Dear Friend,

Editor's Note: After writing this note, we received the tragic news from Israel about the cold-blooded murder of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach.

Brokenheartedly, we pray that G‑d comfort their families among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Brokenheartedly, we pray that G‑d comfort their families among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

These last eighteen days witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of love, connection, compassion and caring among our brethren worldwide. Differences fell away as we united in our hopes for the boys and our efforts on their behalf.

Our determination now to transform adversity into growth must never falter as well. Our unity, our prayers, our actions, our mitzvot are needed now, more than ever.

* * *

We are currently marking the 3rd of Tammuz, the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

In Aramaic, an anniversary of passing is often called a hillula, which literally means “celebration.”

A celebration on the day of passing? The mystics explain that on the day a righteous person passes away, his Torah scholarship and good deeds are revealed in an elevated state, which makes this day a deeply meaningful and joyful one for all of his disciples.

And we are all disciples of the Rebbe.

If you are reading this e‑mail, your life has been influenced by the Rebbe’s teachings. If you’ve ever stepped into a Chabad center, you too have been touched by the Rebbe’s abounding love for every Jewish person. If you’ve visited our site (like 37 million others this past year alone), you’ve benefited from the Rebbe’s embrace of technology as a medium through which G‑d’s presence can be spread to all parts of earth.

If you think about it, the underlying factor of the Rebbe’s multifaceted leadership was his drive to transform our world into a place where G‑d will feel at home. So, let us commemorate the day of his yahrtzeit by continuing his mission, adding more mitzvahs and good deeds. Together, we can make his dream a reality.

Rabbi Mendy Kaminker,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team