Chabad Welcomes its New Torah scroll

Solon, OH — With hundreds of children leading the way and musical accompaniment by Yiddishe Cup, 500 participants helped welcome a new Torah scroll to the Chabad Jewish Center of Solon on Sunday, Sept 10.

The sofer (scribe) Elly Jacobs of Columbus finished the last few letters with quill and ink in the Chabad sanctuary. Then the Torah scroll – the first one especially commissioned for the synagogue – was held aloft, dressed in a new mantle and adorned with silver crowns by Rabbi Zushe Greenberg. It was carried under a special chupah (wedding canopy) to the waiting throng.

A New Generation Enjoys an Ancient Celebration

We read in the Talmud that Sukkot is when God judges the world for rainfall. In the days of the Temple, a special ritual, “the pouring of the water,” was performed each day of the holiday, asking God to provide the rain that was needed.

The rabbis tell us that thousands of spectators came to watch the drawing of the water used for the ceremony, and that the event was surrounded by feasting, dancing, and singing. In fact, says the Mishnah, “He who has not seen the rejoicing at the Place of the Water-Drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life.”

Today, we recall this special ceremony — a gathering marked by music and dance, with refreshments served in a sukkah. On Oct. 10, the entire Jewish community of Teaneck will have an opportunity to take part in such a celebration, to be held at Cong. Keter Torah.

Davening With the Stars

Joanna Breckner spotted John Lithgow on Yom Kippur. “According to Jim” cast and crew showed up for parts of morning prayers. Religion was in the spotlight when CBS Studios hosted Chabad of Studio City’s High Holiday services.

Delivering Schach in Cordoba, Argentina

Several years ago there was a picture floating around of Shliach Rabbi Yossi Turk of Cordoba Argentina delivering s’chach on a horse and boggy. This picture became very popular recently with local s’chach merchants using it for their ads. Today, CrownHeights.Info reconfirmed that this same horse still continues to deliver s’chach once again through the streets of Cordoba.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Halutz fires Maj.-Gen. Ron-Tal

Former OC Ground Forces Maj.-Gen. Yiftah Ron-Tal, who was discharged from the army by Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz on Wednesday night, said Thursday morning that he was not interested in becoming a politician.

Speculations arose that Ron-Tal would join the Likud Party after he held a meeting last week with Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu. Ron-Tal dismissed the claims however, saying it was a random meeting.

Ron-Tal, speaking to Israel Radio, blasted Halutz’s decision to fire him, saying, “it is worthy of the Chief of Staff to first and foremost demand from himself what he so passionately demands from others, especially when lives and the security of the nation are at stake.”

‘Press Release’ from the Vaad Hakohol

(Brooklyn, NY) — Moshe Rubashkin, Chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council has expressed his deepest concerns about the latest attack on a young Jewish bochur by 7 black men which sent him to the hospital on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year.

The assault occurred in an area frequented by violence at Schenectady and Carroll Avenues.

Because of a close connection with the 71st and 77th precincts of the NYPD, Chief Fox and Inspector Vega, police manpower was stationed within earshot of the incident only 1 block away who responded immediately to the commotion.

Selective Enforcement: NYC’s Finest Strike Back?

Click here for a newscast of this event! (CBS2)

(CBS) NEW YORK — A picture may be worth a thousands words, but if the photo is of a police officer’s personal car parked illegally, you may need some of those words to talk your way out of a pair of handcuffs.

Three people said recently police detained them for nothing more than taking pictures on public, New York City sidewalks.

It happened to Jan Lee. The Chinatown businessman, frustrated by city employees parking illegally in front of his antique store on Mott Street, decided to start documenting the abuses.

Gallery: Preparing for Sukkos

Buying Daled Minim. More in the Extended Article!

Shomrim Put Out First Marked Patrol Car

We have seen the scooters zipping around day and night, and for the first time ever Crown Heights Shomrim Division is putting a fully marked patrol car on the road. Donated by Aron & Mirit Hershkop of Everything Automotive this is the first of two cars that have been donated, in memory of Ephraim Klein HY”D who was murdered on the streets of Crown Heights. The second car is due to hit the streets next month.

The idea behind the marked patrol car is with ‘crime prevention’ in mind. Every night there are one or two Shomrim members patrolling in their private cars keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood, while this is good for an immediate response to call’s and to spot the crime as it happens, it is not as affective for preventing crime.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Lubavitch Rabbi Ruffles Wrong Feathers

Brighton, Boston – The city is cracking down on the rabbi who ruffled feathers in his Brighton neighborhood by slaughtering dozens of chickens Erev Yom Kippur as part of a religious ritual and later turned his driveway into a makeshift butcher shop.

The city plans to issue a nuisance notice today to the owner of 239 Chestnut Hill Ave., where yesterday dozens of squawking chickens were beheaded as part of a ritual preceding.

Rabbi Pinchus Krinsky of the Lubavitcher Shul, started performing the slaughter at his home five years ago after his butcher shop closed, said next-door neighbor Larry Loew who says he complained to the city about the unsanitary conditions. “This is not a religious issue. This is a health issue,” Loew said. “You can’t butcher in the name of any God in your back yard without the proper drainage and meeting health codes. He’s putting everyone around him at risk.”

Kapores Erev Yom Kippur

Click the Extended Article for a gallery of pictures!

Board responds positively to Chabad proposal

Princeton, NJ – The Princeton Regional Planning Board heard a presentation from the Orthodox Jewish sect known as Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Mercer County last week regarding its plans to build a center and adja cent home for its rabbi.

Chabad President Mort Cohen and Rabbi Dovid Dubov presented the board with a concept plan. Chabad wants to construct two buildings on 18.4 acres it purchased along the north side of State Road in the township. The first would be a 5,400-square-foot, single-family home for Dubov and his wife, who have lived in the area for 14 years.

The house would include a two- car garage, “oversized” dining rooms and living quarters to “ac commodate congregational activities,” and a swimming pool.

Yom Kippur Fasting Tips

As Yom Kippur rapidly approaches, our thoughts and consciousness turn to prayer and repentance, along with the daunting task of a 25-hour abstention from all food and drink. Yom Kippur is the one and only fast day commanded in the Torah which clearly indicates that the fasting itself is a most essential and required part of its observance. A fast of such length is no easy trip for anyone, but there are a number of tips and suggestions that can ease the fast-related hunger.

The day before ….

• Hydrate! Most of the unpleasantness associated with a fast does not come from lack of food, but rather, lack of fluid. The solution is to drink as much water as possible before the fast. Although you may feel you’re about to float off, it will be worth it by the time the fast is well underway. Beware of beer or other alcoholic beverages; they will only dehydrate you. Water or diluted orange juices are the safest options.

Authorities clear suspicious bag found at JFK parking lot

Five hours after getting reports of a suspicious bag at a John F. Kennedy International Airport parking lot, investigators determined the unattended package was not a threat and authorities began allowing vehicular traffic back to the area early Friday.

The bag did contain a powdery substance, but a hazmat team deemed it non-hazardous, said Pasquale DiFulco, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport.

The terminals, among eight in use at the airport, serve several international airlines, including Air France, plus Continental and Delta airlines.