Chof Av: Yartzeit of R. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, (1878-1944), was a Chabad Hasidic rabbi in Yekatrinoslav, Ukraine. He was the father of the seventh and last Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was born in 1878 in the town of Podrovnah (near Gomel) to his parents, Rabbi Baruch Schneur and Rebbetzin Zelda Rachel Schneerson. His great-great grandfather was the third Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of Lubavitch.

In 1900, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak married Rebbetzin Chana Yanovski, whose father, Rabbi Meir Shlomo, was the Rabbi of the Ukrainian city of Nikolaiev. In 1902, their eldest son, Menachem Mendel was born. He was later to become the Rebbe of Lubavitch.

Elderly Man found near Home

WOODRIDGE — An elderly man who was missing for nearly 16 hours was found late Tuesday morning sitting near a lake, one mile away from his family’s summer home in the Village of Woodridge.

Yankel “Jacob” Salamon, who is about 90 years old, wandered from the Woodlake Village housing complex about 7:30 Monday night. Salamon has dementia, and his family believes he walked away to find the nearest temple. His desire to worship — even when temples are closed — has increased since his diagnosis, they said.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Op-Ed: Cell Phones in Yeshiva: a Demand for Accountability

The word is out that Lubavitch Yeshivas will not allow their bochurim to have cell phones beginning this year. The roshei yeshivos have banded together to ensure every bochur “exclusively dedicate(s himself) to spiritual pursuits and distance(s) himself from any and all distraction.” They announced the new ban to be rid of “a piece of equipment what can potentially undermine everything we stand for.”

Just like the bochurim headed off to yeshiva in a few weeks who are surely questioning the smarts of their roshei yeshiva, perhaps it’s important for the general community to ask the roshei yeshivos if they’re sure of the benefits that they allege this will provide. And that they’re prepared for the consequences and eventualities that this will no doubt cause.

R”L: 5-year-old Brooklyn Boy Dead in Elevator Shaft Plunge

WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn — A 5-year-old Brooklyn boy trying to escape a stuck elevator plunged 10 stories to his death this morning in a Brooklyn housing project, police said.

The boy, Jacob Neuman, and his 8-year-old brother Israel were heading to school when the tragedy occurred just before 9 a.m. in the building, where residents complained of constant problems with the elevators.

More in the Extended Article.

Op-Ed: Chabad’s Moral Crisis

Not long ago I spent Shabbos in a Lubavitch community with my wife and children. The family we stayed with showed us effusive Lubavitch hospitality. What other community in the world would welcome a family with nine children and a niece to march into their home and take over? The warmth with which we were received reminded me of all that is beautiful about Chabad and how Lubavitchers are the warmest and kindest people in the world.

Unfortunately, some of the dysfunction that has overtaken Chabad in the last few years was just around the corner. On Shabbos day a shliach was welcomed to speak to the community. Before his speech, an elderly Chassid banged on the lectern, announced that the shliach in question was not a real shliach but a ‘mushroom.’ Since the policy of the Shule was to have Shluchim speak, he should not be allowed to address them.

A Party Called Hakhel

A new year is approaching, and in the undercurrent of every Chossid’s “Elul-wind” is a special urgency: the year of Hakhel is upon us. The Rebbe transformed Hakhel from a rare event involving the King’s recitation of the Torah, to a widespread campaign obligating every one of us to inspire our sphere of influence.

Hakhel is considered so vital, that on Sukkos, Shnas Hakhel 5748, the Rebbe veered from the way he had observed the Friediker Rebbe unite the arbah minim during the recitation of Hallel. “Despite personal hardship and raising a notion, chas veshalom, of a lack of hiskashrus to my Rebbe,” the Rebbe later stated, “I held the lulav and esrog together so extensively to affect the great unity of Hakhel!”

Op-Ed: On Addiction, from a Former Addict

While browsing the web yesterday I came across an OP-ED piece entitled “In response to tragedy, lifting up the dusty carpet”. As an addict in recovery, I am always interested in reading about substance abuse & addiction. I was very impressed by the article. Equally impressive was the fact that it was prominently displayed on this widely read Chabad website. Then I started reading the comments posted and I was quickly disappointed! Reading the comments and realizing the naivete and dare I say stupidity of so many commenter’s, compelled me to share my story.

My purpose in writing this is NOT to educate the masses, nor is it to get something off my chest, air my dirty laundry! While it would be nice to give people a little insight, my only purpose in writing this is to help the alcoholic or addict who feels there is no hope. I want to get across to you—there IS hope, there are people who have been in that place of utter despair and are now living a sober HAPPY life!! While OP-ED pieces that are unsigned may detract from their validity, out of respect for my parents and family I will not sign my name. However, I can be reached directly by e-mailing me at ChabadGirl.Addict@gmail.com.

