Rabbi Yechezkel Sofer, a pioneering Shliach and renowned lecturer and author, photographed by Mendy Hechtman in his home in Yerushalayim, Cheshvan 5786.
By the Grace of G‑d 20 Adar I, 5711
[Feb. 26, 1951]
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Miss Dena Mendelowitz, Vice-President Jewish Culture Foundation New York University
Blessing and Greetings:
Your visit some time ago gave me the pleasant opportunity of touching upon an important topic, which deserved more time than I had at my disposal. I trust that the next few lines may put the subject in bolder relief to make up for the unavoidable brevity. Any thinking person must frequently ask himself, “What is my life’s purpose?”
This question occurs more frequently and with greater force in the minds of the studying youth, who dedicate a number of their best years to study and preparation for their future life, which lies still fully ahead of them. Moreover, adolescents have untapped resources of energy and enthusiasm which they eagerly desire to put to good advantage. To them, the question of their life’s purpose is more urgent and vital than to people of maturer years.
Dvar Malchus
A Purpose of Giving
Every Jew has a duty to help their fellow achieve greater spiritual heights
To us Jews—the People of the Book—this question is of still greater importance. The meaning of the epithet is not merely that we are a people of education and learning in general, for “The Book” refers to the Torah (Bible), with which we are identified. Torah means “instruction,” “guidance,” for the Torah is our guide in life. The Torah makes us constantly aware of our duties in life—it gives us a true definition of our life’s purpose, and it shows us the ways and means of attaining this goal.
The life’s purpose of every Jew, man or woman, has been clearly defined as far back as the Revelation at Mount Sinai more than 32 and a half centuries ago, when we received the Divine Torah and became a nation. We were then ordained as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This means that every one of us must be holy in our private life, and in our association with the outside world, every one of us, man or woman, must fulfill priestly functions. The priest’s function is to “bring” G - d to the people, and to elevate the people to be nearer to G - d. Similarly, every Jew and Jewess fulfills their personal and “priestly” duties by living a life according to the Torah.
The extent of one’s duty is in direct proportion to one’s station
in life. It is all the greater in the case of an individual who occupies a position of some prominence, which gives him, or her, an opportunity to exercise influence over others, especially over youths. Such persons must fully appreciate the privilege and responsibility which Divine Providence vested in them to spread the light of the Torah and to fight darkness wherever and in whatever form it may rear its head.
No Jewish individual ought to be satisfied with the fact that as far as he personally is concerned he is doing his best to improve himself. He owes it to the next fellow to help him improve himself, too.
In the light of the motto, often used by my late father-in-law of sainted memory, that “a Jew neither desires to, nor can he, be severed from G - d,” I feel sure that the thoughts expressed in the above brief lines will find their proper response in your heart and in the hearts of your colleagues and friends.
Needless to say, I shall always be glad to receive good news of your progress in that direction.
Cordially, /Signed: Menachem Schneerson/
Publisher
Mica Soffer
Editor
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin
Associate Editor
Mendy Wineberg
Contributing Writers
Asharon Baltazar
Sari Kopitnikoff
Chana Kornfeld
Mendel Levin
Sruly Meyer
Sarah Pinson
Tzali Reicher
Mordechai Schmutter
Motti Wilhelm
Tzemach Feller
Design
Chana Tenenbaum
Photo Credits
JEM/Living Archive
Special Thanks
Rebbe Responsa
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
Crown Heights is once again hosting hundreds of the Rebbe’s Shluchim, who have come to participate in the 5786 International Kinus Hashluchim in New York.
This year’s gathering comes at a time when many are reflecting on recent events here in the city and beyond. The election of Zohran Mamdani, a Socialist and outspoken critic of Israel, has been deeply troubling to all who recognize the central role Eretz Yisroel plays in Jewish life and who care about the safety of its people.
It is also a moment to pause and express gratitude for a true friend of our community, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. Having begun his political career in Crown Heights, he has always felt a strong connection to our neighborhood and its people. (In fact, he regularly reads our website, COLlive.com).
Throughout his time in public service, Mayor Adams has been attentive to the needs of the Jewish community, even when facing challenges beyond his control. Most importantly, he stood firmly with the Jewish people during our darkest hour — the horrific events of Simchas Torah, October 7, 2023.
At a memorable rally, he declared, “I’ve been in Israel as a State Senator. I protected the Jewish community as a police officer. I stood with you as Borough President. Now, as the chief executive of this city, I say to you: I am your brother. Your fight is my fight.”
What a contrast to the leadership now replacing him. Yet amid the disappointment, there was a silver lining: a record turnout of Crown Heights residents at the polls. We have demonstrated our power to those in power and that we will continue to stand strong and involved in shaping our city’s future.
The Rebbe urged Chassidim not to abandon Crown Heights when times were difficult. We didn’t then, and we certainly won’t now.
As we welcome the Shluchim and draw inspiration from their unwavering dedication, we, too, can face our challenges with faith and determination. There is light after darkness, and we place our trust in Hashem, Who guides every moment and will soon bring the ultimate redemption with the coming of Moshiach.
May we share good news, MICA SOFFER
By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin
What Chabad Serves That Starbucks Can’t
In the past, the classic saying was “Where there is Coca-Cola, there is Chabad.” We were compared to the widely popular soda brand to indicate the reach of the Rebbe’s shlichus network to inspire every Jew around the globe.
I always thought this comparison wasn’t fully accurate for two reasons. First, Chabad was active in places where even Coke wasn’t, such as Arab countries that preferred Pepsi because Coke continued to sell in Israel. Second, a can of soda is something you pick up off a store shelf.
We might be similar to Coke in the joy we bring others, but Chabad Houses are not items you find in a vending machine that you can grab to go. Our shuls, schools, and other institutions have an actual address, a place you can walk into as a home
away from home.
A more accurate comparison, I thought, would be Starbucks. They’re all over the world, brickand-mortar spaces where you walk in, are greeted by a person, and enjoy an experience in the company of others. And the experience at Chabad provides a spiritual jolt rather than a physical one from caffeine.
For a while, that seemed to fit perfectly, until a recent development in my city made me rethink the comparison.
Starbucks had been on a roll, opening new branches left and right, sometimes in close proximity to each other. Even in Tucson’s strong foodie and café culture, this felt excessive. It didn’t take long for Starbucks
to announce the closure of some branches, including brand-new shops.
Speaking to a contractor, we learned that the closure of a Starbucks store isn’t a simple process. After removing all the food and utensils, a demolition crew comes in to destroy whatever remains. Their job is to ensure nothing is left that could be identified as Starbucks, nothing others could duplicate or reuse. After that, a separate crew arrives to verify that the destruction meets the company’s code.
And that’s where Starbucks differs from Chabad. We’re also real locations run by people, but what we share isn’t proprietary. We want people to take it with them. Whether it’s how to daven, instructions from the Shulchan
Aruch, or the ways of Chassidus, we want them to bring these teachings home and implement them in their lives.
A can of Coke that remains on the shelf is a lost sale. A sefer that stays closed, a shiur unattended, that’s a missed opportunity. That’s our drive to keep engaging people, as Chassidim and Shluchim. As a New York–area Shliach recently told me, “I feel like my entire Shlichus is inviting people. It can be to a minyan, a Shabbos meal, a shiur, to do a mitzvah, to donate, or come with me to the Ohel. It’s all invitations.”
There is one more aspect that might be missed. With a product such as a can of Coke, the item belongs to the seller. For a price, it exchanges hands to the customer. With Torah, it’s different, because
it is a morasha, an inheritance that belongs to every single Jew. We are “selling” it only because it isn’t solely ours to hold onto.
Every Chabad House, every Shliach and Chossid, is helping Jews remember what’s already theirs. Perhaps we can say that Chabad is the largest lost-andfound agency in the world. We aren’t selling items. We are returning lost objects to their owners, even to those who don’t yet know something is missing. Every Jew who learns, davens, or gives with Chabad becomes part of that mission, finding something within themselves they may not have realized was theirs all along.
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, Editor of COLlive. com and COLlive Magazine, is the Associate Rabbi of Chabad Tucson Young Israel in Tucson, Arizona. He coordinates the annual Yarchei Kallah gathering of Chabad Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva
By Motti Wilhelm
An Absurd that
Rabbi Yechezkel Sofer helped shape campus shlichus and says that lasting change begins with learning, not just doing
AChabad Shliach on campus? There are over 950 of them on campuses worldwide today. In 1976, it was nearly unheard of when Rabbi Yechezkel Sofer was offered the position of rabbi at Ben-Gurion University in Be’er Sheva. At the time, the Rebbe had already dispatched Shluchim to communities, yet almost none were working directly with university students. In Eretz Yisroel, not a single campus had a dedicated shliach.
For Rabbi Sofer, this marked the beginning of a remarkable, decades-long mission. First as the official campus rabbi, and later as a lecturer who traveled the globe teaching Torah and Yiddishkeit, he helped shape generations of ba’alei teshuva. His pioneering work helped set the example for what would become the global Chabad on Campus revolution, now flourishing across universities in Israel and the United States.
Looking back, Rabbi Sofer notes clear contrasts between the “Hippie era” of the 1970s and today’s student culture. Yet, he emphasizes, beneath the changing styles and shifting challenges, the core principles of shlichus have remained constant, and must continue to guide the work now as they did then.
The Blessing of Expulsion
Born in a Displaced Persons (DP) camp in Germany following the Second World War, Rabbi Sofer moved with his family to the Holy Land as a young
child, and went on to learn in some of the world’s most renowned Lithuanian yeshivos, including Ponevezh and Yeshivas L’Mitzuyonim–Brisk. Yet, despite the intensity and depth of his Gemara study, he felt that he was missing something.
“I had a yearning for something more, something deeper,” he recalls. “But I didn’t even know what I was yearning for, until I encountered Tanya.”
His introduction to Chassidus came through Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Segal, Rosh Kollel Tzemach Tzedek in Yerushalayim, who was known for quietly sharing Chassidic teachings with bochurim in Litvish yeshivos. With his encouragement, Rabbi Sofer began attending a discreet Tanya shiur.
“It was then that I discovered, for the first time, a full framework for emunah, not simply believing without understanding,” he explains. “The study of Chassidus began answering questions that had been bubbling inside me for years.”
While Rabbi Sofer and other bochurim gained tremendously from these classes, they were not sanctioned by the yeshiva. When the yeshiva administration discovered what was happening, they issued a stark warning: either stop attending or face expulsion.
“I wrote to the Rebbe, asking him what to do. The Rebbe replied: ‘Regarding your continued study of Chassidus, consult with friends.’ In other words, stopping was not an option. It was only a question of how to continue.”
The group relocated the shiur and proceeded with even greater
caution. For the next six months, the classes quietly continued until they were discovered again. This time, the yeshiva expelled the participants.
“Baruch Hashem for that,” Rabbi Sofer chuckles. “Because of the expulsion, I enrolled in the yeshiva in Kfar Chabad, and became a full-fledged Lubavitcher.”
Questions to Grapple With
Several years later, after studying in Kfar Chabad under the guidance of the renowned mashpia Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, spending a year in the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva at 770 Eastern Parkway, and marrying Sara (née Levin), Rabbi Sofer began teaching at the Beit Sefer Lemalacha vocational school in Kfar Chabad.
