Michigan to Join Worldwide Release of Biblical Reflections

By Levi Stein for the Home Town Life

Students taking a class at The Jewish Learning Insitute.

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — This May, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will unveil its spring course, Biblical Reflections: Finding Yourself in the Book of Genesis.

The stories in the Bible have intrigued sages and laymen alike and have inspired thousands of artistic retellings. This six-session course examines classic stories from Genesis in a modern light, focusing on their eternal relevance to everyday life.

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Diamond in the Rough

By Dvora Lakein for Lubavitch.com

Rabbi Masinter and Eric Samson, a noted industrialist and philanthropist, with former President Bill Clinton at an event distinguishing…

South Africans are facing the unknown, again. Following new president, Jacob Zuma’s triumph last week, many in the broader Jewish community are trying to decipher their place in this ever-changing land. More than 30 years ago, the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged the community to stay put, stating that, “South Africa will be good for the Jews until Moshiach comes.” Today, despite widespread concern, his 40 Chabad representatives stationed throughout the country are ensuring that his pledge remain true.

Leviev Selling Kirya Tower for NIS 166.5M

ISRAEL [ynet] — The Africa Israel international holding and investments group, controlled by businessman Lev Leviev, announced last week that it would be selling the “Africa Israel Tower” in Tel Aviv for NIS 166.5 million (about $40 million) to a foreign corporation whose name was not disclosed.

The company is selling 95% of its rights to the tower and 50% of the unused building rights.

Report: Few NYC Drunken Drivers Do Jail Time

NEW YORK [CBS] — The numbers could be enough to drive someone to drink.

New York City police made nearly 10,000 drunken-driving arrests last year, but of the more than 6,000 cases that have gone through the courts so far, only 187 offenders have landed behind bars. That’s according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Kosher Food Sales on the Rise

From World Poultry

WASHINGTON — Sales of kosher foods through grocery stores in the US have risen to over $200 bln in 2008 from about $150 bln in 2003, showing yearly growth rate twice that of the overall food market, according to Packaged Facts’ new study, “Market Trend: Kosher-and Halal-Certified Foods in the US.”

Jewish Diseases Make Jews Smarter?

By Karen Kaplan for the Tribune Newspapers

Illustration Photo

The question had been gnawing at Gregory Cochran for years: Why are European Jews prone to so many deadly genetic diseases?

Natural selection, the self-taught genetics buff knew, should flush dangerous DNA from the gene pool. Could the mutations causing these diseases have some benefit?

Paranoia: City ERs Flooded With Swine Flu Fears

NEW YORK [CBS] — New Yorkers were able to breathe a breath of fresh air Friday when Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there were no new confirmed cases of the swine flu, or what officials calling the H1N1 virus. Yet plenty of people are still afraid the virus is spreading, causing a paranoia that’s clogging up the system at local hospitals.

Chabad Rabbis In Singapore Host IRCC

By Zalman Nelson for Lubavitch.com

Participants in Singapore’s only Jewish synagogue

SINGAPORE — At least 100 community representatives from districts and faiths across Singapore participated in a government sponsored seminar on the fundamentals of Judaism and Jewish practice presented by the local Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and rabbinical students.

Charges Pending Against Man Who Allegedly Attacked Police

CROWN HEIGHTS [NY1] — Charges are pending against a Brooklyn man shot by police yesterday during an altercation at a Crown Heights subway station.

Police say Stephen McKenzie, 32, became argumentative after asking plainclothes officers for a cigarette yesterday at the Utica Avenue station.

Jewish Ambulance Service – Hatzolah Launched in Moscow

MOSCOW, Russia [FJC] — The recently-established Hatzolah Volunteer Ambulance Service has begun operating in Moscow. In particular, Moscow Hatzolah is available to respond to emergency calls in the Sofrino and Marina Roscha neighborhoods, as well as the vicinity of Bolshaya Bronnaya Street where the Agudas Chasidei Chabad Synagogue is located.

Video – Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish Boxer

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A professional boxer from Brooklyn who also happens to be an Orthodox Jew is one contender who is making a name for himself in and out of the ring. Ukrainian-born Dmitriy Salita prays daily at an ultra-Orthodox center in Flatbush, keeps kosher, and doesn’t fight or train on the Jewish Sabbath.

