Beijing’s French-Speaking Jews Benefit From New Rabbi

The tropical location of Chabad-Lubavitch of Beijing, which just began programming geared to the French-speaking segment of the local Jewish community.

BEIJING, China — As French expands as a language spoken by Jews in Beijing, a local Jewish community center has begun offering programming specifically with the French-speaking population in mind.

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3 Generations of Hechts Prove Strong Mentors

Pamela McLoughlin – New Haven Register

ORANGE, CT — Rabbi Sheya Hecht always tells people he had “a better mentor” than his oldest son, Mendy, does, but that self-effacing view is part of what makes Sheya Hecht such a good father to his 10 children, 200 students and hundreds of congregants.

The “better mentor” to whom he refers, his own father, the late Rabbi Moshe Yitzchok Hecht, founded the New Haven Hebrew Day School in the 1940s beginning with a few students. Moshe Hecht also brought the Chabad movement to Greater New Haven; Chabad is a Hassidic movement in which a central theme is outreach to the community.

Shabbat 100 Rising to the Challenge

TENAFLY, NJ [CHI] — Once again, the Teen Friendship Club of Lubavitch on the Palisades will be running, Shabbat 300. As implied by its name this ambitious project aims to gather 300 high school students from the Bergen county community, to enjoy a Shabbat dinner. This program, includes a delicious luxury catered Shabbat dinner, Jewish songs, Shabbat rituals, and plenty of spirit.

Alternate Side Parking Rules Suspended Tuesday

Alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations are suspended on Tuesday, December 25, for holiday observance. Because Xmas Day is a major legal holiday, parking meter regulations are also suspended.

On major legal holidays, stopping, standing, and parking are permitted, except in areas where stopping, standing, and parking rules are in effect seven days a week (for example, “No Standing Anytime”).

Click here for the 2008 Alternate Side Parking Regulations Suspension Calendar

Federation Awards Grant to Chabad House Serving Duke University

Joshua Runyan – Chabad.org

Joined by Rabbi Zalman and Yehudis Bluming, third from right and center, students at Duke University show off their newly-baked challahs for an upcoming Shabbat meal.

DURHAM, NC — The Raleigh-Care Jewish Federation in North Carolina awarded a grant to the Chabad Jewish Student Center serving the University of North Carolina and Duke University to support its weekly Shabbat programming.

7th Grade Builds Lego Chanukah Menorahs

MONTREAL, Canada [CHI] — In honor of the festival of Chanukah, 7th Grade of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch of Montreal, along with the engineering help of a number of older students studying at the Rabbinical College of Quebec, constructed 2 magnificent menorahs, which were made exclusively with lego style Micro Mega Blocks.

Two Sem Girls Injured, One Critically, After Being Struck by a Car

The building of the Chaya Aydel Seminary.

Please continue to say Tehilim for Elana Leah bas Shaindel Rochel and Chaya Mushka bas Mattel

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL [CHI] – A group of Seminary girls returning from the Publix grocery store after shopping for a winter camp they were arranging for the local community, when two of the girls were struck by a passing car, injuring one of them critically.

More in the Extended Article.

An idea for Nittel Nacht… (A)

Playing chess on Nittel Nacht is one way to pass time. How about taking the Defensive Driving course? The benefits include, reducing points on your drivers license and a 10% insurance reduction!

The course will take place tonight, the 24th of December here in Crown Heights. Call for more information and to make your reservation 1-347-262-3326.

Suspect Arrested in Shooting Death of Crown Heights Nurse

NY Daily News

Kieron McEwan, 9, holds picture of his mother Carol Simon, who was killed last week, as his family discusses the capture of a suspect in the killing. (Showalter for News)

NYPD detectives arrested a 27-year-old suspect early Sunday in the stray bullet slaying of a Crown Heights nurse, cops said.

Darius Dubarry was arrested in his room at the Day’s Inn in Augusta, Ga., around 5 a.m. in connection with the death of Carol Simon, 35, cops said.

Domestic Dispute Escalates into Six Injured Police Officers

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Police responded to what was a Domestic Dispute in an apartment at 446 Kingston Avenue, but when officers arrived to what they say was an all out brawl which quickly had the family turning their rage at the officers.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Land and the Spirit – JLI Video Visits Jerusalem

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. This flash, shown at each JLI chapter at the conclusion of the lesson takes the student on a visual journey through the featured holy city of the week’s lesson.

In Cross-Hairs of Terrorists, Sderot May Soon Get an Armored Mobile Synagogue

By Tamar Runyan – Chabad.org

Children and parents gather at a local school for a menorah lighting run by Chabad-Lubavitch of Sderot.

SDEROT, Israel — As the Israeli government ponders what exactly to do to stem the almost daily onslaught of Palestinian-fired Kassam rockets on the southern Israeli town of Sderot, a local Jewish synagogue and community center there has come up with a way to at least offer spiritual protection to the frightened residents.