4+ hour, 49+ min ago (177+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 Reb Aaron Leib HaKohen Duchan, originally from Oak Park, Michigan, who served as a shliach in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in recent years lived in Eretz Yisroel, passed away on Shabbos, Tes Kislev. He was 77 years old. Originally from Oak Park, Michigan, Rabbi Duchan served as a shliach in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a decade until the sudden passing of his wife, Rachel a'h. He later moved to Eretz Yisroel, where he lived in recent years. He is survived by his children: Michael " Midwood, NY; Chani Ozeri " Cedarhurst, NY; Chaya Sara Smadja " Herzliya, Eretz Yisroel; Shani Jungreiz " Kensington, NY; Naomi Elbaz " St. Brice, France; Maryasha Djian " Crown Heights, NY; Yaakov " Crown Heights, NY; Mendy " Tel Aviv; Rachel Djian " Groslay, France; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Barbara Stoffer " Oak Park, MI, and Bruce Duchan " Oak Park,…...

5+ hour, 27+ min ago (676+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 Yud Kislev marks the day when the Mitteler Rebbe was released from prison in 5586. Read the story of his arrest and release, and watch it celebrated at the Rebbe's farbrengens. Rabbi'Pinchas'Reizes was a'chassid'of the second'Rebbe'of'Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi DovBer (known as the "Mitteler Rebbe). When Rabbi Pinchas passed away, his only heir was a nephew, who opposed the chassidic ways. Among the items that came into the nephew's possession was a letter written by the rebbe to his uncle, asking Rabbi Pinchas to serve on a special committee to disburse funds for charity. The sum cited in the letter was 4,000 rubles. The nephew showed the letter to a cousin of the Mitteler Rebbe, whose last name was Lipman. Lipman, who unfortunately was a complete scoundrel, saw this as a golden opportunity to blackmail the rebbe. If the Rebbe did not give…...

10+ hour, 50+ min ago (1787+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 10 Kislev marks the 84th yartzeit of the legendary chasid R. Itche Masmid. "From the Margins of Chabad History" presents a series of contemporary newspaper articles that give us a glimpse into his remarkable personality and dedicated work. R. Yitzchak Halevi Hurvitz was born in approximately 5650 in the Jewish farming village of Bereznehuvate (Nahar-Tov), Ukraine. At a young age, he earned the nickname "Itche Masmid," due to his remarkable diligence in learning. After joining the new Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Lubavitch, he devoted himself to learning Chasidus and avodas hatefilah with the same intense hasmadah. After his marriage, R. Itche served as a mashpia and Rosh Yeshivah in various Russian cities. In 5693, he left Russia and settled in Riga, Latvia. For the rest of his life, he served as a traveling shadar for the Frierdiker Rebbe, collecting money and teaching Chasidus, "reaping gashmiyus and…...

10+ hour, 52+ min ago (475+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 Chabad of West Hampstead,led by shluchim Rabbi Dovid and Chana Katz and Rabbi Menachem and Tobale Vogel, unveiled its brand-new CTeen Lounge, dedicated in memory of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky a'h. The West Hampstead Jewish community gathered in celebration this week as Chabad of West Hampstead unveiled its brand-new CTeen Lounge, marking a significant milestone for local Jewish youth programming. The project was led by Shluchim Rabbi Dovid and Chana Katz, together with Rabbi Menachem and Tobale Vogel, with the support from Rabbi Dov and Aidel Katzel, who collectively helped shape the vision and development of the new teen space. The opening featured a ribbon-cutting and a Mezuzah dedication ceremony. Located on the top floor of the Gan Yeladim preschool building, which has seen tremendous growth in recent years, the new lounge represents the next stage in the building's…...

