Another tree collapse

As we have reported, Crown Heights has been hit be severe weather for some time now, a lot of rain and wind. Last week a tree fell on 2 cars, but only damaging them minimally. This time the damage was a lot more severe.

This happened on the corner of President St. and Kingston Ave. while there were a lot of people shopping preparing for Yom Tov, a large part of a tree broke off and landed on top of a “Hacnosas Orchim” Van, and B”H didn’t hurt any people.

Giant Sukkah in Midtown Manhattan

As in previous years, the Chabad House of Manhattan, directed by Rabbi Yehoshua Metzger has constructed a giant Sukkah in the center of the city, resembling a sophisticated restaurant. The Sukkah will be opened 24 hours a day catering to a huge crowd of businessmen and tourists who visit it on a daily basis.

The Sukkah, which in itself become a tourists attraction, is located on 40th and 5th in the Bryant Park with is right next to the midtown branch of the New York Public Library, which, as the rumor has it, is where the Rebbe stood over sixty years ago distributing leaflets called ‘Lialter Letshuva – Lialter Ligeula’ (a declaration of the previous Rebbe indicating that repentance will hasten the redemption). Rabbi Metzger calls all the Tmimim who intend to do Mivtzoim in the area to tell the Jews they encounter about this Sukkah.

Robbery at Kol-Tuv

This past shabbos the grocery store Kol-Tuv, on Kingston and Montgomery was broken into. The grocery has recently expanded by taking over the space Flash used to occupy.

The thieves allegedly gained entry to the store by cutting the gate and breaking the glass door. They stole the calling cards that Kol-Tuv sells but apparently they did not try for the cash in the register.

This Sukkot, No Blue-Light Specials on Lulavs

Among the sea of bobbing black hats that filled Hamafitz, a Judaica store in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Tuesday was the high, rumpled headgear of Shlomo Zuntz, a man in his 60’s with hangdog features and a wispy white beard. Mr. Zuntz pushed to the back of the store, looking for lulavs, the long, straight date-palm fronds used in celebration of Sukkot, the Jewish weeklong harvest festival, which begins Monday.

Jews prepare for joyous holiday

With last night’s end of Yom Kippur and the conclusion of the season’s solemn and introspective period, Jews across Rockland turned their thoughts to the joyous holiday of Sukkot.

The sukkahs — or temporary outdoor structures — that dot homes in the area are evidence of the communal joy produced at the approach of the seven-day celebration.

Sukkot is both a remembrance of the desert wanderings of the Israelites after they were taken out of slavery in Egypt, as well as a celebration of the fall harvest.

Jews blamed for bird flu, birds blamed as Jew flew

A representative of a shadowy group calling itself the Chicken Liberation Organization has accused orthodox Jews of responsibility for the aviary flu, which experts believe may become a global pandemic threatening the lives of millions.

The CLO representative, C. Little, has warned that any outbreak of the disease will be the direct result of what he called Jewish responsibility for “atmospheric lowering,” a little-understood phenomenon by which the sky appears to be falling, causing migratory birds to descend precipitously and collide with stationary objects, greatly increasing the risk of a 9/11 style crash into skyscrapers and resulting infection of the people inside.

Project Sefer Torah: Now therefore write this song for yourselves

The last commandment of the Torah is a self-perpetuating one. Having a new Sefer Torah written is not a daunting communal undertaking, but is quite a challenge for the average Jew. One solution is to fulfill one`s obligation at a Siyum Sefer (festive completion) by shading in the outlines of the last letters of a newly completed scroll.

I saw a siyum recently after we unexpectedly became involved in the acquisition of a Sefer Torah. The tale begins in the lobby of an Istanbul hotel in the spring of 2003. My husband had flown from Tel Aviv to Turkey on a business trip. Mordechai was heading for the Sisli synagogue that morning when the word “Shalom!” rang in his ears. This friendly greeting came from a middle-aged Australian tourist. Though Mordechai could not linger to chat, he realized the man had something to communicate.

Indicating the tallit bag under Mordechai`s arm, he said, “You look like a religious man. I saw something that might interest you — an old Hebrew scroll in an antique store at the bazaar.”

