The Second Decade of COLlive.com

Dear readers of COLlive.com,

In 1971, the chossid and legendary journalist R’ Gershon Ber Jacobson had a Yechidus (private audience) with the Rebbe. Jacobson sought the Rebbe’s advice on establishing a Yiddish newspaper, how it should be run, and what its focus should be.

After discussing its contents, Jacobson asked the Rebbe’s advice on what to name the paper. He wanted everyone who went to the newsstand to recognize this newspaper as trustworthy and relevant. Which name would convey all that in a word or two?

The Rebbe suggested “Algemeiner Journal,” Yiddish for “Everyone’s Journal.” The name would reflect its independence and the fact that it was not directly connected with any group or institution, and would publish a variety of voices and opinions, relevant to a large and diverse group of readers.

When community news service COLlive.com was founded 10 years ago, our goal was to become the homepage for every Lubavitcher: a website in which men and women, young and old, Chassidim and mekuravim, the prominent leader and lay-person as well as rank and file, the well-connected and the newcomer would find interest.

With Hashem’s help, our consistent work and active involvement of our readers and community, COLlive.com is now the leading independent provider and forum of Chabad news and happenings in Crown Heights, across the United States, Israel, and around the world.

As we enter a new decade of COLlive.com, we are excited to introduce important changes and upgrades to our website to continue bringing Lubavitchers together and keeping them connected to each other as ‘Chassidim Ein Mishpacha’.

We are proud to present a newly designed COLlive.com that will give you, the reader, a more enjoyable experience on the website, while staying true to the classic and beloved format you have been using for the last 10 years.

With the encouragement and advice of leading Chabad Rabbonim, a set of guidelines has been formed to help ensure that the news and information we share follow halacha and hashkafa.

In addition, an editorial Vaad committee, led by Rabbi Yossi Lew, Rabbi Mendel Feller, Rabbi Levke Kaplan and others has been formed to oversee the continued implementation of those guidelines. (They can be reached for question or comment at [email protected]).

Here are some of the exciting upgrades you will find:

Torah: A new section will combine all the Torah and Chassidus content that appears on the homepage for easy access to articles, weekly classes, and educational videos. We will be introducing additional content for that purpose.

Kids: A special section that combines select news from the homepage with specially curated content for Chabad boys and girls. News that is sensitive in nature (shidduchim and other op-eds, graphic crime incidents, etc.) won’t be appearing here, giving parents a safe space to send their children to with comfort.

Comments: The comment section will now have a reply option on each comment for an easier and more pointed flow of the conversation. Comments will be more closely moderated to avoid disparaging and demeaning language on any level. In addition to a stricter overseeing of the comments, a new “Flag/Report” button will be available for readers to instantly alert about a problematic comment.

Classifieds: One of our most popular sections, the COLlive classifieds, have been expanded and newly redesigned to be more user-friendly and will offer new features such as easier re-posting and self-editing.

Submitting news: New and expanded forms have been created throughout the site, for easier submission of items such as Mazel Tovs, Hashovas aveida announcements and community calendar listings.

The new website is currently in beta mode, and we will continue to incorporate more exciting updates and upgrades. As always, we are open to your ideas and suggestions. COLlive.com owes its immense success to its readers and we are grateful for your continued trust and support.

We look forward to sharing the next decade with you in the hopes to be the ones breaking the news about the greatest scoop: the ultimate redemption and coming of Moshiach, may that happen Now Today!

Sincerely,
Mica Soffer – Publisher & Editor
Yossi Rivkin – Partner
Yehuda Ceitlin – Editor
Yossi Soffer – Marketing