Va’ad HaKohol Responds To Comments

After many readers commented on the letter issued by Moshe Rubashkin in the name of the Va’ad HaKohol, we received a response from the Va’ad addressing issues raised by individual’s comments.

Presented in the extended article are the responses to the comments along with letters from Rubashkin in response to; R. Mangel, Nash and Sprelin. Update: Letter From Nuchie Gross.

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Letter From The Vaad Hakohol Regarding the Upcoming Elections

(L-R) R. Shloime Segal, R. Rav Yitzchok Zirkind, R. Yitzchok Raitport

To: All members of Crown Heights ANASH
From: Crown Heights Jewish Community Council
Subject: Beis Din Election this coming Sunday IY”H

We are pleased to announce that the elections for additional Rabbonim to the Crown Heights Beis Din will take place IY’H as scheduled this coming Sunday, 2 Iyar (April 30th.)

We are indeed fortunate that the election managed and monitored by a large contingent of Netzigim including, but not limited to, Benny Raskin, Moishe Haber, Alexander Weiss and Reuven Lipkind as well as by the highly respected Election Services Corporation.

The Election Services Corporation has been contracted to monitor the election process and assure absolute integrity to the entire process. Their credibility and reporting will hold up in any Beis Din or civil court, should such testimony ever be required.

Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum Passes Away at 91

The New York Times
The casket of Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum was carried through a crush of followers Monday night in Williamburg, Brooklyn.

Joel Teitelbaum had transplanted the tattered remnants of Satmar from post-Holocaust Europe to Williamsburg, giving the sect new life. Under Moses Teitelbaum, Satmar more than doubled its ranks, to an estimated 100,000 worldwide, building schools and expanding real estate holdings that are now worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Rabbi Solomon Gelbman, a Satmar historian, said that Rabbi Teitelbaum, known to his followers by his Hebrew name, Moshe, had likened himself to the biblical Jacob, who considered himself custodian of the great works begun by Isaac and Abraham before him.

UPDATE: Pictures of the Levaya now online.

Jewish Learning Institute grows with each new class

Paul Haist – Jewish Review

Although Portland has long been home to a vital and always growing Chabad Lubavitch organization, this has been the first year that Chabad’s seven-year-old Rohr Jewish Learning Institute has offered classes in Portland.

Every 12 months, JLI offers a new series of three courses in more than 150 cities around the world. The study year begins with a course focusing on basic aspects of Judaism. That is followed by a course on kabbalah, and then a course addressing a contemporary issue

According to Portland Chabad Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm, the adult study program attracted immediate interest among Portland area Jews and only has grown with each new class.

Hasidic Jews Mob Streets, Set Fires In Brooklyn Protest

NBC

Click here for a NEWS12 video report (Updates from this morning)
Click here for a CBS video report
Click here for a NY1 video report (Real Media Player)
Click here for a ABC7 video report

Hundreds of angry Hasidic Jews poured into the streets in Borough Park Tuesday night, snarling traffic and setting fires to protest the arrest of a senior member of their community.

The elderly man was arrested after being stopped for talking on his cell phone while driving, according to police. The man refused to hand over his license and registration, and the officers arrested him after a struggle, police said.

Police added that when they tried to take the man into custody, other people in the area interceded.

A Letter From The Mother Of The Victim of Last Nights Attack

In from the Inbox

It’s my son who was beaten…. I spoke to the attacker on my son’s phone tonight…. and then to his aunt. She says he is 16 years old “and she is not turning him in” When I told him there are detectives working on the case…. and the mayor’s office involved, she just laughed. I asked the boy why he had to beat my son so severely for a stupid cell phone … he said “he wouldn’t give it up” Mendy never got a chance to “Give it up” he was jumped and then blacked out…. he remembers nothing about the attack.

He received about 6 stitches in his mouth and all tests came out ok so far B”H. He is in the hospital overnight for observation. I was told his injuries look scarier then they are.

Thanks to the person that went over and stopped the Shvartzeh from continuing to beat Mendy to a pulp. I’m not sure he wants his named mentioned. Representatives of the mayor’s office came to the hospital tonight and two detectives are on the case. Let’s pray that they catch the attacker. If these animals are never caught they have no fear and just keep attacking.

UPDATE ON MENDY’S CONDITION IN THE EXTENDED ARTICLE!

Court sentences Moscow synagogue attacker to 13 years in prison

AP

Alexander Koptsev entering a Moscow court room
before his trial on Monday. (AP)

The Moscow City Court on Monday sentenced a man who attacked worshippers in a synagogue with a hunting knife to 13 years in prison and mandatory psychiatric treatment.

