Monday, September 12, 2005

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MODERN ISRAELI HISTORY IN GAZA

The IDF Spokesman's Office issued a timeline of central events that took place in Gaza when it was under Israel's control from 1967 to 2005.
The press release did not discuss Jewish history in Gaza before 1946. Gaza is listed in the Bible as being part of the Promised Land inheritance in Genesis 15, Numbers 34, and Deuteronomy 7 (Rashi). Prominent Jewish communities existed in Gaza during the period of the Second Temple, and historical evidence of significant Jewish presence there exists from the 4th, 7th, and 17th centuries. The remains of a 6th-century synagogue in Gaza were unearthed by archaeologists, and remains of a Gaza synagogue existed until the 1990's. The Jewish community in Gaza was evacuated by the British in 1929, when the Jews were threatened by the Muslims who waged pogroms around the country.

The following, issued by the IDF Spokesman ("www.idf.il"), deals with the modern period:

Today, September 12, 2005, IDF forces left the Gaza Strip. The exit of the IDF from the Gaza Strip concludes a period of 38 years and three months of Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip. Following are central events which took place throughout this period:

<B>The War of Independence:</B>

Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, the area known today as the "Gaza Strip" was part of Palestine under British Mandate rule. The U.N. General Assembly resolution regarding Palestine determined that this area would be part of the Arab state.

At this time, there was only one Jewish community in the area – Kfar Darom, established in 1946. The community, which withstood harassment by local Arabs and endured numerous attacks by the Egyptian army which invaded the area, was eventually evacuated on July 8, 1948.

Two main IDF operations were carried out in the Gaza Strip in late 1948 and early 1949: Operation "Yoav" and Operation "Horev". Both these operations were intended to prevent Egyptian forces from invading and distract them from the main war efforts that the IDF was making in other regions.

On February 24, 1949, Israel and Egypt signed an armistice in which the current borders of the Gaza Strip were determined. Following the armistice Egypt assumed control of the Strip.

<B>The 1950s through Operation "Kadesh":</B>

During the War of Independence, many of Israel's Arab residents fled to the Egyptian controlled Gaza Strip, where they were placed in refugee camps. In the 1950s, the Gaza Strip posed a serious security threat to Israel due to the great number of infiltrators who entered the country and harassed the Israeli communities with repetitive acts of theft, robbery, various terror attacks and murder; actions that strongly resembled those of the "Fadaiun" units who were operated by the Egyptian army. Subsequently the IDF acted on a number of military actions against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.

Operation "Kadesh":
During Operation "Kadesh" the IDF gained control of the Gaza Strip (in November 1956) and established military rule in the area. Israel left the Sinai Peninsula, and the Gaza Strip shortly thereafter, following pressure from the international community. The evacuation of the Gaza Strip was completed on March 6, 1957.

Egyptian forces returned to the Gaza Strip and established military rule in the area. An emergency UN force, created in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 999, (November 4, 1956) was deployed along the Egyptian side of the Gaza Strip.

<B>The Six Day War and the 1970s:</B>
During the tense period preceded the Six Day War, Egypt demanded that the UN force leave the area, which it did on May 19, 1967. [ed. note: The IDF release did not mention that Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser repeatedly accompanied this demand with threats to wipe out Israel and drive it into the sea.]

Over the course of the Six Day War, the IDF regained control over the Gaza Strip following fierce battles in the areas of Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Gaza City. Israel reinstated the military rule in the area.

Terror organizations based themselves in the Gaza Strip and carried out various terrorist attacks targeted against Israelis. these included hurling hand grenades, close range shooting, laying mines and detonating various explosive devices.

The number and severity of attacks increased, and on January 2, 1971, two Israeli children were murdered and their mother was wounded from a hand grenade that was hurled at an Israeli vehicle. The IDF Southern Command increased and concentrated its efforts on preventing the attacks, and by March 1972 a relative calm was reached in the area.

<B>The 1980s:</B>
Over the course of the next several years the security situation in the Gaza Strip remained relatively calm, apart from occasional riots which were on a low enough scale so as not to jeopardize the calm. This situation changed in late 1987. In November of that same year, [Israel's intelligence force] conducted an operation in the Jabaliyah refugee camp to arrest wanted terrorists. This caused high tension amongst its residents.

