Dear Friend,

Yesterday, fresh from the uplifting experience of praying, hearing the shofar, and two days of Divine closeness, we were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Kalmenson, longtime rosh yeshivah in New Haven and acclaimed author of a series of scholarly books on Talmud that have become staples in yeshivahs around the world.

To the Chabad.org family, he is the dear father of Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson, author of many books, articles, and courses, including most recently, Project Purpose.

Please join us in wishing Rabbi Mendel and the entire Kalmenson family, as well as the thousands of students from New Haven and beyond, comfort and strength.

To Rabbi Mendel, his mother, siblings, aunts, and uncles, we express the traditional and efficacious prayer:

May the Omnipresent comfort you among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

To leave your personal wishes or message for Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson and his family, please leave a comment below, and we will share it with them during shiva.

Dear Chabad.org Family,

As we say goodbye to the Jewish year 5785 and welcome 5785, we invite you to share your shanah tovah wishes.

Please share with us at Chabad.org and all of Chabad.org’s readers: What are your hopes for the coming year? What do you wish yourself, your loved ones, your community, the Jewish people, and the entire world?

May 5786 bring abundant blessings, peace, and goodness to each and every one of you. May we experience the coming of Moshiach and the Final Redemption very soon, amen!

With heartfelt wishes for a shanah tovah umetukah (“good and sweet year”),

Your Chabad.org Family

We’re excited to share that Rabbi Levi Shmotkin will be discussing Letters for Life, the book that the Rebbe's Private Counsel series is based on, and also answering some of your questions in a live Question and Answer session right here on Chabad.org. G‑d-willing, it will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific time, Tuesday, Av 18 / August 12.

Do you have a question for Rabbi Shmotkin that you’d like him to answer during the session? Advanced questions can be left as comments below. During the session, use the chat option (above).

“Being proudly Jewish is dangerous right now.”

I’m a Jew and I’m proud and I’ll sing it out loud!

“Your job is your worth.”

Actually, your soul is.

“If I can’t do all the mitzvot perfectly, why even bother?”

Every mitzvah is profound and a unique chance to connect to Hashem.

“I’m a bad Jew”

While you may not be perfect, every person is holy and special.

“I can’t read Hebrew, so my prayers don’t matter.”

G‑d understands all languages.

“Only Jews with black hats and long beards are the real deal.”

While we’re big fans of black hats and beards (or sheitels and long dresses), every Jew is as Jewish as Moses himself.

What’s propaganda that you’re not falling for? Comment below.