Recalling the Desert While Wrapped In Goose-down

This article is a must read, about the Sukkah.

In recent years, when neighborhood kids gathered for an annual sukkah hop in Brookline, Mass., they started at one of the neighborhood’s crown jewels: a stately, wooden specimen, invincible in the face of New England wind and cold, belonging to Debbie and Mark Blechner.

Each year for 27 years, the Blechners have rebuilt the sturdy wooden structure, perhaps not acknowledging its value in the face of New England weather — although the wood certainly keeps out rain, and a closable door blocks the wind.

But this year, they are certain to appreciate the advantage that their sukkah has over other models.

Bob Dylan @ Yom Kippur davening with Chabad in Long Island

SNS has learned that world famous singer-songwriter Bob Dylan caused a buzz when he showed up for Yom Kippur Davening with Chazzan Choni Shagalov and nearly 500 others in Woodbury, NY @ Oyster Bay Chabad.

In past years Dylan has shown up @ services with Chabad in Minnesota and California and rumors had it that he Davened @ Chovevei Torah on Yom Kippur 5761.

The 64-year-old singer was honored with the 6th aliyah, and afterwards had a number of Mi Sheberachs made for his family as well as extended family.

Dylan’s Jewish Pilgrimage

After reading this, rean the article above it (Dylan davening with Chabad).

You may not see it beneath the gentlemanly cowboy hat Bob Dylan wears on the cover of the “Love and Theft” album — or behind the countrified smile on the “Nashville Skyline” record jacket. But in the early 1960s, if anyone cared to notice, the unmistakable persona of a Jewish kid emanated from America’s most galvanizing performer and songwriter.

Dylan didn’t kvetch like your cousin Marvin or sing Israeli songs. He was steeped in old-time American music. But his Jewishness stood out — perhaps more in retrospect, especially in concert segments that are part of the new Martin Scorcese documentary on Dylan called, “No Direction Home.”

Racist Road Show

Autumn tours of North America may become an annual ritual for rabidly anti-Israel Naim Ateek, the founder and director of the Jerusalem-based Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Following an October 2004 “exclusive” Canadian speaking tour, Ateek this month is attacking Israel in a series of U.S. church conferences before heading to a World Council of Churches gathering in Toronto, Canada.

This year’s anti-Israel barrage began in Chicago on October 7 and 8 at Hyde Park’s Lutheran School of Theology, where several Sabeel proponents held that the time for a two-state solution has past. Besides for that, Sabeel and Ateek are champions of a broad Israel-divestment campaign and advocates of replacement theology. Indeed, their work parallels that of other fraudulent peace groups, which also ultimately seek Israel’s dissolution.

Keeping the faith in the High Holy Days

Displaced Louisiana Jews are praying that ‘some good’ will come out of hurricane

Toby Lew plans to pray as never before during Yom Kippur, which begins today at sunset.

While Yom Kippur, the most holy of Jewish holy days, is always a time of serious reflection, the Day of Atonement carries added solemnity this year for Lew and other displaced New Orleans Jews.

“When I prayed at Rosh Hashana, I have not prayed like that in a long time,” said Lew, the mother of three young children. “I really put my heart and soul into it and hoped that everything goes well for everyone.

Boynton Chabad performs ritual signifying atonement

Ted Struhl prayed solemnly for his son — not unusual for a synagogue service, except for the chicken he was waving over Sammy’s head.

“This is my exchange, this is my substitute,” Struhl prayed outside Chabad-Lubavitch of Boynton Beach, where the service known as Kapparot drew several dozen members Tuesday night. “This rooster shall go to its death and I shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.”

Chabad of Newton, MA eyes new location

The Beth Menachem Chabad, which caused an uproar laced with accusations of anti-Semitism when it moved into its current home in Oak Hill nearly two years ago, plans to build a new synagogue a quarter-mile down the road on the site where a 200-year-old home now stands.

The Chabad, at 229 Dedham St., has set its sights on 349 Dedham St., which is situated at the corner with Rachel Road, near the Charles River Country Club’s golf course. The property’s previous owner, Adam Neiman, requested a permit to knock down the house in October 2004.