Daily Archives: February 21, 2006

Doing it All, Doing it Well: Women in Leadership

“You are the most potent force in the Jewish world today,” said Diane Abrams, guest speaker at the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchos, Sunday evening.

Speaking to an overflow crowd of 1750, Mrs. Abrams, an accomplished lawyer and wife of the former New York State Attorney General Bob Abrams, shared her memories of the many exchanges she had over the years with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the way he impacted her in her own life. “The Rebbe played a big role in my life,” she said, referring to a personal blessing he had given her, which was fulfilled in the birth of her second daughter, Becky.

Some New York City Jobs Pay $178,000, and a Pension Now

One of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s first acts on starting his second term was to write a letter to personnel officials asking that his correction commissioner, Martin F. Horn, be allowed to collect a pension along with his $178,200 salary.

But to accomplish that under a state retirement law that seeks to prevent such “double-dipping,” Mr. Bloomberg had to make the case that Mr. Horn was singularly qualified for the job, and that no one else of his talents and skills could be found for it.

So Mr. Bloomberg essentially declared that Mr. Horn, who also oversees the Probation Department, was the greatest commissioner in the world, and would, he wrote, “bring qualifications to these positions which cannot be matched by any other individual.”

‘The Community Council is not to Deal with Appointing Rabonim’

In response to a letter publicized by Moshe Rubashkin chairman of the Vaad HaKohol that the council would shortly hold elections for Rabonim, a different member of the council, Chanina Sperlin publicized a copy of the Rebbe’s handwritten reply opposing any involvement of the community council in appointing Rabonim.

In a special interview, Chanina Sperlin said he was surprised about the letter (presented here) in which the council attempts to appoint Rabbis despite the fact that this was clearly rejected by the Rebbe.

Chanina Sperlin intends to send out a letter of his own to members of the community and it can be seen in the Extended Article.

Elections for a new Rov to the Bais Din

Moshe Rubashkin, chairman of the Vaad Hakohol announced in the name of the Vaad Hakohol that in the very near future democratic elections will be held for additional Rabonim to the Beis Din, explaining that the increasing number of Shailos and Din Torahs brought to the Bais Din require the addition of new Rov to cope with the work load.

The letter states that the “Rebbe made it clear that community must democratically elect its own Rabonim…” and expresses that in the very near future a list of highly qualified Rabonim will released and elections will be held.

A copy of letter can be seen in the Extended Article

Widening their reach

Friendship Circle unites special-needs, volunteer children so all profit from companionship

Slender and dark-haired like her mother, Shifra Kalman steps forward to shake hands, meeting an adult visitor’s gaze directly, his greeting — “How are you?” — with a simple response.

“Hi. I’m fine.”

Standing straight in a white blouse and dark skirt, Shifra seemed poised beyond her 10 years.

But Jeaniene Kalman knows the anxiety her daughter harbors when she encounters new people.