For the first time ever!

In the last few days, all Lubavitcher Yeshivos worldwide have received a package from the Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim. Inside was a newly released DVD and full-color booklet in connection with the upcoming Yom Habohir Hey Teves, marking 20 years since the historic victory in court concerning the library of Agudas-Chasidei-Chabad.

The DVD is a “first attempt” to produce a round up of all events concerning the court case, and leading up to the momentous victory.

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A Chanukah Party with the Friendship Circle!

Thursday evening the Friendship Circle families along with the volunteers were invited to a special Chanukah Party in the Jewish Childrens Museum.

A delicious meal was served and gifts were given out to all the Friendship Circle children. A large chocolate menorah was then lit by Yehuda Reichman after he recited the Brochos loud and clear. The kids and volunteers enjoyed lots of activities including decoration jelly doughnuts and cookies.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Oholei Torah’s PTA Arranges a Chanukah Blast!

Grades Pre1a through 6th grade of the Oholei Torah Elementary School enjoyed a day packed with lots of fun, organized by mother in the PTA the kids enjoyed Arts & Crafts, Face Painting, a fabulous Bubble Show, two moon bounce rides and nosh. In addition the children had a drawing competition where they each drew something related to Chanukah and hung it on the walls of the gym.

More pictures and a video clip in the Extended Article!

Mayor on Hand for the Menorah Lighting at the JCM

Wednesday evening the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, choose to hold the annual Chanukah party in the Jewish Childrens Museum in Crown Heights. Every year, the mayor chooses a different neighborhood to hold this party and this year, a group of Rabbis, politicians, activists and others were on hand to listen to Bloomberg’s speech about the light of the holiday. Also in attendance was Mr. Marty Markowitz the Brooklyn Borough President. Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson, the director of the Jewish Childrens Museum, granted Mr. Bloomberg a small model of the huge dreidel displayed in front of the museum.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Parshas Mikeitz

The Rebbe says:

1. The beginning of this week’s Parshah tells us all about Pharaoh’s dreams. Verse 1 through 45 (Chapter 41) tells us about Pharaoh’s 2 dreams with all their details, how Yoseph was called to interpret them, how Yoseph actually interpreted them and how Yoseph became ruler of Egypt.

To summarize these 45 verses:

Pharaoh King of Egypt has a dream. He dreams that out of the Nile comes 7 healthy cows and they start grazing. Right after this 7 sickly cows come out of the Nile and eat up the 7 healthy cows. The 7 sickly cows don’t even get fatter.

A Tale of Two Dreams

Rabbi Yossi Kahanov Shliach to Jacksonville, FL

“Nothing you have acquired is real unless you worked for it. If you were born a nice guy, the niceness isn’t yours. If you started off not so nice, and now you do a little, that’s divine.”
Tzvi Freeman Be Within Stay Above

“Nothing of real substance comes without work. Our pioneer forebears could never plow a field by turning it over in their minds. They had to put their hands to the plow and walk forward. The work is, by and large, easier now than in earlier times, but the principle is the same. There must be work, and what a great and wonderful privilege it is.
Again, there is no reason to be averse to some recreation. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Jill a dull girl. But when pleasure or recreation becomes an end in itself, we are in danger. We are in trouble. We simply cannot expect to refine the substance of character from hunks of pleasures.
Gordon Hinckley, Standing For Something

Never having flown in an airplane, an old-timer was about to embark on just such a trip. While standing at the check-in counter, he queried the ticketing agent: Nu, so tell me, how does the plane stay up in the air?
”Well,“ said the agent, ”there are four engines which impel the jet forward. The force of the impulsion keeps the jet from falling.”

As the Last Day of Chanukah Nears, Lights Grow More Intense

EJ Tansky – Lubavitch.com
The story of Chanukah comes alive for thousands of shoppers in Minnesota,. It is one of seven displays, throughout the Twin cities presented by The Living Legacy – Minneapolis Chabad Lubavitch.

Cautiously conservative estimates put the number of Chabad’s Chanukah events and menorahs worldwide at 2,600. This number, based on events listed on Chabad websites and through random phone calls to Chabad representatives, is a vast undercounting. Factor in thousands of menorah-topped Chabad cars that whizzed by on city streets and the nightly lightings at Chabad’s 4,000 outposts worldwide, and the menorah count climbs higher than the calories in deep-fried latkes slathered with sour cream.

A frozen Festival of Lights

Needham Times

Needham, MA — The Chabad Jewish Center of Needham mixed fire and ice Sunday night, when it rallied a couple of hundred residents to celebrate the lighting of this year’s ice-sculpted menorah on the town green.

“I don’t think it’ll last eight days unless a miracle happens,” Rabbi Mendel Krinsky said, laughing.

The sculpture, a new twist on an old tradition, was expected to remain between five and six hours, depending on temperature; it was originally cut from a 600- to 800-pound slab of ice by Ice Effects.

Time of inspiration for Jewish community

Redlands Daily Facts
Celebrating Hanukkah, a group of Redlanders gathers on the front lawn of the home of Dr. Charles and Abby Hyman to light six candles on the biggest

Redlands, CA – The largest menorah in Redlands could be seen in the front yard of Dr. Charles and Abby Hyman Wednesday night as the Jewish community came together to celebrate Hanukkah.

3 Car Accident on Lefferts and Troy

At around 11:00am this morning there was a 3 car accident at the intersection of Lefferts Ave. and Troy Ave. The incident took place as the Shalom Center Bus was driving on Lefferts and according to the driver a van coming up Troy took the light and they collided and both vehicles crashing into the empty lot on the corner taking down the pedestrian signal, damaging the gate surrounding the lot and hitting a parked car.

Hatzalah responded but all drivers refused medical attention and were B”H ok. Police arrived on scene and asked the drivers for their license and insurance the driver of the van stated that he dose not have a driver’s license and he was just moving his boss’s car. His boss, who’s the owner of the grocery on that corner was present and verified this. There were no arrests made, and no transports to any hospital.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Crown Heights Night at the Maccabees!

Due to exceptionally high demand, Maccabees will be running this Motzei Shabbos at the Jewish Children’s Museum exclusively for the Crown Heights Community. Space is limited, so book tickets in advance to guarantee admission. The Motzei Shabbos shows start at 8:15 and 9:15, and are geared to children who are 7 and older. If you mention crownheights.info – Every party of ten gets one ticket FREE! For all other show times and JCM info, visit jcm.museum. Maccabees ends on January 7th, so don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this wonderful show!

Show times and more pictures in the Extended Article!

5 Injured in an Accident with a Rollover

At around 12:30 this afternoon a SUV attempted to make a left turn from Empire Blvd. onto Kingston Ave. but was T-Boned by a car service who was traveling in the opposite direction down Empire the result of which was that the SUV rolled onto its driver side, and trapping the three people inside.

3 Shomrim members who witnessed the scary crash immediately called for backup and for Emergency Services, the few member then donned protective gear and removed the three trapped people from the SUV and laid them down on the sidewalk to await medical treatment from Emergency medical Service.

More pictures and a video clip in the Extended Article.

Over 1,300 guests attend Colel Chabad dinner

Moments of inspiration and unprecedented Kiddush Hashem

New York City, December 19 -– The International Awards Dinner of Colel Chabad was a highly-charged and powerful event held in the New York Hilton on Tuesday, December 19 (28 Kislev).The event benefits the oldest Lubavitch institution in the world, founded by the Baal HaTanya, the Alter Rebbe. Colel Chabad has been headed by each Chabad Rebbe since.

A big gallery of beautiful pictures in the Extended Article!