New Ohr Avner School Opens

ORENBURG, Russia [FJC] — This week brought a new page in the history of the Jewish community of Orenburg, with the occurrence of the opening ceremony for the new Ohr Avner Chabad educational center.

The new bright and spacious building is equipped with everything essential for students and a successful educational process. This new home will enable the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School to continue its work, which has already gained a strong reputation among local residents due to its solid position in local intellectual competitions among schoolchildren in Orenburg.

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Thousands Unite for Worldwide Torah Class

By Yonit Tanenbaum

Jewish residents of Colorado Springs gather at Chabad-Lubavitch of Southern Colorado for a worldwide Torah class given by noted Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Even Yisrael Steinsaltz.

NEW YORK, NY — Thousands of people from almost 300 Jewish communities around the world joined together for a giant Torah class taught by Rabbi Adin Even Yisrael Steinsaltz, a Chabad-Lubavitch Chasid whom Time magazine once referred to as a “once-in-a-millennium scholar.”

Venezuelan Synagogue Attacked

CARACAS, Venezuela [AP] — An armed group vandalized Caracas’ oldest synagogue, shattering religious objects and spray-painting walls in what Jewish leaders called the worst attack ever on their community in Venezuela.

Two security guards were overpowered by about 15 people who ransacked the synagogue’s sanctuary and offices late Friday, leaving graffiti such as: “We don’t want murderers,” and “Jews, get out.”

NYC Council Inquiry Into NYPD Complaint Cases

By Bob Hennelly for WNYC

Illustration Picture

NEW YORK, NY — City Council Speaker Christine Quinn convened an oversight hearing about police misconduct cases.

Lawmakers want to explore why the NYPD does not prosecute dozens of cases documented by the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Menachem Begin’s Extraordinary Relationship with the Rebbe

(R-L) Benny Begin and Menachem Kirschenbaum

In a recent meeting between Likud co-chairman Benny Begin (Son of Israel’s late Prime Minister Menachem Begin) and Menachem Kirschenbaum, the topic was regarding a file that was discovered with the help of Tel Aviv University containing correspondences between his father and the Rebbe was discussed. The file offered a rare glimpse into their unique and extraordinary relationship and was presented to the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation and will be published by The Avner Institute.

Mazal Tov! – New Engagement!

We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Menachem (ben R Yisroel) Yarmush (Crown Heights) and Sima Rabinowitz (S Monica, CA) on their engagement.

The L’Chaim will IYH be Sunday night at Lubavitcher Yeshiva, 570 Crown St, [hall entrance on Albany Ave].

A Royal Mockery – Falling Prey to Desire and Lust

by Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Shliach to Jacksonville, FL

As the planks crackled and flexed under his weight, an elderly pedestrian started having second thoughts, while crossing an old rickety bridge, and began to pray for mercy: “Dear G-d, if only I will make it across the span I shall award 50% of my worth to charity, for what good are my possessions if I’m to lose my life!”

As if in response to his prayer the dilapidated bridge suddenly felt stable and secure. “Oh merciful Lord I have now but half way to go, keep me safe and I will surely distribute 40% of my wealth to the poor and indigent!” cried the man.

And so it went, the closer he got to the other side the smaller the offering became. From 40% it became 30, then 20, then10. As the ramp on the other side came into clear view the now confident walker boldly declared: “Father in heaven, I think I can really do this on my own. You surely won’t mind if I cancel the deal.”

Before he could finish his words, he was knocked off his feet by a sudden quake; the bridge was actually collapsing beneath him. “Oh G-d, where is your sense of humor? You know I was only joking”!

This Weeks Crown Heights Newspaper

In this addition of the Crown Heights News Paper we have, aside from a plethora of articles about/on Yud Shevat, read about:

* Mr. David Chase, one of America’s foremost businessmen recounts his “Rebbe’s Story”
* The Hero this week is Hagaon Hachossid Horav Chaim Meir Bukiet do not miss the first part of this very interesting article
* On “From the Heights of Alaska to the Golan Heights” will a mikveh be built for the price of a mixer??
* Do we really need to know everything? All the News that’s Fit for Lubavitch Cyberspace
* Shidduchim: What is a profile and how different is ti from a resume?
* Newlyweds: what happens if the husband is a spender? Ask the Rabbi!
* Teach your kids the value of money.
* And much more…

Click here to download the newspaper in PDF format.

