‘A Key Debate at a Crucial Time in Israeli Relations’

‘Dershowitz in Democracy Tour Across Europe’

Hot on the heals of the Palestinian election and in the wake of the cartoon controversy, Harvard Law School Professor and internationally renowned lawyer, Alan Dershowitz is embarking on a sell-out European tour for Democracy. Presenting ‘the case for Israel, the case for peace’ on his stops in Brussels, the UK (Oxford and London), and Holland (Leiden, Amsterdam and The Hague), Dershowitz will meet and debate with key national and European politicians and decision-makers; academics; embassy officials; journalists; think tanks; student bodies; and community leaders.

Dershowitz is keenly anticipating the trip: “The timing is opportune as I’ve just met with Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, his primary opponent Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Israel . I firmly believe that when the Palestinians and the Muslim states really want a Palestinian state more than they want to eliminate the Jewish state, there will finally be a two-state solution. I look forward to putting forward this case.”

The tour is being organised by the European Centre for Jewish Students (ECJS). Executive Director, Yossi Waks, acknowledges: “This visit comes at a particularly challenging and crucial time in Israeli relations. Following the Hamas victory, we realize the importance of addressing the impact of the new electoral reality, as well as the likely outcome of the Israeli election. We are delighted to have someone as prominent as Professor Dershowitz to take this on.”

The Wrong Whistle In The Wrong Mouth

This in from the Inbox

There has been much ado sparked from the tragic murder of R’ Efraim Klein, may G-D avenge his blood. I do not claim to know Efraim well, although i have spoken to him on a few occasions. He was a nice man and a figure of 770 that will not be forgotten.

But these following words will not be masked and enclothed in false “Love” and “Care” about the community, or Efraim; rather they will depict the cold, hard facts that many chose to ignore. This community has been getting more dangerous in the past eighteen months; no longer can one walk on the street without thinking “what if”, and “crown and Schenectady” considered “Safe”. Many mothers worry in horror about their children walking at night in the streets of crown heights, which were once considered safe. Residents of crown heights are growing and scared and worried – and for valid reasons. Crime.

The crime in this community is escalating; the holy puritan neighborhood of Crown Heights is becoming a safe haven for criminals. But many people refuse to recognize these facts, and instead, turn to their self righteousness and political agendas to speak for themselves; as a resident of crown heights, I was interested in hearing the words of the political leaders of the community and region. I was unpleasant(ly surprised) to hear more praise for the police and the reverse race-card. This was something that made me sick. Is this what people think about after someone gets killed? It hasn’t been less than twenty four hours since the ‘Retziche’, and i’m hearing words about racial tension (or the lack of). Excuse my French, but who the hell said anything about racial tension? Who said anything about a hate crime? Is every murder in this community due to a lack of “tolerance”? Yes, certainly crime is done out of the lack of tolerance of self control, but does every crime have to be traced to Nazi Germany or the 1991 pogroms?

Iowa Students Learn about True Freedom

Rabbi Levi Goldstein, Shliach to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, runs a weekly Lunch ‘n Learn program. In honor of the upcoming holiday of Purim, the Shliach, resolved to teach the participating students the true meaning of freedom and he brought a Megillah to show them.

Moscow’s Mass Stabber: The Laws Were Written by Jews

“The criminal laws were written by Jews, members of the Jewish Mafia. I therefore refuse to admit to any guilt”, declared Alexander Koptsev, convicted of stabbing Jews in a Moscow synagogue around a month ago (you can read the story by Clicking Here). Koptsev made this statement at his trial Yesterday, just after the prosecutor read the charges against him for stabbing nine Jews in the Chabad Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue on January 11th.

Driver Is Dead After Bullet Hits Van

A man apparently looking for a parking spot near his home in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, early yesterday died after he was shot through the window of his van, causing him to lose control and sideswipe several parked cars before he crashed and the van caught fire the police said.

The man, Frederick Klein, 47, was killed after a bullet pierced the van’s passenger window, went through his right arm and lodged in his chest, said Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the police. After Mr. Klein was shot, his van hit five cars before it slammed into a sixth and burst into flames just before 1:30 a.m. on Carroll Street between Schenectady and Utica Avenues, Mr. Browne said.

Well Over 1000 Attend Efraim Klein HY”D’s Levaya

Click Here for a Newscast of the Levaya from NEWS12
Click Here for a video clip of the Levaya from Shmais

Bochurim from Oholei Torah Zal and Mesivta as well as Bochurim from Chovevai Torah Zal and all grades from the Bais Rivkah High School attended Efraim Kleins Levaya along with hundreds of members of the community.

Efraim was murdered earlier this morning from wounds inflicted upon him by a gunshot wound which police still have no idea who shot him and where he was shot, and are still investigating.

The Levaya arrived in front of 770 at around 2:20pm there R. Shea Hecht said a few words about Efraim followed by him praising the Police Department for the work they are doing. R. Shloime Lieb Abramowitz said the “Michtam Ledavid” and the Kapitlach Tehillim. Then the Aron was brought out of the Hearse and was carried past 770 then reloaded back into the Hearse and went to the Montefiore Cemetery where he was laid to his final resting place.

A full gallery in the Extended Article.

chabad Shliach to Central Africa Meets President of Congo

The Chief Rabbi of Congo and Shliach to Central Africa, Rabbi Shlomo benTolila, met this week with President of Congo, Joseph Kabila. The meeting was held in the South Eastern town of Bukavu and the Shliach took this opportunity to express his best wishes to the president in honor of enacting the official constitution which will become the basis of the democratic rule in Congo.

Lawyer for Holocaust survivors criticized for fee

The lawyer who represented Holocaust survivors in a lawsuit against Swiss banks is facing criticism from some of the victims, who say they are angry he’s charging millions for work they believed was being done for free.

The dispute has now landed in court. An American group of Holocaust survivors has filed an objection to lawyer Burt Neuborne’s almost $4.1 million (€3.4 million) bill for work he did after the 1998 settlement in the case, The New York Times reported Saturday. On Friday Neuborne filed papers seeking to refute those objections, and asked a judge to hold a hearing on his fee.

“No. 1 – that he was telling us all along that he will not get paid,” said David Mermelstein, 77, who was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where his family was killed. “And No. 2, to take away this money from the needy survivors is a crime.”

Serious Accident On The New York State Thruway

Plattsburgh, New York – CrownHeights.info Has learned that at approximately 1:15am Motzoai Shabbos (Sunday morning) a Lubavitcher resident of Montreal was driving alone on the I-87 [New York State Thruway] South towards New York City when the driver suddenly lost control of his car due to heavy ice conditions on the highway and spun right off the pavement and in to the trees! This happened at approximately 30 miles south of the Canadian border. Boruch Hashem the driver was wearing his seatbelt and miraculously was not injured. The car was completely totaled and ripped apart by the impact. The driver had someone come pick him up and was safely taken back home.

This is another opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of wearing seatbelts and driving with extreme caution in such dangerous conditions. Be smart and Buckle Up, It Saves Lives.