North Lauderdale, FL — In a standing-room-only crowd that snaked outside the chapel, Pfc. Daniel Agami was memorialized Tuesday by hundreds of friends – and even some strangers from the local chapter of Jewish War Veterans – as a happy-go-lucky man who was profoundly patriotic.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
Downtrodden by betrayal and reversals of fortune, Alex Winner never imagined a 2000-year-old Jewish book would bolster his spirits. Two years ago, a concerned friend lugged Winner to Lubavitch World Headquarters, during the High Holidays. “He said I could pray, put on tefillin, give charity, and maybe I’d feel better,” said Winner. In the cavernous space filled with the hum of scholars and a polyglot of visitors, the Kiev-born Winner, a Moscow conservatory trained oboist, met Rabbi David Okunov associate program director of Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (FREE). “I cannot say I was looking for religion, but I was looking for support.” When Rabbi Okunov offered him a slim volume entitled “Ethics of the Fathers,” Winner accepted it out of curiosity, out of desperation.
Ufa, Russia – A conference for representatives of law enforcement agencies has just wrapped up in Russia, but this one is like no event previously held. This event was organized and sponsored by the Chief Rabbinate of Russia. More than 1,000 police officers from across the country attended lectures on the history of the Jewish people in Russia and internationally.
Anchorage, AK — The longest day of the year led into a long night for a solstice party in Anchorage — a “revival” of sorts, with a reggae twist.
Moscow, Russia — The Jewish community of Moscow hosted a high profile visit by a top official from the Moscow City Administration. Vladimir Resin, the First Deputy Mayor and Head of the capital’s construction agency, engaged in a tour of numerous local Jewish institutions this past week.
This excursion involved a visit to the building of the Jewish Charity Center ‘Shaarey Tzedek’, which is still under construction, a number of Jewish educational institutions, and the construction site of the Jewish Museum of Tolerance. During this time, he was accompanied by Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and Aleksander Boroda, Chairman of the board of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.
Tzfat, Israel — This past Thursday YNS held its end of the year banquet at the home of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Orimland.
What a way to end the school year with two siyumim! Mazel Tov to Hatomim Moishele Hahn on his completion of Meseches Chagiga and to Hatomim Chaim Cowen on his completion of Meseches Megillah.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
Anchorage, AK — In a US state whose entire population is roughly equal to Tel Aviv’s and whose capital cannot be reached by road, the small Jewish community has strengthened its roots with the planned construction of the Alaska Jewish Historical Museum.
Crown Heights, Brooklyn — In an evening entitled “Nutrition and You” members of the community gathered this past Wednesday evening in the hall of Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Crown Street to hear a lecture from medical experts on nutrition and for a raffle drawing.
More pictures in the Extended Article! (Photos by: Webby and Eli Blachman)
Gimmel Tammuz in the early afternoon R. Binyomin Klein stopped by Everything Automotive [our advertiser] on East New York Ave in order to pick up his Cadillac, the one in which he drove the Rebbe to the Ohel for a number of years.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
Since my last article on the tuition crisis, many people have stopped me in the street, called or e-mailed me to discuss their pain and their ideas on this issue.
In order to deal with this problem it is imperative that we all, as a community, understand and agree on some basics. One key to our children’s success is proper Chinuch. Without education our children are missing the foundation to success in life. Education is a responsibility of both parents and the community. The community has an obligation to make sure education is affordable to every parent. Likewise, parents must know that they have to do whatever they can so their children can have the best education.
Once we agree that it is a personal and communal obligation, we must deal with the realities of life. What can we do about the cost of education? How do we deal with the expense?
Chabad-sponsored teacher training program makes inroads worldwide in Jewish education
They come from all over the world, beckoned by the promise of a toasty, warm winter and the opportunity to study Judaism in a unique environment.
Every year, around 25 girls are trained at the Chaya Aydel Seminary in Hallandale Beach, a Lubavitch school that focuses on rigorous, diverse academics and community involvement and outreach. Located in a separate building next to the Chabad of South Broward, Chaya Aydel is the only Lubavitch teachers’ seminary for females in the United States outside of New York.
Parksville, NY — On Monday, beis Tammuz, eleven new Rabbonim concluded their studies at Yeshivas Hatmimim of Parksville NY which is headed by Rabbi Mordechai Stern and recieved their Semicha.
The young Rabbonim were tested four times this year by HoRav Gavriel Zinner of Boro Park the author of the famous seforim “Nitey Gavriel”, who praised the bochurim for their amazing knowledge in all parts of subjects they studied.
More in the Extended Article!
Russian Jewish leaders downplay Putin’s recent anti-U.S. remarks and praise him for cracking down on anti-Semitism.
Does the return of Cold War rhetoric between the United States and Russia and an ongoing rollback of democratic rights in Russia mean that the Jewish community of Russia is facing the scepter of a return to the bad old days of the Soviet Union?
According to an assortment of Russian Jewish leaders spanning the religious and ideological gamut from the Chabad Lubavitch-affiliated chief rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar, to leaders of more secular bodies like the Russian Jewish Congress, the answer is an emphatic “No.” Russia is not, they say, again becoming an uncomfortable and dangerous place for Jewish to live and work.
Last Monday, local Rabbis, teachers and members of the community gathered at the Broward CHAI Center to celebrate an evening in honor of the Chaya Aydel Seminary graduating class. Students and community members shared their thoughts and thanks with the girls.
One Seminary graduate related her happy experience in Sunny Florida, “The weather matched the community perfectly, warm and friendly. This year has really incorporated so many invaluable components. A truly stimulating, challenging learning program, a warm and caring staff, opportunities to be involved in the South Florida community, lots of fun in the sun and of course lasting friendships.”
The other day a woman called my office to tell me that she had a problem with registering her children in Yeshiva. The administration was pressuring her for more tuition and she simply couldn’t afford it. Her husband learned in Kollel full time and she was working and had a limited income and she couldn’t afford the astronomical tuition for her sons.
She told me that as she continued talking to the administrator, who was only pushing her because he desperately needed the money, she was hit by inspiration.
She then told the Menahel, “I went through your Bais Yaakov system. I am a product of the Chinuch that you are selling. I was taught that the most important thing is to support a husband learning Torah. Therefore I got a profession and I am the breadwinner and homemaker and my husband is sitting and learning. Now you are denying my children entrance into your Yeshiva because I can’t afford the tuition? I epitomize what you are teaching, yet you are not letting my children into your Yeshivah.”
Crown Heights Maternity has just moved their business, which now includes a full line of Shabbos robes, to Kingston Ave. [between Union and President St] According to our source the move was made to accomodate shoppers, who now won’t need to Shlep to New York Ave.
“Meshane Mokom Meshane Mazal Letova..”
Crown Heights, Brooklyn — This morning at Lefferts Park, the Friendship circle came together to watch the Crown Heights Softball league. The players gave them autographs and had a special game with them.
Gallery of pictures in the Extended Article.
13