Then, unexpectedly, a school in Ashdod reached out and asked him to prepare boys for their Bar Mitzvahs. He agreed, but decided to do things differently from the standard approach. “I didn’t want to only teach them the haftorah and a few Jewish songs,” Rabbi Sofer explains. “I wanted to give them something deeper, the foundations of Jewish life and belief.”
He began thinking seriously: What challenges might a young teenager face as they stand on the threshold of adulthood? What questions might prevent him from embracing Yiddishkeit?
He built on that to create a curriculum that presented the fundamentals of Judaism in a clear and thoughtful way: How
do we know Hashem exists? How do we know Matan Torah truly happened? Why keep mitzvos? He also addressed the kinds of ideological questions teens are sure to encounter, such as: How can Jews claim to be the “chosen people” without being racist?
“Of course, the last few classes for each group also focused on the practical: How to put on tefillin, and classic bar mitzvah observances,” he says.
This curriculum, refined and adapted over the years, proved to be genuinely transformative. It not only touched the young boys preparing for their Bar Mitzvahs; it would eventually shape the lives of thousands of university students and adults across the world.
As word spread, the success fed itself. The Bar Mitzvah program
expanded from one school to five, then more. Before long, every school in Ashdod, Be’er Sheva, and Ashkelon was hosting Rabbi Sofer’s course.
An Absurd Idea
His success with teens opened the door for him to engage with the next age group. In 1976, Professor Yirmiyahu (Herman) Branover, a renowned Russian Jewish physicist who became frum and a chossid, approached Rabbi Sofer with a new idea. Would he consider becoming the official campus rabbi at BenGurion University of the Negev and adapting his curriculum for college students?
was not easy. The family had already purchased a home in their previous city and now needed to rent anew, all while unsure whether this experiment in campus shlichus could truly succeed.
“I was given an office in a bomb shelter, and that became the campus shul,” he recalls. “That’s where I taught my course, and from there I published and distributed material for the yomim tovim and ran all of our campus activities. It was a challenge.
He agreed, yet the beginning
“I tried to persuade the administration to establish a proper shul on campus. But they argued that if they built a synagogue for the Jews, the Muslims would demand a mosque. Until today, the university still does not have a
Mivtzoyim with soldiers during Operation Peace for the Galilee
proper shul.”
But it did not take long before it became clear: they had made exactly the right move. The students were thirsty for genuine Yiddishkeit, and Rabbi Sofer was uniquely equipped to present it in a way they could understand, internalize, and appreciate.
Still, not everyone saw it that way at first. Some fellow Chassidim questioned his decision to leave his previous position, feeling that a rabbi should not be present on a university campus. For some, it was absurd and a step too far in Shlichus. The hesitations continued until, during a visit to 770 in New York, he received the Rebbe’s explicit blessing for the new role, putting the matter to rest.
"I asked the Rebbe the following question: We hope that in what we have done by moving to the university, we have acted according to the intention [of his directive]. If so, we are asking whether to sell our house in Nachala and buy a permanent
home in Be’er Sheva."
The Rebbe crossed out the words “if we have acted according to the intention”—he erased the “if”—and underlined “we have acted according to the intention.” And he wrote to sell their house in the Nachalas Har Chabad neighborhood in Kiryat Malachi and buy a permanent home in Be’er Sheva. “That was a very strong approval,” Rabbi Sofer notes.
After “The Surge”
Once a week, Rabbi Sofer delivered an accredited course titled Know Your Judaism. The rest of the week was filled with everything one now associates with campus shlichus: minyanim, shiurim, one-on-one learning, informal farbrengens, and constant personal connection.
The success of those years is staggering. Thousands of students were involved, with
many going on to embrace observance. Some even became Chabad chassidim, serving as Shluchim and in the medical field. “Until today,” he says, “I meet people who tell me they took the course and that it changed their life.”
Reflecting on his years in campus outreach, Rabbi Sofer notes that today’s students are markedly different from those of fifty years ago. “Back then, the world was more rational,” he states. “People were asking hard questions, philosophical questions. Today, that almost doesn’t exist.”
Despite the shift in culture over the decades, Rabbi Sofer emphasizes that the core principles of shlichus remain unchanged. “A shliach must provide structured, meaningful Torah learning,” he says. “Students need to learn about the Eibershter, about the depth of emunah, the beauty and richness of Yiddishkeit.”
He notes that some people
'Beyond Belief,' Rabbi Sofer's newly published book on Emunah in English
mistakenly think Chabad’s only mission is simply getting Jews to do one more mitzvah. “Getting a Yid to do a mitzvah is vital, it’s the first step,” he explains. “But it’s exactly that: step one of a multi-step process. After you ‘grab’ someone with a mitzvah, you have to nourish the neshama with Torah, with Chassidus.”
He points to the very name Chabad as the foundation. “That’s what Chabad means, chochmah, binah, da’as. A Jew must take the emunah that is natural to every neshama and bring it into the mind, into the intellect, into conscious awareness. It’s not enough just to believe, or just to act.”
He connects this to the powerful expressions of faith seen recently following the Hamas attack on Simchas Torah - October 7, 2023, and the rise in antisemitism around the world. Some have called this phenomenon "The Surge," and it has been most prevalent and has had lasting effects at Chabad centers.
“Every Yid has a neshama, and under certain circumstances it shines with no prompting,” he says. “Look at the hostages in Gaza, some of them began believing in Hashem or davening daily in the darkest of places. It wasn’t because they studied Chassidus or Moreh Nevuchim. Their neshamos shone through on their own.
“But then the question becomes: does that light transform one’s daily life? A person comes out of Yom Kippur uplifted, or he was inspired by dancing with the Torah on Simchas Torah. Does that feeling translate into actually keeping mitzvos afterwards? That only happens if he has the tools to bring that emunah into his own mind and character.”
What Happens After Mivtzoim?
on emunah and the foundations of Yiddishkeit, invitations began arriving from around the world. From week-long retreats in Thailand to lecture tours in Australia, and from London to Los Angeles, Rabbi Sofer became a sought-after speaker wherever there was a community of students or young adults. Along the way, he published several seforim, some drawn directly from his classes and lectures, others addressing additional topics entirely, including Rashi, Shleimus Ha’aretz, and even collections of Torah riddles on Chumash.
As word spread about a campus shliach who can eloquently engage Hebrew-speaking crowds
During one of his lecture tours, he was hosted by a shliach who proudly showed him around, giving a full tour of the Chabad House, the Hebrew school, and the various programs and activities. Then they walked past the shopping mall, where the shliach pointed out 60 shops owned by Jews. “Every Friday,” the shliach said, “I go from store to store and put tefillin on with them.”
“I told him that it was wonderful,” Rabbi Sofer recalls, “but then I asked him: Who puts tefillin on you, the shliach?”
Receiving a puzzled look from the shliach, Rabbi Sofer explained: “You don’t need anyone to remind you. You put on tefillin because it’s part of who you are. But why do these men need you to come every Friday? After five times, ten times, twenty times, why didn’t they start doing it themselves?”
The answer, he says, is the heart of the matter. “Deep change only happens when you reach a person in depth, not only through action.”
If a shliach wants to see real, lasting change in the people he works with, he says, he must go beyond facilitating mitzvos. “He needs to learn with them. He needs to give shiurim, in
Gemara, in Tanya, in Chassidus. He needs to give them something to understand, to internalize, to nourish the soul.”
And for those who do want to study the fundamental concepts of Yiddishkeit, Rabbi Sofer’s new book, “Beyond Belief,” is designed precisely for that purpose. Drawing on decades of teaching and lecturing, the sefer provides clear, structured answers to the core questions that shluchim and educators are frequently asked.
“The truth is that these questions exist even among many frum people,” he notes. “You can have a yeshiva bochur who knows Samech Vov, or who can explain a Rashba, but if you ask him how we know there is a G-d, he may struggle to answer. Some have questions about evolution, or other philosophical issues.”
“This book is for the thinker,” he says. “It’s for the college student, for the professional who walks into a Chabad House with philosophical questions, and it’s also for the shliach himself, who wants to strengthen and clarify his own understanding.”
As Shluchim gather for the International Kinus, Rabbi Sofer shares a message drawn from his pioneering experience: “All of the Rebbe’s mivtzoim are essential; those are what open a Yid’s neshama. But after that first opening, you must nourish the neshama. You have to give it the ‘food’ it needs. One person may connect best to Gemara. Another to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Another to Chumash. Another to Jewish philosophy. The point is to give them Torah that speaks to them, that feeds their soul.”
A lecture at a Chabad House in Netanya, Israel
ByTzaliReicher
Just Don’t CallItMagic
TIlan Smith was a 19-year-old student at the Mayanot Institute in Jerusalem when he went to pick up his parents at Ben Gurion Airport. His parents flew from South Africa to attend a wedding and were excited to see their son learning abroad.
What they saw didn’t please them. Upon landing and seeing him, Smith’s father was dismayed by his son’s growing beard. It was clear his Chassidic teachers had influenced him — and his father wouldn’t have any of it.
Instead of a hug, his father grabbed the growing beard framing Ilan’s face. “This is coming off before you come home!” the father sternly declared.
Smith had been on a spiritual journey that indeed worried his parents. He grew up on a farm outside Pretoria, South Africa, where his father ran a nursery business—the garden variety, with trees and flowers, and the family
kept ducks, chickens, and guinea fowl “just for fun.” “We were probably the only Jews doing that in Victoria,” Smith recalls of the suburb where he grew up.
About his family’s level of Jewish practice, Smith describes them as a “typical South African family” with a relaxed but traditional approach. The 35-minute drive to Carmel, a Jewish day school in Pretoria, was a daily ritual. “It was more of a school for Jews than a Jewish school,” he remembers, “but that was perfectly suited for where our family was holding.”
Friday night dinners began with going to shul and making kiddush, and ended with watching TV. Shabbos, or Saturday as they called it, was for shopping trips to the mall.
The turning point came during high school, when youth directors Chatch Feinblum and then Gideon Usvolk introduced Smith to proper Jewish observance at Carmel. When he began keeping
more shabbosim, he moved into the home of Rabbi Chaim Finkelstein, today the Rosh Yeshiva Le'Rabbonus in Pretoria. “They were the people who guided me towards Yiddishkeit,” he says fondly. “I’m forever grateful to them.”
While at a Lubavitch camp, Smith and two friends made a pact to keep kosher. “We were all at the beach, buying non-kosher ice creams, and all thought, ‘we're not going to do this anymore’,” he recalls. Four or five months later, his friends had gone back to their old ways. As for Smith, “It's been ‘a couple’ of years already,” he laughs with deliberate irony. His parents' reactions to his religious transformation were mixed. Smith’s father “wasn't so fond of it—I'm putting that in a very nice way,” Smith says. His mother's response? “It could be worse, he could be on drugs,” she commented.
Smith only went to Mayanot after high school as a compromise
Ilan Smith as a child celebrating Purim at his home in Pretoria, South Africa
Ilan with his parents on a visit to Israel
When they met at the airport, their son’s transformation and trajectory were evident in his beard. Smith’s mother had worried mainly about job prospects for someone who “looks different than everyone else.”
More than two decades later, the beard remains. Luckily for her, her son wasn’t looking at a traditional career path. His world of wonder, illusion, and faith was just beginning.
InaMagical World
There are several high-profile Jewish mentalists in the entertainment industry. Still, today, at 45, Ilan Smith has carved out an unusual niche as a frum illusionist and mentalist, performing everywhere from Las Vegas corporate events to Chabad houses across 15 countries and 25 U.S. states.
