Israel File: Keeping The Morale High

Nine thirty p.m., Tuesday, in Akko, where homes have been barraged by katyusha attacks, Chabad representatives, Rabbis Natan Oirechman, Yosef Makmel and Avi Harosh gather round a desk for their nightly meeting at the Baal Shem Tov synagogue.

Byron Bay to jump on Chabad wave

Byron Bay, Australia — Sun, surf, alternative living – and Chabad. It doesn’t sound like Byron Bay, but that’s about to change when the area’s first permanent Jewish centre opens later this month.

Rabbi Mosheh Serebryanski, who runs activities and services on the Gold Coast and currently travels to Byron Bay about once a week, last week finalised a lease on premises in the Byron Bay Industrial Estate, about five minutes’ drive from the centre of the beachside northern NSW town.

He said the establishment of a designated centre would provide the local community of around 1000 Jews, including a large proportion of Israelis, with a place to call home for Jewish classes, prayer services and social activities.

New Shluchim To Buenos Aires Argentina

Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Levi have recently moved on Shlichus to Colegiales in Buenos Aires Argentina to establish a new Chabad House, serving the residents of the area with youth programs, Shul services, shiurim, and working with the local singles and university students.

The Levy’s were appointed by the head Shliach of Argentina Rabbi Tzvi Grunblat.

HATZLOCHA RABBA!

The new Shluchim can be reached via e-mail at jabadcolegiales@latinmail.com

‘Chabad at the Shore’ Hopes for Sunny Minyan

Ventnor, NJ – Hoping to attract vacationers to the Jersey shore, Chabad-Lubavitch has opened a storefront synagogue in the heart of Ventnor, just blocks from the beach and boardwalk.

The synagogue, called Chabad at the Shore, is being run by Chabad of Atlantic County, a roughly 14-year-old organization based in Margate, N.J., the town that neighbors Ventnor.

The Margate site — not too far from the brand-new Milton and Betty Katz Jewish Community Center of Atlantic County — includes a synagogue.

However, that Chabad shul is located on a block that’s not often traversed by tourists or beachcombers, according to Rabbi Shmuel Rapoport, who oversees Chabad of Atlantic County.

Attempted Mugging on Troy and Eastern Parkway

On Shabbos afternoon a Bochur walking on Eastern Pkwy and Troy was approached by 2 black males one of which pulled a knife on him and demanded money while the other showed the grip of what appeared to be a pistol and backed up his partner in crime. A witness to this incident immediately called Shomrim who responded while the perps fled up Troy towards Lincoln Pl. where Shomrim aborted the pursuit.

The victim was not harmed B”H and Shomrim advised the victim to call police after Shabbos and file a report.

If you see something or are the victim of any such crime don’t hesitate to call 911 and Shomrim at (718) 774-3333 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Chabad at Massive rally for Eretz Yisroel in Sydney Australia

Sydney, Australia – Yesterday, Sunday there was a massiv Rally for Eretz Yisroel in Sydney with well over a thousand people attending.

The Chabad Yeshiva was there putting on teffilin as the Rebbe directed during times of war in Israel.

The Bochurim of the Yeshiva gathered all the kids of the community and said the 12 psukin and kapital tehillim, and some stories were said about how some soldiers were saved by putting on teffilin and how by kids saying tehillim and saying the pesukim, can have an effect in Eretz Yisroel.

Chabad Woman Awarded OAM

Melbourne, Australia – An Australian woman, a member of Melbourne’s Chabad-Lubavitch community, known for her devotion to the disabled community and for good works in the Jewish community received Australia’s highest civilian medal from Queen Elizabeth II.

On June 12, Zipporah Oliver, of Port Phillip, Victoria, received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and was “the only sheitel (wig) wearing Chassidic woman on the list,” according to the Australian Jewish News.

She was also one of the very few to receive a double citation, in recognition of her work both on behalf of people affected by disabilities and within the Jewish community. Far beyond the great personal satisfaction derived from receiving what the Australian government deems “the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service,” Oliver regards the award as a sanctification of G-d’s name because it “showcases religious women in a positive light.”

Duo tours Ozarks

Branson, MO – When Yosef Rivkin and Yehuda Reiz arrived in Branson on Tuesday, they expected to find three or four other Jews. Instead, the two young men found about a dozen.

Rivkin and Reiz are visiting communities throughout southwest Missouri to talk to Jews about their faith and encourage them to be observant – from lighting candles on the Sabbath eve to placing a mezuzah on their doors.

The two rabbinical students are part of the Chabad- Lubavitch in Kansas City.

Their expression of their Jewish faith is conservative by Joel Merryfield’s standards. But the Branson businessman welcomed them in for a visit, understanding that the work they do is also part of their faith.

Families with Mideast ties keep eyes on battlefront

Flint, MI – Spreading Mideast violence hit home Thursday for a local family whose son came close to being hit by a rocket fired into northern Israel.

On Thursday, Israelis bombed the Beirut airport and other locations in Lebanon on a course of action sparked by the capture of an Israeli soldier by Hamas-linked militants more than two weeks ago. Earlier this week, two more Israeli soldiers were captured after a Hezbollah cross-border raid.

Picture of the Night!

Last night Crown Heights along with the greater New York area was pounded with a heavy storm, gusting winds hit 45mph and the torrents of rain that came down brought visibility down significantly. The storm had even leveled a factory in Westchester and residents described it as a tornado! Accompanying the rain was heavy lightening and thunderstorms.

In the photo you see 770 with the night sky lit up by a lightening, the photo was taken shortly before 12:00am, while it was still raining. In the extended article there is an animation depicting what the sky looked like.