A zero tolerance campaign on buckling up will get underway this Memorial Day weekend.
New York state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and local police statewide will set up checkpoints and dedicating more patrols to enforcement of the seat-belt law. State Police Commander Peter Person says the Buckle Up New York Campaign will last through June 5.
A row house undergoing renovations in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, collapsed yesterday in a cascade of bricks, cinder blocks, mortar and scaffolding. At least two construction workers buried beneath the rubble were among the 11 people who were injured, one critically, the authorities said.
The collapse occurred about 1:15 p.m. at 103 Meserole Street on a residential block just east of Williamsburg’s enclave of Hasidic Jews.
Firefighters, who were on the scene in less than five minutes, encountered a score of shaken, dust-covered workers who had escaped the wreckage, and who feared that others, buried under debris on the building’s second floor, had been killed.
“I started calling their names, and no one answered,” said Benitas Joseph, 36, one of the workers who escaped serious harm and immediately scrambled through the piles of debris in search of those who were trapped. “I was frightened,” he said. “I thought everybody was dead.”
From COL:
COL would like to inform Crown Heights drivers that New York police has set up cameras aimed at recording every traffic misdemeanor. The cameras are located on the corner of Eastern Parkway and Utica and capture car licenses and make them available to the police.
Although this is no new news, the camera at the Utica Ave. & Eastern Pkwy. intersection has been there for the longest time, and there is a dummy camera at the Nostrand Ave. & Eastern Pkwy. Intersection, though I have heard rumors that it’s now a real one.
So just take care and need not know about these installments, just don’t violate traffic laws. They are in place to protect YOU. (only on the Palisades Pkwy. is the speed limit at 50 Mph just to make money)
Chabad Lubavitch of Staten Island on Thursday will celebrate the grand opening of its new Willowbrook building that houses both a synagogue and yeshiva.
The building, a single family home that has been extensively renovated to accommodate Chabad’s needs, was purchased for $667,500 in December 2004.
A gala event to honor 50 years to the establishment of Tsach was attended by over 100 shluchim of Tsach in the Greater New York area. Among the many issues discussed at this kinus were: the establishment of fifty new institutes, reminiscing the outstanding character of Rabbi Yehoshua Zelig Katzman, ob’m – from the directorship of Tsach, a list of ‘mofsim’ of the Rebbe including two heavenly matters concerning this kinus and more. The kinus concluded with the proclamation, ‘And you shall call freedom to the land’ – with the oncoming advent of Moshiach, omain.
this from Col
Rabbi Levi Bialo, a teacher in Cheder Chabad of Toronto and director of youth activities in Beis Chabad of Markham, was killed this morning in a dreadful train accident in the middle of the city. Bialo, in his early twenties, had just completed Shacharis and was on his way to escort his wife to the Chabad School, which he never reached. The time of the livaya will be announced shortly.
It is noteworthy that this has been the fourth tragedy, which has hit Toronto’s frum community recently. A similar incident occurred on Erev Pesach, in which the 22 year old son of Rabbi Mordechai Levine, head of the Kashrus System in Toronto was killed in an accident.
Boruch Dayan Hoemes.
This from the local news paper
By OLIVER MOORE
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
A 25-year-old Thornhill man was killed yesterday morning after driving his car under the barrier at a level crossing north of the city and stopping in the path of an onrushing GO train.
Police are investigating whether Levi Bialo was blinded by sun as he drove onto the tracks in Richmond Hill, a spot that was marked by drop-down barriers, flashing lights and a bell.
Representatives from Crown Heights were among the selected individuals throughout the city, who attended City Hall for an special ceremony in City hall where they were granted awards by membres of the City Council for their exceptional contributions to New York and to their neighborhoods. At this occasion, Municipality officials praised the members of the Crown Heights Community Council who were present at the event: Rabbi Moshe Rubashkin – chairman of the council, Rabbi Chanina Sperlin and Dr. Zvi Lang. Also present were Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht from the Shaloh Organization, Rabbi Moshe Winner and Mrs. Abelsky from Flatbush.
But here is just an excerpt of the article (the rest just dosent belong)
The Hebrew Scriptures, which Jews call the Torah, are seen by traditional Jews as dictated by God to Moses. Every scroll, to be authentic, is handwritten according to complex rules by a qualified, religiously observant scribe, although Jews may read and study translations in bound books, says Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin, director of Chabad.org, an arm of the orthodox Lubavitch movement.
Though all Jewish holy books are treated with great respect, there are additional rules for the Torah. If a Torah scroll accidentally falls on the ground, for example, the congregation is obligated to fast. Pages damaged accidentally might be repaired, but if a Torah scroll were defiled, it would have to be buried in a special place in a Jewish cemetery.
A customer at a Brooklyn Judaica store was nearly buried alive yesterday when a 7-foot shelf collapsed on him – burying him in religious books.
The unidentified man had to be extricated by firefighters after the accident on the second floor of the V. Berman Books store on 17th Ave. in Borough Park.
Bookstore worker Yisroel Neusdaum said no one had any idea why the metal shelves toppled.
