Storeowners Beware: Fake Bills Circulating

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – A Black woman twice attempted to pass fake currency in Crown Kosher, a butcher shop on Kingston Avenue, once successfully. One day later a Black man attempted to do the same in another store on the Avenue.

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University Acts on Anti-Jewish Sentiment on Campus

by Naomi Levin

Merkos on Campus Rabbi Yankel Rapp with La Trobe Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Johnson.

AUSTRALIA [AJN] — La Trobe University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson and senior university officials have pledged to make the university campus a more welcoming place for Jewish students.

Serial Slapper Strikes Again

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Another Jewish girl was attacked this Shabbos afternoon, marking the 2nd week of this new bizarre spree in which over six women were victimized in a violating and degrading fashion.

The latest incident took place on Crown Street between Albany and Troy Avenues at around 5:00pm on Shabbos afternoon where the perpetrator, a Black man in his late teens or early 20’s, matching the description in both past incidents, slapped the girl, 25, so hard that it left a full imprint of his hand on her.

First Torah Dedication Ceremony of Chabad of Downtown Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Canada [CHI] — Approximately 300 people gathered last Sunday to welcome the Unity Sefer Torah, the very first Torah for Chabad of Downtown Vancouver, dedicated in memory of Rabbi Gabi and Mrs. Rivky Holtzberg.  The event also marked four years since the inception of Chabad of Downtown, under the direction of Rabbi Binyomin and Malky Bitton.

Chabad of Mineola Target of Hate Crime

By Yonit Tanenbaum

MINEOLA, NY [CHI] — Hate-crime grabs government and police attention in the civic county of Mineola, NY after a 3-foot swastika was discovered this morning painted across the front doors of the local Chabad House.

Early this morning, synagogue caretakers called the Shul rabbi, Rabbi Anchelle Perl, co-director of Chabad of Mineola, N.Y., to inform him that there was fresh graffiti on the front doors of the Chabad House.

The Prophet Who Was Out To Lunch – The Demeaning Affects Of Obsession And Greed

By Yoseph Kahanov Jax, Florida

If you didn’t know that the Torah has a sense of humor, you probably missed the story of Balak and Bilaam, a tale of two highly influential leaders, who, driven by fear and greed, team up against the perceived threat of a rising nation with G-d on their side. They devise a sinister plot to tap the power of dark forces in order to eliminate the menace.

The great spin artist, Bilaam – a self proclaimed world organizer and do-gooder, professing great ideals while at the same time available for hire – and his royal friend Balak, make complete clowns of themselves as they refuse to accept the fact that they are up against the more powerful force of holiness and will not take no for an answer. Their arrogance and greed leaves them spiraling downward in humiliation and disgrace.

You got to admit that the notion of a speaking donkey, who finally sets his highfalutin yet clueless master straight, makes for some great sitcom material. But, as you can imagine, there is more to this story than humor. As with every Torah narrative, it contains a profound and relevant lesson.

Montreal Tomchei Temimim in Financial Crisis

By Janice Arnold for the Candian Jewish News

MONTREAL — The 68-year-old Rabbinical College of Canada (RCC), the Lubavitcher yeshiva, has launched an “emergency” campaign because it is facing a financial crisis.
The school delayed payment of salaries to its approximately 60 teachers as a result of its cash-flow problems, administrator Linda Rosenblum acknowledged.

She said $600,000 is needed to get out of the current crunch.

Video – NYPD Releases Security Book for NYC Buildings

The NYPD released a 103-page tome so private sector security officials can better safeguard their buildings against terrorists. Only about 1,000 copies of the book, “Engineering Security: Protective Design for High Risk Buildings,” have been printed. In other news; the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights and the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Ocean Pkwy were awarded anti-terror security grants this year.

Capital Region Friendship Circle Thanks Volunteers

ALBANY, NY [CHI] — The Capital Region Friendship Circle noted the efforts of its 65 teen, college and adult volunteers at a recent dinner at Beth Abraham-Jacob Synagogue. Over 180 friends and supporters attended a program that included Lydia Kulbida, emcee; Karen Carpenter-Palumbo of the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, honoree; and Ted Saint James, entertainer.

Waiting in Line: Visitors to Rebbe’s Resting Place Reflect on His Life and Message

By Yonit Tanenbaum for Chabad.org

At times, people waited as much as two hours to spend as little as two minutes beside the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

An estimated 50,000 people flocked to the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, over the 24-hour period marking the 15th anniversary of his passing.

Visitors from around the world waited as much as two hours June 25 to spend as little as two minutes beside the Rebbe’s resting place at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights, N.Y. Over the course of the day, they took stock of their lives, immersed themselves in Torah study and derived inspiration from the Rebbe’s call to strengthen Judaism and reach every single Jew, wherever he or she may be found.

NYC Health Department Urges Measles Vaccinations

Health Department Advises New York City Doctors to be on the Lookout for Measles. Delaying vaccination puts young children at risk for the disease.

NEW YORK, NY — The Health Department has identified 11 cases of measles in Brooklyn during the past two months, and is urging doctors to be vigilant and promptly report suspected cases to the agency. Nearly all the known cases have occurred in children who went unvaccinated, leaving them unprotected against the disease. Measles is not common in New York City, but it is highly contagious.

Shaya Could Lose Control of Holding Company

By Michael Rochvarger for Haaretz

The management at Boymelgreen Capital has been given a breather. Yesterday the holders of series B1 and B3 bonds convened and agreed to forgo their demand for immediate repayment of NIS 400 million, at this stage at least.

Injured IDF Soldiers Tour Australia with Chabad

The Chabad Terror Victims Project took a group of injured soldiers from recent Israeli battles to Australia for a special vacation. They landed yesterday with Rabbi Yossi Swerdlov of Chabad’s Terror Victims Project who is accompanying them on the trip. In the Extended Article he recounts their experiences so far.

Chabad of Melbourne CBD Honors Rabbi Kaplan

MELBOURNE, Australia [CHI] — Chabad of Melbourne CBD was honored to have Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan address their Businessman’s Luncheon this week.

The Shliach of the Chabad House, Rabbi Chaim Herzog introduced Rabbi Kaplan of Baltimore, Maryland, saying that he is, in fact, no stranger to Melbourne, having attended the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand in the early 1970’s.