Siyum HaShloshim for Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg HYD

Gavriel Noach, with his 3rd grade class, his first year in Oholei Torah. He is on the top left, to the right of the teacher.

On Thursday, Hey Teves 5769 / Shnas Hakhel, there will be a day of learning and reflection. In honor of the Siyum HaShloshim of Talmid from Oholei Torah, Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg together with his wife Rivkah, and the victims of the Mumbai massacre, may the Al-Mighty avenge their blood.

Full flyer with more info in the Extended Article!

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Flight Risk Ruling Spurs Protest

Andy Piper – TH Online

DUBUQUE, IA — It’s a court ruling that Jewish Americans from coast-to-coast immediately viewed as unconstitutional and as an erosion of their civil rights. Sunday, about 60 people, mostly from Postville, Iowa, assembled in front of the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center to light a menorah on the last night of Hanukkah to shed light on the case.

Former Agriprocessors Chief Executive Officer Sholom Rubashkin is being held in the Dubuque County Jail on federal charges of harboring illegal immigrants, document fraud, identity theft and bank fraud. Rubashkin was denied bail Dec. 22.

Mayor Lauds NYPD for Drop in Crime

Staten Island Advance

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Bloomberg today praised the New York Police Department for the drop in crime this year across the city, including Staten Island.

Below is the text of Mayor Bloomberg’s radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio

Pacific Port Marks Chanukah

Stock image – Lighting Menorah in Vladivostok

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia [FJC] — In the Russian Far East, in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, Jewish residents widely celebrated Chanukah. The main event was a concert featuring the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, which performed a whole array of music of Jewish composers, with a repertoire spanning the past three centuries.

Menorah Lighting Heralds Chanukah

Nick Nelson – LJ World

LAWRENCE, KS — A bitterly cold, dark Sunday night was a little brighter with the help of a 6-foot-tall menorah during the celebration of the first night of Hanukkah. KU’s Chabad Center for Jewish Life kicked off the holiday with latkes, gifts, balloon animals and, of course, lighting the first candle of the menorah.

“I think even though Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, the message of Hanukkah is so universal,” said Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, executive director at the Chabad Center.

300 Celebrate Chanukah with Chabad of Laguna Niguel

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA [CHI] — Over 300 people turned out to celebrate the start of Chanukah with Chabad of Laguna Niguel, at the Crown Valley Park Amphitheater on Sunday evening Dec. 21st. The honorable mayor, Mr. Robert Ming addressed the crowd and lit the lead flame of the 9 foot Menorah.

More pictures and a video in the Extended Article!

Boruch Dayan Hoemes – Reb Chaim Meir Katzoff OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Reb Chaim Meir Katzoff, longtime resident of Crown Heights and father of Yibadel Lechaim Tovim, R. Yossi Katzoff of Crown Heights.

The Levaya will take place Sunday and will be leaving from the Shomrei Hadas Chapel at 10:45am and will be passing by 770 at around 11:15am.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

Children in Long Island Accident Return Home From Hospital

By Joshua Runyan

WOODMERE, NY — All of the children injured Thursday’s traffic accident at the Chanukah Wonderland in Woodmere, N.Y., returned home before Shabbat.

Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of the Five Towns – the Cedarhurst-based Jewish center that operated the Chanukah workshop – praised G-d that the children were released from the hospital, but noted that a journey of recovery lay ahead. Some 14 people in Thursday’s incident when a vehicle jumped the curb and plowed into the building housing the Chanukah Wonderland.