He correctly predicted that Germany would beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final on television, even before a single game had been played, and he has stunned radio audiences live on air. Smith also created two solo shows that ran to great acclaim. The first was titled ‘Imagine’, and the second, ‘Dreams’.
With his black hat, long beard, and tzitzis, he's instantly recognizable and utterly uncompromising about who he is. “People often ask about the kippah and the beard on stage,” Smith says from his home in New Haven, CT, where he lives with his wife Shani and their five children. “Thank G-d, that's not my struggle. Because that's who I am.”
Magic first entered his life at age six or seven during a family vacation in Durban. At a flea market, his father bought him a simple magic trick for 20 rand, just over a dollar in American currency. By day's end, young Ilan had pestered his parents into buying a second. By the end of
the vacation, he had two books on magic.
“I was into it, I found that I really enjoyed it,” he says.
The hobby became serious when Smith, now attending boarding school at King David Linksfield in Johannesburg, met a classmate named Ty Rubin who shared his interest. Together, they sought out a teacher—no easy feat in preinternet South Africa.
They found George Moss, an elderly Jewish magician living in a retirement home. “He'd get out of bed wearing his underpants and a t-shirt, and we'd have to help him get dressed,” Smith laughs. "Everything about him was weird. And he was awesome.”
After Moss passed away, Smith found a mentor in Phillip Boruchowitz, who was a High Court Judge in Johannesburg. The judge had “the biggest library I've ever come across” on magic, Smith recalled. It contained approximately 600-700 books on
At Mayanot Yeshiva in Israel with one of the shluchim
Ilan Smith at his Kabolas Panim in the Torah Academy Shul in Johannesburg
Even during a large show, Ilan includes close up magic for a change of pace. Here, he is seen performing at a Dreams show in Johannesburg, South Africa
the art form, as well as videos and manuscripts. “His library became my library,” Smith says. “I sat on his carpet for many years learning different magic pieces.”
He soon mastered magic by studying books, surrounding himself with fellow magicians and attending industry conferences. It was clearly his calling.
In the decades since, Smith has steadily ascended the ladder of success in his field. Starting out “in the trenches", as he calls it, Smith began performing by going table hopping at restaurants, practicing his craft to a captive audience. He graduated to serving as entertainment at simchas before being booked for standalone shows and corporate events.
WhatMakesa GreatShow
Smith performs illusions and mentalism. With mentalism, he appears to read people's minds and predict things he couldn’t possibly have known. “Obviously it’s not ‘magic’ - of course it isn't real, which would be not kosher,” he is careful to explain. “The
art is about reading cues and understanding the psychology of people to ensure they’re giving you the information needed to make the trick work.”
The key, he says, isn’t special powers; it’s practiced technique and misdirection. “When a performance goes well, I know that audience members are going to tell their friends certain things that didn't happen and forget things that did happen, because of the misdirection.”
He explains further: “If I were to entertain you and need to get something in your pocket, I can't just walk up and invade your personal space. But if I break down that barrier earlier—touching your shoulder, saying ‘watch this’— then later when I do something, it won't raise a red flag, and you won’t understand the method when the performance is over. And thank G-d, I’ve found that I’ve gotten pretty good at that— entertaining people by building that trust that ultimately allows me to be successful.”
A woman once approached him after a show, insisting he had powers despite his explicit disclaimers. “I'll tell you exactly what it is: sleight of hand and psychology,” he told her. Her response? “Don't worry, I believe in you.”
“
Being home for Shabbos meals means everything.
Creating an illusion, Smith explains, follows a rigorous process. First, learning the mechanics, making the trick work at all. Second, make it work smoothly without detection. Third, make it entertaining. Finally, for stage performances, expand it with storytelling, callbacks, and emotional resonance.
One of his favorite stage pieces involves calling an audience member's relative on the phone and apparently predicting the three-digit number they're thinking of. The revelation? The serial number on a dollar bill handed to the participant at the show's start matches the number exactly. “It's long, but it's extremely entertaining,” Smith says of the 10-minute routine.
“The best part of what I do is that you get to meet new people,” he says. “I love seeing people who have never seen what mentalism and illusions look like up close, and blowing their minds. It’s a sign that I’m doing something right, and it’s a feeling that never gets old.”
While many of his performances are for corporate clients and businesses, he says his most fulfilling work is travelling around the world to entertain at Chabad events and galas. He speaks with respect about the Shluchim he has met, who embody a complete dedication to their shlichus and to the Rebbe,
and notes a difference between corporate performance and that of non-profits.
“You can do the identical show for two different audiences, give a massive discount to one and charge full price to the other. The shows are different—not because I'm behaving differently, but because they appreciate the value.”
When clients invest properly in entertainment, he's noticed, they promote it enthusiastically, creating a better atmosphere and higher expectations. Those seeking bargains often treat the show as a box to check rather than an experience to create.
“If you want an average show or a good show or a fantastic show, that's up to you,” Smith says. “Literally.”
Settling Down
The life of a touring entertainer is tough on families, particularly Jewish ones, where the difference between having a parent or spouse at home for Shabbos is stark.
After nearly eight years of spending three weeks abroad followed by three weeks at home before heading out of the country again, Smith and his wife, Shani, decided it was time to move to the United States. They were in the midst of relocating across the globe, with their children already enrolled in school in Florida, when COVID-19 halted the world—and their plans.
While the pandemic shut down live performances, Smith refused to simply point a camera at his usual act. Instead, he spent months developing magic specifically for
Zoom.
“Viewers would search for something on their phone, and I read their minds,” he says as an example. “There were lots of different things the magic world was creating to meet the moment.”
After two years, once everything opened up—and with letters from the Rebbe clearly indicating that the time was right to move—the Smiths moved to the United States in 2023, settling near family in New Haven, Connecticut.
Now, he’s able to fly to gigs across the country for a night and be back home before his children come home from school.
The transition hasn’t been seamless. International travel is still part of the package; it takes time to settle into a new community, and building a client
base takes effort. However, Smith says the tradeoff is worthwhile. “Being able to walk my kids to school, to be home for Shabbos meals, to not miss every birthday - these are things I didn't realize I was giving up until I stopped,” he reflects.
His most recent booking requests are a Chabad House gala in California, a corporate event in Texas, and a community center in New Jersey. He has plenty of tricks to dazzle the crowds, but says he's working on the next illusion or piece of mentalism that will stun upcoming audiences and leave them clapping in disbelief.
Fixing the yarmulka on his head, he smiles: “The goal is always the same: to create something impossible that people will remember.” Clearly, he’s already
Predicting the results of a World Cup soccer game on liveTV
Warming up before a show in Canada, Ilan gets the crowd laughing with some up close magic.
By Tzemach Feller
A Dynasty of Devotion
Fifty years after his passing, Reb Bentzion Shemtov’s legacy lives on in the world of shlichus
There may not be a single individual who can boast more descendants on shlichus today than the firebrand chossid, Reb Bentzion Shemtov, whose 50th yahrzeit was this past summer, on the 5th of Tammuz.
R’ Bentche, as he was called, was one of the nine temimim whom the Frierdiker Rebbe called for a meeting after the Communists
came to power in Russia. Those fearless Yeshiva bochurim took an oath to be willing to give their lives to keep Yiddishkeit alive until the last drop of blood. While a number of those temimim indeed died al kiddush Hashem, the self-sacrifice of R’ Bentche was in living as a completely dedicated chossid, giving every drop of his life-force—till his very last day—to the Rebbe’s shlichus.
Today, generations of his descendants continue that legacy of mesiras nefesh on shlichus,
from his daughter in London, England, to his great-grandson in Traverse City, Michigan. Today, the name “Shemtov” has become practically synonymous with shlichus, and it is due to the influence and example of the family patriarch.
R’ Bentche’s life of dedication began in Belarus and Russia, where his activities in spreading Yiddishkeit resulted in his arrest and exile to Siberia for three years. Upon his return, he continued in his work caring for Yidden
b’gashmiyus and b’ruchniyus.
Leaving the Soviet Union after World War II, R’ Bentche met the Rebbe in Paris, and received his first shlichus: to establish a Jewish girls’ school in Prague. “He would often travel around Europe as a shadar —a representative of the Rebbe— and many communities remember his visits,” shared his grandson, Rabbi Levi Azimov, a Shliach in the Neuilly suburb of Paris, France. “There are hundreds of letters he received from the Frierdiker Rebbe, and later from
the Rebbe, in the course of his shlichus’n.”
The Frierdiker Rebbe appointed R’ Bentche to be his shadar in London in 5708. He was instrumental in founding several Lubavitch institutions there and later moved to the village of Kfar Chabad, where he established Machon Levi Yitzchok to publish the Rebbe’s sichos.
“My zeide’s influence on me was the fact of his total devotion to Likkutei Sichos, and that was a
result of his hiskashrus to the Rebbe,” recalls his grandson, Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Head Shliach of Tucson, Arizona.
R’ Bentche was actively involved in encouraging the publication of the Likkutei Sichos—the edited talks of the Rebbe—which would be printed and disseminated each week.
“He used to bring home the Likkutei Sichos before it was collated. In those days, it would be printed page by page, then it
gfhdfh
would be folded, and then we used to collate it. He used to schlep a box of the sichos from 770 to my parents’ home on Lefferts Avenue for my siblings to collate them.”
“We thought that we were collating all the Likkutei Sichos that were being printed,” Rabbi Shemtov recalled. “It wasn’t until a few years ago that someone came over to me and said, ‘I remember your zeide, R’ Bentzion, used to come down every Thursday night, when we were all collating the sichos, and he would take a box.”
“At that point, I thought to myself: ‘Look at this. He’s schlepping a heavy box of sichos seven blocks down to Lefferts Avenue just so that his einiklach should collate it; to have some kind of connection to the Likkutei Sichos. This says it all.”
R’ Bentche’s toes had been frostbitten in Siberia, and walking was not easy for him. Those sichos would have been collated without his help. But his connection to the Rebbe, and the connection of his children and grandchildren to the Rebbe, came first.
It was this personal devotion to the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s causes that resulted in generations inspired to dedicate their lives to the Rebbe’s shlichus.
Final Words
It was fitting that this soldier of the Rebbe composed the niggun “Mi Armia Admura,” its Russian words superimposed over a Communist march and proclaiming that the soldiers of the Rebbe’s army would march forth.
A week after R’ Bentche’s passing in a car accident, the Rebbe
At a farbrengen in the small zal in 770
instructed that the niggun be sung during the Yud Beis Tammuz farbrengen, connecting it to R’ Bentche, and expressing a wish that the young should look at the soldiers of the Rebbe’s army and likewise raise their children and grandchildren.
Indeed, all of his children were involved in some form of Shlichus during its infancy. Rabbi Berel Shemtov is the Head Shliach of Michigan, and Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov is Head Shliach of Philadelphia and Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International. His late son-in-law, Rabbi Nachman Sudak, was the Head Shliach of England, and Rabbi Shmuel Azimov was a Head Shliach in Paris, France. Both of his sons living in Crown Heights have taken active roles in community affairs, with the late Reb Mendel Shemtov helping found the Shluchim Office, and Reb Yisroel Shemtov organizing the annual Simchas Beis Hashoeva.
