Torah Survives Ordeal, Finding a Home in Maryland

Mary Gail Hare – The Baltimore Sun

OWINGS MILLS, MD — November 2nd a fledgling Jewish congregation in Baltimore County will rededicate sacred Torah scrolls, originally inscribed in czarist Russia and rescued decades later from the communist Soviet Union by a rabbi persecuted for his faith.

Photo Gallery in the Extended Article!

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Info to be Menachem Avel Rabbi Galperin

Rabbi Shlomo Galperin is sitting Shiva for after the passing of his mother OBM until Shabbos, at his house, 440 Brooklyn Ave, Apt 4G, [corner Empire Blvd].

Times of Davening:
Shacharis: 8:15 am
Mincha: 4:15 pm
Maariv: Bizmana
Friday Mincha: 1:30

Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.

Op-Ed: Why Obama’s Win is Good

by Rabbi Yisroel Bernath – Spiritual Director of Chabad of NDG and Loyola Campus

For the past few days, my world has been saturated with the news of President-Elect Barack Obama. Most of the statements I have heard were very negative or very positive – not much in the middle. Surprisingly, however, both extremes followed a similar theme: “It’s the end of the world as we know it.”

As a Chabad Rabbi, my initial thoughts were against the President-Elect and much of his platform. Weighing his policy towards Israel, a land dear to myself and my brethren, and envisioning a world gone mad held in the palm of his hand, truly pierced me to the core.

History Repeats Itself at Chabad of Rara

RARA, Australia [CHI] — Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia has once again sent out another group of Roving Rabbis to visit Jews living in areas around Australia who are not residing in main Jewish communities. This trip, like all the ones before it, is focusing on bringing Yiddishkeit to these Jews. Mezuzas will be hung, Tefillin will be laid, Bar Mitzvas with men of all ages will be celebrated, Shabbatons, tens of house visits, signing people up to all of RARA’s programs and trying to locate new Jews to add to the 2000+ person database.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Newly-Translated Volume From Chabad’s Kehot Publication Society

LOS ANGELES, CA [CHI] — In a landmark event that will add fresh life to the Biblical story of Creation, Kehot Publication Society, the Chabad-Lubavitch publishing house, and Chabad of California are releasing a new translation of the Book of Genesis. This innovative volume combines religious scholarship and scientific research in a single, reader-friendly text that is available on at Kehot.com.

As the global economic crisis prompts increased numbers of people to deepen their spirituality, this Book of Genesis offers vital guidance, comfort, and hope. The revolutionary work is part of Kehot’s edition of the Torah’s Five Books of Moses that brings the eternal wisdom of Scripture into clear focus for modern readers. The volume features authoritative text in both English and Hebrew, helpful commentary by Biblical scholars, and inspiring insights from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory.

83 Year Old Man Shoved down Stairs in 770

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A drunk bochur, described as a “Tzfati”, pushed an 83-year-old man down a staircases in 770 on Motzai Shabbos. The incident began inside 770 at around 8:00pm when the drunken Tzfati, who was missing his shirt, grabbed the elderly man and shoved him down a flight of stairs.

More in the Extended Article.

Mazal Tov! – Its A Girl!

I would like to wish a very hearty Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov! to a dear friend Mendy and his wife Shulamis (nee Nagar) Pellin (Crown Heights) on the birth of their firstborn baby girl!!

May the newborn be a source of Nachas to her parents, grandparents, relatives and Klal Yisroel.

Rabbi Yosef Greenberg shares Alaska’s rich Jewish heritage

Judy Ferguson – News Miner

FAIRBANKS, AK — Jewish connections with Alaska from its beginning were critical. In a series focusing on Jewish Alaskan history, Perry Green, Master Furrier of Alaska (September 2nd 2007), Meta Bloom Buttnick (June 29th, 2008), Judge Andrew Kleinfeld (September 28th, 2008) and Professor Judith Kleinfeld (October 5th, 2008) have been presented. The story of Rabbi Greenberg of the Orthodox Chabad-Lubavitch Center/Alaska Jewish Museum in Anchorage concludes the series.

Alaska has never had a permanent traditional Jewish rabbi. Today, Rabbi Yosef Greenberg and his wife, Esther (Estie), of the Anchorage Lubavitch Jewish center have pledged themselves to Alaska’s people, and to the memorializing of Alaska Jewish history as preserved in a proposed museum.

Auschwitz Documents not New, Experts Say

JTA

Auschwitz documents touted as a sensational find by a German newspaper have been known to historians for years, an expert told JTA.

Historian Robert Jan van Pelt, an expert on Auschwitz, said he had checked the “so-called ‘new’ material” on the Web site of Bild, a high-circulation daily, and found that “the drawings that are on their site are all old material, perfectly known” and published by himself and others in the 1990s.

Teens For the Community Doubles Its Reach

Rabbi Mendel Silberstein – Larchmont Gazette

LARCHMONT, NY — Teens for the Community, a volunteer group for Larchmont and Mamaroneck teens, has more than doubled in size. Begun last year with only fifteen teens, it now has 40 who attend weekly meetings.