On December 8, 1987, four Palestinians, all residents of Jabaliyah, were killed and several others were wounded in an automobile accident between an Israeli truck and a Palestinian vehicle. This accident led to a number of violent riots in the Gaza Strip and marked the start of the "First Intifadah" - an uprising of the Palestinian people meant to end the Israeli military rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The "Intifadah" began with public disturbances and stone hurling, but soon escalated to shooting attacks, which became a dominant factor in Palestinian terror activity.

The IDF responded to this new situation and operated to restore the previous public order by reinforcing its units, creating the Gaza division headquarters and developing new combat techniques and doctrine. Despite the positive results of these operations, Palestinian terrorist activity was not eradicated. These attacks did not cease even after the signing of the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. Terror activity finally declined [temporarily - ed.] in 1995.

<B>Central events in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the first Intifadah (November 1987 – September 2005):</B>

[Excerpts:]
May 18, 1994 – The IDF exits areas of the Gaza Strip in accordance with the "Gaza and Jericho First" treaty, and transfers security responsibility to the Palestinian Authority.

July 17, 1994 – Large scale riots at the Erez security crossing - 20 Israeli security forces personnel and an Israeli civilian are wounded during the riots.

September 29, 2000 – Violent clashes erupt between Israel and the Palestinians. From this point on, the Gaza Strip becomes a central combat area and terrorists in the Gaza Strip employ any means possible in order to carry out terror attacks against Israeli targets.

November 20, 2000 - Two Israeli civilians, Miriam Amitai and Gabriel Biton, are murdered and 9 additional civilians [including the three Cohen children who lost legs - ed.] are wounded when Palestinians detonate an explosive device at an Israeli bus near the community of Kfar Darom.

January 30, 2001- Beginning of Palestinian high trajectory (artillery) fire. Palestinians fire mortar shells at the Israeli community of Netzarim for the first time.

April 16, 2001 - Palestinians fire mortar shells at the Israeli city of Sderot for the first time. In response, a decision was made stipulating the entry of IDF forces into the "A" territories (under Palestinian security responsibility) in the area of Beit Hanun, in the northern Gaza Strip, from which the mortar shells were apparently fired.

January 4, 2002 - A Palestinian arms vessel, "Karin A", is caught with large quantities of projectile rockets, anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, handguns and maritime equipment on board.

March 7, 2002 - A Palestinian terrorist infiltrates a religious seminary in the community in Atzmona, murdering 5 Israeli civilians - Tal Kortzvail, Asher Markus, Ariel Za'ana, Eran Pikar, and Eric Krogliac - and wounding 44 additional Israeli civilians. 24 of the wounded sustained severe injuries.

October 24, 2003 - A Palestinian terrorist infiltrates an IDF structure in the community of Netzarim, kills three IDF soldiers - Adi Osman, Sarit Shneior-Senior, and Alon Avrahami - and wounds two additional soldiers.

January 14, 2004 - A female terrorist carries out a suicide bombing attack near the IDF "Magen 12" post (near the Erez crossing). Four Israelis - a civilian, a Border Policeman and two IDF soldiers were killed - and eight additional Israelis were wounded: five civilians and three Border Policemen.

May 2, 2004 - An Israeli woman, Tali Hatuel and her four daughters, Hila, Hadar, Roni and Meirav, are murdered and three additional Israelis- a civilian and two IDF soldiers - are wounded during a shooting attack at an Israeli vehicle traveling along the Kissufim road.

May 11, 2004 - IDF forces begin a pinpointed operation to uncover Kassam manufacturing workshops in the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. During the operation, Palestinians in a side alley launch an RPG rocket at an IDF Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) involved in the operation. The APC, which was carrying several hundred kilograms of explosives, explodes and the six IDF soldiers inside it are killed. As a result of the scale of the explosion the remains of the soldiers' bodies and vehicle parts are scattered across a large distance.

