Aussie Echo

So long, and thanks for all the fish

2009-12-16T08:30:00.000+11:00

You may have noticed that this blog has been inactive for a few months. After over 4 years I have decided that it has run its course and I will not be posting anymore.

Thanks to all of you that supported the blog over the years by reading it and/or posting comments.

Political Comment of the Day

2009-10-12T17:50:00.003+11:00

Let us hope that in this new year of 5770 our own people will come to their senses and perceive the truth.

Birchas Kohanim at the Kotel

2009-10-06T18:00:00.000+11:00

These two videos were taken yesterday during Birkas Kohanim at the Kotel. They are both of the same event but one is from the Aish Hatorah building and gives an overview of the huge crowd and the other was taken from ground level. It must be an amazing experience to be there in person.
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Aussies at Simchas Beis Hashoevia

2009-10-06T15:45:00.000+11:00

It was nice to see the Aussie flag well represented at Simchas Beis Hashoeiva in Crown Heights on COL and Shturem as well as Chabad.info. I must admit I didn't scrutinise the photos for Australians as it was getting a little boring looking at so many photos of sweaty men :)

I wish you all a Gut Moed.

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Avi does it again

2009-09-29T19:15:00.003+10:00

Avi Vorchheimer has again published his list of Sukkas (or Sukkot) around the world and especially Australian sukkot. Since Chol Hamoed is a full week this year I imagine that the list will be even more helpful to families who are able to take the time off and those who work away from the main Jewish areas.

Kol Hakavod Avi. Another great community service from someone seeking nothing in return.

Check out the website - www.localsukkah.org

We Can All Be Proud

2009-09-26T20:15:00.000+10:00

On this erev Yom Kippur 5770 we can all be proud of the way that the Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu, addressed the United Nations last week. That strong, articulate and impassioned speech has done much to counter the lies and half-truths told by our enemies.

The first part of the speech is below and I have included links to part 2 & 3 on YouTube.

Part 2 is here

Part 3 is here

Maybe even more impressive is Netanyahu's statement to the Israeli press after his speech where he emotionally recalls meeting with the Rebbe on Simchas Torah evening in 1984. He obviously took the Rebbe's words to heart.

From Lubavitch.com

Following his impassioned speech, Netanyahu spoke with members of the Israeli media. In answer to one journalist who asked whether he might not be lending credibility to Ahmadenijad by addressing his denial of the Holocaust, Netanyahu chose to focus on a prescient experience he had with the Lubavitcher Rebbe,Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, 25 years ago.

See the video for his answer to the reporter:

Kesivah VeChasimah Tovah

2009-09-17T19:30:00.001+10:00

I am posting this mainly for those of us that like chazonos and miss it when davening in Chabad shuls during the Yomim Noroim. This is taken from The Hampton Synagogue's 14th Annual Great Hampton Cantorial Festival. The chazan, Shraga Hershtik, is the son of Cantor Naftali Herstik.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 5770.
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Simons Sefer Torah - Today

2009-09-13T11:03:00.003+10:00

If you go to http://simonssefertorah.blogspot.com/ now you can see a live "hookup" of the completion of the Sefer Torah at South Head Synagogue.

Later today, at 5:00pm, there will be another video link from that page of the actual Sefer Torah procession.

The warmth of the Rebbe

2009-09-05T19:40:00.000+10:00

I don't post all the JEM clips that they send me but I liked this one for the warmth the Rebbe expressed to these people.
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Aussie Musical Talent

2009-08-31T18:00:00.000+10:00

This video shows the wonderful talent of Chanoch Rosenfeld on flute and Mendy Rimler whose sings solo. Both are originally from Melbourne and both boys come from musical families. It is great to see their talent being showcased on the web.

Yiddishe Kelev

2009-08-26T14:20:00.005+10:00

Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad of Utah has help with tekias shofar.
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Mazal Tov!

2009-08-17T12:15:00.003+10:00

Mazal Tov to Avrohom Kaminetsky and Shimon Szmerling on learning the entire Maseches Kesubos ba'al peh (by heart). This amazing achievement was celebrated by a Melava Malka at Yeshivah Gedolah last Motzoei Shabbos as reported on COL and CrownHeights.info.

Also, according to the report, a Mesifta bochur, Shmaya Shusterman, was also mentioned at the Melava Malka for learning the entire 53 Chapters of Tanya ba'al peh!

Mazal Tov to the Szmerling, Kaminetsky and Shusterman families on their sons' wonderful achievement.

Siyumim for Sifrei Torah

2009-08-17T11:15:00.002+10:00

(Click above for larger view)

The Siyum Sefer Torah in memory of Rabbi Groner ob"m will take place this Sunday. See the website here for more details and how to purchase letters etc.

If you will be in Sydney on Sunday 24 Elul (13 September) you can participate in the Siyum Sefer Torah for the Simons Sefer Torah. You can still buy letters, pesukim etc by going here.

Ma'ariv with the Rebbe

2009-08-14T08:00:00.002+10:00

A short clip from JEM of the Rebbe davening Ma'ariv on the yartzeit of his mother, Rebbitzen Chana, on 6 Tishrei 5744 (1983).
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Shocking Video!

2009-08-07T13:20:00.000+10:00

This amusing video was made by Australia's newest Jewish blog/website Galus Australis as a plug for their site. Who says blatant self-promotion doesn't work?!

Post-Smicha Program -- in Melbourne

2009-08-06T17:30:00.001+10:00

I was pointed to the "advertisement" below in Shmais (thanks Berl). It sounds like a good idea especially for the serious bochur who hopes to go into Rabbonus or Shlichus. It would have been nice to have heard about it in Melbourne first but I suppose they expect their intake to come mainly from overseas.

Melbourne Launches Post-smichah Program

What makes a successful Rabbi? The more scholarly will suggest more extensive knowledge and a deeper understanding of the Torah. Pragmatists may propose that an awareness and understanding of his congregants is the most vital ingredient. Hands on, practical experience is certainly also a key.

The problem troubled a group of Melbourne philanthropists. They decided to create a new institution, "The Chabad Post Smichah Program", to address the issue. Founding patron, Mr. M. Gordon, feels that this generic name is very appropriate, “This is the first such program in the world” he explains.

The Orthodox world in general and the Chabad world specifically have rather defined Yeshivah systems. The missing link in this system is that once a student has received his Smichah (Rabbinic ordination), this system is over. 770 in New York (Chabad) or Mir in Jerusalem (non-chassidic) are possibilities for furthering their studies. But for many a student, there is just too much hustle-bustle and insufficient guidance to facilitate an organized and successful year of learning. As Rabbi D. Shmerling, a faculty member for the institution notes, “While teaching in the Los Angeles based Kollel Tiferet Menachem Smichah Program, I recognized a genuine desire on the part of the budding Rabbis for a defined curriculum to further their studies.” Rabbi M. Krasjansky, spiritual leader of Or Chadash and chairman of the Advisory Committee believes that just as important as it is to have a guided program, it is also important to provide for these young and fertile minds to follow the areas of learning in which they find passion.

The program will commence in Cheshvan and will complete its first year in Elul. It will concentrate on area's of halachah which are not covered in regular Smichah programs, but are vital for future life, especially in shlichus or rabbonus. (Other skills necessary for shlichus will also be taught.) Rabbi D. Shmerling, who was chosen to direct the program, will draw on his knowledge to guide the students. He has experience teaching both learned and serious rabbinic students in Kollel Tiferet Menachem and searching young men from secular backgrounds in Mayanot. This will enable him to successfully teach the young rabbi's, while simultaneously advise them about outreach programs for Ohel Devorah.

Strolling down the quiet, leafy Meadow Street, one would never imagine the gem situated at the street's end - Beis Chabad Ohel Devorah. The Shule is the home of a vibrant and diverse community. It is arguably the most centrally located Shule in Melbourne. Founding patron of "The Chabad Post-Smichah Program", Mr. M. Feiglin, was involved in the creation of the centre over two decades ago. He is proud that Ohel Devorah will be the host to this novel program. "The Ohel Devorah community is eager to welcome in the young Rabbis" he adds. It is envisaged that the full-time learning in Ohel Devorah will encourage and attract members, neighbors and guests to join in shiurim which will be commencing in the heimish Beis Chabad Ohel Devorah.

Many of Melbourne's leading Rabbonim and askanim have been instrumental in founding this venture. Some members of Ohel Devorah who have been involved include: HaRav C. T. Groner, its president Mr M. Feiglin, treasurer Mr M. Broner, board members Mr M. Dzienciol, patron Mr M. Fraid, Mr M. Gordon, Mr S. Grajzman, and Mr N. Rosenbaum. The rabbinic advisory board include Rabbi M. Krasnjansky, Rabbi Z. Telsner and Rabbi L. Weinberg (Johannesburg, South Africa).

Endorsed by leading Australian and overseas Rabbis, this new institute is sure to attract bright and dynamic Rabbis of the future. The staff include teachers, selected for their knowledge and skill at educating, as well as catering and maintenance staff of the highest caliber. There is no charge for students. A suitable and nearby premises has been purchased as the dormitory. It will provide comfortable accomodation for the students. There is no doubt that the experience and community involvement which the young Rabbis gain here, will impact greatly on their success in future posts.

For further information or to apply, please e-mail: postsmichahprogram@gmail.com

Love those Piamentas!

2009-08-05T17:00:00.000+10:00

Piamenta Brothers Play Again from COLlive.com on Vimeo.

From COL

Position Vacant

2009-08-03T12:15:00.000+10:00

Finally, after 3 decades of existence, the Kollel is finally making a positive step towards appointing a permanent Rosh Kollel. The following advertisment was just issued from the Yeshivah Centre:

The Yeshivah Centre has commenced a process to appoint a Rosh Kollel for Kollel Menachem Lubavitch. The kollel was established in 1979 by the Rebbe and spearheaded by Rabbi Y.D. Groner OB’M.

Since its very inception, the kollel has two vital functions. Firstly, to give the opportunity to newly married men to participate in full time learning, and to provide adult education and shiurim to the Chabad and broader Jewish community of Melbourne.

We are seeking to employ a Rosh Kollel to take the kollel forward and to ensure that it grows and develops as the leading institution for Torah scholarship and adult education in Melbourne.

We are currently taking applications for this position. To register an expression of interest or to suggest suitable candidates, locally or internationally, please call Merv Adler on 0412 719912 or email: madler@laserfast.com.au for a copy of the job description.

Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner, Menahel Kollel

This is a positive and long overdue step for our Kollel which has been neglected in so many ways over the years. Despite individuals investing a lot of time and effort there seems to have been very little will on the part of the Yeshivah Executive and leadership to invest in this vital institution.

While it is obvious that the Kollel yungerleit will benefit immensly from having a permanent, active Rosh Kollel the community will also benefit - maybe even more. Over 30 years we have seen many extremly talented yungerleit come and go through the Kollel. Because our young men are encouraged to leave Kollel after a year or 2 in order to share their knowledge in the world, there is often no continuity with shiurim etc. Hopefully a Rosh Kollel will also organise things so that shiurim are not abandoned and that there is some sort of handover when our young men finish their time in Kollel. This is just one of the steps that I personally hope will be implemented.

It looks like a positive step is being made to ensure that the Kollel will continue in a stonger and more forward looking way. I am sure that this will be a leap forward for this vital part of our institution.

Sincere Regret

2009-07-30T11:45:00.003+10:00

(Click on letter above for a larger view)

After the pointer to the article in COL yesterday saying not to attend the video presentation (which was held last night in Melbourne) I was just now advised of a new article on COL. This article publishes apologies from Rabbi Orlofsky and the Chofetz Chayim Foundation.

In the spirit of Tisha B'Av I felt it only right to publicise these apologies and not to comment any more about this.
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More on Mosdos

2009-07-23T11:20:00.001+10:00

The Vaad Ruchni has just issued a statement regarding the establishment of mosdos. No doubt this was precipitated by the letter in the preceding post originally publicised in Emmanuel's email.

ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW MOISDOS

Given the (generally commendable) desire to open new Moisdos (institutions e.g. a Shule, Minyan or Chabad House etc.) for the purpose of strengthening and spreading Yiddishkeit, we would like to draw the community’s attention to guidelines stated by the Rebbe in this connection. In the Sichoh of Shabbos Mevorchim Adar 5748-1988, which was edited and corrected by the Rebbe himself, two issues are raised for consideration:-

1. The question of unnecessary duplication i.e. an evaluation of whether it might not be preferable to invest efforts etc in the establishment of a Moisad which is at present completely absent rather than merely duplicating something which already exists.
2. The more important (Halachic) question of Hasogas G’vul (encroaching on someone else’s territory) which is, in many cases forbidden by the Torah.