The court found Alexander Koptsev guilty of attempted murder on racist grounds for stabbing and wounding nine men in January at the Moscow synagogue.

The sentence brought a chorus of catcalls and invective from Koptsev’s supporters in the courtroom. One woman, who identified herself only as an Orthodox Christian journalist, loudly complained that Jewish children were getting educated in Moscow on Russian taxpayers’ money.

“When will this end? Wake up, wake up,” she shouted.

Chabad site helps organize personal calendars

JTA
The Homepage of the new website.

A new Chabad on-line function helps people manage their personal lives and Jewish calendars.

MyChabad.org, a feature of Chabad.org, lets people keep track of upcoming Bar Mitzvahs, remember yahrtzeit dates, see what time Shabbat begins and block out time for next year’s holidays. Because Jewish dates shift with the lunar calendar, this function enables users to update important holidays and anniversaries years in advance.

Businesses and Individuals Taking Incentive! Reward Now @ $30,000!

In event of the Murder of Efraim Klein HY”D the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Put out a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and capture of Murderer[s].

In response to this CrownHeights.info was approached by a local business who wanted to add to the reward in attempt to help persuade anyone with information to come forward.

After getting in touch with the CHJCC we are now publishing a number so anyone, both Individual and Business, that would like to add to the reward please call.

FOR DONATIONS PLEASE CALL: (718) 974-5000 (and leave a message with your name and number)

A list of those who donated can be seen in the Extended Article.

(updated 3/1/06 @ 9:35pm)

MURDER IN CROWN HEIGHTS

The minivan on the right is the car the deceased was driving

This just in, a Lubavitch member of the community was shot and killed.

Update: The Victims name is Efraim Klein HY”D from Union Street, and was going to marry off his son next week.

The incident took place on Schenectady between President and Carroll where many witnesses said they heard 3 loud gunshots followed by a series of crashes. The driver was hit by a bullet which entered his right arm then exited and reentered his chest, he immediately lost control of the vehicle and made a left onto Carroll St. where he went barreling into at least 15 parked cars and finally coming to rest on one parked car.

The car then caught fire and 2 black men rushed to the rescue, one of them shut off the engine and put out the flames, while the other extracted the wounded man from the car. during all the commotion a resident saw what had happened and alerted Hatzalah who had responded instantly with over 15 members, EMT’s and Paramedics, who treated the injured, then transported him to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced Dead On Arrival.

Details are still sketchy but you all know where to check up for the latest news and updates.

More pictures of the scene of the Murder/Accident in the extended article.

Reflections of a Former Matchmaker

Translated From COL.org.il

I am a former matchmaker, and I have recently quit the field, and am moving on to a new profession. The reason for which I have quit my job, is because of troubles that I have been experiencing with the parents of my clients.

I wanted to bring to people’s attention, a issue which troubles many, the issue of “Shadchonus” – matchmaking. Many parents are struggling in finding a suitable match for their sons and mainly, their daughters. This is not the place to detail all the causes which have brought upon these difficulties, but the following words may cast more light on the issue

I am a former matchmaker. The reason why I have quit this ever-important field is connected with many of you, the parents. Many of these incidents [which have caused me to stop working] should not strike you by surprise, as they have happened with you. So please take this to your attention

We will first begin [discussing] the perspective of I, the matchmaker. I am here in order to help you with one of the uttermost crucial and essential tasks of your lives. Since this is such an important task, then why do people wait and expect me to chase them? Why do I have to wait an entire week in order to receive an answer or update? Why don’t people call and tell me how the date went; was it successful or not? Is it proper that I should be left in the dark?

Possibly the Blizzard of ‘06

The National Weather Service [NOAH] issued a blizzard warning for the tri-state area. The expected accumulation is estimated at 10in to 16in, winds are expected to be at 25mph to 35mph and the Temperature is expected to be at a 32F High and 25F low, with the windchill it will go well below that. The NWA asked that people avoid travel.

UPDATE: Morristown Yeshiva notified us that tomorrow’s busses that are re-scheduled for 2:00pm are going to be running at that time, and all Bochurim should be there. (as of 12:30pm)

Bais Rivkah is reporting that due to the weather there will be no school on Sunday for all grades, pre-school through 12th grade.

