CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Beis Rivka’s Head Start and Pre-1a grades had a special program in honor of Yud Tes Kislev where the students were taught about what had transpired as well as heard stories about the Alter Rebbe, combined with singing and dancing with Morah Music and reciting the 12 Pesukim.
Photo gallery in the Extended Article!
In honor of Yud Tes Kislev, The Avner Institute and CrownHeights.info is happy to present a unique picture of the Rebbe from the Year 1978, released for the first time. Special thanks to the RebbeArchive@Gmail.com. to learn more about the Rebbe visit: inspiringageneration.org
Full size photo in the Extended Article!
More pictures in the Extended Article!
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — ALIYA hosted a Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen with Rabbi Laibel Groner, one of the Rebbes secretaries, who Farbrenged with the Bochurim and Yungerliet into the night. Another separate Farbrengen took place for girls.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
NAPLES, FL — The year came full circle for the Naples Jewish community Sunday night.
At the Ritz-Carlton Naples, a Torah hand-written specifically for the Naples community, was inscribed with its final letters 11 months after it was begun at the same place.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
This week, as we celebrate Yud Tes Kislev, Rosh HaShana L’Chasidus, over 15,000 students will complete JLI’s course, Soul Maps at 300 chapters worldwide. The course, an overview of Tanya, was the largest simultaneous class on Tanya since the Alter Rebbe published it more than 200 years ago.
In the spirit of Hakhel, a short video was produced by JLI Central demonstrating Jewish unity through the global Torah learning of our recent course.
The funerals are over and the bodies are buried, but I’m still shaken by the Mumbai Massacre. So many innocents lives have been so violently snuffed out, so many families were so senselessly destroyed.
While the number of people murdered hovers the 200 mark, numbers essentially belie the true catastrophe; they tend to coalesce the crime and blur the dreadfulness of the calamity. Each victim is in reality an entire world. Each is a loss that shattered the hearts of many.
On one hand I find myself in the company of billions of civilized members of the human race whose heart aches for fellow humans who were violently massacred and wounded in a far off land. On the other hand, as a Jew, this catastrophe is for me far more personal. Leibish Teitelbaum, Yocheved Orpaz, Bentzion Chroman, Norma Shvarzblat Rabinovich are my Jewish brothers and sisters. Rabbi and Mrs. Holtzberg, the Chabad team who settled in Mumbai to create a Jewish oasis for locals and tourists, are my own, colloquially speaking, flesh and blood.
Mrs. Laura Bush poses Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, in the White House kitchen with the rabbis who supervised the kitchen’s koshering for the annual Chanukkah party. From left are Rabbi Mendel Minkowitz, Rabbi Binyomin Steinmetz and Rabbi Levi Shemtov.
All Anash and Temimim are invited to a Farbrengen, tonight, Tuesday at the Kolel Avreichim on Kingston Ave and Union St. The Volovor Rov, Rabbi Gaviriel Holtzbergs HYD father, Rabbi Nachman. There will be a special video presentation, followed by a Chasidishe Hisvaadus and Siyum Hashas V’Tanya.
Full flyer with more info the Extended Article!
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Chassidim Farbrenged at the Bais Eliyahu Nuchum Shul on Lefferts Ave, in Honor of Yud Tes Kislev. A Festive seudah was served as well.
More pictures in the Extended Article! (by Eli Blachman)
TOMSK, Russia [FJC] — An event recently occurred that will make a series of Jewish books available to readers of the Tomsk Region in western Siberia – Jews and non-Jews alike. The ‘Pushkin’ Tomsk Regional Library has benefited from a gift it has received, which consists of a number of useful Jewish books. The donation took place within the framework of a forum of religious organizations active in the region, which was held on December 12 in the Tomsk Regional Library.
The Jewish community of Tomsk prepared and manned an exhibition of Jewish books and periodicals especially for this congress, which was met with enthusiasm and genuine interest. Upon the completion of the meeting, the Jewish community donated to all of these respective publications to the library. Now these valuable and resourceful Jewish books will also be available to everyone at the network of libraries administered under the ‘Pushkin’ Tomsk Regional Library who wish to access them.
MARGATE, NJ — The Jewish community has come together to remember those who were killed in the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India two weeks ago. Jennifer Husko takes us to a memorial service held at Chabad at the Shore in Margate where they hope to rebuild what was lost.
ALBANY, NY — New York state could impose a 15 per cent ‘obesity tax’ on high-calorie soft drinks as the governor tries to pay off a crippling $15 billion budget deficit.
Non-diet versions of popular drinks including Coke and Pepsi could be targeted, taking political advantage of fears over obesity and ill-health.
The Rebbe says:
1. The Previous Rebbe, Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson , (our Rebbe’s father-in-law), once gave a parable to explain what Chassidus is, and these are his exact words:
“Pearls are found at the bottom of the ocean on the ocean’s floor. Coals, which make heat and give light, are found in the depths of the earth. The method to finding and unearthing coals in the depths of the earth is to have an instructor who tells the digger where to dig and where exactly he can find the coal. The digger can rely on the instructor’s smarts and he must follow the instructor’s guidance exactly to the tee if he wants to get the coals. However with regards to having the air of life from the atmosphere above ground, the digger cannot rely upon the air that the instructor has; the digger must have his own air or else he will be lifeless and fall unconscious. This also holds true for someone who is finding pearls at the bottom of the ocean; he must have his own air supply.
The lesson from this parable is easily understood: Chassidus gives light and warmth (like the coals) but we must dig deep to unearth it. Also, when we go deep into the earth we must be connected to an air supply above ground”.
Leshana Tovah Belimud HaChasidus ve Darchei HaChasidus, Tikosaivu VeTichosaimu!
Tonight, Yud Tes Kislev “The Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism.” marks 209 years since the release of the Alter Rebbe, R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi founder of Chasidus Chabad in the year 5559 (1798). In honor of this auspicious day, which is referred to by Chasidim as the “Holiday of Holidays”, Farbrengens are being held around the world!
In the Extended Article you can view today’s Hayom Yom and the Minhagim of the day!
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