Daily Archives: March 3, 2006
4
Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel (L) with Deputy Secretary John Shaffer
The Pennsylvania department of corrections, Jeffery A. Beard, Ph.D. Secretary, yesterday (3/3/2006) signed into policy, permitting Jewish inmates to have in their personal property a pair of Tefillin (phylacteries).
Tefillin are square leather boxes with straps, Jewish men over the age of thirteen don them daily (besides Sabbath and Jewish holydays), during prayer in the morning.
Until now Tefillin were permitted for use in the chapel only, as there was the fear of it being used for its unintended purpose. These arrangements, due to the work load of the chaplains in their respective facilities, were not adhered to, according to Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, Executive Director of the Aleph Institute in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately inmates who wished to put on Tefillin were not able to do so.
At a meeting in September between Mr. John S. Shaffer Ph. D. Executive Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Corrections and Rabbi Vogel, the former agreed to review the state policy once again, to see what he could do to modify the policy. Mr. Shaffer really made this his mission and lobbied hard for what is right and just.
Tefillin now permitted in PA Dept. Of Corrections
Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel (L) with Deputy Secretary John Shaffer
The Pennsylvania department of corrections, Jeffery A. Beard, Ph.D. Secretary, yesterday (3/3/2006) signed into policy, permitting Jewish inmates to have in their personal property a pair of Tefillin (phylacteries).
Tefillin are square leather boxes with straps, Jewish men over the age of thirteen don them daily (besides Sabbath and Jewish holydays), during prayer in the morning.
Until now Tefillin were permitted for use in the chapel only, as there was the fear of it being used for its unintended purpose. These arrangements, due to the work load of the chaplains in their respective facilities, were not adhered to, according to Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, Executive Director of the Aleph Institute in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately inmates who wished to put on Tefillin were not able to do so.
At a meeting in September between Mr. John S. Shaffer Ph. D. Executive Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Corrections and Rabbi Vogel, the former agreed to review the state policy once again, to see what he could do to modify the policy. Mr. Shaffer really made this his mission and lobbied hard for what is right and just.
Police have a new clue in the shooting death of an Lubavitch man in Crown Heights, Brooklyn this week.
47-year old Efraim Klein of Union Street was hit by a bullet as he moved his van for alternate side parking in the early morning hours Tuesday. The vehicle went out of control and slammed into several parked cars before bursting into flames.
The motive is still unclear, but some investigators believe it could've been a stray bullet or some kind of road rage scenario.
Now the NYPD is circulating a photo of a white Chevy box van that was apparently captured on a surveillance video moments after the shooting about a block away. The van was traveling southbound on Schenectady Avenue. Police consider the van driver a possible witness and are urging the public to identify him or her.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS.
New Clue in Crown Heights Shooting
Police have a new clue in the shooting death of an Lubavitch man in Crown Heights, Brooklyn this week.
47-year old Efraim Klein of Union Street was hit by a bullet as he moved his van for alternate side parking in the early morning hours Tuesday. The vehicle went out of control and slammed into several parked cars before bursting into flames.
The motive is still unclear, but some investigators believe it could’ve been a stray bullet or some kind of road rage scenario.
Now the NYPD is circulating a photo of a white Chevy box van that was apparently captured on a surveillance video moments after the shooting about a block away. The van was traveling southbound on Schenectady Avenue. Police consider the van driver a possible witness and are urging the public to identify him or her.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS.
First, one of its constituent members, the American Jewish Historical Society, sold off what some scholars believe to be communal treasures — portraits of a leading Colonial Jewish family.Then it was learned that the Center for Jewish History, on West 16th Street, was losing more than $1 million a year, which led to sharp budget cuts and some layoffs.
And in another blow to the institution often touted as the Jewish people’s Smithsonian, a U.S. District Court judge recently let stand one part of a lawsuit against the center and its chairman, Bruce Slovin, alleging religious discrimination. The suit was filed in 2002 by two Orthodox employees who were fired.
Anti-Orthodox Center?
First, one of its constituent members, the American Jewish Historical Society, sold off what some scholars believe to be communal treasures — portraits of a leading Colonial Jewish family.
