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Michlelet Morasha Responds:

Dear Parents and Students,

Unfortunately, over the past few days, the internet has become the source of much false information including frightening lashan harah regarding the closure of Michlelet Morasha. In order to beוהיית נקי מה’ ומישראל I would like to clarify the facts.

Before I go into details, I want to reiterate our commitment to reimburse every parent who paid a deposit for the next academic year. The process has begun already. Some people were reimbursed already. It will take about 2 to 3 weeks. But again, every cent will be returned.

Rabbi Levi Bistritzky OBM (1948-2002)

by R. Michoel Seligson

Hagaon Hachossid Hatomim Horav Levi Bistritsky was born in 1948, on the 8th of Iyar to, may he live and be well Hachossid Horav Hatomim Reb Yehuda Leib and Mrs. Ita Bistritsky.

Tickets for the Rebbe’s and Rebbetzin arrival to the U.S.

Reb Leibel Bistritsky’s father Reb Mordechai merited to a special zchus. In 1941, after the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin escaped from France to Portugal, Reb Mordechai contributed two tickets for their passage to the United States. Originally, the tickets had been purchased for Reb Mordechai’s in-laws, were unable to get out of Europe. Reb Mordechai notified the Previous Rebbe and offered the tickets for the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. The tickets were accepted, and that is how the Rebbe and Rebbetzin come to the United States on the 28th of Sivan.

Upstate City Says ‘Cheese’

5 Towns Jewish News

It is an unfortunate reality that there are very few suppliers of chalav Yisrael cheese products. As a consequence, the price of chalav Yisrael products is quite high. So when the plant owned by Moshe Banayan almost closed this week, it was a miracle that the right person was there to ensure that the plant continue to supply the Orthodox Jewish market with chalav Yisrael product.

Arthur J. Sciorra, the city manager of Ogdensburg, New York, experienced kosher food firsthand when he dormed in a home with two yeshiva students while he pursued his graduate studies. “I basically only ate kosher for two years of my life, and I remember the Sabbath meals and Pesach Seders,” Mr. Sciorra told the Five Towns Jewish Times.

Chof Av: Yartzeit of R. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson

Chabad.org

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

Record Online

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

by Yanky Nemon

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

NY Daily News

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.

“WAKE UP YIDDEN!”

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BAY HARBOR ISLANDS, FL [CHI] — For the second time, in as many months, Infinity Productions, the production company for Mayer Rivkin’s CD recordings, has announced the release of its second “single album”, from the soon to be released 13 song CD album “Wake Up Yidden”.

More in the Extended Article!

Op-Ed: Chabad’s Moral Crisis

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

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!

Why We Mourn on Tisha B’Av

Naftali Silberberg – Chabad.org

The fast of Tisha b’Av, the saddest date on the Jewish calendar, is the day which saw the destruction of both Holy Temples, as well as many other tragic events throughout our nation’s tear-soaked galut (exile). A mournful mood is carefully created. We read Jeremiah’s Book of Lamentations and a lengthy collection of elegies which vividly describe all these tragedies, and throughout the day we follow many mourning practices.

Live feed from the Kotel 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.