New Engagement!
Shalom Goldberg (Toronto, Canada) and Penina Forta (Oak Park, MI)

Op-Ed: The Vanishing American Bochur
You can still spot them, now and then: Friday morning, clambering aboard a Mitzvah Tank, blaring Nichoach on loop; ducking out of the Kollel late at night, sefer securely tucked under the arm; or massing outside the NCFJE international headquarters Wednesday afternoons. But in many ways, the American 770 bochur is a breed endangered, disappearing fast.

Russian Governor and Rabbi Share Name, Vision
Every year, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia holds an awards ceremony to honor top contributors to Jewish life. Typically, the awards are given to Jewish writers, philanthropists and social activists, but things took a different turn this time around.

Israeli Archaeologists Find 1,500-Year-Old “Hechsher”
A 1,500-year-old seal with the image of the seven-branched Temple Menorah has been discovered near the city of Acre.

Shmuley Boteach Responds to Attack over New Book
Yesterday, we published an op-ed written by Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf from Chicago, lambasting Rabbi Shmuley Boteach for his latest publication, Kosher J. While we do not wish to take sides in this controversial issue, in the spirit of fairness we gave Rabbi Shmuley a chance to respond to his critics.
Last night after Seder, a group of young Charedim approached Toras Emes, a Chabad Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and began to hurl insults and profanities at the Yeshiva Bochurim. A few of the youth then proceeded to pick up stones and throw them at the Yeshiva's windows, shattering a few of them and injuring a couple of students with the glass shards.
Charedim Attack Students of Toras Emes in Jerusalem
Last night after Seder, a group of young Charedim approached Toras Emes, a Chabad Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and began to hurl insults and profanities at the Yeshiva Bochurim. A few of the youth then proceeded to pick up stones and throw them at the Yeshiva’s windows, shattering a few of them and injuring a couple of students with the glass shards.
A New Jersey Chabad rabbi's kidney donation to an Israeli living on a secular Moshav in central Israel didn’t make news as the headline-grabbing, purportedly bitter religious vs. secular Jewish divide always does.
Chabad Rabbi Donates Kidney
A New Jersey Chabad rabbi’s kidney donation to an Israeli living on a secular Moshav in central Israel didn’t make news as the headline-grabbing, purportedly bitter religious vs. secular Jewish divide always does.
CH Bicyclists Gather to Plan Cross Country Trip
Crown Heights [CHI] — A few days after Chanukah, a group of about 40-50 avid bicyclists gathered at the CH Cycles bike shop on Empire Blvd. for a gathering of members of ‘Team Aleph,’ a Bicycle club based in Crown Heights.
Restaurants Use Loophole to Duck Letter Grading
The Bloomberg administration is working with the state to close a loophole that has allowed city restaurants to duck its strict letter-grading system by registering as supermarkets or wholesalers.

Holocaust Project Matches Numbers, Names
Some 60 years have passed since the Holocaust — a world away and generations ago. Now, a Woodland Middle School eighth-grader is part of a worldwide effort to give identity to survivors, who were listed only by numbers when they were released.

New Five Towns Chabad Center Focuses on Family
Richard Obshatko of Hewlett, NY, hasn’t been formally affiliated with a synagogue for years. Still, he believes that “every Jew needs to go to shul on Rosh Hashanah,” and after conducting some research recently, he found a newly-minted Chabad-Lubavitch center practically in his backyard.

Boruch Dayan Ha’emes: Noa Basya Lazarus, 17 Mo.
With great sadness we inform you of the tragic death of a 17-month-old baby, Noa Basya Lazarus, OBM from Johannesburg, South Africa. Her parents, Rabbi Dovid Yaakov and Daniella Rus Lazarus will be sitting Shiva in Johannesburg.

Tuesday: Rally at the Ohel!
IYH this Tuesday, the 15th of Teves (January 10th), there will be a rally at the Ohel for all children ages 5 to 12.

South Beach Chabad to Celebrate New Torah Scroll
There will be dancing in the streets of South Beach — a sacred Jewish artifact has arrived.
What: The New Hampshire primary. When: January 10, 2012. Analysis: The Iowa caucuses turned out to have quite a dramatic finish, with a mere eight votes separating the first place Mitt Romney and second place Rick Santorum. Ron Paul finished a disappointed third, followed by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, John Huntsman and Michelle Bachmann. Following her last place finish, Bachmann dropped out of the race, leaving only six GOP candidates left to compete in New Hampshire.
Jews and Politics: Previewing New Hampshire Primary
What: The New Hampshire primary. When: January 10, 2012. Analysis: The Iowa caucuses turned out to have quite a dramatic finish, with a mere eight votes separating the first place Mitt Romney and second place Rick Santorum. Ron Paul finished a disappointed third, followed by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, John Huntsman and Michelle Bachmann. Following her last place finish, Bachmann dropped out of the race, leaving only six GOP candidates left to compete in New Hampshire.

Shliach Blasts Boteach’s Book: “It’s Apikorsus”
Chicago Shliach and educator Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf blasts Rabbi Shmuely Boteach‘s new book, saying the subject and recent interviews lends itself to apikorsus.

Obama’s Chief of Staff Replaced by Orthodox Jew
Bill Daley is stepping down from his job as White House chief of staff and will be replaced by budget director Jacob Lew, an Orthodox Jew.