Alaskan Jew Inspires Shabbaton

MORRISTOWN, NJ — More than 75 people participated in a Shabbaton at the Rabbinical College of America’s Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim, where they heard Dovid Voluck, who enthralled them with his tale of living with Alaska’s Native American tribes and organizing the first minyan on the island of Sitka.

Teamwork Leads to Recovery of Holy Jewish Cabinet

RIVERSIDE, CA — The timing was perfect: Smooth sailing for Rabbi Shmuel Fuss’ ark.

It isn’t a vessel like Noah’s, but a holy cabinet specially constructed to hold an ancient handwritten scroll called the Torah.

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah on the Ethiopian New Year

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Nine groups of rabbinical students have set up shop in various Sub-Saharan locations for the High Holidays to host services and provide for the spiritual needs of Jews living in the remotest corners of the African continent.

Rhinebeck Jewish Center Aims to Reach Out

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — With the Jewish high holidays at hand, Northern Dutchess County now has a place of worship and education. Chabad Jewish Center of Dutchess County, in Rhinebeck, opens its doors to all walks of life for Rosh Hashana, which begins at sundown today.

NYU’s Jewish Students Cruise and Schmooze on Hudson River

NEW YORK, NY — Chabad House serving New York University, along with Jewish Heritage Programs, celebrated the advent of the school year by hosting students for their second annual Jews Cruise. Dressed in their finest, 550 students boarded “The Temptress” for a Sept. 4 ride on the Hudson River, where they feasted on a sprawling sushi buffet and dessert bar while what one student playfully called a “kick-tush” band played in the background.

Torah Behind Bars

OKEECHOBEE, FL — The Okeechobee Correctional Institution is certainly no place for a nice Jewish boy. But that didn’t stop ten young Chabad Rabbis from spending three days there this week, teaching Torah, singing, dancing, and sharing their love of Judaism with eighteen Jewish inmates incarcerated there.

Omsk Celebrates dedication and opening of New Ohr Avner Chabad School

OMSK, Russia –- Omsk celebrated the grand opening of the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School and ‘Chaya Mushka’ Kindergarten. After a five-year effort, Chief Rabbi Osher Krichevsky and his wife can finally see the fruits of their labor. Located in a newly-constructed building – perhaps the best to ever host a local school – this institution will offer education from kindergarten through to the secondary school level. It is the first school to offer an ethno-cultural component as part of its educational program.

Chabad reaches out to students, faculty at metro campuses

PORTLAND, OR — Chabad of Oregon is growing again.

A new Chabad Center serving Jewish students on all Portland-area campuses joins existing Chabad Centers in Portland, Ashland, Hillsboro and Salem, as well as a Chabad House serving the University of Oregon campus in Eugene.

“What if I Marry Someone Who Isn’t Jewish?”

WESTON, FL — A study revealing that Jewish teens–even those who think it important to raise their chldren Jewish–do not see intermarriage as an impediment, underscores the importance of Chabad’s extra-curricular educational programs.

Rosh Hashana Begins Wednesday

BONIRA SPRINGS, FL — Rabbi Mendy Greenberg has a lot to celebrate this week for Rosh Hashana.

Last year, the Chabad Jewish Center of Bonita Springs that he oversees celebrated the Jewish New Year in rented hotel space. This year, the services are to be in a more permanent location, 2,000 square feet of rented space in the Bernwood business center, 24850 Old 41 Road Unit 20, where services have been held this year.

Chabad opens doors at Univ. of Central Florida

ORLANDO, FL — Rabbi Chaim Lipskier and his wife Rivkie seem to conquer the impossible week after week for Jewish college students around the University of Central Florida’s campus. Rivkie cooks on Fridays to host a fun-filled Shabbat evening at the Lipskier home. The rabbi welcomes visitors of all ages. He invites students using the online networking site facebook.com. He can frequently be seen introducing himself outside the student union, ignoring the brutal Florida heat. And he insists that guests bring their family members staying in Orlando from out of town.

Bright Start to Year for Dnepropetrovsk Jewish School

DNEPROPETROVSK, Ukraine -– Like thousands of schools across the Former Soviet Union, the Jewish community of Dnepropetrovsk also marked the ‘Day of Knowledge’ at the ‘Ohr Avner-Levi yischak’ Day School. Traditionally held on September 1st, the celebration was postponed by two days so that it would not fall on Shabbat. This year’s count of first-graders was twice more than last year, at 45 pupils.