Moshiach.tv Blog: Wednesday, September 07, 2005

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(Associated Press) "Haunted" Inn to Become Chabad House

MERION, Pa. -- Rabbi Shraga Sherman knows about the murder and he's heard about the ghosts. But it's going to take a lot more than that to scare him away from the Colonial-era General Wayne Inn, a supposedly haunted building that he's transforming into a synagogue, Jewish community center and upscale kosher restaurant.
Continued in full article

Sherman, director of Chabad Lubavitch of the Main Line, is spearheading a $1.5 million renovation to give his growing Orthodox congregation a new home in the Philadelphia suburbs.

The plan is welcomed by the Lower Merion Historical Society, which has seen a parade of restaurant owners pull out of the National Historic Site, where guests have included George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette and the inn's namesake, Revolutionary War Maj. Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The building has been vacant since 2002.

"To save historic structures they have to be repurposed," said society president Jerry Francis. "We're looking for the renewal of the General Wayne Inn."

Whether the new tenants will be welcomed by Wilhelm, the Hessian soldier who is one of several reported apparitions at the inn, remains to be seen.

Sherman is unfazed. He said community support, plus the inn's "phenomenal location (and) functional space," make it the perfect site for the new Chabad Center for Jewish Life.
The synagogue space alone _ which he said might hold up to 200 people _ would quadruple the capacity of the current Lubavitch facility in nearby Bala Cynwyd. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday.

The plans add another chapter to the colorful history of the inn. The original portion of the inn was built in 1704, many decades before Philadelphia's elite turned the area into a tony collection of towns known as the Main Line.

Over the centuries it has stayed true to its initial use as a roadside tavern. Along with guests such as Washington, Lafayette and Wayne, Edgar Allan Poe is rumored to have worked on "The Raven" there.

And Wilhelm, according to Francis, was buried in the basement.

There are varying versions of the Wilhelm story, but Francis' tale goes like this: Wilhelm was shot during a skirmish in 1777 by colonists who, afraid of British reprisals, hid his body in the cellar. The soldier couldn't be buried outside because the ground was frozen.

Wilhelm is reported to be a charming prankster, Francis said. Claims of other ghostly appearances _ and occurrences _ investigated by paranormal societies also seem to be more playful than frightful: a cash register inexplicably filled with water; napkins on perfectly set tables mysteriously ending up on the floor.

But the inn's karma seemingly took a turn for the worse with the murder of restaurateur James Webb in December 1996. Webb was shot in the head by business partner Guy Sileo Jr., who is serving a life sentence.

The next three eateries at the site failed, but Bob Duncan, director of building and planning for Lower Merion Township, said the Lubavitchers' mixed-use idea might be what's needed to revive the property.

"This is a different concept than anything that's gone through there previously," Duncan said. "It could work."

And Rabbi Akiva Laughed...

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And Rabbi Akiva Laughed...

Chabad House of Gush Katif in ruins

Once a group of chachamim were on their way up to Yerushalayim. When they reached Har Hatzofim they tore their clothes. When they reached the Har Habayis they saw a fox going out of the place of the Kodshei Kodoshim, and they started to cry. R. Akiva laughed. They said, why are you laughing? He said, why are you crying? They said, in the place were the Torah says that "A stranger who approaches it will die" a fox is now roaming. Should we not cry? He said to them, because of this I laugh. It says: "Trustworthy witnesses have borne witness for me, Uriah Hakohen and Zecharia ben Yevrechya. What is the connection between Uriah and Zechariah? Uria lived during the time of the first Beis Hamikdash and Zecharia during the second. But the passuk is making a relationship between the nevua of Uriah and the Nevuah of Zecharia. By Uriah it is written "Tzion will be plowed lik! e a field." In Zecharia it says "Old men and women will once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem." Until Uriah's prophecy was fulfilled, I was afraid that Zecharia's prophecy would not be fulfilled. Now that I see Uriah's prophecy fulfilled, I know that Zecharia's prophecy will be fulfilled as well. At this, the sages said: Akiva you have comforted us; Akiva you have comforted us.

Picture by Yisroel Bardugo

Those were the Days...

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Those were the Days...

On Tuesday night, a large Siyum haRambam was held in the Chabad yeshiva of Krayot, in memory of Rebbetzin Chana Pizam A"H. A large crowd, including Rabbanim of Chaifa and Krayot, participated. In honor of the event, Chabad.info presents a gallery of pictures of the second Siyum HaRambam ceremony organized by R. Yigal Pizam, shliach of the Rebbe MH"M to Kiryat Shmuel, R. Leibel Schildkraut, R. Yitzchak Ben Ami and others.

Enter full article to view the gallery.

"Take Olive Wood, Build the Beis Hamikdash

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"Take Olive Wood, Build the Beis Hamikdash

On Rosh Chodesh Elul 5740, the Rebbe spoke a sicha on the Nevuah of Zecharia, "a nevuah for all generations" as the Rebbe emphasized. The sicha was about every Jew's obligation to take actual steps towards building the Beis Hamikdash.

"When we come to the first of the 6th month, we open with a nevuah that's applicable to all generations. We see what this day reveals, arouses and encourages, to fulfill "going up to the mountain." To nullify the question of now is a fitting time to build a house for Hashem... The question can be nullified through practical deeds, through going above and beyond his personal situation. This expresses in a manner of deed the act of "taking olive wood" etc.

To listen to the Sicha (14 minutes) click here

Moshiach.tv Blog

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

I'm in Portland Oregon

Darkness Transformed to Light

And Rabbi Akiva Laughed...

Those were the Days...

"Take Olive Wood, Build the Beis Hamikdash

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