Rabbi Was Bracing For Epic Fail

It began almost two years ago, when Rabbi Yechiel Cagen began to mine the My Encounter with the Rebbe interviews for heartwarming and inspiring stories that would be most appropriate for the Shabbos table.

Rabbi Cagen, who manages the My Encounter project and is responsible for capturing new testimonies, explained the thinking behind the project: “We’ve already done the hardest part; capturing the testimony. Why shouldn’t we help another few thousand Shabbos tables enjoy a great story?”

Little did they know how this effort would snowball and transform Shabbos tables across continents and time zones! The single candle turned into a bright light illuminating the world with unique stories of the Rebbe, inspiring multitudes from all walks of life.

This week, Here’s My Story is celebrating its hundredth edition. It is quite a milestone of consistent research, editing, and distributing. Sent to 1,500 locations across the world – many of them Shluchim who forward it to their communities by email, printing the story locally, and distributing it at their Chabad Houses and Shuls to be read over Shabbos.

Another 5,000 sheets are distributed in the New York Tri-State area. Then, of course, there are those that enjoy it in its electronic format, making it impossible to count.

“The feedback we receive from the Shliach who tells us about the effect on their community, or from the parent who’s thrilled that their daughter enjoys the weekly story, makes it all worthwhile”, says Cagen. “But, as the Rebbe taught us, we need to reach even further. Please sign up to receive it. If you receive it already, enroll a friend!”

Here’s My Story, a print-ready weekly inspiring story for your Shabbos table and Shuls and Chabad Houses, is available free of charge in both color and black and white. To receive the weekly edition via email in time for Shabbos, please email mystory@jemedia.org