To report school closings and schedule changes please email at @ webmaster@crownheigts.info

Police Officers Get Shot At in Crown Heights

Last night at around 3:00am police officers were shot at while attempting to pull over a van that appeared to be stolen and had invalid plates and was speeding. The drama began unfolding on Sterling Street where the van was speeding and made a sharp turn onto Brooklyn Ave. then making another sharp turn onto Lefferts Ave. then 2 black men stopped the van on Balfour Pl. and began running. This is when the single shot rang out and the officers in pursuit called in for backup.

Instantly there were over 20 police cars on scene, followed by ESU, Crime Scene Units, Highway Patrol and K9 Units. The suspects were both armed with handguns, and are currently still at large, though police believe they will have them in custody very soon. Stay tuned as we will bring you all the latest updates on this event

Didan Notzach Farbrengen In Campus Chomesh

The traditional Hey Tevet – Didan Notzach Farbrengen that takes place in the ball room of Campus Chomesh – Bais Rivka took place last night with a large attendance of Bochurim and Baalai Batim. The Farbrengen is arranged each year by “Agudas Chasidai Chabad”. The Farbrengen opened up with the R. Zev Katz who was MC inviting R. Yoel Kahan to start with a Dvar Malchus, in which he called upon people to better recognize the Rebbes request that peoples Seforim Libraries at home should be expanded as well as the Lubavitch Library in Agudas Chasidai Chabad.

Following was the speech of R. Avrohom Shemtov which focused on the story of the legal battles, and the point that was made that “both the Rebbe and the Seforim belong to the Chassidim” and the judge that understood that what the Rebbe says must be true. Then came the speech of the Rosh Yeshiva of Oholei Torah Zal R. Yisroel Friedman who spoke of details that the human mind doesn’t comprehend, but the Rebbe saw this inner meaning of this all and pointed it out and said that since this happened there must be some weakness on that front, and so we must go and strengthen that.

UPDATE: I managed to get a hold of the Farbrengen in its entirety in audio format for your listening pleasure. You can listen to it in stream format or save it to your computer (by right clicking and hitting save as…).

Part 1 [STREAM, 43:32, 10.1MB, WMA] Part 2 [STREAM, 38:53, 9.1MB, WMA] Part 3 [STREAM, 15:55, 3.73MB, WMA]

From the Brooklyn Bridge to the Great Wall of China: Chabad Lights Up the Skies

Lubavitch News Service
Performer at the Man of the Year Ceremony in Moscow

It’s hard to litigate against light, which explains why despite scattered attempts around the country by church and state purists to take down the eight-armed menorahs from public spaces, America’s skies are illuminated with the Chanukah lights beginning tonight, the first night of Chanukah.

Millions are by now accustomed to the menorah display in their respective town squares, and, Jewish or not, they welcome the light, often joining in the festivities celebrating the message of Chanukah. After all, the menorah’s message is universal, which explains why governors and mayors and councilmen nationwide are eager for the chance to get into those ubiquitous cherry pickers and put flame to wick.

Tzerei Hashluchim Camp in Oracle, Arizona

This year over 100 young shluchim joined the Tzeirei Hashluchim Camp in Oracle, Arizona. Over a warm and Heimishe environment they experienced a most moving Shabbos together with their dedicated staff. The joy and emotion that can be seen in their eyes as they take in every moment of these short 10 days will give them the strength and chayus to go back to their remote places on shlichus and be a dugma chayoh and help to all of the Jews in their hometowns.

As far as Milan and Hong Kong through CA, TN, AL, GA, AZ, NV, NM, NY, MA, WI, IN, TX, UT, have they come to share their own hardships on shlichus with their friends and get the chayus needed to go back out on the field after 10 days which will invigorate their lives with learning and living in the atmosphere of Shlichus and Chassidishkeit.

Special Thanks to Rabbi Moshe Pinson for coordinating this wonderful program.

The Strike Ends!

In a news conference the mayor announced that the strike has ended, and the mass transit system will return to normal operation. The MTA says that it will take 10 to 18 hours to get the system back up and running “you cant just turn it on off with the flick of a switch” said the mayor. But we can expect to see the buses running as early as this evening.

The mayor also spoke about the restrictions and regulations which will all be lifted at 12:00am. Alternate side parking will be back in effect, the HOV-4 restrictions have already been lifted cars with only one passenger is allowed into the city, cabbies will be taking fares on the meters and Public Schools will be back to normal operation.

UPDATE: Buses can be seen doing their routes regularly already.

You can listen to the news conference in its entirety by CLICKING HERE (STREAMING, 4.5MB, 21:12min)