
Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Hershel Backman, 92, OBM
With sadness we inform you of the passing of Hershel Backman OBM, a longtime resident of Crown Heights who passed away on Yom Kippur. He was 92.
With sadness we inform you of the passing of Hershel Backman OBM, a longtime resident of Crown Heights who passed away on Yom Kippur. He was 92.
Shmully and Shternie (nee Raichik) Gurary (Los Angeles, CA)
The hundreds of Bochurim who arrived to spend Tishrei with the Rebbe were treated to a rare glimpse of some ‘off-limits’ portions of 770. The tour was arranged by the Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim Ha’olami, which has taken upon itself the responsibility of caring for the spiritual and physical needs of the guests.
This song, written by Chava Tombosky, was composed for the occasion of the completion of a Sefer Torah for Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz, Shliach to Temecula, CA, who is suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The song was released to the public in advance of Simchas Torah, so that the entire community’s Simcha can break through all boundaries and bring about his complete recovery.
Rainy weather did not deter more than 350 people from attending the recent Walk for Friendship in Trudeau Park, the fourth annual event where participants walk, move and run a mile (or 5km) to raise awareness about the Friendship Circle of Montreal.
On Wednesday evening, the students of Beis Rivkah High School gathered for a Vov Tishrei farbrengen, marking 50 years since the passing of Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s mother.
Alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations will be suspended Saturday, October 4, for Yom Kippur, and Lehavdil on Monday, October 6, for a Muslim holiday. All other regulations, including parking meters, remain in effect.
Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky, Shliach to Doral, FL, takes a trip down memory lane in this pre-Yom Kippur essay on the unrivaled experience of spending Tishrei in Crown Heights, which he opted to share with the readers of CrownHeights.info.
Eliav and Elka (nee Brand) Benjamin (Crown Heights)
Dozens of Moscow Jews gathered early Friday morning at the Marina Roscha synagogue to perform Kaporos, after which they each received Lekach and a blessing for a sweet new year from Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar.
CrownHeights.info and Lubavitch Archives present a unique photo of the Rebbe distributing Lekach during Tishrei 5738 (1977), shortly before suffering a heart attack on Simchas Torah.
Mendel and Sara (nee Khan) Gottlieb (Los Angeles, CA)
The Yizkor (remembrance) service on Yom Kippur and Shmini Atzeret, in which special prayers are said in memory of the departed, may be the most well-attended synagogue service on the Jewish calendar. And throughout the night and day of Yom Kippur, there will be resounding sounds of amen to mourners saying Kaddish for those who have passed. This year, those who are not regulars will be able to recite the Kaddish like a pro with the help of a new app.
In this week’s edition of Letter & Spirit, we present a letter of the Rebbe in which he expounds on the very special and supernatural aspects of the mitzvah of shmitah. The letter was written through the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel, and was made available by his son-in-law Rabbi Sholom Ber Shapiro.
Eli and Rachel (nee Schechter) Tsvik (Crown Heights)
In an op-ed published in the New York Daily News, Crown Heights resident Eli Federman responds to the criticisms of ‘animal rights activists’ regarding the ancient Jewish tradition of Kaporos, laying out in clear and concise terms why they should leave the pre-Yom Kippur practice alone.