More than a half-century later, the impact of the Rebbe’s 1967 worldwide call continues to grow First of a two-part series on the Six-Day War. The second article, ‘Before the Six-Day War: A Lone Voice Reassures a Fearful Jewish People’, can be read here. It was the morning of June 7, 1967, the third day […]
Duke University Jewish Undergrads Get a Royal New Home
Former King’s Daughters Inn transforms into Jewish student center honoring beloved professor As Duke University celebrates commencement festivities and bids farewell to their 2021 graduates, there is additional cause for celebration among its Jewish students. They can now look forward to greeting incoming students this fall for a new year of Jewish programs, classes and […]
Yeshivah Student, 19, Dies After Drive-By Shooting at Bus Stop in Samaria
Terrorist arrested after attack that wounded two others Yehuda Guetta, a 19-year-old yeshivah student from Jerusalem, died of a gunshot wound to the head that he received on Sunday while waiting at a bus stop near his school in Itamar, in northern Samaria. Two of his friends were also injured in the attack. The terrorist […]
In Meron: Ariel Ahdut, 21, of Jerusalem: Sephardic Torah Scholar
Friends shattered by the loss of a special young man Among the 45 boys and men who lost their lives in the Meron disaster on Lag BaOmer was Ariel Achdut, from the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem, who was among a group of select young Torah scholars at Yesodot HaTorah in Tel Aviv, one of the […]
Tragedy in Meron: Obituaries of the 45 Victims
Remembrances and memories from relatives and friends The following are brief obituary profiles and remembrances of the 45 lives that were lost on Lag BaOmer at the resting place of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai in Meron, Israel. Readers are invited to include additional recollections in the response box following this article. May their memories be […]
France’s Ministry of Youth Recognizes Chabad CTeen Program
Teens help seniors struggling to secure Covid vaccine France launched its COVID vaccine to a rocky start. Shortages and delivery issues, the suspension of AstraZeneca shots, and mandatory pre-vaccination consultations contributed to a slow, frustrating rollout. Seniors wanting to be vaccinated must book an appointment on an online portal, where the limited number of slots […]
Today in Jewish History: Kfar Chabad Established
The village of Kfar Chabad was established 72 years ago today. The Chabad village of Kfar Chabad, located about 5 miles south of Tel Aviv, was established on the 21st of Iyar in 1949 by the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of blessed memory. In 1946, many Chabad Jews had fled Russia and […]
In Meron: Donny Morris, 19, Beloved Yeshivah Student from Bergenfield, N.J.
Impromptu memorial at the Kotel drew thousands of students from around Israel In the last known photo taken of Donny Morris, 19, of Bergenfield, N.J., he was standing among thousands of Jews and smiling as he was celebrating Lag BaOmer. The smile and joy in his face were not only genuine, but a reflection of […]
In Meron: Rabbi Shimon Matalon’s Final Note
As night fell on Thursday, and Lag BaOmer spread its joyous light throughout Israel, Rabbi Shimon Matalon shared an envelope with a friend, instructing him not to open it until Sunday. Later that night, Shimon was among the 45 men and boys who lost their lives in the tragic crowding in Meron. As revealed by […]
In Meron: Shragee Gestetner, 34, Chassidic Singer Turned Role-Model Businessman
A native of New Square, N.Y., had musical virtuosity and a heartfelt voice Shraga Eliyahu (Shragee) Gestetner of Monsey, N.Y., was among the 45 pilgrims who lost their lives on April 30 in the midst of celebrating Lag BaOmer at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai on Mount Meron, Israel. He was 34 years […]