashem exists. It came from there. It remembers home.
But when the animal soul, living comfortably in a world that conceals Hashem, turns around and says, “I too want Hashem”—the enemy has changed sides.
And perhaps that explains why we read this Parsha during Elul.
Elul is the month of Teshuvah. But Teshuvah does not simply mean repentance. Teshuvah means return.
The Neshama came from G-d and was sent on a journey into a physical body and a material world. Throughout that journey, it yearns for home. Sometimes we hear that yearning; sometimes the animal soul drowns it out.
So Hashem gives us Elul.
Thirty days.
Remarkably, our Parsha also speaks about a captive who is given thirty days before entering her new life.
For thirty days we stop and think. The body begins to ask: Where does my life come from? Without the Neshama, what am I? What gives meaning to my eating, sleeping, working, earning, and living?
The animal soul begins to discover that the Neshama is its life.
That is Teshuvah: returning the Jew to his true self, and returning the animal soul, with all its enormous energy and passion, to the purpose for which Hashem created it.
Now we can understand Veshavisa Shivyo—“and you will capture his captives.”
The animal soul has been taking captives all year. Food that could have been elevated became merely pleasure. Money that could have become Tzedakah became an end in itself. Time and energy that could have been used for holiness went elsewhere.
Now we take them back.
We eat and use the energy for a Mitzvah. We earn and use the money for Tzedakah and a Jewish home. We take the physical world and reveal the G-dliness hiding within it.
And suddenly we discover that the ultimate purpose was never for two souls to fight forever.
The greatest victory is not when your enemy lies defeated at your feet.
The greatest victory is when yesterday’s enemy stands beside you, fighting on your side.
That is Elul.
We enter with two voices struggling inside us. We want to arrive at Rosh Hashanah with both voices saying the same thing:
Hashem is our King.
The Neshama says it because that is what it always wanted.
And the animal soul says it because it has finally discovered what it really wanted too.
This is a war we were born to win—not by destroying the enemy, but by transforming him.
And when the animal soul joins the Neshama in serving Hashem, the battle has fulfilled its purpose, the captive has come home, and the physical world becomes the dwelling place for G-d it was created to be.
That is the ultimate victory of Moshiach, when the entire world will recognize the G-dliness that was there all along.
Have a Victorious Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
CrownHeights.info10 days agoGet ready to be moved by the powerful single “Little Moishy,” with its heartfelt lyrics and soothing melody.
As a poignant expression of a student’s emotional struggles, “Little Moishy” seeks to inspire compassion with a heartwarming message for teachers, students and mothers.
This song is a beautiful tribute to Shalom’s late beloved Rebbi, Rabbi Y. Wilansky a”h. A Rebbi who cared so much for each of his talmiddim, and taught every talmid with love and respect.
Performed by Rochel Gurkow and her son Shalom. Music credit to Yisroel Drihem, Izzy D JAY.
FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.
KOL ISHA.
To listen click here: https://album.link/RochelGurkow
You can find Rochel Gurkow’s music on popular platforms like 24six, Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
To book her for your next event, simply email [email protected].
CrownHeights.info10 days agoby Leibel Kahan – Lubavitch.com
Astorefront on the main road in Calvi, on Corsica’s northwest coast, is now home to the island’s fourth Chabad center. Walk out of the town’s train station and it’s directly across the street — wide windows, no shutters, visible from the sidewalk. For a town of fewer than 6,000 permanent residents, it’s a conspicuous addition. For the Jews who’ve been coming to this Mediterranean resort town for decades, it’s the one thing that was missing.
Michel Madie was nine years old when his family arrived in Calvi in 1967 from Algeria. His parents — his father a descendant of Spanish Jews who fled the Inquisition, his mother a Berber Jew from the Algeria-Morocco border — had lost everything in the expulsion of 1962. They were on vacation when they were told not to go back. They never retrieved a single possession.
In Calvi, the family were some of the only Jews in town. Madie grew up with no synagogue, no community, no visible Jewish life at all. He left at 18 and has lived in Manhattan for the past two decades. His mother still lives in Calvi.
He was back for the inauguration. “I wouldn’t even consider such a thing as a possibility when I was a kid,” he said. “Entering the Chabad center — being seen from the street, from the main road of Calvi — it was incredibly emotional.”
Rabbi Levi and Mushky Pinson, who’ve directed Chabad of Corsica from the capital city of Ajaccio since 2016, opened the Calvi location this summer with an inauguration that drew some 50 people. The center joins existing operations in Ajaccio, Bastia, and Porto Vecchio, giving Chabad a presence in each of the island’s four main regions.
Jewish history on the island runs deep. Some historians trace the first Jewish presence to Roman times, after the destruction of the Second Temple. Jews from Egypt settled in southern Corsica around the ninth century, and Sephardic Jews and Marranos fleeing the Inquisition arrived in later waves. In the eighteenth century, Pasquale Paoli, the Corsican independence leader, granted Jews equal rights — ahead of most of Europe. During the First World War, several hundred Jews from Tiberias were resettled to the island by the Ottoman Empire after refusing to renounce their French citizenship, building the Beth Meir synagogue in the port city of Bastia. And during the Second World War, Corsican authorities refused to cooperate with Vichy, saving thousands of Jewish refugees. Over three-quarters of the island’s Jewish population survived.
Today, the permanent Jewish community is small — a few hundred people scattered across the island. But Corsica draws thousands of Jewish tourists each summer, mainly from mainland France, and Calvi’s Balagne region has become a popular destination for Jewish weddings. Rabbi Pinson estimates some several dozen Jews live in the Balagne year-round, though he expects to discover more.
The center offers a synagogue, kosher food on-site and for delivery, a small grocery corner, and a snack bar. A group of rabbinical students is running it for the summer. All kosher food is ordered from Paris and shipped through Marseille — the same route that supplies most of the island, where 90 percent of food arrives by cargo ship. Some of it reaches Calvi aboard the train that winds along the coast, dropped off steps from the Chabad house door.
