The Three Weeks: 21 Moshiach Inspirations

A New Program for the 3 Weeks Focuses on Moshiach as the 3 weeks and the mourning period over the destruction of the Batei Mikdosh begins, the Moshiach Campaign has created a new program that help use this time to also focus on future rebuilding rather than just past destruction.

The Frierdiker Rebbe’s Blessing To a Soldier

July 1942: At the height of World War II Aaron Roth, a soldier from New York, begins his service—but not without a fateful meeting with the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn.

CrownHeights.info and the Avner Institute presents an amazing Encounter of a very special blessing and a promise to his father that followed Mr. Roth from an army base in Virginia to the heart of wartime Tel Aviv. With special thanks to Rabbi Yerachmiel Tiles, Director, Ascent Institute, Safed.

Today: The Fast of Shiva Asar BeTamuz

The Fast ends at 9:04pm (NYC Times – More Times)

The 17th of Tammuz is a fast day, which is devoted to mourning the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls and the other tragic events that occurred on this day, and repenting and rectifying their causes. We refrain from all food and drink from “daybreak” (about an hour before sunrise, depending on location) until nightfall. Special prayers and Torah readings are added to the day’s services.

Don’t Mind Your Own Business

A Timely Lesson About Our Fragile World

The late Peter Marshall was an eloquent speaker and for several years served as the chaplain of the US Senate. He used to love to tell the story of the “Keeper of the Spring,” a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slope of the Alps.

The old gentleman had been hired many years earlier by a young town councilman to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water. The village soon became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description.

Chabad and Williamsburg: A Moving Encounter

Chabad to Williamsburg—how far does the love for a fellow Jew go? Especially one who strayed?

CrownHeights.info and the Avner Institute presents a moving encounter told by Rabbi Nachman Twersky, whose grandfather the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, together with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, helped bring a former student of his who was living in Williamsburg Brooklyn at the time back to Torah observance, showing how through Divine Providence a lost Jewish spark can be rekindled.

More than a Beautiful Mind

Reaching Beyond The Confines Of Our Own Intellectual Bias

Surveying the steep cliff at the edge of a mountain crest, Izzy lost his footing and over he went. Grabbing onto a protruding tree limb, he managed to break the fall, but he knew that his troubles were not quite over. There was no way he could climb up the steep precipice; nor could he hang on much longer. A glance at the canyon’s 1,000 foot drop evoked a barrage of frantic cries for help.

“My dear Izzy,” came the unmistaken voice of G-d, “I heard your call, would you like my help?”

“Oh Lord, I promise to be a good person… l shall be a loyal servant for the rest of my life. Never shall I sin again… Just get me out of this place! Please!”

The Rebbe Writes to a Stamp Collector

Postage stamps aren’t just for mailing. Can one find Torah in pursuit of a hobby?

The Avner Institute presents a unique and newly released letter to a stamp collector, where the Rebbe shows how he not only can connect with Jews of all backgrounds and interests, but can turn these very interests around to teach valuable lessons. With special thanks to Rabbi Sholom Ber Schapiro of the Nissan Mindel Archives for releasing the letter in honor of his grandson’s Simcha.

A Jewish King and Queen of England?

Two unrelated Jews from different walks of life meet in an unlikely place and discover they are connected. You’ve heard that story before in Jewish folklore. Well, it happened to me recently.

Faith vs Effort – Man’s Paradoxical Misson

“If only G-d would give me a sign… such as, say, a large deposit in a Swiss bank account under my name…” (Woody Allen)

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Sam is unrelenting in his petition of Heaven. His unremitting prayer causes such an uproar above that G-d dispatches an angel to determine what it is that troubles this tenacious petitioner.

”It’s the lottery,” Sam tells the querying angel. “How big a deal is it for G-d to let me win the lottery?

Shavuos With the Rebbe – Marking 30 Years

Over the year’s late British businessman Zalman Jaffe and his wife Roselyn spent every Shavuos in Crown Heights, where they merited an especially close relationship with the Rebbe and Rebbetzin. At the Rebbe’s request Mr. Jaffe faithfully recorded these visits, which were published annually as My Encounters with the Rebbe and savored by Chabad readers everywhere.

L’CHAIM! – Something To Think About… Something To Drink About

A man once approached his Rebbe demanding an explanation as to what made him so great.

“You eat and I eat,” argued the disciple, “You say a blessing before you eat, as do I. So what makes you so much greater than me?”

“What you say is correct,” said the Rebbe, “Indeed, you eat and I eat; you say a blessing before you eat, as do I. But there is one small difference,” asserted the Rebbe: “You see, while you say a blessing so you can eat, I eat so I can say a blessing!”