May 12, 2004 - An IDF officer and four IDF soldiers are killed and an additional three IDF soldiers are wounded during an attack on an IDF force working to uncover and detonate weaponry smuggling tunnels and explosive tunnels along the Israeli-Egyptian border, near Rafah. Palestinians fired an RPG rocket at an Armored Personnel Carrier from the force which was preparing to detonate a weaponry smuggling tunnel. As a result, the vehicle, which was carrying a ton of explosive materials exploded – killing five members of the team. Three more soldiers in a nearby D-9 and additional armored vehicle who were protecting the APC were wounded.

June 28, 2004 – Palestinians from the area of Beit Hanoun launch Kassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot – following one of the attacks an Israeli civilian and an Israeli child were murdered. The IDF begins to operate in the area of Beit Hanoun to prevent the launching of rockets from the area.

September 29, 2004 - Two Israeli children are murdered when Palestinians launch several Kassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot. Following these attacks, IDF forces begin to operate in the northern Gaza Strip to prevent the launching of Kassam rockets and mortar shell at Israeli targets.

July 24, 2005 - Two Israeli civilians, Dov and Rachel Kol, are murdered and five additional Israeli civilians are wounded in a coordinated terrorist attack carried out by the Islamic Jihad, the Fatah and the Resistance Committees [just three weeks before the scheduled disengagement - ed.].

July 2005 - Launching of Kassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot escalates.

Since 1967, 87 Israeli civilians and 179 members of the Israeli security forces were killed in the Gaza Strip; of these, 43 civilians and 97 members of the security forces were killed since September 2000. In addition, 1,074 civilians and 3,777 members of the security forces were wounded since 1967; of these, 749 civilians and 668 members of the security forces were wounded since September 2000.

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Katrina, the State and I
by Rabbi Francis Nataf
Sunday,&nbsp;11 September&nbsp;2005, 0 0
The most recent tragedy in the United States has engendered many different feelings and thoughts in all of us. The shocking pictures of human suffering and death in the world's most advanced country give us pause as we try to fathom this great disaster.

Central in the American press is the debate as to whether the US government has done enough to alleviate suffering and tragedy in the effected parts of the country. Indeed, this goes hand-in-hand with the larger issue of the modern welfare-state's responsibility to help the nation's needy in general.

While rare historically, aid to the poor and needy has become an accepted role of any modern government today. On the whole, this is a progressive and welcome development in human history: the state has the organizational and coercive powers to transfer resources on a large enough scale to take care of the poor and needy in unprecedented ways. As with many other areas of progress, however, the communalization of charity does not come without social cost.

Before the modern welfare state took on the responsibility of helping the poor, all decent religions had made this the responsibility of the individual. Thus, all devout individuals took on such a task as part of their fealty to G-d. No doubt, religiously motivated giving continues. Still, since the state has taken on the brunt of the work, it is only natural that most individuals, religious or not, feel less of a personal need to help the poor.

Today, even private non-governmental giving to the poor is largely done through large organizations that make all giving anonymous. It is true that anonymous giving is viewed in a positive light by our sages (<I>Baba Batra</I> 10b); nonetheless, giving through large organizations has gone beyond the point of being an anonymous act. Like welfare that comes from our giving taxes, it has often become an unconscious act – we easily come to view such gifts as just other bills to be paid, the same way as we pay for our utilities or rent.

The end result is that the same mechanism that has allowed us to become more effectively charitable societies is the same mechanism that has made us less charitable individuals. That is because it is in the personal act of giving to another human being that we actually become charitable individuals. When we observe and internalize someone else's suffering to the point of acting upon it, this impacts on who we are. From a theological perspective, this is one of the main reasons for poverty in the world: to allow us to transcend self by acting to help others in their needs. Indeed, this self-transformative function of giving charity is the reason for the famous doctrine that it is better to divide a large gift into one thousand small gifts for a thousand different people, rather than give it all to one person. Though possibly creating less net social benefit, the impact on the giver is maximized. Presumably, the desired result is that the impulse to give becomes an internalized and immediate response whenever we become aware of someone else's need.

I would add that it would be more impactful on the giver's sense of transcendent compassion if charity is given in response to distinct cases of poverty as opposed to a more theoretical knowledge of poverty. In other words, we all know that poverty exists and that we are commanded to respond to it by giving of our own funds to help those in need. Responding on such a level may fulfill the commandment, but falls short of maximizing its impact on our own consciousness. Our giving is likely to have greater impact on us when we are intimately familiar with its discreet purpose.

