Op-Ed: A Letter from A Single Guy to his Married Friend

Dear Mendy,

It was nice to spend some time with you and your family at the Shevah Brochos last Monday night. Your wife was gracious as always and your soon-to-be one year old son Yossle is B’H more precious than ever.

We chatted about this and that; I asked you how married life was treating you and you responded by telling me how Yossle wakes you up about ten times a night, You asked me about single life and I replied with a shrug “ah you know how it is” Then we all had a good laugh when you shared that story from our year in Sheir Gimmel Misivtah that you love telling (although you do add a new detail every time).

As I said, I had a great time but this one thought won’t seem to leave me. It started with a soft murmur two years ago – A few months after your wedding and has steadily gotten louder every time you kid me about not being married or tell me an adorable anecdote about your son.

Premium Post
A Single Father, A Tireless Fellow Shliach, An Unimaginable Struggle

Mazal Tov's View More

Kinus Talmidei Hashluchim in Israel

CHOLON, Israel [CHI] — The Kinus Talmidim Hashluchim to Israel arranged by the Vaad Talmidei Hashluchim will G-d willing be held on Shabbos Parshas Ki Tisa 18 Adar in the Lubavitch Yeshiva of Cholon. The Kinus is attended by the tens of Talmidim Hashluchim in the Yeshivos all over Israel who gather for a special Shabbos, packed with a beautiful program of Farbrengens and Shiurim.

Weekly Living Torah Rebbe Video! – Our Fellow Sailors!

Here is this weeks Living Torah Rebbe video clip. Remember, Living Torah is a member supported project. Become a member today at www.LivingTorah.org!

Also available with Hebrew, French, Russian and Spanish subtitles in the Extended Article.

The Friendship Circle of NJ’s Annual Banquet

WEST ORANGE, NJ [CHI] — “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

Throughout MetroWest many people are talking about the Friendship Circle Annual Banquet held on Saturday night, February 28 at the Westminster, as a night that stood out as different. “I go to so many charity events, but at the Friendship Circle Annual Banquet I surprised to find myself caught up in the middle of an inspiring event that will stand out for a long time to come”, describes one enthusiastic donor. And his thoughts and feelings are mirrored by many other attendees. “”Moving,” “inspirational,” “special” and “inclusive” are all answers given as to why this evening differed from all others.

More pictures and a video in the Extended Article!

Bulldozer Plows into Police Car; Terrorist Killed

By Ronen Medzini for YNet News

The tractor at the scene of the attack

JERUSALEM — A tractor plowed into a police squad car on Menachem Begin Boulevard in Jerusalem on Thursday. The driver was apparently also trying to hit a nearby bus, but missed.

Two police officers were in the car when it was hit and both sustained mild injuries. Other police officers patrolling nearby shot the terrorist.

Deportation of Rabbi in Russia Alarms Jewish Leaders

By Grant Slater
Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein, some two years ago at a Chanukah celebration

MOSCOW [JTA] — Nearly three years ago, Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein uprooted his wife and young son from New York and moved with them to the far eastern edge of Russia to start a new life as a Chabad emissary.

As with most Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis in Russia, it was a lifetime appointment. The mission: to nurture an enfeebled Jewish community of about 6,000, where intermarriage rates surpass 95 percent.

Rabbis Call for Spending Limit on Mishloach Manot

By Yair Ettinger for Haaretz

JERUSALEM — Senior Sephardic rabbis issued a religious ruling calling on observant Jews to limit spending on mishloach manot, traditional gift baskets given to friends and family during the Purim holiday next week. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the Council of Torah Sages called on their followers to “refrain from wastefulness on sweets and precious items.” The rabbis have urged their followers to be frugal in light of the economic downturn.

Yesterday they suggested filling the gift baskets with foods with a longer shelf life and a higher nutritional value than candy.

Oholei Torah Thanks Alumni for Helping Make Tribute

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, the classmates that help in the many preparations, the ones I called at all hours for input and suggestions, the classmates that were able to join the actual event, and the ones who showed support and interest, even though they were not able to join the Dinner.

In one aspect it is hard to say that I enjoyed working with you, since the circumstances around this gathering were so painful and difficult, yet at the same time, the concern, interest and achdus I felt was inspiring and brought me great pleasure, seeng that even after 10 years since you left the physical walls of Troy Avenue, nevertheless, you still remain together and have a ahavas rai’im just as it was in your days in Oholei Torah.

Alternate Side Parking is in Effect Today, Thursday

Residents please be sure to dig your car out of the snow and move it for alternate side parking today, Thursday. The DOT and DSNY did NOT suspend Alternate Side Parking, as they have done the last couple of days.

In the last couple of years, in situations such as we are having today. Where there is still a lot of snow on the streets and sidewalks, but alternate side parking was in effect. The NYPD would be out in full force giving out tickets. Don’t become the next ‘korbon’ and move your car before you get a ticket.

For up to date info on alternate side parking call 311.

Beis Midrash Continues Strong and Publishes Newsletter

The latest scoop on Beis Midrash Happenings appear in the Beis Midrash Newsletter. It includes related reading materials, news and interesting tidbits of information about Yagdil Torah’s Beis Midrash. Click to view a PDF of the Newsletter here.

Today in History – The Friediker Rebbe Arrives in the U.S.A.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in September, 1939 (5699), the Rebbe refused every opportunity to leave the inferno of Warsaw until he had taken care of his seminaries and done everything possible for his suffering brethren in the Polish capital. He remained there throughout the terrible siege and bombardment of Warsaw and its final capitulation to the Nazi invaders.

Even during this time he managed to evacuate a great many of his students to safer zones, and all the American boys who had been studying at the Lubavitch seminary at Otwosk were safely transported back to their homes in the United States.

New Torah Finally Realized at Chabad of Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The first Sefer Torah in the Myrtle Beach area was completed Tuesday evening in the home of Rabbi Doron Aizenman of the Chabad Academy.

A Sefer Torah, a scroll handwritten entirely in Hebrew, was started a year ago by the the Chabad Academy. Much of the work was completed by professional scribes, but the final words were written with help from members of the Chabad.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Sister Talk – Shluchos Helping Shluchos

By Dvora Lakein for Lubavitch.com

BROOKLYN, NY — In the aftermath of Rabbi and Mrs. Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg’s murders last November, the grieving Jewish community was intent on learning everything they could about the lives of these two heroes. Those of their colleagues who knew them personally shared their memories with their fellow Chabad representatives in every corner of the globe.

UK Students Celebrate Historic Countrywide Shabbat Gathering

By Joshua Runyan for Chabad.edu

Jewish students at Oxford University listen to a lecture at the David Slager Student Centre, home of the Oxford Chabad Society. (File photo)

OXFORD, UK — International relations came to the front door of Oxford University’s Chabad Society as several pro-Palestinian demonstrators launched a loud protest on the busy thoroughfare of George Street Friday night.

Waving flags, handing out leaflets and raising their voices at passersby, the group objected to the appearance of veteran Israeli diplomat Yehuda Avner at the inaugural Shabbaton of campus-based Chabad-Lubavitch centers in the United Kingdom.

Rabbinate to Discuss Civil Marriage for First Time

By Joseph Byron

RCE conference in Budapest

PARIS [EJP] — Rabbis to discuss assimilation, ‘greatest threat to the Jews’. Around 300 rabbis from across Europe and Israel will attend a 3-day conference in Paris to discuss assimilation, anti-Semitism and various other issues. The conference, organized by the Rabbinical Centre of Europe (RCE) will open on tomorrow in the French capital in the presence of the two chief rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Rabbi Yona Metzger.