With regard to the second issue, the Rebbe directs all those who wish to establish a Mosad, to first consult a Rov in order to ascertain that the opening of such a Moisad does not constitute any form of Hasogas G’vul. The Rov should be locally based, in order that he be fully conversant with the circumstances and details of the proposal, and should also be a Posek i.e. one who is regularly consulted and gives rulings in other areas of Halacha. It is also desirable that he give his decision in writing, in order to avoid further complications in the event of another party wishing to later establish a similar Moisad.

We are sure that everyone will appreciate that adherence to the above recommendations is in the best interests, not only of existing Moisdos, but also of any new Moisad, whose success is ultimately dependent on its being based on firm foundations, i.e. the will of Hashem as expressed in His Torah.

With blessings that we merit the immediate and complete Geulah through Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

There is a lot one say about this statement. On the surface it is quite reasonable and just common sense but when one takes into account personalities and egos it is not so clear cut.

Just the issue of Hasogas G’vul, for one, is not simple. I remember a communal shiur by Rabbi Chaim Gutnick where he said that one may open up, for example, a jewelry store next to another jewelry store with the argument that each is aimed at a different clientele and has different stock etc. I am sure that the learned ones will argue with this but to a simple person like me it makes perfect sense. If I have a business, shul or whatever and cannot offer a product that appeals to my customers then that is my problem. If someone with a better or more attractive product opens nearby I need to pick up my game and not cry about it.

Another issue is that many rabbis of established shuls and Chabad Houses are hoping that their children will move into their area and are against other Chabad Houses opening nearby (nepotism anyone?). It is understandable that they would want this but it is not necessarily morally correct.

There are other issues but the bottom line is - are we wanting to open mosdos to benefit the Jewish community and Jews in general or are our Chabad Houses just functioning as businesses. I believe that we, and more importantly our communual leaders, have to step back and think about what Chabad is and what the Rebbe wanted in terms of hafotza. Maybe then we will be more open to doing what will benefit the "people" rather than the "leaders".

Head Shluchim?

2009-07-21T08:00:00.002+10:00

Click on letter for a more readable size

Emmanuel has sent out this letter from Rabbi Y Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, officially appointing Rabbi Yossel Gutnick and Reb Arel Serebryanski as "Head Shluchim" of their various Chabad Houses.

What does this mean?

Both these gentlemen have either established or supported Chabad Houses over the past few years. Reb Yossel has and is being more active with this and, I assume, financially supporting his children in their establishment of various Chabad Houses in Melbourne and beyond. Reb Arel most notably lent his backing (sometimes with the financial support coming from his friends) to various shluchim who did not have the backing of the established Chabad House Rabbis for whatever reason. I don't see that this official recognition from Merkos actually changes anything. Both Reb Arel and Reb Yossel are secure enough to have never needed official backing for any of their ventures. In any case I wish them Mazal Tov on this "appointment" and hatzlocho in continuing their good work.

As Emmanuel points out in his email there is still no overall "Head Shaliach" in Melbourne. Rabbi Groner was always the official Head Shaliach with Rabbi Shimshon Yurkowicz as the de-facto head of the Shluchim "board of Rabbis". I have no idea what that group is called but, from my observations, it is an exclusive, self-appointed board. In essence I think it is a good idea that there is an place where Shluchim can brainstorm issues and work together. My issue is that this group of Rabbis, many of who established their own Chabad Houses with little consultation with anyone else, has decided that only they have to the right to approve of who can be called a Shaliach. I know of good, talented and dedicated people who have been given an extremely difficult time by this group when they wanted to establish a new Chabad House. Fortunately there are people like Reb Arel around who will back new shluchim in their ventures.

So the bottom line appears that everyone will continue and do their own thing. The more established Chabad Rabbis will still oppose the opening of new Chabad Houses (except by family members) and those rejected will have recourse to Reb Arel and Reb Yossel.

The main thing is that the Rebbe's work be continued in a positive way without egos getting in the way. Now that the "Head Shaliach" role is decentralised this should lead to positive outcomes.

The Cure for the Internet

2009-07-16T10:15:00.001+10:00

The story I heard on the radio this morning seems to be the cure for all of you out there who keep reading these inane blogs! The Linyi Fourth People's Hospital in China has been forced to stop using electric shock therapy to treat young people addicted to internet use according to the ABC news report here. My own internet addiction led me to other stories such as the one on Reuters and The Age and many other news outlets who essentially report the same thing.

Maybe this is something the Va'ad Ruchni can thing about.

But seriously, the Univerity of Tasmania is taking the issue of people spending a lot of time on the internet seriously and has commenced studies into "internet addiction" as reported here. Maybe it is about time we thought of how we can temper our usage. A good sefer or book is always an option.

Not Funny

2009-07-09T06:45:00.001+10:00

"On a more serious front, I sincerely hope that when the president goes in for his annual check-up, the doctors at Bethesda will do a brain scan. Surely something must be terribly wrong with a man who seems to be far more concerned with a Jew building a house in Israel than with Muslims building a nuclear bomb in Iran."
--columnist Burt Prelutsky

Merkos Rabbi at La Trobe

2009-07-02T09:00:00.001+10:00

Yankel Rapp with La Trobe Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Johnson

The AJN reported last week about anti Israel (aka anti Semitic) protests by certain student groups at La Trobe University. These leftists hassle Jewish students and have even enterered lecture theaters to spew their hatred. The Jewish students are understandably upset by this and no doubt do not feel safe on campus.

This week the paper that everyone loves to hate, the Australian Jewish News, has a report that Yankel Rapp, as a campus rabbi, has met with the chancellor of La Trobe. From the report it sounds like the Uni administration is taking this issue seriously. Time will tell whether this is just lip service or changes actually occur. In any case it is good to see that some action is being taken.
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Watch this Blog

2009-06-28T08:30:00.005+10:00

I was just made aware of a new blog, AJN Watch, which has been setup to counter the perceived anti-orthodox bias of the Australian Jewish News.

As an observant Jew I must agree that the AJN certainly seems to do its best to highlight any negative issues that the community has and appears to emphasise stories when a frum individual is accused of doing something wrong. Case in point was the disgusting front page in last week's paper of a Rabbi who has been accused of wrongdoing. Despite a one's personal feelings this rabbi has not been tried and found guilty yet. Maybe the Jewish News and others know something we don't but I always thought that one needs to be found guilty by a judge before he is sentenced.

I also find it frustrating that the AJN journalists know very little about the frum community and often have incorrect reports, quotes etc in articles that pertain to us. I put this down to the fact that there do not appear to be any frum journalists (except for Yossi Aron who seems to be confined to one particular area of the paper) and also that the paper does not seem to care about our segment of the community. Until the Jewish News editors and management make a concerted effort to understand the frum section of the community I cannot see this changing.

The solution the writers of the blog propose is to purchase the Hamodia. While I do like this paper it has nothing to do with our local community. I certainly enjoy reading news about frum communities overseas but I would also like to know what is going on in our community. I know that there is a segment of frum Melbourne who care nothing for the less frum but most of us want to know what is happening in the Jewish community. Until there is someone who wants to invest in another newspaper for the Jewish community of Melbourne (or Australia) I cannot see the Hamodia taking the place of the AJN.

If I can offer a defence of the Jewish News (at my peril)...I am sure that we understand that the orthodox community is only a small section of the Melbourne Jewish community. The fact that the overwhelming majority of the journalists are not frum, the owners affiliate strongly with the Liberal/Progressive/Reform (whatever it is being called today) movement and the prevailing culture is extremely secular leads to articles in that paper which have very little Jewish content apart from the fact that they are about Jews or written by Jews. I cannot see this changing.

In any case I am looking forward to reading future posts on this new blog and honestly hope that the owner(s) can encourage a positive change to the Jewish News which will satisfy the majority of the Orthodox community.
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First Yartzeit of Rabbi Groner

2009-06-26T06:00:00.006+10:00

How many people have sat at that table?

Today, 4 Tammuz, marks the first yartzeit of our Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner. There are a couple of tributes in this week's Jewish News and a number of articles, tributes and photos on the Yeshivah Centre website here.

Rabbi Groner, with his huge personality, was almost the face of Chabad in Australia and especially in Melbourne. There are few, if any, people in our community who haven't been touched by him in some way. In fact he was known and respected throughout the general Jewish community because he was so active in so many areas over the years. We in Chabad are noticably missing his leadership. Di neshoma zol hoben an aliya.

Personal Reflections

2009-06-25T09:00:00.000+10:00

Chabad.org has many articles and information about the Rebbe for Gimmel Tammuz here. The area that I like the most is the one that contains personal stories about the Rebbe from people of all walks of life. It can be found here.
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Gimmel Tammuz - 15 Years

2009-06-24T16:00:00.001+10:00

17 Adar 5749 (1989)
Click on photo for larger view

Rabbi Shimon Posner of Chabad of Rancho Mirage (somewhere in America!) has written a thoughtful piece about the Rebbe. After 15 years there is not much to say. I suppose that we should at least reflect on how we can live our lives in the way that the Rebbe wanted to improve ourself and the world around us.

Walking down 34th Street you see the camera-clad map-wielding tourists heading towards the entranceway of the Empire State Building. They stop and look up, they lean back, lean all the way back until just before they lose balance, and they start clicking pictures -- of a wide, wide wall.

The more self-conscious and sophisticated ones blush when the passing New Yorkers suppress a sly grin. It is only once the tourist gets to Seventh Avenue that they gain any perspective of this magnificent, elegant landmark soaring above an already impressive skyline -- and how it is head and shoulders above Spokane.

Was the Rebbe a rabbi? Well yes, but no. Forget it, I'm not going to be able to explain what the Rebbe was, what the Rebbe is. It is now, as I write these lines, fifteen years already since his passing, and I don't have any perspective. I see legacy; newlyweds who never even spoke with the Rebbe that are chomping at the bit to do his work even before they've unpacked their wedding gifts.

So if I can't give any perspective on the Rebbe why do I write of him? I see that his idea – which raised more eyebrows than interest fifty years ago – is now considered normative Jewish experience; Jewish children will be more inspired than their parents’ generation. When I came to Rancho Mirage, a kind soul suggested that we’ll be getting lots of calls for people who want to say kaddish in a traditional synagogue, like the one their parents frequented. Once in a long while we get such a call. Regularly, just ten minutes ago in fact, we get a call for help with getting kosher food: their grandchildren are visiting.

So if I can’t give any perspective on the Rebbe why do I write of him? For the exercise: the mere exercise will allow a place for the perspective to develop – and will show the void of having no perspective. Lots of people who take their given expertise very seriously predicted what would happen to Chabad once the Rebbe would pass on, especially the youth. None that I know of spoke of a legacy which becomes more dynamic, not less. I would not have thought it.

Many of those aforementioned couples are not fully aware of it, but they are not the first. It was their grandparents’ generation that was arrested and served in Siberia’s gulags. In the blank next to the word “crime:” was written the word that sentenced them: Schneersonist. Most of these Schneersonists had never seen the Rebbe then; those who did not survive, never met the Rebbe now. The Bolsheviks meant Schneersonist pejoratively.

President Dubya on a trip to Russia, a couple years back, spent forty minutes longer than planned in a synagogue where Shneersonists were arrested, where one of those newlyweds had come back to -- can I say it without sounding hackneyed? -- breathe Jewish life into the embers of the Jewish spirit.

No, no this is not perspective, this is just a wide, wide wall. Perspective you want? Keep walking.

Sensible Words

2009-06-20T20:25:00.000+10:00

I was just sent this article by Alexander Downer (Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister from 1996 to 2007) written about a month ago. He always came across to me as having more common sense than many other pollies but this article echos my thoughts exactly about the topic of taking responsibility for ourselves. I believe that we can all apply this to our own lives and in our dealings with others.

The original is from the Adelaide Advertiser.

I don't know about you, but it's always nice to get emails. Once upon a time you'd look with pleasure at a handful of letters which dropped through the letter box. Now all you get are those threatening looking envelopes with windows. Or if you're Tom Koutsantonis, those nasty missives which tell you about passing unknowingly through a speed camera.

But this is a generalisation. At the height of the Schapelle Corby affair I received 5000 emails in one day from fellow Australians pleading with me to save "our Schapelle" from the horrors of the Indonesian legal system. Or, to be a bit more honest, the few I looked at said that.

I'm sure my successor as foreign minister, Stephen Smith, had his in box bursting last week as people demanded he save the beer mat mum, Annice Smoel, from the ravages of the Thai police. I felt for him especially when the media started demanding he "do something" to save her.