For Madie, who grew up in that town as one of its only Jews, the location is the point. The Chabad house sits next to the post office, next to the bank, on a street no one in Calvi can avoid. Years ago, his parents held Shabbat dinner behind closed doors in a town where no one really knew they were Jewish. Sixty years later, the light from the Chabad house spills onto the main road of Calvi, and no one is closing the curtains.
CrownHeights.info10 days agoTomchei Tmimim Mesivta opened its doors this week for the first day of Yeshiva at its historic Ocean Parkway campus.
Close to 50 bochurim arrived for the inaugural Shiur Aleph.
The new zman began just days after the bochurim returned home from camp, allowing them to quickly transition back into Yeshiva life.
Joining the Crown Heights bochurim are bochurim from communities across the country, giving the Mesivta a real out-of-town feel.
The Hanhala spared no effort in preparing the campus and making sure every bochur felt welcomed and comfortable from the moment he arrived.
CrownHeights.info10 days agoThe impact of the new 12 Pesukim pull-out pen is being felt in camps, schools, and children’s programs worldwide, where shluchim and mechanchim have been using it as a simple but powerful tool to help make the Pesukim more personal, relatable, and alive.
Part of the broader effort marking 50 years of the Rebbe’s initiative of the 12 Pesukim, the pen has already made an impact far and wide for thousands of children. The pen was created to do more than simply display the words. Alongside each Pasuk is a short, relatable one-line message, developed from the Rebbe’s Sichos, helping children understand how the message of the Pasuk speaks to their own lives.
That has made the pen especially effective. In camps, staff have used it to reinforce the incorporation of the Pesukim into camp life and give children something meaningful to continue with after the activity is over. In schools, teachers have found that it helps keep the 12 Pesukim present throughout the day, giving students a natural reminder of what they learned and another opportunity to connect to the message.
Children have found themselves naturally engaged with the pen and coming back to it again and again. The pull-out feature, together with the colorful design, makes it something they enjoy using, showing to friends, and keeping close by. Rather than being another giveaway that gets forgotten, it becomes something children cherish while continuing to bring them back to the 12 Pesukim and their messages.
The pen has also been used together with the newly designed 12 Pesukim booklet, with the two serving as natural companions. The booklet gives children a fuller resource to learn and review, while the pen keeps the Pesukim and their messages close at hand throughout the day.
For educators and shluchim, the response has shown that bringing the 12 Pesukim to life is something practical and doable.
To order the 12 Pesukim pull-out pens, email [email protected] or click here: https://www.tzivoshashem.org/12pulloutpen/
CrownHeights.info10 days agoby Tzali Reicher – chabad.org
Whenever Rabbi Yosef Dovid and Shternie Chanowitz walked into the care facility where Joel Schnee lived in the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York, the elderly man’s face would light up.
Cerebral palsy and other health challenges had left him with limited speech, but not with any shortage of things to say. Schnee would eagerly await the Chanowitzes’ regular programs and visits, and stretch out his arm, ready to wrap tefillin when the rabbi came to greet him. He would proudly show the couple his eclectic collection of Jewish memorabilia, and the pride he took in his Jewish heritage was well known around the facility.
That’s why it was such a shock for the Chanowitzs to hear of the warm man’s passing aged 80 on July 30, several days after the fact, and then to hear that the facility had arranged for Schnee to be cremated within days, with seemingly no recourse or way for them to intervene.
They had to do something.
The Chanowitzes have directed Chabad-Lubavitch of Monticello since 2022, and care for the year-round community in an area known for swelling with transplants during the summer.
The Chanowitzes have directed Chabad-Lubavitch of Monticello since 2022, continuing the work of his parents Rabbi Bentzion and Rochel Chanowitz, who served the community for almost three decades.
They serve a number of Catskill shtetls and individuals living in the mountains and valleys in between_._ In an area known for swelling with visitors in the summer, they care for the year-round community as well, including the large number of elderly Jews who live in assisted living facilities or spend their time in day programs.
“With so many seniors in a wide area, it’s easy to lose touch with people,” Rabbi Chanowitz says. “People move back with their families to the city, or enter care facilities. With no way to regularly communicate, it can be hard to keep up with where all our people are.”
Their focus on encouraging Jewish burial began in 2022, after they heard about an elderly Jewish woman who had wanted a Jewish burial, but was cremated before the Chanowitzes could identify the center she was living at at the time.
“We realized we had to connect with and regularly visit aged care facilities. We had to educate both the Jewish residents and the staff, who are often charged with making decisions after an elderly person with no close family passes, the importance of Jewish burial,” says Shternie Chanowitz.
Rabbi Yosef Dovid and Shternie Chanowitz
The importance of a proper burial in Jewish law and tradition cannot be underestimated. “For dust you are, and to dust you will return,” G‑d told Adam, the first human being. Chabad.org’s extensive section on Death and Mourning quotes King Solomon, who said: “And the earth returns to the land as it was, and the spirit returns to G‑d, who gave it.” The article explains that “the next stage in the continuing saga of a human life is that the body should return to the earth, the source of all physical life, and be reunited with it, just as the soul returns to its Divine root.”
Taking part in the proper burial of a Jewish person is considered a mitzvah of the highest order. Maimonides explains that even the High Priest, who was prohibited from attending his own family’s funerals, was required to take it upon himself to personally bury a met mitzvah, an abandoned Jewish body that had no one to attend to its proper burial.
Since 2022, the couple have made Jewish burial awareness a priority of their work. They work closely with Chessed Shel Emes and Last Kindness, organizations devoted to ensuring Jewish burial is accessible to every Jewish person, regardless of their financial abilities or family connections.
“Not every effort ends in success,” Rabbi Chanowitz says, “and cremation remains a primary trend we are working to counteract. The worst time to raise the subject is after a death has already occurred. It is important to have those hard conversations before, and discuss the Jewish view of death and the continuity of the soul, educating families and facilities well beforehand, so a plan is already in place when the moment comes.”
Shternie Chanowitz with Joel Schnee at a Passover program they organized at his care facility.
