diff --git a/ci/release/Jenkinsfile b/ci/release/Jenkinsfile
index cb589804d9bb..aa80f8d03ab1 100644
--- a/ci/release/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/ci/release/Jenkinsfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 /*
  * See https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-jenkins-pipeline-helpers
  */
-@Library('hibernate-jenkins-pipeline-helpers@1.17') _
+@Library('hibernate-jenkins-pipeline-helpers') _
 
 import org.hibernate.jenkins.pipeline.helpers.version.Version
 
@@ -223,15 +223,10 @@ pipeline {
 								withEnv([
 										"DISABLE_REMOTE_GRADLE_CACHE=true"
 								]) {
-                                    def notesFiles = findFiles(glob: 'release_notes.md')
-                                    if ( notesFiles.length < 1 ) {
-                                        throw new IllegalStateException( "Could not locate `release_notes.md`" )
-                                    }
-                                    if ( notesFiles.length > 1 ) {
-                                        throw new IllegalStateException( "Located more than 1 `release_notes.md`" )
-                                    }
+									sh "pwd"
+                                    def ghReleaseNote = sh('realpath -e release_notes.md 2>/dev/null', returnStdout: true).trim()
 
-									sh ".release/scripts/publish.sh -j --notes=${notesFiles[0].path} ${env.SCRIPT_OPTIONS} ${env.PROJECT} ${env.RELEASE_VERSION} ${env.DEVELOPMENT_VERSION} ${env.GIT_BRANCH} "
+									sh ".release/scripts/publish.sh -j ${ghReleaseNote != '' ? '--notes=' + ghReleaseNote : ''} ${env.SCRIPT_OPTIONS} ${env.PROJECT} ${env.RELEASE_VERSION} ${env.DEVELOPMENT_VERSION} ${env.GIT_BRANCH} "
 								}
 							}
 						}
diff --git a/release_notes.md b/release_notes.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..efe241e2b906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release_notes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* See the [website](https://hibernate.org/orm/releases/{{releaseVersionFamily}}) for requirements and compatibilities.
+* See the [What's New](https://docs.hibernate.org/orm/{{releaseVersionFamily}}/whats-new/whats-new.html) guide for details about new features and capabilities.
+* See the [Migration Guide](https://docs.hibernate.org/orm/{{releaseVersionFamily}}/migration-guide/) for details about migration to {{releaseVersionFamily}} version.