1897 NY Times: Rabbi Arrested for Birkas HaChama

The New York Times printed an article in April 8 1897, when a Rabbi of an east side shul gathered in Tompkins Square for “Birkas HaChama” and was arrested for not having a permit to gather such a large crowd.

Read the Full Article in the Extended Article!

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Torah Scroll Retrieved from Archives

NIKOLAYEV, Ukraine [FJC] — The Jewish community of Nikolayev has good cause for celebration, with the announcement that the State Archives of the Nikolayev Region – one of six archival institutions of Ukraine where Torah scrolls were stored – will be returning the 24th of the 25 such scrolls to the Jewish community. The transfer will take place on March 25 and the scroll will be officially transferred to the Jewish community of Nikolayev. It will be received directly by Chief Rabbi of Nikolayev Sholom Gottlieb.

Did you say the ‘Nasi’ Today? (Yom Alef)

From the Safer Haminhagim: [Every day from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until the twelfth of the month, usually after Shacharis,] one reads the passage [from Bamidbar 7-8:4] that describes the offering brought on that day by a particular Nasi, or tribal prince, for the dedication of the altar of the Mishkan. [In common parlance, each day’s passage itself is often referred to as “the Nasi.”] This daily reading is followed by the prayer which opens with the words yehi ratzon (and which appears in Siddur Torah Or [as well as in Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 371]). This prayer is recited even by a Kohen or a Levi [despite its seeming relevance only to tribes other than the Tribe of Levi]. [284]

To see the rest of the text of the Nasi click the Extended Article!