Then it was learned that the Center for Jewish History, on West 16th Street, was losing more than $1 million a year, which led to sharp budget cuts and some layoffs.
And in another blow to the institution often touted as the Jewish people’s Smithsonian, a U.S. District Court judge recently let stand one part of a lawsuit against the center and its chairman, Bruce Slovin, alleging religious discrimination. The suit was filed in 2002 by two Orthodox employees who were fired.
Chabad of the Valley’s Annual Winter NY Trip
On February 16th, a group of 35 boys from Chabad of the Valley, California landed in New York for a spiritual and physical sightseeing tour of Brooklyn and its surrounding areas. The tour headed by Rabbi Mayer Greene and Avremi Joseph along with Tzali Borenstein, Yecheil Miller and Danny Levin. This 5 day tour was jam packed with exciting and amazing outings such as Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building , Innertubing at Hunter Mountain, Shabbos in Tannersville, Tzivos Hashem Museum, Playing in the Snow, Limousine ride from Manhattan to 770, Shopping in Manhattan.
This 5 day trip concluded with the Ohel, Rebbe’s room and Library. After arriving back in California the kids made hachlotos to make their spiritual connection better in their service to Hashem. Such a trip really strengthened the kids connection to Yiddishkeit. We thank all who participated in the trip and look forward to seeing you all next year!
Jerusalem Post
It is unlikely that Chabad will throw its considerable weight behind any particular party, said Thursday Rabbi Menahem Gluckowsky, deputy secretary of Chabad's Rabbinic Court, the senior decision-making body for the Chabad Hassidim in Israel.Gluckowsky was reacting to media reports that Chabad was mulling support for Agudat Yisrael, which is part of United Torah Judaism.
“Chabad is not a political movement,” said Gluckowsky. “The rebbe [Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson] rarely supported any particular party. He always told to us to vote for the party that was the most God-fearing.”
Chabad to remain apolitical in elections
Jerusalem Post
It is unlikely that Chabad will throw its considerable weight behind any particular party, said Thursday Rabbi Menahem Gluckowsky, deputy secretary of Chabad’s Rabbinic Court, the senior decision-making body for the Chabad Hassidim in Israel.
Gluckowsky was reacting to media reports that Chabad was mulling support for Agudat Yisrael, which is part of United Torah Judaism.
“Chabad is not a political movement,” said Gluckowsky. “The rebbe [Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson] rarely supported any particular party. He always told to us to vote for the party that was the most God-fearing.”
JTA
Rabbi Yisrael Rice teaches a Kabbalah of Time class in San Rafael, Calif. Photo: Sue Fishkoff.
In this tony enclave in Marin County, a San Francisco suburb once known for its hot tubs and encounter groups, 20 largely middle-aged professionals gathered one recent Monday to begin an eight-week course in The Kabbalah of Time.
It was a typical group for Marin: a handful of retired professors, a lawyer or two and a half-dozen therapists. Leading the class was Chabad Rabbi Yisrael Rice.
“Behind everything there is a divine dynamic, which kabbalah reveals,” Rice begins, setting the tone for what will be a very complex and intellectually demanding 90 minutes.
Among adult learning initiatives, Chabad institute keeps on growing
JTA
Rabbi Yisrael Rice teaches a Kabbalah of Time class in San Rafael, Calif. Photo: Sue Fishkoff.
In this tony enclave in Marin County, a San Francisco suburb once known for its hot tubs and encounter groups, 20 largely middle-aged professionals gathered one recent Monday to begin an eight-week course in The Kabbalah of Time.
It was a typical group for Marin: a handful of retired professors, a lawyer or two and a half-dozen therapists. Leading the class was Chabad Rabbi Yisrael Rice.
“Behind everything there is a divine dynamic, which kabbalah reveals,” Rice begins, setting the tone for what will be a very complex and intellectually demanding 90 minutes.
Yesterday afternoon Moshe Rubashkin Director of the CHJCC and the Yoshev Rosh Va’ad Hakohol received a surprising phone call from the Mayor, Michel R. Bloomberg.
The Mayor gave his condolences on the terrible loss of a member of the community R. Efraim Klein, and praised Rubashkin and the CHJCC for the way they have handled the situation.
