This week we are learning Hilchos Rotzeach uShmiras Nefesh — the laws of a murderer and protection of life” in the Rambam and we are also approaching the Yom Tov of Pesach, on which we celebrate the redemption from exile. At the beginning of Perek 7, halacha 1, the Rambam writes that “when a talmid (a student of Torah) is exiled to a city of refuge, his teacher is exiled together with him. Written by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon • Full Story

This week, we will be learning the Halachos of “G’zeila V’Aveida — the laws of stolen and lost objects” in the Rambam. Before we get into the specific laws discussed in this section, we need to address a more basic question: Why would the Rambam connect the laws of lost objects with the laws of stolen objects, as they seemingly have no connection! Stealing an object is a sin, while losing an object is just something that happens on occasion?! Written by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon • Full Story

Making a shidduch is an incredible zechus. Something many people in our community strive to achieve. Making suggestions has become infinitely more accessible in the age of social media. WhatsApp and similar tools make it easier than ever to connect people from all over the world • Full Story

Read about a powerful Chinuch moment that Rabbi Avrohom Bluming of the Igud Hamelamdim organization experienced with Rabbi Mottel Gurary, OB”M, at an event for Melamdim last year in Crown Heights • Full Story

This week we are learning the laws of Tumas Ochlin — “food that becomes impure” in the Rambam. In short: Food items that were in contact with something impure, can become impure. But there are several conditions for this to happen. Written by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon • Full Article

Klal Yisroel mourns today the loss of a Jewish giant, Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twersky A”H. He was a living legend in our times as a Chassidic Jew, a descendent of many Tzaddikim, who was also a world-renowned psychiatrist who saved the lives of thousands of people caught up in addictions and other issues. Written by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon • Full Story

Read a piece on the Parsha and on current world events written by Rabbi Sholom Schapiro, the Shliach of the NY Torah Center on 5th Avenue in Manhattan • Full Story

There are certain events that remain etched in a person’s memory for many years to come. One of the days for me, personally, was the day I arrived – with my Chavrei Kevutza – on Shlichus to Yeshivas Lubavitch in Toronto. It was a Friday morning, and we had travelled on a bus the entire night, and I was very excited: I was returning to the Yeshiva where I had spent a few years as a Talmid and was looking forward to giving back as much as I could. Written by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon • Full Story

Attorney Nathan Lewin, a Jewish lawyer who has helped many Shluchim in court battles for their public Menorahs wrote an Op-Ed in the JTA website about how supreme court nominee Amy Barrett defended the Menorahs • Full Story

In response to the letter sent out by Crown Heights schools announcing that they will be testing their students for Covid-19 in order to remain open safely, a parent emailed ChabadInfo.com an Op-Ed • Full Letter

The observant Jewish community is no longer welcome in New York. Our way of life is being trampled on, our needs are dismissed with ease, our vote is irrelevant and cannot change a thing. Written by Yosef Chaim Brook • Full Story

My life was changed forever when my mother, Pesya Leah Lapine, was stabbed to death in her home. My mother and I had just returned home from grocery shopping when a black man took her away from me. I don’t have any memories; I was just 2 years old. Written by Sara Chana Shields • Full Article

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is a stone’s throw from my house. I pass its gated entrance on my walks along Eastern Parkway several times a week and promise myself to visit soon. But the last time I strolled under its gorgeous cherry trees was two years ago. Written by Mrs. Baila Olidort • Full Story

The past two months have tested us to the limit and changed our lives forever. The Orthodox Jewish community hasn’t experienced such trying times since our grandparents’ generation. New York City in particular has suffered tremendously and will take a lot of hard work to get back on its feet. Written by Yosef Hershkop • Full Story

It is impossible to downplay the importance of the wave of Achdus we are experiencing in Chabad; the results speak for themselves. The approaches to achieving unity are based on the assumption that today in Chabad there are two views and it is not possible to do away with either one of them. Each approach has a big following of Chassidim who believes they are fulfilling the Rebbe’s Ratzon. Written by Shraga Crombie • Full Article 

We are all reeling and shaken from the general Coronavirus situation and the many deaths and sickness it has brought in its wake. The truth is that we are living in very difficult times in many respects, and we sometimes feel that we do not have the Kochos to continue. Written by Rabbi Pesach Scheiner, Shliach of Boulder, Colorado • Full Article

Read a letter of condolence Rabbi Saul Emanuel, Executive Director of the MK, the Montreal Kashrus Agency wrote about Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, who passed away on Acharon Shel Pesach after being infected with Coronavirus • Full Letter

The local Shliach seemed to think for a minute and then said words which continue to frighten me to this day, “Oh you’re referring to Chof Ches Nissan?…well the whole Moshiach obsession is not the corporate image we want to project here”. Written by Rabbi N.W. • Full Story

Like hundreds in the Jewish community, my sole income revolves on the Jewish simcha market. Something that is pretty much squashed at this point.  As a  photographer, our business and personal income rely heavily on the heavy wedding seasons to stay afloat. While accountants base their seasons around that April 15th deadline, Jewish Weddings revolve around the Jewish calendar cycle. Written by Yosef Shidler • Full Article

As we approach the Kinus Hashluchim, it is a good time to make a Cheshbon Hanefesh regarding the institution of Shlichus. It is easy to pat ourselves on the back and say “Bravo!”, we are conquering the world, there are 5,000 Chabad Houses etc. • Full Article

I’m sitting in a coffee shop, observing how everyone is so caught up in their own inner worlds. People sitting on their mac laptops, sipping on some grossly overpriced coffee and feeling all cool while doing so (myself included). Written by Malky Scheiner • Full Article

Gimmel Tammuz. Is there any Lubavitcher whom those two words don’t elicit some sort of emotional response? Maybe a gut-wrenching sadness? Perhaps a burst of inspiration to be the best that I can be, to want to give the Rebbe nachas? Written by Matis Abarbanel • Full Article

It’s a risky gamble for Democrats. They’ve just been branded the “anti-Israel” and “anti-Jewish” party by the President of the United States. I guess the Dems probably saw that coming. Written by Rabbi Michoel Green • Full Article

Tomorrow evening is the bi-monthly 71 precinct build the block meeting (Sector D) which covers a nice part of the Crown Heights area. The officers who run the event really want to increase Jewish community attendance, they do their best to text people and put their flyers at our local businesses. Written by Yosef Hershkop • Full Article

Did you know that there is an election in New York City tomorrow, Tuesday, 21 Adar I? If you didn’t know, don’t worry, most New Yorkers don’t know about it and from the few that do, many of them don’t care about it. Written by Yosef Hershkop • Full Article