Gov. Schwarzenegger Joins “Chanukah Live!” Broadcast

Bradford Wiss – Chabad.com

SACRAMENTO, CA — Since 1993, the Governor of California has joined Chabad representatives at Chanukah to offer holiday greetings and illuminate the Capitol Menorah in Sacramento. But this year’s event is unique. Both Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight will participate in “Chanukah Live!” — the first-ever national TV broadcast of Chabad of California’s annual holiday celebration.

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Thanksgiving Dinner Panic? Chabad Women Cook for 300 Every Week

Rebecca Rosenthal – Lubavitch.com

BINGHAMTON, NY — This week, Nechamie Silberberg, Chabad-Lubavitch representative at the University of Western Ontario will be serving somewhere between 175 to 250 ravenous college students. Down south at Emory University, Miriam Lipskier is prepping Shabbat dinner for the usual 130 guests. Rivkah Slonim of SUNY Binghamton’s will set Shabbat tables for hundreds, too. Chana Sara Danow at Leeds University in England just started; her “small crowd” is 37 guests this Friday night.

Land and the Spirit – JLI Video Visits Be’er Shevah

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — With over 10,000 men and women across the globe partaking in JLI’s current course on Israel, titled The Land & The Spirit, JLI Central produces each week a brief, striking flash presentation depicting each “city of the week” being explored during the semester.

Yaldei Hashluchim Learning Chitas Online in Preparation for Chag HaGeula

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — The Chinuch Yaldei Hashluchim Hebrew Division website, operated by The Shluchim Office and geared towards the Hebrew-speaking children of Shluchim around the world, has embarked upon a preparation campaign for the Chag HaGeula on the 19th of Kislev.

Ranch’s Rabbi Bukiet Lends a Hand to Others

Bradenton Herald

Rabbi Mendy Bukiet, in the library of his Lakewood Ranch home. Bukiet is Rabbi of Chabab of Bradenton Ranch. Photo by Grant Jefferies.

BRADENTON, FL — Rabbi Mendy Bukiet has spent all of his 30 years helping Jews. That’s what his father and grandfather, who were also rabbis, taught him.

Whether that entails going to their hospital bedsides or providing food to the needy or strengthening their spirits through the religion, that has been Mendy’s mission.

Picture of the Day! The Rebbe!

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The Rebbe is coming out from the back of his house to go to the car. In the later years, the Rebbe’s secretaries who would drive the Rebbe, would drive the car into the driveway till the back of the house and the Rebbe would come out from the back of the house and get into the car.

Special Thanks Rabbi Mordechai Kirschenbaum. Click here to see previous weeks pictures.

A Joyous Simcha in the Neighborhood

Reb Mendel holding his son at the Bris this morning.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Hundereds of people took part this Tuesday morning in a very special Bris Milah ceremony, that of the son of Reb Menachem Mendel and his wife Genia Morozow. The couple wed on the 10th of Adar 5744 (1983), and were not blessed with a child until 8 days ago, as we reported.

More pictures in the Extended Article! (Photos by: Eli Kahan)

Soul II Soul 5768 to star Avraham Fried!

Avraham Fried performing at the Soul II Soul concert two years ago.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — The annual Soul II Soul Concert, by now a greatly anticipated local tradition, will feature Avraham Fried accompanied by the Neshoma Orchestra under the musical direction of Simcha (Steve) Bill and featuring Yaron Gershovsky. This year as in past years, the show promises to have many magical moments and uplifting heart-warming features that are sure to keep the audience entertained and inspired.

The concert will be held on Motzoei Shabbos Gimmel Adar I 5768 / February 9th, 2008 at the Brooklyn School of Music in Crown Heights. Tickets will be going on sale on Chof Daled Teves/January 2.

More in the Extended Article.

Bochurim Apprehend Mugger

Photo by Todd Maisel – NY Daily News

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – This afternoon, at around 2:30 on the corner of Albany and President, two Black youths mugged a Jewish woman. The youths, approached the woman, hit her then knocked her to the ground and ran off with her purse. Two alert Bochurim managed to apprehend one of the youths and returned the stolen purse.

More in the Extended Article.

Moscow Stonemason Builds Russian Rabbiís Memorial in Israel

David Harmesh – Chabad.org

The stone entrance of the new Heichal HaRashab library in Hebron, Israel (Photo: Meir Dahan)

HEBRON, Israel — Stroking the stone archway, Eliyahu Eidenov’s face glows with satisfaction. “I did this all myself,” says the stonemason, pointing at the ceiling and walls that he personally designed.

World Changes, Women’s Mission Stays Same

by Deborah Moon – Jewish Review

GENERATIONS— Rebbetzins Lea Raichik, Devora Wilhelm and Simi Mishulovin at the 2004 bris of Shmuel Dovid Mishulovin.

The recent death of Rebbetzin Lea Raichik of Los Angeles, has prompted two Portland women—Raichik’s daughter and granddaughter—to reflect on the commonalities and differences three generations of women have experienced as Chabad emissaries in a rapidly changing world.

Devora Wilhelm and her daughter Simi Mishulovin now pursue the same goal of reaching out to and enhancing the Jewish community in the Portland area as Raichik did for nearly 59 years in Los Angeles.