Alongside the lack of immediacy that is characteristic of modern giving, our media-fed awareness of global suffering has, rather than sensitizing us to human suffering, numbed us by the sheer proportions of suffering that we see in the global community. We feel helpless to make any significant impact to ameliorate the situation, except to turn to our government as the body that is able to make a difference. On some level, the interconnectedness of the "global community" has left us with no community at all. In true communities, the wealthy personally know the poor and vice-versa. Thus, suffering is localized to the point that one feels that he can make a difference. It is in such a context that a person is likely to truly internalize another's suffering.

Are we to resign ourselves to the inevitable desensitization to suffering brought about by the various features of modern society outlined above? Certainly, that would be the course of least resistance, and we could still claim that from a technical point of view we are not remiss in keeping the commandments. This claim notwithstanding, we would do well to put some effort into making charity a more personal endeavor.

I don't know how practical it is for most of us to travel to some of the refugee centers in the southeastern United States (though it may be uncomfortable to remind ourselves that we have likely found it practical to travel even further on our vacations). Be that as it may, most of us do have easier access to suffering and poverty in the poorer neighborhoods of our cities, in old age homes and in orphanages. Perhaps, more of us need to visit these places to have a more immediate sense of suffering and what it is that we are doing with our giving. This is only one possible small idea concerning how to make charity a more personal enterprise in our society. Regardless of how we are to do it, it is most critical that we find ways of engaging in this precept in a way that it can once more engage us.

Giving Over Gaza Endangers Lives

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Giving Over Gaza Endangers Lives

Yesterday, the IDF abandoned the Gaza Strip and formally handed over authority in the area to the Palestinians.  Immediately, swarms of Palestinians filled the area, looting, destroying and burning the synagogues and whatever was left standing.  "Talks about autonomy are the first step to giving over parts of Eretz Yisroel - not only small sections but major territory such as Yehudah, Shomron, Azza, Chevron and Yerushalayim... This is actual danger to life!"  Thus the Rebbe warned Moshe Katzav, who now serves as the President of the government of expulsion and retreat.
More in full article.


The most painful aspect of the destruction of Gush Katif was that it was done with the assistance, support and choice of Jews, including so-called "Charedi" parties. This reminds us of the continuation of the Rebbe's words to Katzav:

"It's not proper that a Jew who believes in Hashem and His Torah should Chas V'Shalom be a partner to such things and sign on such things. Therefore, it's better that the government should fall apart and there should be no Jewish government, because these things are being discussed only because of pressure from the nations of the world (as they themselves say), and if this is the case it's better to set up a government of non-Jews in Israel and they will decide from the outset what to do about Israel, at least it won't be Jews signing on such things!"




אז....



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THE FOUNDING OF A JEWISH COMMUNITY IN CYPRUS

A historic milestone in the history of Cyprus will be marked this week with the dedication of the Cyprus Jewish Community Center-Chabad in Larnaca. It is the only synagogue in the country.
The ceremony will also include the festive introduction of a Torah Scroll (donated by the Yehudiel family of Ashdod), the laying of the cornerstone for a mikveh (ritual bath), and the naming of the community's rabbi. The new synagogue and Jewish Center was built with the help of the Rohr family of Miami and New York.

Rabbi Arie Ze'ev Raskin, a Chabad emissary who has been in Cyprus for two years, will be named rabbi of the Cyprus Jewish community. Formerly of Kiryat Malachi, he, his Jerusalem-born wife Shaindel and their four small children are the only observant Jewish family in Cyprus. "But the people here are very interested in keeping up their connections with the Jewish People and the Jewish Land," Rabbi Raskin told Arutz-7 today, "and they are excited about the opening of the Center."

Rabbi Raskin explained that the history of Jews in Cyprus is practically non-existent. In 1571, the conquering Turks tried to bring Jews from Greece and the Holy Land, mainly Tzfat, to Cyprus, but the Jews returned home at their first opportunity. The next Jews to arrive were those who were prevented entry to the Land of Israel by the British following World War II. Some 52,000 of them were diverted to Cyprus for various durations; 2,000 babies were born in Cyprus as they waited to enter Israel.

