Jews grow in faith at Chabad

Well into her first year at Western Washington University, Elizabeth Setlow wanted to learn more than what was taught in her college classes. She also wanted to learn more about what it means to be Jewish.

“I had sort of a secular upbringing” on Whidbey Island, Setlow said. “I always identified myself as Jewish, but I never had the opportunity to do anything about it.”

Accident in the intersection of Carroll and Albany

At around 3:45pm yesterday two minivans collided in the intersection of Carroll and Albany, both drivers were ok and refused medical attention, and both are Jewish members of the community.

According to one of the drivers, a woman who was driving down Carroll St she had a green light when all of a sudden a white minivan just drove up right in front of her and they collided, the driver of the other van was overheard saying they he tried to stop but his brakes failed and he couldn’t stop. B”H no one was injured the only damage was to the cars.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Stabbing At Crown Heights Subway Station

Click Here for a Newscast of this event

The suspect in a stabbing at Crown Heights in the Botanic Gardens subway station remains on the loose. Police have questioned several people already, but no arrests have been made.

According to police, the victim was stabbed on the steps leading from the subway to the Franklin Avenue shuttle.

I’m surprised. Nothing like this ever happened over here. Surprised. Got to watch my back, it could happen to anybody.”

Tajikistan’s synagogue could be razed in two weeks

Despite widespread international protests, authorities in Tajikistan are still planning to demolish the country’s only synagogue to make way for the expansion of a presidential palace, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

And while the precise timing of the synagogue’s destruction remains unclear, there are indications that it might be carried out before the end of the month.

In February, local demolition teams began tearing down the century-old synagogue in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, but halted in the wake of an outcry from abroad, though not before they had managed to raze the community’s mikve, an office and a classroom.

Why are Beth Rivkah girls collecting Pennies?

It was Moussie’s birthday and her bubby asked her what she would like as a gift; she could pick anything. Without delay, Moussie replied that she would like pennies. Why would an eighth grade student want pennies for her birthday when she could have requested anything, you ask?

Simple, that is all Moussie thinks about these days. Her eighth grade class in Beth Rivkah Elementary School in Brooklyn, New York, is frantically gathering pennies in conjunction with their studies of the Holocaust.

Stolen Car Service Wrecks Havoc On Montgomery St

At around 7:45 this evening residents on Montgomery St between Kingston and Albany were witness to one of the most bizarre accidents. A black Lincoln Town Car, Licensed to a Car Service, was speeding in reverse from Albany going towards Kingston, upon reaching the middle of the block the car lost control and plowed into 4 parked cars, all of which are owned by Jewish residents of the community.

The incident began on Empire Blvd and Brooklyn Ave where this Car Service was allegedly involved in a minor accident with a blue Ford Taurus and attempted to flee from the scene, the Ford followed the Car Service and blocked it at Montgomery and Albany, which is when the Car Service attempted to reverse down the block.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Historic Milah Moment in Albany

In contrast to NYC administration opposition to the traditional Bris Milah Metziza B’peh, the New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Antonia Novello officiated Monday at the signing of a protocol authorizing Metziza B’peh as a safe and accepted procedure.

The event followed a series of lengthy meetings, research and deliberations between CRC Rabbis and Commissioner Novello coordinated by Rabbi Niederman of Williamsburg.

Rabbi Yisroel Rubin the Rebbe’s Shliach in Albany, in coordination with Rabbi Nochum Kaplan of the Merkos Misrad HaChinuch in Crown Heights, helped direct the effort, and were thanked at the signing ceremony for their assistance.

The Human Spirit: Share the spice

We’ve become accustomed to hearing exotic Chabad stories. In Peru, Lubavitchers hiking up the Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu bring kosher food and religious services to Israeli backpackers. In Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City they make a Seder.

But what happens when hassidim in black hats and scruffy beards, or hassidic women in wigs and long sleeves, set up shop on the home turf for philosophy, science and skepticism? How does asking “are you Jewish” and issuing Shabbat dinner invitations fly on university campuses steeped in universalism and political correctness?

That’s what The Hebrew University’s esteemed researcher and professor of Jewish education Barry Chazan and doctoral student David Bryfman set out to find out. Their recently published results debunk a fair number of myths about Jewish young adults.

Embarrassing Mugging Circumstances

At around 9:15 earlier tonight, three bochurim were mugged on the corner of Albany Ave and St. Johns. Just blocks from a jewish building. The mugging occurred while the 22- 23 year old bochurim were conversing, during which there was a cash exchange, at that point a couple of black teenagers ran by and grabbed the cash (Aprox. $200) and sped away on their bikes.

Shomrim were called, and arrived on scene within minutes, who searched the area for the teenagers, but to no avail.

We would like to remind our readers; it’s the summer time, which usually coincides with a spike in crime, especially at night. Please be careful, and if you see something call Shomrim at (718) 774-3333.