“He was sentenced to death for the five victims who died outright. The sixth victim, 32-year-old Sandip Patel, of Plum, was left paralyzed and died of complications from pneumonia in 2007.” more@VosIzNeias.com
“When Pawel looks into the mirror, he can still sometimes see a neo-Nazi skinhead staring back, the man he was before he covered his shaved head with a skullcap, traded his fascist ideology for the Torah and renounced violence and hatred in favor of God. “ moreNYTimes.com
“According to a source in a Jewish Week report, the Rabbinical Council of America is considering expelling Avi Weiss for giving semicha to a woman, Sara Hurwitz. Avi Weiss’ activities over the last couple of years - including policies of his school, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and his introduction of “Open Orthodoxy” ” more@Matzav.com
“One secret of the success of the Jewish people is “Love your fellow[Jew] as yourself.” Whenever Jews sitting together swallow a sip of hard liquor, immediately “when wine enters, secrets emerge,” so the love between them is strengthened. This is the secret of the drinking on Purim. Haman accused us of being “a separated, scattered people,” without unity. Each year we disprove him as we gather and solidify our unity. Great is the drinking of Purim, for it draws our hearts close to each other! [Rebbe of Vorka] “ KabbalaOnline.org
“On Purim even adult often dress up. For example a Litvak may wear a Shtreimel if the purim spirit grabs him. The Halacha clearly states (OC 91) that you must daven like you would appear before important people. Rav Vosner was asked (Shevet HaLevi 10:18:1) if it is permitted to daven Mincha or Maariv wearing a Purim get up? ” more@Revach.net
“”Jud Süss — Rise and Fall” tells the story of one man’s Faustian pact with the Hitler regime. The film shows Ferdinand Marian as a tragic figure who gained and then lost everything after starring in Goebbels’ pet project. But his biographer has berated the filmmakers for deviating from history and many critics have been scathing.” more@Spiegel.de
A New York Hasidic woman passed away last month leaving behind 15 children, over 200 grandchildren and enough great-grandchildren to bring her total number of living family members to around 2,000. Yitta Schwartz—who lived to the old age of 93 outlasting her husband by 34 years—was productive even among her community of Satmar Hasidic Jews for whom having kids is a tribute to God. So much so that she spent much of her time attending various events—brises, first haircuts, bar mitzvahs, etc., reports the Times. “She would appear like the Prophet Elijah,” said her eldest living daughter who is 64. “Everybody was fighting over her!”more@Gothamist.com
“WHEN Yitta Schwartz died last month at 93, she left behind 15 children, more than 200 grandchildren and so many great- and great-great-grandchildren that, by her family’s count, she could claim perhaps 2,000 living descendants. Mrs. Schwartz was a member of the Satmar Hasidic sect, whose couples have nine children on average and whose ranks of descendants can multiply exponentially. But even among Satmars, the size of Mrs. Schwartz’s family is astonishing. A round-faced woman with a high-voltage smile, she may have generated one of the largest clans of any survivor of the Holocaust — a thumb in the eye of the Nazis.” moreNYTimes.com
“The Daas Chochma UMussar quotes a letter from Reb Yeruchom. Reb Yeruchom writes that he wanted to leave the Mir Yeshiva (where he was the legendary Mashgiach) to go to live Kelm. He faced all sorts of obstacles that were clearly orchestrated from Shamayim. He decided to perform a Goral HaGra to determine his path. He came to a pasuk that shook him deeply. “B’Tab’os HaAron Yihiyu HaBadim Lo Yasuru Mimenu” the poles of the Aron should remain in their rings and not be removed (Truma 25:15). Unlike the other Keilim in the Mishkan, the Torah says the poles of the Aron must remain fixed in their place even if the Bnei Yisroel was not traveling.” more@Revach.net
“The funeral for Martin Grossman took place Wednesday evening at the Niklesburg Bais Medrash in Monsey. Rabbi Mendy Katz of Aleph Institute and Rabbi Leibel Miller of Florida’s Chevra Kadisha assisted in the arrangements.
Martin Grossman, executed in Florida Tuesday evening for the 1984 murder of a 26-year-old wildlife officer, was buried in Liberty, NY, Wednesday night. ” more@ColLive.com
