Israeli History Comes to Life for High Schoolers

Los Alamitos, CA — A room of high school students sat in silence Sunday morning as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir recounted her signing of the Jewish nation’s declaration of independence.

Women Pay Tribute

Jamaica, NY — Thousands of Hasidic Jewish women recited psalms and prayed for guidance Friday as they huddled around the Queens gravesite of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, wife of the last Lubavitcher rebbe.

The rebbetzin, who died 19 years ago Saturday, was known for her loyalty to her husband, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, whom she pushed to become the seventh rebbe – or spiritual leader – in 1950.

Acknowledging the rebbe and rebbetzin’s inspiring lives, scores of female emissaries from places as distant as Australia, Japan and Siberia journeyed to the couple’s final resting place in Cambria Heights.

Shanghai Restores Historic Synagogue

Shanghai, China — Shanghai has started restoration work on one of its two remaining synagogues as part of China’s effort to revive Jewish heritage in a city that provided refuge to tens of thousands of Jews during World War II.

Inspired by Henson — and Schneerson

Dovid Taub has two main inspirations: Jim Henson and the Lubavitcher rebbe. Through his ability to knit threads of holiness and ancient kabbalistic wisdom into the fabric of his puppetry, Taub has created a comedy sitcom to which fellow Hasidim return every week. The “Itche Kadoozy Show” features a Hasidic rabbi and his troublemaking young neighbor who poke lots of fun at each other and see the world through very different eyes, yet ultimately learn life’s mystical lessons from each other. Through these opposing characters, Taub brings a new dimension to his genre — secularism and sacredness mingled into one — leaving all types of fans begging for more.

Condo Bans Mezuzos

Fort Lauderdale, FL — Laurie Richter says Jewish law requires her to attach a mezuzah to her doorpost.

But the board that runs The Port condominium, in the 1800 block of Southeast 17th Street, says displaying the 5-inch-long case with a religious message inside violates the condo documents and has ordered it removed.

Bloomberg Addresses Conflict In Middle East While Visiting Region

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Israel for the second day Friday where he talked to reporters about the conflicts in the region and how they affect America and other free nations.

“All of us are in this battle together,” he said. “Nine-eleven may have taken place in Lower Manhattan, but it was freedom loving people around the world and the way they practice their religions, have freedom of speech and control their own destinies that terrorists find so threatening.”

A wedding as it should be: full of spirituality

I danced in circles with dozens of elegantly clad women as the band played a Hasidic tune that seemed to go on and on. The blisters on the bottoms of my feet were evidence that I gave it my all, not used to wearing high heels or dancing, especially not at the same time.

I recently attended the wedding of Chanie and Mendy Yarmush at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa. Chanie is the daughter of Sulha and Yossi Dubrowski, who have run Chabad-Lubavitch of Tampa Bay in Carrollwood for the past 20 years. Chabad is a mystical form of Hasidic Judaism that focuses on outreach to unaffiliated nonobservant Jews like me.

Auschwitz and Darfur

The images from Sudan are horrific: wounded, starving, diseased adults; skeletal, dying infants. Some people have referred to this as “ethnic cleansing,” and the U.S. called it “genocide.” Since 2003, an estimated 400,000 Africans have been massacred by the state-sanctioned Janjaweed (“men on horses”), many of them through savage torture. Many men had their eyes poked out. Countless women were raped, and if they refused, their arms and legs were broken. Children were mutilated while others perished from famine and disease. Two million people have been displaced from their homes and villages.

As youngsters, many of us could not fathom how the world remained silent as six million Jews were taken to their deaths. How was it that even among many Jews apathy prevailed? How, we wondered, could anybody go to sleep at night knowing that tomorrow another 12,000 Jews (as was the number in 1944) would be gassed?

But human nature knows all too cruelly how to detach. One of the tragic ironies of life: As many of us get ready to enjoy a serene weekend, in Darfur others will brace for rape, torture and death.

After Agoura Eruv Dismantled, Residents ask ‘What’s up with that?’

Conejo Valley, CA — Construction of an eruv in the Conejo Valley was nearly complete last month when area residents began complaining to public officials about aesthetics and safety concerns as well as a lack of proper permits. Last week the eruv’s organizers ordered all remaining portions along the enclosure’s 5-mile perimeter be dismantled.

“We are sorry that mistakes were made and that the eruv was put up in an incorrect way,” Eruv Committee spokesman Eli Eisenberg told a hostile crowd of about 60 Conejo residents during the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting on Jan. 23.

Ukraine native staying home to keep Jewish tradition alive

Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine — As an observant Jew, Moishe Leib Kolesnik admits he thinks about moving to Israel and the ease of living a religious lifestyle there rather than staying in this Western Ukraine city.

But Kolesnik just can’t leave his hometown, which he serves as spiritual leader and keeper of all things Jewish.

“Leaving the community for some time is very difficult for me,” he acknowledges.

Jewish Holidays Come Early at Aleph

Surfside, FL — Out of sight, out of mind . . . When Jewish holidays come around, it’s easy to forget those who, for whatever reason, are beyond the general community. Sometimes, they are remembered by token gestures. Oftentimes, they are baited by proselytizing groups. One Jewish organization is in full gear now to make sure that come Purim and Passover, no Jew is left behind.

The Winners of the Darchai Menachem Chinese Auction!

SPLIT THE POT – FREEDA SCHAPIRO
JACKPOT 1 – YEHUDIT GOODMAN
JACKPOT 2 – AMICHAI COHEN

1. GRAND PRIZE – CHANA JACOBSON
2. COMPUTER – ROCHEL GINSBURG
3. ISRAEL/EUROPE TRIP – YITZCHOK HURWITZ
4. EZAGUI BOOKCASE – CHAIM NEWBORT
5. MAGNIFICENT DIAMONDS – MICA SOFFER

List Continued in the Extended Article!