Tuition Crisis

Thanks to wannabe and Jake for pointing this post - Financial Realities in the Frum World - in the Beyond BT blog.
The author, "Sam Smith", raises some valid points which I know are of interest and relevant to families in Melbourne and Sydney.

I found this paragraph particularly pertinent:

In general I became frum to enter a society that valued the spiritual over the material. Yet, the reality is that the demands of this society create an arguably greater need for high-level material accomplishment than the society whose values I left behind. They force a person (without inherited wealth) to stay late at the office, take that second job, send the wife out to work, etc. – not to become wealthy but to pay the bills.

Boruch Hashem - They're Free!

Fantastic news! The two miners in Tasmania have finally been rescued after 13 days (and 14 nights) trapped one kilometer underground. Todd Russell and Brant Webb are look surprisingly well (as can been seen in the photo above from The Age) considering their long ordeal.

I am amazed at how strong these guys are both physically and mentally. More than likely things will catch up with them after the initial euphoria has worn off but for the moment they are doing really well. Speculation is that they will attend the funeral of their workmate Larry Knight, who died in the accident, later today.

Hopefully Russell and Web and the family of Larry Knight will be suitably compensated by the owners of the mine. Time will tell.
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Keren Malki Blog

The Keren Malki Foundation was formed by Arnold and Frimet Roth in memory of their daughter Malki who was killed by a Palestinian murderer in the Sbarro bombing of August 2001.
The Malki Foundation is "focused on giving practical assistance to families who have a child with serious disabilities" in Israel. This is it's main aim and the website shows all the good deeds that they are doing.

Arnold, who is originally from Melbourne, and his wife Frimet also lecture throughout the world and write articles exposing the double standard that applies to Israel. The Keren Malki website contains their writings and speeches and much related material on terrorism.

The newest addition to the website is a blog - This Ongoing War - which is a report of events in Israel which are "under-reported, unreported and simply misunderstood". The media, especially outside Israel, reports very few of the terrorist events that occur - especially if these events are foiled by Israel. This Ongoing War reports these events and is an eye-opener for those of us who do not read or have access to the Israeli press.
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Rabbi Hodakov

Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov's yartzeit occurred the other day on the 18th day of the Omer. Rabbi Hodakov was, according to Chabad.org, the "Chief of Staff of the office of the Lubavitcher Rebbe". The fact is that he was an extremely close assistant to the Rebbe, a chassidisher yid and a personality in his own right.

One of the stories about him which appears on Shmais appeals to me. It shows that he had a similar outlook to the Rebbe:

In 1969 (the year of the first moon landing) a Bochur on Merkoz Shlichus was supposed to go visit Little Rock, Arkansas where he had a list of 8 Jews to meet. When he called ahead and found out that only three of the families were in town he called Rabbi Hodakov to ask if he should go there or skip it and go on to the next town on his itinerary.
Rabbi Hodakov answered "America just spent a billion dollars to send a man to the moon and there isn't even one Yid there. For three Yiddin certainly you should go!"

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Miracle in Tasmania

The trapped miners - Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 37

Thank G-d the two miners trapped in the Beaconsfield mine collapse have been found alive and well after being buried for over 5 days. According to reports the miners, who were trapped nearly a kilometer underground, were saved by being in a cage during the collapse. Unfortunately one man, Larry Knight, was killed.

At the present time rescuers are working on freeing the men sometime tomorrow morning.

Miracles do happen!

(See the story at News.com.au)
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15 Years On

Tonight, 28 Nissan, will mark 15 years from the renowned "I have done all I can..." sicha.

Chabad.org summarises that moment:

On the eve of Nissan 28, 5751 (April 11, 1991), the Lubavitcher Rebbe issued an emotional call to his followers, and to the world Jewish community, to increase their efforts to bring Moshiach and the ultimate redemption. Spoken in an anguished voice and couched in uncharacteristically personal terms, the Rebbe's words deeply shocked the Chassidim present in the Rebbe's synagogue and reverberated throughout the global Chabad-Lubavitch community. "How is it that the Redemption has not yet been attained?" the Rebbe cried. "That despite all that has transpired and all that has been done, Moshiach has still not come? What more can I do? I have done all I can to bring the world to truly demand and clamor for the Redemption…The only thing that remains for me to do is to give over the matter to you. Do all that is in your power to achieve this thing--a most sublime and transcendent light that needs to be brought down into our world with pragmatic tools... I have done all I can. I give it over to you. Do all that you can to bring the righteous redeemer, immediately! I have done my part. From this point on, all is in your hands..."

This call shook all of Chabad and even those who are not Chabad chassidim. Fifteen years later we are still waiting for Moshiach. Without the Rebbe's guidance and encouragement the task seems daunting. The thing is that we all have strengths in different areas. If we use these strengths in a positive way maybe we can make a difference and hasten Moshiach's coming.
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Is this Coles on Carslile Street?

YoYenta directed me to this great video. Enjoy!

Tassie in the (Canadian Jewish) News

This report about the Hobart Jewish community appeared in The Canadian Jewish News. The Clarks do a wonderful job there with Rabbi Yossi Gordon being the official shaliach.

Pnina Clark is the sister of Leah Miriam Heidingsfeld. Their father, Rabbi Shick, was a Rav in Sydney for many years.

(Hat tip to Shturem.net)
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Aussie in the News

Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik, center, talks with Colorado State University students Lyle Pakula, right, and Michael Foxman before the start of a community Passover Seder on Wednesday. Gorelik is director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado, and Foxman is president of the Chabad student organization on campus. The photograph was taken before sundown Wednesday, before Passover officially began. Gorelik said because taking photographs is considered work, it isn’t allowed during the Seder. (Emphasis is mine)

I originally saw this article about Yerachmiel Gorelik, who is now a shaliach in Colorado, on CrownHeights.info. The original news report appears in The Daily Reporter-Herald of Colorado here.

Yerachmiel is the son of Rabbi Elozor and Raizel Gorelik of FREE.
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והיא שעמדה

From www.drybonesblog.com
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A Kosher and Freilichen Pesach

Graphic from Passover on the Net

Wishing you all a Kosher and Freilichen Pesach.

Enjoy your Sedarim (or Seder if you are lucky enought to be in Eretz Yisroel).
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Still Looking

Another advert for Principal of Yeshivah appears on COL. The wording is is the same as in a previous ad seen on Shmais and reproduced on this blog here.

The ad appears in pdf format here.
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Yud Alef Nissan

If you want to see more photos of the Rebbe go to Shturem.net
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A Pesach Movie

From Jewish Impact Films (with thanks to Jake)