The Rebbe and the Rocket Scientist

My life is a series of footnotes,“ says Velvl Greene, 78, now retired as professor emeritus from both the University of Minnesota and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. ”I was at the right place at the right time. Big things were happening, and I took advantage to be involved.”

Greene, a biologist, earned his first national reputation under fire when a devastating outbreak of Staphylococcus took place in Louisiana, where he was teaching. He earned his second reputation as a principal scientist for NASA in the ‘man on the moon’ project. Today, he travels internationally to speak on the topic of science and religion, a career that began when he became a close associate and emissary for Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

A Mothers Cry For Help

I am having a hard year with my son at school. The class is large and although he is bright, he gets easily distracted.

I feel like the Rebbe’s are calling me every other day complaining about my son. “He’s not doing his homework”, “He seems so disinterested, and as a result disturbing my teaching”

I am just so frustrated! I have other children, B”H my other sons are doing well in this school, but its not working for this son. I work full time to pay the cost of tuition and my son is not getting his education.

The List Of Winners At The ULY Auction

Here is the list of the winners at the ULY Auction.

Grand Prize – Toby Perl
Split the Pot – Aisenbach, Montreal
Jack Pot – Nava Borisute
Door Prize from REA Alternatives – T. Danzinger

Click the Extended Article for the rest of the list

Sinners beware

“I can’t bless the water for someone else,” said Rabbi Avrohom Brod of the Chabad of Stockton.

Linden, CA — Sinners beware: Taking a swig of the newly bottled Holy Drinking Water could cause burning, sweating, skin irritations, rashes, watery eyes and a pale skin color.

For those a little less evil, drinking the water could remind them to be a better person, said Brian Germann, president of Linden-based Wayne Enterprises Inc., a company that just placed the water on one store’s shelves last week.

Crown Heights Representetives at a VIP Reception in Washington on Opening Day of 110th Congress

Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Vice Chair Tzvi Lang (right) and Crown Heights Netzigim Chair Yankel Wice (center) pictured with US Senator Hillary Clinton at a VIP reception hosted by Senator Clinton in Washington for friends and supporters on the opening day of the 110th Congress. Rabbi Lang is also seen with New York’s Senior US Senator, Charles E. Schumer, in Washington. Lang and Wice also represented the community at a reception honoring new Member of Congress Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn and at a reception hosted at the National Jewish Democratic Council for all new Jewish Members of Congress and US Senate.

More in the Extended Article.

Rambam writings translated and published in Russian

Israel’s SHAMIR & New York’s FREE agencies in joint venture

Brooklyn, NY — Never will the 12th century cities of Cordoba, Fez and Tiberius get more connected to modern Moscow, Be’ersheva and Brooklyn than by the newly published Russian-language book titled “Rambam – Collected Writings”. The Rambam, an acronym for Rabbeinu Moshe ben Maimon, or Maimonides, probably never figured his books or letters would be immortalized through the ages.

But they were and the present anthology is offering a taste of the epic Torah scholarship and gigantic intellect of the 12th century Spanish-born physician of whom it has been said, “From Moshe (Rabbeinu) to Moshe (Maimonides) there never stood another Moshe.” The offer is made without cost to over three million Russian-speaking Jews in the world today.

Shiur at the Miami Semicha Program

This past Monday the 18th of Teves, the Miami Semicha Program received a most prominent guest, Rabbi Aharon Ziegler. Rabbi Ziegler is the Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Agudath Achim of Boro Park in Brooklyn, New York, which he had actively served for thirty six years. Rabbi Ziegler is currently the Dean and Rosh Kollel of Kollel Agudath Achim, a semicha granting program for advanced students in Talmudic studies.

Rabbi Ziegler gave a shiur on the inyan of Noisen Taam Lifgam. The shiur can be heard by Clicking Here, and a video clip in the Extended Article!

Friendship and Leadership

Shluchim Office’s Friendship Circle Division organizing first-ever girls’ volunteer leadership Shabbaton

Brooklyn, NY — Since its launching twelve years ago in West Bloomfield, Michigan, the Friendship Circle has become a phenomenon. The Chabad-based volunteer program, which pairs service-minded Jewish teens with children with special needs, has spread to 10 American states and four countries since its 1994 inception. A current total of 3,850 volunteers now operate under the leadership of their local shluchim worldwide.

“I never believed the success would go this far,” says Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the Circle’s founder. “I guess we underestimated the power of selfless and dedicated teenagers.”

Cartoon Riles Readers and Officials

Philadelphia, PA — Arnold Soslow wasn’t amused when he read an editorial cartoon in a recent edition of the Northeast Times. In fact, Soslow, 68, of Northeast Philadelphia, said he was appalled.

“To me, it was anti-Semitic,” said Soslow, calling the cartoonist’s spoof of the recent Seattle Christmas tree debacle “offensive and inaccurate.” He added, “That just hit home a little bit.”

Chasdei Zahavi Announces that Mordechai Ben David To Headline Soul II Soul 5767!

5th Annual concert fundraiser to benefit Crown Heights children with special needs will be held on February 24, 2007.

Crown Heights, NY, December 31, 2006: Mordechai Ben David, the legendary Chassidic singer, will be the star performer at the annual concert fundraiser to take place on February 24, 2007, at the George Wingate Auditorium, 600 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY at 8:30 P.M.

MBD will be in concert for the first time in Crown Heights. The Neshoma orchestra, under the musical direction of the incomparable Yaron Gershovsky, will provide the perfect accompaniment for this wonderful event.

Ex-president Gerald Ford dies

Los Angeles, CA – Gerald Ford, whose brief U.S. presidency is remembered mainly for his controversial pardon of Richard Nixon, was honored on Wednesday as a man who tried to heal a divided country.

The oldest living president at 93, Ford died on Tuesday of undisclosed causes at his home in California.

Ford was the only U.S. president not elected to either the presidency or vice presidency. He was appointed vice president in 1973 after Nixon’s vice president, Spiro Agnew, resigned to avoid prosecution on corruption charges.