Our Heroes: Rabbi Shmaryohu Gurary (1897-1989)

Rabbi Shmaryohu Gurary, known to all as The Rashag, was the Previous Rebbe’s oldest son-in law. This brief overview cannot convey all the qualities of his personality, accomplishments and life events that he was involved in. To date, nothing unfortunately has been published that would comprehensively present a biographical sketch of his life. In researching the Previous Rebbe’s letters, it is possible to obtain some of the details of the RaShag’s experiences.

by Rabbi Michoel Seligson
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34th Yartzeit of Dr. A Seligson OBM: The Rebbe’s Physician

Chof Hey Shvat marked the 34th Yahrtzeit of Dr. Avrohom Abba Seligson, who was known as the Rebbes physician. Dr. Seligson was born in Cracow, Poland and is a fourth generation descendent of the Alter Rebbe. In honor of his Yohrtzeit we are publishing a brief biography along with a collection of precious stories about him and the Rebbe.

Here’s My Story: The Struggling Economist

Most tourists to Jerusalem know my family name – Mandelbaum – because they have visited the site where my family’s home once stood. It had been destroyed in 1948 during Israel’s War of Independence, and a gate was erected on its site. During the nineteen years that Jerusalem was divided, in order to proceed from one part (the Israeli part) to the other part (occupied by Jordan), everyone had to pass through what was called – after the ruin of our home – the Mandelbaum Gate. When Jerusalem was reunited after the Six-Day War, the Mandelbaum Gate was dismantled, but the site is part of Jerusalem’s history now and most tourists are taken to see it.

Jews in Sports: Cultural Celebration in Our Backyard

While you were likely busy celebrating the holiday of Purim last week, the Village of Bayville, NY transformed one of its parks into an international celebration center last Sunday afternoon when the Israeli and Irish national lacrosse teams faced one another on Purim Day, this year coinciding with the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.

by Yossi Goldstein

Singleness or Harmony? The Kabbala of Jewish Unity

“Unity, unity,” what a beautiful idea. Its virtues issue forth from the mouths of politicians and clergymen. Its praises roll from of lips of leaders, activists and ordinary folk of all ilk and class. The word conjures up images of an idyllic state of existence – a world in which there is no strife nor struggle – where humanity is bound by a single objective with a single mind and a single heart.

by Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov - Jax., FL

Jews in Sports: A Pioneer Passes

Oscar (Ossie) Schechtman, an original member of the New York Knicks, scored the legendary first National Basketball League (called the Basketball Association of America at the time) basket on November 1, 1946 at the old Maple Leafs Garden in Toronto against the short-lived Toronto Huskies.

by Yossi Goldstein

Jews in Sports: Chabadnam-Style

Since it was uprooted from Russia, Chabad has reinvented itself as a movement to move all others. Over the past 90+ years, since the first shliach was sent to another country to promote Judaism, there have been many ways and manners wherein shluchim have accomplished their task to bring Jews closer to Judaism every single day.

by Yossi Goldstein

A Tribute to My Namesake

Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul will mark the 44th anniversary of the passing of my great-grandfather, Hachassid HaTamim Reb Yochanan ben Reb Yisrael Gordon, zt’l. For the longest time, this date has come and passed rather unceremoniously on my end, without memorializing him. It struck me rather odd that this idea has weighed so strongly on my mind of late, compelling me to write when so many years have gone by without as much as a word or even a thought.

by Yochanan Gordon