At Burned-Out Synagogue, Services Held on Lawn

Jonnelle Marte – Miami Herald

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Sitting on donated chairs, with a donated curtain separating the men from the women, more than 200 worshipers attended Shabbat services Friday night on the lawn of a Miami Beach Orthodox synagogue that was consumed by fire this week.

Before services began at The Chabad Shul, 2401 Pinetree Dr., speakers noted that an outpouring of support has helped ease a trying time.

Mazal Tov's View More

Photo Gallery: Seudas Moshiach in 770!

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — The last day of Passover (“Acharon Shel Pesach”) is particularly associated with Moshiach and the future redemption. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of partaking of a “Seudas Moshiach” (Moshiachs Meal) on the afternoon of the last day of Passover; in addition to the Matzah eaten at “Seudas Moshiach”, the Rebbes of Chabad added the custom of drinking four cups of wine, as in the Seder held on Passover’s first days.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Builder Flees & 40 Hasidic Families Face Eviction in Brooklyn Swindle

William Sherman – NY Daily News

The article as it appears on the home page of the Daily News

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn — More than 40 Brooklyn families face eviction and foreclosure on condos they bought from a developer who pulled off a massive swindle and then fled the country.

The families, all Hasidim from Crown Heights, paid developer Eliyahu Ezagui – one of their own – for the apartments before they were built at two sites: 770 Lefferts Ave. and 613 East New York Ave.

Mazal Tov! – Its A Boy!

We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Yossel and Devorah Leah (nee Gurary) Sirota (Monsey, NY) on the birth of their son.

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


Clergy Panel in Debate over Styles of Outreach

Elaine Durbach – NJ Jewish News

From left, Cantor Matthew Axelord of Congregation Beth Israel, Rabbi Doug Sagal of Temple Emanu-El, and Rabbi Aryeh Stechler of Congregation Anshe Chesed discussed the challenges facing their various congregations at a community forum at Temple Emanu-El. Photos by Steve Chernela

The goal is not just “to get more Jews in the pews,” according to the panelists at a forum on the future of the Jewish community.

With careful cordiality but often conflicting views, clergy representing the three largest denominations outlined their views on how to keep existing members while also reaching out to new ones.

Mazal Tov! – Its A Girl!

We would like to wish Mazal Tov to Zalmy and Shterna (nee Loschak) Kudan (Shluchim to S Barbara, CA) on the birth of their daughter.

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

Passover Supplies Reach Nepal Destinations in the Nick of Time

Joshua Runyan – Chabad.org

A group of backpackers in Thailand learn about Passover in the days leading up to the Seder.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — After being stuck at the Indian border, most of the Passover supplies destined for two Chabad-led Seders in Nepal arrived in time for the celebrations, albeit a tad late and decreased in size.

Crown Heights Jews and Blacks Talk, Urging Calm After Attack

NY Daily News

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn — More than two dozen Black and Jewish community leaders gathered in Crown Heights on Thursday to urge calm following the alleged beating of a black college student by two Jews.

“We use this ugly incident … just to bring us together even more,” said Tzvi Lang, chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, after the two-hour sitdown at the local community mediation center.

More in the Extended Article.

Open Letter to Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes from the Jewish Leadership Council in Crown Heights

The political and media outrage following the alleged attack by Jewish boys in Crown Heights on Mr. Andrew Charles leaves the Jewish community shocked and anxious. We will not let a one-sided story be told. We will not curl-up in fear while our families are terrorized.

Friday, April 25, 2008
20 Nissan 5768, Sixth day of Passover – The Festival of Freedom

The Honorable Charles J. Hynes,
Kings County District Attorney
350 Jay St. Brooklyn, New York, 11201

Over the last months, members of the JLC have repeatedly met in your office, concerned that the armed muggings and bigoted harassment against the Orthodox Jewish community continue unchecked. This is in sharp contrast to the attention to justice you’ve shown to the recent allegations against an Orthodox Jew by an African American.

Continued in the Extended Article.

New Dollars Moments Now Online!

Find yourself with the Rebbe, name your friends, and share!

In cooperation with the Chabad.org team, JEM’s The Living Archive has just posted thousands more newly restored images of the Rebbe giving out dollars. For many years, people have been requesting to find their encounters with the Rebbe. With The Living Archive’s success in raising over one million dollars, JEM has fast-tracked the My Moment with the Rebbe project. We will now be able to post new stills on a regular basis.

Mazal Tov! – 8 Sholom Zochors this Week!

Yehudah Leib and Batsheva (nee Bronchtain) Borenstein.
IYH at 37 Balfour Pl, (MAP).

Yossi and Chana Rochel (nee Katz) Hackner.
IYH at 1461 President St, [bet Kingston and Albany Ave].

Chaim and Dina (nee Losh) Kay.
IYH at 644 Montgomery St, [bet Kingston and Brooklyn Ave].

Michoel and Aliza (nee Schuster) Abel.
IYH at 839 Fiske St, Woodmere, NY 11598.

Eli and Chanie (nee Boyarsky) Spalter.
IYH at 154 Lake Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960.

Mendy and Esther (nee Rosenfeld) Shapiro.
IYH at 2214 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Ary and Menucha (nee Lederman) Slater.
IYH at 534 W Tilden St, Postville, IA 52162.

Yitzi and Rivki Levin.
IYH at 6740 Avenue Westbury, Montreal, Canada.

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.

Rabbi Teams up with Platres Winery to Reproduce Talmudic Wine of Cyprus

Leo Leonidou – Cyprus-Mail

Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin taste’s Lambouri’s Kosher Wine

LARNACA, Cyprus — The Jewish community will be celebrating Passover in style with a new local kosher wine steeped in Talmudic tradition

A Rabbi has teamed up with a local winery to produce a special wine for the island’s Jewish community.