Mishpacha Magazine Publishes Attack on Chabad from Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaath & Senior Posek for the OU’s Kashrus Division, Rav Yisroel Belsky

In an article entitled “Rav Miller, Rav Heinemann and Rav Belsky on the Burning Issues in the Charaeidi Community” which was published last week, the author of the article, M. Yaffe presented a very biased and slanted question to the Rabbis, each of which responded in their own way, yet Rav Belsky chose to use the opportunity to viciously attack Chabad.

It is interesting to note that this Rav Belsky actively fought against Tanya Shiurim in his yeshiva, Torah Vodaath while other noted Roshai Yeshivas in the Litvish world, such as Rav Pam, supported it. Comments such as these, filled with so much Sinas Yisroel, bring into question Rav Belskys authority as a Posek and “Rav Hamchsir” for such a largh kashrus organization, such as the OU.

Read the question and the Rabbis answer in the Extended Article.

Two Girls Called in Missing Erev Shabbos, Found B”H

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] –- Around two hours before Shabbos, a call went out across all 4 division of Shomrim and Police, who called a ‘Level 1 Mobilization’. There were two missing girls, ages eleven and twelve, they were missing for over 4 hours.

More in the Extended Article.

Forever Stamps Selling At Brisk Clip

WASHINGTON [CHI] — With a postal rate increase just two weeks away, Americans are buying 30 million Forever stamps a day.

The cost of sending a first-class letter will rise a penny to 42 cents on May 12, but the Forever stamps – currently selling for 41 cents – will remain valid for full postage after the increase.

Forever stamps were introduced last year and since then more than six billion have been sold, with interest growing as the rate increase nears.

Open Letter to Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes from the Jewish Leadership Council in Crown Heights

The political and media outrage following the alleged attack by Jewish boys in Crown Heights on Mr. Andrew Charles leaves the Jewish community shocked and anxious. We will not let a one-sided story be told. We will not curl-up in fear while our families are terrorized.

Friday, April 25, 2008
20 Nissan 5768, Sixth day of Passover – The Festival of Freedom

The Honorable Charles J. Hynes,
Kings County District Attorney
350 Jay St. Brooklyn, New York, 11201

Over the last months, members of the JLC have repeatedly met in your office, concerned that the armed muggings and bigoted harassment against the Orthodox Jewish community continue unchecked. This is in sharp contrast to the attention to justice you’ve shown to the recent allegations against an Orthodox Jew by an African American.

Continued in the Extended Article.

During Passover, Take a Step Toward your Personal Exodus

The following was published as the “Thought of the Week” in a local newspaper in Bellevue, Tennessee by the local shliach Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel in honor of Pesach

Are you free?

You drive the car of your choice, you live in the home of your dreams, you are constantly praised by those around you, and you work when you want to … but are you really free?

This week, beginning today, Jewish people all over the world will be celebrating Passover. This Passover will mark 3,320 years since the liberation of the Hebrews from our bondage in Egypt. The essence of this holiday is a celebration of freedom.

Lubavitcher Nominated as One of Three Finalists of Prestigious 2008 Book Award

LOS ANGELES, CA [CHI] — Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, author of the Jewish Learning Group’s new title “Going Kosher In 30 Days!”, has been named one of three finalists in the prestigious Publishers Marketing Association 2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards in the Religion category. This award recognizes excellence in independent publishing and highlights the best in all major publishing categories.

The 2008 Benjamin Franklin Award winners will be announced during a ceremony on Thursday, May 29, at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles. The well-attended award ceremony kicks of the 2008 “BEA Expo” (Book Expo America) in Los Angeles, which combines the largest selection of English language titles in the world, with special industry and author events, and unparalleled educational content to create a dynamic environment for networking, sourcing and relationship-building.

Grand jury to investigate attack on black man by Jews in Crown Heights

The Brooklyn district attorney will seat an investigative grand jury to probe the beating of an unarmed black man by two Jewish men in Crown Heights, the Daily News has learned.

The victim – a 20-year-old college student and the son of a cop – has met with prosecutor Charles Hynes about the April14 attack in a neighborhood with a long history of racial tension.

“He’s an excellent young man, and I met with him personally to assure him that I would do everything in my power to bring to justice those who humiliated him,” Hynes said Wednesday.

Koch, Resolved to Spend Eternity in Manhattan, Buys a Cemetery Plot

Former Mayor Edward I. Koch said on Monday that he planned to stay in Manhattan — for good.

Mr. Koch, who turned 83 in December, said that he had purchased a burial plot in Trinity Church Cemetery.

“The idea of leaving Manhattan permanently irritates me,” said Mr. Koch, who represented the East Side in the City Council and in Congress before being elected to the first of three terms as mayor in 1977.

Poor and Sick Fund

Have you given any thought to where the poor and unfortunate will get their Passover needs for the upcoming Holiday? The National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE) has.

The past few weeks have been very busy ones for the staff of the Poor and Sick Fund at NCFJE. More than 1,000 pounds of Matzah, hundreds of cases of wine and grape juice, more than 120 cases of chicken and meat have been delivered to and picked up by the needy of the Jewish community.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Moshiach Campaign Launched in Memory of Zev and Rochel Simons

The news spread around the world like a cold shiver, leaving everyone in a state of shock. We cried, and said tehillim, it was something unreal, impossible to have occurred.

A month after her parents, Zev and Rochel Simons A”H, were tragically taken from this world on 11 Tevet 5768, Mushkie returned to seminary, and we began thinking of something we can do to honor her dear parents. After hours of daydreaming and brainstorming, the ‘All You Have To Do -Moshiach Campaign’ was created.

Continued in the Extended Article.

Semicha Program of Golden Beach, FL Tested on Taaruvos

The bochurim of the Yeshiva Semicha Program of Golden Beach, FL, were tested on hilchos taaruvos by Rabbi D. Shochet and Rabbi Gavriel Tzinner this past weekend. These farhers followed the farhers which took place in NY on the prior Motzei Shabbos, with Rabbi Yochanan Gurary and Rabbi Yisroel Friedman. All the Rabonim reported that they were highly impressed with the bochurims’ results.

Cancer Patient Meets Marrow Donor from Israel

Yosef Eliezrie, 21, knew he wouldn’t survive leukemia without a perfect match.

A year and a half ago, a precious container of bone marrow arrived at Children’s Hospital of Orange County from an anonymous donor and Eliezrie underwent a transplant.

More in the Extended Article!

Rabbis Assisting in New Zealand Search for Missing Israeli Backpacker

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand — Authorities in Queenstown, New Zealand, and a pair of Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis are scouring the surrounding countryside in the search for Israeli backpacker Liat Tess-Okin.

Jewish Communities Support Family of Slain American Soldier

DES MOINES, IA — The body of Maj. Stuart Wolfer, one of two soldiers felled by an April 6 rocket attack inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, made its way back home Tuesday as Jewish communities thousands of miles apart mobilized to give comfort to his loved ones.