Half a Dozen Cars Broken Into, Air Bags Stolen

Illustration Photos.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Last night Union Street was hit very hard, six cars were broken into and their air bags were stolen, and the damage is estimated to be over six thousand dollars.

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Florida Governor Dedicates New Torah for Chabad House

TALLAHASSEE, FL [CHI] — Florida Governor Charlie Crist celebrated Torah Dedication Day by joining several Jewish leaders at the Governor’s Mansion for the dedication of a new Torah scroll to the entire Jewish community of Florida.

“The ethical values set forth throughout the Torah provide a guide for all, regardless of our personal religious beliefs,” said Governor Crist. “This occasion is a milestone for the entire Jewish community of Florida, and I am honored to share in this moment.”

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Chabad Mikvah in London Goes up in Flames

LONDON, England [CHI] – The Lubavitch Mikvah in London, under the directorship of Rabbi Levi Sudak, went up in flames this afternoon, after a fire broke out due to an electrical short. The fire is reported to have done extensive damage to the facility along with the Chabad Houses storage shed.

More pictures in the Extended Article. (col.org.il)

How To Deal With Depression? A Unique Letter of The Rebbe

Where does depression come from? Is it in any way positive? In the following letter the Rebbe addresses a student who was going through difficult times that it’s all in the mind, and in that the mind can change more easily than we think. To learn more about the Rebbe visit: www.Portraitofaleader.org

The Weekly Sicha of the Rebbe – Parshas Vayikra

The Rebbe says:

1. As a preparation to the upcoming inauguration of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) which begins in next week’s Torah portion (Parshas Tzav) and continues through the portion after that (Parshas Shemini), this week’s Torah portion talks all about the various offerings.

2. The order in which the Torah decides to tell us about the offerings is first to discuss the offerings which were voluntary offerings, such as the Burnt Offering (Korban Olah), the Meal Offering (Korban Mincha), and the Peace Offering (Korban Shelamim), and then to tell us about the obligatory offerings, such as the Sin Offering (Korban Chatas), and the Guilt Offering (Korban Asham).

3. The Rebbe now questions this order of instructions:

Wouldn’t it make more sense for the Torah to teach us first about the offerings which are obligatory and only then tell us about the voluntary offerings? After all, if a Jew didn’t want to bring a voluntary offering he didn’t need to know the laws concerning them, however every Jew needed to bring an obligatory offering and therefore needed to know the laws concerning them!

Jewish Groups Call Oliphant Cartoon ‘anti-Semitic’

<%image(20090326-oliphant-cartoon.jpg|525|360|The cartoon by Pat Oliphant)%>

JERUSALEM [JTA] — Jewish groups have denounced a cartoon by a prize-winning political cartoonist as anti-Semitic.

Pat Oliphant’s cartoon, published Wednesday, shows a headless figure goose-stepping while pushing a large Star of David with fangs and pursuing a tiny woman carrying a child labeled “Gaza.” The syndicated cartoon appeared in newspapers around the world.

B&H Store Settles Job Bias Lawsuit for $4.3M

New York, NY – B&H electronics retailer in New York City has settled a job discrimination lawsuit on behalf of 149 Latino warehouse workers for $4.3 million.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said today a federal judge in Manhattan approved the settlement.

Boruch Dayan Haemes – Reb Yehoshua Bronstein OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Reb Yehoshua Ben Simcha Bonim HaKohen Bronstein of Crown Heights at the age of 89.

Reb Yehoshua is survived by his children, Mrs. Rivka Kotlarsky (Crown Heights), Mrs. Peshy Teller (Crown Heights) and Mrs. Chanie Cohen (Long Island).

The Levaya will take place today,Thursday, and will be leaving from that Shomrei Hadaas Chapels at 12:00pm and will be passing by 770 at around 12:30pm.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

Birchas Hachamma – A Trip Down Memory Lane

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — On April 8, millions of Jews of all backgrounds and communities across the world will take to the streets to participate in a rare prayer service performed once every 28 years.

According to tradition, the blessing of the sun marks the point in time when the sun returns to the exact point in the sky it occupied during the creation of the world, and on the same day of the week.

More video in the Extended Article!

Budget Cuts Could Imperil Jewish Burial Rites

Illustration Photo

NEW YORK [AP] — New York City’s medical examiner warns that proposed budget cuts could threaten Jewish and Muslim burial rites.

Dr. Charles Hirsch says the cuts could hamper his office in its efforts to expedite the burials of observant Jews and Muslims, whose religions call for burials within 24 hours of death.

Pedestrian Struck and Injured on Kingston

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A Black woman was struck and injuredby a turning car on the corner of Crown Street and Kingston Avenue. The driver, a young Bochur, stopped his and immediately called 911, while other Bochurim who witnessed the accident called Shomrim and Hatzalah.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

New Shluchim to Florida!

<%image(20090326-dechter2.jpg|525|403|Rabbi Tzvi Dechter)%>

Rabbi Tzvi and his wife Shana (nee Biston) Dechter along with their newborn daughter Chaya Mushka of Crown Heights, will IYH be moving out on Shlichus to Lighthouse Point, FL where they will establish a new Chabad House serving the local Jewish residents in East Deerfield Beach, East Pompano Beach, and Hillsboro Beach.

The new Shluchim were appointed by Rabbi Yossi Biston, Director of Chabad of North Broward and South Palm Beach.

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