Mazal Tov! – New Engagement!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Chaim Goldstein (Ann Arbor, MI) and Mussia Greenberg (El Paso, TX) on their engagement.
To submit a Simcha or Mazal Tov please email us mazaltov@crownheights.info
6
RUNNING SPRINGS, CA [CHI] — Rabbi Yosef Brod lights the candles and leads a special service in memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In 1944, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok died in exile in Russia where he was banished for his unyielding dedication and devotion to the education of Jewish children in the face of Communist persecution, to insuring Matzos for Passover in that bleak and oppressive regime, and self-sacrifice for Torah and Mitzvos.
More in the Extended Article!
Picture of the Day – California
RUNNING SPRINGS, CA [CHI] — Rabbi Yosef Brod lights the candles and leads a special service in memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In 1944, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok died in exile in Russia where he was banished for his unyielding dedication and devotion to the education of Jewish children in the face of Communist persecution, to insuring Matzos for Passover in that bleak and oppressive regime, and self-sacrifice for Torah and Mitzvos.
More in the Extended Article!
JERUSALEM, Israel [CHI] — After just two years Michlelet Morasha, a Chabad girl’s seminary in Jerusalem closed its doors amid financial difficulties. In an email sent to parents a few days ago the administrations blamed its financial woes on the fall of the value of the American dollar along with changes to the way ‘MASA’ grants were given and the inability of parents to pay full tuition.
This email comes just weeks before the start of the school year, sending parents scrambling for alternatives. In the email the Education administrator wrote that “any student who is interested in attending any other seminary, I will be happy to help with giving a recommendation.”
Michlelet Morasha Seminary Closes its Doors
JERUSALEM, Israel [CHI] — After just two years Michlelet Morasha, a Chabad girl’s seminary in Jerusalem closed its doors amid financial difficulties. In an email sent to parents a few days ago the administrations blamed its financial woes on the fall of the value of the American dollar along with changes to the way ‘MASA’ grants were given and the inability of parents to pay full tuition.
This email comes just weeks before the start of the school year, sending parents scrambling for alternatives. In the email the Education administrator wrote that “any student who is interested in attending any other seminary, I will be happy to help with giving a recommendation.”
WOODRIDGE — An elderly man who was missing for nearly 16 hours was found late Tuesday morning sitting near a lake, one mile away from his family's summer home in the Village of Woodridge.
Yankel “Jacob” Salamon, who is about 90 years old, wandered from the Woodlake Village housing complex about 7:30 Monday night. Salamon has dementia, and his family believes he walked away to find the nearest temple. His desire to worship — even when temples are closed — has increased since his diagnosis, they said.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
Elderly Man found near Home
WOODRIDGE — An elderly man who was missing for nearly 16 hours was found late Tuesday morning sitting near a lake, one mile away from his family’s summer home in the Village of Woodridge.
Yankel “Jacob” Salamon, who is about 90 years old, wandered from the Woodlake Village housing complex about 7:30 Monday night. Salamon has dementia, and his family believes he walked away to find the nearest temple. His desire to worship — even when temples are closed — has increased since his diagnosis, they said.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [NY1] — On Tuesday, Brooklyn marked the 17th anniversary of the Crown Heights riots, one of its darkest episodes.
The violence was sparked by the death of a seven-year-old black boy, Gavin Cato, who was hit by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew.
When it was over, 29-year-old rabbinical student Yankel Rosenbaum was dead.
Brooklyn Marks Crown Heights Riot Anniversary
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [NY1] — On Tuesday, Brooklyn marked the 17th anniversary of the Crown Heights riots, one of its darkest episodes.
The violence was sparked by the death of a seven-year-old black boy, Gavin Cato, who was hit by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew.
When it was over, 29-year-old rabbinical student Yankel Rosenbaum was dead.
The last two commandments in the Torah are Hakhel and the need to write a Sefer Torah, indicating a connection between the two. For this reason, with regard to the upcoming year of Hakhel, the Children’s Sefer Torah Committee has decided to launch a registration campaign to increase the number of letters purchased in the Sefer Torah.