“Being part of a large family of shluchim, you are surrounded by total positivity and excitement,” recalls Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, a son of Reb Mendel. “As hard as it is —and let’s face it, life’s not easy— there are a lot of challenges. Everyone came to my house, and when we talked about shlichus, we talked about the exciting parts of shlichus. Even the not exciting parts we speak about with excitement.”
All of the passion, enthusiasm, and dedication stemmed from one central goal: connecting to the Rebbe. It is reflected in the fact that many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are on Shlichus on almost every continent, and take active roles in discussions and initiatives shaping Shlichus today.
Mrs. Fradel Sudak, England’s senior shlucha, is the daughter of
Reb Bentche with the famed chossid, Reb Mendel Futerfas
R’ Bentche. She recalled the last message her father had given her. He was going to Eretz Yisroel in an act of ahavas Yisroel: his best friend’s brother had had difficulties with livelihood, and R’ Bentche decided to travel there, putting everything aside to help a fellow Jew.
“He hired a taxi, and the taxi was scheduled to come at 2:00 PM, but he was sitting in my living room, in his tallis,” Mrs. Sudak recalled.
“I knew the taxi had come; he had a flight to catch, so eventually I tapped him on the shoulder and told him it was time to go.”
“He took off his tallis, and I saw
that the sefer he was looking at wasn’t a siddur. It was the book "Challenge: An Encounter with Lubavitch-Chabad" published by Lubavitch UK. He was looking at a tribute to the Rebbe written by the artist Jacques Lipchitz, who, after a life lived largely as a secular artist, reconnected with Yiddishkeit towards the end of his life, keeping Shabbos, putting on tefillin each day, and referring to himself as a religious Jew.
“My father said, ‘He lived a life of doing all of the wrong things, but at the end, he attached himself to the Rebbe, and now he is at the top. I know chassidishe Yidden
spent their lives dedicated to the Rebbe, but who failed at the end.”
“He concluded: ‘M’darf hiten yeder tog tzu zein tzugebunden tzum Rebbe’n — One must be careful every day to be connected to the Rebbe.’”
Succinctly, Mrs. Sudak summarized a philosophy that has produced scores of shluchim who have inspired thousands of Yidden across continents. “By us, the main thing is to be close to the Rebbe,” she said, channeling her father’s spirit.
Reb Bentche in 770
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By Mendel Levin
A Thank-You Years in the Making
Suzanne Dykler’s dream to thank the Rebbe came true decades later and changed her life forever
Bais Chaya Mushka Seminary in Montreal, Canada, recently hosted a challah bake for women and girls from the community. The event was one of many organized by the seminary, under the leadership of principal Mrs. Adina Ceitlin, to give students the opportunity to positively influence those around them. Among the participants at the Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan gathering was Suzanne (Yael) Dykler (née Krispel), an educator of more than three decades. As the women shaped their challahs, Suzanne shared how the Rebbe’s influence guided the course of her life.
Every Friday, before we lit Shabbos candles in our home in Morocco, we had a unique tradition. My father would open a small bag of sand from Eretz Yisroel. Each of us would touch the sand, allowing it to run through our fingers, feeling the earth of the home we wished to make ours. We would daven that Hashem should give us the zechus of moving to Eretz Yisrael. Aliyah was always my father’s dream, and my family emigrated to Eretz Yisrael in 1963.
I was a six-year-old child, but I still remember the hushed gathering of family photos and passports, the nighttime departure on a journey aided by the Sochnut—the Jewish Agency. We couldn’t travel directly to Israel, of course. We flew to France, and from there, to Tel Aviv.
The Eretz Yisrael we came to was different from what we had envisioned. Officials compelled my family to change our names to more Hebraicized ones, and that was only the beginning of the many cultural adjustments my
family had to make. Soon, however, things started to change for the better. My friends and I enrolled in a Chabad school in Kiryat Gat—part of the Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchok educational network.
I vividly remember Rabbi Zalman Abelsky inviting us to come to Tashlich one year, and when we arrived, he gave each of us a piece of honey cake. “This is from your Rebbe,” he told me. And I felt so special to have received this gift.
I didn’t know much about the Rebbe—I was a six-year-old child in a new country—but I wanted to say “thank you” to the Rebbe for the honey cake. I didn’t know how to do this, and I always had it in my mind that I needed to thank the Rebbe. Slowly, with Rabbi Zalman’s help, I entered more and more into the world of Chabad. Every Friday, he would visit our classroom. We would sing “Ufaratzta,” and he would relate Chabad stories. I didn’t understand much Hebrew, but my friends explained them to me.
Working to Survive
When my mother fell ill, the teachers at school helped me write letters to the Rebbe, and we received answers from the Rebbe—blessings for my mother. Indeed, she outlived her prognosis by many years.
As I got older, I understood that the Rebbe sent lekach to be distributed in all of the schools—that I wasn’t the only one who received it; I wasn’t special. But I still felt special. I felt a special connection to the Rebbe, whom I had never seen.
I enrolled in a teachers’ seminary in 1978. I shared this dream of mine with my friends: I wanted to meet
the Rebbe, to say “thank you.” My friends had all gotten honey cake too—the Rebbe would instruct that it be distributed in the schools each year—but they understood how I felt and wanted to help. They offered to chip in for a plane ticket so that I could finally meet the Rebbe. But I felt that this was something I needed to do on my own, with my own money. I felt it wouldn’t be respectful to go to the Rebbe with someone else’s funds—not even money lent to me.
That year, in Kislev, my life took an abrupt turn when my mother passed away. We were eleven children—I was the third child and the oldest girl—and my father worked two jobs to support the family. During the day, he worked in construction, and then in the evening, he would work in nearby moshavim (villages). I felt that I could not abandon my siblings and go back to seminary. I decided to get a job in the moshav where I’d worked in the summer to help support my family.
The principal of the seminary, however, suggested I return. “Right now, you’re getting paid a pittance for your work in the moshav,” he said. “Come back to seminary, and we’ll put you in an accelerated program. You’ll graduate in two years instead of three, and you’ll be able to get a teaching job that will pay three or four times as much as you’re earning now. And when you feel you need to take some time off—to miss some classes to help out at home—we will turn a blind eye to your absences.”
They were doing everything they could to make it work for me, and I agreed to their proposal. I returned to seminary and graduated as a teacher two years later. Now I was working and earning money, but I had my family to support—I couldn’t
spend money on extravagances like flying to New York to visit the Rebbe.
Mother’s Dying Request
Before my mother passed away, she asked me to be there for my youngest sister: that I shouldn’t get married and leave the family until my sister was older. People would approach me and ask, “Why are you still living at home? Why don’t you get married and move away? It will be hard for you to find a shidduch if you keep
waiting!”
But I had faith in Hashem that it would happen, and I honored my mother’s dying request.
In 1989, a member of the Sochnut approached me and asked whether I would be interested in working outside of Eretz Yisrael. My sister was 16 and quite independent, and I decided that now was the time to consider leaving home.
And so, I took a job in Montreal, Canada. Another Israeli teacher from Afula joined me in Montreal, and I shared with her my dream of visiting the Rebbe. I wanted to thank the Rebbe for the lekach all those years ago and to ask for a bracha that
I might get married that year. She felt that it wouldn’t be respectful to ask for such a specific bracha—as if I was giving directions to the Rebbe—but I felt that I had a special connection to the Rebbe. After all, the Rebbe sent me honey cake!
Not long after I moved there, Rabbi Shalom Chiriqui, the shliach and rav of Congregation Centre Chabad in Montreal, organized a weekend trip to New York, and finally, it was time for me to see the Rebbe.
On Friday, as we stood in the ezras nashim in 770, the Rebbe turned his holy gaze towards us, and I felt
the presence of the Shechinah. I felt that now I was connected to the Rebbe. On Sunday, I went by the Rebbe for dollars. We stood in line for hours, but it didn’t feel like a waiting room—it felt holy, special. Finally, it was my turn to meet the Rebbe, and I said, “I want to thank you for what you did for us with Chabad in Kiryat Gat, and I want to ask—I want to get married this year.” The Rebbe told me, “Bracha v’hatzlacha.” Not long afterward, I met the man who would become my husband. He wasn’t exactly what I had been looking for—he came from a traditional background, not as frum as I—and I wasn’t exactly
what he was looking for, but we decided to grow together. Three months later, he proposed to me. I felt that such an important decision was one I needed to discuss with the Rebbe before I could say “yes.”
I went to the Rebbe again for Sunday dollars and brought a picture of the man I was dating. When it was my turn, I took out the photo and showed it to the Rebbe, asking if I should proceed with the marriage. The Rebbe told me, “Bracha v’hatzlacha,” and I knew it would be okay. I knew we could overcome our differences. We married and had two children together. My husband took on
a frum lifestyle for me, but after a year, he told me that this was too much for him, and he reverted to his traditional lifestyle. I was confident, however, in the Rebbe’s bracha— confident that it would be good. Our children went to Chabad summer camps, and our family has taken on more and more Torah and mitzvos.
My son is observant in his way, and my daughter is frum. Today, my grandchildren are learning in the Lubavitch schools in Montreal, and through them, their grandfather is drawing closer to Yiddishkeit.
Every step of my life, I have felt that the Rebbe is supporting me; the Rebbe told me that it would be good, so I am sure that it will be good.
Suzanne's husband, Marc, davening with their grandson.
Suzanne and Marc at their wedding.
iChessed Transforming the Way
We Give Tzedakah
In today’s digital age, where nearly everything has become streamlined and automated, the way we give tzedakah has needed to evolve as well. Various companies began manufacturing digital tzedakah kiosks—devices that made it possible to give to an organization quickly and conveniently, right on the spot.
However, the founders of iChessed weren’t satisfied with what was available. The existing kiosks were outdated, overly complicated, and often slow—both for the donor and the organization receiving the funds. In some cases, it took days for the money to reach the recipient’s account.
A better solution was needed— something fast, simple, and professional. A system that would allow anyone to give tzedakah in under five seconds, with the funds instantly deposited into the organization’s account.
That’s exactly what iChessed set out to create. Two years ago, they developed the iChessed Tzedakah Kiosk, designed specifically with these goals in mind. The result was a sleek, modern kiosk that’s simple to set up, effortless to use, and features a clean, elegant interface— something any organization would be proud to display in its lobby, shul, or community center.
When the first iChessed kiosk was installed in 770, some wondered whether such technology belonged in a shul. But once the concept proved its value, it was quickly embraced— today, 770 has many kiosks throughout the building, used daily by visitors and locals alike.
Beyond its technology, the iChessed project is deeply aligned with the Rebbe’s mivtza of tzedakah. The Rebbe constantly encouraged the use of new and modern technology for the purpose of spreading Torah and Mitzvos. The iChessed kiosk embodies that vision— harnessing technology to make it easy for people to give tzedakah.
Importantly, the system doesn’t just funnel existing donations—it creates new opportunities for giving that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Many users report that people who wouldn’t normally carry cash now find it easy and natural to give through the kiosk. The Bikur Cholim Yad Yaakov at NYU Brooklyn Hospital, for example, has found the kiosk to be an easy and effective fundraising tool—one that makes giving simple and impactful.