The time for Joel Schnee’s soul to return to its Maker occurred on Thursday, July 30, though the Chanowitzes were only made aware of it the next day. They were informed the facility had arranged a cremation, and despite the couple’s protestations, nothing could be done to change or reschedule the service, set for Tuesday, August 4.
Forced to wait over Shabbat and Sunday before they could speak to anyone, the Chanowitzes caught a lucky break: a nurse, moved by their efforts to ensure Schnee would get the Jewish burial he wanted, connected them with higher-level decision makers.
From the moment the clock struck 9 on Monday, Rabbi Chanowitz worked the phones.
He implored implacable managers to reconsider, highlighting the importance of a Jewish burial and the central role Judaism played in Schnee’s life. Ultimately moved, they connected him with the funeral director, saying if he would give the go-ahead for a Jewish burial service to proceed, they would approve it.
The funeral home handling the arrangements was reluctant.
“They told us the cremation arrangements were already made and there was nothing that could be done,” Rabbi Chanowitz said. “But when he saw how important it was to us, and how much it would have meant to Joel, they gave us their conditions to switch to Jewish burial.”
The funeral home said they wouldn’t cover the cost of the changeover and a Jewish interment. If Rabbi Chanowitz was willing to ensure the financials were taken care of, they’d approve it.
“I said, of course we’ll take care of it,” Rabbi Chanowitz recalled telling them, less than 24 hours before the cremation was set to proceed. “I spent the rest of the day working with Chessed Shel Emes. There were times we thought it wouldn’t all come together. Thank G‑d, it did.”
With the help of volunteers, who drove up from Monsey, N.Y., to bury someone they didn’t know, Rabbi Chanowitz and Chessed Shel Emes made sure tahara and shmira were performed, and oversaw his Jewish burial the next day at the Chesed Shel Emes Cemetery in Woodridge, N.Y., laid to rest amongst his own people.
“At the funeral, people from the facility approached us, sharing how moved they were by our efforts to fulfill Joel’s wishes of being buried as a Jew,” Shternie Chanowitz concludes. “They saw how we are really all one people. When one Jewish soul needed help ascending Heavenward, people and organizations that never knew Joel in life, came together in such a beautiful way to escort Joel on his final journey.”
With the help of dedicated volunteers and Chesed Shel Emes, Rabbi Chanowitz oversees the Jewish burial of Joel Schnee.
CrownHeights.info10 days agoMrs. Mariashi Groner
Click here for a PDF version of this edition of Here’s My Story, or visit the My Encounter Blog.
When a young Chabad couple was thinking of getting married in the 1970s, they were able to receive the Rebbe’s guidance all the way through. If we were dating, we could write to the Rebbe to ask whether he thought we should continue; before agreeing to get married, announcing the engagement, and picking a date, we would write to the Rebbe to receive his blessing. We were very lucky.
When my husband Rabbi Yossi Groner and I got engaged, towards the end of 1978, we received an additional piece of advice from the Rebbe. Traditionally, a small engagement party — called a vort or a l’chaim — is held after the announcement, but in those days, they had begun to get out of control. Instead of just being an occasion to formalize the engagement and wish everyone mazel tov, these vorts had become semi-weddings, with people spending a lot of money on the food and fancy decor.
The Rebbe understood that the trend towards bigger engagement parties within the community was about “keeping up with the Joneses.” Each person wanted their vort to be nicer than the other one, which is not a very good reason to make a celebration, and it encouraged people to spend more money than they should. He was not happy with this situation, as he soon made clear.
My future father-in-law, Rabbi Leibel Groner, served as one of the Rebbe’s secretaries, and before he announced our engagement party in Crown Heights, he asked the Rebbe for a blessing that the vort be held in a manner befitting the occasion. In reply, the Rebbe lamented the social pressure that people in the community were experiencing “to waste money just to outdo their neighbor.” The Rebbe observed: “The emptier the neighbor, the deeper the temptation some people feel to show that they are just as empty — if not more so. They take on ever-deeper debt, filling that emptiness with empty extravagances.” In other words, a proper celebration of our engagement would mean going against the grain.
My in-laws understood this as a directive from the Rebbe to set an example for others in the community to take the vort down a few notches and not to overspend. As well-known members of the community, they still had to invite a lot of people, but the party was held in a Young Israel synagogue rather than a hall, and it was quite simple. There were no flowers and no caterer; my mother-in-law decided to cook everything by herself at home. In time, the message went out to others, and for a while people took things back to the old ways, making their engagement celebrations in private homes.
I think nowadays the pendulum has begun to swing back again, and so the Rebbe’s answer still rings true today.
For the wedding, my father, Rabbi Berel Shemtov, felt it was important to set a similar example by showing people that we could have a happy, traditional Russian chasidic wedding, rather than following the standards that everybody else had set. At first, I wasn’t too happy about having cheaper invitations or eating on paper plates. What bride would be excited about that? At the same time, to appease me, on the night before the wedding, my father went with my brothers to set every place setting and chair, to make sure that the room looked as good as it could, and the care he showed then made an impression on me. And in the end, it was a very lively, beautiful wedding.
The next year, in 1980, my husband and I moved out to North Carolina, to serve as Chabad emissaries — shluchim.
Now, as many shluchim will tell you, there are many difficulties that come with this job. Whether it’s the challenges of raising children far away from the support of your family and community, or the financial challenges in fundraising for your activities, it doesn’t matter what it is, but sometimes you just feel like it’s all closing in on you. Typically, when I felt like that way, the main person I would turn to was the Rebbe.
And so, ten years into our shlichut, in a moment of sheer frustration and despair, I wrote a letter to the Rebbe. It was Elul time, when the new school year was starting. After describing some of the challenges we were facing, I wanted to give the most honest account of how I felt. I ended my letter by saying, “I feel like I’m one big mess.”
The Rebbe replied with a brief note. On the letter I had sent to him, he wrote: “You have succeeded (together with your husband) in your holy work, entirely beyond all expectations, and you call this a —” the Rebbe then completed the sentence by drawing an arrow to the word I had written: “—‘mess’?!”
