Daily Archives: November 2, 2005

Rabbis issue list of names Jews should not give their children

A group of Israeli rabbis has put together a list of names they say should be off-limits to Jewish children – including Ariel and Omri, the given names of Israel’s prime minister and his eldest son.

Saying the name Ariel is problematic because it could beckon an angel instead, drawing down his wrath, the rabbis caution.

Omri – the name of an evil Biblical king – should be taboo because of the highly negative connotation.

Wilma Victims Get Short Shrift

Elderly Jews in south Florida have two strikes against them: Hurricane Wilma wiped out their electrical power, their lifeline to self-sufficiency, and, after Hurricane Katrina and Rita, it seems few tears are left to be shed for the plight of these victims, thousands trapped in their homes, suffering without food, clean water and medical care. A case of compassion fatigue?

Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of the Chabad-Lubavitch educational and social services divisions, shudders at the suggestion. “It would be a crime if victims were left to languish because people are tired of the misery. I hope it does not apply here,” he said. “It certainly does not apply to Chabad.”

Bill would hike fine for vandalizing houses of worship

Council’s Public Safety Committee approves measure introduced by Mid-Island Republican Oddo

Vandals who are caught desecrating churches, synagogues and other houses of worship would be forced to cough up as much as $25,000 in fines under legislation approved yesterday by a City Council committee.

The Public Safety Committee unanimously passed a measure that Council minority leader James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) introduced in August in an effort to stem a surge in vandalism that included graffiti sprayed on the walls of the Staten Island Sikh Temple in Dongan Hills last November and the decapitation of a statue of the Virgin Mary outside a Knights of Columbus hall in New Dorp in June.

US Supreme Court Nominee Justice Samuel Alito Supported Public Menorah Display.

In 1994, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) brought a suit against the City of Jersey City to stop it from erecting a holiday display which included a menorah, a crèche, a holiday tree, and a sign stating that the display was part of the broader celebration of diversity. The display of the crèche and menorah, both owned by the city, has gone on for thirty years and is done on property also owned by the city.

Veteran B’klyn Cop, 62, Retires

A renowned NYPD squad commander retired yesterday after 39 years — and spending nearly his entire career working at one Brooklyn precinct.

Sgt. Norman Horowitz, 62, has been a fixture in the 90th Precinct and the Williamsburg community since he joined the force in 1966.

During his career, he had been stabbed three times and had arrested countless crooks.

In an amazing coincidence, he once delivered a child and years later arrested that same boy as an alleged teenager robber.

Horowitz, a father of six and grandfather of 12, said he feels he has “grown up” with the community.

Subways getting emergency exits

Every subway station will be equipped with new emergency exit gates so transit riders can quickly escape from a fire or a terrorist attack, the Daily News has learned.

“Panic bars,” similar to those on emergency-exit doors in movie theaters, will be installed on subway station gates, located near turnstiles and stairwells to streets – allowing riders to get out without having to ask a token booth clerk to unlock the portals, authorities said.