"We're now creating a brand-new life for Jews here," Rabbi Raskin said, after months of efforts both in education and in obtaining government approval for the new center. "There are currently some 300 families here - many from Israel, and others from Russia, England and even Lebanon."

Among the Jewish activities provided by the fledgling community are Sunday school classes and a small nursery school, staffed by two Chabad young women from Israel on a form of "national service."

The Sunday school began with three children, Rabbi Raskin said, "then it went up to 10, then up to 18, then down to 5, and now we're back up to 20. With all the ups and downs, we can't become discouraged; it's a long process, but the tried-and-true methods of bringing Torah life to Jews will prove themselves. For very long, we only had nine Jews for Sabbath services, making for a very frustrating experience in missing only one for the necessary quorum. Now, thank G-d, we have a quorum every Sabbath."

Guests at the festive dedication ceremony will include Israel's Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Mayor of Larnaca, ambassadors, and Jewish communal leaders from Israel and other countries. The ceremony will be sponsored by the European Rabbis Center, which provides aid to Jewish communities in Europe.

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OUTPOURING OF HELP FROM ISRAEL AND JEWS TO NEW ORLEANS

Israel and various Jewish communities have responded in multiple ways to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, including sending divers, money, advisors, and more.
* An IDF delegation coordinating the transport of humanitarian aid from Israel to the disaster area in New Orleans is leaving this evening for the United States. The delegation is headed by Chief IDF Medical Officer Brig.-Gen. Yechezkel Levy. The delegation will meet with various United States officials and will recommend the coordination of a humanitarian aid delegation to the disaster area. Prime Minister Sharon informed U.S. President Bush that Israel was prepared to dispatch medical and search-and-rescue teams, trauma experts, field hospitals, medical kits and temporary housing equipment.

The Foreign Ministry has called on Israeli companies and organizations to donate vital goods and equipment, and the call has already been answered by many. By request of the American authorities, the items needed are plastic sheeting, water, baby food, disposable diapers, cleaning agents, large tents, medical equipment (excluding medicines), and food.

* A first shipment of Israeli-government sent supplies is to be dispatched to New Orleans today or tomorrow. "Israel was one of the first nations to offer relief aid, if not the first," said Israeli Ambassador to Washington Danny Ayalon. The shipment includes IDF "battle ration" meals, preserved foods, water, blankets, clothes, tents, generators, and sanitary facilities.

* The Orthodox Union has established a fund to aid victims, sent a special representative to Memphis to look into the plight of those New Orleans residents who fled there, and assigned youth advisors to assist the work in Memphis. Together with the Rabbinical Council of America and Yeshiva University, the OU will serve as a conduit for funds designated for communities and families affected by the hurricane. All money collected will be dispersed directly to those in need and no overhead costs will be taken.

* Agudath Israel of America has similarly launched an emergency relief campaign to provide assistance to those whose lives have been uprooted by the Katrina tragedy.

* Magen David Adom has also announced the formation of a special fund for the same purpose.

* A group of Zaka volunteers in the United States is preparing to travel to New Orleans in order to aid in the removal of bodies strewn in the city streets.
Zaka's US branch has coordinated the effort with the Chief of Louisiana Police, Col. Henry Witthorn, and will operate under his command. Zaka is a humanitarian organization dealing with emergency rescue, recovery of body parts, and response to incidents of terrorism, accidents or disasters.

* Israeli volunteer divers headed to New Orleans to help look for bodies in flooded homes. Coordinated by IsraAID (the Israel Forum for International Aid), the Israeli delegation has extensive experience in maritime rescues around the world. The 20-strong delegation includes four doctors. The divers will sift through the murky and poisoned waters with powerful flashlights, expecting to find many of the hundreds or even thousands of dead bodies still trapped in houses or elsewhere.

* Israel's five universities - Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Haifa University, Bar Ilan University and Ben Gurion University - have opened their doors, at the request of the Jewish Agency, to students from New Orleans wishing to study in Israel. The initiative was taken co-operation with the Hillel Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and the United Jewish Communities (UJC).

