We are living in extraordinary times. The prophecies are no longer distant texts; they are a reality unfolding right before our eyes.

Have you ever wondered why davening in a minyan is so powerful? There is something undeniable about the energy of a room when ten men in sync recite from their heart and soul the same words.

Simchas Torah itself is the ultimate source of our joy, when we celebrate the conclusion, and restart the annual Torah-reading cycle. On this joyous day we dance with the Torah, and it is customary for every Jewish men in Shul to take part in the celebration by receiving an aliyah. Even children receive an aliyah. This is the final aliyah of the Torah, and straight away we begin with a new cycle of the beginning of Bereshis.

Every year, right after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we do something kind of wild. We pack up our comfortable lives, step outside of our comfortable homes, and move into a hut with a roof made of branches. 

Every word of Eicha 5:21 is a calling to return to our true essence. There are these words in Jewish liturgy that never fails to touch the soul deeply.

As Rosh HaShanah is upon us, to celebrate the creation of all human beings-not just us-I cannot help but look at the world with different eyes. I see beyond the chaos the beauty of Your creation. It is not often that I stand still a moment to feel gratitude, let alone express my gratitude to You, HaShem.

One Rosh Hashanah, the Baal Shem Tov traveled with his closest students to a nearby river to perform Tashlich. Usually, this was a time of quiet focus, but as they approached the water’s edge, the students noticed that the Baal Shem Tov’s face grew pale and deeply concerned.

This beautiful and inspiring story of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka I am sharing with you takes us back to the year of 5714 at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. It highlights their wonderful relationship: the Rebbe’s public devotion to the Jewish people and the Rebbetzin’s quiet, behind-the-scenes warmth and love for the Jewish people.

The redemption from Mitzrayim began when HaShem placed His heart and eyes upon the Jewish people.

" And you shall love your fellow as you love yourself. " Vayikra 19:18.

Today is time for change. To step away from the ordinary to show the extraordinary. Our history is telling a story about this nation unlike other nations, a nation small in numbers, but remaning bigger than the numbers. Thoroughly ordinary people who lift things up, time and again into great things. We know where we came from, and where we are going. The journey our ancestors began and we carry on is our story, unfinished with a new chapter that only we can write.

B'tzelem Elohim - in the image of HaShem. A deeper love is revealed to those created in the image of HaShem- Bereshis 9:6.

" Gam zu l'tovah " Everthing that happens is for our own good. A belief which will get us through hard times.

Yiddishkeit is beautiful, a journey rather than strict a set of rules. Every Jew is important with a unique mission in life. Yiddishkeit is a safeguard against complete assimilation and loss of the Jewish people.

The story of the life of Fraida is special to me, just like the story of her younger sister Devorah Leah. Fraida inspires me with her eagerness and great knowlegde of Torah. This was more exceptional in those days than in our time. Her understanding, dedication and knowlegde of the mystical dimension of the Torah is why her father delivered a scholary discourse especially for her.

This morning something changed when I read my emails. Something wonderful was happening : "The Chabad Billboard Campaign Answers Antisemitism with Jewish Joy!"

The zogn Toyre, offers me a way of reading the entire Torah, and helps at the same time to find a way out of our personal Mitzrayim. The zogn Toyre was written more than two hundred years ago by our Chassidishe leaders. Reading and studying zogn Torah is a way of uplifting our soul and taking the journey home, to discover that oneness that will transform both in the world and in our self.

                    ווי גוט עס איז צו זייר א איד 

Two of the most fundamental tenets of Jewish faith, in Rambam's Thirteen Princilpes of faith are :

Sometimes there is not enough time—like today—but there are always a few minutes to spare to write a message, especially for Shabbos.

In our busy day-to-day life, what does it mean to be inspired by faith? Most of the time we don't acknowledge experiences or overcome challenges which we have to reflect upon, sometimes greater than we could ever imagine.

Early this morning this project " The 12 Pesukim " -  Thank You HaShem - came unto my path. Listening to the video I instantly realized it was more than just a song. Fifty years ago, the Rebbe introduced “the 12 Pesukim.” The Pesukim, and sayings of our Sages, chosen specifically for Jewish children. Since then, hundreds of thousands of children have studied and recited them and kept it close to their hearts.The Rebbe's 12, is a course to become the parent your child (ren) is/are waiting for.

In the very first Perek of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe gives an analysis of the Jewish personality. The Two Souls. These two souls are the source of all our activity, the conscious and unconscious.

Nachamu, Nachamu Ami - Comfort, Comfort My People. -Yeshayahu 40 : 1

Parsha Bereishis start with the creation of the world, from light and darkness, from trees and greenery, from land animals and sea creatures, from the sun,the moon and the stars and finally man. As HaShem decided that it was not good for man to be alone, He took a bone from the side of Adam He creates a woman, and they married each other.

Torah learning itself is one of the 613 mitzvos of the Torah. We can see Torah learning as a means through which we know how to keep the mitzvos. It does serve this role, but not as a mitzvah itself. Performing the mitzvos are the fulfillment of HaShem's will in action. Torah learning is a fulfillment of His will through thought and speech.

Art by Noa Attias Judaica ~ Eretz Yisroel

Everyone has at least one mitzvah that is special to them. My special mitzvah is Shabbos. There are so many aspects of Shabbos, but there is one that didn't receive the attention it deserves.

Just before Shabbos, Daniel- who recently became a zaidy for the second time-asked me an interesting question." Mazel Tov ! May your grandson gives you a lot of naches.

Sometimes there is not enough time - like today- but there is always a few minutes to spare to write a message especially for Shabbos.

It is not easy to sum up Chabad philosophy in one sentence. The acronym of Chabad is" Chochmah, Binah, Daas, which translate into; wisdom, understanding, and knowlegde of HaShem's presence in, with, a reality that arises from the merger of the two.

Art by Rochelle Blumenfeld