1. The Power of Tehillim

The uplifting month of Tishrei 5784 ended in heartbreak with the horrific Simchas Torah attack on Israel on October 7. The most-read article was the list of IDF soldiers and hostages in Gaza for whom many fervently davened. Another popular story covered the IDF’s entry into Rafah, a known terror stronghold, despite opposition from the Biden Administration. Additionally, the global Shema rally on Taanis Esther united people who were eager to support the hostages.

2. The Dug-out

One of the most controversial incidents of the year was the story of Israeli bochurim unilaterally expanding the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway, leading to a confrontation with the NYPD. The incident fueled antisemitic conspiracy theories online regarding “tunnels” and garnered international attention. As a result, 770 was temporarily shut down, with many expressing deep pain over the desecration of the Rebbe’s Shul.

3. Gaza Parkway

As Israel fought to protect its citizens, anti-Israeli agitators called to “Flood Brooklyn for Gaza.” A high-ranking security source told COLlive that “Jews should definitely avoid the area,” sparking concerns in City Hall. The NYPD responded by flooding the area with officers to ensure safety. In a show of solidarity, Eastern Parkway was later closed for a “Prayer for Israel” on a different date.

4. Ayatollah Savagery

News that Arvin Netanel Ghahremani, a 20-year-old Jewish man, faced execution by Iranian authorities had many davening in his merit. This followed his involvement in a fatal altercation with a non-Jewish Iranian. Thankfully, the execution was postponed, attributed to a pressure campaign and the deadly helicopter crash involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (the “Butcher of Tehran).”

5. Knives Out

Bochurim walking on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights on a Friday night is a common scene. Until they are attacked and bloodied by an antisemitic man. Luckily, Yechiel Dabrowskin recovered.

6. ‘We Have the Meats!’

The removal of the CHK certification from the Shor Habar brand surprised the AgriStar meat plant in Iowa, but they quickly aligned with a new supervision, Lamed-K, which had been in development for some time. In response, CHK has launched a new brand called 770 Glatt.

7. Double Save

Levi Niasoff, a volunteer of Hatzolah of Sydney, Australia, typically doesn’t take with him his EMT card when traveling. But on one of the world’s longest flights, it came in handy – twice. It created a big kiddush Hashem.

8. May the Best (Men) Win

For the first time in 14 years, elections were held in the Jewish community of Crown Heights for its representatives and directors of the Vaad Hakohol. The results after 3 hours of counting clearly interested many.

9. Really Great

For the first time, the broadcast of the Great Lag BaOmer Parade outside 770 Eastern Parkway became the most-viewed annual event in Lubavitch. It surpassed the Kinus Hashluchim banquet, Kinus Hashluchos banquet and the CTeen Jewish Pride Takeover of Times Square.

10. Shidduch of the Year

The engagement of musician Mike Bogart and data scientist Esther Richler told the unfolding tale of hashgacha protis, the work of Chabad Shluchim and the power of davening at the Rebbe’s Ohel in New York.

11. No Bail at Yale

A petition calling for the immediate removal of Professor Zareena Grewal from the Yale Faculty has over 58,000 signatures after her shocking tweet celebrating and praising the murder and violence by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is no surprise that Yale didn’t fire her.

12. Rising From the Ashes

Following a huge fire in the Chassidim 110 – Chabad Shul in Pomona, NY, congregants were devastated to discover that all three of the Shul’s Sifrei Torah were destroyed. They soon banded together to rebuild.

13. Who is REDI

Entrepreneur and podcaster Eda Schottenstein struggled to piece together outfits that checked all the boxes—modesty, comfort, and functionality. So she created a new clothing and accessory line, REDI.

14. What’s Your Dream Burger

The Brooklyn chain Joseph’s Dream Burger opened a branch in Crown Heights on Kingston Avenue offering 2 floors of fast-food dining space.

15. His Last Kinus

The gala banquet of the International Kinus Hashluchim was unique because it joined a parallel Kinus in Israel. In retrospect, it was also the last Kinus participated in by its organizer and champion – Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who passed from a long illness.

16. Starry Night

The ZAKA organization held a solidarity concert honoring their volunteers for their selfless work in Israel after October 7. It featured Avraham Fried, Yaakov Shwekey, Benny Friedman, Mordechai Shapiro, Rabbi Manis Friedman, and a surprise appearance by Baruch Levine.

17. JEM Meets AI

JEM launched a brand-new technology that allows unprecedented search accessibility to the half a million photos of personal interactions with the Rebbe.

18. MTA MIA

Avigail Levy, a Crown Heights mother, says her 2 daughters were harshly treated by 6 MTA agents on a New York City bus. “They didn’t pick on anyone else on the bus,” she told COLive.com.

19. Shalom From Shloimy

Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald, Rosh Kollel and businessman, philanthropist, activist, and baal chesed, suddenly took ill while flying to Kazakhstan to mark Chof Av. He was soon flown to the U.S. and discharged from the hospital. His first order of business came in the form of a voicenote to give tzedakah.

20. Fight Attendant

A disturbing incident has been shared by a Jewish passenger on a Jet Blue flight, who was accused of ‘causing a disturbance’ after he objected to a flight attendant’s Palestine flag pin.

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Wishing you all a kesiva vachasima tova. May you be inscribed for a happy and sweet new year and may we share good news!