Naperville To Allow Chanukah Menorah Display

CHICAGO, IL [NBC] — On the eve of the Jewish holiday, the Naperville Park District agreed to add a menorah to the Riverwalk holiday display after previously rejecting the request by the Chabad Jewish Center.

An ordinance normally forbids private groups from putting up signs, but the group donated the menorah to the park district so it could be put up in time for Hanukkah, which begins at sundown Friday.

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Elie Wiesel To Hungary’s Jews: Stay Jewish

by Brenda Farkasz – lubavitch.com

BUDAPEST, Hungary — On a rare visit to Hungary this week, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel applauded Chabad-Lubavitch for its work reviving Jewish life in his native country.

The Nobel Laureate was invited to an event at the Hungarian Parliament honoring Chabad of Hungary on its 20th anniversary. Speaking in English and Hungarian to an audience of about 600, including political and Jewish leaders, he reminded his listeners that the Jewish people are “the only people of antiquity to have survived antiquity.”

The Weekly Sicha of the Rebbe – Parshas Vayeishev

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us that Yoseph Hatzadik (Joseph the righteous one) was a man who was “Yefas To’ar V’Yefas Mar’eh – handsome of form and handsome of appearance” and he would curl his hair. The Torah continues and tells us that this caused the wife of his master Potiphar to cast her eyes upon him and want to lie with him, and this eventually landed him in jail. However, even while he was in jail Hashem was with him and he was successful in whatever he did.

In short, there are two parts to this story; 1) Yoseph Hatzadik was “Yefas To’ar V’Yefas Mar’eh – handsome of form and handsome of appearance”, and 2) the issue of Potiphar’s wife.

Obviously, since the Torah is an everlasting guide for our lives, and every singe story has a lesson for us to learn from, there are lessons to be learned from each part of this story.

Devorah Halberstam receives FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

(L-R) Former US Attorney General Michael Mukasey, FBI Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) Joseph Demarest Devorah Halberstam and Honorable Rudolph Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York.

NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — Yesterday evening, the FBI’s New York Division honored a true fighter against terrorism with the presentation of the Director’s Community Leadership Award. This special award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America.

Devorah Halberstam, this year’s award recipient, was recognized for her endless pursuit of justice and dedication for victim’s rights.

Shomrim Invites the Community to a Kiddush

We thank G-d for the great miracle he has shown us, and in this merit the entire Crown Heights community is invited to take part in a Kiddusha Raba on Shabbos afternoon in Kahal Yeshiva in Beis Rivka on Crown Street.

Six members of our community, Volunteers in Shomrim faced up to 25 years in prison, and by the grace of g-d the truth was shown through and they were vindicated.

Op-Ed: From One Shomrim Volunteer to Another

It was with mixed emotions that I heard the news. Five of my fellow Shomrim members had been officially cleared as NOT guilty, while you were cleared of all 16 charges, except one charge of third-degree assault.

I wasn’t the only one who was shocked. All who were present in the courtroom were, as well. The judge literally jumped out of his seat when he learned that even with all of the lies and conspiring theories, they had found one proof of assault beyond a reasonable doubt.

I would think that after weeks of trial, of not being able to tend to your family and not being able to work, you would go take the night off. But you didn’t. Mere hours after the verdict I heard you on the Shomrim radio, as if nothing had happened, dispatching a call for Shomrim assistance. Hearing your warm voice, so full of love and dedication to what you are best known for, was truly uplifting.

When The Going Gets Tough – The Torah’s View on Challenge and Adversity

By Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Jax, Fl.

Spotting an extraordinary teacup, a middle age couple who shared a deep appreciation for fine antiques and pottery, asked the proprietor of a local antique shop if they might have a closer look: “We’ve never seen a cup quite as beautiful,” they told the lady as she handed them the delicate article.

“I’ve not always been a teacup, you know,” whispered the antique as they took her into their hands. “There was a time when I was just a lump of clay.” “Oh, please tell us more,” urged the awestruck couple.

“As I said, I was once just a lump of red clay when my master took me and rolled me and repeatedly pounded and patted me. ‘Don’t do that,’ I yelled. ‘I don’t like it!’ But he only smiled and gently repeated, ‘Not yet, not yet.’

Then, wham! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around. ‘Stop it! I’m so dizzy, I’m going to be sick!’ I screamed. But the master only nodded and muttered quietly, ‘Not yet’.

JabadTube Kids! – Special Chanukah Edition!

Rabbi Yosef Slavin of JabadTube, Shliach to Venezuela, produces a weekly 3 minute Dvar Torah in Spanish on YouTube. It is sent throughout Venezuela and Spanish speakers worldwide. For Chanukah he made a special video about Chanukah starring his wife Goldie and children, Mendel, Dov, Shua and Leibel.

The video is in Spanish and has English subtitles. Enjoy!

Nathan Lewin To Lead Rubashkin Legal Defense Team

Friends, Family Ask Help Raising Funds For Legal Defense

The Rubashkin family has announced that it will retain the services of Nathan Lewin to lead the appeals of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin. The family is working in close cooperation with a legal committee of attorneys including Professor Aaron Twerski, Irving Seidman, Robert Simins and Jeff Schwartz.

Interview: The Story Behind the Brass Menorah In 770

Built in 1982, the Menorah that was lit in downstairs 770 before the Rebbe on the nights of Chanukah has quite the story behind it. Sitting down for an exclusive interview with CrownHeights.info Reb Herschel Pekkar, a London native tells us how he was approached by Bochurim who asked him, just 4 days before Chanukah, to build the Menorah.