It Can Take 19 ..18..21..Years – An Incredible Encounter

Boston University, 1970s. An anguished father struggles for a way to bring his bright son back to Jewish observance.

CrownHeights.info and the Avner Institute presents a touching encounter, where the Rebbe urges that family ties—and patience—be maintained, in spite of level observance, and that in time Torah will prevail, with special thanks to Rabbi Mordechai Berkowitz.

The Poor Man’s Livelihood

In 1965, on the eve of the anniversary of the passing of the fifth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneerson (1860-1920), a sudden request was made of Rabbi Mordechai Shusterman, the owner of a printing press.

Life Is a Journey – The Road to True Self Realization

Man is regarded as one who is constantly moving. He must perpetually move from one level to another. If he will not go steadily upwards he will, indeed, decline steadily. For it is impossible to remain on one level. (The Ga’on of Vilna)

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.