After about 10 minutes as foreign minister I was a little surprised to learn I was "responsible" for miscreant Australians who got into trouble in foreign countries.

No, no, no, don't get it wrong - drug traffickers, drunks, kleptomaniacs and fraudsters weren't responsible for their own stupidity - I was.

It's about time that great nanny in Canberra, the Federal Government, turned around and told people they are responsible for their own decisions.

I was in Lebanon the other day and went down to the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre. They're fascinating places - old Crusader castles, bustling souks, colourful little food stalls with generous owners offering you a taste of their wares.

But I couldn't help remembering the awful events in those same places three years ago when Israel went to war with Hezbollah.

There were said to be 20,000 Australians in Lebanon at that time and a hefty percentage of them were demanding the Australian Government save them and
fast.

Lebanese support groups hit the airwaves screaming that the Government was too slow getting those Australians who wanted to be evacuated to safety. But hang on, Australia's about 15,000km from Lebanon and we don't dock ships in the eastern Mediterranean ready to ferry Australians to safety.

And there was something else. We'd issued a travel advisory months earlier warning Australians of the dangers of southern Lebanon and the risks of going there.

It didn't matter - apparently we had to get them out.

We were lucky. The Australian ambassador, a petite, charming professional called Lyndall Sachs, worked day and night chartering ferries and providing comfort to the evacuees, who hadn't cared about the travel advisories, and whisked them to safety.

It was one of the great achievements of an Australian diplomat. Almost single handedly, she managed to get around 5000 Australians to Cyprus and Turkey.

We then chartered planes to take them back to Australia. I hope they built shrines to her. Some did, at least metaphorically.

But some just whinged. They felt seasick on the ferry and that was our fault. Could they get frequent flyer points for the free flight back to Australia? And all this cost around $30 million dollars - your dollars.

I'll tell you this - I didn't get 5000 emails of thanks but I got plenty of abuse because we weren't fast enough, the ferries didn't go from their port of choice and we were slow because we were racist, and so on. I mean, we'd warned them and told them not to go to the south of Lebanon. They went all the same. And when the proverbial hit the fan it was, you guessed it, "our fault".

Then there was Hurricane Katrina, which flooded much of New Orleans. A mother of an Australian who arrived in New Orleans the day the hurricane hit came to see me in Stirling and demanded I get her son out. Americans couldn't get out but I had to get her son out. I asked if he'd heard the warnings from the U.S. Government that week to avoid New Orleans.

She started shouting. He doesn't follow the news, he doesn't watch TV or read the newspapers. I see, I said. It was my fault he was in New Orleans, was it? What were we to do? Fly helicopters from Australia to America and pick up Australians and leave the Americans behind?

I didn't have the guts to say this as foreign minister but don't you think you should take responsibility for yourself when you go overseas?

If you're too dumb or idle to read the travel advisories and too mean to take out travel insurance when you go overseas then you ought to take responsibility for your own behaviour.

Sure, if there's a catastrophe like the Bali bombings or you're trapped in a corruption scam the government should try to help. But not if you're too lazy and silly to help yourself.

Remember two things when you travel. First, there are no special laws for Australians overseas. Foreigners make the laws over there, not us. And secondly,
foreigners do things differently and they're entitled to.

If you go to a Muslim country and get wildly drunk and women start dressing down (if you know what I mean) it can be bloody offensive to the locals. You'll soon be in trouble.

And learn to take responsibility for your own behaviour. Stealing is wrong, even stealing beer mats. I know, I know, the beer mat mum had a few drinks but, no, she wasn't drunk and she was charmingly polite to the local police.

But she was in a foreign country with a different culture and all of us ought to respect that.

Chabad Youth & A'Beckett Street

2009-06-09T18:00:00.001+10:00

I just received an email from Angela Carabott on behalf of the neighbours surrounding the Yeshivah Centre and particularly those in and near A'Beckett Street. The email was aimed at the Yeshivah Centre and Yeshivah Beth Rivkah administration and was also sent to AussieEcho and Emmanuel Althaus probably in the hope that we would publicise their issues and complaints. I am happy to reproduce the email here with a few comments of my own (I am sure you are not surprised).

The email is mainly aimed at the proposed Chabad Youth Centre on A'Beckett Street which first came to light a year ago (see here). The author also complains about the noise and other annoying behaviour emanating from the Yeshivah.

From what I hear Anash, members of Yeshivah Shul and parents of the school have two main issues with the proposed Youth Centre. These are (1) that precious and scarce land is being taken away from the Yeshivah grounds and (2) given to Chabad Youth. It seems to me that every square metre of land is needed and will not be easily reclaimed once the Chabad Youth centre is built. It also appears obvious that land should not be given away - just as other Chabad Houses and organisations must raise money for their particular projects so should Chabad Youth. This is especially so considering that it is claimed that Chabad Youth is a separate entity and will be self funding.

Serious accusations are made in the email below that part of Federal Government grants have been "syphoned off" and given to Chabad Youth. It is difficult for me to believe this particular accusation and I feel that, if the accusation is true, there will be a good explanation and probably a misunderstanding of the intention and purpose of the grant.

The last half of the email gets a little hysterical in tone but some of the accusations of noise and bad behaviour are probably true. I do know that, especially during Sukkos, there was a lot of noise and singing in the street well after midnight but also know that this did not come from the Yeshivah but from another group of exuberant young men in the area.

In any case the neighbours appear to have legitimate concerns and it will be of interest to see if these are taken seriously by both the Yeshivah and Chabad Youth leadership.

Subject: Youth centre in A'Beckett Street - Action taken by neighbours

As you are aware, your neighbours do not believe it is appropriate to build a 4 storey youth centre in A'Beckett Street because of the inevitable excessive noise, traffic and breach of privacy that such a building will bring to A'Beckett Street.

The neighbours are fed up to the back teeth with the noise late at night that regularly emanates from the Yeshivah College campus during the week and the illegal and dangerous behaviour that is being increasingly conducted by the parents, students and visitors to the Yeshivah College campus.

Since the beginning of 2009 the neighbours have all agreed to consistently report to the police, the State and Federal Government and/or the Glen Eira City Council (whichever is appropriate) ANY breaches of any planning permit conditions of any Yeshivah College building, or ANY breaches of State and Federal laws including parking regulations and use of fireworks (which are illegal in Australia).

This resolve should be evident to you as it has been through the actions taken by the neighbours that the planning permit to use Werdiger Hall for non-school events was only given once many conditions limiting the hours of use, acoustic fencing, limiting number of events and people and car parking requirements were added. In addition, it was the action of the neighbours which stopped the illegal use of the ramp to the A'Beckett Street staff car park and now requires the ramp to be removed costing Yeshivah College thousands of dollars in wasted construction costs and fines from the Glen Eira City Council.

Having stated that, you should be aware that following statements made by Craig Brown (of McIldowie Partners Architects) to several people, that $860,000 of the Government School Funding Stimulus given to Yeshivah and Beth Rivkah College by the Federal Government has been syphoned off to be used by Chabad Youth, a complaint has been lodged with the Minister for Education (Hon. Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister), the Department of Education and several state-wide newspapers.

The neighbours do not believe that the Chabad Youth building is in keeping with the Federal Government's expectation that the funding is to be used by Yeshivah and Beth Rivkah College for school buildings especially as Moshe Kahn made it very clear at meetings with the neighbours in December 2008 and February 2009 that Yeshivah College will have nothing to do with the activities/uses of the youth centre and that Yeshivah College will have to obtain his permission to use the building at all.

It is apparent that the proposed Chabad Youth building will be used the majority of the time for the DaMinyan of over 200 congregants as stated on www.DaMinyan.com "Since its inception, it has experienced tremendous growth, and now has over 200 congregants, making it one of the fastest growing Shules in Australia." and "To further this goal, DaMinyan is relocating to a new, state-of-the-art premise, which will ensure adequate space for our ever-increasing members, and offer modern facilities for our functions." This is not what was stated in the application for the youth centre's planning permit to the Glen Eira City Council and the civil compliance unit has been advised of the possible deception.

In the past 6 months there have been a number of disturbances at Yeshivah College late at night (after 12 midnight) which the police, the fire brigade and Councillor Jamie Hyams have attended. After each disturbance the Glen Eira City Council civic compliance unit has contacted Yeshivah College and been told that either it was another Jewish organisation who created the disturbance or that youths had entered the ground without permission - there are a number of eye witnesses to the disturbances which have categorically stated that these statements made by Yeshivah College are untrue and show just how Yeshivah College wants to treat their neighbours. Not only are the neighbours unable to sleep at night as a result of the singing and bonfires but on one occasion fireworks being set off from within the Yeshivah College campus set alight the grass of 82 Hotham Street and another firework hit the Groners' roof at 80 Hotham Street.

The fact that no one from Yeshivah College is responsible or willing to do anything about this dangerous behaviour makes the neighbours question whether staff, parents and students of Yeshivah College believe in the principle of treating their neighbours the way they would want to be treated (unless loud singing until 2am outside their home and fireworks nearly burning down their house is how they want to be treated). It is hard to believe that it is a Jewish religious organisation which is acting in this manner.

As a result of the unwillingness of Yeshivah College to accept responsibility for the actions of people who are invited to the campus for events or take control of people's actions at events (for example, the Lag B'Omer party held in the Chabad Youth classrooms on 11 May 2009 which almost ended up in the Werdiger Hall being burnt down had the neighbours not rang the fire brigade at 1am to put out an unsafe bonfire which had been lit by drunken youths from the party), the neighbours will shortly install 24 hour digital video surveillance of A'Beckett Street and Yeshivah College to be used as evidence for the Glen Eira City Council civic compliance unit, VCAT and the police.

Once the Chabad Youth building is operational with over 200 congregants (and growing) of Yeshivah Alumni and other non-Yeshivah people then the video surveillance will be used to ensure that all the 22 conditions within the planning permit are adhered to or else evidence will be provided to the Glen Eira City Council to fine Chabad Youth with the aim of having the planning permit changed by VCAT to close down the use of the building after school hours.

Yours sincerely,
Your neighbours

Good Yom Tov

2009-05-28T08:15:00.001+10:00

I just came upon this film of the Rebbe from Motzoei Shavuos in 5720 (1960). It seems it was released for the Laufer-Nemanov wedding almost a year ago.

While today we are used to seeing every minute of famous people's lives recorded and publicised this film would have been extremely unusual at that time. It was obviously taken by a handheld camera and the quality is not particularly good but it clearly shows a youthful Rebbe distributing Kos Shel Brocha. The latter 2 minutes of the film shows the Rebbe davening in the upstairs Zal in 770 and also distributing Lekach from his room.

Wishing you all a Good Yom Tov and Kabbolas Hatorah Besimcha U’vpnimiyus.
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Pidyon Petter Chamor

2009-05-16T19:00:00.001+10:00

Better late than never...

I was just informed of this video filmed by Chaim Mehlman of High Key Productions. For those who were not there it is a nice summary of the event.

Happy Lag B'Omer!

2009-05-11T19:00:00.002+10:00

This is one of the funniest ones I have seen for a while.

Happy Birthday Israel

2009-04-29T07:15:00.001+10:00

Today, 5 Iyar, is the date when 61 years ago when Israel was declared a state. It is celebrated by much of the Jewish world in one way or another. The chareidi world (including Lubavitch) is a notable exception. It seems that despite the fact that Israel is an integral part of our identity these days we still have a difficult time acknowledging this.

It is true that 100 years ago the idea of a Jewish State in Palestine (as the land was called then) appeared to be against the idea that we would return to our land when Moshiach comes. It looked like the mostly irreligious Jews - who advocated the setting up of this new state - had rejected this fundamental belief and it was obvious that most Torah Jews would find this abhorrent.

Today Israel has proved itself to be a Jewish land which offers freedom and pride to Jews everywhere. The Charedi press and websites are filled with all sorts of news about our land. The establishment of a Jewish Homeland is a fait accompli and, while we are still waiting for Moshiach, it is the only country where all Jews can feel proud and free. It is the place where young men and women in our community want to visit and study. It is an amazing place for frum Jews and where the spirit of Yiddishkeit is almost palatable when travelling the country.

So despite the Lubavitch (and Chareidi) world's ambivalence about this day I say that it is about time that we openly recognised the place that Israel occupies in our lives. Our Jewish self-worth has been enhanced by this little country and we are prouder Jews because of it.

A great website about Israel and with some wonderful aerial photos can be seen here.

The Heiliger Hollywooder Rebbe

2009-04-26T09:15:00.002+10:00

He reminds me of a famous Australian rabbi - Rabbi Mordi Katz. He is not as funny as Katz but still amusing.
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Exclusive Photo of Birkas HaChamah

2009-04-21T11:00:00.001+10:00

This amazing photo of Birkas HaChamah in the Antarctic definitely trumps all the Chabad websites with their never ending coverage of this event.

