About a month ago, a letter came out signed by many Chabad Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva and Mashpiim urging bochurim to get married earlier, at the age of 20-21, instead of what has been the common practice to begin getting involved in shidduchim at 23-24.
We are living in a time when many families are struggling. Some don’t have money for their most basic necessities, heaven forbid. Some have basic parnosso, thank g-d, but little beyond that. Simchas haven’t slowed down; it seems that celebrations are ever increasing.
Now that the deadline has passed, a typical question I’ve been asked these past weeks is, “did you submit your application?” This of course is in reference to the position for Chief Rabbi.
The following is an incident that occurred On Shushan Purim, Friday, March 9th 2012.
I wasn’t planning to write about this since I initially figured this was solely a private matter. After replaying it in my mind and talking about it with friends and family, I realized that it is should be shared with others too, since it wasn’t about my family and me personally, but rather it happened to us because we are Jewish, making it relevant to any Jew.
In honor of the month of Adar, a reader sent us this humorous poem (re: op-ed) about the things Lubavitchers talk about in Crownheights.info op-eds:
As an early subscriber to the energy and intentions that Chevra Ahavas Yisroel brought to the table, I have to say I am truly proud of their accomplishments… a new building, a loyal following and packed house every Friday night, with people who genuinely care about davening. Apparently they now have a consulting Rov, and are continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Kol Hakavod.
I was invited to attend the Dr. Phil show last week to offer commentary on their feature story about a young and beautiful woman who had a tale of unsettling circumstances in regard to her Chassidic background. As the Dr. Phil show unfolded, I listened intently to a young woman named Pearl Reich who, at the age of seventeen, was betrothed to a man for whom she was clearly unsuited, at her parents’ discretion and against her will.
I am a Crown Heights girl born and bred. A few years ago I moved with my family to upstate to New York. Each time I come back to Crown Heights, I am sadden and shocked to see how our girls and women are moving away from Torah and Yiddishkeit (in their actions and in the way they are dressing). I have wondered why we are losing so many of our girls from the Torah way.
Here I am, a regular Lubavitcher Yungerman who grew up in a Chassidishe family, of which all members currently serve as Shluchim, facing the hard reality that I may never be like them. It’s not that I want to copy them that I am upset, and definitely not because I have nothing else to do; I really want to be a Shliach.
The official name was called anti-Semitism, before that it was called anti-Judaism, but those names seem so vile. The present name is ant-Zionism. But they all mean the same, hate of the Jewish people as a whole.
Driving from the school run yesterday, I had the pleasure of hearing my six-year-old brother’s full run-down of the latest school news: which teacher he likes and which he isn’t so keen on etc. Despite being 16 years his senior, it’s almost enjoyable to hear it, not least as it reminds me of myself at that age. But in the middle of it all, he mentioned something that made me think.
Can a website, run anonymously, with no transparent operating guidelines or credible research policy, no psychologists or professionals on board, be allowed to bad mouth and disgrace so many in our community whilst destroying their families? On the other hand, can people who are dangerously at loose, leaving lifetime scars on our very own precious children, be allowed to walk guilt free whilst their victims cower in fear?
Weddings are often very extravagant affairs. It is an opportunity for people to share a joyous occasion with friends and family. If the parents of the bride and groom are wealthy, they will want to invite as many friends and acquaintances to join them in a high-end event, with top level service and entertainment.
Hi, my name is Mendel. I am 6 feet tall, slim, and dress in style. I went through the system and almost have Smicha. I am not a Shlichus Bocher, but I work hard and can already support Shluchim. Do you want me as your son in law?
A few days ago, an article by the Algemeiner’s Dovid Efune was published on crownheights.info, advocating for Shluchim to arm themselves with firearms. The article intimated that perhaps the tragedy that took place in Mumbai in 2008, where Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg HYD were murdered, may have been averted. The author points to recent threats discovered against Chabad Houses in Thailand and Azerbaijan, and to the fact that the previous Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn, carried a revolver.
One of the interesting byproducts of our paradoxical times is the birth of sensationalism.
On the 26th of November 2008 the world recoiled in horror as the infamous Mumbai terror attacks unfolded. Three days later, unthinkable death and devastation remained. For the Jewish community the brutal murder of Chabad emissaries Gabi and Rivka Holtzberg highlighted the vulnerability of many that stand at the forefront of community work in remote corners of the globe.
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