Soul II Soul Concert 2009 Starring Lipa Schmeltzer

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — The star of this year’s much-anticipated Soul II Soul concert will be the renowned performer Lipa Schmeltzer. Every year, the Soul II Soul concert brings the Crown Heights community together for an evening of exciting entertainment for the whole family, to benefit children with special needs.

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Rebbe, Why Does G-d Create Evil?

The following is a fascinating Yechidus of the Rebbe that took place in the winter of 5722/1962. To learn More about the Rebbe Vsit: www.inspiringageneration.org

Question: How would you define Judaism in a nutshell?

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayeira!

The Rebbe says:

1. This week’s Torah portion tells us about how Avraham Avinu (Abraham our forefather) was the first and only Jew in this world and the whole world was against him . However once the people saw how Hashem (G-d) was with Avraham Avinu in all that he did and protected him from any harm, even Avimelech King of the Philistines wanted to make a covenant of peace with Avraham Avinu .

Towards the end of the Torah’s description of Avraham Avinu’s life in the land of the Philistines the Torah tells us that Avraham Avinu planted an “Eishel – (simply translated as) a tree” there , he publicized G-dliness and faith there , and he lived there for many days. Immediately after this the Torah begins discussing the Akeida (the Binding of Isaac) .

2. The Rebbe now questions the Torah’s narration of this story with the intention of uncovering the Torah’s deep messages:

Rabbi Expects Smooth Sailing for Aspen Chabad Project

John Colson – The Aspen Times

ASPEN, CO — Assuming the proposed Chabad Community Center project in Aspen moves ahead on all fronts, it is unlikely that there will be a constitutional fight over the project such as Pitkin County’s recent battle over the Grace Church in Emma, one official said.

Aron Rubashkin, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky on the “Forward 50”

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — Presidential elections, politics and the immigration raid at Agriprocessors in Postville led to Reb Aron Rubashkin along with Rabbi Menachem Genack to be added to the list of the Forwards 50 most influential jews this past year. Also on the list is Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky for his dedication to outreach as the vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.

Excerpts from the list in the Extended Article!

King of Bahrain Extends Jewish Communal Welcome During State Visit

Joshua Runyan – Chabad.org

King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa of Bahrain, left, extended a personal invitation to Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Levi Shemtov during a visit to New York.

NEW YORK, NY — Following his call to open Bahrain to the return of its native Jewish population, a delegation of 50 Bahraini Jews who live across the United States stood for a blessing on King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa. Leading the traditional blessing, Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the Washington, D.C., director of American Friends of Lubavitch, thanked G-d for “bestowing a part of His glory” on an earthly monarch.

The Weekly Sedra – Vayera – A Foot In Each World – Sitting On The Fence Syndrome

by Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Shliach to Jacksonville, FL

Sitting on a fence is a man who sees no sense in fighting
Sitting on a fence is a man who sees no sense at all
Sitting on a fence is a man who strokes his twenty beards
Sitting on a fence is a man who drinks real ale
But the real problem with this man
Is he says he can’t when he can
He’d rather not get his hands dirty
He’ll still be there when he’s thirty
I told myself to keep my mouth shut
But I still end up saying if and but
I lied to myself right from the start
And I’ve just worked out that I’m falling apart
Sitting on a fence is a man who looks up to his guardian
Sitting on a fence is a man who swings from poll to poll
Sitting on a fence is a man who sees both sides of both sides
Sitting on a fence is a man who looks down on opinion
But the real problem with this man . . .

(Song by Housemartins) How long will you vacillate between two opinions – 1 Kings 18, 21

Shliach Attacked in Vladivostok

Interfax

Chief Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein, during a dinner last year Chanukka

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia — Primorye Chief Rabbi, U.S. citizen Yisroel Silberstein was attacked on a central street of Vladivostok, a source in the Federation of Russian Jewish Communities told Interfax-Religion on Thursday.

Mazal Tov! – 10 Sholom Zochors this Week!

Eli and Chanie (nee Bronchtain) Rosenbluh.
IYH at 1592 Carroll St, [between Troy and Schenectady Ave].

Mendy and Hindy (nee Werde) Greenberg.
IYH at 1414 Carroll St, [between Kingston and Albany Ave].

Leibel and Sara (nee Dechter) Krinsky.
IYH at 585 Montgomery St, [between Brooklyn and Kingston Ave].

Herschel and Nechamie (nee Kaminsky) Kessler.
IYH at 431 Sterling St, [between Brooklyn and New York Ave].

Yehuda and Shaina Rivka (nee Serwitz) Kamman.
IYH at 672 Eastern Pkwy, [between Brooklyn and New York Ave].

Ayal and Goldie (nee Lakein) Bension.
IYH at 546 Montgomery St, [between Brooklyn and New York Ave].

Assi Shalom and Devorah Esther (nee Kaplan) Harel.

Aryeh and Ora Malka (nee Ginsberg) Goodman (East Brunswick, NJ) .
IYH at 1317 Carroll St, [between Kingston and Brooklyn Ave].

Levi and Rivky (nee Steinmetz) Kaplan (Detroit, MI) .

Avrumi and Gitty Neuwirth
IYH at 6705 Avenue Mountain Sights, Montreal, Canada.

Please stay tuned as we update this list as information becomes available. However, in an unfortunate event that we do not get all the Sholom Zochors this week, we are sorry. But you can help! If you know of any Sholom Zochors or Mazal Tovs you can email it to us at mazaltov@crownheights.info! Thank You.

Video of the Day! – G-d Believes in Israel!

This weeks Living Torah, titled “G-d Believes in Israel” (Volume 55, Episode 218)

Living Torah is a member supported project Become a member today at LivingTorah.org

Also available with Hebrew, French, Russian and Spanish subtitles in the Extended Article.

Mazal Tov! – Its A Girl!

We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Yitzchok Meir and Sheina (nee Yarmush) Frimerman (Crown Heights) on the birth of their daughter Breindel.

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