Hundreds on Hand for the Levaya of R. Avrohom Levitansky OBM

Photo by: Rabbi Arye D. Gordon

S. Monica, CA – Hundreds of Friends, Mekuravim, Supports and Family members escorted Rabbi Avrohom Levitansky OBM Shliach to S. Monica California. The Levaya passed a number of locations on its way to the ‘Bais HaChaim’ including Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon, Cheder Menachem and the Bais Chabad of Simcha Monica which R. Avrohom was the founder and director of.

More pictures in the Extended Article. (Photo Credit: Rabbi Arye D. Gordon)

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Drunk Driver Rear Ends Double Parked Car

Crown Heights, Brooklyn –- Today, about 5:30 PM, a red Chevy Malibu driven by a drunk driver, slammed into the rear of a double parked Mercedes. The incident took place on Lefferts Ave between Brooklyn and Kingston in the middle of the block.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Shabbat With Chabad at the Cannes Film Festival

B. Olidort – Lubavitch.com
Guests from the Cannes Film Festival join Chabad at Shabbat services on the Riviera.

Cannes, France — The International Cannes Film Festival, emblematic in all ways of material girls (and boys), seemed a most unlikely venue for a spiritual encounter. Indeed, curious onlookers assumed it was a film shoot that had people dancing to the Shabbat liturgy of Lecha Dodi, on the French Riviera last Friday night.

The Winners of the Bnos Menachem PTA Auction!

In a unique auction arranged by the PTA of Bnos Mencham participants put in their tickets for a chance to win ‘Gift Certificates’ for Simcha Halls, Jewelers and Camp Tuition among those being offerd. The following is a list of the winners of the auction.

Razag Ballroom – Daniella Chayo
Simpson Jewlery – Dina Shur
Camp Emunah – Esther Turk
Bnos Menachem Day Camp – Cindi Topol
Sheitel – Kraina Lepkivker

List continues in the Extended Article!

JNet Hits Ireland – Lost and Found

by Louise Bloom

Cork, Ireland — Kabbala has always been an idea that intrigued me but I had no idea how to set about learning it until in my sixties I found Chabad – or rather, Chabad found me, in a remote corner of a country that few people know very much about. But I have to go back a bit to explain.

A few years ago when my husband and I reached retirement age we decided to move out of London, where we had lived all our lives. We sold our house in the suburbs and to our friends’ astonishment moved to a small rural town in the Irish Republic. So we left an area of London where there was a very large Jewish community, synagogues to suit every shade of orthodoxy, and shops to supply every Jewish appetite from matzos to gefilte fish; and we moved to a Catholic country and a farming area where there are only two other Jewish people, both of whom have “married out”.

Chabad Mourns the Untimely Passing of Rabbi Avraham Levitansky

 West Coast Chabad Lubavitch
During four decades of service, Rabbi Levitansky reached out to the people of California.

S Monica, CA — Rabbi Avraham Levitansky, Chabad’s longtime representative in S. Monica, passed away at his home this morning at the age of 67. Arriving in California in the mid-1960s, Rabbi Levitansky was the first emissary, or Shliach, appointed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to serve under Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, director of Chabad on the West Coast.

Baruch Dayan Haemes – Hashliach Rabbi Avrohom Levitansky OBM

With great pain and profound sadness we inform you of the very untimely passing of HaRav HaChossid HaShliach R. Avrohom ben Yitzchok Isaac Halevi Levitansky of S. Monica, CA at the age of 63.

R. Avrohom set off on Shlichus over 40 years ago and 35 years ago he established the ‘Bais Chabad of Simcha Monica’ in 1972 which was founded as one of ten Chabad institutions presented to the Rebbe for his 70th birthday. R. Avrohom was referred to as ‘the glue’ of the west coast, his entire being given over for spreading yiddishkiet to the point where he lived it in his day to day life.

The Levaya will take place Tomorrow, Monday 1:30 PM – The aron will pass by YOEC 2:00 PM – The aron will pass by Cheder Menachem 3:00 PM – The levaya will be at Chabad House in Simcha Monica, 1428 17th Street4:30 PM – The kevura will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery 7231 E. Slauson Ave., Commerce, CA 90040.

Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.

Glass Bottle Thrown into Apartment Window

Crown Heights, Brooklyn –- A Couple woke up last night to the sound of crashing glass in their living room, the incident took place at around 2:30am, at first they though it may be a burglar and they immediately called Shomrim. Patrolling member arrived on scene within moments of the call and began searching the area.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Preparing for the ULY Ocean Pkwy Chinese Auction!

The Women’s Auxiliary of the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva and Mesivta of Ocean Parkway proudly presents this years Chinese Auction titled “We are all Connected”. Organizers and volunteers were up throughout the night preparing the show and arranged the prizes which will be available for viewing through out the day today.

The event is taking place Today at Bais Rivka ‘Campus Chomesh. The auction viewing hours will be; Women, 1:30 – 5 PM (Free $10 ticket to each attendee till 3 PM). Men, 5 – 6 PM. Women, 6 – 9 PM. The program will begin at 7:30 PM and the auction drawing at 9:00 PM.

Chabad Synagogue Celebrates its Torah

The Miami Herald
Members of Chabad of NE Hollywood/Dania (also known as the Shul of the Lakes), rabbis and friends joyously accompany a procession down 14th Avenue in Hollywood in celebration of the Chabad’s first Torah.

A new Torah was dedicated, to the joy of a Chabad’s Orthodox members, who paraded down a Hollywood street to celebrate.

Hollywood, FL — Yardwork stopped for a few moments late Sunday afternoon as homeowners stood on their front lawns to watch the procession walking down the street in their Hollywood Lakes neighborhood.

Shomrim Assist in Recovery of Stolen Strollers

Crown Heights, Brooklyn – Motzoi Shabbos, at around 9 PM, Shomrim received a call from a resident of a building that witnessed a Black Male off steal two baby strollers belonging to neighbors in the building on the corner of Lamont Court and Empire Blvd and that he was following the suspect.

More in the Extended Article.

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Open Doors and Hearts

The St. Petersburg Times
Rabbi Yossi Eber

A Trinity couple’s home becomes a place where Jews can study, celebrate and grow.

New Port Richey, FL — This synagogue without walls is hoping to draw people to an oasis of Judaism.

“Our center utilizes various locations while developing plans for a facility of its own,” said 31-year-old Rabbi Yossi Eber.

The Chabad Jewish Center of West Pasco was established in 2006 by Eber and his wife, 27-year-old Dina. They purchased a one-way ticket from Brooklyn and moved to the West Pasco community of Trinity and opened the doors to their hearts and home to the Jewish populace.

Chabad Sues City Over Zoning Restrictions

Sun Sentinel

Cooper City, FL — For more than two years, congregants from the Chabad of Nova have been unsuccessfully petitioning Cooper City officials for a permanent home on Griffin Road. On Friday, they sued the city, claiming discrimination.

The suit, filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, claims Cooper City’s zoning laws are illegally designed to protect the city’s tax base by banning all tax-exempt houses of worship from commercial districts.

Plano Synagogue Acquires Third Torah

Dallas Morning News

Plano, TX — With each stroke of his quill pen, Rabbi Menachem Block came one step closer to completing the third and final Torah at the Chabad of Plano.

For certain Jewish holidays, some synagogues prefer to have three Torahs to read from different sections. Until the Torah dedication May 20, the Chabad of Plano had only two Torahs and had to borrow a third from neighboring synagogues.