From this coming Thursday the directors of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi) in Meron will be closing the site to visitors, since no insurer is currently willingly to provide insurance for potential damages to visitors, according to a Ynet report • Full Story

On the evening of the seventh candle of Chanukah, a new space was inaugurated for Dnipro, Ukraine’s “Beit Chabad Leisraelim”. The Chabad house, in its fifth year since its founding, provides a home for the Hebrew-speaking community, uniting Israeli businessmen, students, and tourists living in the Ukrainian metropolis • Full Story, Photos

An incredible story unfolded in a small Massachusetts town when Chabad rabbis received a call from a nursing home informing them of the death of a resident, a 96-year-old special needs man who had no relatives or friends to assist with his burial • Full Story

This Friday will mark the 69th birthday of Rabbi Shimon Raichik obm, beloved rov of the Lubavitcher community in Los Angeles. His family is launching an ambitious Mitzvah campaign in his honor • Full Story

Most Friday over the past several years, R’ Dov Moshe Newmark goes on mivtzoim in downtown Naples, Florida, reaching out to shopkeepers and visitors to put on Tefillin, distribute Shabbos candles, offer a mezuzah, and share a dvar Torah. While distributing Chanukah menorahs he was flagged down by a man who waved and said:   “I’m so glad to see you, I’m Richard Steinberg, I am Jewish too!” • Full Story

A 2,000-year-old synagogue was discovered in the ancient Jewish settlement of Migdal in the Galilee, the University of Haifa announced Sunday. The structure is the second synagogue from the Second Temple Period uncovered in the town, also known as Magdala • Full Story

Along with his deputies, Mr. Gennady Trukhanov, the Mayor of Odessa, led a formal municipal delegation to visit the construction site of the city’s long-awaited Jewish educational complex that will serve thousands of students and provide them with both an excellent general education and Jewish values and heritage. A new era is set to rise in the Jewish community of Odessa, Ukraine, with the completion and opening of a new educational complex – currently under construction – planned for the beginning of next academic year • Full Story, Photos

Thanks to the efforts of MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) and Rabbi Yinon Azulai (Shas), the Knesset Finance Committee temporarily rejected an appeal by the J’s Witnesses cult to receive tax-exempt status. A permanent decision is expected shortly. The committee reached its decision after being presented with clear evidence that the cult preached to minors, in violation of the law • Full Story

Just after Hei Teves and in honor of his birthday, Rabbi Shmuel Butler donated a manuscript containing two answers from the Rogatchover Gaon to the Library of Agudas Chasidei Chabad. Rabbi Butler handed the manuscripts over last night to Rabbi Sholom Ber Levine, the library’s chief librarian. The contents of the manuscript, recently purchased from a certified antique dealer, have been copied and printed in the new edition of the Sefer ‘Tzafnas Paniach’ written by the Rogotchover • Photos

Rabbi Dan Rodkin, Shliach in Boston’s Shaloh House is slated to have open heart surgery tomorrow (Monday). Please say Tehillim for Dan ben Perl.