Chabad Gives IDF Soldiers An Inspired Sendoff

As IDF soldier’s prepare to enter Gaza, Chabad representatives give them an inspiring sendoff with gifts of food, extra clothing, and specially printed prayer books designed to fit in their uniform pockets.

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Militant Right-Wing Party: Chabad Not Welcome in Mumbai

Lyla Bavadam – The Hindu

MUMBAI, India — The Jewish Chabad centre will not be allowed to continue at its original site at Nariman House, local Shiv Sena shakha pramukh Vijay Surve of the Colaba shakha has told The Hindu.

CHI Note: The Shiv Sena is a far-right political party in India. It literally means the Army of Shiv, a great hero in India. They have been accused of being involved in violence, attacking people with opposing ideologies. For this reason, it has been described as a militant right-wing group. The Shiv Sena has also been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims.

“Under no condition can they come back here,” he said. The centre was the site of a terror attack on November 26 when nine Jews were taken captive by two terrorists. The ensuing siege by the armed forces lasted almost 40 hours.

Video – Bloomberg Kicks Off Pothole Filling Season

BROOKLYN, NY [NY1] — With winter comes snow and ice, and of course, potholes.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the department of transportation commissioner were in Brooklyn Monday to announce that the pothole-filling season is in full swing.

Tuesday – The Fast of Asarah B’Tevet

Chabad.org

The Fast begins at 5:52am and ends at 5:14pm

On the 10th of Tevet of the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months later — on the 17th of Tammuz, 3338 — the city walls were breached, and on the 17th of Av that year, the Holy Temple was destroyed. The Jewish people were exiled to Babylonia for 70 years.

Tevet 10 is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and drink from daybreak through nightfall, and add the Selichot and other special supplements to our prayers. (More recently, Tevet 10 was chosen to also serve as a “general kaddish day” for the victims of the Holocaust, many of whose day of martyrdom is unknown.)

Click here to read more about Asarah B’Tevet.

Weekly Web Class with Rabbi YY Jacobson

Tonight, Monday, 9 Taves 5769, January 5, 2009, at 8:00pm, Rabbi YY Jacobson will deliver a 50-minute Parsah class: Menashe & Ephraim: Two Trends Shaping Jewish Life in Exile – Nostalgia & Transformation. Jewish history is about sharing with our children the story of our past, but what do you do when your children don’t understand the story?

The class will explore the diverse ideas of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe and Professor Gershom Scholem on the subject.

To watch, please visit www.TheYeshiva.Net
To listen via telephone, please call: 1-616-347-8000. Access code: 1007852#.

Sefer Torah Dedicated to the Defenders of Israel

BEIT EL, Israel — January 4th, the 8th of Teves, Chabad from Israel’s Home Front went to an army base in the area of Beit El. To dedicate a new Sefer Torah. They were accompanied by a young couple, newlyweds Israel and Gabriela Kopel. On their wedding day they began writing a Sefer Torah, which they decided to dedicate to the defenders of Israel. With the help of their friend, Rabbi Mendel Rosenfeld, who is the one of the Rebbe’s shluchim to Florida; they contacted Tzeirei Chabad HQ in Israel who arranged the celebration. Joining in the celebration, the bride and groom’s parents, and some of their siblings and friends along with a special guest Rabbi, Yehoshua Binyomin Rosenfeld, a good friend of the family and the Rebbe’s Shliach to Colombia.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Please say Tehilim for Israeli Soldiers in Gaza…

Fierce fighting has erupted in and around the Gaza City with Hamas terrorist putting up a stiff resistance to advancing Israeli ground forces. Israeli sources are telling the media that a major battle is taking place on the outksirts of Gaza City. We would like ask that everybody say Tehilim chapters 20, 22, 69 and 150, as per the Rebbe’s directive.

Click on the Extended Article to say Tehilim!

Picture of the Day! – The Rebbe Giving Tzedakah!

In honor of the first Yartzeit of Reb Zev Yosef and Rochel Simons of Sydney, Australia. The Avner Institute is happy to present a first time released picture of the Rebbe Giving Tzedakah in the winter of 1964. It’s from the new book on the Rebbe: www.inspiringageneration.org.

Most of Crown Heights was Offline

CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — Crown Heights residents who are subscribed to Cablevision for their high speed internet access, have been unable to connect to the internet since mid Monday afternoon. Cablevision which provides internet via cable, under the name Optimum Online, have been saying that they are “performing system maintenance.”

Cablevision work crews can been seen working around the community trying to get Crown Heights back online, it is unknown when the internet will be back up.

The Soldiers Are on the Front Lines, Which Lines are You on?

As our brethren (including members of Anash) are on the front lines fighting to secure fellow Yiden, it is incumbent upon us to do what the Rebbe assured would significantly assist in the security of our fellow Yiden – Learn “lines” of Torah!
The following is a few sources on the effect of Torah learning on security:

1) When Bilaam was asked if he could to curse the Yiden he said that ״if the sound of Torah is heard in the Beis Midrash, I will be unable to ״. [Midrash Eicha Chapter 2]

Montreal Yeshivah Beefs Up Security After Threat

Illustration Picture

MONTREAL, Canada [CHI] — The Chabad elementary Yeshivah in Montreal increased their security last week. This comes after a Middle Eastern looking man was inquiring some young pupils as to their schedule, more specifically they were asked, “When is lunch and dismissal?”

Yeshivah personnel, who later informed about the inquiring Arab, beefed up security around the building. This included bolting shut all entrances to the building, as well as hiring full-time security to monitor people coming into the building at the front entrance.