Daily Archives: March 22, 2006

Simchas Made Simple

The first volume of Simchas Made Simple has already proven to be of tremendous assistance to Shluchim, less then a month after its release. Simchas Made Simple is a book developed and published by the Shluchos Division at The Shluchim Office.

“Shluchim are always looking for creative ways to convert their personal joys into a community simchas” commented Mrs. Chana Piekarski, who heads the Shluchos Division at The Shluchim Office, and oversaw the Simcha book project.

With Shluchim constantly searching for new and innovative ways to bond with their communities, what better way is there, then to connect through a personal simcha.

N.Y.C.’s crime fight to get more eyes

Ed Note: a good idea would be for Crown Heights to get a few of these.

Commish orders 505 surveillance cams

New Yorkers, get ready for your closeup.

The NYPD is installing 505 surveillance cameras around the city – and pushing to safeguard lower Manhattan with a “ring of steel” that could track hundreds of thousands of people and cars a day, authorities revealed yesterday.

The police cameras will constantly keep watch over neighborhoods plagued by crime and monitor potential terror targets as the city moves to put another 1,200 cops on the street, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The exact locations of the cameras were not revealed, but the electronic eyes will be set up in 253 spots, including many Operation Impact zones – high-crime areas already targeted by teams of cops.

Big Spike in Car Break-ins and Headlight Thefts

All across Crown Heights cars have had their windows smashed, in some cases nothing was even taken, there were 2 incidents on Lincoln Pl. where a minivan and car were broken into, another incident on Empire and Kingston where a minivan had it window smashed, on Union and New York a car was broken into.

On E. New York & Kingston a car had more then $4,500 in damages done to it when a thief stole the pair of headlights out of it, these headlights employ a new technology the Xenon Bulbs, and those get peddled on the street for all of $150!

At the Precinct Council Meeting held this past Thursday this issue was been raised by a Shomrim member to which the Commanding Officer Inspector Vega replied that there has been an increase and he reported that the Police have recently apprehended a black man who has admitted to 28 counts of Auto Larceny, and he added that in no way dose he think that all of break-ins are attributed to one person, but expressed hope to stop this madness.

So please take extra care not to leave anything in your car, and if you see anyone looking into cars in a suspicious way, don’t hesitate to call Shomrim at (718) 774-3333 24/7

More pictures of damaged cars in the Extended Article.

F.R.E.E. Publishes Haggadah with Russian Translation in its 21St edition

The new Haggadah Shel Pesach with Russian translation is at the FREE office. The revised edition was enhanced in the following ways:

The entire volume, both Hebrew and Russian, was reset in a clear, crisp typeface. The Russian translation, while it is based on the original edition, has been amended to read more smoothly. Detailed instructions have been added for Haggadah users to follow as a guide to practice, giving the origin of the customs at every point in the Seder.

A highly interesting, comprehensive introduction has been added to explain the background of the Passover holiday, its history and laws. Included is now a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson , who felt deeply for Russian-speaking Jews. The Rebbe accomplished much on their behalf. The Haggadah gives a practical lesson that explains the holiday’s relevance to modern times.
The first edition of this Haggadah, put out in 1974, was a ground breaker and cause for celebration. Says Rabbi Mayer Okunov, Chairman of FREE, “It was the first-ever translation of a Jewish work to be published in the modern Russian language. It was also the first publication of the FREE Publishing House.” The latter is now an established publishing house that puts out books and booklets of authentic Jewish texts and literature in modern Russian.

Haircut marks passage

Family celebrates Hasidic Jewish custom

The little boy sits patiently on the stool as one by one, his family members and friends cut off a lock of his long brown hair.

Rabbi Yitzchok Goldenberg of Chabad of Lawrenceville encourages his guests at the Jewish Community Center to stick around so they can enjoy some food and cake after the ceremony.

The Chabad Rabbi and his wife, Dina, are in a festive mood. Their boy, Mendy, has just turned 3.

In keeping with Hasidic Jewish custom, Mendy has a party, recites some Hebrew verses and gets his first haircut, a communal celebration, where every guest snips off a lock of hair.