180,121 letters still remain to be sold before the fifth Sefer Torah is completed. Since the completion of the first Sefer Torah in 5741, around 40,000 children buy letters each year, which is close to 3,500 children per month.
Hakhel and the Children’s Sefer Torah
The last two commandments in the Torah are Hakhel and the need to write a Sefer Torah, indicating a connection between the two. For this reason, with regard to the upcoming year of Hakhel, the Children’s Sefer Torah Committee has decided to launch a registration campaign to increase the number of letters purchased in the Sefer Torah.
180,121 letters still remain to be sold before the fifth Sefer Torah is completed. Since the completion of the first Sefer Torah in 5741, around 40,000 children buy letters each year, which is close to 3,500 children per month.
15 Schools and 8 Countries Unite at Gan Israel Lubavitch Day Camp!
LONDON, England [CHI] — Gan Israel Lubvaitch Day Camp is renowned for the amazing atmosphere, the Torah experience and packed program, where Yiddishkeit is brought to life in fun and original ways.
Camp was bigger and better than ever this year, with 350 children enrolled from 15 different schools across London! Camp ran for three weeks.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
The word is out that Lubavitch Yeshivas will not allow their bochurim to have cell phones beginning this year. The roshei yeshivos have banded together to ensure every bochur “exclusively dedicate(s himself) to spiritual pursuits and distance(s) himself from any and all distraction.” They announced the new ban to be rid of “a piece of equipment what can potentially undermine everything we stand for.”
Just like the bochurim headed off to yeshiva in a few weeks who are surely questioning the smarts of their roshei yeshiva, perhaps it’s important for the general community to ask the roshei yeshivos if they’re sure of the benefits that they allege this will provide. And that they’re prepared for the consequences and eventualities that this will no doubt cause.
Op-Ed: Cell Phones in Yeshiva: a Demand for Accountability
The word is out that Lubavitch Yeshivas will not allow their bochurim to have cell phones beginning this year. The roshei yeshivos have banded together to ensure every bochur “exclusively dedicate(s himself) to spiritual pursuits and distance(s) himself from any and all distraction.” They announced the new ban to be rid of “a piece of equipment what can potentially undermine everything we stand for.”
Just like the bochurim headed off to yeshiva in a few weeks who are surely questioning the smarts of their roshei yeshiva, perhaps it’s important for the general community to ask the roshei yeshivos if they’re sure of the benefits that they allege this will provide. And that they’re prepared for the consequences and eventualities that this will no doubt cause.
Mazal Tov! – Its A Boy!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Yehuda and Chana Forster (Crown Heights) on the birth of their son.
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to his parents, grandparents, relatives and Klal Yisroel!
WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY [CHI] — Rabbis, CEO's and web programmers gathered yesterday in the offices of Invision CA in Redondo Beach for the launch of www.Friendship1000.com.
The site hopes to show families and children with special needs that people care. The Friendship Circle of West Hempstead has been sending volunteers to the homes of and offering many programs to children with special needs, as well as offering parents the much needed respite. The friendship Circle is not about therapy or doctors, it's all about friendship and love.
Chabad of West Hempstead Launches Friendship 1000
WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY [CHI] — Rabbis, CEO’s and web programmers gathered yesterday in the offices of Invision CA in Redondo Beach for the launch of www.Friendship1000.com.
The site hopes to show families and children with special needs that people care. The Friendship Circle of West Hempstead has been sending volunteers to the homes of and offering many programs to children with special needs, as well as offering parents the much needed respite. The friendship Circle is not about therapy or doctors, it’s all about friendship and love.
Mazal Tov! – Its A Boy!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Avi and Rivky (nee Spielman) Keller (Crown Heights) on the birth of their son.
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to his parents, grandparents, relatives and Klal Yisroel!
Cell Towers added to roof of 706 Eastern Pkwy
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — The rooftop of 706 Eastern Parkway has been a mess of cell phone antennas and towers for quite some time hosting as many as three separate companies equipment up there. Today a crane deployed and added another two truckloads of radio equipment to the roof, and residents are up in arms.
