by Elisheva bas Chana Something remarkable is happening. President Trump called on all Jewish Americans to observe Shabbos as part of the National 250th Anniversary of the Independence of America. The Shabbos that President Trump chose is the same Shabbos the Rebbe designated to observe in unity. President Trump issued a formal official announcement in honour of Jewish American Heritage Month. “If the Jewish people will keep at least one Shabbos properly, Moshiach will come i

by Elisheva bas Chana A Chosen People A journey which began with Avraham, when he broke his father’s idols, seeing other people worshipping the sun, moon, and the stars, and asked: “But who created them?” Avraham was alone in believing HaShem was One — Ein Od Milvado. Avraham and Sarah walked into the unknown when HaShem made the “Covenant of Bris Bein HaBitarim” with Avraham, and he became our first Patriarch. From Mitzrayim via Yam Suf, arriving at Har Sinai. The Jewish peo

by Elisheva bas Chana Lag B'Omer 5786 Lag B’Omer is a very special Jewish holiday on the 33rd day of Sefiras HaOmer — the counting of the Omer. For 49 days from Pesach till Shavuos, from the Exodus out of Mitzrayim till the day of Matan Torah at Har Sinai. Sefiras HaOmer is rooted in Kabbalah, the Etz Chaim, and the counting of the Omer is a time of spirituality. But how does the counting of the Omer relate to the anticipation and the preparations for receiving the Torah? Wel

A story told by Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein ז"ל Art by, Rochelle Blumenfeld The New York Times was very interested in this Jewish observance called Shabbos. Looking to inform their readers and the general public about the nature and nuances of this day, they decided to send a reporter named Steve to a religious home, who would participate in all aspects of Shabbos observance and report back about his inside experience. Steve began making phone calls, searching for the most su

by Elisheva bas Chana Art by Brachi Horen Yom HaShoah, we remember — not to understand and not even to memorialise the victims, but what we do about it. Through pain and despair, we raised a new generation committed to and proud of their heritage. Yom Hazikaron, we remember the chayalim killed in action to defend Eretz Yisroel, as well as many of our people who were killed in terrorist attacks. When the siren begins, everyone stops whatever they are doing and commemorates tog

by Elisheva bas Chana Sefiras HaOmer Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you come to the Land which I am giving you, and you reap its harvest, you shall bring to the kohen an omer of the beginning of your reaping. And he shall wave the omer before HaShem so that it will be acceptable for you; the kohen shall wave it on the day after the rest day. And on the day of your waving the omer, you shall offer up an unblemished lamb in its first year as a burnt offer

by Elisheva bas Chana “We are the seventh generation, the one that will realise HaShem’s reality on this earth.” — The Rebbe Ein Od Milvado – אין עוד מלבדו – There is nothing else besides Him The Rebbe began his leadership in 1950, just as America began feeling the not-so-gentle stirrings of a new awareness. This would develop into a revolution, with young people raging against the conformity and hypocrisy of their parents. The pursuit of materialism, which might have satisf

by Elisheva bas Chana Art by Karin Foreman The message of Pesach is a journey towards a place where Jews are valued, not for anything other than for who they are. As we sit around the Seder table, rethinking history that has meaning and its rituals which date back 3,300 years. But it is more than rituals; we are remembering the story and adding something of our own to it. “Who am I?” remains a question throughout the ages and for much of our history. We have always been a min

by Elisheva bas Chana Art by Sefira Lightstone Judaism does not believe in freedom of speech; there are certain ways of saying something. When we speak about other people, Kabbalah teaches us that speech itself has an effect beyond the way in which we say something to one another. The Torah prohibits speaking Lashon hara ; even listening has a negative impact, not only on the person who makes themselves guilty of Lashon hara — it affects the person spoken about as well, even