Tel Aviv University has opened up its medical school to give "academic sanctuary" to students from Katrina-ravaged Tulane University in New Orleans. Hebrew University will accept New Orleans students at its Rothberg International School for a semester or year's studies, and will be housed in the university's Mt. Scopus dormitories. The provost of the Rothberg International School, Prof. Jaime Kapitulnik, left Thursday for the U.S. in order to further arrangements for accepting the students. "In order to ease the way for the students, we will shorten the acceptance process," said Prof.Kapitulnik. "We will also adjust our studies in accordance with their needs and will provide scholarships."

Some 20 students have already shown interest in coming to study in Israel.

* Chabad-Lubavitch volunteers from New Orleans, Houston and elsewhere were active in many ways, including using boats and other means to evacuate people stuck in their homes.

* Daniel P. Aldrich, a professor of Political Science at Tulane University in New Orleans and a graduate of Darche Noam Yeshiva in Israel, was one of those who was forced to evacuate from New Orleans. In an article published by www.Aish.com, he wrote as follows:

"...Even though we are homeless and possession-less, we are quite lucky: we are alive and healthy... When we arrived in Houston and found a local kosher restaurant where we could break out of our refugee diet of crackers and peanut butter, someone nearby overheard my family talking about our "adventure" (as we described it to our children). After finishing our meal, we went to the front counter of the restaurant to pay. The Indian manager gestured at an empty table and told us, smiling, "That family paid for you." "What family?" we asked. "That Orthodox family sitting in the corner," he said, who had picked up on our plight; what a kiddush Hashem, a sanctification of God's name... Rabbis and Jews from Israel, from Boston, from Houston have contacted us with offers of aid. Friends and family from around the country tried to contact us, to offer us a place to stay, to tell us that they want to help, to pray for us, to replace the physical things that we lost... I called my rabbi and asked him what we should do. After listening to me rant and rave, Rabbi Friedman said: Imagine that you've been given this time as a gift. Forget about the material things that you lost; those can be replaced. What would you do with this newly acquired free time, when schools are not in session and you have no work responsibilities? I tried to imagine this disaster as a gift from God, and realized that my family and I now have the chance to learn more Torah, to visit with friends and family, to reconnect to what truly matters...Don't think that God is sending these messages to those people who don't want to believe in him, one of my teachers told me; he is speaking directly to you, to us, to those of us who recognize the Creator in all that happens..."

New Sefer: Dvar Malchus Dvarim w/ Sources

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New Sefer: Dvar Malchus Dvarim w/ Sources

A new sefer has recently been released by Machon Malchus She'Bitiferes:  The Dvar Malchus of Dvarim, 5751 with full annotation.  The sefer was published in memory of Hatamim Ephraim A"H Vexler and includes all sichos of Dvarim 5751 together with sources, as well as a summary of each sicha.  Many printing errors that were in the original Sefer Hasichos have been corrected.  The sefer also includes many handwritten briefs of the Rebbe, various diaries and more.




Nichum Aveilim - Levertov Family

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Nichum Aveilim - Levertov Family

The Levertov Family is sitting Shiva for their father R. Moshe Levertov at 688 Lefferts Avenue (between Albany and Troy Avenue)

Zmanim for davening is as follows: (They need 3 minyonim) so everyone is asked to come whenever possible.

Shachris: 6:45;8:00 and 9:30
Mincha: 3:15 and 6:30
Marriv: Bezmanoh  (3 minyonim needed)
 
Nichum Aveillims can be sent to: levertov@verizon.net 





R. Kirshenzaft Spends Shabbos in Chevron

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R. Kirshenzaft Spends Shabbos in Chevron

R. Yigal Kirshenzaft, shliach of the Rebbe to Gush Katif, spent Shabbos in Chevron with his family.  The Kirshenzafts were guests of R. Danny Cohen, shliach in Chevron.  During Shabbos, R. Kirshenzaft farbrenged with residents of Chevron.  Chassidic artist R. Baruch Nachshon arrived on foot from his home in Kiryat Arba, and added a great deal to the farbrengen.

