Jem - Jewish educational Media

Jem logo

Jem is one of the leading Lubavitch media organizations, operating under Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. The mosad produces a weekly video magazine and special viewing programs throughout the year. Their productions are known for their high-quality editing and meticulous attention to every detail.

The history of documenting the Rebbe's farbrengens began in the early years of the nesius. In 5730, on Yud Shevat Hagadol, WLCC was established by Reb Chaim Baruch Halberstam, setting up locations worldwide where the Rebbe's sichos were broadcast via telephone hookup.

The first complete farbrengen to be filmed was on Yud Tes Kislev 5731, arranged by the mazkir Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky. In 5740, portions of the Yud Shevat farbrengen were filmed by American television crews working with Rabbi Krinsky, who sent his son Reb Hillel Dovid to assist. This led to the establishment of live broadcasts of farbrengens.

The first broadcast farbrengen was on Vov Tishrei 5741 to Los Angeles. By Yud Tes Kislev that year, broadcasts reached throughout America. In 5742, the first broadcast to England occurred on Yud Aleph Nissan, and the following year broadcasts reached Eretz Yisroel.

Rabbi Krinsky, together with his brother-in-law Rabbi Yosef Boruch Friedman, established JEM. In 5756, Rabbi Elkana Shmotkin joined and significantly expanded the organization's activities, becoming its menahel.

Jem today

Today, JEM focuses on several key projects:

• Living Torah (Toras Chaim): A weekly video magazine featuring the Rebbe's sichos, encounters at dollars, special moments, and personal interviews
• My Encounter: Documenting firsthand accounts of interactions with the Rebbe
• Ashreinu app: Providing access to audio recordings of the Rebbe
• The Living Archive: Preserving and digitizing photos and videos
• Special productions on various aspects of the Rebbe's nesius

Notable Productions:

• • Early Years (Shanim Rishonos): Documenting the Rebbe's early years before the nesius
  • Sensitivity (Regishus): Showing the Rebbe's attention to small details
  • Joy (Simcha): The Rebbe's sichos on simcha with footage of Chassidim dancing
  • America Is No Different: Documentary footage of the Frierdiker Rebbe
  • Farbrengens: Full-length farbrengens with subtitles and translations
  • Eretz Yisrael: The Rebbe's sichos about Eretz Yisrael's importance
  • Emunah U'Bitachon: Interviews with Israeli officials who received the Rebbe's guidance
  • Didan Notzach: Comprehensive coverage of the seforim case
  • Tefilah with the Rebbe: Full-length video of the Rebbe davening
  • My Pesukim: Children reciting the 12 pesukim before the Rebbe
  • My Rebbe: Book featuring 42 personal accounts in English and Hebrew

Publications:

• Since 5773, JEM began publishing weekly bulletins in English featuring transcribed video interviews from My Encounter. Hebrew version began in 5775. In 5777, they published "Early Years" in English (later in Hebrew in 5781), documenting the Rebbe's life from 5662-5689.

Leadership

• • Founder: Rabbi Hillel Dovid Krinsky
  • Director: Rabbi Elkana Shmotkin
  • Israel Branch Director: Rabbi Zusha Wolf
  • Research & Development CEO: Rabbi Yitzchak Tzap
  • Board Members: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Deren, Rabbi Yechiel Cagen
  • Ashreinu.app Manager: Rabbi Yisroel Slonim

Translation Team:

• • Hebrew: Rabbi Moshe Marinovsky
  • English: Rabbi Manis Friedman
  • French: Rabbi Chaim Shneur Nisenboim