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Over 600 Attend NJ Memorial with Gov and Mayor

WEST ORANGE, NJ [CHI] — Over 600 people gathered for a memorial last week in the JCC Metro West in West Orange, NJ. The event was arranged by New Jersey Shluchim together with the Federation and was attended by the large crowd in addition to NJ Governer Jon Corzine, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the Israeli Council General and Somerset County Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Latest From Kent Ave. Bike Lane: Hasidic Chicken

by Jen Chung for the Gothamist

BROOKLYN, NY — The Hasidic community has been upset over bike lanes in their South Williamsburg for months, what with the immodest apparel of female bicyclists and the lanes taking up street space. Previously, the Hasidim announced they would use private buses to intentionally block bike lanes; now a reader tells us about her ride today:

Strengthening Riots in Greece Keep Jewish Residents on Edge

By Tamar Runyan

(Photo: AFP – Aris Messinis)

ATHEN, Greece — As riots in Greece’s two largest cities extended into their third day with some of the worst violence seen yet, the Jewish community of Athens is safe, but apprehensive. The Chabad-Lubavitch center that Rabbi Mendel and Nechama Hendel have operated since 2001 is operating as usual, with the couple regularly checking up on residents by telephone.

Speaking Monday night as anarchist youths took their spree of arson and vandalism closer to the capital’s Parliament, the rabbi said that the previous two hours had seen a drastic intensification in the protesters’ actions.

Notice for People Riding Subway with Baby Carriages

NEW YORK, NY — In a letter sent to President Howard Roberts, Jr. of the MTA, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) expressed concern about a growing number of constituent complaints he received involving the 34th Street, Herald Square Station in Manhattan.

Synagogue’s Anniversary

S. PETERSBURG, Russia [FJC] — Today, the Jewish community of S. Petersburg is marking the anniversary when, exactly 115 years ago on December 8th, 1893, its Great Choral Synagogue was built. Built on Bolshaya Masterskaya Street (now Lermontov Avenue), a festive ceremony took place on that historic day so many years ago in order to consecrate the new Great Choral Synagogue.

Today’s ceremony took place in the very same central prayer hall that has, thank G-d, once again come to be the center of Jewish life in Russia’s northern capital, hosting Jewish holidays, lectures, concerts and other gatherings.

Can Menorah Builds on Old Tradition

Jennifer Chambers – The Detroit News

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — Building a menorah out of canned food takes lot of practice.

That’s a lesson four girls who attend Hebrew School at the Shul-Chabad Lubavitch learned during a trial run Wednesday night as they prepared to build a giant menorah out of 5,000 cans of food on Dec. 21, the Photos by David Guralnick / The Detroit Newsofficial beginning of Chanukah.

I’m Still Waiting For You, Rivki

Chani Lifshitz – Lubavitch.com

Shluchos at the annual Shluchos Convertion in New York

KATAMANDU, Nepal — Chani Lifshitz, Chabad representative in Katamandu, Nepal, wrote a letter to her close friend, Rivkah Holtzberg, following the tragedy in Mumbai. Lubavitch.com presents a translation from the Hebrew that appeared in the Israeli paper, Yediot Achronot.

Jewish Mission Makes Chabad A Target

Rabbi Levy Shmotkin, front, with Yossi Fraenkel, right, Rabbi Mendy Cohen, center back, and Rabbi Dovid Zaklikowski, left, attempt to establish contact with their sources in India at Chabad’s Brooklyn World Headquarters on Nov. 28.

BROOKLYN, NY [AP] — It must have been easy for the terrorists, rampaging through Mumbai, to find the Chabad Jewish center where they slaughtered six people.

Signs in Hebrew and English are posted outside Chabad houses. The street address of each building can be found through the online global directory the movement developed to attract visitors. Worship and activity schedules at the centers are often just a few more clicks away.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes – Harav HaChosid Reb Hershel Kotlarsky OBM

Reb Hershel OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Harav HaChosid Reb Tzvi Yosef Kotlarsky of Crown Heights, at the age of 92.

He is survived by his children Fraidel Hershkowitz (Crown Heights), Chanie Shemtov (Shlucha to Tucson, AZ), Moshe Kotlarsky (Crown Heights), Mendel Kotlarsky (Crown Heights), Suri Perman (Shlucha to Kingston, PA), Nechama Hershkop (Crown Heights) and Esty Wilschanski (Shlucha to Morristown, NJ).

The Levaya will be leaving from Shomrei Hadaas Chapel at 1:00pm and passing by 770 at around 2:00pm

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

New Shluchim to Texas

Rabbi Yossi and his wife Esty (nee Gurevitch) Zaklikofsky of Crown Heights will IY”H be moving on Shlichus to Pearland, TX the fastest growing suburb of Houston, where they will establish a new Chabad House serving the needs of the Jewish communities of Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland.

Then new Shluchim were appointed by Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff, head Shliach of Texas.

The new Shluchim can be reached via e-mail at zyossi@aol.com.

CrownHeights.info would like to wish the new Shluchim Hatzlocha Rabba on their Shlichus!