B"H

Zos Chanukah, 5776 - Shnas Hakhel

Dear Friends,

In honor of Hei Teves, we present you with a collection of resources for study and inspiration from a wide variety of sources for this special day. We hope you find them useful as you prepare for this important date on our calendar.

Get Informed

While you surely know the basic story of Hei Teves, how Chabad-Lubavitch was victorious in the court battle and the judge recognized that “the Rebbe and the books belong to the Chassidim,” many do not know the intricacies of the trial and the importance it had in the Rebbe’s eyes.

Here are several ways you can learn more about the Hei Teves and the events that led up to and followed it:

1. Watch a Video.

Watch an excerpt of JEM’s, “A Movement on Trial.” This documentary pulls back the curtain on the fascinating saga of the violation of Lubavitch’s sacred manuscripts and books – and their ultimate triumph. The complete documentary is available to purchase at the JEMStore.com, at Kehot and other Judaica stores.

A special broadcast featuring highlights of this film will air on Chabad.org's Jewish.tv. This one-time viewing is an initiative of Vaad Or v'Chom Hahiskashrus with the exclusive permission of Jewish Educationall Media and will be available on Tuesday, 8:30PM at Jewish.tv/5Tevet.

Additional videos, curated from Living Torah video magazine, are available here .

2. Read the Story

Click here to read and print a beautiful English summary of these events, arranged in chronological sequence. The summary was published by A Chassdisher Derher magazine. Click here to visit their website and subscribe.

Click here to download and read the Hebrew publication, “Didan Notzach,” which includes a comprehensive account of all of the events and the Rebbe’s sichos from that period.

3. Listen to a Sicha

In the days following Hey Teves, the Rebbe delivered a sicha each day to Chassidim. Click here to access the Sichos Kodesh archive by JEM and to listen to those Sichos.

Be Inspired

Here are several opportunities for you to join initiatives that will help you prepare for and commemorate this day.

1. Hachanah Phone Call

On Monday, 2 Teves, from 3:30pm until 4:15 EST, Vaad Or v’Chom Hahiskashrus will be hosting a phone farbrengen. The presenters will be Rabbi Yisroel Altein of Pittsburgh, PA; Rabbi Shaul Wilhelm of Oslo, Norway; and Rabbi Avrohom Sternberg of New London, Connecticut.
Register here to receive an email reminder two hours before the farbrengen.

2. Farbrengen at the Ohel:

On Wednesday night, the night of Hei Teves, there will be a farbrengen at the Ohel. The program will begin at 6:30pm with a video presentation, followed by Maariv (at 8:00pm) and the farbrengen (at 8:15pm).

The speakers include, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Rabbi Shmuel Katz, Rabbi Yonah Shur, and Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook.

The Farbrengen is being coordinated by Vaad Or v’Chom Hahiskashrus. Please sign up here in order to assist the organizers with preparations.

3. In-Depth Study and Panel

Vaad Talmedei Hatmimim will be hosting an in-depth study session of maamorim of the Rebbe related to Hei Teves, followed by a panel discussing the events of Hei Teves.The study and panel will take place on Thursday, Hei Teves, at Beis Rivka, 470 Lefferts Avenue, at 7:30PM.

4. Farbrengen at Beis Rivkah

Following the panel and study session, a chassidishe Farbrengen will be held at 9:00PM at Beis Rivkah, with shluchim and mashpiim in attendance.

Stock Up

1. Kehot Hei Teves Sale

One of the directives the Rebbe gave following Hei Teves was to purchase Torah books and to enrich personal and communal libraries. As per the Rebbe’s instructions, Kehot holds an annual sale featuring up to 50% off regular prices.
The sale will take place from Wednesday, Hey Teves (December 16), until Sunday, 8 Teves (December 20), both in store and online on their website.

2. Sichos in English Hei Teves sale

Look out for extraordinary savings from many more, including Sichos in English. Visit their website at www.sie.org.

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We hope that this information will help enable you to prepare and celebrate this auspicious day and we welcome your feedback for future digests like this.

If your think your friends may benefit from this email, please forward this email to them. You can also encourage them to sign up for future emails, by clicking here.

A freilichen Zos Chanukah,

Chabad.org Anash