Israel’s chief rabbis to meet with pope Thursday

Israel’s two chief rabbis will meet with Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a landmark Vatican document on relations with Jews, and will likely appeal for his support in fighting anti-Semitism and terrorism, Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See said.

Israel needs the Vatican’s support at “this very dire hour” now that it has completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Ambassador Oded Ben-Hur said on Wednesday.

Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi, Yona Metzger, and the Sephardic chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, will call on the pope at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in the hills south of Rome, the ambassador said.

World Loves Sharon – Because He Caved In

Sharon arrived in New York last night to take part in the United Nations’ World Summit in honor of its 60th birthday. World leaders appear to be waiting in line to meet with him, including U.S. President George Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bush reportedly made a special request to meet with Sharon to express his admiration for the withdrawal from Gaza.

Other leaders with whom Sharon will meet are those of Jordan, Turkey, Canada, Australia, and others, including possibly the emir of Qatar.

Former commander of Israeli forces in Gaza Strip evades arrest in London

Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom has condemned a UK attempt to arrest a former Gaza Strip military commander for alleged war crimes as an “outrage”.

Maj Gen Doron Almog escaped detention at Heathrow airport on Sunday after an Israeli official warned him he was facing arrest and should fly back home.

Lawyers said an arrest warrant had been issued over allegations he ordered the destruction of civilian homes in Gaza.

Mr Shalom said his government would raise the matter with UK PM Tony Blair.

The Crown Heights Cronicle on Last Nights Shooting

Shooting Closes Montgomery Street near Bais Binyomin Synagogue

September 13, 2005–An elderly man was shot outside his home at 676 Montgomery Street just off Kingston Avenue this evening, after a younger black man, reportedly a relative, opened fire at approximately 8:45 p.m. The incident occurred next door to the Bais Binyomin shul, between Kingston and Albany Avenues. The shooting caused Montgomery Street to be roped off near Kingston Avenue for 2 Ѕ hours, as police searched for shell casings and other evidence.

Car Broken Into

In a separate event, at the Razag Simcha Hall at a wedding that took place one of the attendants had the valet parking park his car, and as a common practice they park the cars on Maple St. between Troy and Schenectady and have a hired security company go around and make sure the cars don’t get vandalized or get broken into.

But tonight the security didn’t help, and this man had his window smashed in, although it didn’t seem like anything was stolen from the car, he still had the broken window. Such events are not good at all for the hall, for people wouldn’t want to host events there when their guests cant park in peace.

Shooting Right in the Heart of Our Shechuna

At 8:38 I got a call from a friend that was driving up Kingston Ave. and was at the Montgomery St. intersection and all of a sudden he hears about 12 gunshots and sees a black man running towards Kingston Ave. waiving a gun.

The occurrence took place further into Montgomery St. right in front of the “Bais Midrash – Bais Binyomin” Shul.

In what appeared to be a dispute over rent, the man got into a fight and pulled a gun and shot the 2 men (both black), one was hit in the arm and the other is unknown where he was hit. Both were taken to a nearby hospital and the place flooded with Police and Emergency Service Units which proceeded to block off the street and sidewalk and investigate the occurrence.

From eye witness accounts the police were able to get a description of the man and arrested him shortly after. On site a few young black kids went and cut the yellow “Police: Do Not Cross” tape and were arrested as well.

Carnival brightens survivors’ spirits

Assessing the needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in San Antonio, Rabbi Chaim Block found it in the faces of the children.

Block said a Jewish organization in Los Angeles called him and said, “You tell us what they need.”

“I went to the shelter and saw that their basic needs were being met, but what I thought they needed was something to lift their spirits,” said Block, the executive director of the Chabad Lubavitch of South Texas.

Thus, a carnival was born.

Car Thief Strikes Crown Heights Once More

While members of Crown Heights Shomrim Volunteer Patrol were making there usual checks in the neighborhood, one of the members spotted a suspicious person sneaking around in a car. as the member approached the man, he immediately recognized that this is the same perpetrator who had been caught (by Shomrim) and arrested for breaking into someone’s car just one month ago. The perp then noticed the Shomrim member, (the perp by now knows who’s who) and made a run for it.

20+ Shomrim members then followed him into Lefferts park on Lefferts Ave. between Albany and Troy. The members then guarded all corners of the park to make sure they don’t lose sight of him. Shomrim then climbed over the park fence to hold down the perp but they couldn’t find him. After looking around for about a minute or two, they caught sight of him up in a tree where he was pleasantly sitting on a thick branch high up. the perp then began yelling and slurring about how he hasn’t done anything, and Shomrim is always out to get him. “so then why are you all the way up there in the tree if you didn’t do anything”, yelled one passerby.

shomrim then awaited the police who made him come down eventually. After some questioning and investigating, the police had to let the perp go due to lack of substantial evidence. “The problem is,” said one of the officers, “that he doesn’t literally break into cars so there is no proof of ‘forced entry’. We are on your side, but we can’t lock him up just on your word without evidence “.

