JEM’s daily Rebbe video has been garnering lots of attention today as the Rebbe is heard speaking in English. Addressing an audience from the Machane Israel Development Fund, the Rebbe blesses all Jews around the world to be inscribed and sealed for a sweet new year.
This week, we present a letter from the Rebbe in which he explains the idea of predestination and free will, and how they are compatible with each other — a concept relevant at this time of judgement when Hashem writes and seals our destiny for the year. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s personal trusted secretary, Rabbi Nissan Mindel.
Courtesy of Lubavitch Archives, we present a photo of the Rebbe watching Hagbaah on a fast day, circa mid-1980s.
A small number of Kapores protestors arrived in Crown Heights with the intention of interfering with ritual, but a prepared police department quickly put an end to skirmishes.
Throughout the evening on Thursday, Jews from all walks of life came to Crown Heights to partake in the custom of Kapores.
During a mid-winter night in 2006, shortly after Rabbi Yisroel and Shayna Freeman moved to Sudbury, Mass., to open a Chabad center, the rabbi woke, chilled to the bone. In the morning, he discovered he’d left their front door wide open.
The King of Jewish Music, Mordechai Ben David, was spotted purchasing a Kfar Chabad Esrog at Bingo Wholesale in Borough Park.
A unique sight greeted some at a Kapparos location in Brooklyn: a woman swinging a chicken over her pet dogs.
The Lubavitch community of Montreal gathered together to celebrate the completion of the 3-Prokim-a-day study of the Rambam.
The Vaad Hatimim, responsible for caring for the spiritual and physical needs of the Tishrei guests, arranged a Siyum Harambam at the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens, which was attended by hundreds.
Have you ever heard of a war where everyone wins? Well, one such war happened at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy (LYA) in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and it’s called Penny Wars. LYA students, toddlers through eighth grade, raised $1,217.14 in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in five days. Proceeds were donated to Chabad hurricane relief for Harvey and Irma.
Chartered planes filled with food, water, medical items and cleaning supplies have come to Puerto Rico, organized by Chabad-Lubavitch representatives and headed for Chabad of Puerto Rico, co-directed by Rabbi Mendel and Rachel Zarchi. A slew of volunteers are working to meet the basic demands of residents in San Juan and other parts of the island, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria.
Professor Reuven Feuerstein (1921-2014) was an Israeli developmental cognitive psychologist and founder of the International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential based in Jerusalem. His world-renowned applied systems of structural cognitive modifiability have been implemented in over 80 countries across the globe. He was interviewed by JEM’s My Encounter with the Rebbe project in June of 2011.
Rabbi Shmuel Lesches, Magid Shiur in the Yeshiva Gedola of Melbourne, Australia, has compiled a guide to the laws and customs of Kapparos, Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur for the benefit of the wider Lubavitch community.
We’re all busy preparing for Yom Kippur during these Days of Teshuva. So, what does Teshuvah actually mean?