NYPD Hands Out Cards People Stopped and Frisked

By Erica Pearson, Frank Lombardi and Wil Cruz for the NY Daily News

The informational card being handed out by the NYPD to pedestrians whom cops stop and frisk explains why people are singled out.

NEW YORK — The NYPD didn’t answer lawmakers’ questions about its controversial stop-and-frisk policy Thursday, but people who get patted down are getting clarification – on a card.

The department has begun handing out informational cards to people police stop and frisk, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Thursday. The cards, in seven languages, list general reasons why police might deem the encounters necessary.

Chabad of Lawrenceville Hosts Rider Hillel

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ [CHI] — Last week Chabad of Lawrenceville hosted the Jewish students of Rider University and the Rider Hillel for a challah baking program. Students learned how to make three and six braided challahs. They were addressed by Rabbi Yitzchak Goldenberg who spoke to them about the meaning behind baking challah and about the shabbat experience, when challah is usually eaten.

For G-D or for Azalzel – G-dliness Is A Mutually Exclusive Endeavor

By Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Jax, FL

SCAPEGOAT
Pronunciation: ˈskāp-ˌgōt
Function: noun
Etymology: scape; intended as translation of Hebrew ʽazāzēl, as if ʽēz ‘ōzēl goat that departs—Lev 16:8(Authorized Version)
Date: 1530

1: a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur

2 a: one that bears the blame for others b: one that is the object of irrational hostility – Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Influenza Type A (H1N1) Outbreak

Doctors in the community issued the following letter regarding a confirmed case of the flu in Crown Heights:

Influenza Type A (H1N1) Outbreak

It has become apparent that there are cases of H1N1 flu in our neighborhood. This virus is highly transmissible – it spreads easily and quickly to most exposed individuals.

Despite earlier reports and concerns it appears as if this will be no more than a “regular” flu virus with a range of illness from:

1) just feeling unwell
2) cold symptoms and fever
3) more severe illness requiring treatment

Those with mild illness will not be treated and can expect to recover easily. Those with more severe illness must contact their physician, as treatment may be necessary.

For those who are ill – please stay away from public places – including work, school and Shul. Infectivity begins 1 day prior to onset of illness and lasts as long as the individual is ill.

Those who are chronically ill or old and frail and the very young should avoid contact with anyone manifesting symptoms.

In the event of exposure to the virus – the above “high risk” group can receive prophylaxis (prevention) by taking a certain medication. Once again please contact your physician in such an instance.

Neither prophylaxis nor treatment is recommended for average well individuals.

We hope that in fact this is outbreak will be a “blessing in disguise” by providing all of us with the immunity to the apparently more virulent (dangerous) strain of this virus. With a wish that all should stay well, and be well.

Dr’s Rosen, Isseroff, Gottesman, Feldman, and Plaut

Lubavitcher Photographer Wins National Photo Competition

RONKONKOMA, NY [CHI] – A Chabad photographer took 3rd place in a national competition for best photograph depicting “What America Means”, photographer Bentzion Elisha won the competition with a photograph titled ‘sisters’. The competition was sponsored by Sigma Corporation of America, a manufacturer of optics and photographic lenses.

Mazal Tov! – 8 Sholom Zochors this Week!

Shmuel Sholom and Faige Rivka (nee Borenstein) Serebryanski.
IYH at 443 Crown St [between Kingston and Brooklyn Ave].

Yisroel and Henna (nee Shapiro) Shomer.
IYH at 1441 St Johns Pl [between Utica and Rochester Ave].

Yechezkel and Avigael Barnett.
IYH at 824 Eastern Pkwy [between Kingston and Albany Ave].

Mendy and Nechama Dina (nee Spalter) Tennenhaus.
IYH at 1131 N Northlake Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019.

Sholom Ber and Feigel Tenenbaum (Gurnee, IL) .

Levi and Shternie Plotkin.
IYH at 9600 Oakmore Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90035.

Shloime and Rivkah Lison.
IYH at 4755 Rue Vezina, Montreal, QC, Canada

Yehoshua and Esther Chaiton (South Africa)

Please stay tuned as we update this list when information becomes available. However, in an unfortunate event that we do not get all the Sholom Zochors this week, we are sorry. But you can help! If you know of any Sholom Zochors or Mazal Tovs you can email it to us at mazaltov@crownheights.info! Thank You.