LONDON, UK [CHI] — Formally welcoming Chanukah to London this year, The Rt. Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Louise Hyams, hosted a Sunday evening ceremony at the Lord Mayorís Parlour at Westminster City Hall on the first night of Chanukah. The Lord Mayor lit the Menorah at the event, which was organised by Chabad-Lubavitch.
SAVE THE DATE!
The Keren Simchas Chosson V’Kallah (KSCVK) Chinese Auction IYH will be held this year on February 21st-22nd 2009 (27-28 Shvat 5769). The 21st will be the men’s evening and the 22nd will be the ladies evening.
This year’s auction is dedicated in memory of the honorable Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner OB”M, Head Shliach of Melbourne Australia, and our dear friend Rochie Paley (Tauber) AH.
To fully or partially sponsor a prize in their memory (or in merit of a loved one) for this great cause of Hachnosas Kallah, please contact us at auction@kscvk.org or call Laya at 917-992-1190. By sponsoring a prize, you are not just giving Tzedokoh, you have a part in all of the Tzedokoh given that night.
In HaYom Yom of Chof Beis Teves the Rebbe writes:
It is with this directive in mind that Fathers were invited to come join Kitah Bais, Lubavitcher Yeshiva, on Thursday morning from 10:00 – 11:00am for an interactive father – son learning experience. Fathers came to share the Chumash lesson experience by working together with their sons on the skill building worksheets that accompany each possuk. It was hard to tell who was working harder and enjoying the experience more the fathers of the talmidim?“……… It is an absolute duty for every person to spend a half hour every day thinking about the Torah-education of children, and to do everything in his power – and beyond his power – to inspire children to follow the path along which they are being guided.”
The great turnout response provided the opportunity for fathers to get a first hand view of their son’s class, sharing the experience together.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Naftali and Esther Rivka (nee Perelstein) Salomon (Crown Heights) on the birth their son.
The Sholom Zochor will IYH be at 464 Malbone St, 3rd Floor, (Map This).
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to his parents, grandparents and Klal Yisroel.
The unmistakable echo of hulking boots pounding the pavement was enough to strike terror into the hearts of the small band of Chassidim gathered in a dimly lit basement in the Russian city of Samarkand.
The purpose of the gathering was a “Farbrengen,” a Chassidic get-together meant to encourage and inspire one another in the pursuit of spirituality and Divine service. Such gatherings were obviously utterly outlawed in communist Russia and punishable by unthinkable penalty.
As the Farbrengen lingered into the wee hours of the night the discussion was heightened and the atmosphere intense. A number of younger Chassidim were weeping bitterly as they poured out their hearts to the presiding Mashpia (spiritual mentor) regarding their deficient spiritual state.
This week, Parshas Vayigash’s edition of the Crown Heights Newspaper, available to print-out and read over Shabbos. Enjoy!
CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — Thursday, the central Hei Teves, Didan Notzach Farbrengen took place in Beis Rivka, Campus Chomesh. Anash and Temimim gathered and heard from Rabbonim and Mashpiim about Hei Teves and their own involvement in it.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Binyomin and Liorah Abrams (Boston, MA) on the birth of their daughter, Chana.
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to her parents, grandparents and Klal Yisroel.
CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — A larger than expected group of prospective teachers attended the orientation for the Teacher Training Program which was held at Beis Eliezer Yitzchok. This launched the 5769 semester of Teacher Training Program run by the Menachem Education Foundation (M.E.F.). The M.E.F. was created in order to “raise the bar of Jewish education by professionally training teachers”
More pictures in the Extended Article!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Simcha and Ariella Weinstein (Shliach to Pratt Institute, Brooklyn) on the birth of their daughter.
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to her parents, grandparents and Klal Yisroel.
Email your Simcha or Mazal Tov to MazalTov@CrownHeights.info !!
COPENHAGEN, Denmark [CHI] — Chanukah began with a family Talmud Torah party for children and their parents, at the Chabad house, enjoying a myriad of Chanukah activities. On the second night of Chanukah, a grand Menorah lighting celebration was held, with the Israeli ambassador and other local dignitarie participating. Despite the high wind and cold weather, a few hundred people showed up to participate. It was covered extensively in the local media. A Chanukah celebration was also held in the legislative chamber of Copenhagen City council, which was open for the general public. For many people it was the first time inside this historic room, and definitely the first time it hosted a Chanukah celebration, including delicious food and entertainment for the children.
Some more pictures in the Extended Article!
NEW YORK, NY — In a city of markdowns, where bargains are prized, New York officials have been offering sharply reduced fines on parking tickets for almost three years and, remarkably, the deep discounts have gone largely unnoticed.
Any driver who challenges a parking ticket — in person, in writing or online — is offered a substantial, guaranteed reduction for most fines, under a program the city quietly introduced in 2005.
CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — A dazzling display of illusions highlighted Nightlife’s Chanukah event on the third night of Chanukah where Marc’s side-splitting performance included mind reading, bending silverware and controlling time on a watch. For many young ladies living in, or visiting Crown Heights, Nightlife is an oasis in time where all the pressures, struggles and even boredom are checked at the door. Forget about schoolwork or dealing with problems. Nightlife is the place to relax. Or learn. Or talk. Or play games. Or dance. Or get inspired. Or sing. Or meet people.
ODENSE, Denmark [CHI] — Rabbi Yitzi Lowenthal Shliach to Denmark, visited the two Israelis wounded in Wednesdays shooting in a mall in Odense, about 160 km from Copenhagen. Despite shooting 5 or more shots fired, the two Israelis were only wounded in the leg and arm. The one wounded in the arm, had surgery, and will require surgery again soon. He managed to throw a chair at the shooter, thereby confusing his aim. The shooter has been apprehended by Danish police
Continued in the Extended Article
CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — Bais Shmuel held a Farbrengen in honor of Hei Teves, with Rabbi Dovid Dubov Shliach to Princeton. He farbrenged with the assembled and inspired them regarding pertinent issues. When Rabbi Dubov left, Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, Rov of the Shul took over the Farbrengen and they Farbrengened with mispalalim and other Yungerlite until late in the night.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
The Rebbe says:
1. Towards the end of this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us that Yakov Avinu (Jacob our forefather) traveled down to Egypt to see his son Yoseph Hatzadik (Joseph the righteous one).
The Torah tells us that before Yakov Avinu went down to Egypt he sent his son Yehuda ahead of him to set up a Yeshiva (a Jewish institution for Torah study) there first because Yakov Avinu did not want to go to a land that did not have a Yeshiva ready.
2. The Rebbe now stresses how important it was for Yakov Avinu to have a Yeshiva ready for him in Egypt:
The fact that Yakov Avinu did not want to go down to Egypt unless there was a Yeshiva there ready for him is especially significant because Hashem (G-d) had already promised Yakov Avinu that He would go down to Egypt with him. In other words, even though Hashem had told Yakov Avinu that He would be with him in Egypt, Yakov Avinu did not rely on this alone and he still needed to set up a Yeshiva there before he even got there.
