Hasidic visitors leave a loving message

Durango, CO – Our area welcomes visitors from all over the world. This week, there were two who were a bit more noticeable than most.

They hail from the not so exotic Detroit and New Jersey, but Rabbi Yossi Goodman and rabbinical candidate Berel Zaklikofsky are Hasidic Jews who follow the Lubavitch tradition. That means that they wear their kippas (or yarmulkes) at all times, not just when in synagogue, keep kosher and dress modestly.

“We follow the Torah a little over the letter of the law,” Goodman said. “But we’re no different than a normal Jewish person. Everyone comes from one God. Labels are for soda cans.”

The Hebrew word “Hasid” means pious. In general terms, it refers to an Eastern European religious movement that dates back to Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov in the early 18th century. The Lubavitch, or Chad, branch originated in Poland about 250 years ago.

J for J campaign targets NY Jews

“J for Jews,” reads the advertisement on the F train speeding through south Brooklyn’s subway tracks toward Coney Island. It’s a confusing configuration. But then it becomes clear it is simply “Jews for J” inverted and that the change is only the beginning of what is new, stream-lined, and more expansive about the well-known – and to most, highly annoying – Christian missionary group.

Man Embraces His Jewish Identity

Munster, IN – John Doherty of Griffith has acquired another name, thanks to Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov of Chabad of Northwest Indiana.

“You can call me Yehonatan Ben Avraham if you like,” he says to friends who still address him by his English name.

According to Doherty, since Zalmanov’s arrival, an awakening had occurred in his soul. He said it felt like the time had come to receive a Hebrew name that reflected his inner change.

Doherty was born Jewish, but his childhood experiences and memories lacked identification with the people of Abraham. Leading an assimilated existence, John did not receive a Hebrew name at birth.

4 hope to stifle Chabad accord

As Hollywood and Chabad attorneys await approval of their settlement deal, angry neighbors are hoping to have their day in court.

Neighbors of a Hollywood synagogue are demanding to have their say before a judge approves a deal allowing the congregation to remain in their neighborhood.

The four homeowners filed a request in federal court Thursday asking U.S. Judge Joan Lenard to give them the chance to argue against a legal settlement between the synagogue and City Hall.

The Heroic Struggle Now in Russian!

THE HEROIC STRUGGLE — The dramatic story of the imprisonment and release of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Schneersohn, in 250 pages. Published by FREE Publishing House, a division of FREE (Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe), in Shvat of 5766 (2006). Text is in Russian with an English Foreword. The original Hebrew and English text was put out by Kehot Publication Society.

The recent collapse of Russian Communism was soon followed by a Jewish re-identification and a sweeping resurgence of open religious observance. These striking changes followed 70 years of Soviet religious suppression.

A Diaspora view of Israel

Before I begin this article the following disclaimer is in order. Coming from a Diaspora Jew, my comments here may offend many Israelis, who will claim that those who do not experience the difficulties of having children in the Israeli army and those who are not subjected to daily threats of terrorist attacks have no right to tell Israelis what to do.

While I can see their point, I beg to differ. Often an outsider is able to be much more objective about the situation precisely because they view the situation baggage free. So here is an “outsider’s” view from a uniquely Jewish perspective.

An iPod in every book bag Silver Spring Chabad opening Sunday school

Chabad of Silver Spring’s Rabbi Berel Wolvovsky is so confident that his center’s soon-to-be-opened Sunday school will hook its students on Judaism that he is offering a hot commodity: an iPod to every child enrolled when the school opens this September.

“I am certain that if a child comes to the school that they will like it,” said Wolvovksy, Chabad of Silver Spring’s co-director. “The reason why I’m confident about the iPod program is because I know that if a child comes to our school and tastes it for one or two times, the third and fourth and 20th time, it won’t be an issue for us” to get them to come.

Youths Throw Firecrackers at Mother And Child

At around 4:00pm yesterday (Wednesday) a woman walking home holding her infant child noticed 2 black youths around the age of 10 to 12 lighting firecrackers, she immediately headed for her building only to have firecrackers thrown at her and exploding right next to her sending the woman into panic and shock.

Shomrim were called and units responded right away and attempted to get a description of the perps but they could not find them. Police was called and a complaint had been filed.

Firecrackers are illegal if you see anyone playing with them don’t hesitate to call 911 and complain. Throwing firecrackers at someone is consider an assault, if you were a victim of such an assault call 911 and file a complaint. A crime not reported is a crime that didn’t happen.

Matching Grants Fund Established to support new Shluchim

Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the international umbrella group that has been charged by the Rebbe to oversee global Chabad-Lubavitch activities, has launched a new program to help finance qualified young couples who wish to embark on Shlichus – a lifetime commitment to serve the spiritual needs of Jewish communities wherever they may be. The new program is made possible by an initial $1 million grant from Ronald O. Perelman, Chairman and CEO of McAndrews and Forbes Holdings and a long-time partner in the initiatives of Chabad-Lubavitch.

This was announced by Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad. “In recent years the interest among young Chasidim to choose a life career of shlichus has grown exponentially,” said Rabbi Shemtov.