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CH Beis Din Takes Initiative, Calls Bochurim to Din Torah and Issues Psak

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — It has been the talk of town for a week, six Crown Heights men who volunteer in Shomrim facing jail time for an alleged brawl in which Jews pressed charges against them. Many were taken aback by the inaction on behalf of the rabbinic authorities in the community, but that changed on Erev Shabbos.

Rabbis Avrohom Osdoba, Shlomo Yehuda Segal, and Yitzchok Raitport issued a summons to a Din Torah to five of those involved in what they called “the terrible sin informing on Jews to the secular courts.” Those summoned included Levi Paul Huebner, an attorney for Shmira, who Shomrim claim has been pursuing them by making frivolous police reports and bringing civil actions against the organization and its individual members. As well as four of the Tzfati Bochurim who are the ones pursuing the actual charges, Elkon Moshe Gurfinkel, Zalman Bronshtein, Schneir Rotem, and Yakov Shatz.

Bochur Shot in the Face with Paintball Gun

A Paintball injury. Illustration Photo.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Two Bochurim walking home late Friday night were shot at from a car with a paintball gun, striking one of the Bochurim in the face. The incident took place at around 11:00pm as they were walking on Eastern Parkway and Albany Avenue, right in front of two cops who refused to do anything about it.

Mazal Tov! – New Engagement!

CrownHeights.info wishes Mazal Tov to Mendy Lazurus (Cape Town/Summerlin, NV) and Sossie (bas Reb Motti) Scheinfeld (Crown Heights) on their engagement.

The L’Chaim will IYH be Monday night at Chovevei Torah 885 Eastern Parkway [between Albany and Troy Ave].

Mumbai Terror Attacks: And then they Came for the Jews

Times Online

Rabbi Berkowitz stands inside the bullet-scarred Nariman House.

It is a sticky monsoon day in Mumbai, and Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz walks through the shell of Nariman House. Today, the ruined five-storey structure is testament to the ferocity of the terrorists’ incursion and their battle with Indian commandos. It seems impossible that anyone could have come out alive. All its window frames are empty. The lift is slumped at the bottom of its shaft, and giant, jagged chunks of the internal stairway and handrail are missing. At one point, a section of wall many metres high is gone, and the stairs would be open to the sky if not for a plastic draping. Some rooms appear almost untouched; in others, the walls are pulverised, the splatter-marks of gunfire everywhere.

Rooms for the Observant

Editors Note: The Seligsons moved to Manhattan as part of their shlichus work with journalists, continuing the work Motti has been doing for Chabad Lubavitch Media Center for a number of years now. They did so with the blessing, permission and coordination of the local shluchim. We wish them much hatzlacha on the new endeavor!

Below is a beautiful article that appeared in today’s NY Times about their move:

The New York Times

Shterni and Motti Seligson in their new apartment.

It dawned fairly quickly on Rabbi Motti Seligson and Shterni Bukiet Seligson that “one-bedroom apartment” was hardly a meaningful descriptor.

Boruch Dayan Haemes – Reb Moshe Rubin OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Reb Moshe Rubin at age 73 on Friday night. Reb Moshe was a longtime resident of Crown Heights and was a Mispalel at Cong. Crown Heights Yeshiva – Bais Rivkah.

The Levaya will take place Tomorrow, Sunday and will be passing by 770 at around 10:00am, from there the Kevurah will take place at the New Montefoire Cemetery in Queens.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

Op-Ed: Abraham & Halloween

By Rabbi Pinchas G. Allouche

He was nicknamed “the outsider,” “the different.” The norm was his personal enemy. He resented the mainstream leaders of society, as he hoped to create a change of direction for people and a new destiny for the world.

His name? Abraham the Hebrew, literally meaning: Abraham, from the other side. He was so called, for as the Talmud teaches, “the entire world was on one side, and he, Abraham was on the other side.” Indeed, a true revolutionary who changed the landscape of our globe and its history, through the noble notion of monotheism.

It is Abraham’s approach in this week’s Torah portion that has inspired us, the Hebrew nation, to challenge our environment, its habits and its cultures, and to always thirst for true purpose and meaning. And it is this approach that has led me to question the “Halloween” festivities that have already begun to flood the streets of this country. Are we to celebrate this seemingly innocent holiday? After all, as a dear friend mentioned to me, it is just like the Jewish festival of Purim!

Op-Ed: I Think We Need to Start a New Playgroup

by Chaim Fine

In 5733 the Rebbe refused to come out to the big Sunday Lag BaOmer parade planed for that year! How can I come out when certain things in the community prevent me from coming!

Its not politics, its human nature! People are human and wired a certain way. A very famous philosopher once said “the greatest need of a person is to be needed”. Chassidus and Yiddishkeit are supposed to show us how to live a life higher then der velt, and how Hashem wants us to control our selves and make this place a dira, to make a Kidush Hashem, to be a light onto the nations. Yet the bottom line is everyone still has a Nefesh Habehamis.

The Rebbe use to explain that the Yatzer Harah disguises himself as a big Chossid and a Talmid Chochum, in 5733 even in front of the Rebbe, human nature took over, no stories of the good ol’ days, no more if the Rebbe was still here B’gashmeus etc. its ALL BULL! We fought like babies then and were doing it now.

Avinu Malkeinu Hatzmach Lanu Yeshua B’korov

To the Entire Community,

Words are inadequate to express our sincere gratitude for all your tefillohs, tzedaka, and ma’assim tovim during this painful period.

This has been a very difficult time for us, and indeed the outpouring of your genuine concern and compassion has sustained us, and at the same time left us in great awe of the heartfelt affection towards our family.

Your warmth, kindness, and caring has truly humbled us.

The Eibishter should bentch you b’soich klal yisroel with gezunt, hatzlochoh, and brochoh b’harchovoh. May we be zoche to only share in simchas, and the ultimate simcha of the imminent coming of Moshiach.

Thank you,
The Neuwirth Family