Chabad Movement to mark Milestone with increase in Torah Study.

Brooklyn, NY December 18, 2006 -Tuesday December 26 marks the twentieth anniversary of the ruling of Judge Charles P. Sifton, U.S. Federal Court in favor of Agudas Chassidei Chabad ("Union of Chabad Chassidim") regarding the ownership of the priceless library of the 6th Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson.

This followed a court battle, were Barry Gourary (1923-2005) the Grandson of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson. Claimed the Library as part of his grandfathers estate, the Rebbe Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (1902-1994) Claimed that his father in-law held the library in trust for the Chabad Lubavitch Movement.

The ruling was based on the idea that a Rebbe is not a private individual but a communal figure synonymous with the body of Chassidim. The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak's son-in-law and successor) urged that the occasion be marked with time devoted to study from Torah books ("sefarim") as well as the acquisition of new Torah books and established the day as a Holiday.

To honor this Milestone Chabad Lubavitch Centers world wide will hold special celebrations were the Rebbe Directives to Purchase and study Torah books will be highlighted.

Chabad’s worldwide Yeshiva School network, are in the midst of a Study campaign to study the history and directives of the Rebbe on the holiday.

Chabad’s Multimedia Division Jewish Educational Media (JEM), Released a short Video presentation as part of its Living Torah weekly Magazine featuring a Lesson of the Rebbe about the holiday, video flashbacks of the Celebration in 1987 and a Interview of attorney Nathan Lewin who fought the case before the Federal Court, information can be found on jemedia.org.