Daily Archives: December 18, 2005

Deconstructing the Kabbalah

Members of the Jewish faith had an opportunity to learn about an increasingly popular and mystical facet of their religion during a recent series of workshops on the Kabbalah.

The “Kabbalah of Now” workshops explore ancient and modern mystics and the purpose of kabalistic mysticism in peoples’ lives.

Kabbalah is the mystical aspect of the Jewish faith, according to Rabbi Menachem Piekarski of the Chabad of Hamden. Kabbalah, which enhances the Jewish tradition, was in its earliest years studied only by scholars until various forms were brought down to an intellectual level ordinary people could relate to, Piekarski said.

Couple brings effort for Chabad outreach to Wallingfords’ Jews

Rabbi Baruch Kaplan sat on a couch in his living room Tuesday night and spoke about his Jewish heritage with a great sense of pride. He has another couch for anyone wishing to join him.

Kaplan moved to Wallingford just over a month ago with his wife Raizy and their two young daughters to serve as the directors of the local Chabad-Lubavitch movement, a worldwide Jewish outreach organization.

Sharon Taken to Hospital

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was taken to a Jerusalem hospital Sunday after feeling ill while working in his office, two Israel television stations reported. One of the stations said he suffered a minor stroke and had lost consciousness.

Channel 2 TV said the roads around the hospital were closed before Sharon, 77, arrived in his official vehicle.

Channel 10 TV, quoting police officials it did not identify, said Sharon apparently lost consciousness. He was taken directly to the emergency room of the hospital, the media reports said. Officials in Sharon’s office were not available for comment.

Update On The Transit Strike: Headed To Court

With a promised strike less than 48 hours away, the Transport Workers Union was planning to seek a court order Sunday against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — claiming that the agency was breaking state law by demanding changes in pension benefits for new hires, a union lawyer said.

There were no reports of progress following talks between the two sides on Saturday, and commuters were making plans for a possible shutdown of the nation’s largest mass transit system at the height of the Christmas rush.

According to Walter Meginniss Jr., the union planned to file the complaint with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board, The New York Times reported on its Web site Sunday.

Hasidics put down roots in Q-C

Rabbi Shneur Cadaner dresses in a traditional Orthodox Jewish manner and seems not to notice any extra attention he receives while moving about the Quad-Cities. He is a man on a mission.

The rabbi, his wife Chana and their infant son moved to a north Davenport home six months ago as part of the Lubavitch Hasidic movement. “Our outreach is to enrich the Jewish lifestyle,” he said, noting that the couple has sponsored several events and has “Chanukah on Ice” planned for Dec. 27 at the Quad-City Sports Center in Davenport.

“We give Jews reasons to explore Judaism,” Chana Cadaner said, noting that a good deal of reaction has come from older persons who remember the more traditional practices the couple supports.

The Festival of Lights in Manatee

Rabbi Mendy Bukiet sports a menorah on the roof of his car, all the better he says to bring attention to Hanukkah’s true meaning.

“I’ve gotten a few thumbs up,” said Bukiet, of Chabad of Bradenton, after a day of driving his Hyundai with the Jewish candle holder with eight bulbs and a helper bulb attached to the car’s roof. ” I think I am probably the first person ever to have a menorah on a car here.”

Also called The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, Dec. 26 through Jan. 2 this year.

Bukiet, who had his metal menorah custom-made in New York, will insert the first bulb into the menorah on Dec. 25 and light another each day thereafter.

Brooklyn Jury Finds Norman Guilty, Again

If you are all wondering why I am covering this, is because he was the CHJCC’s former nominee for Assemblyman

The Brooklyn Democratic Party’s former leader, Clarence Norman Jr., was convicted yesterday of stealing a $5,000 check from his re-election campaign, a felony that could land him in prison for up to seven years.

The guilty verdict comes just two and a half months after Norman was convicted on three felony charges for soliciting illegal campaign contributions. The Brooklyn district attorney, Charles Hynes, has another two cases pending against him.

Handed down after about a week of deliberations, the verdict is another triumph for the district attorney’s office, which is said to be pursuing Norman aggressively to help crack a larger judicial corruption case in the borough.