Rabbi Menachem Elgrishi of Chabad of Golden Beach has also seen firsthand the difference the iChessed kiosk makes:
“People come through our Chabad and want to show appreciation. The kiosk is perfect. It’s easy to use and the donations it brings in quickly cover its cost.”
iChessed also boasts various features tailored to Shluchim’s needs. The kiosks integrate seamlessly with ChabadOne in the United States, and with Merkaz Le’ezrei Shlichut and Tzeirei Chabad in Israel.
Today, over 300 organizations have joined the iChessed network and their kiosks can be found at Chabad Houses and other Jewish centers worldwide.
Looking ahead, iChessed is expanding its product line to better serve a wider range of organizations’ needs. Exciting new products and features will be announced over the Kinnus Hashluchim Resource Fair.
For more information or to get started, visit iChessed.com or email Hello@ iChessed.com.
By Chana Kornfeld
Navigating the Mortgage Maze
How They Work and What You Need to Know to Get One
Buying a home is one of the most exciting and overwhelming financial milestones in a person’s life. Between down payments, interest rates, credit scores, and closing costs, the world of mortgages can be puzzling to a first-time buyer. To help demystify the process, we sat down with Yanky Blau, managing director at Landmark Funding, to break it all down.Let’s start simple: what exactly is a mortgage?
A mortgage is the financing of real estate, residential or commercial. When you take a mortgage, the bank lends you money to buy the property, and you pay it back over time with interest. Most mortgages today are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, government-sponsored enterprises that purchase mortgages from lenders that meet their “conforming” standards (loan size limits, credit requirements, etc.). That means the bank has very little risk, which allows them to lend money fairly easily.
Are there different types of mortgages?
Yes, there are many different programs out there for different purposes and buyers. When people talk about “mortgages,” they usually mean home loans for purchasing or refinancing a primary residence (a home you live in)
The two main categories are: Conventional loans and FHA loans.
What is an FHA loan, and who qualifies?
The FHA, the Federal Housing Administration, offers government-backed loans with very low down payments (as low as 3.50%) and an easier qualifying process. It’s a
great option for first-time homebuyers who don’t have a large lump sum saved up and don’t have great credit.
To qualify, you need to be buying a primary residence. FHA loans do come with stricter appraisals, and you’re required to pay mortgage insurance (PMI).
Is there a limit to how much you can borrow with an FHA loan?
Yes, there are loan limits that change with the market. They’re adjusted annually to reflect local home values. What about for someone living in Crown Heights, could they qualify for an FHA loan?
In the center of Crown Heights, where home prices are much higher than the average American home, it’s harder to qualify for FHA because of those loan limits. But on the edges, like East Flatbush, it’s definitely possible.
So how is a conventional loan different?
The main difference is that FHA loans are easier to qualify for if your credit score is lower, while conventional loans are better for people with stronger credit. With a conventional loan, the PMI will be lower, because the borrower is lower risk. I advise people to get a conventional loan if they can, because even if they start the loan with PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance), if the home’s value goes up, you can ask for a reappraisal and potentially remove PMI once your loan-to-value ratio reaches 80%. But that’s only for conventional loans, with FHA loans, you’re required to keep the mortgage insurance for the life of the loan.
Can you explain PMI?
PMI is Private Mortgage Insurance. It is an extra insurance that the lender will tack on to the loan if the buyer puts down less than 20 percent as a down payment. So, say Moshe is buying a home for 500,000 dollars. If Moshe makes a $100,000 down payment (20%), the bank will feel more secure. Since he’s borrowing $400,000 and already has equity in the property, the bank is confident that if he were to default, they could sell the home and likely recover their money. But if Moshe can only put down $20,000 (4%) and needs to borrow $480,000, he has very little skin in the game. If home values drop or he loses his job, the lender faces a much higher risk of loss. That’s why PMI (private mortgage insurance) is required — to protect the lender in case of default. PMI is the additional insurance charged for being a riskier loan. It varies based on your credit, how many borrowers are on the loan, and how much you’re putting down. It could add anywhere from $100 to $300 per month to your mortgage payment.
What should someone know if they’re thinking about buying a house? How can they prepare?
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial steps you’ll ever take. Preparation makes the process smoother and helps you qualify for better loan terms. Here are the main things to focus on:
1. Start with your credit score. You’ll need at least a 580 for an FHA loan. To build credit, you should have a credit card in use for at least two years, or two credit cards in use for one year, and make sure to pay them monthly to show responsible borrowing. Some people like to purchase on their credit cards and pay immediately—don’t do that, it looks erratic to the lenders. Pay your credit card at the end of the month consistently to show you are an organized and timely borrower.
2. The bank looks at your income stability too. They like to see at least two years of steady work in the same line of employment. Changing employers is fine if it’s within the same industry or for career advancement. If you’re a recent student, that can sometimes count as part of that timeline.
You’ll need a down payment and closing costs, which vary by state. To me, this is the last thing to worry about. I tell my clients, the down payment you’ll figure out. Today, you can put down as little as three or five
percent and for the down payment. You can also use gift funds from family for your down payment (with a gift letter documenting that it’s not a loan). You can’t borrow their credit, though.
How much are closing costs typically?
That depends on where you live. In New York, closing costs average around 4% of the loan amount because of higher taxes. In Florida or New Jersey, it’s usually closer to 2.5–3%.
Mortgage rates have been a big topic lately. What’s your advice?
Rates are higher than they were a few years ago, but as we like to say: “Date the rate, marry the house.”
Don’t pass up the right home because of the rate; you can always refinance later if rates drop and lower your monthly payments .
If you find a property that makes sense for your lifestyle and finances, go for it. You can refinance when the opportunity arises to lower your monthly payments.
Speaking of refinancing, when does it make sense to do that?
There are two main reasons people refinance:
1. To pull out equity for another investment or home renovation.
2. To lower monthly payments when interest rates drop.
It does cost money to refinance, but those costs can be rolled into the new loan. Generally, if the new rate is at least 1% lower than your current rate and you’ll stay in the home for a while, it’s worth it.
What are some common mistakes first-time buyers make?
I advise my clients to avoid the following:
• Making unexplained large deposits that don’t match your income. Like having a Gemach loan appear in your account.
• Taking out new loans or credit cards during the mortgage process.
• Buying or leasing a car before closing.
• Switching jobs in the middle of the loan application. All these things can interfere with approval. The key is to stay financially steady until the deal is closed.
How do mortgages work for self-employed people?
It’s a bit trickier, because self-employed borrowers usually report lower income after write-offs. But there
are programs for that.
We can use bank statement loans, which average your last 12 months of deposits to determine income, or a CPA-prepared Profit & Loss statement that shows your yearly net income. These programs let business owners tap into their real cash flow.
What other expenses should a buyer expect beyond the loan itself? Property tax? Insurance?
Yes. The bank requires you to have homeowners' insurance and to pay property taxes, and those are bundled right into your monthly mortgage payment. On your mortgage statement you’ll see that taxes and insurance have their own payments, which can fluctuate depending on the year.
The full payment, which includes Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance, is called PITI. When the bank reviews your application, they’ll need to make sure that your monthly income is at least double your total PITI amount, to ensure you can comfortably afford the home. You might also have HOA or maintenance fees. These aren’t part of your mortgage payment, but the bank does factor them into your overall debt-to-income ratio when deciding if you qualify for the loan. Are there any hidden fees people should watch for?
Always ask for a loan estimate, which breaks down all your costs clearly. When refinancing, make sure to work with a CEMA attorney in New York so you don’t pay mortgage tax twice.
Sometimes title companies add “junk fees,” so it’s important to have a good broker who can review everything. But overall, the closing disclosure is straightforward, just make sure you read it carefully and ask questions if anything’s unclear.
How are interest rates trending right now?
They’re starting to drop, slowly. We’re seeing a lot of refinance activity. People who got rates in the high 7s are now refinancing into the low 6s. No one knows what will happen next month, but for now the interest rates are trending down.
Now the rate is around 6.125.
How are interest rates determined and are there ways to lower it?
It's the general interest rate for the average American citizen with a 680 credit score, for a $400,000 loan and putting down 20 percent.
If your credit score is much better, your interest rate can
be lower. If you put 50 percent down, the rate will be better too.
A smart way to lower your interest payments without going back to the bank is by making even one extra mortgage payment a year.
Can you elaborate on that?
Of course. When you take out a mortgage, say a 30-year loan, your monthly payments are split between principal (the amount you actually borrowed) and interest (the bank’s charge for lending you the money).
In the beginning, most of your payment goes toward interest, not principal. So even small extra payments toward principal early on can make a big difference over time.
If you make just one extra full payment each year, for example,13 payments instead of 12, that extra amount goes directly toward the principal of your loan. Because you’re reducing the balance faster, the bank will charge you less interest overall (since interest is calculated on the remaining balance).
So, suppose you have a $400,000, 30-year mortgage at 6.5% interest. Your regular monthly payment (principal + interest) would be around $2,528. Over 30 years, you’d pay about $510,000 in interest. But if you make just one extra payment per year, you’ll pay off your mortgage in about 27 years instead of 30 and save around $60,000, $70,000 in interest, depending on your rate. It’s a great way to beat the interest rate!
Any final advice for future homebuyers?
Get pre-approved before you start house hunting. That way, you’ll know what you can afford and move quickly when you find the right property. In NYC there is little inventory, which means houses sell quickly. Have your ducks in a row so you can work fast.
And don’t panic about rates, focus on finding a home that fits your life. The numbers can always be adjusted later with a refinance, but a good home at the right price doesn’t wait around.
Kindle Kindness: A Global Day of Giving Unites Shluchim Worldwide
Every year, as Kislev ushers in a season of light, something extraordinary happens across the Chabad world. From Sydney to S. Paulo, Milan to Miami, hundreds of Chabad Houses open their campaign pages — and their hearts — all at once. Each shares its mission. Each kindles light in its corner of the world.
This is Chabad Global Giving Day (CGGD) — a worldwide initiative, or really a monthlong celebration, of generosity and connection powered by Charidy, where more than 600 Shluchim unite to raise over $50 million from nearly 100,000 donors across the globe.
It all began when Yehuda Gurwitz, founder of Charidy, recognized that Shluchim needed an accessible, unified way to run their year-end fundraisers — a framework that would allow each community to share its unique impact and invite supporters to take part.
“Chabad Global Giving Day ensures that each and every Chabad House maximizes their fundraising efforts.” says Yehuda Gurwitz. “When people see they’re part of such a large global effort, they’re more
inspired to participate.”
From the outset, that vision was strengthened by the partnership of Eli Nash, a lead supporter since CGGD’s early years, whose ongoing involvement continues to help make the initiative possible. Over the years, additional partners and supporters have joined in advancing this mission — including George Rohr, the Meromim Foundation, Getzy Fellig, and others who share the goal of empowering Shluchim worldwide.
With the backing of the Charidy Foundation and these dedicated donors, Chabad Global Giving Day now provides Shluchim with the tools, training, and team support to run transformative year-end campaigns — many for the very first time. What began as a simple idea has become a global movement — transforming individual fundraising efforts into a collective expression of unity, pride, and purpose.
“Chabad Global Giving Day was created to give back to the Rebbe’s Shluchim,” says Mendel Abelsky, who codirects the initiative with Hadassa Rosenblum. “To
enable them to fundraise at the highest level, with the best tools, and services, at the best price.”
Every campaign receives hands-on support from Charidy’s professional team — including tech setup, creative design, coaching, and strategy — all offered at a discounted rate. In addition, over the years Charidy Foundation has sponsored millions of dollars in grants, raffles, and matching funds to help Shluchim raise more and grow their impact.