The month of Elul is famously depicted in a chasidic allegory as a time in which “the King is in the field,” meaning that G-d is more accessible in Elul than at any other time in the year. The period leading up to the High Holidays is a uniquely auspicious time, with wonderful spiritual opportunities. And so the Rebbe concluded: “However, the King is in the field. May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year, and may you always have good news to report.”
One interesting thing about this answer was the way the Rebbe added that parenthetical reference to my husband. I had written the letter on my own, without including Yossi, because I was being quite forthright, and he would not have written to the Rebbe that way. And yet, in my state of despair, it seemed that the Rebbe was trying to remind me: You have a husband, lady, so please remember that you are doing this together.
More than that, I took the Rebbe’s response as reminding me to stop focusing on the clouds so much, and to see the sun a little more. Of course, I could still pray to G-d and ask for help, but I also really needed to appreciate what we had already accomplished, to notice all of the good things that were happening, and to recognize that we were doing good work. I got the message loud and clear. I have learned these words from the Rebbe by heart, and over the decades, it is something that I tell myself over and over again.
Mrs. Mariashi Groner is the long-time head of the Charlotte Jewish Day School. She and her husband, Rabbi Yossi Groner, have served as the Rebbe’s emissaries to North Carolina since 1980. She was interviewed in February 2015.
CrownHeights.info10 days agoThe Rebbe gives advice to one who is concerned about the state of the world in general and in this country in particular – advice to benefit the world and contribute to peace.
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Adar I, 5741
Brooklyn, N.Y.
E.M.
Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375
Blessing and Greeting:
I am in receipt of your letter.
I am gratified to note that you are concerned about the state of the world in general and in this country in particular.
As for your question “What should I do?” – of course this depends on the abilities and opportunities which G-d grants each individual and there is no indication in your letter to make it possible to give concrete advice or guidance.
However, there is one thing which is applicable to every Jew in all situations, and it is obligatory on everyone to do what he or she can. It calls for some prefatory remarks:
There is surely no need to explain to you that the Creator of the world is also the Master of the world and that He has entrusted a great deal of its management to human beings. Therefore, it stands to reason that He would not have left such an important task entirely to the devices of human beings without providing definite guidelines as to what a person has to do to ensure not only his own well-being, but also the well-being of the world at large. These guidelines were given in the Torah, which is called Torah Or (the Torah is Light) because the Torah (meaning instruction) illuminates all things in their proper light and gives clear instructions. To be sure, the Torah is very extensive and profound and not every individual is able to become fully familiar with it. However, there have been persons who dedicated their entire life to the study of the Torah, generation after generation. These are the Torah authorities who have helped the Jewish masses to follow faithfully the way of the Torah and mitzvos, in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish everyday living, which the said authorities have prepared and arranged in a way that made it accessible to every Jew.
The Torah teaches us that by following its instructions in the everyday life, in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch, every Jew carries out the Divine Mission which is entrusted to him/her in this life on earth. This includes both the duty to strengthen and spread Yiddishkeit, Torah and mitzvos, within one’s family and community and also working for strengthening the moral fiber of the society in general in which one lives, by promoting the basic Divine Laws of morality, with all their ramifications which were given to the children of Noah (all mankind).
It may, at first glance, seem strange that observing such mitzvos as Shabbos, Yom Tov and kashrus and so on, can benefit the world at large and contribute to peace, etc., but on reflection, it should not be surprising at all that the limited human reason cannot understand something which has to do with G-d’s Will and Wisdom, which are essentially beyond human understanding. Certainly, the average layman cannot be expected to understand as much as the above-mentioned Torah authorities in every generation, who dedicate their life to the study of Torah. But, as in the case of various human walks of life, where a layman must necessarily depend on experts, so much so that in case of health one sometimes entrusts one’s life into the hands of a doctor, how much more so would a layman be well advised to rely on the spiritual guidance of competent Rabbis and Torah authorities, as mentioned above.
In light of the above and since you write, “I am a proud Jew, educated in our catechisms,” etc., I trust you will do all you can to spread Yiddishkeit in your surroundings, and there are surely suitable women’s groups in your neighborhood, such as a branch of Chabad women, in whose activities you could participate, which you will surely also find personally gratifying.
With blessing,
P.S. Enclosed is a copy of my message to the Midwinter Convention of Neshei Chabad, which I trust you will make good use of.
CrownHeights.info11 days agoTotal US debt has topped $40 trillion for the first time, the Treasury Department said Wednesday, drawing fresh warnings that a fiscal crisis is brewing as ballooning costs for social safety-net programs and interest payments far outstrip revenues held back by tax cuts.
The Treasury’s latest daily cash and debt balances statement showed total public debt outstanding at $40.047 trillion on Tuesday, a total that includes Treasury securities held by the public of $32.266 trillion and intra-governmental debt holdings of $7.782 trillion.
The federal government’s IOU has now more than doubled in less than a decade, from $19.95 trillion when President Trump was sworn in for the first time in January 2017.
CrownHeights.info11 days agoCourtesy of Photographer Tzvi Levenhartz, we present the annual group photo from Kevutza 5786.
CrownHeights.info11 days ago“It’s a whole mindset change.”
That was how one participant described his experience at the 12th annual Gold Star Teachers’ Training Course, which recently concluded with 36 mechanchim participating both in person and online.
Organized by Igud Hamelamdim and held at Darchei Menachem, the course brought together teachers and aspiring teachers for intensive training in the practical realities of chinuch, including classroom management, setting expectations, understanding students, and creating a productive classroom environment.
Led by veteran mechanech and trainer Rabbi Michel Rotenberg, the Gold Star course combines practical skills with a fundamental shift in the way teachers view themselves and their classrooms.
“It’s not just the skills,” one participant explained. “It’s a whole mindset change.”
He described how the course changed his thinking from worrying about whether students would listen to understanding that a teacher can confidently establish a classroom with clear expectations and boundaries.
“I really liked changing the way I think,” he said.