Rooftops have been dubbed as the “landlords gold mines” after they began renting the space out to the cell companies to ‘house’ their communication equipment.
More in the Extended Article.
The school will retain the 'Beth Chana Academy' name. The Keren Bnos Chomesh' scholarship fund will be established to help eligible students and their families offset tuition costs.
The schools' merger will enable the two institutions to pool their resources, combine complimentary strengths and create a Chabad high school for girls that will offer the best of both worlds – a small school atmosphere with the vitality and amenities of a large school.
Two Chabad Girls High School to Merge
ORANGE, CT [CHI] — Beth Chana Academy of Orange, Connecticut and Bnos Chomesh Academey of Valley Stream, Long Island announced today a merger of the two high schools, effective 2008-2009 school year. The combined high school will be housed at the Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy campus under the directorship of Rabbi Sheya Hecht; Mrs. Dena Gorkin will serve as principal.
The school will retain the ‘Beth Chana Academy’ name. The Keren Bnos Chomesh’ scholarship fund will be established to help eligible students and their families offset tuition costs.
The schools’ merger will enable the two institutions to pool their resources, combine complimentary strengths and create a Chabad high school for girls that will offer the best of both worlds – a small school atmosphere with the vitality and amenities of a large school.
Mazal Tov! – Its A Girl!
We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Dovid and Gila (nee Calef) Kaplan (Passaic, NJ) on the birth of their daughter.
May the newborn be a source of Nachas to her parents, grandparents, relatives and Klal Yisroel!
WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn — A 5-year-old Brooklyn boy trying to escape a stuck elevator plunged 10 stories to his death this morning in a Brooklyn housing project, police said.
The boy, Jacob Neuman, and his 8-year-old brother Israel were heading to school when the tragedy occurred just before 9 a.m. in the building, where residents complained of constant problems with the elevators.
More in the Extended Article.
R”L: 5-year-old Brooklyn Boy Dead in Elevator Shaft Plunge
WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn — A 5-year-old Brooklyn boy trying to escape a stuck elevator plunged 10 stories to his death this morning in a Brooklyn housing project, police said.
The boy, Jacob Neuman, and his 8-year-old brother Israel were heading to school when the tragedy occurred just before 9 a.m. in the building, where residents complained of constant problems with the elevators.
More in the Extended Article.
TBILISI, Georgia — Within Georgia's Jewish community, many have fled to Tbilisi, others got aboard planes evacuating Jews to Israel, and still others, on vacation in other parts of Georgia when the fighting erupted, cannot get back to Tbilisi.
Tbilisi’s Jews Anxious But Hopeful
TBILISI, Georgia — Within Georgia’s Jewish community, many have fled to Tbilisi, others got aboard planes evacuating Jews to Israel, and still others, on vacation in other parts of Georgia when the fighting erupted, cannot get back to Tbilisi.
PALM BEACH, FL [CHI] — The Mikvahs for the physically challenged are nearing completion, and interest is not only being expressed by residents of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties , but also from women as far away as Georgia and Texas.
Since construction began, we have heard from cancer patients, women with multiple sclerosis, and other forms of paralysis, who are overwhelmed with our vision, and who have refrained from using a Mikvah in the past, due to the lack of a proper facility that enables them to perform this Mitzvah with the dignity and the privacy that they require. Only a handful of such Mikvahs exist today in the United States.
Mikvahs for the Physically Challenged
PALM BEACH, FL [CHI] — The Mikvahs for the physically challenged are nearing completion, and interest is not only being expressed by residents of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties , but also from women as far away as Georgia and Texas.
Since construction began, we have heard from cancer patients, women with multiple sclerosis, and other forms of paralysis, who are overwhelmed with our vision, and who have refrained from using a Mikvah in the past, due to the lack of a proper facility that enables them to perform this Mitzvah with the dignity and the privacy that they require. Only a handful of such Mikvahs exist today in the United States.