Thanks to Jake for this. He is in the photo - the 57th person from the left in the 235th row. .

Good on ya Stephen Smith!

2009-04-19T23:45:00.002+10:00

Some of the attendees at the 2001 conference showing their true colours

Australia has just announced that it will be boycotting the UN's Durban Review Conference on human rights which is starting this week. If you have been following this story you will know that Jewish groups in Australia have been trying to get the Rudd government to boycott the conference for a while. Fortunately they have been successful and Australia has joined Israel, the US, Canada, Italy and Holland in refusing to attend this conference.

What the fuss is about is that the original conference in 2001 in Durban was, despite ostensibly being against racism, used as a vehicle to bash Israel. Jewish people everywhere expect that this conference will just be more of the same. By boycotting the conference we hope that other countries will look more closely at the skewed agenda of the organisers.

The article in Wikipedia states the issue in 2001:

Entitled "World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance," the conference was discussing unfair treatment of one group against another. Disproportionate amount of time was focused specifically on Israeli treatment of Palestinians, while flagrant violations of human rights and genocide in other parts of the world were ignored.

That 2001 meeting was dominated by clashes over the Middle East and the legacy of slavery, and particularly marred by attacks on Israel and anti-Israel demonstrations at a parallel conference of non-governmental organizations. The U.S. and Israel walked out midway through the 2001 conference over a draft resolution that singled out Israel for criticism and likened Zionism — the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish state — to racism. The European Union also refused to accept demands by Arab states to criticize Israel for "racist practices."

There have been a number of news articles about the decision today in The Age, The Australian, Reuters and the Jerusalem Post to name just a few press outlets. Hopefully other countries will wake up and refuse to be bullied by the Arab world into ignoring the many human rights violations in those and other Moslem countries.

Chag Pesach Kasher veSameach

2009-04-08T10:20:00.001+10:00

Click on photo for a larger view

Pesach, Halochos and Chumros

2009-04-06T15:00:00.001+10:00

COLLive has published this article by Agudas Avreichei Lubavitch of Kolel Menachem which is a translation of a talk by Rabbi Yosef Heller of the Crown Heights Beis Din.

While none of us have much time to spare before Pesach this article is certainly worth a few minutes of one's time. Many Rabbonim and mashpi'im have spoken and written about this topic. I think Rabbi Heller approaches it in a way that many Lubavitchers can relate to. So many of us get carried away with preparations for Pesach and with chumros on Pesach itself. What Rav Heller emphasises is that it is all very well for us to be stringent ourselves but that is not necessarily the correct behaviour when it comes to our family. Shalom Bais should always come before our personal chumros.

Some of what is said which strikes a chord with me:

Many people are more stringent during Pesach than throughout the year; nonetheless, certain priorities must take precedence. Oft times, due to ignorance or unawareness, one is scrupulous in keeping a hiddur yet careless with halacha mandated in shulchan aruch.

There is a saying from the Gerrer rebbe, the Beis Yisroel, concerning this issue. It is written in Shulchan Aruch that many have the custom not to eat nuts during Aseres Yimei Teshuvah, for the word אגוז (nut) has the same gematria as חטא (sin). The Beis Yisroel brings to our attention that the word חטא, also has the same gematria as חטא…

....

R' Pinchas of Koritz had a student who was extremely scrupulous in keeping out all chometz. During pesach, he only ate at home, not even attending his Rebbe's yom tov meal. Once, during the se'uda of Shvi'i shel Pesach, upon inquiring about his student's whereabouts, R' Pinchas was told that his absence was due to his meticulousness regarding chometz. "In the barrel of water he had prepared for Pesach, lays some chometz," the Rebbe told his students. When the student was thus alerted, he fretfully rushed to R' Pinchas asking how such a calamity had befallen him, especially with all his intense supervision. The Rebbe explained, "Although we are carefull with chometz, we are not angels and require assistance from above. You, however, relied on your own efforts, not depending on Hashem; hence, you were shown from above that such cannot bear proper results…"

Wishing you all a Kosher and Freilichen Pesach

Loshon Hora

2009-03-30T16:30:00.000+11:00

This latest cartoon from Dry Bones summarises what we all must be feeling about the latest anti-Israel smear campaign.

In the blurb that accompanies the cartoon we are pointed to CAMERA which is a website that exposes many of the media lies about Israel. CAMERA in turn points us to an article the New York Times which has a more concilitary and even-handed report about the Gaza campaign. While the article doesn't retract the accusations of Israeli atrocities it gives voice to the Israeli side. It is certainly worth reading.
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Sweet Home Jerusalem

2009-03-29T20:15:00.000+11:00

I just came across this video of a well known (to some of us non-chassidish types) pop song. The words have been changed to more meaningful ones and the playing is really quite professional. It sort of reminds me of how Chassidim over the ages have taken goyishe Russian, Polish, Hungarian etc tunes, added Jewish words, and made them into Kosher songs.

The blurb on the website says:

Sweet Home Jerusalem an amazing takeoff of the legendary rock-n-roll song ("Sweet Home Alabama") - Updated Holy Lyrics by Rabbi Lazer Brody and Steven Gasner:
Eagles' wings keep on flying
Carry me home to see The King
Singing songs about my City
Jerusalem you're in my dreams And I'm gonna sing, yes
Well I heard the UN talk about her
But a Jewish boy won't drink this brew
Uncle Sam please remember, that "Jerusalem won't be split in two!"
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you
We're all waiting for Mashiach You can bet he's coming soon
We'll all be dancing in Jerusalem
And we'll all be singing the same tune Now that's the truth
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you
The wise men of the Holy City
They've been known to pick a song or two
They help my soul when I'm hurting
They give me joy when I'm feeling blue Now how about you?
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you

Islamberg !!!!

2009-03-26T18:00:00.003+11:00

Fox News has reported on a new town 150 miles north-west of New York called Islamberg. A very unexciting name for a place where Moslem "baalei teshuva" have made home.

While the report in the above video looks like a reporter trying to make a non-event interesting, when reading the article it appears that this place may be more sinister than the video shows. The head of this village is a radical Moslem who is - surprise, surprise - anti-Zionist. He has also been linked to various terrorist organisations. Let us hope that the Obama administration or at least the local authorities will wake up and do something about these people.

My first thought when I started reading this was of New Square - the town setup by the Squarer Rebbe in upstate New York. Both towns were established so that the pios would not have to interact with the grob, secular world. While New Square has its own problems they are obviously a benign group and living a sheltered life in the environs of their Rebbe. Lehavdil, this Islamic town doesn't sound so holy.
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The Rebbe's Visit in 1960

2009-03-16T13:30:00.002+11:00

This video is composed of still photos taken by Rabbi Yosef Goldstein of the Rebbe's visit to Camp Gan Yisroel almost 49 years ago. Many of them are what you would expect of photos at that time but there are some gems that stand out.

It must have been really exciting for the campers and especially the counsellors to have the Rebbe visit and that is reflected in a number of the shots.

The YouTube caption says:

Lubavitcher Rebbe visits Camp Gan Yisroel, Swan Lake, NY in 1960. Compiled from individual shots taken from a recently scanned 16MM film that was photographed by Rabbi Yosef Goldstein. Our thanks to the family for letting us enjoy these treasures.

The Rebbe visited Gan Yisroel in Ellenvile, NY in 1956 right before the camp opened, then in 1957 he visited Gan Israel at Swan Lake, NY at the beginning of camp, and then he visited in Swan Lake for the third time 1960 (this video).

From Shmais

Chabad in LA

2009-03-15T12:40:00.000+11:00

This video is from the 1960s and shows a very young and relatively calm (compared to today) Rabbi Shlomo Cunin. For the first few minutes I thought that it was a documentary taken at the time but it soon becomes apparent that it is one of the first fundraising attempts for Chabad of California. By today's standards it is quite amateurish and many of the references to the students are pretty condescending. But despite that it must be acknowledged that Shlomo Cunin was the originator of the Chabad House and a dynamic and driven person. The Rebbe gave him a lot of chizuk in the early days and it was certainly well deserved.
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Shushan Purim Video

2009-03-11T11:40:00.000+11:00

The inimitable Mendy Pellin has joined with COLLive to produce a Purim video which can be seen in it's entirety here. The video above is one of the funnier segments which will resonate with many who have been to a New York kosher restaurant.
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Purim Videos

2009-03-09T18:15:00.001+11:00

Racial Harmony

The Lelover Rebbe distributes a new type of shirayim!!

Thanks to Gruntig

Purim and Drinking

2009-03-07T22:00:00.001+11:00

This year, more than other years, it seems that our schools and community leadership have got it together and are trying to educate our youth and parents about the dangers of excessive drinking. I notice that all the Jewish Schools have been getting professionals to talk about this subject to the kids. Whether or not this helps is up for debate.

What seems to be the better message is the one in the video above from Aleinu in Los Angeles. It encourages parents to be aware of what their children are doing this Purim. This would seems to be common sense but it seems to me that some (many?) parents would rather party themselves than have to worry about their kids on Purim.

Rabbi Yossi Braun in Sydney has sent out a message about drinking on Purim which I believe puts this in perspective for everyone and especially for those who call themselves Lubavitch Chassidim. Although what he says is not new it bears repeating. Some of the pertinent paragraphs:

A significant improvement can be achieved if we adopt the takono (decree) of the Rebbe in relation to consumption of alcohol. The Rebbe has issued an edict that any person less than forty years of age should not drink more than four l’chaims, the total amount not exceeding a revi’is.

If the above takono is observed, it is highly unlikely that alcohol consumption will be a problem.

School age children up to and including secondary school students should not be given any vodka or whisky. Parents should join together and carefully monitor their children over Purim. Please talk to your children about the dangers of drinking. The key to all of the above is responsibility.

While some are of the erroneous opinion that this ruling of the Rebbe has no relevance to Purim, the Rebbe has made it clear on countless occasions that one ought to be equally cautious not to deviate from this instruction on Purim as on any other day. Even if there would be a doubt in this matter (which is not the case!), it is clear that safek lechumra – any doubt in this matter should result in acting stringently and abstaining from excessive drinking.

Let's hope that this message will get through and that Hatzolah will have a very quiet day this Tuesday.

New Shluchim in a New City

2009-03-02T16:30:00.000+11:00

Since I don't have a photo of the Avitals
this one of Parliment House will have to do

Canberra's first permanent shluchim set up home last week. Rabbi Dan & Naomi Avital moved to Canberra under Reb Arel Serebryanski who is the official Merkos shaliach in Australia. With the support of Reb Arel and also Eliezer Kornhauser I am sure that the Avitals will be a breath of fresh air to that city. I wish them hatzlocho rabbo in their new mission.

Lubavitch.com has a nice article about this shlichus.

I think it is great that Reb Arel - with the practical support of Eliezer Kornhauser - is opening up new horizons. While the majority of the Jewish population live in the capital cities there is still much work than can be done in Australia outside the "borsht belts" of Melbourne and Sydney. Chabad of RARA started this shlichus and does a wonderful job. I am sure that Reb Arel and Eliezer will find other areas with a sufficient Jewish population to warrant shluchim.
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Purim Video

2009-03-01T11:30:00.001+11:00

Mendy Pellin has produced this video which can be customised for Chabad Houses (and presumably others who want to publicise their Purim functions).

Maybe this will be more acceptable to those who sent nasty comments about the last video - which you will notice that I didn't allow to be published.

Hashem's Team!

2009-02-28T21:45:00.001+11:00

This entertaining, well made and acted video was produced for the Celluloid Soup Film Festival last year by Jeremy Weinstein & Mark Weinstein. It stars Dov Werdiger who has a great acting career ahead of him if he wants to go in that direction.

Other videos from the festival can be seen here.

Sderot

2009-02-19T08:30:00.001+11:00

This video of conditions in Sderot was produced a few months ago but unfortunately is just as relevant today. As the producer says what Western country would put up with these type of constant bombardments.

Also check out the Sderot Media website.
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Australian bushfires ease - Israel's continue

2009-02-12T08:45:00.001+11:00

The burned-out suburb of Kinglake West looking south towards Melbourne
Picture: David Geraghty (The Australian)

Thank G-d the threat of new bushfires in Victoria seems to be easing after 5 horrendous days. Thanks to rain overnight and cooler temperatures it is reported that no towns are under threat although people are warned to stay vigilant. Now comes the even bigger job of continuing to find those that perished and of the victims and families who live in the ravaged areas rebuilding their property and their lives.

