Chabad.org

Son of a Nazi Returns Desecrated Torah to Its Community. As a Chabad representative in Munich, Germany, Rabbi Yochanan Gordon is accustomed to receiving all sorts of questions and inquiries, some more unusual than others. He recently received a truly stunning email from a German doctor. The doctor wrote about a painting he had inherited after his parents’ passing with some mysterious writing he had discovered on the back. Intrigued, Rabbi Gordon contacted the doctor and arranged to meet him the following morning to examine the painting in person. When he saw the writing on the back, he was stunned. Read it all: Chabad.org/7613427/

Very often, despite real and valuable accomplishments, a person feels inadequate because they know their own failures. "Yes, I was kind, but I don't always act this way. I'm a bad person." Or: "Maybe I'm a good friend, but I'm a bad son/father/husband/employer." This attitude can drain any self-esteem and motivation needed to keep doing good. "What's the point of trying? I know myself; sooner or later I'll fall again." What can we say to someone so disheartened by their own shortcomings? Chabad.org/7588971

The Jewish month of Kislev begins today. Here's 12 things you should know: Chabad.org/4556275

🗓️ ON THIS DAY: The Rebbe's Recovery Kislev 1 (1977) For the first time since suffering a major heart attack five weeks earlier on the eve of Shemini Atzeret, the Rebbe left his office in 770 Eastern Parkway and returned to his home, signaling his recovery. Chassidim all over rejoiced at the good news. From that day on, the Rebbe redoubled his efforts on behalf of the Jewish nation and all of humanity, and for the dissemination of Torah and chassidism. Since then, the first of Kislev has been celebrated as an annual day of thanksgiving and rejoicing. More: Chabad.org/3895166

Meet Peri: a Student Leader at American University in Washington, D.C.

The sages say that all is in the hands of heaven except for the awe of heaven. Which puts all the power in your hands. Because if there is no awe of heaven, heaven is bankrupt. It owns nothing—not you, not your world, not anything at all. That being so, the greatest power you have is your ability to surrender the delusion that you have any power at all, to shift from serving yourself to serving heaven. To experience awe. Surrender yourself to heaven, and the heavens are utterly under your command.

There are subjects a family can discuss easily around the Shabbat table, and others that seem to make everyone suddenly interested in clearing the dishes. Burial wishes often fall into the second category. A parent may not want to upset the children. The children may worry that asking will sound frightening or disrespectful. Yet leaving the subject untouched can place a heavy burden on those same children later. When a death occurs, a family must make decisions while grieving, often with little time to find records or ask what their loved one wanted. A gentle conversation in ordinary times can give them something precious: clarity. More: Chabad.org/7588976

Dear Rabbi, I am living the wrong life. I should have done sciences in college, not humanities. And even in humanities, I should have gone for a law degree, as my parents wished and not a major in basket weaving. I was supposed to marry Jessica, not Ellen and we were supposed to live in Atlanta, not Atlantic City. From there on, it only gets worse... What do I do now? More: Chabad.org/66168

Philadelphia Jews Answer ‘Boycott Ride’ With Tefillin, Unity and Pride A 76-year-old man in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square rolled up his sleeve on Sunday morning and put on tefillin for the first time in his life. Around him, crowds sang Jewish songs loud enough to drown out the protest passing by, while lines stretched around the block to support Jewish-owned businesses. The Jewish community had come to answer a bicycle “boycott ride” aimed at six Jewish-owned businesses in the neighborhood. Philadelphia’s Jews met it by showing up. More: Chabad.org/7611893

🇸🇮Slovenia Becomes the Latest Country With Permanent Chabad Presence Slovenia is set to become the latest country in the world with a permanent Chabad-Lubavitch presence, joining the over 100 countries that already do, as Rabbi Yossi and Rochele Krinsky prepare to establish a new Chabad center in the small Central European nation. The new location, which has an long Jewish history. was announced at the gala banquet of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries. More: Chabad.org/7610798