New Section: The Baal Shem Tov

The first day of Shavuot this year – Sivan 6, 5770 - May 19, 2010 – marks the 250th anniversary of passing of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of the chassidic movement.

Through his teachings – and perhaps even more so through his passionate love – the Baal Shem Tov permanently transformed the Jewish landscape. Forevermore changed was the Jewish perspective on G-d, the Torah, the Jewish nation, and every one of G-d’s creations—and the essential unity within all these previously-thought-to-be disparate components.

Click here to visit this new section about The Baal Shem Tov.

New Photo Blog: Pictures with a Purpose

The Baal Shem Tov taught that "everything a person sees is a lesson in the service of G-d." Join Michoel on a weekly photo shoot to explore the wisdom of Torah and Chassidic thought through the camera's lens.

Click here to view thew new photo blog "Pictures with a Purpose".

New Online Course: Talmud for Beginners

Newly Revamped and Redesigned Section: Moshiach and the Future Redemption

Two of the most fundamental tenets of the Jewish faith – as listed by Maimonides among the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith – are the belief in the ultimate redemption, an awaited era of world peace, prosperity and wisdom, and the belief that the dead will be resurrected at that time.

In conjunction with Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch’s Moshiach Campaign we have launched a newly revamped and redesigned section containing a comprehensive, in-depth exploration of the Jewish idea of Moshiach and the future redemption.

Click here to visit the newly revamped and redesigned "Moshiach and the Future Redemption" section.

New Section: Education and Sharing Day U.S.A.

To emphasize the vital role of education in society, the United States annually marks "Education and Sharing Day U.S.A."

Established in 1978 by a joint Congressional resolution, Education Day U.S.A. focuses on the very foundation of meaningful education: instructing our youth in the ways of morality and ethics, and teaching them an appreciation for divine inviolable values.

The Presidents, in conjunction with the Washington, D.C. based American Friends of Lubavitch, designate annually Education and Sharing Day U.S.A. on the anniversary of the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, who dedicated his life to the cause of education.

In this section we present you with a blueprint for meaningful education, some of the Rebbe's talks on the importance of education and a brief history of the establishment and yearly commemoration of "Education and Sharing Day U.S.A."

Click here to visit this new section.

New Itche Kadoozy Passover Mini-Series

Rabbi Kadoozy desperately tries to prepare for the Passover Seder despite his flooded synagogue while Jono searches for Passover inspiration. And there's a clown. Hilarity ensues.

Click here to watch the Itche Kadoozy Passover Mini-Series.

New Feature: Women's Prayer Exchange

TheJewishWoman.org strives to create a virtual community for all women—a venue for discussing our joys, accomplishments and lessons we’ve learned. But we also share our pain, sorrow, and challenges.

We should never be alone when we struggle. We may not be able to always physically help another in need, but we definitely can help spiritually—through prayer. When we have someone in our prayers, we give her support and strength in a very powerful way. And for the one in need of the prayers, it makes a tremendous difference knowing that there are people whom she never met who are thinking of her.

With this in mind we have created the Women’s Prayer Exchange to provide a place for women to pray for the needs of others and to ask others to pray for her needs. So please look through the various sections (Health, Marriage, Children, and Financial) and add your name or the name of anyone who is in need of our prayers and support in any of these areas. Feel free to write a few lines detailing your situation, or just your name if that is what you prefer. Also feel free to use the comment section to offer suggestions or advice.

May we have all of our prayers answered, in a clear and revealed way, and may we merit the ultimate blessing, that of the final redemption, immediately!

Click here to post a new listing to the Women's Prayer Exchange.

Portuguese version of Chabad.org launched!

We are pleased to release a Portuguese version of Chabad.org, http://pt.chabad.org! This new language version joins French, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian and German in the Chabad.org family of sites and continues our initiative to reach out to as many people as possible is their native language.

This site has its own editor, and contains many articles not found in other language versions of Chabad.org.

We hope you enjoy!

New Feature: The Jewish Audio Bible

The Jewish Audio Bible is a masterful delivery of the Kol Menachem Chumash - a much loved, best-selling translation of the Five Books of Moses.

