NEW YORK, June 16, 1999 — Prayer, Torah study, outreach efforts and spiritual reflection will lead observances tonight and tomorrow (Thursday, June 17) of the fifth anniversary of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and in all corners of the earth will mark this milestone anniversary in a myriad of ways.

In New York City's borough of Queens more than 25,000 people are expected to visit the Rebbe's resting place in the Old Montefiore Cemetery from now through Sunday. Many more will send faxes, letters and emails containing prayer requests to be read or placed at the Rebbe's gravesite.

Jewish communities around the world will celebrate the Rebbe's yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) in many other ways as well. Hundreds of farbrengens, formal and informal gatherings for reflection and resolution, and other community-wide events will dot the globe on Wednesday, Thursday and Shabbat (Saturday).

NEW WORKS AND EVENTS
A special website (http://www.chabadcenters.com/3Tammuz) was created for the occasion, which includes a preview of a new book about the Rebbe's philosophy.
The Lubavitch World Headquarters' publishing division, Kehot Publication Society, has issued a number of new books, chief among them a 1935 diary piece from the Rebbe, and other talks and writings, all released for the first time. A new film, with rare (and some never-before-seen) film clippings of the Rebbe and his father-in-law, the sixth Rebbe, and an accompanying text which includes many first-time-published documents, was released by the video division, Jewish Educational Media.
In Washington today, hundreds will join members of Congress, ambassadors, senior administration officials and local city officials for a dedication of the all-new center for the American Friends of Lubavitch on Embassy Row. The building will be dedicated at 4:00 PM today by Edmundo and Raquel Safdi