Australians are shocked at the loss of life which is predicted to end up at close to 300 people. We are used to hearing about tragedies in far away places but not on our doorstep. There will need to be a huge change in the way people think about bushfires and the way the relevant authorities react to them. Hopefully politics will not get in the way of good decisions being made.

What is really upsetting about the bushfire situation is that some of the fires were caused by arson. I hope that when the authorities catch these criminals they are treated as murderers by the law.

Another sign of our times is that people are trying to profit from this tragedy. Bogus collectors have already been caught, thieves have been stealing from some of the devastated areas and the Sydney Yeshivah's publicity machine has declared how much they are doing to help the victims.

On a more positive note we can make a difference by donating money to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. I would suggest doing this through Jewish Aid Australia.

I would also urge you to attend Caulfield Shul tonight for an evening of tefillah and solidarity with the bushfire victims.

(Click on picture for a bigger view)

Due to the bushfires the election in Israel has not been given the prominence it would usually have especially with regards to the outcome of that election. The right-wing parties have won the majority of votes although Kadima beat Likud by one seat. It will be interesting to see who becomes Prime Minister and if anything will change in the way Israel deals with the Palestinians. I am not optimistic.

From the Jerusalem Post

More Photos

2009-02-08T10:45:00.000+11:00

The Rebbe walking into 770

The Rebbe and the Previous Rebbe

Chabad.info has again posted galleries of photos of the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe. Some of these I hadn't seen before and it would be nice if they could put captions to the photos and maybe say where they were obtained. In any case it is nice to see these photos especially of the Rebbe when he was young and of the Frierdiger Rebbe.

Gallery 3 is mainly of the naturalisation of the Previous Rebbe with photos of his wife Rebbitzen Nechama Dina as well. Gallery 4 features photos of the Rebbe mainly from the 1950s and 60s.
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Video of the Funeral of the Frierdiger Rebbe

2009-02-06T13:00:00.002+11:00

JEM has just publicised this amazing footage of the funeral of the Previous Rebbe from 11 Shevat 1950.

In the 59 years since then there have been a lot of superficial changes. Notice that most of the men do not have beards and the men and women are together in the crowd. Maybe in those days they worried less about outward appearances?

Despite these superficial changes I think that everyone realises that the Friediger Rebbe brought a real pride and strength of commitment to Yiddishkeit to the Jews of America. As the video says this was continued by the Rebbe in an even bigger way. Let us hope that we and our "leaders" can continue this trend.
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Spiritually Gigantic

2009-02-05T08:45:00.000+11:00

Rabbi Samuel Adelman in Moscow, June, 1956, standing on left,
visiting Rabbi Shlomo Schlieffer, Rav of Moscow.
(Life Magazine / Hirshel Tzig)

Circus Tent pointed me in the direction of this article on Lubavitch.com. It was published on 20 September 1960 by Rabbi Samuel Adelman in his shul bulletin. It appears that Rabbi Adelman was part of a rabbinic delegation which visited Russia in 1956. After this visit he visited the Rebbe and the article is a digest of his observations and thoughts regarding this visit.

In the summer of 1956, after our return from the Soviet Union, I made a visit to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneirson, better known as the Lubavitcher Rabbi.

The purpose of my visit was more than idle curiosity. Somehow, as a result of what we had seen in Russia, I felt that I could find the answer to a most perplexing problem—how to captivate the hearts and hands of our people for God and His Torah—how to cause commitment to His Truth.

But why the Lubavitcher Rabbi? For this I will have to go back to our visit in the Soviet Union.

It would be trite to repeat the oft-heard story of spiritual decay in this hell-on-earth—where Satan rules and the god of materialism holds sway.

Yet it was in the midst of this modern Egypt and its forty-nine degrees of spiritual uncleanliness that my colleagues and I discovered the only meaningful resistance among our people. For, to our amazement, we found scattered groups of Lubavitcher Chassidim that had somehow managed, not only to survive, but to continue to find strength and to transmit it to their children.

Upon my return to America, I hastened to 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, expecting to find an imposing building as would befit this gigantic challenge to Russian Communism and the god of Moloch. I looked for severe security measures—secret chambers—and a hard dynamic leader of international movement.

I suppose that I was a little disappointed to find, instead, a ramshackle old building, badly in need of paint and repair, the lusty voices of young men hard at a folio of Talmud—and a soft spoken and gentle middle aged rabbi, who seemed hardly to be a match for the Kruschev I had met in Moscow.

But that was until I started to speak to Rabbi Schneirson and looked into his eyes.

Slowly, it began to dawn on me why we had met Lubavitcher Chassidim in Russia, even after they had been cut off from their source of strength for over thirty years. The former Lubavitcher Rabbi had been expelled in the mid-twenties—but more importantly, I began to see the answer to many questions that had been giving me no peace. For here I saw strength of a different kind—the strength of spirit.

The answer was obvious. To overcome material giganticism, one does not have to meet it on its own level. Synagogues need not be turned into a kind of religious night club or replica of Las Vegas to draw on the hearts of its people.

The simple answer to material giganticism is in being spiritually gigantic. No more—no less.

The power of truth is overwhelming—and its obvious asset is that it is Truth.

This is the great discovery that is beginning to turn American Jews back to the synagogue. We are beginning to realize, in the words of the Lubavitcher Rabbi:

“Far dem emes muzen alle fahlen!”

“Before the truth, all must prostrate themselves.”

Interview with Rabbi Groner zt'l

2009-02-04T10:30:00.004+11:00

A Rebbe and his Chassid - Rabbi Groner goes to Australia from Joseph Katzman on Vimeo.

This interview with Rabbi Groner has just been posted on the web by Rabbi Yosef Katzman. I have not seen this interview previously which appears to have been made in the early 1990s. It has been nicely edited with some interesting photos and videos interspersed.

Rabbi Groner discusses his shlichus and the Rebbe's strength and insight with regards to Australia and in general. He also tells some stories about the Previous Rebbe.

Overall a fitting tribute for Yud Shevat.
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Yud Shevat

2009-02-03T18:45:00.001+11:00

1950s

1950s-60s

1970s

1980s

early to mid 1980s
Reb Zalman Serebryansky is in the foreground saying l'chaim to the Rebbe

Chabad.info has produced a gallery of dozens of photos of the Rebbe. They are not in chronological order and don't have any captions but I think I can work out some of the dates and have added them to the photos I reproduced here. As usual I welcome any corrections.

Click on any photo for a larger view
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Beautiful Jewish Women

2009-02-02T16:15:00.001+11:00

I am sure that most people reading Chabad sites have been made aware of the racist and sexist comments made on a US TV show called The View. These remarks - made by a Jewish actor, Susie Essman - insulted Orthodox (and specifically Lubavitch) Jewish women and was only refuted by one person on the panel.

Rebbitzen Dini Freundlich of Chabad of Beijing has written a lovely piece expressing her thoughts on the subject of Jewish women in general and Chabad women in particular. I saw it on Shmais and feel that it is worth publishing in full.

Thank you Susie Essman!
By Dini Freundlich, Beijing China
11:10:PM Sunday, Feb 01, 2009
Although living in Beijing, China, which would seem far from the US and its TV programs, being the Chabad Lubavitch Shlucha here makes me the one that people turn to when they have a Jewish, Chassidic or “Torah perspective Women’s” question. Last week was no different and the big buzz was about the comments made on “The View” by Susie Essman, who plays the role of a Lubavitcher woman in a movie titled “Loving Leah”.
The comments and questions were the talk of my Friday kitchen as I prepared for Shabbat with some University students and the young Shluchot who help us in the Chabad House. I silently listed to them discuss this with a mix of anger, shock, outrage and confusion and a disbelief that in today’s modern and “open” world comments such as hers could be publicly heard and not refuted! They were further more infuriated that no one on the show stopped her or challenged her comments. They turned to me for my thoughts on boycotts, websites and angry emails in response to this outrage.
With Shabbat soon upon and so much to do I did not have the chance to respond to them and hoped to catch up at the Shabbat table. As the day progressed my thoughts progressed as well. At first my thoughts were ones of anger, how could someone believe and say that a group of tens of 1000’s of woman were all ugly and dressed funny! How rude and insulting! However as the day continued and shabbat came into our home, a completely different thought process and feeling came over me. As I stood by my Shabbat candles with my 4 beautiful and unique daughters, and welcomed Shabbat into our home and Chabad House, I prayed as I do each week, for each of my children. I always spend a few minutes reflecting on the week gone by and praying for the week ahead.
As I davened for each of my unique and different children yet all raised in a Lubavitch home, it struck me.
Susie Essman’s comment was not an insult at all, but a compliment to me and all my Chassidic sisters worldwide. Yes, at first glace it does seem like an insult but if you look at what she said it was in essence a complement.
Being a Jewish Woman herself, this role obviously hit a raw nerve and an insecure spot in her, and her observances and affiliations with Judaism. Playing a Chassidic woman made her soul feel uncomfortable and disconnected, and the only way she could cover up this discomfort was to try and insult the woman she plays. She did not say we are unintelligent, uneducated, bad mothers, not entrepreneurs or world leaders, bad educators and not co-directors in one of the world’s largest organizations, not dedicated wives or un-artistic, uncreative or lack talent. Instead she spoke of our faces and clothing.
It’s naive to say all Chassidic women are ugly or they ALL dress funny! How is it possible to insult such a large group of people on two things that are clearly in the eyes of the beholder? That’s right she could not.
In her shallow reaction to her role all she saw was external and all she valued was the external. I on the other hand stand proud to have been raised to look beyond the outside and see what lies within.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe ZTL, my Rebbe, always made a point of helping and reaching out to those less fortunate, he pushed and inspired his followers to do the same. It did not matter what a person looked like on the outside or how they spoke or dressed. He always looked straight inside to the core of the person and saw the value that they had internally. This is the lesson he taught us all and the lesson that leads us daily in our lives. In our Chabad Houses and Lubavitch homes around the world, we welcome people that may be different from us in their dress, looks and language, but as soon as we do as we have been taught, and look beyond the exterior, we see another person just like us!
So I’d like to thank you Susie Essman for making me appreciate the wonderful and truly beautiful woman around me, and the amazing accomplishments and talents they each uniquely have. But most of all, I want to personally thank you for reminding me how lucky I am to be a Lubavitcher Woman.
Susie, I’d like to personally invite you and the hosts of “The View” to join me and over 2000 of my fellow Lubavitcher women on Sunday night, February 15th at the Hilton Hotel in NYC, at our annual Lubavitcher conference of Women from across the globe, to see for yourself a room filled with the most beautiful woman inside and out, and get a small glimpse into their rich, fulfilled and meaningful lives.
Dini Freundlich
chabadbeijing@hotmail.com

The Frierdiger Rebbe

2009-02-02T14:30:00.000+11:00

Chabad.info has posted some wonderful photos of the Rebbe Rayatz in honour of Yud Shevat. I have not previously seen many of these photos and enjoyed them a lot.

Click on each photo for a larger view.
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Rabbi Sacks on Chabad

2009-01-26T09:30:00.000+11:00

Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks talks to CNN about Chabad and the Holtzbergs. While he is a great speaker I am pleased that it is only 2 1/2 minutes as I found myself falling asleep - he really has a boring and monotonous delivery.

Photos from the Front

2009-01-22T08:30:00.000+11:00

Jake Livni (who has previously sent photos from Israel of Rabbi Groner's levaya) just sent me these photos he took in Sderot and at the staging area just outside Gaza just a few days ago. He describes his trip:

I went to Sderot on Sunday this week, a few hours after the ceasefire that Israel declared unilaterally. Hamas celebrated the ceasefire in classical style by launching 20 rocket attacks into Israel. I joined a group of Americans handing out food treats and clothing (socks, underwear, towels) to the soldiers who were leaving the Gaza Strip. First stop was Sderot, where we picked up an order of fresh baked goods to distribute. The people of Sderot are just trying to live normal everyday lives, despite the concrete bomb shelters at bus stops, the concrete bomb-proof umbrellas built over school buildings, the 15-second incoming-missile alerts, and the media milling about.

From Sderot we went to a military staging area just outside the fence with Gaza. The soldiers were delighted to see us. They were very happy that this battle was over. The tanks and APCs carrying the soldiers were loud and fast; I had to be careful running in the mud, getting close to these large moving machines, but not too close. We heard one Qassam land somewhere nearby and explode.

Finally we went to a military base in the area, where family members were streaming in to see their sons/husbands/brothers who were coming back from Gaza. One grandfather and grandmother were so very happy to see their grandson safe and well and asked me to take their photo. I couldn't refuse them.