10+ hour, 53+ min ago (400+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 When Reb Yisroel Noach, the Tzemach Tzedek's son, set out to build his home in Niezhin, he gathered the local baalei batim for advice. After hearing them out, he calmly explained that his father had taught him to do the opposite of whatever baalei batim suggest. Reb Yisroel Noach, the fourth son of the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzeddek, was born in the year 5575 (1815). In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of Reb Yekusiel Zalman Valles, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe. After his first wife passed away, he married the daughter of Reb Nochum, son of the Mitteler Rebbe. He lived in Lubavitch, where he served as the rosh yeshiva in his father's yeshiva (founded in 5602/1842). The Tzemach Tzeddek also appointed him to respond to many of the halachic queries sent to him, leaving only the more difficult ones…...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago (1841+ words) " " " | November 28, 2025 As pressure mounted from the government and a devastating decree loomed, the Mitteler Rebbe's last journey led him to Haditch and then to Niezhin, where he recited his final maamorim and ascended on high. By Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon Governor-General Chavonsky had his personal reasons for wanting the Mitteler Rebbe to be arrested. So even though both local courts decided in the Rebbe's favor, he refused to sign the documents confirming their decision to close the investigation and absolve the Mitteler Rebbe from any wrongdoing." On Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5687 (1827), the Governor-General sent the court's findings and decisions, together with his objections, to the Russian Senate. When the Mitteler Rebbe heard that his case was going to be reviewed and decided by the Senate, he feared that he might have to go to Petersburg to defend himself." In addition to…...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago (271+ words) " " " | November 28, 2025 In a talk to teachers, Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky highlighted how the very first shluchim were sent to open schools and teach children, since the foundation of everything is chinuch. At the Global Women's Chinuch Event held two weeks ago, Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302 and chairman of the Merkos Chinuch Office, delivered an address on the centrality and urgency of chinuch. A few days later, when someone questioned the expense of these parades, the Rebbe responded that hearing a child say Shema with such sincerity "for that alone, it's worth it. Rabbi Kotlarsky stressed how essential teachers are " calling them "the first and tallest order in any community." Early documents of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch show how the very first shluchim were sent across the world to open schools and teach children. Because the foundation of everything is…...

1+ day, 19+ hour ago (363+ words) " " " | November 28, 2025 Over one thousand young Jewish professionals will hear an incredible message of strength and emunah from freed hostage Eliya Cohen, who was held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 505 days. The incredible story of a hostage who was freed from Hamas captivity after 505 days and how he grew in his emunah during those dark times will take center stage at the upcoming CYP Encounter." In just under two months, more than one thousand young Jewish professionals will converge on Crown Heights for the annual CYP Encounter Shabbaton. Over the weekend, participants will join workshops and classes, daven at the Rebbe's Ohel and in 770, tour core elements of Jewish life such as a sofer at work, a mikvah, and a kosher grocery " many for the very first time, and experience an authentic Crown Heights Shabbos. "This year's Encounter Shabbaton will…...

1+ day, 19+ hour ago (220+ words) " " " | November 28, 2025 In a 5727 yechidus, the Rebbe told Reb Shmuel Levitin that despite hundreds of yungeleit attending farbrengens, the true work of hafotzas hamayonos was not being done. Had those same yungeleit gone out to the shuls to teach Chassidus, "we could have brought Moshiach." "The bochurim are devoted to hafotzas hamayonos," Reb Shmuel Levitin reported to the Rebbe in a Teves 5727 yechidus. "This is how I am being comforted," the Rebbe responded with discontent. "Since the year 5715, there has been a real possibility to bring Moshiach, but the potential wasn't utilized" The main thing is that there must be dedication to uforatzto of Chassidus; it is essential to actually learn Chassidus, and that it should permeate the yungeleit that stand by the farbrengens" Reb Shmuel tried to intervene with a positive view, saying that there are more than two hundred…...

2+ day, 7+ hour ago (194+ words) " " " | November 27, 2025 Shortly after moving on shlichus to establish Chabad of Citrus & Hernando Counties, Rabbi Moshe and Maryasha Serebryanski discovered their home had been broken into after being away for a few days. "We came home after being away for a few days and saw that the back door was shattered," Rabbi Serebryanski told Anash.org. "All our cash and valuables (including a rebbe dime necklace) are gone. Our house was turned upside down. Police were called right away, and there is an ongoing investigation." The incident occurred earlier this week. "It seems to be a targeted attack," Rabbi Serebryanski said. "It is a very safe area, and all the neighbors were horrified that such a thing happened in that neighborhood." The family said the situation has been so unsettling that they've had to temporarily stay elsewhere, all while continuing to…...