It was the summer, I was sitting outside, and I felt like I wasn’t doing my avoida b’simcha, living b’simcha. Stam, I was feeling a moichin d’katnus, and for those who know me, you know I don’t like that.
It was Friday night, early Shabbat morning—June 26, 2021—less than 48 hours after the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida. The air was thick with smoke, grief and uncertainty. That night, I was among a group of Hatzalah members and medical professionals from the Surfside Jewish community who had just completed a long shift at the Family Reunification Center, providing emergency medical care, writing prescriptions for lost medications, and offering emotional support to survivors and displaced families.
On the eve of Shavuot, as Jews worldwide prepared to celebrate the giving of the Torah and the festival of first fruits, a horrific antisemitic attack shattered the peace at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colo. Rebbetzin Chanie Scheiner of Chabad-Lubavitch of Boulder, who had participated in previous Run for Their Lives marches, was home preparing to host the Shavuot celebration at Chabad instead of joining the weekly walk that Sunday afternoon.
The House of More’s response raises new questions while leaving the original halachic concerns largely unaddressed. Let’s examine their key points systematically.
Sixty young Jewish professionals from 36 cities gathered for the sixth annual Chabad Young Professionals Encounter: Guatemala, a four-day summit focused on resilience, identity, and Jewish leadership in a post-October 7 world, with an impact that reverberated across the globe.
The brutal reality of war hit the Jewish community of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, once again when they received word on Wednesday of the death of Andrey Kurovskiy. Kurovskiy, a non-Jewish Ukrainian, taught computer science in the community’s Or Avner Jewish day school for more than two decades.
At a time of turbulence and uncertainty in Eretz Yisroel – in battling the enemy, we share a letter of truth and clarity from the Rebbe, who addressed the same issues of decades ago. The issues the Rebbe addressed then included returning the liberated areas of Yehudah and Shomron and dealing with terrorist attacks, among others.
The Scharf Family will be sitting Shiva following the passing of their mother Mrs. Chana Scharf OBM. Times and location in extended article.
Eitan Hershkop (Crown Heights) to Chana Belfer (Melbourne, Australia) L’Chaim: Tonight, Thursday, 8:00pm at Bass and Bourbon
With great sadness we report the passing of Mrs. Chana Scharf OBM, whose children were famously cared for by the Rebbe following her husband’s passing. She passed away on Thursday, the 9th of Sivan, 5785.
The city of Istra itself is surrounded by picturesque villages and towns and is considered a place with good air quality thanks to the dense vegetation and rivers surrounding the area.
Levi Meer (Morristown, NJ) to Sara Gershovitz (Crown Heights) L’Chaim: Thursday, June 12th, 8:00pm at 1349 President Street Upstairs
We’ve seen the recent article raising concerns about the spiritual practices at The House of More. We understand the desire to protect the sanctity of Jewish tradition. We share that same desire. It’s what drives us. But honoring Torah means being honest, thoughtful, and careful. Not just with rituals. With people.
Alternate side parking regulations will be suspended for a holiday, Friday-Saturday, June 6-7. Parking meters will remain in effect.
Anticipating a significant expansion this coming year, Yeshivas Tzeirei Hashluchim of Tzfas has purchased an abandoned hotel, which will be renovated and repurposed for the yeshiva’s growing needs.
An author, speaker, and communal activist, Rabbi Shea Hecht is the chairman of NCFJE, the parent organization of Jewish Released Time. He was interviewed in the years 2015, 2020, and 2023.
The bodies of slain hostages Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein were recovered in a joint military and Shin Bet operation in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, according to the IDF.