Another participant saw the practical value almost immediately while working in a day camp. A child repeatedly approached him saying, “I’m bored.” Previously, he would spend several minutes trying to come up with an activity for the child. After learning a different approach in the course, he simply asked, “What do you suggest?”
It worked.
For him, the experience demonstrated that the training was not merely theoretical, but provided tools that could be used immediately in real-life situations.
Other participants expressed similar feedback, describing the course as highly valuable and saying that every teacher should have the opportunity to participate.
The impact was also noticed by principals.
One principal shared that he personally knows four Rebbis who participated in the Gold Star course, including two members of his own staff who are in their first year of teaching.
All four told him that the course was the best preparation they received for entering the teaching profession. The two first-year Rebbis on his staff, he added, are among the strongest first-year teachers he has seen.
“I would love to take credit for that,” the principal wrote, “but the truth is that so much of their success comes from the strong foundation, mindset, and practical classroom skills they gained from this course.”
He strongly recommended that schools have their staffs participate in the program.
For Rabbi Reuven Mizrachi, who was instrumental in organizing this year’s course, the program carries a special personal significance. Years ago, Rabbi Mizrachi himself participated in the Gold Star course, an experience that had a lasting impact on his approach to chinuch and helped shape him into the highly regarded teacher he is today.
Having experienced its impact firsthand, Rabbi Mizrachi was eager to help bring the same opportunity to a new generation of mechanchim.
Participants also received a complete set of materials, including a personalized binder with each teacher’s name on the cover and booklets accompanying the various components of the program.
For Igud Hamelamdim, under the direction of Rabbi Avrohom Bluming, the Gold Star course is part of a broader mission of strengthening chinuch by investing in the teachers who have the greatest day-to-day influence on children.
“Our goal is to reach the core of chinuch by giving our teachers and future teachers the tools they need, and the perspective they need, to have the greatest possible impact on their talmidim,” Rabbi Bluming explained.
After 12 years, the response from participants continues to demonstrate the value of that approach.
They left with practical tools and a new perspective on the classroom — with the ultimate test beginning when they walk into their classrooms and put what they learned into practice.
That is when the real impact of Gold Star begins.
CrownHeights.info11 days agoIn an incredible event, the Rabbeim of Lubavitcher Yeshiva gathered for a special first look at the beautifully renovated Mesivta building, Located at the Ocean Parkway campus, the building will once again become a vibrant home of Torah and Chassidus as the new home of the Yeshiva’s Mesivta.
The move marks a true “Machzir Atarah l’Yoshnah” returning the historic Yeshiva building to its former glory, while bringing it to an entirely new level, befitting the growth and continued expansion of Tomchei Temimim.
The Rabbeim toured the newly renovated building, including the comfortable new dormitory and magnificent mikvah. There was a special sense of Nachas as the Rabbeim reflected on watching their Talmidim grow year after year, and now seeing them take their next step into Mesivta.
The new building reflects a theme that has accompanied Lubavitch Yeshiva throughout its tremendous growth in recent years : “Hecher un Hecher. and now also Breiter un Breiter” constantly reaching higher and expanding wider, both b’Gashmiyus and b’Ruchniyus.
In keeping with the Rebbe’s emphasis that a Yeshiva and its physical surroundings should be befitting the Torah learned within its walls, tremendous thought and effort went into creating a building that is spacious, dignified and beautiful in every detail.
The gathering was addressed by Rabbi Braun, the Rov of Crown Heights, Rabbi Yosef Simpson, Menahel of the Yeshiva and Rabbi Scharf, Menahel of the Mesivta, who spoke about the significance of this new chapter and the tremendous zechus and achrayus that comes along with it.
More than the opening of a renovated building, the evening celebrated the continued growth of a Yeshiva and its Talmidim, building upon the chinuch of the previous years and carrying it forward into Mesivta.
As beautiful as the new building is b’Gashmiyus, it will Bez”H be surpassed by the beauty within the קול תורה, the davening, the Vareme Chassidishkeit and the growth of its Talmidim, as Tomchei Temimim continues to grow Hecher un Hecher, Breiter un Breiter, preparing generations of Chasidim, Temimim and Shluchim and giving the Rebbe continued Nachas.
CrownHeights.info11 days agoHundreds of women attended a gala dinner held Monday evening in Kfar Chabad, organized by “Adi Ad – L’Chaim U’Livracha” under the theme “Kol Kallah.”
The evening opened with guest of honor MK Limor Son Har-Melech, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and chairwoman of the Knesset Caucus for Religious and Haredi Women. In warm remarks, she expressed her appreciation and admiration for the tremendous work of “Adi Ad” on behalf of brides of today and the brides of tomorrow.
The Mashpia, Rabbi Meni Roth, delivered an inspiring address centered on the power of the “voice” — from the Divine voice at Matan Torah, which brought about miracles and healing, to the power of charity, with the word “kol” having the numerical value of “mamon” — money, representing the tzedakah that can avert a harsh decree.
The evening featured live musical accompaniment, with mother and daughter Ayelet Akivaov and Mushka Levy performing moving songs and leading the artistic program. The program took the participants on a journey toward the chuppah.
The journey began with a bride facing questions and uncertainty, finding answers through “Ask-Me Plus,” the halachic Q&A service on the way to building an everlasting Jewish home. It continued with two mothers preparing for their children’s weddings: Devorah Zigman, whose eldest daughter is a bride, and Feigi Borgan, an experienced mother who has already married off children.
Together, they visited the “Adi Ad House,” where the bride and her mother selected a beautiful and dignified dowry. The visit also featured the launch of a new initiative providing subsidized furniture for every bride, with a complete basic furniture package for a young couple at a significantly reduced price.
From the story of “the bride of today,” the program moved to “the bride of tomorrow,” through a powerful artistic presentation combining live violin music, professional dance, screens and stage performance. It told the remarkable story of Ruti, a young woman from a Litvish background whose life journey brought her all the way to Seoul, South Korea.