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Neusdaum said.
The shopper was a first-time customer at the store, which stocks hundreds of copies of Jewish religious texts stacked up toward the ceiling.
He was browsing on the second floor when one of the dozens of shelves collapsed.
Neusdaum called 911.
Firefighters responded and had to pull the customer out from under the avalanche of books. He somehow escaped with only minor injuries and refused medical treatment.
Bookstore workers said they never had had any problems with the shelves before.
“They’re always safe. It’s just like a mystery,” said another employee who did not want his name used.
Dear Readers,
We’re pleased to inform you that you have done it again!
Thanks to the quick action on Sunday afternoon, of hundreds of you in responding to the call against the Circumcision Ban that would have threatened New York City, the crisis has for now been averted B”H.
We will keep you updated of any further developments.
(Crown Heights, May 13, 2005)–An emergency meeting was held Friday morning in the offices of the Beis Din of Crown Heights, at which leaders of the Williamsburg Jewish Community met with Crown Heights’ Vaad HaKahal and other community activists to formulate a joint strategy in response to a threat so severe as to bring together all segments of G-d fearing Jews everywhere: proposed action being considered over the next few days by the New York Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene that could eventually lead to the banning of the halachically-required component of the bris milah procedure known as metzitza ba-peh.
Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel (Raleigh) Resnick of Crown Heights will IYH be moving on Shlichus to Northern California where they will establish a new Chabad House serving the needs of the Jewish residents in Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore also known as the Tri-Valley.
The Resnicks were appointed by Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, head Shliach of California.
HATZLOCHA RABBA!
If you have any friends or relatives in those areas and would like to put them in touch with the new Shluchim e-mail them @ rylresnick@aol.com
Members of the Beis Shmuel shul in Crown Heights took upon themselves to strengthen ties with the Rebbe. Rabbi Moshe Pinson, one of the founders of the shul told COL that Rabbi Azriel Rappaport, one of the shul committee members initiated the idea of meeting twice a month on Thursday nights for watching Sichas of the Rebbe. After watching the video, participating Anash members are to discuss how to implement the Rebbe’s directives in practical terms. Last Thursday marked the first evening in this series, which turned out to be successful.
B”H there isn’t much happening on the crime front in Crown Heights but when there is, it’s all out and all at once.
Yesterday at about 2:30pm a Bochur’s van was broken into in broad daylight, and the perpetrator took quarters!!! That’s all just some pocket change. Then he later proceeded roaming around our neighborhood looking into cars and even eyeing houses, but thank g-d he didn’t strike again.
Then at 9:00pm there was a shooting incident on Eastern Parkway and Tory Avenue, the police have been really quiet about the nature of the incident, all we can say is there were no Yidden involved, although this took place a mere 2 houses away from the very large Jewish building and just down the block for Chovevia Torah – Lubavitcher Yeshiva.
Then immediately after that, about 6 police cars went rushing to 770 and arrested an individual, we have no details as to the nature of the arrest.
At this time I would like to warn the people of this community, do not leave anything in your car that has any value (even an empty can of soda) in view, and if you were a victim of a brake-in please report the incident to the Police and Shomrim which can be reached at (718) 774-3333
By Yitzchok Wagshul – Crown Heights Chronicle
A Yom Iyun, or “Day of Study,” on the subject of Moshiach and Geulah will, IY”H, be held this Sunday, May 15th from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Oholei Menachem, 667 Eastern Parkway.
The event, sponsored jointly by the Vaad HaKahal and the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE), is scheduled to coincide with 6 Iyar, which is the s’fira count of malchus sheh-b’tiferes – a day the Rebbe has said is especially appropriate for such study.
Renowned and fascinating speakers will be on hand throughout the day, including such luminaries as our own Rabbonim, Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba shlita and Rabbi Aharon Yaacov Schwei shlita, as well as Rabbi Isser Weisberg of Toronto, who regularly enthralls audiences with his novel insights on Moshiach and Geulah. It is costing over $650 to fly Rabbi Weisberg here and back, according to the Vaad HaKahal, but it should be well worth it.
Other prominent speakers include, in alphabetical order: Rabbi Shmuel Butman; Rabbi Avrohom Gerlitzky; Rabbi Zvi Homnick; Rabbi Shloma Majesky; and Rabbi Michoel Seligson. Others are slated to attend as well, but have not yet confirmed their availability.
Among the interesting topics to be addressed are such pressing matters as: What signs show that geulah is imminent; How can we “do everything in our power” to bring Moshiach; and How can we prepare for geulah on a personal level.
Refreshments will be served and the day promises to be both educational and inspiring, so be sure and mark your calendar and come by for part or all of the program!
SNS has learned that Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Lipsker of Crown Heights are moving to Miami, FL where Velvel will serve as Mashpia in the Yeshiva Gedola, starting in Elul 5765.
Rabbi Lipsker was appointed by Rabbi Benzion Korf, Menahel of the Yeshiva.
HATZLOCHA RABBA!
The Lipskers can be reached via e-mail @ zvlipsker@hotmail.com
