Almost 500 people turned out for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Chabad House in Malvern, Australia, directed by Rabbi Shimshon and Rivkah Yurkowicz. In his remarks, community leader George Halasz expressed amazement at how Jewish life in the community had been transformed since the Yurkowicz’s arrival in 1987. “For a moment, reflect on the possibility, as I do, that we are living a modern day miracle,” said the child psychiatrist. “Each great journey starts with one step. And most of us [who are] part of the Chabad family fave our personal stories of our amazing journey.” ...

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, met with Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar this week to discuss issues of shared concern between Chabad emissaries in Israel and around the world, and the country’s chief rabbinate. During the meeting, Amar praised the world of the emissaries, remarking that in all of his travels he is inspired by the work of Chabad-Lubavitch in building up Jewish communities around the globe. ...

A supporter of the Chabad House of Migdal near the Israeli city of Tiberias is helping Chabad Houses throughout the Holy Land to hold farbrengens in honor of the 24th day of the Hebrew month of Teves, which falls out this coming Wednesday. The day marks the passing in 1812 of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, of righteous memory, who first disseminated Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidic teachings. To aid in on greater observance of the Alter Rebbe’s yahrzeit, the philanthropist is disbursing 1,000 NIS grants to each Chabad House that holds a farbrengen, or festive Chasidic gathering, on the day. ...

The Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia released a report showing a decrease in the number of reported cases of anti-Semitism this year. While federation official Rabbi Boruch Gorin was happy about the report’s conclusions, he urged authorities to do more to combat xenophobia and anti-Semitism in a region still beset by high-profile attacks against Jews. ...

An online video advertising the upcoming One Shabbat One World project on Jan. 18 and 19 features messages from boxing champ Dmitry Salita and actors Evan and Daryl Sabara. "When the sun goes down on Friday night, I go to my Chabad House," says the undefeated Salita from the New York City gym where he practices. "Come for a Shabbos experience you will never forget. It's gonna be a knockout." In his turn, Sabara, the star with twin brother Daryl Sabara of the "Spykids" series of movies, extols the virtues of Shabbat as a "message of peace and the world to come. We will be there and so should you." ...

At the recent bar mitzvah celebration for his son Yehoshua, philanthropist and diamond magnate Lev Leviev exhorted his son to "continue and add in your activities in accordance with the teachings of the Rebbe," Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. In front of the crowd, which included both of Israel's chief rabbis and its president, Leviev – president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the former Soviet Union and a driving force behind the recent revival of Judaism there – then told his son that his wish was for him "to merit to be a Lubavitch emissary." ...

Omaha, Neb.'s Action 3 News on CBS affiliate station KMTV broadcast a 30-second message of hope from Rabbi Mendel Katzman, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Nebraska, in reference to the shooting tragedy at a local mall several weeks ago. "As we recover from a horrific act that occurred in this city," stated Katzman in the message, "let us resolve to transform night into light, sadness into joy, by increasing in acts of goodness and kindness." ...

In the few weeks since the unveiling of Moscow's first-ever Mitzvah Mobile, Rabbi Shmuel Kuperman, operator of the roving synagogue-on-wheels, reports that people are literally streaming into the mobile with "smiles and good cheer." ...

John Delaney, the popular former mayor of Jacksonville, Fla., who now serves as president of the University of North Florida, sat down with Rabbi Shmuel Novack, co-director of the local Chabad-Lubavitch of Southside, for an hour last week to discuss how to expand programming for Jewish students at the 14,000-strong university. The president "is very interested in making the students here comfortable. He is really dedicated to reaching out," says Novack. ...