As Shay Chervinsky, Charidy’s CEO, puts it, “Charidy exists to make impact possible. Chabad Global Giving Day is one of the most beautiful expressions of that — because it’s not just about raising funds, it’s about amplifying the Rebbe’s vision through every Shliach, everywhere.”
This year’s campaign theme, Kindle Kindness, takes its cue from the Rebbe’s famous message broadcast on CNN: “Moshiach is ready to come now; it is only on our part to do something additional in the realm of goodness and kindness.”
This year’s Giving Day reminds us that kindness isn’t abstract.
Chabad Global Giving Day provides an opportunity to take pride as Chassidim. It’s an invitation to continue the Rebbe’s mission. To spread goodness and bring it home. The pride isn’t just in the numbers — it’s in the unity behind them. Across continents and time zones, Shluchim rally their communities, share their stories, and inspire action. It’s a collective moment of achdus — a family of Shluchim lighting up the world together.
Behind the scenes, Charidy’s team dedicates enormous time and resources to make it all happen. “Our staff pour their hearts into this,” says Hadassa Rosenblum. “We treat every campaign as if it were our own — because for us, it’s personal.”
As Shay Chervinsky reflects, “Crowdfunding helps organizations scale up. Chabad Global Giving Day gives it soul. It’s the Rebbe’s mission — to make it digital, and make it global.”
This year, as Shluchim around the world prepare to Kindle Kindness, they’re not just fundraising.
They’re lighting up the world — one story, one mitzvah, and one act of goodness at a time.
By Mendel Cohen
JEM/The Living Archive
Yud Tes Kislev Moments with the Rebbe 9
The highlight of Yud Tes Kislev for every chossid was undoubtedly the Rebbe’s farbrengen. Guests would travel from near and far to hear the Rebbe speak and experience the true spirit of the day. At each farbrengen, the Rebbe urged those present to increase in learning and spreading Chassidus. Presented here are nine memorable Yud Tes Kislev moments with the Rebbe over the years.
Photos:
ב״כשת
“It is well known that when the same time of year arrives, all the spiritual matters connected with it are renewed, just as they were the first time.
“So too with the Chag HaGeulah, Yud Tes Kislev: every year, the victory and all the hashpaos and brachos associated with it return and are renewed. Accordingly, the joy of the day should resemble, at least in some measure, the joy that was felt the very first time, since it is the same event being renewed.”
A withFarbrengen Tears and Joy
ח״כשת ד״כשת
Help Him Out of the Mud!
Today at Maariv, Reb Mendel Futerfas arrived (after finally being permitted to leave the USSR) and when the Rebbe came into shul, the Rebbe turned and looked at him.
At 8:30, the Rebbe entered the farbrengen and asked for Podo B’shalom to be sung. Throughout the farbrengen, the Rebbe both laughed, and cried a lot.
Several couples who got married this
past week held their Sheva Brachos during the farbrengen, between the sichos. The Rebbe also requested all the Rebbeim’s niggunim be sung, including Hu Elokeinu, during which the Rebbe stood and danced with great simcha, strongly encouraging the singing.
(Adapted from the diary of Reb Sholom Ber Wolf and Toras Menachem)
“There’s an obligation on every single Jew to encourage another Jew and bring him closer to our Father in Heaven … this is the reason why we are “koching ” in this - because it’s relevant to every Jew … every Jew needs to help another Jew come out of the mud…
“These days, we have additional
strength for this when we see the success of those who weren’t embarrassed and went over to a Jew - in Tel Aviv, Chadera, or even Times Square - and asked him to put on tefillin, say a bracha, think about Hashem, make a bracha on an esrog, and so on. Almost all of them did it!”
ז״לשת
The Rebbe Yields the Floor
In an almost unprecedented occurrence, the Rebbe said he had intended to speak about Mihu Yehudi, but since a Yid from Eretz Yisroel who was moser nefesh for this cause was present, he would ask him to say a few words. The Rebbe then said, “The custom in this country [is to say], ‘We will now give the floor to Reb Chaim Yehuda [Feldy].’”
Rabbi Feldy then spoke briefly - using the Rebbe’s microphone - about Mihu Yehudi. During his words, he hinted that funds were needed, to which the Rebbe responded: “It seems he’s still a greener when it comes to money. But we must remember that we live in America, a country distinguished in tzedakah…”
(Adapted from the diary of Reb Lipa Brennan)
ח״לשת
Joy Like Simchas Torah
The Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen of this year will be remembered forever. It took place just after the miracles of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, and for the first time in eight weeks, the Rebbe came downstairs to farbreng. As the Rebbe entered, the crowd burst into a joyous Napoleon’s March. Eyes filled with tears, and many recited Shehecheyanu.
Throughout the farbrengen, Rabbi Leibel Groner passed the Rebbe notes from the doctors present monitoring his condition. The Rebbe read them, placed them in his siddur, and even laughed at one. Afterward, chassidim remained through the night, dancing with ecstatic joy - it felt like Simchas Torah.
(Adapted from the multiple diaries of the time)
א״משת
5741 Chalukas HaShas
Every year at the Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen, cards were distributed for the Chalukas HaShas (the division of Talmud study instituted by the Alter Rebbe) and the Rebbe would encourage everyone to participate by writing their name and the masechta they
chose to learn on the cards. The Rebbe himself would generally choose Sanhedrin and would borrow a pen from Philadelphia’s Chief Rabbi, Harav Efraim Eliezer Yolles, to fill out his card, as seen in this photo.
ג״משת
A Farbrengen Into The Night
The farbrengen began at 9:30 p.m. and ended at 2:50 a.m. The Rebbe addressed several topics, including Shleimus Ha’aretz and Sheva Mitzvos
Bnei Noach. At the end of the farbrengen, the Rebbe began singing
We Want Moshiach Now and clapped extremely fast to encourage the singing. He then requested Sheyibone
Beis Hamikdash be sung, and strongly encouraged the crowd, even signaling that they should whistle. Throughout
the farbrengen, the Rebbe also repeatedly encouraged a soccer player present, to sing stronger.
Before leaving, the Rebbe picked up the bag of Chalukas HaShas cards in one hand, bent down, took the microphone in his other hand, and began singing Ki B’simcha.
(Adapted from the diaries of Reb Moshe Dov Ginsburg and Reb Uri Holtzman)
ה״משת
5745
Reaching Outward
“When you look at the avodah of the Baal HaGeulah [ the Alter Rebbe], you see that his work and influence were not limited to himself, but extended to his entire surroundings … even among non-Jews.
“This conduct teaches a lesson to all “students of his students,” and to all who follow in his ways: in addition to working on oneself, one must also spread Torah and Yiddishkeit, and disseminate Chassidus throughout one’s entire surroundings - even influencing ‘all the ministers and nations in all the countries of the king.’”
May we speedily merit Didan Notzach the ultimate triumph over this bitter golus, when we will be reunited with our Rebbe with the true and eternal Geulah!
ז״משת
Achieving Victory
This farbrengen took place during the tense period of the Seforim court case, with a palpable sense in the air and speculation that a final verdict was forthcoming. The atmosphere was joyous, and the Rebbe strongly encouraged the singing.
At the conclusion, the Rebbe spoke about building Chabad Houses and adding in light, and then declared
loudly: “and Didan Notzach, going out and conquering until (we reach) every corner of the world.”
The crowd was visibly shocked, sensing that something momentous was imminent and joyously began singing Didan Notzach. Indeed, two weeks later came Hei Teves.
(Adapted from the diary of Reb Asher Farkash and Yoman Beis Chayeinu)
Chinuch atters
Presented by Sarah Pinson and the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF)
Ask the Mechaneches
How do I teach my child the sense of Shlichus, although we live in a Chabad community and are not on Shlichus?
Answer by Mrs. Yedida Wolfe, Middle School Assistant Principal and ELA teacher at Mazel Day School in Brooklyn, NY
I believe that we must give over to our children the idea that “wherever I find myself, and particularly the place where I’m living, that is where Hashem needs me to be, and I’m there to do what Hashem wants.” For example, when we have the opportunity to host, I remind myself it’s not my house, it's Hashem’s house. It’s a house that is dedicated to the Rebbe, it’s a Chabad house. It’s easy to get distracted when living in a larger Frum community, but we must always look for opportunities to get involved.
The Rebbe often emphasized that our talents, Kochos and resources must be used to serve Hashem. Every single Jew is a lamplighter no matter where they live. It’s important to live with the concept of Ein Od Milvadothat everything is Hashem, whether it’s the city we live in, the activities we participate in, or the abilities we have. It’s our choice to think about what we are here for. And when I give, I get so much more than whatever I have offered.
Before my family moved to Crown Heights we lived on the Upper West Side, where we were known for hosting large Shabbos meals for singles. We were part of a small Kehillah. We had found our niche; we were in our comfort zone. When we moved to Crown Heights we came feeling that the Rebbe wanted us
here, and that we should be active participants in the Crown Heights community, always trying to do what the Rebbe wants. It has been a big Zechus to be able to host and expand our family to include many guests who visit and move to Crown Heights, and I think that perspective stayed with my children.
On a practical level, I always tried to make hosting really fun for my kids, focusing on how lucky we are to do the Mitzvah of Hachnasas Orchim. I always tried to make sure that our kids felt special and included. They would make beds for the guests and help with Shabbos meal prep. I always put the Challahs they made in school on the table and served their baking creations for dessert. My family and my Mitzvos aren’t separate — they’re one and the same. Everything I do is part of my Tafkid in serving the Eibershter.
A large part of it is staying excited myself, even when I’m tired. If I remember why I’m doing it and what I’m doing it for, then my kids sense my excitement. When children feel a genuine sense of purpose, when they recognize that they are here in this world to fulfill their mission, something amazing happens: they naturally want to live that purpose, wherever and however the opportunity arises.
Rabbi Dr. Yosef Shagalow to Speak on Screens, Safety and Sanity
In a world where technology is everywhere, guiding our children through it has become one of parenting’s greatest challenges. The Menachem Education Foundation starts the 5786 Parent Webinar Series with an eye-opening session featuring Rabbi Dr. Yosef Shagalow, a renowned Shliach and psychologist. Discover how to model healthy tech habits, recognize warning signs of overuse, and build a home of Kedusha and connection in the digital age. Don’t miss this essential conversation for today’s parents taking place on Wednesday, Tes Vov Cheshvan, November 5 at 8:30 PM EDT. Register at mymef.org/parentwebinar.
MEF Launches a Year of Inspiring Webinars for Teachers and Parents
The Menachem Education Foundation kicks off a yearlong series of dynamic and practical webinars for teachers and parents, designed to strengthen the foundation of Chinuch in every classroom and home. Each online session will feature experienced educators and professionals
sharing tools, inspiration, and guidance to help educators and parents support every child’s success. Schools around the world are partnering with MEF to bring these webinars to their staff and parent body, as part of ongoing efforts to engage parents in important Chinuch discussions.
Women Educators Gather Monthly for Unity and Inspiration
To mark five years of providing inspiration monthly Farbrengens to Chabad women educators, to learn and discuss timely Chinuch topics, each Farbrengen this year features five takes from educators across multiple grade levels and demographics. Educators have been sharing how impactful it is to gather monthly with educators from across the world, to hear ideas, stories and perspectives to guide their work.
