Historic Milah Moment in Albany

In contrast to NYC administration opposition to the traditional Bris Milah Metziza B’peh, the New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Antonia Novello officiated Monday at the signing of a protocol authorizing Metziza B’peh as a safe and accepted procedure.

The event followed a series of lengthy meetings, research and deliberations between CRC Rabbis and Commissioner Novello coordinated by Rabbi Niederman of Williamsburg.

Rabbi Yisroel Rubin the Rebbe’s Shliach in Albany, in coordination with Rabbi Nochum Kaplan of the Merkos Misrad HaChinuch in Crown Heights, helped direct the effort, and were thanked at the signing ceremony for their assistance.

The Human Spirit: Share the spice

We’ve become accustomed to hearing exotic Chabad stories. In Peru, Lubavitchers hiking up the Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu bring kosher food and religious services to Israeli backpackers. In Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City they make a Seder.

But what happens when hassidim in black hats and scruffy beards, or hassidic women in wigs and long sleeves, set up shop on the home turf for philosophy, science and skepticism? How does asking “are you Jewish” and issuing Shabbat dinner invitations fly on university campuses steeped in universalism and political correctness?

That’s what The Hebrew University’s esteemed researcher and professor of Jewish education Barry Chazan and doctoral student David Bryfman set out to find out. Their recently published results debunk a fair number of myths about Jewish young adults.

Embarrassing Mugging Circumstances

At around 9:15 earlier tonight, three bochurim were mugged on the corner of Albany Ave and St. Johns. Just blocks from a jewish building. The mugging occurred while the 22- 23 year old bochurim were conversing, during which there was a cash exchange, at that point a couple of black teenagers ran by and grabbed the cash (Aprox. $200) and sped away on their bikes.

Shomrim were called, and arrived on scene within minutes, who searched the area for the teenagers, but to no avail.

We would like to remind our readers; it’s the summer time, which usually coincides with a spike in crime, especially at night. Please be careful, and if you see something call Shomrim at (718) 774-3333.

Friendship Circle Announces Second Annual Conference

Friendship Circles across the United States and Canada are now outperforming their past successes and with their exponential growth, the network of Friendship Circles has announced the Second Annual Friendship Circle Conference.

The conference will take place on July 2nd and 3rd. it is being hosted this year by the Friendship Circle of Livingston, N.J.

Cleansing Waters

Boca Raton, FL – Suzanne Goldberg drives to Boca Raton from her home west of Boynton Beach each month to use a mikvah, or ritual bath.

Goldberg’s three-year commute to Boca Raton Synagogue will be over soon. A $400,000 mikvah is expected to be ready by the end of this month at her synagogue, Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton Beach, at 10655 El Clair Ranch Road.

“The Jewish community in Boynton Beach has been steadily growing over the last decade,” said Goldberg, 31. “In recent years, we have seen a large influx of young families. Having our own mikvah will not only serve the needs of all these new families, but it will help to sustain our growth as a community.”

Settle synagogue suit, commissioner urges

Hollywood, FL – A city commissioner is urging his colleagues to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by an Orthodox Jewish synagogue after the city yanked its permit.

Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom sent an e-mail Tuesday calling for a special meeting to discuss settling the case with the Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad Lubavitch and the U.S. Department of Justice.

No meeting had been scheduled as of Friday evening. The trial is scheduled to start June 26.

In the e-mail, Wasserstrom said he fears that a pending ruling by a federal judge will erase city laws that grant special permits to religious groups that operate in residential neighborhoods. The permits are at the center of the Chabad’s lawsuit, which alleges that the city, led by Commissioner Sal Oliveri, discriminated when it took away the synagogue’s’ permit in 2003. City officials argue that they pulled the permit because the synagogue did not adhere to zoning codes.

A new Chabad House, as always, with an open door

West Hills, CA – The welcome mat will be out Sunday for the grand opening of the Chabad of West Hills, the 19th Chabad center in the San Fernando Valley.

The synagogue actually held its first service at sundown June 1 for the Jewish festival of Shavuot.

It was an appropriate holiday on which to launch a Chabad center because Shavuot, Hebrew for “weeks,” is all about making a sincere connection to God.

Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah – God’s instruction and guidebook for living a good life – and its acceptance by the Jewish people.

Chabad synagogues have an open-door mission to all Jews, no matter if they are religious or not, to help them strengthen or discover their link to God and the commandments.

Up on Crime Heights

Crime is on the increase in Crown Heights, a neighborhood of Hasidim and blacks in Brooklyn. Rather than relying on the police to protect them, Jews are turning to their own tough volunteer unit ? the Shomrim

NEW YORK – When about half a dozen police cruisers blocked the corner of Kingston Avenue and Lefferts Street in the Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the street was already flooded with people. Gadi Hershkop, broad-shouldered, bearded and short-tempered, stood under a traffic light and took care of business. He placed several bearded young men in dark pants and blue T-shirts around two men, who looked a bit dazed. He barked orders and updates into a walkie-talkie and two cellular phones. When he was satisfied, he conversed with Shlomi Klein, a bearded red-head who stood beside him.

Twenty minutes earlier, the two men who were surrounded by the tough guys – Nossi Slater and his father – had returned from Saturday night services at the main synagogue of the Chabad movement. When the two Hasidim dressed in black suits, skullcaps and ritual fringes walked past the corner, a black youth called the elder Slater a “stinking Jew” and pushed him. When Nossi, 25, tried to intervene, the youngster punched him hard in the face.