Daily Archives: June 23, 2006

Chabad Midtown Manhattan celebrates 10th anniversary

New York, NY — Guests from all over assembled at the elegant Mandarin Oriental sky ballroom for a dinner gala celebrating the 10th anniversary of Chabad Lubavitch of Midtown Manhattan.

Over 350 guests enjoyed an uplifting program featuring a special video prepared especially for the occasion. Rabbi Yehoshua and Brocha Metzger, Shluchim to Midtown thanked all the attendees for the great outpouring of kindness and generosity.

More Pictures in the Extended Article!

Hollywood seeks last-minute settlement in Chabad suit

Hollywood, FL – Hollywood commissioners voted late today to allow an Orthodox Jewish synagogue to stay at its current location in a residential neighborhood in return for the group dropping its religious discrimination lawsuit against them.

The last-minute proposal does not include the city paying any money to the Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad Lubavitch, which currently operates out of two residential houses on North 46th Avenue in Hollywood Hills.

Angry neighbors complained about cars parked, traffic and noise, and the City Commission responded by trying to boot the synagogue.

Final Verdict: The Rebbe’s Institutes are Rightful Owners of 770

Judge Ira B. Harkavy presented his final verdict today, granting the International Agudas Chassidei Chabad and Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch complete ownership over the Central Chabad buildings in Brooklyn, New York. The verdict claims that these bodies have the only right to display any sort of ownership.

An excerpt from the Court statement reads:

“’Ordered Adjudged and Decreed that pursuant to the decision entered March 13th, 2006, that plaintiff Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch INC, shall have judgement against Lubavitch Congregation INC. declaring that Merkos has all right, title and interest in and to the premises located at 784-788 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York, and is the owner thereof and has the right to exercise all incidents of fee title ownership”.

Click the ‘Extended Article’ to read the complete ‘Order and Judgement’ released by the judge.

Chabad House at University of Oregon to get first Torah written for Eugene

Eugene, OR – In late September, students at the University of Oregon will come together to fulfill a mitzvah. As the Chabad House­–Jewish Student Center begins its fifth year on campus, it will dedicate a Sefer Torah that is currently being written in Israel.

“As far as we know, there has never been a Torah written specifically for Eugene,” said Rabbi Asi Spiegel, who has overseen the growth of Eugene’s Chabad since September 2002.

Rabbi Spiegel and his wife Aviva have created “a home away from home” for Jewish students, offering classes and holiday celebrations as well as regular Shabbat dinners and monthly Rosh Chodesh gatherings.

Jewish center opens in Clark County

Clark County, WA – “Wherever there are Jews in need, there are federations and Chabad,” said Marshal Spector, vice-president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.

That was the general sentiment June 11 in Vancouver, Wash., when Chabad Lubavitch of Clark County held a formal celebration for the opening of the first Jewish center or synagogue in the county’s history. Congregation Kol Ami, a Reform congregation in Clark County, meets in rented space.

Even the standing room only crowd of about 75 was not indicative of the event’s magnitude. As almost every speaker noted, the addition of this location creates a foundation for the Jewish community in Vancouver that also enhances the entire city’s religious and cultural representation.