The Menachem Education Foundation's annual campaign that raises money to build for the education of our children, will be taking place on 4-5 Kislev/November 24-25, 2025. Your partnership helps MEF bring high quality curricula, trained teachers, and social-emotional learning to every classroom.
We look forward to you joining us to make this happen!
Meet the Teacher
Rabbi Avraham Varnais
Kitah Daled Limudei Kodesh Teacher & Program Director at Cheder Lubavitch Chicago
Which school, grade, and subjects do you teach?
I’m the Kitah Daled Limudei Kodesh teacher at Cheder Lubavitch in Chicago. I also run school-wide programs, including Tzivos Hashem and Chidon. What made you choose teaching?
Growing up, my mother was a teacher in Vancouver, and I was always impressed by her devotion and dedication. From the time I was a Bachur, I found myself drawn to Chinuch — teaching and working with children on Shlichus. During my travels in New Jersey, Lithuania, and Scotland, I taught Bar Mitzvah classes, gave lessons about the Yomim Tovim and Chassidus, and worked with children of Shluchim. Ever since, I’ve felt a deep drive to share the spark of Yiddishkeit and Torah knowledge with others. Tell us about some of your Chinuch passions:
I’m passionate about making learning a fun and meaningful experience. When children enjoy learning, it
truly reaches their hearts. I believe in hands-on learning, and I bring creative, experiential activities into the classroom whenever possible.
I also care deeply about instilling good Middos and encouraging positive behavior. I focus on the good, noticing and praising Mentchlichkeit whenever I see it. As an educator, one of my main goals is to help my students grow into true Mentchen.
Another passion of mine is helping children feel success in their learning. It’s not just about mastering a Rashi — it’s about seeing their own progress. Even for naturally strong students, I want them to challenge themselves and taste success, because one success leads to another.
What are some challenges you face in your classroom?
Keeping students motivated and excited about Torah learning can be challenging, especially with the many distractions of modern technology. There’s so much competing for their
attention, and we work hard to keep the light of Yiddishkeit shining strong.
How do you stay motivated during the year?
To stay motivated, I believe in constantly bringing in a sense of hischadshus — renewal. Each year, I look for new creative ideas and fresh tools to use in the classroom. I also take advantage of school breaks to recharge, reflect, and return with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Share a moment of inspiration from your teaching:
When I first began teaching at Cheder, I created a special Chanukah project with my students — we built a Menorah made from over 10,000 popsicle sticks! That first project sparked a beloved annual tradition that has now continued for over 20 years.
A few years in, I decided to shift the focus of the Menorah Project from creativity alone to Chessed. Since
then, each year’s Menorah represents a meaningful cause.
This past year, my students raised thousands of dollars to sponsor Tzitzis, Mezuzahs, Sefarim, and even Tefillin for soldiers in Eretz Yisroel for their Ruchniyus protection.
One year, we built a Menorah out of thousands of donated food cans, later sent to local food banks. Another year, we created a Menorah out of care packages for Jewish soldiers in the U.S. military, and with the help from Aleph Institute and other institutions, we were able to ship them to soldiers stationed worldwide. The soldiers’ heartfelt letters of thanks showed our students the impact of their kindness — that Jewish children in Chicago could bring light across the world.
What are your hobbies outside of school?
I love spending time with my family, and road trips are a favorite adventure. We enjoy exploring new places and visiting relatives across
Canada, Eretz Yisroel, and the United States.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching?
Having taught for 21 years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them grow into bochurim, go on Shlichus, get married, and start families of their own.
A special joy of teaching in a smaller community like ours is that I get to watch my own children grow — not just as a parent, but also as a teacher — seeing their development in both learning and Mentchlichkeit.
Who are your Chinuch role models?
I’m blessed to work alongside an exceptional team of Mechanchim and Shluchim at Cheder Lubavitch. Many of my colleagues were actually my own teachers, and I constantly learn from their example. I also carry the inspiration of the older Chassidim I grew up around — watching how they led farbrengens and lived
with Chassidus so deeply. Their warmth, sincerity, and passion for Yiddishkeit taught me what it truly means to give over Chassidus. What is your Chinuch message to parents?
Raising children al taharas hakodesh is vital for our future generations. A strong partnership between home and school makes all the difference. When children see that parents, teachers, and school are united with positivity and shared values, it gives them confidence and excitement to grow as true Chassidim.
And finally — remember that one good year and one good class can change a child’s life. When parents and teachers invest positive energy into helping their child have a strong year B’ruchniyus, it can leave a lasting impression for years to come. Let’s make this year the best one yet!
Teaching Tip
by Mushkie Lipsker @evergrowingeducator
You’re Using ChatGPT Wrong
ChatGPT can write a 12th grade essay, plan a cross country trip, and come up with ten birthday captions in under a minute. But just because it can do something doesn’t mean it should.
At my recent “How to Use ChatGPT” workshop, a teacher came over to me and told me, “You should have called it how NOT to use ChatGPT.” Before you tag MetaAI on Whatsapp, or before you open Claude, ChatGPT or Perplexity, here are some things to know:
1. It’s Programmed to Please You
This one surprises a lot of people. ChatGPT isn’t trying to tell you the truth. It’s trying to make you happy. If you sound confident when you ask a question, it’s likely to agree with you. If you write with emotion, it might match your tone and say what it thinks you want to hear.
That’s why it’s important to question its answers and double check what it says before assuming it’s correct. Which leads to…
2. It Hallucinates
ChatGPT makes things up. Rather than telling you that it doesn’t know, it will give you false information. Even if you ask it for a source, the source can be made up as well. I’ve had AI give me quotes of
Sichos that never existed, despite it telling me exactly what volume and page number to check! I’ve had it create math review games with multiplication problems that were wrong and for many weeks, it even told people that “strawberry” had two R’s in it, not three.
Fun fact: ChatGPT is based on patterns. For example, most watches are photographed when they’re set to 10:10; it’s the most common and balanced design and it gives a hint of a smiley face, which can get people to be more comfortable buying the watch. Because AI relies on patterns, if you ask it to create a clock for a different time (other than 10:10) it has a very hard time doing so.
The same goes for drawing a full cup of wine. Try to have AI generate an image of a completely full glass of wine. Being that glasses of wine are generally filled up until the widest point, and not beyond that, ChatGPT goes on patterns and can’t fill that wine all the way to the top (with some extra overflowing for a week of Brochos.)
It doesn’t know what’s missing. It just fills in the blanks with what seems right. It hallucinates. Always double check!
3. It’s Not Here to Think for You
ChatGPT can brainstorm, summarize, and simplify. But when you let it do the thinking for you, you lose the part that matters most - YOUR own thinking and voice. Use it to help you organize your thoughts, explore new angles, and refine your ideas. Let it enhance your thinking, not replace it.
4. It’s Not Your Friend or Therapist
ChatGPT can sound friendly, and with the new voice mode, it can even sound like a real person. It will even say “um” to sound more realistic! But it’s not your friend, and it’s not your therapist.
It’s trained on data, not empathy. It doesn’t actually feel or understand emotions.
That’s an important message for our kids and students to know. ChatGPT will validate, sound like a friend and encourage. It’s scary to think about the effects this can have on people’s mental health. Relationships and connections are for real people, not bots.
So What Is It For?
ChatGPT is here to help you be the best version of yourself - more organized, more creative, more clear.
It can save time on busy work so you can focus on meaningful work.
It can turn scattered thoughts into clear paragraphs.
It can help you brainstorm, summarize, and polish what you already do best.
It can turn your paper calendars into google calendars and give suggestions for dinner or how to organize your playroom or kitchen.
It can help teachers lesson plan and make their lessons more engaging and thought provoking.
But it can never replace YOU and the values, compassion and truth that you give over.
For more educational tidbits and resources, visit evergrowingeducator.com or follow @evergrowingeducator on Instagram.
The Rebbe’s Words
"
THE INFLUENCE OF THE GENERAL STUDIES TEACHER
With regard to a teacher, it is plain that a student looks up to his teacher as an authority not only in the subject which he teaches, but also in other fields that may seem unrelated to that subject. As we see time and again, the student is directly and indirectly influenced by the teacher’s general outlook and daily conduct. Consequently, when a teacher conducts himself with an extra measure of Yiras Shomayim in his daily life, it has an immediate impact on the student—especially when the student also hears appropriate words of inspiration in that direction.
Furthermore, even when a teacher instructs in secular subjects, there are many opportunities to illustrate lessons with examples that carry content of Kedusha. There is surely no need to elaborate on this.
May Hashem grant that you have good news to report, both regarding yourself and your family personally, as well as in your work to strengthen and promote Yiddishkeit among your students and their parents.
With blessing, The Rebbe Excerpt from The Letter and the Spirit Originally in English. (Bold is not in the original)
You're cool
Answer to the riddle: What did one snowman say to the other?
Finish the weekly project, snap a pic, and email us at info@jcm.museum for a chance to win 2 tickets to the Jewish Children’s Museum. Let’s get creating! AVRAHAM 1948 - 2123 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000
2. THE NUGGET
Avraham was known for his excellent Hachnasas Orchim. He cared for people in the technical aspect, ensuring they had food and drink, but even more importantly, he showed interest in them. He cared about people and he showed that. For example, when the 3 angels came to visit him, he jumped up to greet them, even though he was in the midst of a conversation with Hashem!
4. FUN FACT
You or I can only give up something for Hashem because of Avraham Avinu. In fulfilling Hashem’s command to offer up Yitzchak as a Karban, he displayed total dedication to Hashem beyond logic. In doing so, he opened up the channel of Mesiras Nefesh for all Jews for all time.
1. LIFE STORY SNIPPET
Avraham, the first Jew, discovered the One creator and taught this to everyone he met. Whoever he invited into his tent was fed and given a meal for free, as long as they acknowledged Hashem, the creator and sustainer of all. Hashem granted the land of Israel to him, for his descendants. Throughout his life, he withstood 10 tests given to him by Hashem, including Akeidas Yitzchak.
3. BRINGING IT DOWN
When hosting people in your home, take a leaf out of Avraham’s book. It is important to ensure your guests have yummy food and a comfortable bed. BUT, it is equally important for them to feel at ease, to feel that you are glad to have them in your house. Some ways to show this are to smile, make conversation, and ask them about themselves.
5. QUESTION TO CONSIDER
How can you make guests feel comfortable in your home?
EDIBLE COOKIE DOUGH AVRAHAM
Begin by adding the sugar, vanilla, and butter to the large bowl. Whip them together very well. Then, add the salt and flour and mix until a dough forms.
Then, add the crushed sandwich cookies to the second ball.
Next, seperate the dough into three equal parts.
Take the third ball of dough and split it in half. Add sprinkles to half of the dough.
Mix them together to make a marble design.
Add the chocolate chips to the first ball of dough.
Add the food coloring to the other half of the dough.
Pack each flavor into a container and chill for 30 minutes. You now have edible cookie dough! Make a Bracha Shehakol, and enjoy!!