Now Israel is going back to the usual: politics, elections and the lack of rain, among other things. At least this chapter has worked out mostly well for now. Some soldiers have died, others injured. They can't celebrate with us but aren't forgotten.

Sderot

All images are Copyright Jake Livni and may not be reproduced without permission. For enquiries, email AussieEcho and I will forward any messages to him.
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The Jewish Way

2009-01-16T17:00:00.005+11:00

The traditional Jewish way of dealing with difficult times is with humour. This Dry Bones cartoon is more factual than funny but I think the video expresses everyones frustration with the media well.

The Rebbe's Room

2009-01-16T09:30:00.000+11:00

Photo by Fred R Conrad/The New York Times

The New York Times has just published a short piece by Alan Feuer about the Rebbe's room. The interesting article can be found here.

No One There, but This Place Is Far From Empty
By ALAN FEUER

According to the sages, sanctity lingers. “Holiness,” the Talmud says, “does not depart its place.”

There are many places holy to Jews — the Western Wall and Joseph’s Tomb among them — but one of the plainest and least-known is the empty ground-floor study on your left just inside Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

There, in 1942, a young rabbi and electrical engineer named Menachem Mendel Schneerson settled in, having fled the war in Europe and spent a year doing classified military work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Rabbi Schneerson was the son-in-law (and cousin) of Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson, who then led the Lubavitch movement. Over the next half-century, as he took the reins, no other physical location, from his house on President Street to his eventual grave in Queens was ever more connected to the great, respected man.

“People look toward the rebbe’s room today as they did to the rebbe himself, as a beacon of light,” said Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, a leader of the Lubavitch community. “One might think of it as suffused — with awe.”

Before Rabbi Schneerson died in 1994, few people realized how small the study was, a tiny, although tasteful, place with a chandelier and ornamental moldings. It is a testament to his presence that while many were permitted in, they were so intimidated that they scarcely had the wit to look around.

During his life, in fact, the study was a mess, a disorderly scholar’s cave strewn with books, religious tracts and mountains of correspondence. The small space functioned as an office and, despite the clutter, as a throne room: for there, among the letters and the papers, the rebbe courted mayors, senators, presidents and every prime minister of Israel.

On Sunday and Thursday nights, from 8 p.m. until 6 the following morning, the study was transformed into a parlor, as Rabbi Schneerson met his flock, listening and solving problems, not unlike a clubhouse politician. The sessions were so popular that reservations were required — often months in advance. People got as little as a minute. When your time was up, a buzzer would sound.

In 1988, after Rabbi Schneerson’s wife died, he moved into the study full time. He slept there, and disciples brought his meals. Four years later, when he had a stroke, the study became his private I.C.U. Medicine went to him.

These days, the study is a shrine of sorts, mostly empty beyond a clock, a desk, some glass-fronted bookcases and a decorative style that is classic old-time Brooklyn. There is a 1950s-era telephone, and the window facing Eastern Parkway is made of bulletproof glass.

Grooms meditate there before their wedding days, and people pray. On any morning when the Torah is read, the worshipers flow from the study out into the hall.

“This great world leader lived in one room, as simple and as plain as could be,” Rabbi Krinsky said. “There was no embellishment, no opulence. It was exactly like the man.”

One more thing about the all-night advice sessions: A story is told that when Senator John F. Kennedy was running for president, he sought an audience with Rabbi Schneerson. He happened by one night when a session was afoot. As the senator had no reservation, he was politely turned away.

An Open Letter to the World

2009-01-15T16:15:00.000+11:00

This "Open Letter" was supposed to have been written by Rabbi Meir Kahane. Despite how he has been portrayed in the media I believe the sentiments expressed are felt by most Jews whatever their political opinions.

During this particular time in our history this letter really hits the spot.
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In Memory of Greg Sher

2009-01-14T13:00:00.002+11:00

A website has been created in memory of Private Greg Sher a"h who was killed in Afghanistan on January 4 this year. Amongst his other activities Greg was an active member of the Community Security Group and was often seen outside Yeshivah on Shabbos.

The website can be found here.
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Down with fruit drinks!!

2009-01-14T06:25:00.000+11:00

I couldn't resist posting this photo from one of the anti-Israel (=anti-Semitic) demonstrations being held around the world. Like many of his friends this guy is obviously a deep thinker.
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A Great Insight into the Gaza War

2009-01-13T22:20:00.001+11:00

Part 1

Part 2

Hal Lindsay is, according to his entry in Wikipedia, an American evangelist, Christian writer and Christian Zionist. He delivers a coherent explanation of the war in Gaza. This is worth watching if only to get ideas on how to explain the situation to your non-Jewish friends and colleagues. (Just ignore the last 45 seconds of part 2).

Thanks to SS for directing me to this.
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Simons Yartzeit in Crown Heights

2009-01-09T08:30:00.000+11:00

A Yartzeit gathering and farbrengen in memory of Zev & Rochel Simons was held in Crown Heights last night. Reports and photos are on CrownHeights.ch and COL.

Many Australians who are currently in New York as well as previous shluchim to Sydney were there.
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Private Greg Sher A"H

2009-01-07T14:40:00.002+11:00

After receiving permission from the family the Defence Department named the latest casualty in Afghanistan, Private Greg Sher. Greg was a member of the 1st Commando Regiment based in Sydney.

According to the Chevra Kadisha website the date and time of the funeral will be announced this Friday.

Personal statement released
on behalf of the family of Private Greg Sher

Greg’s entire family and his many friends are devastated by his untimely death.

Although the family of any person in the military is aware of the possible risks involved, it is not until the worst happens that you realise the real danger our armed forces personnel face.

Greg, for all who knew him, was a man of purpose and committed determination. He was an extremely positive person with a kind soul.

He was the sort of mate who would do anything for anyone, and his friends knew him for the great guy that he was. He was a loyal and loving family member who always put his family high on his list of priorities.

His decision to serve his country was a true indication of his character. He always wanted to help and be of assistance, and he had this opportunity on a previous deployment to East Timor.

Greg was much admired by his Army colleagues and was seen as a quiet achiever who always got the job done. His mates have described him as the best operator they have ever known.

We wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those who have shown support at this very difficult time.

Most importantly, we ask to be left in peace in order to grieve in private.

Articles in the media:
The Australian
The Age
Sydney Morning Herald
LiveNews

Our thoughts go out to the family at this sad time.
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First Yartzeit of Zev and Rochel

2009-01-06T16:00:00.001+11:00

Tomorrow, 11 Teves, is the first yartzeit of Zev and Rochel Simons. I think today, Asoroh BeTeves, is a fitting time to give tzedokah in their name. Click on the Simons Sefer Torah link on the right of this blog or go directly to the site by clicking here.
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The Rebbe - 1967

2009-01-06T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Rebbe's Message from Shmuli on Vimeo.

This video appeared on CrownHeights.info and I assume is taken from one of the JEM videos. It shows part of the Rebbe's sicha at the Lag BaOmer rally in 5727 (1967) just before the Six Day War. If I understand correctly the average person didn't know that there would be a war in Israel a month later and didn't quite understand what the Rebbe was alluding to. The Rebbe also started the Tefillin Campaign just before the June War.

In any case this is an appropriate message for this time.
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Fifteen Seconds

2009-01-05T23:10:00.000+11:00

This graphic video comes from Aish.com and illustrates succinctly what the Gaza war is all about.
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Positive - and Brave - Actions

2008-12-31T13:30:00.004+11:00

It was great to see the photos and report about the Chabadniks who visited soldiers on the border of Gaza. All the Chabad sites had reports which were taken from IsraelHomeFront.org.

The report, by Yossi Swerdlov, was well written and quite moving. It must be an amazing feeling for the soldiers - who don't know what tomorrow will bring - to see the Chabadniks and know that the people of Israel have not forgotten them.

An excerpt from the article:

As we drove down, we chatted among ourselves, cognizant of the importance of the mission we were carrying out and only tangentially acknowledging the potential danger we might be in. That didn’t matter to us. What mattered was the soldiers. We were carrying tefillin, pocket-size tehillim (books of Psalms), sandwiches, hot potato burekas, sweet rugelach, and our enthusiasm, encouragement and deep respect for their courage and bravery -- everything we could think of to make the day a little better for the young people we were going to see.

As we approached the area designated a military zone, we requested permission to enter. When the officials saw who we were and why we were there, they let us in.

It is hard for me to describe to you the looks on the soldiers faces as they saw us coming (we went to several areas along the front lines and each time the reaction was the same). Over and over they grinned at us, repeating with complete astonishment in their voices, “We can’t believe you’re here! We can’t believe you’re here!!”

The atmosphere along the front lines is tense, but excited. Right now they are in a holding pattern as they await orders and that in and of itself is nerve-wracking, but you can also see that they are relieved, happy to finally be moving ahead and doing something.

Everyone was happy to lay tefillin, confident of the spiritual boost this would give them. Every soldier also received his own pocket-size tehillim to take into battle with him. You could see on their faces how moving this was to them and how deeply they appreciated the extra bit of spiritual protection this would provide for them.

One way that we can support these brave men and women is to go to PizzaIDF where you can donate pizza or burgers to soldiers. I have mentioned this organisation previously which is run by an ex-Aussie Menachem Kuchar.
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A Reasoned Approach

2008-12-30T22:15:00.005+11:00

Binyamin Netanyahu talks to a reporter from Fox News about the current war in Gaza. It is great to hear a reasoned discussion rather than the disinformation we get from many "experts" who obvious have no love for Israel and no desire to tell the truth about the situation there.

We should all be saying tehillim for the safety of the chayalim and civilians. Let us also hope that Israel finishes the job and doesn't bow to international pressure as they have done in so many previous wars.

For a complete rundown on the reasons for the current situation go to Honest Reporting.
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Happy Zos Chanukah

2008-12-29T11:15:00.001+11:00

In honour of the last day of Chanukah I have posted this video of a medly of Chanukah songs by the YU Acapella. These guys are really good especially considering that it was an impromptu performance.

Enjoy and a freilichen Chanukah!

Merry Chanukah

2008-12-23T12:25:00.000+11:00

I understand that the reindeer on the right is Shlomo - Rudolph's first cousin on his mother's side.

Swinging Dreidel

2008-12-22T20:00:00.000+11:00

Kenny Ellis sings his hit single from his Hanukkah Swings! Album

Brokeback Dreidel

2008-12-22T13:00:00.001+11:00

The group is a Seattle men's chorus who sung this at last year's holiday celebrations.
I found it here.
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A Freilichen Chanukah

2008-12-21T15:15:00.002+11:00

'TWAS THE FIRST NIGHT OF CHANUKAH... OY! WHAT A SHOCK!
SOMEBODY OUTSIDE WAS PICKING OUR LOCK!
AND THERE AT THE DOOR STOOD A 'ZAYDA' IN BLUE-
AND HE WORE ON HIS KUPP A BLUE YARMULKA, TOO!

HIS PUNIM WAS SHAIN-EVERYBODY WOULD LOVE IT!
'ROUND HIS NECK HUNG A CHAIN WITH A GOLD MAGEN DOVID!
HE WORE SILKEN TSITZES BENEATH HIS WOOL VEST,
AND A SMALL FLAG OF ISRAEL WAS DRAPED ON HIS CHEST!

HE SAID: "I'M NO BURGLAR, SO PLEASE DON'T BE NERVOUS.
I'M THE SPIRIT OF CHANUKAH, HERE AT YOUR SERVICE!"
"MENCHEN ALL CALL ME 'REB' SHALOM SHAPIRO!
WITHOUT ME, THIS YOM-TOV MIGHT NEED A NEW 'HERO!'"

"I VISIT ALL YIDLACH, AND BRING - KINNAHORRA-
GOOD FORTUNE AS BRIGHT AS A GLOWING MENORAH!
ICH SHLEPP LOTS OF BLESSINGS AND CHANUKAH GELT,
AND JOYS THAT ARE TAKKA THE BEST IN DER VELT!"

"IF YOU KNOW NICE MENCHEN, I'LL VISIT THEM QUICK,
AND I'LL BRING THEM GEZUNT AND A HOUSEFUL OF GLICK!"
SO WE SENT HIM TO YOUR HOUSE, AND SHOOK HANDS AND PARTED.
HE SHOUTED, "SHALOM!" AS OUT THE DOORWAY HE DARTED!

HE RAN TO A WAGON WITH HORSES AHEAD.
HE FED THEM SOME BAGELS,AND HERE'S WHAT HE SAID:
"LET'S GO, MOISH AND MENDEL! MAKE QUICK, MOE AND YUSSLE!
PLEASE GIVE A RUSH, MALKA! HEY, HYMIE, PLEASE HUSTLE!"

