More than 1200 men, women and children gathered for an evening of Torah, Tefilla and Tzedaka at the at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the Los Angeles Grand Citywide 30th Siyum HoRambam last week. The “achdus” event, sponsored by West Coast Chabad-Lubavitch and more than 30 local Chabad centers, was the largest such gathering in the history of Jewish Los Angeles.
No one met Rabbi Menachem Rivkin at the airport the night he, his wife and 6-month-old twins flew from New York to Portland. No one brought a housewarming gift to their Hillsboro home or joined the family for Friday night prayers.
Occupy Wall Street in New York City could run out of cash in a matter of weeks. A finance report shows the group that galvanized the nationwide movement against economic inequality six months ago had about $45,000 left in its main account. That’s for the week of March 2. Weekly donations plummeted to about $1,600.
Israel’s Iron Dome rocket shield has aced its first serious test. Gaza’s Hamas rulers have been careful to stay on the sidelines. And Islamic Jihad — now closer to Iran than is its larger rival Hamas — is taking the lead in this round against Israel.
Over 40 Seniors from Downtown Brooklyn gathered to celebrate a Pre-Purim Brunch – a project of Chabad of Brooklyn Heights. The Seniors enjoyed a concert by the world renowned chazzan Rabbi Zalman Baumgarten.
Over 400 men, women and children celebrated Purim in the African Jungle at Chabad Lubavitch of Markham, Ontario. They were treated to an amazing show by Cat World, who brought in live animals from the jungle.
Kaliningrad, Russia [CHI] — Rabbi David Shvedik has been fighting for years for the reconstruction of the Great Synagogue in Kaliningrad, Russia, which was destroyed by the Nazis. For now, his efforts were unsuccessful. At the site where the majestic synagogue once stood, a circus performs today, and its leaders have flatly refused the offer of over half a million dollars to relocate. This is in spite of the fact that the land is outright property of the Jewish community.
With great sadness and shock we inform you of the passing of Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind, caring husband and father and respected Rov in our community, at the age of 57. Rabbi Zirkind served as a bookkeeper for Beis Rivka for many years, and was known for his kindness and genuine concern for all those around him.
After service cuts, fare hikes and increased diversions for repairs, some straphangers might finally catch a break.
Two thousand people filled the city circus in Charkov, Ukraine for a spectacular Purim show. Lions roared and ‘danced’ to Hava Nagila, and the “Kenya Boys” did an amazing acrobatic show.
The friendship Circle of Manchester’s Purim Party, held on Wednesday night, was attended by over 100 participants. They first heard the Megila, read by Rabbi Rachamim Goodman, and then partied in style with live music, food and dance until late into the night!
Approximately 150 Jews of all ages gathered in the newly built Jewish Community Center in Smolensk, Russia to celebrate the most lively purim that the community remembers. Smolensk is about 45 miles from the town of Lubavitch, near the border with Belarus.
With sadness we inform you of the passing of Reb Zushe Rivkin OBM, of Kfar Chabad, at the age of 82. Rabbi Rivkin was active as a dedicated Chossid of the Rebbe, and would especially put much effort into helping people do Mivtza Tzedaka. Every day on his way to work in Tel Aviv, he would walk through the train and offer people a coin and a pushka, giving them the oppertunity to fulfill the mitzvah.
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