Op-Ed: Star-dust

This weekend, communities around the world will be discussing the story of two prominent Jews named Abraham. The first fled ancient Mesopotamia, the land of his father. He escaped with the core of monotheism and in the pursuit of G-d’s will. The second broke free from the Soviet motherland, following the path of providence and the dream of raising a family that would freely worship the G-d discovered by his biblical namesake.

Abraham the first set a high standard for generosity and hospitality, while his descendant stands as an exemplar of that excellence, par excellence. Both are patriarchs of celebrated dynasties. The first fathered the Jewish people. The second is father to one of its most beautiful families.

Essays require introductions, while Abraham and Avraham Aaron Rubashkin do not.

Berlin Jewish Center Hopeful After Police Nab Two Suspects in Nighttime Attack

BERLIN, Germany — Berlin police arrested two teenagers suspected of attacking a van carrying Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel and several students of the local Lubavitch yeshiva.

According to news reports, the 16- and 18-year-old men confessed to the crime, which saw a car abruptly reverse in the direction of Tiechtel’s van the night of Nov. 1. The two occupants of the car, the rabbi told police, then shouted anti-Semitic insults and threw a flaming object at the van.

Op-Ed: Teens at Risk

What is it that really makes teenagers lose faith and rebel against their upbringing? Once upon a time, this problem was non-existent compared to what it is today. It was there, yes, but today it has shot through the ceiling and needs to be dealt with. The question is, how? Before we can fix the problem though, we need to take a break from our everyday lives and think. How did it have a chance to get this far?

The answer to the above question is fairly simple. We have been denying reality, not wanting to face what is really right in front of us. We have been saying: “well, it isn’t my child” “My kid would never do that” “Oh that is how teenagers act”. Wait, let’s pause for a moment and think. What do these expressions mean, what do they teach our children?

Time and again, I have heard it used, whether in a classroom and the teacher is saying to the class: “I know you didn’t mean to do it, you are teenagers, it’s natural” or by a parent saying to their child: “I know, I know, you are a teenager, and you are going to act out sometimes, but did you have to do that?” Thanks to us, the adults, the line has been turned into an excuse. Nowadays, if you walk into a rowdy class in time to hear the teacher tell a kid off for misbehaving, you are likely to hear: “well I am a teenager, how else am I supposed to act?” It is an invalid excuse that is unfortunately accepted by those who would rather put the blame on the kids ‘just being teenagers’ and ‘it will pass’ rather than face the crisis. In truth, we have been acting as irresponsibly as some teenagers and young adults ourselves when it comes to this blatant denial of a very real problem. the risks however are very different. The risk for us is losing some of our connection with the child. The risk for them is losing themselves.

Shmuley Boteach: Obama’s Victory is a Triumph for Every Jewish Man, Woman, and Child

November 4th, 2008, 11pm, Times Square, New York City — The taxis horns are honking, the young people are jumping. Barack Obama has just been declared President-elect of the United States. Amidst the collective euphoria, a young man on a bicycle sees me and my yarmulke, rides over and says, “Hey man, you didn’t vote for Obama, did you.” Why would you say that, I ask him. You don’t even know me. “Because I’m from Israel. And I didn’t either.” Interesting assumption. That Jews are not applauding the election of America’s first black President.

It’s an impression that we best quickly correct. Because an African-American’s victory as President of the United States is a triumph for every Jewish man, woman, and child.

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States

Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history Tuesday night by winning election as the first African-American president in the history of the United States, according to projections by NBC News.

Obama reached the 270 electoral votes he needed for election at 11 p.m. ET, when NBC News projected that he would win California, Washington and Oregon.

Op-Ed: The Rubashkins and you

A moment of truth has descended on the Jewish community in which we stand to define to the world, to our children, and to our selves whether we are a people of real action or just empty words.

Whether we are able to put into practice the lofty things we learn and talk about or we simply know how to “talk the talk” but not very good at “walking the walk”

A prestigious Jewish family, known throughout the world for tremendous acts of kindness, care, and love for fellow Jews, in ways that are unparalleled, has fallen on hard times and now faces the loss of their entire company and enterprise to the banks that are foreclosing on them.

VIDEO: Politicians Political Gain from Rubashkins Arrest

Since the news broke that former Agriprocessors CEO Sholom Rubashkin has been arrested by federal officials for allegedly conspiring to hire undocumented workers for financial gain. Since Election Day is only days away, the story is likely to have a political impact.

So who’s the big winner from all of this?

Videos in the Extende Article.

Rubashkin Released on $1 Million Bail

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA [AP] — Sholom Rubashkin, former manager of the Agriprocessors plant in Postville and an officer in the company, was in federal court in Cedar Rapids this afternoon on criminal charges relating to the employment of illegal immigrants.

Sholom Rubashkin, Arrested

POSTVILLE, IA — Federal prosecutors have arrested Sholom Rubashkin, former chief executive officer and vice president at Agriprocessors and son of company founder Aaron Rubashkin, on a criminal complaint that alleges the man conspired in immigration-related offenses.

Op-Ed: Open Letter to the residents of Crown Heights

Next weekend, Shabbos Parsha Lech Lecha, over 800 students and 100 Shluchim and Shluchos will be coming bez”h to Crown Heights for the largest Pegisha of its kind in history.

As Shluchim on campus, many of my colleagues deal with great mesiras nefesh with a constant uphill battle, inspiring and serving hundreds of Jewish students each and every week. Around this time each year, though, we are reminded that we’re not alone.

Seeing the unbelievable Hachnosas Orchim with which the residents of Crown Heights open their doors, take care of our students, and put up with all of the tumult that goes along with such an endeavor – especially knowing that this comes so closely on the heels of an already very taxing month of Tishrei – is the greatest reminder that Chassidim Ein Mishpocha, that we are part of a family of Chassidim who are true partners in our work.

People of Postville see a Complicated Picture

POSTVILLE, IA — Imagine this is your hometown, population 2,320, in the middle of hilly Iowa farm country.

Op-Ed: Should We Stop Simchas Bais Hashoeiva?

After my last Op-Ed article about young Tishrei visitors to Crown Heights, who come and spend the month without a program or supervision, I was deluged with response and feedback. There were those who reached out to me by e-mail, those who bumped into me in the street and some people who called me by phone. After thanking me for bringing the subject out into the open most people had some variation of the same two questions: A) Did the article help create change? B) What’s going to be with Simchas Bais Hashoeiva? Can we facilitate any change there?

The answer to the first question of did the article create change is unfortunately little – if any. Despite the well-intentioned article and the enthusiastic and positive feedback nothing really changed.

Angels for the Day

Yom Kippur always gets the better of me. As angelic children, we were taught that on the Holy Day, we resemble angels. Praying for haven from the accuser, we reflect heavenly beings. There is no consumption of food. The penitent is consumed by the awesomeness of the day, not merely as a form of abstention, but because angels do not eat. Physical indulgence is prohibited. Instead, we indulge in divine practice.

I recall one Passover, as beams of light were passing overhead, my childhood imagination convinced me that I was witnessing angels escorting the prophet Elijah through the portals of heaven. In high school as I assisted an elderly woman once, she called me an angel. As a driver I often listen to people’s accounts of the paranormal on coast-to-coast AM, broadcast from the City of Angels. As a Rabbi I am often asked about the Jewish perspective on angels. And as Jews, we know that our prayers are projected to G-d by angels. In fact the Talmud suggests that when seeking a mentor, one that resembles an “angel of the lord of hosts” should be chosen.