THEN THEY RACED LIKE THE WIND! AND THEY GALLOPED SO SHNELL,
ALL HIS CLOTHING BLEW OFF, AND HIS GATKES AS WELL!
SOON HE WAS SO KALT THAT HIS TUSHIE TURNED BLUISH!
HE MOANED AND HE HOLLERED IN ENGLISH AND YIDDISH!

SO, DON'T ACT EMBARRASSED, AND PLEASE DON'T BE RUDE
WHEN THAT FROSTBITTEN ZAYDA ARRIVES IN THE NUDE!
QUICK! WRAP HIM IN BLANKETS! DON'T BEAT 'ROUND THE BUSH'!
AND TIE A HOT WATER BAG ONTO HIS COLD TUSH!

QUICK! FEED HIM SOME CHICKEN SOUP HEISS AS CAN BE!
AND GIVE HIM SOME SHNAPPS AND A GLEZ'L HOT TEA!
'CAUSE HE BRINGS YOU A HOUSEFUL OF CHANUKAH WISHES
AS WARM AND G'SHMACK AS A PLATE OF HOT KNISHES!

AND HE BRINGS THEM FROM OUR HOUSE SO FRIENDLY AND BRIGHT,
SO YOUR HOUSE WILL KEEP GLOWING WITH CHANUKAH LIGHT.

PLUS JOY SWEET AS TSUKKER, AND PEACE AND GOOD-CHEER
AND EVERYTHING FRAYLICH EACH DAY OF THE YEAR!
AND NONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL BE A SHLEMAZEL,
FOR LIFE WILL BRING EACH OF YOU SIMCHAS AND MAZEL!

AND ALL THROUGH THE FUTURE YOUR HOPES WILL COME TRUE,
AND HIMMEL WILL BLESS YOUR MISHPOCHA AND YOU!!!

Despite the levity above I wish everyone

a Freilichen and meaningful Chanukah

Giving Credit Where it is Due

2008-12-19T16:30:00.000+11:00

Many of you would probably have received the Yeshivah Centre's first "annual report" - called Overview 5768.

I have just received it in the mail and have only skimmed through it so cannot comment in detail. In particular what I liked seeing was the financial information in the form of graphs. It is a good start to becoming more transparent and I look forward to seeing more detail in future reports.

So it looks like the executive is reacting to the community. I, for one, think it is a positive start and look forward to more of the same in the future.

Good Shabbos.
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Gut Yom Tov

2008-12-16T10:45:00.001+11:00

Painting of the Alter Rebbe by Miriam Teleshevsky - ArtbyMiriam

From Hayom Yom - 19 Kislev (copied from Chabad.org)

From a letter by my father:*

The 19th of Kislev...the festival on which "He redeemed our soul in peace,"1 and our soul's illumination and vitality were given to us, this day is Rosh Hashana for Chassidus bequeathed us by our sacred forebears,2 identical with the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov.3

"This day is the beginning of Your works,"4 the fulfillment of the true intention behind the creation of man on earth, which is to call forth revelation of the light of the inward part5 of our holy Torah.

On this day, that light is called forth, in a general way, for the entire year. It is our duty, on this day, to awaken our hearts with an innermost, elemental desire and will, in the very core of our heart, that G-d illuminate our souls with the light of His Inner Torah.

"From the depths I called to You, O G-d,"6 to elicit the depth and inwardness of G-d's Torah and G-d's mitzvot from the inwardness and essence of the Infinite (May He be blessed), to illuminate the inwardness of our souls. That all our being (meaning our total existence, the essence and the extensions)7 be devoted to Him alone, to banish from within us any of the natural traits that are evil and unworthy. Instead, all our works and affairs (our Avoda, meaning - davening and Torah and mitzvot, and our worldly undertakings necessary for the maintenance of the body), be with sincere intention for the sake of Heaven, as G-d wishes.

May G-d the Merciful Father have compassion upon us and lead us along the good and righteous path and may we "see His face in uprightness.Tehillim 11:7.

* Dated, Wednesday, Kislev 16, 5662.

The chazan does not wear a tallit for Mincha or Maariv - neither on weekdays, Shabbat and festivals, or Rosh Hashana.

Yahrzeit of the Mezritcher Maggid,8 Tuesday, Parshat Vayeishev 5533 (1772). He is interred in Anipoli.

The Alter Rebbe9 was released from his first imprisonment, Kislev 19, Tuesday, Parshat Vayeishev 5559 (1798) towards evening.

From the Alter Rebbe's letter: This indeed must be made known, that on the day G-d made for us, the 19th of Kislev, Tuesday (the day on which "it was good" was said twice in Torah10) yahrzeit of our holy teacher whose soul is in eden, while I was reading in the book of Tehillim the verse "He redeemed my soul in peace,"11 before beginning the following verse, I emerged in peace by (the act of) the G-d of peace.

* * *

A day of farbrengen and good resolutions towards establishing times to study the revealed Torah12 and Chassidus publicly, and in bolstering the ways of chassidim in true friendship.

It is customary to apportion volumes for the study of the Talmud, according to the procedure set out in Igeret Hakodesh "Hochei'ach Tochi'ach"13. In Lubavitch, since the year 5663 (1902-03) this allocation was made on Tevet 24, yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe, there not being time on Kislev 19.

Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.

FOOTNOTES
1.	Tehillim 55:19.
2.	I.e. the Rebbe'im of Chabad. In the Hebrew there appears after "forebears," this phrase: "May the memory of those saintly and holy ones be a blessing for life in olam haba - the spiritual Hereafter; their souls rest in eden; may their merit protect us."
3.	In the Hebrew: "...of the Baal Shem Tov - may his memory be a blessing."
4.	Siddur p. 288.
5.	See "On the Teachings on Chassidus, Kehot.
6.	Tehillim 130:1.
7.	See translator's notes, p. 122.
8.	Rabbi Dov Ber, successor to the Baal Shem Tov.
9.	Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chassidus. For a full biography, see Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, by Nissan Mindel, Kehot, New York, 1969.
10.	See Rashi, Bereishit 1:7.
11.	Tehillim 55:19.
12.	Talmud, halacha etc.
13.	Tanya p. 633.

The Heroine

2008-12-07T10:45:00.002+11:00

We have all heard and read about the heroine of Mumbai, Sandra Samuels, the nanny who heroically saved 2 year old Moshe Holtzberg. This interview on CNN has appeared on most of the Chabad sites but I thought that it was worth reproducing here. Her devotion to Moshe, as seen in this video, is quite touching.

It is wonderful and only fitting that she has been accepted into Israel.
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Tributes, Gatherings and Practical Stuff

2008-12-02T09:00:00.000+11:00

There have been numerous tributes to those who were murdered in India last week. A casual perusal of Chabad and other Jewish sites will reveal a large number of articles and tributes to the kedoshim. Isaac Balbin, who was in India only a few weeks ago and spent time with the Holtzbergs, wrote an article which Emmanuel sent out. There is also a copy here on Circus Tent.

Last night in Melbourne a "Kinnus" was held at Yeshivah Shul. A large crowd heard a number of speeches and watched the obligatory video of the Rebbe. I understand that the event was organised by the Shluchim of Yeshivah Gedolah and one of the shluchim gave, in my opinion, the most practical address of the evening. He asked that, in honour and memory of the Kedoshim, we take on practical mitzvos. The Shluchim distributed cards and tzedokah boxes. A copy of the card is reproduced below.

Photos of the crowd were taken by Zelig Shaul.

-=-=-=-

I have also received links to websites in support of the families of some of those murdered.

The Holtzberg Family Fund

The Kruman Foundation

The Teitelbaum Orphan Fund

-=-=-=-

The Chabad Houses in Melbourne are holding a memorial this evening:

It is with profound sadness and broken hearts

that we invite you to join us for a

Memorial Service

to honour the memory of

Rabbi Gavriel & Rivkah Holtzberg

Selfless Shluchim of Chabad Mumbai

and all those who were brutally murdered

in the Mumbai Massacre

Tuesday 2 December

7.15 - 8.00pm

at Bnei Brith Hall, 99 Hotham St, E St Kilda

The memorial will be followed by a live broadcast

of the funeral of Gabi & Rivkah in Israel

May Hashem comfort all broken hearts and may we all merit to

see only joy and gladness with the complete redemption of Israel now!

What is a "Chabad House"

2008-11-30T18:45:00.000+11:00

Now that the tragic events in India appear to have ended non-Jews (and possibly many Jews) the world over are wondering about this Jewish group in Mumbai called Chabad. I liked this interview on CNN with Professor Mel Konner and I think he explained things quite well.

Also, for those in Melbourne, there will be a gathering at Yeshivah Shul tomorrow night (Monday, 1 December) at 8:00pm. The notice says:

In light of the recent tragic events,
the community is urged and
encouraged, to take part in a Kinnus
(הקהל) gathering, to hear words of
inspiration and guidance.

לזכר ולעילוי נשמת:
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALEIHEM HASHALOM
WHO DIED AL KIDDUSH HASHEM - MURDERED IN THE
MUMBAI CHABAD HOUSE

Siyum Sefer Torah - Carnegie

2008-11-30T17:00:00.002+11:00

Photos by Zelig Shaul of the Siyum Sefer Torah today for the new Carnegie Chabad House - formerly the Carnegie Minyan.
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A WarmTribute

2008-11-29T22:05:00.000+11:00

Piece on the JTA website by Benjamin Holtzman:

Remembering Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg

November 28, 2008

FIRST PERSON

By Benjamin Holtzman

Just minutes ago I heard the terrible news that five Israeli hostages were found dead inside the Chabad center at Nariman house in Mumbai. Although the media hasn’t officially confirmed their identities yet, it seems quite certain that they are Chabad Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, his wife Rivka, an Israeli couple and another Israeli.

After having been glued to the news for two days straight, relentlessly combing through twitter updates, news reports, and blogs, I am totally exhausted, yet feel compelled to write something about these great people I knew.

I lived in Mumbai for six months last year, and would go to the Beit Chabad with friends for a Shabbat meal about every second week. Over the course of six months, we got to know the rabbi and his wife quite well.

They were wonderful people: warm, inviting and engaging. Gabi would get visibly excited to have so many guests for Shabbat; you could tell it really made his week. He would have a grin on his face almost the entire meal, including during his dvar Torah. He was always so eager to create a communal feeling that he insisted everyone go around the table and say a few words to the group, giving guests four options: either delivering a dvar Torah, relating an inspirational story, declaring to take on a mitzvah or leading a song.

As most of the guests were Israeli backpackers and other passers-through, they might have found this quite novel. For us regulars, it was just Gabi’s shtick. I can still hear him reciting those four options to the group now, as if he had discovered some miraculous way to make everyone involved in the Shabbat with no escape, impressed by his own genius week in and out. He had a devilish smile; you could really see the child still in him, just beneath the surface.

Gabi was also exceptionally thoughtful. Though most of the guests were Israeli, Gabi would give his dvar Torah in English for the sake of the few of us English speakers there with sketchy Hebrew, so we’d understand. Sometimes he spoke line by line first in English, then Hebrew. Gabi would start discussions and made it his personal mission to get everyone talking, to make a group of disconnected Jews feel like a family. It worked. That was Gabi.

Rivki was a certified sweetheart. She’d generally sit apart from Gabi, to spread herself out, and usually sat with the girls. She too relished Friday night dinners -- I think she needed her weekly female bonding time. She’d talk to the girls about the challenges of keeping kosher in India and share exciting new finds at the market together.

You could tell she was far from home, in this dense Mumbai jungle, but she was tough and really made the best of it. She would balance Gabi’s presence, occasionally making comments to people at her table while Gabi was speaking -- not as a sign of disrespect, but to keep the people around her having a good time. That was Rivki: brave, fun-loving and super sweet.

Perhaps the greatest testament to their character was simply the fact that they lived in downtown Mumbai for years on end. Having lived there for just six months, I understand how incredibly taxing just existing in the city is. Even when trying to relax, the city still seems to suck the life out of you. Living as Westerners in modest conditions in the thick of Mumbai, with the restrictions of kashrut and Shabbat, is certainly no small feat.

I’m not sure if they were thrilled with their placement in Mumbai, but they certainly made a good go of it. They were only a few years older than me, in their late 20s, and despite being far from friends and family and perhaps not in the most exciting Chabad placement (compared to Bangkok, Bogota or Bondi), they kept positive and built a beautiful bastion of Jewey goodness.

They chose a life that demonstrated such altruism and care, in the truest sense. The Mumbai Chabad really made a difference to my time in India, and made me feel that much more at home in such a foreign country.

