On honor of the 6th of Tishrei, the yohrtziet of Rebbetzin Chana the Mother of the Rebbe, hundreds of Bochurim, Girls and Anash went to the Montefiore Cemetery in Queens to visit the Rebbetzin’s gravesite and Ohel.
Special photo gallery by COL.org.il in the Extended Article!
On honor of the 6th of Tishrei, the yohrtziet of Rebbetzin Chana the Mother of the Rebbe, the Rebbe’s house on President Street was open for Davening. This was made possible by the efforts of the ‘Vaad Talmidai Hatmimim Haolami’ for the benefit of the Bochurim and visitors to Crown Heights. Shacharis was at 9:30 and the Chazzan was R. Chaim Shaul Brook.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
Princeton, NJ – The Princeton Regional Planning Board heard a presentation from the Orthodox Jewish sect known as Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Mercer County last week regarding its plans to build a center and adja cent home for its rabbi.
Chabad President Mort Cohen and Rabbi Dovid Dubov presented the board with a concept plan. Chabad wants to construct two buildings on 18.4 acres it purchased along the north side of State Road in the township. The first would be a 5,400-square-foot, single-family home for Dubov and his wife, who have lived in the area for 14 years.
The house would include a two- car garage, “oversized” dining rooms and living quarters to “ac commodate congregational activities,” and a swimming pool.
A twisted ritual
According to custom, on the morning before Yom Kippur when a thread of divine grace prevails in the world, Jewish people across the world will ritually slaughter a rooster, after having rotated it around their heads while saying: “This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my expiation; This rooster shall go to its death and I shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.” The rooster is then slaughtered and its blood is spilled to “sweeten” and subdue the supernal severities. This ritual is known as ‘Kapparot,’ meaning forgiveness, in Hebrew.
One year, Moshe, a local shoemaker, was seen coming to the farm to do ‘Kapparot,’ but instead of buying a rooster, he pulled out two books from his bag, one much larger than the other. He then proceeded to mutter a few words, ceremoniously rotate the books around his head nine times and then toss the books into a fire.
As Yom Kippur rapidly approaches, our thoughts and consciousness turn to prayer and repentance, along with the daunting task of a 25-hour abstention from all food and drink. Yom Kippur is the one and only fast day commanded in the Torah which clearly indicates that the fasting itself is a most essential and required part of its observance. A fast of such length is no easy trip for anyone, but there are a number of tips and suggestions that can ease the fast-related hunger.
The day before ….
• Hydrate! Most of the unpleasantness associated with a fast does not come from lack of food, but rather, lack of fluid. The solution is to drink as much water as possible before the fast. Although you may feel you’re about to float off, it will be worth it by the time the fast is well underway. Beware of beer or other alcoholic beverages; they will only dehydrate you. Water or diluted orange juices are the safest options.
It is with awe and trepidation that I pen these words but the situation in our Shechuna has fallen to a fathomless depth without an inkling of foreseeable hope or salvation.
Being a staunch “Rightist” for many years and practicing tolerance towards all persuasions in Lubavitch (Mashichists, Anti’s, Leftists, Rightist, and an assemblage of many others) I had a sense of relief when an additional Rov was voted in to the Bais Din three years ago. I felt that the enormous amount of issues facing the community (and unfortunately there are many) was too much for one Rov to handle. In addition the political complexities in regards to kashrus demanded a more balanced handling of our kashrus supervision. The amount of controversy was causing complete mayhem. As in many other situations personal egos were obfuscating the practical issues.
This coming Shabbat is called Shabbat Tshuva the ‘Sabbath of Return’ and is a preparation for Yom Kippur, the ‘Day of Forgiveness’.
And the Torah portion read this Shabbat contains a fitting message. It is the song “Ha’azinu” dictated by G-d through Moses warning the Jewish people that abandoning the ways of the Torah will bring misfortune and tragedy.
Its purpose is that when the Jews see how G-d predicted their follies and resultant calamities and nevertheless declares He will always love them, they will return to their true identities as His Chosen People.
The perfect message for the Shabbat of Return.
