Six Black Youths Tried To Mug Me

After reporting and covering so many such stories it was only a matter of time that such trouble would find me.

Last night, Tuesday, at around 12:30am, I was on my way back from a wedding, walking with a friend on New York Ave and Eastern Pkwy when we were approached by a black youth who asked for the time, after which he asked for a dollar, we brushed him off and continued walking, thats when he began demanding money from us, at which point five of his cohorts began crossing the street towards us.

It was at this time that I pulled my Shomrim radio off my belt and put a distress call over the air and Shomrim members began responding from all over, at the same time my friend and I began chasing the would be muggers who began fleeing upon seeing the radio. The perps all fled up New York Ave, part of the group turned down Lincoln Pl while the rest turned on St Johns Pl. At the same time my friend got on the phone with 911 and was giving updates as to where we were during the chase.

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Orange County Jewish Life

Writing this Kids Konnection was on my list of things to do today. I had a topic picked out and a plan about what to say. It changed early this morning, however, when my seven-year-old twins bounded into our bedroom at the crack of dawn.

Jacob said, “Mommy, please, please wake up early, so that you can help me practice my davening before camp this morning.” This was followed by Michela saying, “I need you to help me with the part that goes right after the Shema.”

Courting Black Voters’ Support, a Candidate Hits a Hurdle

The New York Times

In setting Brooklyn politics astir as a white man trying to take a Congressional seat traditionally held by black politicians, Councilman David Yassky has faced one huge challenge: capturing the support of black voters, who are the majority in the central Brooklyn district.

As part of his effort to attract these voters, Mr. Yassky’s campaign sent out fliers over the last month that discussed his passion for gun control laws, an issue that resonates among many minorities. One flier featured an endorsement by Thelma Davis, the mother of James E. Davis, a black city councilman who was killed by a gunman in City Hall three years ago.

Inspirational Israel rally at JCC focuses on Torah and mitzvot

Rabbi Dovid Goldstein introduces Gan Israel
campers, Morgan Arny, Ilan Leonard and Sima
Goldstein, who were among six children leading the
audience in responsive inspirational Hebrew verses.
(Photo By JHV: Michael C. Duke)

More than 300 children and their families, teachers and adults from across the community gathered in support of Israel this past Monday afternoon, July 31, at the Jewish Community Center’s main campus on South Braeswood. Held inside the Center’s Kaplan Theatre, “Houston for Israel Family Rally” was a program designed specifically for children and parents, emphasizing strongly the importance of Torah, prayer and charity. The Consul General of Israel to the Southwest, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Camp Gan Israel of Houston and JCC Summer Day Camps sponsored the event; Chabad Outreach of Houston shaliach and Camp Gan Israel director, Rabbi Dovid Goldstein, emceed.

“We are gathered here today to offer peaceful ammunition in support of Israel and Jews everywhere through our prayers, charity and Torah study,” announced Rabbi Goldstein to the standing-room-only crowd of Israeli flag-wavers, day campers and attentive children. “And it is here that we pray especially for a peaceful resolution, and mourn the unnecessary loss of life, on both sides of the conflict.”

Up on Crime Heights

Haaretz

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.

Mazal Tov! – New Engagements!

We would like to wish a hearty Mazal Tov to Mendy Angyalfi (Leeds, UK) upon his engagement to Devorah Leah Kanar (London, UK) !

UPDATE: The Lechaim will IM”Y be Tonight [Monday] in FREE on President between Kingston and Brooklyn.

And to Ezzy Bronstein (Miami Beach, FL) upon his engagement to Chanie Bukiet (Lexinton, MA) !

The Lechaim will IM”Y be Tonight [Monday] in Lubavitcher Yeshiva Crown St. on the corner of Albany Ave.

A Woman’s Harrowing Experience this past Motzoai Shabbos

This is an email I got from a woman who was attacked and assaulted in her car. People read this and take a lesson from it!

UPDATE: After receiving numerous emails and comments about the possibility of the being a false story, I will clarify and tell you that this did indeed happen, verified before being published, almost exactly as told here by the victim. [Please consider the woman’s state of mind, which must have affected the way she remembered what had happened]

Last night I had a terrifying experience on Nostrand Ave [and Lincoln Pl.].

Ladies should NEVER drive alone at night if they can help it. they should keep doors & windows locked, NEVER get out of the car if there’s an incident, sound the horn continuously.

I was on my way to Flatbush and saw a car driving without headlights on, so I flashed it… apparently you become a gang member’s next victim when you do this.

Daniel’s Story – Arutz 7 Opinion

by Lori Lowenthal Marcus

It is a perverse human quality, but we are drawn to news stories about human tragedies. Some characteristics of such stories intensify the level of our interest: descriptions or pictures of gore or disfigurement; pictures of grieving loved ones; and some form of personal connection – no matter how indirect – to those at the center of the tragedies. The adage “if it bleeds it leads” condenses this notion to a pithy directive.

Yet, the American media has failed to cover a story containing every item on the sure-to-interest-newsreaders’ checklist. I invite you to ponder why that is.

An Arab Palestinian homicide bomber detonated himself at a falafel stand in Israel on April 17th, during Passover. The murderer killed nine innocent people and wounded dozens.

A New Center for Beijing’s Jewish Community

Rivka Chaya Berman – Lubavitch.com
Exterior of the new Rohr Family Chabad Centre

Architect He Wei of Beijing has mapped out construction of government compounds for thousands of workers, choreographed the dizzying dance of steel I-beams and rebar by the ton to raise apartment buildings, but the details of assembling a mikvah at the Rohr Family Chabad Community Centre of Chabad of Beijing, the first ever in vicinity of the Forbidden City, and the first in China since World War II, nearly did him in.

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.

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.