Op-Ed: The Rebbe’s Soldier

In honor of the Shloshim of Reb Shlomo a”h Matusof – Rosh Chodesh Teves 5768

When my uncle, Reb Shlomo Matusof passed away just over a month ago on Rosh Chodesh Kislev, I felt a void that was hard to explain. I had already lost both my parents, my mother 21 years ago and my father fifteen years later, a mere six years ago. I was also equally close to the late Shliach Reb Yehudah Leib a”h Raskin who passed away two and a half years ago, spending countless days and nights visiting him during the last year and half of his life. As well, I lost one of my closest friends in the attacks of 9/11.

As such, I am no stranger to death, but yet, when I walked into the bedroom of Reb Shlomo just minutes after his holy soul departed his body, I was overcome with tears and emotions I had not felt at any previous time.

Continued in the Extended Article.

Man, 81, Gets Life in Prison for Murder at West Boca Synagogue

BOCA RATON, FL — There will be no closure for the family of Jonathan Samuels, not with a guilty verdict, not with a life sentence for Marc Benayer, the man convicted of murdering Samuels. Yet Thursday’s sentencing provided an opportunity for them to let the 81-year-old killer know exactly how they feel.

“As for you, Mr. Benayer, you profess to be a religious man. However, you are a disgrace to the Jewish people,” said Caron Samuels, the widow of Jonathan Samuels, testifying during the sentencing hearing. “You claim to be well-educated but look down on others. How disgusting.”

Op-Ed: Matisyahu’s New Groove: A Response

On Thursday, the Jewish Week announced “Matisyahu’s New Spiritual Groove,” baring one of the first concrete interviews on the topic of Matisyahu’s affiliation with Chabad. The article makes the following clear: Matisyahu’s continued exploration of Judaism has led him to connect with a sect of Breslav Chassidism, he isn’t inspired by Chabad teachings like he once was, and his spiritual shift has been in the making for four years.

To many Lubavitchers, the news hurts. When anyone who is connected to the Rebbe and his teachings suddenly turns his ties elsewhere, it is hard not to take personally. Moreover, Matisyahu is a public figure, who many of us feel experienced success largely by his connection to Chabad. It is wholly warranted to feel like Matisyahu’s recent comments are biting the hand that fed him.

Curing the Unknown Killer Among Us

There is a silent killer among us.

It is silent because many of us do not even know it exists.

Some are ashamed to even discuss it.

Many believe that it could never happen to them.

I am not talking about cancer – that dreaded disease that has R”L stricken so many of our brethren, but am referring to the health insurance system that has left so many of us vulnerable and exposed to the worst nisyonos (tests) imaginable.

Continued in the Extended Article.

Op-Ed: The Irony of Blacks Yelling “Heil Hitler”

After reading the article on this site, in which a Jew was targeted with Naziesque slurs, I was reminded of a similar one, in which I witnessed a group of bochurim on Tahalucha who were shouted at with the similar chants of “Heil Hitler!”

Surprisingly, I was perplexed and shocked more than I was angry. Had the youth been neo-Nazis, Germans, skinheads, or the like, I would have been predictably upset that such illegal hate, racism and anti-Semitism occurred. What perplexed me was the fact that the perpetrators in this instance were fellow victims of Hitler and the Nazi regime. It had may as well be a Reform Jew shouting “Heil Hitler” an Orthodox Jew – something which would never occur, as both Reform and Orthodox Jews were victims of Hitler and the Nazis.

New JEM Release – Seeds

Sunday night, at the banquet of the Kinus Hashluchim, JEM premiered its latest release titled: Seeds – Chabad Lubavitch Shluchim inspire, one by one., the DVD is the latest in the popular Kinus Hashluchim series.

The DVD focuses on the importance the Rebbe, placed on every single individual.

More in the Extended Article!

Cold Weather, Additional Protection and Lots of Warmth!

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – With reports that temperatures will brush with the freezing point, Crown Heights streets are alive and buzzing. Shluchim from around the world began gathering yesterday for the annual International Conference of Shluchim.

Police have stepped up their patrols in order to secure the special guests, commanding office of the 71st Precinct Deputy Inspector Frank Vega told CrownHeights.info. But it wasn’t his word that we had to rely on. One car was posted on Union and Albany and two officers were seen patrolling on foot up and down that Avenue while a number of other foot patrols covered Kingston Avenue.

For the complete ten day weather forecast just scroll down to our weather information, or click the Extended Article!

FTC rings up fines for ‘Do Not Call’ violations

With 150 million phone numbers now registered on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list, it seems clear most consumers don’t want to receive unsolicited marketing phone calls. But apparently, it’s not clear to everyone.

Op-Ed: A Letter from a Student to His Rabbi

The following is a letter a student sent his Rabbi back at home after spending a weekend in Crown Heights as part of the Chabad on Campus ‘Jewish Weekend’ which he participated along with Rabbi Zalman and his wife Sarah Deitsch, program directors of the Schottenstein Chabad House at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Hey Rabbi!

It’s Harlan. I don’t know if my father told you, but this weekend I went with the Chabad of OSU to Crown Heights for the weekend. It was because there was this big conference of Chabads from colleges all around the country. Rabbi Zalman and Sarah asked me, and I basically said yes without hesitation.

While in Crown Heights, I noticed something. Because it was my first time in there, I didn’t really know what to expect, although I did imagine a lot of Jews doing nothing but being Jewish and talking about nothing else. I don’t know, but it did seem as if the weekend would be like a trip to any museum; seeing boring exhibits of ‘old school’ Judaism.

Israeli Rabbis Warn Bush of Disaster if Annapolis Not Canceled

A group of rabbis from Israel have sent a letter to US President George W. Bush warning him that if the planned Annapolis Middle East parley is not cancelled, a disaster will befall US citizens, just as Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans after Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip in August 2005.