Historical Wedding in Smolensk Russia

SMOKENSK, Russia [CHI] — For the first time in 80 years, Smolensk, Russia witnessed a kosher Jewish wedding. Rabbi Levi Mondshine, Shliach and chief Rabbi of the Smolensk Region officiated at the wedding of two jewish couples who are members of the Smolensk Jewish community. Despite the cold and snowy weather, the couples decided that they would like to have the chuppas under the nightsky. A close knit group of family and friends gathered to participate in the historical occasion. Rabbi Avraham Lifshitz, a shlich in the area of Pushkina, Moscow, traveled to Smolensk especially to be one of the witnesses.

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Former Gazans Reflect on Life During War

By Sarah Zadok

Contrasting messages on a hastily-installed sewage pipe-cum-bomb shelter in Nitzan encapsulate the spirit of families removed from their Gaza Strip homes in 2006. Two words on the right translate to: “We told you.” On the left is a quote from the 23rd Psalm: “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

SDEROT, Israel — As the Israeli army slogged through the Gaza Strip in the waning days of its three week offensive against Hamas targets, a delegation sponsored by the pro-Israel group Women in Green traveled to a location just beyond the fighting to strengthen the resolve of local residents. In the end, the multinational group of 50 returned strengthened, carrying a message of faith conquering all obstacles.

Monday: Detention Hearing in Sholom Rubashkins Case

The Rubashkin family and the members of the Anash community for Pidyon Shivuyim extend their heartful request to all Anash to join us for special prayers at the Ohel this Monday, January 26th, Rosh Chodesh Shvat at 9:30 a.m. which will correspond to 8:30 a.m. in Iowa when the hearing will begin. Busses have been arranged to leave 770 at 9:00 a.m. and will return at 11:00 a.m.

If you cannot join us at the Ohel please set aside a few moments in your home, school, or Shul to recite Tehillim and study Torah in the z’chus of Sholom Mordechai HaLevi Ben Rivkah.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes – Rabbi Yosef Greenberg OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Rabbi Yosef Greenberg ob“m of Bnei Brak, after a lengthy illness r”l, at the age of 77.

Rabbi Greenberg was one of the Ziknei Anash in Bnei Brak, who had true mesirus nefesh for Yiddishkeit and Chassidus in Russia as a bochur. He was constantly followed, and finally caught and convicted. When he was but seventeen years old, he was sentenced to death r”l. He was set free after serving “only” ten years, with the death of Stalin, yemach shmo.

Forty years ago he came to Eretz Yisroel, and served as Mashpia in the Lubavitcher shul in Neve Achiezer. He chazzered sichos of the Rebbe and shared his experiences in Russia with the mispallelim.

The Levaya took place on Thursday. The Niftar was laid to rest on Har Hazeisim.

Belonging is Believing

By Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin Special to The Chronicle

Honestly, I would have felt disappointed if there had been no reaction to my statement, “There are no secular Jews,” in the article “Do U.S. Jews belong without believing?” in the Dec. 19 Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.

I therefore welcome Michael Tarnoff’s remarks in his letter to the editor in the Jan. 9 issue.