Mishnah is the foundational text of the Talmud. Written in Hebrew, with each tractate divided into chapters and paragraphs, it is studied by school children and advanced scholars alike.

Chabad.org offers the text of Mishnah together with English translation and basic commentary by the late Rabbi Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz).

But what about young children, who are just setting sail on the “Sea of Talmud?” For them, we are pleased to share Mishnah for Kids, an exciting new video feature by Rabbi Mendel Zajac, currently covering the first tractate, Berachot.

Each episode covers a single paragraph (called “a mishnah”), taught by the rabbi, whose exuberance is enough to get anyone involved, not to mention the whimsical images, engaging animations, and easy-to-follow color-coded texts on screen.

Ready to check it out? Click here to browse, and then be sure to forward to all the parents and educators in your life.

Our hearts are broken by the murderous terror attack in Sydney, an attempt to extinguish the 2,200-year-old light of Chanukah. We pray for the souls of the victims, the recovery of the survivors, and for the healing of a community shaken to its core by this act of terror.

What do we do now?

As the Rebbe taught us, the Chanukah menorah itself gives us our cue: Let us each add more flames of holiness, invite more people to celebrate, and bring more divine light to the darkness of night.

In honor of the victims of the Sydney massacre and in tribute to the Jewish soul that can never be extinguished, let’s each gift menorahs to our friends who don’t have and proudly and confidently show up for our people at public menorah lightings.

And may the bright flames lit nightly in every Jewish home and throughout our public spaces form a constellation of spiritual light and goodness for our world that will grow ever brighter and brighter.

With best Chanukah wishes,

Your Friends @ Chabad.org

P.S. Be sure that on Friday afternoon, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles and on Saturday night after Shabbat is over.

Dear Member of the Chabad.org Family,

We join together in extending condolences to our editorial director, Rabbi Mendy Kaminker, on the untimely passing of his mother, Mrs. Faiga Kaminker.

For decades, Mrs. Kaminker was a beloved Torah teacher and mentor in Afula, Israel. Dedicated to and inspired by the Rebbe’s vision of a world suffused with Judaism, she was deeply involved in sharing the joys of Jewish observance with everyone she came into contact with.

She is survived by her husband, Rabbi Efraim Nochum Kaminker, and children, Devorah Leah Rothschild, Mussie Teichman, Shterny Teichman, Rabbi Mendy Kaminker, Rivky Elfenbein and Rabbi Shmuel Kaminker.

Please share your message of comfort with the family in the comments section below.