Rabbi Ovadia Isakov, Shliach to Dagestan, a region in southern Russia bordering Chechnya, who was shot in the chest by a Muslim attacker about a year and half ago and made a miraculous recovery, was honored with the lighting of the first Menorah candle at the Merkaz HaChessed in Moscow.
What was likely the first Chanukah event this year took place in Melbourne, Australia, when Chabad of Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) hosted their annual Menorah Lighting and Cocktail Party at Parliament House.
Chabad of Solano County, California, issued a difficult challenge last week: raise $200,000 in 24 hours so that it could make a down payment on a new building in downtown Vacaville.
Isser and Rivky Boyarsky (Crown Heights)
This past Sunday, the talmidim of grades 2-7 of Oholei Torah, who learn Sefer HaMitzvohs daily, held a Siyum HaRambam, in keeping with the Rebbe’s directives.
When the students of Bais Rivkah Highschool walked into to school Thursday morning, Yud Tes Kislev, they were greeted with a beautiful picture of the Alter Rebbe on top of a sign that read “L’shana tova blimud hachassidud uv’darkei hachassidus.”
1,200 Jews of all stripes gathered together at Heichal Menachem in Borough Park to celebrate Yud Tes Kislev, the Yahrtzeit of the Mezritcher Maggid and Yom Hageulah of the Alter Rebbe.
Armed with a Rambam and a bottle of mashkeh that the Rebbe had sent to Morocco, a group of Jews lead by Rabbi Levi Banon travelled to the city of Fez – a city where the Rambam resided and served as a physician – in order to hold a Siyum HaRambam and Farbrengen.
Renowned Mashpia Rabbi Zusia Posner was the guest of the community of Shluchim at the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, with whom he conducted a Farbrengen in honor of Yud Tes Kislev.
What began as a large Yud Tes Kislev gathering in Jerusalem’s Binyanei Ha’umah – The International Convention Center – gradually grew into a multi faceted event that includes a massive sale of Seforim on Chassidus from all Talmidei HaBaal Shem Tov, with a particular highlight on Chabad Chassidus.
Chanie Apfelbaum, a Crown Heights food blogger, gourmet cook and devoted mother of four, was featured in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, America’s most-read newspaper, with whom she shared her new – and arguably healthier – take on the age-old traditional Chanukah Latke.
JNet, the online Chavrusa program that provides business people, students and homemakers the opportunity to take some time out of their busy workday to study Torah, has announced the launch of a 24 hour a crowd-funding campaign, with the goal of raising $40,000 over the next 24 hours.
Police have declared the siege over in Sydney after armed officers stormed the chocolate shop at the center of a hostage crisis and hostages were seen fleeing amid the sound of explosions.
Yisroel Noach and Leah (nee Aber) Teitelbaum (Crown Heights)
Mendy and Chayale (nee Schapiro) Edelman (Lauder Hill, FL)
Bezalel (ben Avrohom) Gopin (Crown Heights) and Mushka Bogomilsky (Short Hills, NJ)
Anash and Bochurim gathered Tuesday night in Crown Heights for the conclusion of the 33rd cycle of the study of three chapters of Rambam a day, and to begin the 34th cycle. A special children’s program was held as well.