A special farbrengen was held after Shabbos for youth from Kiryat Arba and Chevron in the yard of R. Danny Cohen's home. The farbrengen was organized by Yoni Attia of the Youth Activity Center of Beis Chabad.





Melaveh Malka for Israelis in Twin Cities

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Melaveh Malka for Israelis in Twin Cities

On Motzei Shabbos, a melaveh malka was held in the Beis Chabad for Hebrew speakers in the Twin Cities, lead by R. Aharon Maimon.  Participants in the farbrengen were strengthened in their faith in the Rebbe's message of redemption.  Rabbi Feller and R. Shmuel Friedman also farbrenged and spoke about the divine service of the month of Elul.




Tzfas: 8 Sets of Twins in 48 Hours

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Tzfas: 8 Sets of Twins in 48 Hours

One of the lucky fathers
Last week, an unprecedented event happened in Tzefas when eight sets of twins were born within 48 hours.  This made headlines in Israel and the spike in births is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the days of Moshiach, when "Women will give birth every day" and "women will give birth to six at a time." 

The burden of caring for all these additional babies was eased by a gift of baby monitors, donated to the hospital by the Shifra-Pua organization, a division of Nshei Chabad in Tzefas directed by Mrs. Rochel Hendel.





Registration for Camp Machane Moshiach 770

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Registration for Camp Machane Moshiach 770

Arriving in 770
With the end of the summer season, the staff of Machaneh Moshiach - a camp for children spending Tishrei in 770 with the Rebbe - have begun preparing a program full of fun and Chassidishe content.  Chabad.info has been informed that dozens of children have already registered.  The dedicated counselors will supervise the children from the moment they land in New York until their return to Eretz Yisroel or their countries of origin.  The goal of Machaneh Moshiach is to ensure that each child gets the maximum spiritual benefit out of the month of Tishrei with the Rebbe.

The program includes regular shiurim, learning Tanya Baal Peh, mivtzayim and trips.  This, of course, is all in addition to absorbing the special Tishrei atmosphere in 770.



 



Kiddush Levana in Times Square

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Kiddush Levana in Times Square

As they do every month, the "Soldiers of Beis Dovid", the students who are learning in this year's Kvutza in 770 went to Times Square for a grand, public Kiddush Levana, as per the hora'ah of the Rebbe, MH"M.

Continued with more pictures in Full Article.


The event was permeated with spreading the Rebbe's message of redemption, which is part of the liturgy of Kiddush Levana:  "Seek out Hashem their G-d and their king Dovid."  All those present saw clearly how the Rebbe's assurance that "the world is ready" is literally true.  People of all ethnicities and nationalities were eager to hear the message of Moshiach, and the Temimim also used the opportunity to explain the 7 Noachide Laws. The onlookers didn't pass up the opportunity to take pictures...
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'Nadir' Band Visits Crown Heights

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'Nadir' Band Visits Crown Heights

R. Avichzer makes Havdalah
31 youths, members of the 'Nadir' band, spent an inspiring Shabbos in Crown Heights, organized by the Mercaz Shiurei Torah Organization, which serves as a Beis Chabad for Israelis.

The group contacted Mercaz Shiurei Torah only a few days before Shabbos to let them know of their desire to spend Shabbos in Crown Heights.  Mercaz Shiurei Torah, not wanting to let down even a single Jew, worked tirelessly around the clock to make all the arrangements for the group.

A full program was prepared:  A tour of the Tzivos Hashem Museum, which was opened especially for the group by R. Yerachmiel Benjaminson, director of Tzivos Hashem.  (The museum is generally closed on Fridays.)

The group then toured the women's mikvah with Mrs. Henya Laine, who explained the Jewish concept of purity and the holiness of a Jewish marriage. 


The Friday Night meals were hosted by two families, the Poppers and Winners, and the Shabbos day meal was hosted by the Waitman family. Mrs. Molly Resnick of Manhattan was the guest speaker.

Of course no Shabbaton would be complete without a tour of 770, and the group was shown all the places where the Rebbe would daven, farbreng, give out dollars, and answer his heavy correspondence.

All members of the group left Crown Heights spiritually satisfied and inspired by their first up-close encounter with Chabad.



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