New Paltz leaders decry anti-Semitism

The Town Board has condemned incidents of vandalism and behavior targeting the local Jewish community.

The resolution was adopted at the behest of town resident Ira Margolis, who last month requested the board denounce what he says has been an increasing number of instances of “Judeo-phobic behavior” and “acts of prejudice against people of Jewish heritage.”

Town Supervisor Toni Hokanson subsequently had Margolis’ proposed resolution reworded by the town attorney, and it was adopted unanimously by the board last week.

Police Post Reward Posters All Over Crown Heights

Tefillin now permitted in PA Dept. Of Corrections

The Pennsylvania department of corrections, Jeffery A. Beard, Ph.D. Secretary, yesterday (3/3/2006) signed into policy, permitting Jewish inmates to have in their personal property a pair of Tefillin (phylacteries).
Tefillin are square leather boxes with straps, Jewish men over the age of thirteen don them daily (besides Sabbath and Jewish holydays), during prayer in the morning.

Until now Tefillin were permitted for use in the chapel only, as there was the fear of it being used for its unintended purpose. These arrangements, due to the work load of the chaplains in their respective facilities, were not adhered to, according to Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, Executive Director of the Aleph Institute in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately inmates who wished to put on Tefillin were not able to do so.

At a meeting in September between Mr. John S. Shaffer Ph. D. Executive Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Corrections and Rabbi Vogel, the former agreed to review the state policy once again, to see what he could do to modify the policy. Mr. Shaffer really made this his mission and lobbied hard for what is right and just.

New Clue in Crown Heights Shooting

Police have a new clue in the shooting death of an Lubavitch man in Crown Heights, Brooklyn this week.

47-year old Efraim Klein of Union Street was hit by a bullet as he moved his van for alternate side parking in the early morning hours Tuesday. The vehicle went out of control and slammed into several parked cars before bursting into flames.

The motive is still unclear, but some investigators believe it could’ve been a stray bullet or some kind of road rage scenario.

Now the NYPD is circulating a photo of a white Chevy box van that was apparently captured on a surveillance video moments after the shooting about a block away. The van was traveling southbound on Schenectady Avenue. Police consider the van driver a possible witness and are urging the public to identify him or her.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS.

Anti-Orthodox Center?

First, one of its constituent members, the American Jewish Historical Society, sold off what some scholars believe to be communal treasures — portraits of a leading Colonial Jewish family.

Then it was learned that the Center for Jewish History, on West 16th Street, was losing more than $1 million a year, which led to sharp budget cuts and some layoffs.

And in another blow to the institution often touted as the Jewish people’s Smithsonian, a U.S. District Court judge recently let stand one part of a lawsuit against the center and its chairman, Bruce Slovin, alleging religious discrimination. The suit was filed in 2002 by two Orthodox employees who were fired.

Chabad to remain apolitical in elections

It is unlikely that Chabad will throw its considerable weight behind any particular party, said Thursday Rabbi Menahem Gluckowsky, deputy secretary of Chabad’s Rabbinic Court, the senior decision-making body for the Chabad Hassidim in Israel.

Gluckowsky was reacting to media reports that Chabad was mulling support for Agudat Yisrael, which is part of United Torah Judaism.

“Chabad is not a political movement,” said Gluckowsky. “The rebbe [Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson] rarely supported any particular party. He always told to us to vote for the party that was the most God-fearing.”

Among adult learning initiatives, Chabad institute keeps on growing

In this tony enclave in Marin County, a San Francisco suburb once known for its hot tubs and encounter groups, 20 largely middle-aged professionals gathered one recent Monday to begin an eight-week course in The Kabbalah of Time.

It was a typical group for Marin: a handful of retired professors, a lawyer or two and a half-dozen therapists. Leading the class was Chabad Rabbi Yisrael Rice.

“Behind everything there is a divine dynamic, which kabbalah reveals,” Rice begins, setting the tone for what will be a very complex and intellectually demanding 90 minutes.

Mayor Bloomberg Gives Condolences and Thanks to Vaad Hakohol

Yesterday afternoon Moshe Rubashkin Director of the CHJCC and the Yoshev Rosh Va’ad Hakohol received a surprising phone call from the Mayor, Michel R. Bloomberg.

The Mayor gave his condolences on the terrible loss of a member of the community R. Efraim Klein, and praised Rubashkin and the CHJCC for the way they have handled the situation.