There, after a long and winding journey, she encountered Chabad through Divine Providence. A Chabad emissary began studying Tanya with her, and her searching soul found what it had been seeking. After returning to Israel, she connected with Mrs. Chani Lamberg and Mrs. Chani Vilishansky of Haifa, continuing to study Chassidus and connect with the Rebbe’s path.
As an older single woman, she continued to struggle with loneliness until Mrs. Chani Lamberg introduced her to the “L’Chaim U’Livracha” organization. There she found supportive friendships, a genuine support group, empowering farbrengens, activities, retreats and women who devoted themselves to supporting the group of women.
“L’Chaim U’Livracha” also works with shadchanim and the wider community to encourage involvement and caring in the shidduch process. During the evening, Racheli Cohen and Devorah Leah Betzalel (Batashvili) shared their personal stories and how the organization’s supportive framework helped them on their journey toward building their homes.
Devorah Leah, together with her mother-in-law Dina Betzalel, also shared how their shidduch came about through the “I Care About Chabad Shidduchim” group operated by “L’Chaim U’Livracha.” The organization’s “Yad B’Yad L’Adi Ad” department, led by Mrs. Malka Rotstein and Mrs. Malka Niazov, provides professional guidance and support for unique shidduch situations.
Among the organization’s newer initiatives is “Lirot Et HaNolad” (“Looking Ahead”), which accompanies women through the complex journey toward motherhood, with an emphasis on planning for the future.
Chairwoman of “Adi Ad – L’Chaim U’Livracha,” Mrs. Bracha Tabardovitch, addressed the participants and thanked the partners and donors who sustain the organization. She also expressed appreciation to the dedicated volunteers of “Adi Ad,” led by Mrs. Meira Aharon and Mrs. Heni Hazan, and to the volunteers of “L’Chaim U’Livracha,” led by Mrs. Nechama Amitai and Mrs. Feigi Burkis.
At the heart of the evening was the fundraising campaign, led with dedication by Mrs. Chani Goldberg, who heads the campaign, together with Mrs. Chani Malka.
Rabbanit Rachel Handel also blessed the donors. With the impact of “Adi Ad – L’Chaim U’Livracha” resonating throughout the evening, hearts opened to support an organization that gives to the entire community and brings that generosity back through joyous occasions.
Alongside the organization’s community-wide initiatives, special assistance is provided to brides from families in need, including an expanded support package, financial assistance and approximately 50% subsidies toward the purchase of a sheitel, with plans to further expand the support available to needy brides.
“Sowing charity brings forth salvation.” Mrs. Ruti Rachamim shared her personal story of miraculous blessings following her support of “Adi Ad.” Three years ago, she went above and beyond to raise funds for 12 brides, personally sponsoring three of them. With gratitude, she testified that she subsequently merited to see tremendous salvations and, over the past three years, to marry off all four of her daughters.
The evening concluded with a unique presentation in which dilemmas surrounding shidduchim and marriage were presented through artistic playback theater and addressed from a professional and Chassidic perspective by coach Zizi Kugelman.
Logistical production: Mendel Rachamim
Direction and content production: Mushki Eidelkop
Photographer Dov Ber Hechtman presents an extensive photo gallery from the evening:
CrownHeights.info11 days agoOn the corner of the NYPD’s 71st Precinct in Crown Heights, a new feature has been erected: a traffic camera looking westbound on Empire Blvd. Driver Beware.
CrownHeights.info11 days agoNew York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) has issued a Weather Alert for Thursday, August 20. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the area Thursday afternoon and evening, with locally heavy downpours that could produce isolated to scattered flash flooding.
Scattered showers are expected to begin late Thursday morning, with the bulk of the widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms expected between approximately 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The heaviest rainfall is currently expected between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., which could affect the evening commute. NYCEM has activated the City’s Flash Flood Emergency Plan and is coordinating with the NWS and City agencies to monitor conditions and prepare for potential impacts.
The NWS Weather Prediction Center has placed New York City in a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 4) for excessive rainfall on Thursday. This carries the potential for isolated to scattered flash flooding.
Current forecasts call for approximately 0.75 inches to just over 1 inch of rain across New York City, with higher totals possible in localized areas. Higher rainfall amounts are currently more likely across southern portions of the city.
Brief rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible in stronger thunderstorms. However, the showers and thunderstorms are expected to move steadily through the area rather than repeatedly pass over the same locations, limiting the duration of the heaviest rainfall.
Localized rainfall totals of approximately 1.5 to 1.75 inches are possible in areas that receive heavier downpours. Higher amounts cannot be ruled out in a low-probability scenario.
The greatest risk for heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding is expected during the late afternoon and evening, including the evening commute. Showers and thunderstorms should begin to taper off after approximately 8 p.m., with generally dry conditions expected after midnight Thursday night into Friday morning.
CrownHeights.info12 days agoThere has been considerable discussion about reports of a proposed 120 bed homeless shelter at 125 East 55th Street. CHJCC has been looking into it, speaking with City officials and trying to better understand both this proposal and how the process works.
Here is what we know and, more importantly, what we learned.
Where Things Stand
Information about a proposed 120 bed shelter at 125 East 55th Street, with a possible summer 2028 opening, was discussed at a Brooklyn Community Board 17 Land Use/Re-Zoning Committee meeting in November 2025. Similar information surfaced publicly again in July 2026.
However, when we spoke directly with City officials from the Mayor’s office on August 17, they told us they could find no City record or file for a proposed shelter at that address.
That does not mean a property owner, developer or shelter provider is not working on a proposal. It means that, as of that conversation, we could not confirm an approved City shelter at 125 East 55th Street.
CHJCC will continue following it.
How the Process Works
One important thing we learned is that the City does not start by choosing a location for a shelter.
A property owner or developer may identify a property. A nonprofit shelter provider may then bring the proposal to the City for review.
In simple terms:
Property Owner/Developer → Shelter Provider → City Review → Approval → Community Notification
The City considers the need for shelter beds, the number and distribution of existing facilities, the building, operator, services, security, operations and cost.
If the proposal meets the City’s requirements and the use is legally permitted, community approval may not be required.
