Daniel’s Story – Arutz 7 Opinion

It is a perverse human quality, but we are drawn to news stories about human tragedies. Some characteristics of such stories intensify the level of our interest: descriptions or pictures of gore or disfigurement; pictures of grieving loved ones; and some form of personal connection – no matter how indirect – to those at the center of the tragedies. The adage “if it bleeds it leads” condenses this notion to a pithy directive.

Yet, the American media has failed to cover a story containing every item on the sure-to-interest-newsreaders’ checklist. I invite you to ponder why that is.

An Arab Palestinian homicide bomber detonated himself at a falafel stand in Israel on April 17th, during Passover. The murderer killed nine innocent people and wounded dozens.

‘A tremendous act of kindness’

SIMSBURY, Connecticut — In March, when Daniel Miller of Simsbury celebrated his bar mitzvah at Chabad of the Valley in Simsbury, Rabbi Mendy Samuels called up to the bimah Jacob*, the 15-year-old foster child that has been living with Daniel’s family.

Although he is Jewish, Jacob didn’t have a Jewish education and hadn’t had a bar mitzvah. But Daniel honored his foster brother in his bar mitzvah speech and presented him with a tallis.

“It was a very special moment,” said Lynn Rynar, Daniel’s mother and Jacob’s foster mother.

Clergy profile: Rabbi Bryski, Conejo Chabad

Rabbi Moshe Bryski, executive director of Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, said he first entered the local scene as a bus driver transporting children to a Morrison Ranch summer youth camp, and was later “drafted for a temporary position” at Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills.

That temporary position has lasted 22 years.

Bryski recalled the rapid growth of Agoura Hills since he arrived in the Conejo Valley.

During the years Bryski has been at Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, he has overseen the opening of new Chabad centers in Westlake Village, Calabasas, Oak Park and Camarillo, as well as in Thousand Oaks where his nephew, Rabbi Chaim Bryski, is in charge.

Swampscott Police, Chief Madigan honored by ADL

Swampscott police Chief Ronald Madigan came in for special honors last week as North Shore legal, education, law enforcement and interfaith leaders came together to explore issues related to the persistence of hate and bullying in our schools at the Anti-Defamation League’s annual Essex County Law and Education Day.

“Ron and the Swampscott Police Department understand what hate crimes are and how to respond to them, minimizing the fearful impact they can have on a community,” said Jim Rudolph, ADL Regional Board Chairman-elect.

“Under Chief Madigan’s leadership, the response to the recent incidents at the Chabad Lubavitch in Swampscott was exemplary. He is a law enforcement leader who understands and supports the ADL mission to fight hatred and bigotry. We wish there were more Ron Madigans,” Rudolph said.

Got Question? AskMoses!

“Can I have a some water?” With 20,000 water bottles to distribute at the Israel Independence Day Festival in Encino, CA, that had to be one of the easiest questions ever fielded by representatives of AskMoses.com.

Talmidim Hashluchim of Eretz Yisrael

As reported, the regional kinusim of Bachurim Shluchim are unfolding over the next few weeks. The next kinus will be taking place in Eretz Yisrael, and it will be happening this week. Shluchim from 6 Cities will gather together for a Shabbos of achdus and inspiration in the holy city of Tzfas. From Kfar Chabad and Tel Aviv, Yerushalayim, Cholon, and Bnei Brak.

Joining the 50 plus Shluchim will be Rabbi Mendel Gordon, Mashpia of Yeshiva Gedolah of London. Rabbi Gordon, who is flying to Tzfas specially for this Shabbos, will spend these precious few hours discussing preparations for Gimmel Tammuz.

Off-Duty Detective Intervenes in Brooklyn Mugging

A shootout broke-out on Wednesday afternoon in the Crown heights section of Brooklyn after an off-duty detective interrupted a mugging.

Authorities say it happened on the corner of Carroll Street and Utica Avenue in front of a construction site at about 2:15 p.m.

The victim was carrying about $10,000 in payroll for a construction site, when he was attacked by two armed men.

Winnipeg Chabad unveils plans for $3-million shul, yeshiva

Winnipeg, Canada — Chabad Lubavitch of Winnipeg’s longtime dream of building a yeshiva in this city is a step closer to reality.

In mid-April, Chabad spokesperson Rabbi Yaacov Simmonds unveiled plans for an ambitious $3-million Lubavitch centre in south Winnipeg that would include a synagogue, social hall, auditorium, library, lounge, classrooms, kosher kitchen, parking lot for 60 cars and a play area.

One of the goals for the new centre, Rabbi Simmonds notes, is to draw yeshiva students to Winnipeg.

Attempted Child Abduction In Crown Heights

During the late afternoon yesterday [Monday], a young child was on his way home when he was approached by a white male. The incident happened as the boy reached the intersection of Brooklyn Ave and Union St. where he was approached by a white male standing near a car offering to give him a ride home. The boy who had B”H received the Shomrim Alert in school and was warned that there are predators on the loose in our area, knew not to accept the offer. They were also taught not to engage strangers in any conversation, even as innocent as giving directions or asking a name, and definitely not to accept any gifts, candies, or rides. Immediately upon being approached the boy sensed something was amiss and ran home.

The family immediately called Shomrim, who in turn enlisted the help of the NYPD Community Patrol Unit. For hours afterwards Shomrim members could be seen roaming the streets of Crown Heights along with the NYPD looking for the would-be kidnapper. Unfortunately, they were never-the-less unsuccessful in locating the perpetrator.

Gutnicks dig in again

“This must be the most exciting gold province in Australia today. We could find the big one here,” former mining magnate Joseph Gutnick said a decade ago.

He was talking about Western Australia’s eastern goldfields, and in Melbourne this month, Gutnick’s eldest son, Mordechai, repeated the prophecy.

“We’ve got every chance in the world of making a discovery,” Gutnick says, referring to the same ground that excited his father 10 years ago.

City to Limit Car Traffic in Central Park and Prospect Park

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Moving to further reduce traffic in city parks, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced yesterday that stretches of Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn would close to cars under a six-month pilot program to begin June 5.

Under the plan, vehicles will no longer be able to use the East Drive of Central Park north of 72nd Street during weekday mornings or the West Drive in the afternoons. In Prospect Park, drivers will lose morning access to the West Drive, which runs roughly parallel to Prospect Park West.

“For many years people coming to Prospect Park or Central Park for recreation during weekdays have had to share road space on the park drives with automobiles,” Mr. Bloomberg said in Prospect Park as he announced the changes.