300 Women In Lithuania Find Reason to Sing

Bringing Judaism back to Vilna, the once glorious “Jerusalem of Lithuania,” known for its scholars and bastions of Talmud study, is so last century. Last weekend, Chabad representatives Rabbi Sholom Ber and Nechama Dina Krinsky hosted a Shabbat retreat for 60 families from Klaipeda, which was followed by a Jewish women’s concert on Saturday night that attracted an audience of 300.

Never heard of Klaipeda? It’s 200 miles or so from Vilnius, situated where the Kurish Bay meets the Baltic Sea. Those familiar with Jewish pre-war history are more apt to recognize it’s other name: Memel. A one-time home of Rabbi Israel Lipkin (Salanter), father of the Mussar movement, the Jewish population of Klaipeda once amounted to 14% of its population. Shortly before the Holocaust, 7 of Klaipeda’s 21 judges were Jewish, and a good portion of commerce and trade was in Jewish hands.

Chabad Stamp Souvenir Card

The Shluchim Office working closely with IGPC has created a number of gifts and souvenir items for the new Chabad stamp which the Israel Postal Authority issued this week.

The stamp has a drawing of 770 on the background of the world with the words Chochma Bina Daas printed on it, as well as a pair of Tefillin and Shabbos Candles.

This stamp celebrates the major impact the Rebbe and Chabad have had in Israel and their social and religious contributions to Judaism globally. It is a major step for the secular Israeli government to acknowledge the enormous efforts of Lubavitch.

Should this stamp be made available by every Chabad House worldwide (even only by request), it will mark the first time in history that a government issued postage stamp has been so widely available.

Hollywood Meets Tefillin Bank

After having spent many years in Hollywood, working as a producer and a director on a panoply of high-profile projects, Paul Mones had seen almost everything imaginable. However, just last week, his own heritage treated him to something entirely new.

Rabbi Chaim Drizin, recently met Paul and they became fast friends. After an initial exposure to Yiddishkeit, Mr. Mones joined Rabbi Drizin for a trip that would change his life.

The two traveled to the Rebbe’s Ohel, where Mr. Mones, for the first time in his life, donned Tefillin. Paul expressed that he, “enjoyed it immensely, I really love to do it.” The impact of the experience was so strong that he decided to make it a part of his daily life.

Woman Rescued From Roof Of Burning Building

Husband, Bystander And FDNY Combine To Make Save

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A woman’s husband, a stranger and three firefighters all helped to rescue a woman who was dangling from the roof of a 25-story building, forced outside because of heavy smoke.

The woman, Cherylann John, on vacation from Trinidad with her husband, Robert John, held onto his hands and those of another man on the roof, after heavy smoke engulfed the top floors of the Ebbets Field Houses at 1700 Bedford Ave. in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Fire officials say it was a fire in a trash compactor that went up the shaft around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Chabad Nears End In Village Board

Edging closer to a final decision on the Chabad of Southampton Jewish Center, the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals heard what might be the final arguments from opponents last Thursday.

In order for Chabad to operate as a house of worship and community center on Hill Street, it needs a special exception permit from its current residential zoning status. Among other variances, the applicants are seeking relief from the requirement to provide total onsite parking.

Representing a handful of residents opposed to the center, attorney David Peirez primarily rebutted arguments made by the applicant’s attorney Jeff Bragman and the team of experts he produced last month.
Peirez said Bragman’s presentation was misleading, taking particular offense to the “mumbo jumbo” talk that Chabad has constitutional protection concerning local zoning laws.

Police Reposts Command Center On Kingston And President

In an obvious attempt to look good the police posted up the Patrol Borough Brooklyn South Mobile Command Post on the corner of Kingston and President, and put cops on foot to walk up and down Kingston to give residents the “added comfort” that the Police are here to protect us. First the police removed the command post from Carroll and Schenectady (probably since they were scared someone will brake into it) and had it parked by the precinct, then the police decided to post it on Kingston and President, giving us residents what?

But who will pay for all the Police Officers over time? We will!!! From hundreds of observations made by residents of cops who were pulling over motorists for everything and anything, like turning without signaling and not completely stopping at stop signs. Other outrageous things included cops walking the beat getting bored and began checking cars inspections!!!

How long will we allow ourselves to be abused like this? Who will stand up and scream of the loss of a resident of our community? Will he have died in vain? Our community leaders have no backbone they do not stand up. This is a call for us residents to gather up together ourselves and make a stand!