Israeli PM Ariel Sharon Suffers Massive Stroke

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a massive, life-threatening stroke Wednesday and underwent lengthy surgery to drain blood from his brain after falling ill at his ranch. Powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert.

Doctors placed Sharon on a respirator and were trying to save his life only hours before the hard-charging, overweight, 77-year-old Israeli leader had been scheduled to undergo a procedure to seal a hole in his heart that contributed to a mild stroke on Dec. 18.

Israel Radio quoted an unidentified Israeli health official as saying that Sharon’s prospects of a full recovery were slim.

Mazel Tov to crown heights sisters

Rivka Keller’s parents were ready to leave Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze after she gave birth to the last baby born on Staten Island in 2005.

That’s when Mrs. Keller’s sister, Devora Palace, spoke up from her bed in the shared hospital room.

“I told them, ‘Wait! Don’t leave!'” Mrs. Palace said.

Several hours later, Mrs. Palace bore the first baby of the new year on Staten Island.

Her daughter, Chana, who weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long, was born at 12:41 a.m. on Sunday.

Chasidic Mapquest

Chemists looking for solutions to chemical mysteries keep an eye on the periodic table of elements. Now Kehot Publication Society, the Lubavitch publishing house, has released a Tanya poster to serve the same purpose for students of Chabad Chasidic philosophy who wish to solve spiritual quandaries.

With multicolored rectangles arranged in topical clusters, the poster, which provides an overview of Tanya, the central work of Chabad Chasidic philosophy, looks a lot like Mendeleev’s famous chart. The Map of Tanya, in English on one side and Hebrew on the reverse, shows the key elements of the opus’s first 53 chapters and offers clear clues about their relationship to one another.

Cameras expose hidden diaspora

Chabad Lubavitch Chassidim, subject of Jewish Identity Project which challenges the visual assumptions of what constitutes a Jew.

Some 30-plus years ago there was an extremely successful advertising campaign for Levy’s rye bread that used the slogan “you don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s.” The advertisement featured a native American munching on a sandwich made with the company’s product.

One is reminded of that advertisement when viewing an exhibit currently at The Jewish Museum: “The Jewish Identity Project: New American Photography,” which challenges our visual assumptions of what constitutes a Jew. Some 10 bodies of work by 13 artists, involving film and still photography, uses a variety of approaches, both real and fanciful.

Andrea Robbins and Max Becher’s “Brooklyn Abroad, 2004-2005” series shows how members of the orthodox Lubavitch Hasidim maintain their religious identity no matter how far they’re from their New York-based community. Lubavitchers in Iowa present an unlikely picture as they mow lawns, fish by a creek or simply pose against rural green backgrounds.

Chabad of South Broward Tops Ekaterinburg’s 6,000!

Long established as North America’s largest annual Chanukah event, “this year’s Festival surpassed all expectations,” says Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, executive vice president of Chabad of South Broward.

The event served as Chabad’s 25th birthday celebration of Chabad of South Broward, a recognized leader in Jewish education, outreach and social services in 10 Broward cities with 11 centers and over 25 agencies.

Well Over 100 Vehicles In A Massive Parade Through Manhattan

With 25 Mitzvah Tanks and around 130 Menorah Toped Cars, they made their way on Motzoai Shabbos from 770 over the Manhatten Bridge and into Manhattan right across 6th Ave. all the way to 59th St. were the Menorah stands, and then back around and down 5th Ave, while spreading the message of Chanukah to all the thousands of people in Manhattan there to celebrate the new year. A parade of light.

After the parade the Tanks, loaded with Menorah’s and Chanukah guides, fanned out across the midtown area around Grand Central Terminal and nearby Times Square where the message of Chanukah had reached thousands upon thousands of people, Menorahs and Guides were flying out “Un A Shiur”.

A special thanks goes to the people at the Mitzvah Tank Office who arranged the Police [Highway Division] escort as well as parking for the tanks, and to the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

More Pictures in the Extended Article!

Guinness World Records Recognizes Menorah As Largest

The now official “Worlds Largest Menorah” was recognized this year by the Guinness World Records as the official Worlds Largest Menorah standing at 32 feet tall and 26 feet wide. The Menorah which is lit every night of Chanukah at Grand Army Plaza on 59th and 5th in Manhattan since the late 1970’s, had the people from the book of records come to the Menorah and measure it and present the certificate to the son of the Menorah’s designer Yaakov Agam and to the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

This Menorah sat in model size on the Rebbes desk before being approved of by the Rebbe and only then was it built to its present dimensions.

More pictures in the Extended Article.