It was at Gabi and Rivki’s where I met Joseph Telushkin, the famous Jewish author. It was at Gabi and Rivki’s where I randomly bumped into friends of friends from back home. It was to Gabi and Rivki’s where we brought our non-Jewish Indian friends who became curious in Judaism. It was at Gabi and Rivki’s where a girl I would later fall for first developed feelings for me, when I brought her some water while she lay sick on the sofa from Indian food poisoning. She was being nursed by Rivki.

We often hear about tragedies in distant, disconnected places and feel frustratingly estranged from them. We want to connect, but can't; we feel as though in a different world. And mere numbers, names and images don’t amount to much. I hope I’ve been able to paint a small picture of two of the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed more tha 140 lives and left hundreds injured.

I know they would have been brave throughout the whole ordeal. Though unconfirmed, it is likely they would have been murdered right as Shabbat was coming in. I feel that this would have provided them with comfort, knowing that they departed this world in a time of peace. I also know the knowledge that their 2-year old son Moishe managed to escape in the arms of his nanny would have provided them with great comfort in their final hours. When I would look at the young Moishe I would see Gabi’s face and Rivki’s carefree spirit.

Chabad lost two soldiers today, emissaries and keepers of the Jewish people. Let us honor their work and their lives in our prayers, in our thoughts and in our deeds, and let us pray for the families of the dozens of other victims of these attacks. May all their souls rest in peace, and may we see an end to violence in our time.

The Worst News

2008-11-29T21:50:00.003+11:00

We come out of Shabbos here in Australia with the sad news that Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg have not survived the siege at the Chabad House. While we are just hearing this those in the United States were aware of this before Shabbos in their time zone.

The feelings are still raw. This news article on JTA states the facts and talks about the Holtzbergs and their impact on India. The article below - by Rabbi Shimon Posner of Chabad of Rancho Mirage - begins to express the anguish that most of us are feeling.

GRIM. EREV SHABBOS.

It's happened. We held out against what we didn't want to hear but now we've heard it... and what do we do? Do we rant? Do we shut up?

We mourn. In silence. But if we stay home and mourn in silence, how is anyone to think anything other than we are just taking a nice long bath? So we mourn silently in public. Without speaking of hope, without speaking of pain; we speak only of the matter at hand – the burial which is now incumbent upon us.

I am sure that there on the other side of the globe competent people are going about that grim task. We sit here and we watch them without seeing. We watch them with our hearts. Not the gruesome scene: whom would that honor, the martyrs or the cowards? No, we watch the sanctity, the pure and sacred bodies who served You with joy in life, and in death did not part from You – and by extension not from us either. And we hear echoes of times past and other places which move forward with glaring clarity -- remarkably en courante?

Rabbi Chananya ben Tradyon is being publically murdered by the Romans. They wrap his body in a Torah and light it on fire. And the saintly one proclaims –in his anguish – "the parchment I see burning but the letters they soar into the air! "

The archive footage comes back to us again of a young exuberant couple: "Hi my name is Rivkie!" And he, with a smile that is open and somehow knowing beyond his years. Beyond his innocence. Baking challah for hundreds, shechting chickens for hundreds, dancing, davening. And then footage of Nariman House surrounded on November 28, 2008.

And we cannot yet mourn because the grim service must still be done. And oh! I nearly forgot! Shabbos is coming! Work must be done! Giving out challahs, verifying the minyan, cleaning, shopping...

And somewhere deep in our psyche we remember; Shabbos we cannot mourn. Shabbos we must rejoice...we are commanded thus. So it is written in no less an authority than children's stories we read decades ago. So Eli Wiesel confirmed in his story of Jews under Communist rule The Jews of Silence. The elderly chossid who cries bitterly at a farbrengen and then "remembers" it is Simchat Torah and he demands everyone rejoice because they will not dictate when we mourn and when we rejoice; only the Torah dictates.

Our medium is virtual and we virtually gather together waiting for a grim and awful funeral procession to commence. We watch the letters floating in the air and we hear the cries of two mothers, two fathers, brothers and sisters and one two-year baby looking for Mommy.
Shabbos is coming towards us and we must go out and greet her. We will go into Shabbos knowing that Sunday looks grim. We will wish that Shabbos will just last all week. A Shabbos that would not end. A Shabbos that would permeate every corner of the globe and every cranny of the human psyche and envelope it in its warmth and glow and melt all evil from hearts which were not born evil or corrupt, until they too – they especially—will sing Shabbos!

I've digressed, and it is this digression which the Jew considers the straightest of lines, obscured though it might be by glaring headlines and the painful present. Good Shabbos... Shabbat Shalom. And as my children have taught me to say: TTYL.

Good News?

2008-11-28T19:40:00.001+11:00

Zelig Shaul sent me news from IBN News that the hostages, including the Rabbi Holtzberg and his wife, have been released from the Chabad House. I could not find confirmation of this from any other news source and hope and pray that it is correct. Hopefully when Shabbos is over the drama will also be over with a good outcome.

The news item below - relating to the situation and how Chabad is responding to it - is from Israeli English news.

Mumbai Update

2008-11-28T14:30:00.002+11:00

Commandos abseiling into the Jewish Centre

Reports in the Age and on ABC have stated that commandos stormed the Jewish Centre but as yet it is not known if the hostages have been released.

We should keep saying tehillim for all people - Jewish and non-Jewish - who are caught up in this tragedy.
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No Definitive News

2008-11-28T06:20:00.001+11:00

The nanny escaping with Moshe Holtzberg, the son of the shluchim

As I woke this morning there is still no definitive news about the situation in the Chabad House, Nariman House, where the shluchim and others have been held. Reports are that all the hostages have been released but the Chabad sites and others are still unclear about the fate and condition of the hostages.

Israel National News
Chabad.org
Lubavitch.com
ABC News
The Age

Please continue saying tehillim for all the hostages and injured. Hopefully this situation will end soon with no more killed or injured.
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India Update

2008-11-27T18:25:00.001+11:00

From COL:

12:21 AM: After 12 hours in captivity, 3 hostages escaped the Chabad House building. Footage shows a woman and her 2 year-old daughter of "foreign nationality" rushing into an ambulance. They reported of 5-6 terrorists in the building.

12:42 AM: A woman who is the maid, and Moshe Holtzberg - child of Chabad Shliach where rescued, also rescued is the cook lady for Chabad.

1:44 AM: Lubavitch spokesman Zalman Shmotkin said that "the terrorists commandeered a police vehicle which allowed them easy access to the area of the Chabad house and threw a grenade at a gas pump nearby, blowing it up."

1:59 AM: Holtzberg's mother-in-law Yehudis Rosenberg: "The nanny said they were alive but unconscious."

I am assuming these are New York times which would make the latest report 90 minutes ago.
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Dire Situation

2008-11-27T16:00:00.007+11:00

I didn't post this previously as most other Jewish websites have been reporting on this but I have had requests from a few people to publicise the situation.

As most of you know there has been a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India with the terrorists apparently targeting Americans and the English. Some of these attacks occured in the vicinity of the Chabad House and apparently three Israelis have been killed r"l and the Shluchim, Rabbi Gavriel & Rivka Holtzberg and their child haven't been heard from for a number of hours.

Please say tehillim and give tzedokah for:
Gavriel Noach ben Freida Bluma
Rivka bas Yehudis Holtzberg
Moshe Tzvi ben Rivka

and for all the missing and injured.

ABC News

Lubavitch.com

Arutz Sheva

COL has some breaking news

Last Photo (I hope)

2008-11-25T19:00:00.000+11:00

Thanks to Moshe D for sending me this. I comes from here and shows most of the Aussies at the Kinnus. It is not such good quality and it is difficult to see everyone but appears to include lots of bochrim who are in Crown Heights.

I intend this to be the last photo of the Kinnus this year.

Spotted at the Kinnus - 2

2008-11-24T16:45:00.000+11:00

Reb Arel Serebryanski

Chaim Tzvi Groner (towards the left)

Ya'akov Barber

Yoram Ulman (L)

Michael Goldhirsh & sons and Morry Wolko (towards the top in the middle)

Morry Wolko, Sholom Mendel Kluwgant, Yisroel Sufrin,

Yitzchok Reisenberg & Reuvi Cooper at the Banquet

Spotted at the Kinnus

2008-11-23T08:45:00.001+11:00

Chaim Tzvi Groner (R)

Benyomin Serebryanski (L)

Yossi (ben R' Arel) Serebryanski

Sholom Mendel Kluwgant (centre), Yisroel Sufrin (far right)

Elozor Gorelik (L)

Mendel Groner (guest speaker at a Thursday night session)

Moshe New (centre)

Yitzchok Reisenberg (left side of table)

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

2008-11-22T11:45:00.003+11:00

We were all saddened to hear the passing of Rabbi Velvel Krinsky ob"m who was niftar on Friday just an hour before Shabbos. He was the eldest sibling in his family and was well known in Australia as a Shochet and Mohel and for his distinctive chazzanus. He was 93 years of age and the oldest chossid in Australia. For the last few years he had lived with his wife at the Montefiore Homes in Melbourne where she still resides.

The levaya will be at Springvale on Sunday at 2:00pm according to the Chevra Kadisha website.

COL has a nice article about him which I am reproducing below.

Rabbi Velvel Krinsky, an elder Chossid of the Lubavitch community in Australia, has passed away today, Friday, in Melbourne some 10 minutes before Shabbos candle lighting.

He was 93.

American born and bred, Krinsky was an army veteran who served in the U.S. army on aircraft carriers in World War II.

Born Ze'ev Arye Krinsky in Plymouth, MA, his father R' Shmaya Krinsky OBM raised him and his siblings in a Chassidic environment, in great contrast to the spirit of the liberal state.

He lived in Worcester, MA, before moving to Australia where he was active in religious affairs as a Schochet, Mohel and Chazzan.

He is survived by his siblings: Mrs. Rivka Hecht, New Haven, CT; Mrs. Chava Shusterman, Chicago, IL; Mrs. Sofie Goodman, Ashdod, Israel; R' Yosef Krinsky, Crown Heights; Rabbi Pinchas Krinsky, Boston, MA; Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Crown Heights; Mrs.Yochi Goldberg, Boston, MA.

And his children: Mrs. Chaya Raisel Glick, Melbourne; R' Hershel Krinsky, Crown Heights; R' Avraham Shmaryahu Krinsky, Melbourne; R' Dovid Reuven Krinsky, Sydney; Mrs. Fraida Teitelbaum, Montreal, Canada.

The Levaya will take place on Sunday (Motzoei Shabbos in the U.S.)

The family in the U.S. will be sitting Shivah at 1450 President Street, Brooklyn, NY. Shachris - 9:40am, Mincha - 4:15pm, Maariv - Bizman

Mrs. Shusterman and Mrs. Goodman are sitting shiva at 6211 North Whipple St in Chicago.

Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom

Historic Photo

2008-11-21T12:45:00.000+11:00

Rav EE HaCohen Yolles, Rav Mordechai Mentlik,

Rabbeinu, Rav Shmuel HaLevi Levitin,

Rav MDB Rivkin, Rav Shlomo Aron Kazarnovsky, Zichronom LiVrochoh

I was just about to post this wonderful photo from 5724 (1964) when I saw that Circus Tent had beat me to it. The advantage that Circus Tent has over me is that he knows all the people pictured - I only recognised the Rebbe and Rabbi Mentlik.

Thanks again to Menachem Kirschenbaum for publicising this photo and for the stories of the Rebbe and pictures each week on his Portrait of a Leader blog.

Kinnus HaShluchim 5769

2008-11-20T22:45:00.004+11:00

Well the International Kinnus HaShluchim has started in Crown Heights and I have started my perusal of the dozens of photographs to seek out the Aussies there. So far photos have appeared on Shturem, Shmais and COL which also has this fairly professional video.

2008 Shluchim Conference Opens from COLlive.com on Vimeo.

Yosef Chaim Kantor (R)

Yossel New (L)

Dovid Sebban (R)

Please let me know if you see someone I have missed.
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On a more positive note...

2008-11-17T08:45:00.001+11:00

I just read this post on Circus Tent and was quite moved by the story. It is more "real" than many other stories of tzaddikim and quite easy to imagine it actually happening.

Assorted Mixed Nuts

2008-11-17T08:15:00.000+11:00

This recent article on Chabad.info - one of the main meshichist websites - struck me as funny and sad. These nutty "shluchim" shlepped their little kids 4 or 5 hours from Montreal to New York for their Opshiren - which was held downstairs in 770 at 2:00am. The reason for the weird time and short trip was so that they would be able to get back to Montreal before Shabbos.

I know that this is not such earth shattering news but to me it is just another example of how far away these people are straying from normal society.