Daily Archives: September 13, 2005

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.