The Jewish Audio Bible skillfully waves classic Rabbinic interpretations into the translation offering a timeless perception of the sacred text's multiple layers.

Enjoy hours of inspirational learning with this soul stirring audio presentation by one of America's most talented voice artists.

Translated by Rabbi Chaim Miller
Narrated by Dan Lenard
Produced by Yisroel Bernath

Click here to visit this new feature.

New Section: Sixty Years - Marking Six Decades of the Rebbe's Leadership and Impact

Sixty years ago, upon the passing of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory, leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement passed on to his illustrious son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory.

In the following decades, the Rebbe educated, inspired, and touched people around the world through his positive vision and revolutionary ideas.

Here’s a small sampling of articles and stories that illustrate the Rebbe’s impact.

New Blog: Window To Our World

Friendship Circle is today's fastest growing Jewish organization for children with special needs. With over 76 locations worldwide Friendship Circle has cultivated friendships between 5,000 special children and close to 11,000 teen volunteers.

The unique vision of the Rebbe that "none of us are complete unless all of us are included" provides our motivation to bridge the gap between families of children with special needs and the general community while providing today’s teens with a productive and enjoyable focus.

Window To Our World, presented by Friendship Circle International, will share with you the inside perspective of special children, their families, volunteers, community members and Friendship Circle coordinators who bring them together.

Click here to read "Window To Our World".

New Section: The Upsherin

For the first three years of life, children absorbs their parents' love. Then, their education takes a leap—they are ready to produce and share their unique gifts.

For a Jewish boy, this transition is marked with a haircutting ceremony—an "upsherin"—on his third Jewish birthday.

Click here to visit our new section about the Upsherin.

Think Jewish now available for home delivery!

Think Jewish, Chabad.org's weekly print publication, is now available for home delivery.

Each Issue Features:

• Weekly Commentary on more meaningful daily living
• Not Just A Story an inspiring Chassidic story
• Just A Minute weekly meditation
• Just Think insights from the Lubavitcher Rebbe
• Just Do It! a mini guide to Jewish traditions
• Questions & Answers on relevant Jewish topics
• Parshah in a Nutshell

Click here for more information and to subscribe online.

New Section: Legacy of Mumbai

Chabad.org has launched a new special section in honor of the first anniversary since the cruel murders, of Gavriel (Gabi) and Rivky Holtzberg, beloved directors of Chabad of Mumbai.

In the course of their short lives, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg, Chabad emissaries in Mumbai, India, radiated love, kindness and inspiration to their surroundings.

With their cruel murder by forces of darkness, their light exploded into a million points of light that now illuminate across the globe.

Here’s the story of a legacy that lives on. »»

KabbalaToons in the New York Pulse

On Kabbala Toons, an animated rabbi offers "cosmic consciousness"
By Leslie Hart for the NY Pulse

As he plummets toward earth at 300 miles per hour after jumping out of a plane, Rabbi Infinity serenely irons a sock in freefall while expressing confidence that his parachute will open in time. “When life sends you spiraling downward, stay calm and rely on the creator of life for a smooth landing,” he says.

Whether skydiving or sifting for gold, Infinity teaches adults and children Jewish mysticism as the two-dimensional narrator of “Kabbala Toons.” He promises a limitless return for a small investment of time. “Give me one minute,’’ he says, “I’ll give you cosmic consciousness.”

Rabbi Infinity’s mission is to engage and enlighten his followers through “Kabbala Toons,” a biweekly series of Web cartoons that present the teachings of religious philosophy with the ease and access of YouTube. Viewers subscribe to the free videos on Chabad.org, the Web site of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and share their favorite “webisodes” via Facebook. Rabbi Infinity is the animated alter ego of real-life Rabbi Tzvi Freeman of Toronto, Canada. Each webisode and corresponding blog is written by Freeman and animated by Pilar Newton of Park Slope, Brooklyn.

With more than 900,000 unique visitors per month, Crown Heights-based Chabad.org is the most prominent Jewish educational and informational portal on the Web, according to an August 2009 study by 4Wall, a Jewish media strategy firm. “Kabbala Toons” reach 19,000 subscribers from Montevideo, Uruguay to Melbourne, Australia.

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