Miracle Child Celebrates Bar Mitzva

KERHONSKSON, NY [CHI] — A Bar Mitzvah Bochur is supposed to display his maturing at the age of 13. “Now you become a man” he is told by guests at his Simcha. His parents buy him a hat and jacket and he falls in with the adults. It is the day the father makes the blessing “Boruch Sheportrani” and the Bochur says a Ma’amar by heart. He is the center of attention with all his friends dancing around him in the joy of his Simcha. Physically

Yesterday though, the Bar Mitzvah Bochur Hatomim Menachem Mendel Mintz made a different display of ability, as he was assisted up onto the stage in his small wheelchair. Mendy suffers from Ostogen Imperfecta (a disease which causes bones to fracture easily) and he is assisted by those around him in order to function.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Political Yarmulkes

Yesterday we ran an article from the Daily News featuring a Lubavitcher Chef, today the news ran another blurb featuring another Lubavitchers company called Vanity Kippah, owned by Shmuly Tennenhause, on one of its political blogs.

We don’t usually link to sites trying to sell things, but this one finds that among those willing to shell out $16 for a yarmulke, John McCain is leading Barack Obama.

Chabad Mourns the Passing of Bruce Adler OBM

“All of us at Chabad are saddened by the passing of Bruce Adler last week,” said Rabbi Anchelle Perl.

“Even as he is being remembered as the scion of the Yiddish theatre family who went on to have much success on the Broadway stage, he will always have a special place in our hearts,” added Rabbi Perl “for his extraordinary efforts to help further Jewish education and Yiddishkeit with his annual appearances on the Chabad Telethon’s both in New York and California.”

More in the Extended Article.

Virtual L’Chaim – toLife.com

WESTWOOD, CA [CHI] — A virtual L’Chaim ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today as the brand new Chabad Telethon website went LIVE (or ‘TO LIFE’). Yes, toLife.com is the website address. Some new features include new and old videos, a tolife blog and other things to get your fingers dancing.

One more notable feature on tolife.com: You can watch the Chabad Telethon live – Sunday, September 14, 2008.

Combating Jewish Materialism – A Jewish Peace Corps

Materialism is becoming a cancer to the American Jewish community. Our children feel entitled. They are often spoiled. They take and do not know how to give back. They are part of a ‘me’ generation where self-absorption is lifetime’s calling.

That’s why this summer I arranged for three of my teenage children to work as volunteers in the children’s camp of Rabbi Yossi Turk in Cordoba, Argentina. The work is not easy and our children, while working very hard, also complained that there weren’t enough recreational outlets. I reminded them that Rabbi Turk and his wife have been in Cordoba ensuring that thousands of Israeli backpackers have a place for Shabbos not for two weeks, but for 22 years. You don’t hear them complaining.

Op-Ed: “Trendy” Style of Young Women Retaining (or Hyphenating) Their Maiden Names

Just recently, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yonah Metzger, publicly raised the issue of married woman who continue to use their maiden names, in both formats, either independently or hyphenated after their husband’s family name. He came under much criticism for doing so.

This is what the Chief Rabbi said: “We are currently in an era of permissiveness and there are many messages that create cracks in the Jewish home’s whole structure. The agenda whereby a woman wants to bring the independent entity of her last name to the home should be reconsidered. If there is a message that the woman is an independent entity and the husband is an independent entity, this does not unite the home into a whole home.”

There is no denying that amongst Chabad-Lubavitch young woman, this has become a very popular and ever growing trend.

Continued in the Extended Article.

CEO of Canadian Jewish Congress Praises Chabad in Birthday Wishes

Last week Rabbi Sholom Leib Aisenbach of Montreal Canada celebrated his 70th birthday. Taking advantage of this opportunity Mr. Bernie M. Farber, the CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, sent Rabbi Aisenbach a birthday greeting in which he praised Rabbi Aisenbach and Chabad for all the work that they have done “on behalf of K’lal Yisroel”.

Rally for Immigration Reform in Postville

POSTVILLE, IA [KWWL] — An immigration rally has kicked off in Postville with protesters shouting “Si se puede,” translated in English as “yes, we can.”

Hundreds of people marched through the small Iowa town of about 2,200 on Sunday. Busloads of people from Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul and other nearby cities came to protest a federal immigration raid of the Agriprocessors plant in May.

More pictures and a number of videos in the Extended Article!