Los Angeles, CA – Slipping from USC fight song into the Jewish pride anthem “David Melech Yisrael” threw trombone player Nathan Tiras for a few beats. He and nine other members of the famed USC band regained their musical footing in time to march the Chabad at USC’s Torah to its new home in style.
Five hours after getting reports of a suspicious bag at a John F. Kennedy International Airport parking lot, investigators determined the unattended package was not a threat and authorities began allowing vehicular traffic back to the area early Friday.
The bag did contain a powdery substance, but a hazmat team deemed it non-hazardous, said Pasquale DiFulco, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport.
The terminals, among eight in use at the airport, serve several international airlines, including Air France, plus Continental and Delta airlines.
On Wednesday evening, a special Vov Tishrei farbrengen took place, for Nshei Chabad of Greater Miami. The Farbrengen was organized by the Shlucha Mrs. L. Frankforter, (wife of Rabbi Yisroel Frankforter) from Nshei Chabad of Miami Beach.
Rabbi Michoel Seligson from Crown Heights was the guest speaker. Rabbi Seligson gave an overview of the Rebbetzin Chana’s life with many stories and lessons derived from the Rebbetzin.
Wednesday evening the truck loaded with chickens pulled up in George Town in front of the local Chabad House for the very first time in the neighborhoods history. The Shliach R. Avrohom Holtzberg told CrownHeights.info that most people didn’t understand the significance of Kapores, and the neighborhood which is nested between Crown Heights and Flatbush never got any attention.
From 6:00pm hundreds of residents came to perform the mitzvah, most with curiosity and wonder, but the Shliach and group of Bochurim the came to help, explained the mitzvah to residents.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
Yom Kippur, 5767
Know therefore that the L-RD your G-d is G-d, the faithful G-d who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…
Deuteronomy 7:9
On this most holy day of the Jewish calendar, Jews celebrate G-d’s goodness and reflect on their lives. Yom Kippur is a solemn time to express thanksgiving that the Almighty remembers the names of all His children. During this blessed Day of Atonement, Jewish people gather in synagogues, consider their deeds and actions, and celebrate as the sound of the Shofar proclaims the forgiveness and mercy shown by the Creator of life.
CH-1 has been in service for 12 years, and today has been replaced by a ‘new’ CH-1, donated by an anonymous donor.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
Rabbi Chaim & Kaila Danzinger of Crown Heights will IY”H be moving out on Shlichus to Pasadena, California where they will serve as Program Directors.
The Danzinger’s were appointed by Rabbi Chaim & Chani Hanoka shluchim of Chabad in Pasadena, CA
Special thanks to Rabbi Efraim Mintz and Rabbi Yoni Katz from the JLI.
The new Shluchim can be reached at: chaimdanz@gmail.com
On Tuesday, a woman entered a number of stores on Troy Ave and attempted to purchase items using a counterfeit $50 bill. The woman, described as a Black Female, hit three stores on the Avenue, one of which refused the bill. Two other stores accepted purchases ranging from Twenty dollars, to twenty five dollars. The Police were then called after one of the stores, Crown Fabrics, noticed the fake bill. However, the woman had already left the store, and was long gone.
When the police arrived, the sergeant informed the store owner that not much can be done other then to contact the Secret Service which is the government department that handles counterfeit money cases. The sergeant then told the store owner that he will take care of the calls and reports. Later on it occurred to the store owner to check with neighboring stores if the woman attempted to pass the bad money at their stores as well, and turns out the woman made a stop at a hair salon where she made a twenty to twenty five dollar purchase. One other store, My Sweet Art, refused the bill.
It was late night on a Sunday, when members of the Beth Din of Crown Heights suddenly appeared at the Rubashkin family’s huge meat plant complex in Postville, Iowa, for a surprise inspection. Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, long-standing Halachic authority of Crown Heights, was accompanied by two of the Beth Din’s newly elected members, Rabbi Shlomo Yehuda HaLevi Segal and Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind, together with representatives of the Crown Heights Vaad Hakashrus, Yossi Brook and Rabbi Shneur Zalman Osdoba.
More Pictures in the Extended Article!
Newark, DE — There’s a friendliness that Stephanie Gordon finds inviting at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, a student organization at the University of Delaware.
Maybe it’s the welcoming blue color of the house on South College Avenue.
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