This applies well beyond shelters. Real estate development, infrastructure, street redesigns and many other projects are often governed by existing zoning, laws and agency authority. If a zoning change or other discretionary approval is required, there may be a larger public process. If something is already permitted, community opinion may have much less effect on whether it proceeds.
That is important to understand. Sometimes we can influence the decision itself. Sometimes we cannot.
Why Local Participation Matters
There are many local meetings taking place every month. Community Boards, committee meetings, precinct councils, agency presentations and other forums regularly discuss issues that eventually affect Crown Heights.
No one person or organization can attend all of them.
The more Crown Heights residents who participate, the more we know, the earlier we know it, and the better positioned we are to respond.
That does not mean we can stop or change every project. Often we cannot. But knowing earlier gives us time to ask questions, raise concerns and, where necessary, mitigate the impact by advocating for additional security, lighting, sanitation, traffic improvements or other City resources.
The equation is fairly simple: more people in the room means more information coming back to the community and more opportunity to act before everything is already decided.
CHJCC will continue doing its part, but broader community participation makes all of us better informed and better prepared.
There Is Another Side to the Shelter Conversation
Crown Heights already has homeless individuals, Jewish and non-Jewish. We see people sleeping on benches and in public spaces, and our shuls and community institutions periodically encounter people looking for somewhere safe to stay.
Perhaps there is also room to consider an appropriate local Kosher shelter or transitional facility serving local needs.
There is an economic side as well. The City contracts with nonprofit shelter operators, properties can be part of long term arrangements, and facilities create jobs and contracting opportunities.
If there is a viable and profitable opportunity for a shelter in Crown Heights and local property owners do not explore it, someone else likely will.
That is not an argument for or against a shelter. It is simply part of the reality and worth knowing.
The Bottom Line
Regarding 125 East 55th Street, there are still unanswered questions. As of our August 17 conversation with City officials, we have not been able to confirm an approved City shelter at that address. CHJCC will continue seeking answers.
The larger lesson is practical.
The earlier Crown Heights knows what is happening, the more we can do. Sometimes that means advocating to change or modify a proposal. Sometimes the project may be legally entitled to proceed, and our focus needs to be on mitigating its impact and securing the services and resources the neighborhood needs.
That requires CHJCC to stay engaged with government, but it also requires more residents to attend the many local meetings where these issues first surface.
More people attending means more information. More information means earlier involvement. And earlier involvement gives us more options.
That is how we can make a practical difference.
CrownHeights.info12 days agoWhat is the source and reason of the Jewish people placing a stone on a matzeiva (headstone) and is this a Chabad custom?
It is brought in the Talmud[1] that when a person who is in Cherem (excommunication) dies, beis din (rabbinical court) places a big stone on his coffin signifying that he was in cherem as a disgrace and testimony to his sin and the fact that he died while in Cherem.
Nonetheless we see the widespread the Jewish custom is to place stones on the matzeiva of any person as a sign of respect etc.
Some wish to explain the source of the custom as being that historically it once was that there were no gravestones as we know them today, rather graves were marked by way of piles of stones and being that the elements would eventually topple these piles of stones, the visitors of the matzeiva would come and to some degree rebuild the matzeiva by replacing a stone somewhat rebuilding the pile marking the kever (burial spot).
From a halachic perspective, the custom is quoted by Rabbi Yehudah Ashkenazi of Titkin, who authored the famous commentary on Shulchan Aruch, the Beer Heitiv[2] who passingly mentions the custom of placing a stone while listing other practices such as tearing grass etc. while visiting jewish graves but the overall halachic sourcing for the practice, in truth is virtually absent all together.
Symbolically there are those that like to suggest that the Hebrew word for stone (אבן) is an acronym for Father, Son, Grandchild (אב בן נכד) but this to seems more anecdotal.
Another (perhaps apocryphal) explanation exists amongst the chevra kadishas of Jerusalem that a few hundred years ago during the Turkish occupation of Eretz Yisroel, there was once found a murdered Arab man on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Shabbos. Immediately the word went out and the blood libel began that it was the Jews that had murdered this individual and left his body and the outskirts of the city.
Immediately the expulsion of all Jews of Jerusalem. One of the elderly kabbalists of Jerusalem heard of the imposing danger and decided to use a kabbalistic practice of writing one of G-ds sacred names, and placing it on the forehead of the murdered.
When he did this sure enough the murdered man came back to life, pointed at the true murderer and then returned and died.
Seeing this justice came about it being who was the true murder and the decree was canceled.
Nonetheless the kabbalist instructed the chevra kadisha (burial society) to place a stone on his matzeiva (as was practised for a person who was excommunicated) as a final form of teshuva (repentance) for his breaking of shabbos.
Originally the chevra kadisha refused arguing that this would be disrespectful, until later a compromise came about that there should be stones placed on all of the matzeivos of Jerusalem as sure enough the custom became widespread throughout the jewish world as it is today.
It is worth mentioning that this explanation is in line with the seeming contradiction that was cited above that we find in the Talmud as regards nonetheless this explanation is lacking a truly authoritative source.
Multiple testimonials testify that the Rebbe did not practice this custom[3] and seemingly (although perhaps up for interpretation[4]), even wrote of it to not be appropriate[5]. Nonetheless the practice is somewhat accepted amongst Anash, some chassidim practicing it[6] and others refrain.[7]
Practically, seemingly unless one specifically has a custom otherwise, it would seem more appropriate following the custom of the Rebbe Nasi Doreinu and in place plucking grass and tossing over the shoulder three times consecutively as a latent reference to Techiyas HaMeisem[8], the revival of the dead in the messianic era. [9]
נ.ב. it is possible to explain the reason that we did not see the Rebbe observe this practice is because the Rebbe (as is known) throws grass three times over the shoulder as a symbolism of techiyas hameisim but its possible this is also a fulfillment of the custom mentioned by the the Beir Heitiv who lists placing a stone or alternativelyplacing grass as achieving the same goal (honouring the deceased).
