California: County Approves up to $140 Million in Bond Issuances for Expansion of Chabad Hebrew Academy

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two proposed tax-exempt bond issuances valued at up to $340 million were approved on consent by the board of supervisors Tuesday but how much demand there will be for this debt is an open question.

The instruments include up to $200 million in order to refinance and refund costs associated with the new 330-bed inpatient tower at Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa; and up to $140 million for an expansion of the Chabad Hebrew Academy plus the addition of a dormitory for at least a couple hundred students at its Poway location at 10785 Pomerado Road.

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Sderot and Nitzan: Israeli Towns Where Rocket Strikes are a Part of Life

By Chana Kroll

Made of sandwich board, the temporary housing in Nitzan, Israel, for former residents of the Gaza Strip lacks protection from the elements, let alone a rocket strike.

SDEROT, Israel — In the past three years, Palestinians living in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have launched more than 6,000 rockets at southern Israel, timing the majority of their attacks to cause the most possible damage. Prior to Israel’s latest offensive, most of the rockets fell between 7:30 and 8:10 in the morning, when children walk to school.

Since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead, an average of 20 rockets have fallen each day.

Great Response to Anash of Illinois Shabbaton

KENOSHA, WI [CHI] — This past Shabbos Parshas Vayigash, a Shabbaton for Anash of Illinois (men & boys) was held at a hotel in Kenosha Wisconsin. Organized by Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois this phenomenal event was plannned with the help of the Rabbis and Shul representatives of Bnei Ruven, FREE, Bais Menachem, Cheder Lubavitch , Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, and Rabbi Tzali Wilschansky. Shliach in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

More pictures in the Extended Article! (by Avrohom Gedaliah Gershon)

Yagdil Torah Launching New Beis Midrash

Bochurim learning in 770 – Illustration Photo

Yagdil Torah’s new Beis Midrash will begin this week! The sessions will take place at Kolel Menachem on Thursday evenings, begining at 8:30pm.

There will be several Chaburos and Shiurim, and study resources will be available for those who want to study independently or with a Chavrusa.

For more information contact Yagdil Torah

Canukah Revelers Pause to Remember Mumbai

Debra Rubin – NJJN

MIDDLESEX, NJ — In what was an otherwise joyful celebration of the first night of Hanukka, the crowd gathered at the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe stood silent and introspective as the rabbi who took over for a murdered colleague in India spoke to them by phone.

During the Dec. 21 call, Rabbi Dov Ber Goldberg offered his hope that “the light we bring into Hanukka will bring light into” Mumbai.

Yeladim Birthright Dances with IDF Reservists, Raises Spirits

GOLAN HEIGHTS, Israel [CHI] — A group of Lubavitcher Bochurim who are currently touring Israel as part of Birthright under the Yeladim Netivot organizers stopped by a group of Israel Defense Force Reservists who were training on heavy armor and tanks. After chatting with the soldiers the group broke out in a very uplifting dance.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Video – FREE Winter Camp, An Amazing Experience!

This past Wednesday concluded a week long overnight camping experience that will never be forgotten. The 8-day winter camp, located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, was a special program for public-school youth of Russian speaking background, sponsored by Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe.

Militant Right-Wing Party: Chabad Not Welcome in Mumbai

Lyla Bavadam – The Hindu

MUMBAI, India — The Jewish Chabad centre will not be allowed to continue at its original site at Nariman House, local Shiv Sena shakha pramukh Vijay Surve of the Colaba shakha has told The Hindu.

CHI Note: The Shiv Sena is a far-right political party in India. It literally means the Army of Shiv, a great hero in India. They have been accused of being involved in violence, attacking people with opposing ideologies. For this reason, it has been described as a militant right-wing group. The Shiv Sena has also been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims.

“Under no condition can they come back here,” he said. The centre was the site of a terror attack on November 26 when nine Jews were taken captive by two terrorists. The ensuing siege by the armed forces lasted almost 40 hours.

Video – Bloomberg Kicks Off Pothole Filling Season

BROOKLYN, NY [NY1] — With winter comes snow and ice, and of course, potholes.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the department of transportation commissioner were in Brooklyn Monday to announce that the pothole-filling season is in full swing.

Tuesday – The Fast of Asarah B’Tevet

Chabad.org

The Fast begins at 5:52am and ends at 5:14pm

On the 10th of Tevet of the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months later — on the 17th of Tammuz, 3338 — the city walls were breached, and on the 17th of Av that year, the Holy Temple was destroyed. The Jewish people were exiled to Babylonia for 70 years.

Tevet 10 is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and drink from daybreak through nightfall, and add the Selichot and other special supplements to our prayers. (More recently, Tevet 10 was chosen to also serve as a “general kaddish day” for the victims of the Holocaust, many of whose day of martyrdom is unknown.)

Click here to read more about Asarah B’Tevet.

Weekly Web Class with Rabbi YY Jacobson

Tonight, Monday, 9 Taves 5769, January 5, 2009, at 8:00pm, Rabbi YY Jacobson will deliver a 50-minute Parsah class: Menashe & Ephraim: Two Trends Shaping Jewish Life in Exile – Nostalgia & Transformation. Jewish history is about sharing with our children the story of our past, but what do you do when your children don’t understand the story?

The class will explore the diverse ideas of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe and Professor Gershom Scholem on the subject.

To watch, please visit www.TheYeshiva.Net
To listen via telephone, please call: 1-616-347-8000. Access code: 1007852#.

Sefer Torah Dedicated to the Defenders of Israel

BEIT EL, Israel — January 4th, the 8th of Teves, Chabad from Israel’s Home Front went to an army base in the area of Beit El. To dedicate a new Sefer Torah. They were accompanied by a young couple, newlyweds Israel and Gabriela Kopel. On their wedding day they began writing a Sefer Torah, which they decided to dedicate to the defenders of Israel. With the help of their friend, Rabbi Mendel Rosenfeld, who is the one of the Rebbe’s shluchim to Florida; they contacted Tzeirei Chabad HQ in Israel who arranged the celebration. Joining in the celebration, the bride and groom’s parents, and some of their siblings and friends along with a special guest Rabbi, Yehoshua Binyomin Rosenfeld, a good friend of the family and the Rebbe’s Shliach to Colombia.

More pictures in the Extended Article!