Shake Off The Golus Mentality – Never Underestimate G-d Nor His People

By Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Jax, Florida

A renowned Maggid (traveling preacher) arrived one day at the hometown of Reb Shmuel Munkes, a noted disciple of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. After reading his letter of approbation, lauding him as a Tzaddik wont to wander from town to town for the sole purpose of inspiring fellow Jews, the townspeople invited him to preach.

Throughout his sermon the Maggid berated his simple audience, accusing them of dreadful sins. He proceeded to describe in vivid detail the severe punishment that awaited them as a result of their evil ways. When finished, the proud orator quickly retired to his room, leaving his crestfallen audience to wail over of the Divine retribution about to befall them.

No sooner had he made himself comfortable, when a man with a long knife and sharpening stone entered his room. To the Maggid’s utter surprise, the armed visitor was none other than R’ Shmuel himself.

Bolting the door behind him, R’ Shmuel proceeded to sharpen his knife. After a few tense and wordless moments, the Maggid broke the silence. “What’s this all about,” he asked with a look of astonishment.

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Video – Brooklyn Rabbi Critical After Fatal PA Crash

BROOKLYN [WABC] — A horrific triple fatal crash on Interstate 80 outside Pittsburgh, Pa., killed a 10-year-old boy and a woman, both from Brooklyn, and left the boy’s father fighting for his life.

The Brooklyn residents were in a van struck by an out of control tractor trailer last night on Interstate 80 in Clintonville, where state police said freezing rain created poor driving conditions.

Deluge of Pests Enrages 2 Brooklyn Nabes

These Brooklyn nabes are where the wild things are.

Half of Brownsville’s buildings are infested with mice or rats, and more than half of South Crown Heights households have roaches, according to a new city Health Department Web site.

Hundreds at the Levaya of Avrohom Dovid Liberow OBM

Teary eyed supporters, the look of shock still on their faces, friends, Anash and others gathered in front of 770 to attend the Levaya of Avrohom Dovid Liberow OBM, the 10 year old son of Rabbi Zalman Liberow, Shliach in Flatbush.

Jewish Philanthropist Explores Chabad’s Russian Roots

By B. Olidort for Lubavitch.com

When Guma Aguiar, a 32 year-old American billionare, gave 13 year-old Arpyom Rusanov of Kharkov, Ukraine, a gift of tefillin last week, he pointed to an ironic revision in the century-old storyline of Jewish history.

“You are so fortunate that you can begin wearing tefillin at the right time, on your 13th birthday,” Aguiar told the bar mitzvah boy of this former communist city, who had a bris just three days prior. By contrast, the energy magnate who grew up in the U.S. didn’t get to don tefillin until he was 26.

Holidays a Time for Friends at the Friendship Circle

By Bob Gardinier for the Times Union

ALBANY, NY — Two dozen teenagers cared enough about helping special needs kids that they spent their holiday break volunteering for them.

For three days last week, the teenagers, local middle- and high-school students as well as three students home from college, participated in the Friendship Circle Winter Camp. The camp helps special needs kids and their families by providing a host of creative and recreational activities including sports, arts and crafts and music.

Emergency Pidyon Shvuyim Rally for Sholom Rubashkin

There is going to be an emergency Pidyon Shvuyim rally for Sholom Modechai Rubashkin in Crown Heights. “We must cry out to Hashem and gather the funds needed to reverse this travesty of justice!” Sunday, January 10, 8:00 pm at Bais Rivkah Campus Chomesh, 470 Lefferts Ave [corner Brooklyn Ave].

Jewish Students Turn to Miami Beach for Self-Discovery

By Tamar Runyan for Chabad.edu
Participants of the first-ever Miami Torah Experience attend a lecture at Congregation Magen David.

MIAMI, FL — Winter breaks aren’t necessarily known for personal discoveries. But in the midst of snorkeling and lounging poolside this year, University of Miami junior Avi Insler did something he had never done before: He kept Shabbat.

Levaya Info for Azoulay and Liberow

The Levaya of Avrohom Dovid Liberow, 10, son of Shliach Rabbi Zalman Liberow will take place today, Thursday, and will be leaving from the Shomrei Hadaas Chapel at 1:30pm. From there the procession will stop at the Liberows Chabad House at 2:00pm, and will then pass by 770 at 2:30. From there the Levaya will go to the Montefiore Cemetary in Queens.

The Levaya of Pesha Leah (Roetter) Azoulay, 20, will take place tomorrow, Friday, and will be from the Shomrei Hadaas Chapel at 10:00am, and passing by 770 at 10:30am. From there the Levaya will go to the Montefiore Cemetary in Queens.

TRAGEDY: Crash Kills Son of Shliach, Newly Married Woman, BDH

Yeshiva World News

Pesha Leah (Roetter) Azoulay OBM, on her wedding day.

A horrific car crash has left a 10-year-old Flatbush boy R”L dead, a newly married woman R”L dead, and the boy’s father, a Chabad shaliach in Flatbush, fighting for his life.

Sources tell YWN that the multi-vehicle-crash occurred in Western Pennsylvania, on Interstate 80 (MM 32), near the Clintonville exit in Venango County, shortly before 10:00PM Wednesday evening. The vehicle was reportedly traveling from a wedding in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Chabad House in Mumbai Receives Threat Letter

By Daniel Edelson for YNetNews

MUMBAI — More than a year after the joint terror attack in Mumbai that targeted the city’s Chabad House, fears again are raised for another attack. Ynet learned that the Mumbai Chabad House, which has been under construction since the attack that claimed the lives of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, has received a letter threatening another attack.

Video: Motzoai Shabbos Attempted Mugging at Gunpoint

In an effort to identify, and put an end to the dangerous crime spree that has plagued our community since Saturday night SafeZone24 and CrownHeights.info present the following surveillance video footage of the first attempted robbery which took place on President and Albany.