Shomrim then went to the police station on Empire and New York Ave. to speak with the heads of the department to see if there was anyway to get the perp off the streets and stop him from breaking into more people’s cars.

Until further notice, the perp is still out there thanks to our great friends at the police station. so remember to keep your car doors locked, and your windows closed.

If you see something, say something. Shomrim is available 24/7. Call us at: 718-774-3333

To see the story of the perp being nabbed for the car break in of August 11 click here: Crown Heights Community Blog / SHOMRIM CATCH THE CAR THIEF OF CROWN HEIGHTS

Will Israel join Red Cross?

Member countries of the international Red Cross movement Tuesday asked Switzerland to organize a diplomatic conference by year-end to revive an effort to give Israel full membership status that it has been denied for nearly six decades.

“Switzerland in its role as a depositary state of the Geneva Conventions plans to organize a diplomatic conference charged with adopting a protocol to establish an additional emblem to the existing red cross and red crescent emblems,” the Swiss government said.

U.S. Ambassador in Geneva Kevin Moley said the American delegation was pleased with the talks’ outcome.

Democratic Primaries – Now

Taking place now are the Primaries for the Democratic Nominee which will run against Mayor Bloomberg.

Here is a letter most of the shchunah received, as to who to vote for.

If you are interested in voting and don’t know where to go or what you need to do, the city set up 311 for all of those questions. So don’t hesitate to call.

Katrina’s ‘message’ to Jews

Even as much of New Orleans was still submerged, dead bodies floating on the putrid city-turned-lake, live ones waving from rooftops, the accusations flew fast and furious.

The loss of life and property during the Gulf Coast destruction was the fault of President Bush Louisiana officials city planners those who established a city where disaster was inevitable those who chose to live there racism the Department of Homeland Security FEMA. Choose your villain, or combination of rogues, and point fingers accordingly.

As it happens there is a Jewish concept, too, of finger-pointing at times of catastrophe. But it is of a decidedly different sort. Jewish tradition counsels Jews to point their fingers at themselves.

Crown Heights Hatzalah Gets a New Ambulance

Crown Heights Hatzalah currently has 3 ambulances, 2 that are always ready In front of 770, and another that is parked in the Hatzalah garage.

And now Hatzalah is getting a fourth ambulance, donated by Meir Eichler, Feitel Levin and Shmuel Stern and will be in memory of Meir’s Mother and Feitels Mother in Law Helen [Elka] Eichler.

Hatzalah will be receiving this ambulance in time for Rosh Hashana.

PA starts demolishing synagogues in Gaza

Palestinian security forces have started demolishing the Jewish synagogues left in the Gaza Strip after Israel completed its last withdrawal from the coastal area, security sources said Monday.

Witnesses said as bulldozers started demolishing the synagogue in the Nitsarim settlement in the eastern Gaza city, hundreds of Palestinians climbed to the roof of the synagogue and raised the Palestinian flags, calling “God is great.”

After that, they set fire to the synagogue, the witnesses added.

Islamic law could threaten Jewish courts

A proposal to let Ontario residents use Islamic law for settling family disputes has drawn protests in Canada and at some of its diplomatic sites in Europe, and has thrown into question the official sanctioning of Jewish religious courts in the Canadia province.

The demonstrations were peaceful and generally small, ranging from a couple dozen to a few hundred peope, but organizers said they reflected growing concern over the province’s stance on Islamic law, or sharia.

Ontario’s provincial government has been reviewing a report recommending that sharia be allowed to settle Muslim family disputes such as divorce, and said it will soon make a decision.

Anti-Sharon Rally Featuring Jailed Teenage Girl
Set For Thursday Opposite UN

There will be a large anti-Sharon rally in the large plaza near the United Nations when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visits there Thursday.

Chaya Belogorodsky one of the teenage girls held in prison for months for her anti-expulsion activism, and her father, Moshe, will be principal speakers at the demonstration. Chaya and her father travelled to America to raise awareness about civil rights abuses occurring in Israel and to raise funds for Honenu, the organization providing legal assistance for political prisoners.

Other Speakers include Helen Freedman of Americans for a Safe Israel, Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Jewish Voice publisher Susan Rosenbluth and Shmuel Sackett of the Jewish Leadership movement, as well as activist members of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

For more information call: 212 828 2424

9/11/05 9:00PM Brooklyn – Manhattan Skyline

In memory of the great tragedy that happen on September the 11th the City of New York puts up 2 beams of light for the entire month of September commemorating the 2 towers that fell, and on the 11th the beams shine with greater intensity then the rest of the month.

This is how it looks from a rooftop in our neighborhood.

NEVER FORGET