Notice for People Riding Subway with Baby Carriages

NEW YORK, NY — In a letter sent to President Howard Roberts, Jr. of the MTA, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) expressed concern about a growing number of constituent complaints he received involving the 34th Street, Herald Square Station in Manhattan.

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Synagogue’s Anniversary

S. PETERSBURG, Russia [FJC] — Today, the Jewish community of S. Petersburg is marking the anniversary when, exactly 115 years ago on December 8th, 1893, its Great Choral Synagogue was built. Built on Bolshaya Masterskaya Street (now Lermontov Avenue), a festive ceremony took place on that historic day so many years ago in order to consecrate the new Great Choral Synagogue.

Today’s ceremony took place in the very same central prayer hall that has, thank G-d, once again come to be the center of Jewish life in Russia’s northern capital, hosting Jewish holidays, lectures, concerts and other gatherings.

Can Menorah Builds on Old Tradition

Jennifer Chambers – The Detroit News

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — Building a menorah out of canned food takes lot of practice.

That’s a lesson four girls who attend Hebrew School at the Shul-Chabad Lubavitch learned during a trial run Wednesday night as they prepared to build a giant menorah out of 5,000 cans of food on Dec. 21, the Photos by David Guralnick / The Detroit Newsofficial beginning of Chanukah.

I’m Still Waiting For You, Rivki

Chani Lifshitz – Lubavitch.com

Shluchos at the annual Shluchos Convertion in New York

KATAMANDU, Nepal — Chani Lifshitz, Chabad representative in Katamandu, Nepal, wrote a letter to her close friend, Rivkah Holtzberg, following the tragedy in Mumbai. Lubavitch.com presents a translation from the Hebrew that appeared in the Israeli paper, Yediot Achronot.

Jewish Mission Makes Chabad A Target

Rabbi Levy Shmotkin, front, with Yossi Fraenkel, right, Rabbi Mendy Cohen, center back, and Rabbi Dovid Zaklikowski, left, attempt to establish contact with their sources in India at Chabad’s Brooklyn World Headquarters on Nov. 28.

BROOKLYN, NY [AP] — It must have been easy for the terrorists, rampaging through Mumbai, to find the Chabad Jewish center where they slaughtered six people.

Signs in Hebrew and English are posted outside Chabad houses. The street address of each building can be found through the online global directory the movement developed to attract visitors. Worship and activity schedules at the centers are often just a few more clicks away.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes – Harav HaChosid Reb Hershel Kotlarsky OBM

Reb Hershel OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Harav HaChosid Reb Tzvi Yosef Kotlarsky of Crown Heights, at the age of 92.

He is survived by his children Fraidel Hershkowitz (Crown Heights), Chanie Shemtov (Shlucha to Tucson, AZ), Moshe Kotlarsky (Crown Heights), Mendel Kotlarsky (Crown Heights), Suri Perman (Shlucha to Kingston, PA), Nechama Hershkop (Crown Heights) and Esty Wilschanski (Shlucha to Morristown, NJ).

The Levaya will be leaving from Shomrei Hadaas Chapel at 1:00pm and passing by 770 at around 2:00pm

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

New Shluchim to Texas

Rabbi Yossi and his wife Esty (nee Gurevitch) Zaklikofsky of Crown Heights will IY”H be moving on Shlichus to Pearland, TX the fastest growing suburb of Houston, where they will establish a new Chabad House serving the needs of the Jewish communities of Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland.

Then new Shluchim were appointed by Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff, head Shliach of Texas.

The new Shluchim can be reached via e-mail at zyossi@aol.com.

CrownHeights.info would like to wish the new Shluchim Hatzlocha Rabba on their Shlichus!

Traditional Jewish Feast held in Memory of Terror Victims

Heidi Ruckno – Citizens Voice

Chanie Spalter, of Brooklyn, N.Y., lights a Shabbat candle in memory of those who lost their lives in the Mumbai tragedy. Photo: Kristen Mullen – Citizens Voice

KINGSTON, PA — Malka Seewald and her husband, Rabbi Mendy Seewald, opened their Rutter Avenue home to more than 40 people on Friday and prepared a traditional Jewish Sabbath feast in memory of those killed last week in the Mumbai, India, terrorist attacks.

Chabad of Bangalore to be Ready in Two Weeks

The Times of India

BANGALORE, India — A Chabad Bangalore Jewish centre proposed to be set up by Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivkah Holtzberg will cater to the cultural and Jewish businessmen and technology professionals working in Bangalore. It’ll also reach out to the larger community to spread the good word of selflessness.

Mazal Tov! – 3 Sunday Night L’Chaims!

Yisroel Mogilevsky (Toronto, Canada) and Chanie Silman (Crown Heights) .
IYH at Beis Levi Yitzchock, 556 Crown St, [entrance on Albany Ave].

Yankel Adler (Palm Harbor, FL) and Chanie Robbins (Milwaukee, WI) .
IYH at 1319 President St, [between Brooklyn and New York Ave].

Moshe Goldstein (Flatbush, NY) and Chana Tilson (Randolph, NJ)
IYH at Congregation Agudath Sholom, 3714 18th Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

To submit a Simcha or Mazal Tov please email us mazaltov@crownheights.info!


Op-Ed: To Beard or not To Beard?

by Anonyomus, at authors request.

Dear Fellow Jew,

Beard, some beard, no beard. Any color, any shape, and size. I love you because you are my fellow Jew.

The news about the inspiring Shabbos Hakhel held in Crown Heights this past Shabbos hit the Chabad websites in a matter of hours after Shabbos. The standard negative reactions were soon to follow. I can guarantee that all the people who did not have good things to say, could not have attended the event. It was purely inspiring, and I had tears in my eyes more than once. The organizers, speakers and participants made this an event to be remembered, and one that will bring about positive change in people and in the community as a whole.

One of the main themes of the event was Achdus and Ahavas Yisrael.