Video of the Day – the Weekly Living Torah Clip

This weeks Living Torah, titled “Joseph the Righteous” (Volume 40, Episode 159).

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Available in Hebrew, French and Russian in the Extended Article.

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Op-Ed: A Plea for Shidduchim

Dear Brother, Sister, Parent, and Shadchan,

It seems these days, that finding a Shidduch is a lot harder than it was in the past. There are lots of young boys and girls out there that are getting older, and are still single. Parents are making calls, Shadchanim are making calls, but it just doesn’t seem to move. Aside from time it takes to make the calls and reach references, it takes lots of effort to properly evaluate prospectives and get 2 names in the same plate. When someone makes a call to a reference, they hear something they don’t like and the suggestion is closed. It is my firm belief that people don’t know how to evaluate other people properly and might mention some “major” aspect of a single that really only represents 5% of their total character and personality, but since that is all what the other side hears, they give it heavy consideration in their decision. How many good matches were prevented from going forward for this simple and foolish reason? Shidduchim should be investigated with the accuracy of a crime lab! We should not take some mindless-by-the-way remark someone said about another and consider as evidence good enough for a court. I plead and beg from whoever is involved in the shidduch making process to please take this heart. A brilliant cut diamond has 58 facets, how many does a person have?

Continued in the Extended Article.

Rabbi Michoel Seligson Farbrengs with Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim in Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ [CHI] — On Monday night, Vav Tishrei, the Yahrtzeit of the Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s Mother, was commemorated by the Bochurim of Yeshiva Tiferes Bochurim in Morristown, NJ. A Farbrengen led by noted Mashpia Rabbi Michoel Seligson took place. Rabbi Seligson told stories of the Rebbe mother, including how she used to make ink for her husband, Reb Levik. Today his published teachings exist due to her hard work and efforts to enable Reb Levik to continue writing.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

On the journey to Yom Kippur

Waveney Ann Moore – Neighborhood Times
Second-graders at the Pinellas County Jewish Day School symbolically cast their sins (in the form of bread pieces) onto the flowing water.

ST PETERSBURG, FL — Judaism’s annual 10 days of reflection, repentance and forgiveness, known collectively as the High Holy Days, conclude Saturday with Yom Kippur.

Friendship Circle Brings Joy to Special Kids

Katherine Paster – Local Source
Photo by Katherine Paster – Before venturing onto the walking paths of Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, members of The Friendship Circle and many of their special-needs children gathered together as a gang of good friends out for a fun day in the sunshine.

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A crowd of hundreds congregated at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo on Sunday to participate in a fund-raising walk to raise money for The Friendship Circle, a non-profit organization dedicated to filling the social and recreational void that tends to plague the lives of children with special needs.

Rosh Hashanah in Russia’s Most Easterly Port

FJC.ru

KALININGRAD, Russia –- The Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashanah – was met in Kaliningrad by over 250 people attending a communal gathering. Organized by the Jewish community of Kaliningrad, the event took place at a local café.

Orthodox Jew Tapped to Replace Gonzales

Ron Kampeas – JTA
President Bush listens to retired judge Michael Mukasey speak at the White House.
Photo – Jason Reed for Reuters

WASHINGTON, DC (JTA) — Those who know Michael Mukasey say President Bush’s pick to be the next attorney general is a political conservative and an Orthodox Jew who kept his politics and religion out of the courtroom.