SUPPLIES LIST
INGREDIENTS
-3/4 Cup Nut/Coconut Flour
-½ Cup Brown Sugar
-½ Cup Butter
-½ Tsp Vanilla
-¼ Tsp Salt
-1 Tbsp Chocolate Chips
-4-5 Sandwich Cookies, Crushed
-1 Tbsp Sprinkles -Red Food Coloring
SUPPLIES
- Large Bowl -Disposable Gloves -Measuring Cups and Spoons -3 Containers with Lids
By Sruly Meyer
KosherSpread
Four easy recipes perfect for a Shabbos meal
SHABBOS DAYinspiration
Sruly Meyer runs a marketing agency in Hollywood, Florida. He is also a home cook, recipe developer, and online influencer. He is passionate about food, travel, and Jewish parenthood.
@srulycooks
Quick & Easy Broccoli Kugel
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 (16 oz) bags frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
2. Heat oil in a skillet and cook onion until deep golden brown.
3. In a bowl, whisk eggs, mayo, flour, salt, and pepper. Stir in broccoli and onions.
4. Pour into baking dish and bake for about 60 minutes, until set and lightly browned.
Maple Za’atar Sweet Potato Coins
Ingredients:
• 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into thick coins
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp za’atar
• Salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Toss sweet potato slices with olive oil, maple syrup, za’atar, salt, and pepper.
3. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast until golden and caramelized.
4. Sprinkle with extra za’atar and crushed pistachios before serving.
5. Roast the sweet potato coins for about 30–35 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
Grilled Chicken Strip Salad with Silan Vinaigrette
2. Toss greens with dressing and top with chicken, avocado, sweet potato, nuts, and pomegranate seeds.
3. Drizzle a touch more silan before serving.
Red Wine & Onion Braised Flanken
Ingredients:
• 3–4 lbs flanken (short ribs, cut across the bone)
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup beef broth or water
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary
Instructions:
1. Brown the meat: Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven. Sear the flanken pieces on both sides until well-browned. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté onions and garlic: In the same pot, add the sliced onions. Cook over medium heat until soft and golden (about 10 minutes). Add garlic and cook another minute.
3. Deglaze with wine: Pour in the red wine and scrape up the flavorful bits from the bottom. Simmer 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly.
4. Build the sauce: Add brown sugar, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, paprika, and broth. Stir to combine.
5. Combine and cook: Return the flanken to the pot, spooning the sauce and onions over it. Add thyme or rosemary if using. Cover tightly.
6. Slow bake: Bake at 325°F for 3–4 hours, until the meat is fork-tender and the sauce is rich.
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By Asharon Baltazar
The Living Menorah of Vilna
A story of a menorah’s mysterious power, uniting a community and bringing redemption.
It was the pride of Vilna’s Great Synagogue—a massive Chanukah of gleaming copper, flawless in form, modeled after the Holy Temple’s own. It stood on a stone base beside the Aron Kodesh, its branches etched with the ancient cups, knobs, and flowers.
When the First World War broke out in 1914, the Russian government ordered it removed. Along with priceless Judaica relics from the city’s archives, the menorah was sent to Moscow.
It vanished. But its story and what it had endured did not.
The Jews of Vilna lived through desperate days. Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel, the city’s Gaon, led the community as waves of calamity broke over them. Vilna changed hands again and again: taken by the Swedes, conquered by Peter the Great, seized again by the Swedes, then surrendered to Frederick Augustus of Poland.
Each new ruler squeezed the
Jews harder, draining them with impossible taxes until nothing remained. Finally, the Jews’ enemies struck their cruelest blow and seized the Great Synagogue itself. They held it in pawn against the debts the Jews could never repay.
The gates were chained. The sounds of prayer and learning—the heartbeat emanating from the Holy Temple of “Little Jerusalem”— fell silent. The Jews of Vilna had nowhere left to weep.
Then came the rumors. They began as quiet talk and, with each retelling, swelled into something extraordinary.
People said that at midnight, from the locked synagogue, came the sound of weeping—soft at first, then breaking into sobs. As the nights passed, the explanations behind the noises veered into the fantastic.
Only a few men knew the truth. Ten elders of the city had taken it upon themselves to fast every Monday and Thursday, begging
Heaven for mercy. Each night, they slipped through a hidden tunnel leading beneath the streets into the synagogue cellar. There, by candlelight, they recited Tikkun Chatzot, the midnight lament for the Holy Temple’s destruction. Eventually, the stories reached the Duke of Vilna. Skeptical but intrigued, he decided to see for himself. Near midnight, he arrived with his servants, tested the doors and windows, and found them sealed tight.
Then it came: a thin, eerie sound rising through the stillness, from behind the dirty synagogue windows—the unmistakable sound of weeping.
The Duke froze as his servants exchanged anxious glances. The sound deepened. The Duke’s face hardened, and he ordered a ladder to be brought.
He climbed to a high window, peered through the grime, and nearly lost his balance. Inside,
before the Aron Kodesh, spectral figures draped in white knelt in silence and cried, weeping beside a lone candle flickering on the floor. Shadows writhed across the walls, and the pallor of their skin made them seem less human than spirit.
Shaken, the Duke stumbled down, mounted his horse, and fled. The ghostly images clung to him. That night, he could not sleep. One of the white-robed figures appeared in his dreams, pointing at him and crying out: “End your persecution of the Jews!”
By morning, the Duke had made up his mind. He summoned Vilna’s community leaders and declared he would reopen the synagogue, but only if they pledged one of their sacred vessels as collateral.
After a hurried consultation, the rabbis agreed. The copper menorah from the Great Synagogue would be pledged.
The Duke was delighted. He placed the impressive candelabra among
his statues and idols in a grand hall. But when his servants lit it, black, putrid smoke poured from its branches, staining the idols’ white marble and choking the air. They replaced the oil and wicks, but it made no difference. The smoke only thickened. Terrified, the Duke ordered the menorah locked away in a storage cellar.
Chanukah arrived. Vilna’s Jews gathered in the Great Synagogue around a replacement menorah, said the blessings, and hardly managed to kindle the candles. The candles refused to burn. They sputtered and hissed, complaining as they finally died out before the required time.
A tense hush smothered the earlier festive chatter. Everyone watched the shamash arrange new wicks and apply the flame again. Yet, the wicks refused to catch, and the candles lasted only moments longer.
“This is a sign from Heaven,” the Rabbi declared to the stunned congregation. “We must redeem the great menorah! No sacred vessel
belongs in foreign hands.”
The Ner Tamid society set to work raising the ransom. For six long years, they picketed the shuls, collecting coin by coin from Vilna’s Jews, until finally, they had scraped together the full sum.
On erev Chanukah 5593 (1832), joy returned to Vilna. In a grand procession, the Jews carried the menorah from the Duke’s palace through the streets, accompanied by musicians and song. It was set once again beside the Aron Kodesh, in its rightful place.
That year, every Jew in Vilna crowded into the Great Synagogue. They beheld their Rabbi chanting the blessings and lighting their cherished copper menorah. The flames danced high and steady as if no darkness had ever touched them.
(Translated from Sichat Hashavua #780)
Based on letters of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Includes a list of postpartum Chabad minhagim and inyonim.
By Mordechai Schmutter
A ONE-SIDED CONVERSATION
Thank you, thank you and thank me
I don’t know you (unless I do), but statistically, I’m pretty sure you don’t like public speaking. Unfortunately, though, you probably have to make a bar mitzvah at some point, nebech, and you have to speak, even though you’re not the one becoming bar mitzvah. And what do you even speak about? At your son’s bris, you got to talk about his name, but what now? Everyone already heard the name speech. Not only that, but you have to provide your son with a speech too, plus your son’s rebbi is going to speak, so you might have to write him something. You should probably ask.
These days, if you don’t feel that you can write a d’var Torah, you could always run it through ChatGPT. Though if you do, you’re still going to have to write the thank yous, unless ChatGPT already knows all your family politics.
For example, you have to write into the speech that your son thanks you for making him a bar mitzvah. You have to do this even though
everyone’s aware that he didn’t write the speech and that you wrote a thank you for him to say to you, in public, but you still have to write it so your family doesn’t think that you have the type of kid who doesn’t thank his own parents.
He also has to thank whoever bought him his tefillin, though he shouldn’t just say, “whoever bought me my tefillin.” He should insert an actual name. It’s more meaningful. And of course he has to thank whichever grandparents sometimes babysit him during the summer.
You also want to mention any relatives who, unfortunately, couldn’t make it to the bar mitzvah, but you know that they’re there in spirit, except for the ones who are still alive.
And even once he starts his vort, your job isn’t done. You have to sit where he can see you so you can make gestures in case you want him to speak louder (hand motion upward) or to, for goodness' sake, slow down (hand motion downward). And you also want to
have him memorize what your hand motions mean beforehand, so that he doesn’t think that downward means talk quieter and upward means speed up. Being more animated about the motions on the spot will not get him to suddenly realize what you mean, though it will make for a more exciting simcha video.
And then you have to speak. (Sure, you might want to speak first so you can introduce the bar mitzvah boy, but arguably, anyone who needs to be introduced to the bar mitzvah boy doesn’t need to be at your simcha.)
Firstly, you have to thank everyone for coming in. It doesn’t matter if every single one of them lives just down the block. It’s more about the energy that it takes to go out to someone’s simcha and be social when they might not really feel like it, and what if they’re asked to speak?
And you’re saying, “I’m not asking them to speak.”
But they don’t know that you’re not
asking them; they just know that you haven’t asked them yet. For all they know, you’re going to ask them on the spot, even though you had 13 years to call them. This isn’t a surprise bar mitzvah.
As part of this thank you, of course, you have to list all the towns that people came in from, and you’re inevitably going to forget one, at which point someone in the audience will helpfully yell it out. And it will be some inconsequential town that was really included in what you said. Like you’ll say, “People who came from as far away as Boro Park and Flatbush,” and someone will yell, “and Midwood!” and then he’ll grin at the guys at his table like he just saved your entire speech, while you make a mental note to ask him to give the next speech. In fact, you’re going to introduce him immediately at the very end of your speech.
You also have to make a joke about poschim b’chvod achsanya – the achsanya being your wife – and everyone will chuckle nervously, like
they stepped in middle of a sholom bayis thing. Or, at the end of your thank yous, you can say something like, “And of course I’d like to thank my wife for taking care of planning this bar mitzvah from start to finish.”
Every husband says something to this effect, and if you just listened to the speeches, you would get the impression that the wives do absolutely everything, while the husbands just bumble around waiting for their turn to speak.
“Don’t worry; you can speak at the bar mitzvah.”
The truth is that the husbands do plenty, and if the wives gave speeches, you’d hear about how much the husbands do. So not only does everything the husband does go unsung, he has to speak too. So that’s fair.
But in reality, the husband has to thank his wife, because even a husband who does the best job that a husband can possibly do is still going to come up short in the planning department, because even the most helpful husband, left to his own
devices, will blow the entire bar mitzvah budget on food. And don’t get me wrong; it will be amazing food. And all you husbands out there are like, “Well, what else is there?... Oh, you mean photography?”
But I mean other things too. Decorative things, for example. Like centerpieces. Women say, “Yeah, we need something in the middle of the table so people don’t have to stare at each other while they eat.” So this way, you could be sitting across from someone the entire time and not even know.
Another thing the wives think of is tablecloths. Husbands don’t want to spend money on tablecloths. If not for his wife, he’d just say, “This is a wedding hall. People only ever eat fleishigs on these tables.”
Basically, a husband has learned that most of the men there, like him, won’t notice the things his wife did unless he points them out in his speech. He’ll say, “She arranged everything, from the flowers…” and the other guys will look around and go, “Oh yeah! There are flowers!”
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