נ.ב. It is obviously inappropriate to place flowers by a grave[10] being that this custom has pagan origins and is totally contradictory to the jewish view on death in which one no longer values physical beauty, rather values the mitzvos and good deeds performed in their merit.
Whatever one practices, G-D willing soon to be none of this will be relevant והקיצו ורננו שוכני עפר and we should see the fulfillment of the possuk בלע המוות לנצח with the immediate revelation of Melech HaMoshiach NOW!
[1] עיין מו”ק טו ע”ב כן עיין מסכת עדויות פרק ה
[2] עיין באר היטב רכד ס”ק ח וכן אליה רבה רכז ס’ ז וכן יבי”א ח”ד יו”ד סימן לה סע’ ז
[3] עיין בית משיח גליון 169 דף 54 כן עיין התקשרות גליון 965
[4] למרות שההקשר של המענה פתוח במידה מסוימת לפרשנות, סביר להניח שזהו ההסבר הסביר ביותר, בשילוב עם העובדה שכפי שהובא לעיל, הרבי לא נהג במנהג זה.
[5] עיין בית משיח גליון 124 דף 9
[6] כן שמעתי מהגה”ר אשכנזי מד”א דכפר חב”ד וכן עיין שיחת השבוע גליון 153 ששם מציין הרב יוסף גינזבורג גבי מנהג זה וכן תומכו וכן עיין ספר דרכי חסד סימן ל ס’ ח ע”י הגה”ר יצחק דובער אושפאל (י”ל שאין פסק זה מכריע שאפשר לומר שהפסק זה ביחס לדור השישי – דורו של כ”ק אדמו”ר
[7] כן ראיתי כתוב ע”י הרב יהודה שיח’ שורפין (ממשיבי chabad.org בשפת עברית) וכן שמעתי נהוג מכמה מאנ”ש
[8] עיין קיצור שו”ע קצט ס’ י
[9] שכן נראה מהמענה המובא לעיל הערה 5
[10] עיין תשובות והנהגות יו”ד סימן תשיד וכן יבי”א ח”ג יו”ד סימן כד ס’ י’ וכן יבי”א ח”ז יו”ד סימן לד
CrownHeights.info12 days agoAs Elul is upon us, and the blasts of shofar awaken us, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Queens is Zoiche to be the first TTL to begin in the America! To the smell of fresh paint, and new furniture, the Temimim arrive with Seforim and Meforshim on Masseches Psachim!
The new Zman began with a Hisorerus talk by the Menahel Rabbi Yosef HaCohen Hendel inspiring the Tmimim to diligently throw themselves into Torah and Avoda with the Chayus of this special Tekufa. Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaCohen Hendel of the Vaad introduced the chief Rabbi of Be’er Sheva and Av of Batei Hadin in Be’er Sheva Rabbi Avrohom Deri who inspired the Bochurim to Limud Hatorah with a Koch and Geshmak, with a fire and zest!
Rabbi Mendel Yusewitz of the Vaad Hapoel translated the Chidushei Torah and broke it down for the Bochurim, then Rabbi Deri shared the special Zechus his family is blessed with a special connection to the Rebbe and Tomchei Tmimim.
When the Rebbe’s Shliach to Morroco Rabbi Micheol Lipsker was planning to embark on the Shlichus, the Frierdiker Rebbe asked the leader of Moroccan jewry in Meknes Rabbi Boruch Yitzchok Tolidano to see that a yungerman help the shliach’s initiatives. Rabbi Deri’s grandfather Rabbi Yitzchok Tolidano was chosen. He actually took his dowry – expensive equipment to establish a printing press, and used it to fund the first Tomchei Temimim in Morroco “we feel it is in that Zechut that our grandfather bore so many Talmidei Chachamim – like the son-in-law of Rabbi Ovadia Yossef OBM”
He inspired the Temimim with their Avoda as “Cheiylot Beit David” as the ultimate “Bnei Maron” bringing Moshiach Now!
CrownHeights.info12 days agoIn accordance with the Rebbe’s clear directive, Ohr Menachem of Crown Heights holds its their first day of cheder on 4 Elul. Following the joint ‘Prep & Training day’ on 3 Elul, teachers put the learning into practice the very next day, even as many camps are still in session.
Wednesday, Daled Elul, was a rainy hot day in Crown Heights, yet, in the streets of Crown Heights one might have noticed a curious scene: Children were wearing regular button-down dress-shirts. Was that a new camp uniform?
The explanation was far simpler. The Rebbe’s wishes Chadorim open at the onset of Chodesh Elul!
After the talmidim had a chance to catch up on their summer experiences, they were welcomed in by Cheder’s Hanhala: Rabbi Zalman Goldstein and Rabbi Yossef Overlander .
They were introduced to their new melamed by the Menahel Rabbi Mendel Yusewitz. At the end of the day, every melamed gave his Talmidim a special treat – a taste of Torah’s sweetness. The sweet sounds of Torah and Avodah of the ‘front liners’ bringing Moshiach, rings again through the hallways of Cheider!
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The Rebbe’s words:
יש לקצר זמן החופש וכידוע מרז”ל […] תעזבני יום יומיים אעזבך […] תקותי שאצל חלק חשוב מהתלמידות יפעלו שינוי זה שעכ”פ יקצרו בזמן החופש” -אג”ק ח”ט עמוד ק”פ
מובן ופשוט אשר אין זה מספיק להכין תלמידים-ות אפילו במקצת לימי הסליחות והענינים דחודש תשרי, ולכן בודאי שבכל בתי הספר יתחילו הלימודים קודם לזה ומה טוב בתחילת חודש הרחמים הוא חודש אלול -אגרות קודש חי”א עמ’ שלא
CrownHeights.info13 days agoIDF representatives have notified the family of Yehuda Katz that remains belonging to the fallen soldier have been located.
Katz was the last soldier from the Battle of Sultan Yaqub in 1982 to be classified as missing in action.
The finding of his remains brings a years-long intelligence and military saga to an end. In 2019, the body of Zechariah Baumel was returned to Israel through Russian mediation.
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