Yesterday, the 10th of Adar, marked the tenth Yohrtzeit of Hatomim Sholomo Sholom Brashevitzky OBM, who was taken from us during his tenure as a counselor in Yeshivas Tzeirai Hashluchim in a terrible accident.
The fast begins at 5:15am and ends at 6:09pm (NYC Times)
Because Adar 13 (the day before Purim) falls on a Shabbat this year, the “Fast of Esther,” usually observed on that date, is moved back to today.
Haman’s “Final Solution” was scheduled for the 13th of Adar. Instead, Haman was hanged, and by royal decree the Jews mobilized in self-defense and successfully defended themselves against all attacks. On the next day, the 14th of Adar, the Jews rested, savored their miraculous salvation, and established the holiday of Purim.
Whenever in peril, we are commanded to institute a fast day to repent, pray, and ask for Divine mercy. Thus the 13th of Adar, the day of battle, was a day of fasting.
Please take a moment and say a Kapitel Tehillim for a Refuah Shlaima.
Devorah bas Esther Malka
Eliezer Dovid ben Chaya
Menachem Mendel ben Sarah
Purim is less than two weeks away. Purim is a holiday filled with fun and sweets. Everyone is already thinking of original ideas what to give as ‘Mishloach Manos’. How about this year we try to make it more fun for all the people that are less fortunate in our community. As you may know or as many are not aware of yet that in our very own community there are many families that are struggling financially. Some large families live in a basement, kids wear old clothing. Some have barely basic furniture; some big families share one bedroom.
NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — The Canadian Consul General Daniel Sullivan hosted an event this week promoting trade between Canada based kosher vendors and potential New York customers.
Rabbi Rieber’s 7th grade in Oholei Torah enjoyed Purim a few days early!
St. Petersburg, Russia — Israeli diamond dealer, Rafael Aviv, represented by Attys. Mordechai Tzivin and Gil Wojakowski, was released last week from a long period of custody during which he was held without trial by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) – the successor to the KGB, the NKVD and Cheka – arrested Aviv last July on suspicion of “exchanging precious stones and unlawful possession of diamonds.” Russian law prohibits the export of raw diamonds mined in Russia, unless they are polished locally.
This was not the first time an Israeli diamond merchant was arrested under similar circumstances, but in all of the other cases they received long sentences, sometimes more than 10 years, which they served to the end; one even passed away in a Russian jail.
Levi’s Torah, written in memory of Levi Yitzchok Wolowik OBM, who passed away a year ago at the age of 9, was completed and dedicated this passed Sunday at an event held by the families Chabad House.
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — An elderly disabled driver crashed in to a number of parked cars on Union Street after dozing or blacking out this afternoon.
Jewish students across the Lone Star State excitedly pronounced the second-annual Grand Texas Intercollegiate Shabbaton to be even bigger and better than last year’s event. Hosted once again by collegians at Texas A&M University in College Station, the collection of networking events, workshops and spiritually inspiring talks was attended by hundreds of students from more than half a dozen colleges.
DELAWARE, PA [CHI] — Students of Darchai Menachem who excelled in school and accumulated the right amount of ‘points’ over the last 12 weeks, were all rewarded with a full day trip up to the Shawnee Mountain, a ski resort that’s a two hour drive from Brooklyn, where the students took skiing lessons and spent a day on the ski slopes.
Just over a month ago, on January 12th, JEM conducted a series of important interviews in Israel for the My Encounter with the Rebbe project. Among those interviewed was Rabbi Menachem Porush, of blessed memory. He was 93 years old at the time of the interview.
Each day almost 40 children gather at Cheder Menachem in North Brunswick to learn the teachings of the Rebbe, the late Menachem Mendel Schneerson, that are so central to the Chabad Lubavitch movement.
Thousands of dollars were stolen out of an ATM on Kingston Avenue last night. The incident took place at the intersection of Kingston Avenue and Crown Street, in front of Post Mark-it, where the ATM which has been there for nearly a year was pried open and its contents emptied.
CrownHeights.info wishes Mazal Tov to Mendy and Baila Stern (CrownHeights) on the birth of their daughter.
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to her parents, grandparents and Klal Yisroel.
LOS ANGELES, CA [CHI] — During a special ceremony held at the LA City Council, the newly elected officials and Gaboim of “The Shul for the Kids by the Kids” – The Rebbe’s Diamond Daveners were welcomed, honored and saluted for their new leading role.
There is a growing tendency among the Torah world to reject technology and innovation. The rejection has reached an extremeness bordering on a Talibanesque fundamentalism, unseen throughout our history. A good case can be made that this rejection runs counter to true Torah Judaism, and should not be subsumed under the rubric of Ailu veAilu divrei Elokim Chaim.