Mayor Bloomberg Gives Condolences and Thanks to Vaad Hakohol
Yesterday afternoon Moshe Rubashkin Director of the CHJCC and the Yoshev Rosh Va’ad Hakohol received a surprising phone call from the Mayor, Michel R. Bloomberg.
The Mayor gave his condolences on the terrible loss of a member of the community R. Efraim Klein, and praised Rubashkin and the CHJCC for the way they have handled the situation.
EJ Tansky - Lubavitch.com
Bringing Judaism back to Vilna, the once glorious “Jerusalem of Lithuania,” known for its scholars and bastions of Talmud study, is so last century. Last weekend, Chabad representatives Rabbi Sholom Ber and Nechama Dina Krinsky hosted a Shabbat retreat for 60 families from Klaipeda, which was followed by a Jewish women’s concert on Saturday night that attracted an audience of 300. Never heard of Klaipeda? It’s 200 miles or so from Vilnius, situated where the Kurish Bay meets the Baltic Sea. Those familiar with Jewish pre-war history are more apt to recognize it’s other name: Memel. A one-time home of Rabbi Israel Lipkin (Salanter), father of the Mussar movement, the Jewish population of Klaipeda once amounted to 14% of its population. Shortly before the Holocaust, 7 of Klaipeda’s 21 judges were Jewish, and a good portion of commerce and trade was in Jewish hands.
300 Women In Lithuania Find Reason to Sing
EJ Tansky – Lubavitch.com
Bringing Judaism back to Vilna, the once glorious “Jerusalem of Lithuania,” known for its scholars and bastions of Talmud study, is so last century. Last weekend, Chabad representatives Rabbi Sholom Ber and Nechama Dina Krinsky hosted a Shabbat retreat for 60 families from Klaipeda, which was followed by a Jewish women’s concert on Saturday night that attracted an audience of 300.
Never heard of Klaipeda? It’s 200 miles or so from Vilnius, situated where the Kurish Bay meets the Baltic Sea. Those familiar with Jewish pre-war history are more apt to recognize it’s other name: Memel. A one-time home of Rabbi Israel Lipkin (Salanter), father of the Mussar movement, the Jewish population of Klaipeda once amounted to 14% of its population. Shortly before the Holocaust, 7 of Klaipeda’s 21 judges were Jewish, and a good portion of commerce and trade was in Jewish hands.
This week's section tells us about the Tabernacle that the Jews built in the desert after receiving the Torah.
The purpose of this Tabernacle was to enable the Jews to serve G-d properly and completely.
For instance, we see that the specifications of this Tabernacle were very detailed. And we are taught that it was the center of not just the Jewish religion but of the entire world: the Creator's connection to His creation.
Demonstrating that G-d's plan for man is exact, available and achievable.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that every detail of the Tabernacle is important on a personal basis as well. That is what our section hints at when it writes: “Make me a Temple and I will dwell in THEM (rather than in IT)” (25:8) namely in each and every one of us.
The purpose of this Tabernacle was to enable the Jews to serve G-d properly and completely.
For instance, we see that the specifications of this Tabernacle were very detailed. And we are taught that it was the center of not just the Jewish religion but of the entire world: the Creator's connection to His creation.
Demonstrating that G-d's plan for man is exact, available and achievable.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that every detail of the Tabernacle is important on a personal basis as well. That is what our section hints at when it writes: “Make me a Temple and I will dwell in THEM (rather than in IT)” (25:8) namely in each and every one of us.
The Weekly Sedra – Terumah
This week’s section tells us about the Tabernacle that the Jews built in the desert after receiving the Torah.
The purpose of this Tabernacle was to enable the Jews to serve G-d properly and completely.
For instance, we see that the specifications of this Tabernacle were very detailed. And we are taught that it was the center of not just the Jewish religion but of the entire world: the Creator’s connection to His creation.
Demonstrating that G-d’s plan for man is exact, available and achievable.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that every detail of the Tabernacle is important on a personal basis as well. That is what our section hints at when it writes: “Make me a Temple and I will dwell in THEM (rather than in IT)” (25:8) namely in each and every one of us.
Submit a Story
