Randolph, NJ Jewish center runs into zoning troubles

A new Jewish center on West Hanover Avenue will be allowed to remain open during the High Holidays but will then have to shut until it gains required zoning, building and fire safety approvals.

Township officials said on Friday, Sept. 30, that the center known as Chabad of Randolph, failed to obtain zoning, building and fire safety approvals before opening its doors. Neighbors have complained that the center will add to traffic on busy West Hanover Avenue.

Chabad of Randolph relocated its worship and educational programs to a large home at 48 W. Hanover Ave. in the Mount Freedom section of town from the previous site in a home on Andrews Road.

Steely resolve on the rails

CBS2 Interviews R. Boruch Keivman

Straphangers rode the rails with steely resolve Friday, saying they had no choice but to live their lives as they normally would.

“I’m not scared,” declared Boerum Hill resident Alexa Mahnken, 41, as she boarded the train in Brooklyn to go to her consulting job at Rockefeller Center. “There are subway fires and car crashes everyday. The risks are there. You just have to go about your business.”

More Pictures in the extended article.

FBI: Jews need not apply for Arabic linguist jobs Despite shortage, loyalty issues, bureau snubbed 90 N.Y. applicants

Despite a shortage of Arabic translators, the FBI turned down applications for linguist jobs from nearly 100 Arabic-speaking Jews in New York following the World Trade Center attacks, WorldNetDaily has learned.

The FBI’s New York office in October 2001 asked a local charity that works with Arab Jews to submit applications for the linguist jobs, which are crucial to anti-terrorism investigations.

But not one of the more than 90 applicants was hired, even though some had helped translate Arabic for Israeli radio and TV news stations and the Israeli army before coming to America, the charity’s director says.

How do we Enter our Falsehood in the Realm of Truth

Rabbi Shlomo Zarchi, mashpia of the central Tomchei Temimim in 770 held a farbrengen last night with the temimim and guests in honor of the Ten Days of Repentance. The farbrengen was arranged by the International Temimim Committee and took place in the Colel of the Secretariat. In the farbrengen which started out considerably early concluded late at night, Rabbi Shlomo expressed his guidance in his special style, “A bochur must realize where he is, he is in the ‘four cubits’ of truth”.

Jewish celebration begins tonight

An end and a beginning during new year holiday

For Jews, the year 5766 officially begins today on the eve of Rosh Hashana.

For all Judaism, the celebration puts aside failures of the past year and embraces a new commitment for a better year to come.

At Chabad Jewish Center of Cape Coral and Temple Judea Conservative of Fort Myers, the high holiday marks a particular end and beginning.

“Rosh Hashana is a time that the soul gets called,” said Rabbi Yossi Labkowski of Cape Coral after he practiced blowing the shofar, a ram’s horn.

NYPD Steps Up Security After Subway Threat

Authorities stepped up mass transit security Thursday after receiving what city officials called a credible threat that the New York City subway may be the target of a terrorist attack in the coming days. But Homeland Security officials in Washington downplayed the threat, saying it is of “doubtful credibility.”

Despite the differing takes on the seriousness of the threat, New York officials mobilized police officers to begin looking through commuters’ bags, brief cases, baby strollers and luggage.

Water & electricity go out for Bochrim Erev Yom Tov

As the Bochurim that are staying at the Hachnosas Orchim house were preparing for Rosh Hashana, the lights went out and the water stopped running. The house, located between New York Ave. and Union St., was donated for this use by the Jewish landlord. The building is also home and business to a Laundromat owned by an Arab. This year he decided that he did not want the Bochurim staying there and he made that point very clear when he cut off all the main energy sources one needs to live.

It was an hour before Yom Tov and the Arab man felt that since he lived there full time he had the right to choose who else can live there; he went down to the basement and shut off the water and hacked out all the electrical wires directly from the power meters. The landlord came and quickly had an electrician come to repair the damage. They were then confronted by the Arab man who wanted the Bochurim out of the building. The Police were called when it was clear that they were not dealing with a rational human being and the arguing began to escalate. The Police told the angry tenant that if he has a problem with who his landlord allows to reside in the building, he has take his complaints to court.

After a few more interruptions by the Arab man the work was completed and electricity was restored. The rest of the Yom Tov went by quietly and with water and electricity.

‘New beginning’ for Jewish community

Glazier Center will serve a growing population.

Over the last year, a former Baptist church in Newtown Borough has slowly been transformed into what its owners hope will become a spiritual hub for Judaism in Bucks County.

The image of a silver menorah adorns the steeple, the stained glass windows dance with Torahs and dreidels, and the front wall of the lobby is covered with slabs of Jerusalem stone.

The Glazier Jewish Center celebrated its grand opening yesterday on the eve of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah.

“It’s a new year, a new beginning, and a great time to be opening,” the center’s executive director, Rabbi Yehuda Shemtov, said last week.

Simchas Beis Hashoeva United Once More

Despite the fact that in recent years two separate Simchas Beis Hashoeva events have been held in Crown Heights, Rabbi Yisroel Shemtov, organizer of the Simchas Beis Hashoeva in front of 770, resolved to unite the event this year with the Simchas Beis Hashoeva on Montgomery St. “It is high time that we see all of the Chassidim dancing together all night joyfully, as per the wish of the Rebbe, until the early morning hours – without barriers between them”.

‘Jewish Identity’ show is a real eye-opener

If ever there were lost tribes of Israel, they can probably be found for the next several months at the Jewish Museum.

For its show “The Jewish Identity Project: New American Photography,” the museum asked 13 prominent photographers and video artists to travel the country in search of the most diverse possible picture of what Judaism means. The exhibition is on view until Jan. 29.

Vandals desecrate local synagogue

Police are looking for vandals who desecrated the Chabad Lubavitch synagogue at 44 Burril St. [in Swampscott, Massachusetts] some time last Friday night or early Sunday morning.

Police Inspector Ted Delano said the vandalism was discovered early Saturday morning.

“It appears somebody entered an unlocked door and then made several anti-Semitic markings inside,” Delano said.

The vandalism took place only days before the Jewish High Holy Days and during the Sabbath, Delano observed.

No bond for suspect in Boca Raton synagogue shooting

A Boca Raton man accused of shooting a fellow congregant at Rosh Hashanah synagogue services will be held without bond as he awaits trial, a Palm Beach County judge ruled this morning.

Marc Benayer, 79, is in Palm Beach County Jail, where he is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault with a firearm stemming from a shooting Tuesday afternoon at the Chabad Weltman Synagogue in Boca Raton

Bomb Scare on Rosh Hashana in CH Shul

From this mornings Daily News…

The Shul’s that were evacuated were Khal Chassidim and Rayim Ahuvim both located across the street from one another on Carroll St. and Schenectady Ave.

Shooting at Chabad Of West Boca Raton

Here is a gathering of news clippings related to this incident. Video of the incident

Fear sweeps synagogue as worshiper shot outside

A 79-year-old Century Village resident opened fire Tuesday on his former girlfriend’s boss in the breezeway of a synagogue brimming with nearly 200 Orthodox Jews celebrating Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.

After shooting his victim twice in the back, Marc Benayer fired at least one shot at random into the Chabad Weltman Synagogue west of Boca Raton, where “numerous young children were congregated in a day-care setting,” according to an arrest report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

More News and Pictures in the Extended Article