Shiur with Rabbi Garelik and Appetizer

CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — This week the Yagdil Torah Beis Midrash will host a special addition which is being called “Shiur with an Appetizer”. It is well known that the most fulfilling shiurim are the ones that are thoroughly understood due to familiarity with the subject being learned. Rabbi Levi Garelik, who will be giving this week’s shiur following the Beis Midrash learning, has kindly provided a list of Marei Mekomos for those who wish to prepare for an enjoyable shiur.

Rabbi’s Autopsy Appeals Unsuccessful

By Keith Lynch for Stuff.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — An autopsy has been carried out on an Israeli tramper despite a request by a Christchurch rabbi that it not be done.

The Christchurch coroners’ office confirmed yesterday that the autopsy on Ohad Dotan, 27, who died after an apparent fall near the Mueller Glacier in the Southern Alps this week, went ahead.

The coroner had contacted Dotan’s family through the Israeli embassy in Australia, and it had consented to an autopsy, a spokeswoman said.

Rabbi Menachem Goldstein, director of Chabad Lubavitch of New Zealand, had asked regional coroner Richard McElrea to avoid a full autopsy as incisions were deemed a desecration in Jewish law.

Hakel: All Crown Heights Women Invited To Join Kinus Hashluchos

הקהל את העם…. והנשים…. למען ישמעו ולמען ילמדו….. ושמרו לעשות את כל דברי התורה הזאת
Assemble the nation…the women… in order that they will hear and in order that they will learn…and be careful to observe all the words of the Torah

In spirit of Shnas Hakhel, the Shluchos invite all women of Crown Heights to join in an evening of Achdus and inspiration commerating the Yartzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka ע“ה

Friday evening Oneg Shabbos י”ט שבט, February 14 at 9:00 pm, at Oholei Torah, 667 Eastern Parkway.

Guest Speaker, Rabbi Shmuel Lew, London, England

First Ever DInner for Diabetes Club of Crown Heights

Downtate Medical Center invites you to a dinnner event for the first Brooklyn Diabetes Club of Crown Heights. On Sunday Feb 8, 2009, 4:30pm at 271 Kingston Ave, Brooklyn, NY (Corner Lincoln Pl). Special Guest: Assistant Professor of Medicine Suny Downstate Medical Center Dr. Michael Siegel- Podiatrist. Greeting: Dr. Eli Rosen- Family Practice Physician.

Full flyer in the Extended Article

Justice Scalia, Talmudic Scholars On Privacy, Free Speech

By Dvora Lakein for Lubavitch.com

NEW YORK, NY — Gossip columns may plaster the internet and paper newsstands. But is this commerce of secrets permissible according to Jewish or American tradition?

“Jewish tradition is duty-oriented,” explains Rabbi Michael Broyde, “the holder of data has no right to use it indiscriminately; it is his obligation to apply it responsibly.” Broyde is a law professor at Emory University and a member of Beth Din of America, the nation’s largest Jewish court. “American common law,” he contrasts, “protects freedom of speech,” and otherwise assumes a person’s inalienable rights. According to this expert of both legal systems, Jewish law and the American legal tradition “are at two completely different places.”

Mazal Tov! – 8 Sholom Zochors this Week!

Tzali and Chaya (nee Levy) Camissar.
IYH at Shain Shul, 390 Kingston Ave [between Crown and Montgomery St].

Meir and Tzippora (nee Gerlitzky) Fisher.
IYH at 1509 Union St, [between Kingston and Albany Ave].

Levi and Chaya Sabol.
IYH at 7 Woodwind Lane, Spring Valley, NY 10977.

Yitzchok and Malky Schmukler.
IYH at 2015 Goldsmith St, Houston, TX 77030.

Levi and Rivki (nee Liberow) Greenberg.
IYH at 212 Exeter Rd, Buffalo, NY 14221.

Avremi and Nissa Bracha (nee Gilbert-Mcnabb) Yarmush.
IYH at 8842 Saturn St, Los Angeles, CA 90035.

Shaya and Esther Channa (nee Evers) Zirkind.
IYH at 6251 Avenue De Westbury, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Zalmy and Dinah (nee Vogel) Shapiro (Jerusalem, Israel) .

Please stay tuned as we update this list as 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.

MISTAKE in this weeks Haftorah in Sefer HaHaftoros

A reader has brought to our attention that there is a serious mistake in the Haftorah of this week’s Parasha, Parshas Bo. With Yud Shvat next week it is customary that all Bochurim and Men get Aliyos and this mistake applies even more.

The mistake is in Posuk Chof of Yirmiyahu Perek Mem Vov, the mistake is with the word “Keretz” which instead it says “Keren” giving the posuk an entirely incorrect meaning. This mistake only applies to the Sefer HaHaftoros, Chumashim on the other hand do not have this mistake.