‘Jewish Identity’ show is a real eye-opener

If ever there were lost tribes of Israel, they can probably be found for the next several months at the Jewish Museum.

For its show “The Jewish Identity Project: New American Photography,” the museum asked 13 prominent photographers and video artists to travel the country in search of the most diverse possible picture of what Judaism means. The exhibition is on view until Jan. 29.

Vandals desecrate local synagogue

Police are looking for vandals who desecrated the Chabad Lubavitch synagogue at 44 Burril St. [in Swampscott, Massachusetts] some time last Friday night or early Sunday morning.

Police Inspector Ted Delano said the vandalism was discovered early Saturday morning.

“It appears somebody entered an unlocked door and then made several anti-Semitic markings inside,” Delano said.

The vandalism took place only days before the Jewish High Holy Days and during the Sabbath, Delano observed.

No bond for suspect in Boca Raton synagogue shooting

A Boca Raton man accused of shooting a fellow congregant at Rosh Hashanah synagogue services will be held without bond as he awaits trial, a Palm Beach County judge ruled this morning.

Marc Benayer, 79, is in Palm Beach County Jail, where he is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault with a firearm stemming from a shooting Tuesday afternoon at the Chabad Weltman Synagogue in Boca Raton

Bomb Scare on Rosh Hashana in CH Shul

From this mornings Daily News…

The Shul’s that were evacuated were Khal Chassidim and Rayim Ahuvim both located across the street from one another on Carroll St. and Schenectady Ave.

Shooting at Chabad Of West Boca Raton

Here is a gathering of news clippings related to this incident. Video of the incident

Fear sweeps synagogue as worshiper shot outside

A 79-year-old Century Village resident opened fire Tuesday on his former girlfriend’s boss in the breezeway of a synagogue brimming with nearly 200 Orthodox Jews celebrating Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.

After shooting his victim twice in the back, Marc Benayer fired at least one shot at random into the Chabad Weltman Synagogue west of Boca Raton, where “numerous young children were congregated in a day-care setting,” according to an arrest report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

More News and Pictures in the Extended Article

Ye of any faith, dont’t fear the sweeper

He has a problem with our Holidays and the way they fall out so he lashes out at the city.

Why Were We Writing About Clarence Norman?

If you were wondering why were we reporting the legal proceedings against Clarence Norman, here is the explanation.

Jews Moving to Into Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria

Despite the disengagement that saw 10,000 Jews uprooted from their homes in Gaza and northern Samaria, the flow of Jews into Judea and Samaria has accelerated to record levels in recent months.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), new home purchases in Judea and Samaria have surged by 38% from January to June 2005, as compared to the same period last year. The rate was even higher in Jerusalem, an area that was battered by terrorist attacks since the start of the Oslo war in September 2000, with sales of new homes rising by 52.5%.

Israel’s real estate sector was hard hit by the Oslo war which sent the economy into a tailspin. But unlike the general economy, the real estate market has only recently begun to recover from the impact of that war.

The Crown Heights Vandalism Only Gets Worse

Motzoai Shabbos at around 9:30pm a large group of black 17-18 year olds were walking on Eastern Pkwy. Screaming racial slurs at passing Bocurim and when they reached Eastern Pkwy. and Albany Ave. one of the group picked up a stone and lobed it into a window of a Jewish home shattering the window.

Shomrim was called and immediately located the group of racist vandals which then alerted the police and had one of the group arrested.

If you see something say something call Shomrim at (718) 774-3333 24/7

Cost of High Holy Day services raises ire

When their religious new year begins at sundown Monday, Jews across the world will begin a 10-day period of spiritual reflection to atone for their wrongdoing and reconcile with God. For many, holiday worship also will have an impact on their wallets.

Synagogues often charge hundreds of dollars for tickets to attend services for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, called the High Holy Days because they are among the most sacred in the Jewish calendar.

The expense of participating has become a simmering issue within the Jewish community, with leaders trying to balance their desire to strengthen observance with the need to cover costs. There also is a fear that high-priced tickets create a disincentive for Jews who don’t belong to a synagogue.

“The holidays are a time for people to connect. When you distract it with money, it chases people away,” said Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, whose Hasidic Chabad Intown congregation has rented out an Atlanta hotel to offer free services to worshippers.

Jewish center has a new home

Litchfield’s Jewish Community Center has offered countless programs, ranging from craft workshops to make menorahs or sand art to musical concerts and summer camps.

Now the center has bigger plans at its new location in the Village Green.

Located behind the Blockbuster video store, the Liorah Greenberg Jewish Community Center is home to Chabad Lubavitch, a non-membership organization created to promote the Jewish culture. The community center in Litchfield serves as the Chabad Lubavitch headquarters in Northwest Connecticut.

“The best thing for us is the outreach,” said Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach, who runs the center. “We’re glad we have a home on Northwest Connecticut.”

Baltimore Chabad Expands Again

Chabad Jewish Center of Central Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University has bought a mansion in Guilford. Settlement on the circa-1919 house, one of the original Guilford residences, was held last Monday, Sept. 26, and Rabbi Zev Gopin, the Hopkins Chabad rabbi, said he and his family are in the process of moving in.

“It’s a beautiful, magnificent Guilford estate,” said Rabbi Gopin, “and there are boxes everywhere.”

Nonetheless, he and his wife, Hannah, are hosting a Rosh Hashanah dinner there as the house’s inaugural event after the Chabad sponsored services at The Inn at The Colonnade. The rabbi said that invitations have been issued to the Jewish residents who live in the high-rise buildings on Charles Street.

New Chabad Center for Westford area

The newly established Chabad Center for Nashoba Valley, at 26 Tadmuck Road, has slated its first High Holiday services, following a Sept. 18 open house for the new center.

A kosher barbeque, as well as communal prayer, accompanied the official dedication of Chabad House, including the ceremonial affixing of its new Mezuzah. With leadership by Rabbi Zalman Gurkow and his wife, Malkie, Chabad provides support for the Jewish community of Westford and greater Lowell.

To All CH Resdients & Especially Parents: BEWARE!

Lately there has been a strange man who drives around in an old red convertible, on the lookout for children. He drives around looking for any young teens or children to hassle, and then tries to get them in his car either with promises of allowing them to drive his car or other rewards. One teen has reported being followed around the neighborhood and even after the teen went into a house, he waited for the said teen outside the residence. Please be very careful with this individual. It is unknown whether he is armed and or dangerous or not. Don’t approach him yourself if you want to give him a piece of your mind. Call Shomrim at (718) 773-4444.

More pictures of him and his car in the extended article.

Bizarre Traffic Stop

Friday night as Crown Heights residents were on their way home from davening in 770 got a display of one of the most bizarre traffic stops. A black female motorist tried to turn up into Kingston Ave. from President St. which is blocked off due to the amount of people going home. When the woman stubbornly tried to go trough the barricade a police officer walked up to her car and asked her for her license and registration she refused to even open her window.

When she did open her window a little bit the cop grabbed onto the window and the woman tried to drive off while the cop was holding on. She drove for about 100ft and stopped.

The police officer was taken to a local hospital for a checkup and the woman was arrested.