Jewish And Breaking News

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 05:46 PM CDT Borsalino Hats in the News The Italian evening newspaper "Corriere de la Sera" carried an extensive report last week on the branch of the Italian hat producer Borsalino that recently opened in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim. The article contains various quotes from the store's manager, Mendy Bastomsky, of Kfar Chabad. Below are some excerpts from the article: The store is the company's first branch in Israel. The manager, Mendy Bastomsky, aged 33, is married with four children, and he is a Chabad chassid. For twelve years, he has worked for various hat manufacturers in Jerusalem. He loves northern Italy, and he says he attends company meetings five or six times a year. "Whenever I go there, I don't feel strange," he says. Borsalino has been producing hats for the chareidi community for over one hundred years. "We started working at the beginning of the twentieth century, more or less at the request of chareidi Jews," explains Monica Abata, who has been handling the Israeli market for the past ten years, over the phone from Italy. (SOURCE: COL.ORG.IL) To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Health Department Will Spray Parts of Brooklyn for Mosquitoes on September 10th\ Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:36 PM CDT To reduce mosquito activity and the risk of West Nile virus, the Health Department will spray pesticide from trucks on parts of Brooklyn on the night of Wednesday, September 10, 2008 between the hours of 7:15 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. the following morning, weather permitting. In case of bad weather, spraying will be delayed until the next night. More information on West Nile virus surveillance is available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvrrs.shtml. Location(s) of Application Georgetown Flatlands Mill Basin Mill Island Bergen Beach East Flatbush Paerdegat Basin to the East Flatlands Avenue and Utica Avenue to the North; Flatbush Avenue to the West Shore Parkway to the South For this spraying, the Health Department will use Anvil 10+10 (Sumithrin), a synthetic pesticide (pyrethroid). When properly used, this product poses no significant risks to human health, but the Health Department recommends that people take the following precautions to minimize direct exposure: · Whenever possible, stay indoors during spraying. Persons with asthma or other respiratory conditions especially are encouraged to stay inside during spraying since direct exposure could worsen these conditions. · Air conditioners may remain on. But if you wish to reduce the possibility of indoor exposure to pesticides, set the air conditioner vent to the closed position, or choose the re-circulate function. · Remove children's toys, outdoor equipment, and clothes from outdoor areas during spraying. If outdoor equipment and toys are exposed to pesticides, wash them with soap and water before using again. · Wash skin and clothing exposed to pesticides with soap and water. Always wash your produce thoroughly with water before cooking or eating. Take Simple Steps to Avoid Mosquitoes Use an approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (not for children under three), or products that contain the active ingredient IR3535. Wear protective clothing such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts, particularly at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Make sure windows have screens, and repair or replace screens that have tears or holes. Eliminate any standing water from your property and dispose of containers that can collect water. Standing water is a violation of the New York City Health Code. Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty and covered if not in use; drain water that collects in pool covers. Report standing water by calling 311 or visiting http://www.nyc.gov/health/wnv. The use of pesticides in New York City is conducted in accordance with federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) guidelines. A complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/feis.shtml. To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 03:26 PM CDT The Cause of the Mosquito Plague in Kfar Chabad --- A plague of mosquitoes recently hit Kfar Chabad. After many residents complained of suffering from serious mosquito bites, the local authorities looked into where the insects could be coming from. They discovered that many mosquitoes were coming from the Lod municipal sewage dump in the wadi near Kfar Chabad. Many other nearby communities were also suffering from the same problem. The Kfar Chabad Community Council reports that today, Sunday, a pesticide company sprayed the wadi near Kfar Chabad to prevent any more mosquitoes flying into the town. We hope that from today, there will be a noticeable improvement, said a council member. (SOURCE: COL.ORG.IL) To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 03:13 PM CDT Federal election called for Oct. 14 As the stirring U.S. electoral campaign enters the home stretch and Israel looks as if it may go to the polls, election fever has also gripped Parliament Hill. On Sunday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean to dissolve Parliament, saying it was at its "useful end," and he set an election date of Oct. 14, which also happens to be the first day of Sukkot. Last month, Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), acting on rumours of a possible Sukkot election date, sent an e-mail to the Harper government to let it know that an Oct. 14 election date would pose a serious problem for religiously observant Jewish voters. "A vote that day would adversely affect the Jewish electorate and the ability of our community to volunteer on campaigns and for Elections Canada," Congress CEO Bernie Farber wrote on the organization's website. "Our respectful request… was to bear this in mind when deciding on an election date and avoid Oct. 14 if possible." According to Congress, Harper called its co-president, Rabbi Reuven Bulka, to explain the rationale for setting the date and express "a sincere understanding" of the Jewish community's situation vis-a-vis the vote. "We know Prime Minister Harper is a man of faith, and understand the challenges he must have faced in determining a date for the election," Rabbi Bulka said. Rabbi Bulka added that Congress will inform the community on alternate ways they can vote, which include going to advance polls and registering to vote at any Elections Canada office during the campaign. Prior to the call, in what some considered pre-election pork-barrelling, Harper doled out tens of millions of dollars to recipients including Ontario's flagging auto industry, and the City of Toronto to combat gang violence, and promised nearly $5 billion to Quebec for its aging highway infrastructure, among other spending pledges. Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion was touting his much-discussed "Green Shift" plan, promising $900 million in incentives to help the country's farmers, truckers and other industries if a Liberal government is elected. The Jewish community can also expect a lot of rhetoric from the major political parties as the quest for the ethnic communities' vote ramps up. As reported in The CJN over the last year, the Conservative government has been active in courting the Jewish community since coming to power in 2006: by making security funding available to Jewish organizations and supporting Israel at the United Nations, among other things. And Harper and outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert became friendly during last year's Annapolis, Md., peace summit. In the spring, Dion passed through the Toronto area and spoke to the Jewish community at Temple Har Zion in Thornhill, pledging $75 million in funds to ethnic communities across Canada to help beef up their security if the Liberals are elected. For its part, the Green party announced last week that it had removed one of its candidates, John Shavluk, because of anti-Semitic remarks he allegedly made on a website in 2006. Shavluk had represented the party in British Columbia's Newton-North Delta riding until last week. "Respect for diversity is a fundamental principle of the Green party," leader Elizabeth May said on the party's website. "We condemn anti-Semitism, and our members work to encourage respectful dialogue, diversity, peace and co-operation." May said she "thanked" Shavluk for his prior work and informed him that his views were not "consistent" with those of the party. "I will not sign his nomination papers, and the Green party will nominate another candidate," she said. However, a Globe and Mail report on Sept. 6 said May is giving her support to Qais Ghanem, the Green candidate for Ottawa-South. Ghanem, in an online discussion forum on the Green party website, has reportedly called on the party to adopt a resolution on "Palestine" in which it calls upon Israel to "end its forty-year [sic] occupation of all Arab lands without preconditions." As for the New Democratic Party, in June, its foreign affairs critic, Paul Dewar, asked the Harper government to reconsider the decision to boycott the upcoming 2009 World Conference Against Racism – commonly referred to as Durban II – after initially standing with the Conservatives and the Liberals on the issue. The Bloc Québécois also believes Canada should have a presence at the conference. The first Durban conference in 2001 is widely acknowledged as having turned into a virulently anti-Semitic affair. With a truncated election campaign – just 36 days long, the minimum allowable by law – and the vote on a yom tov, Jewish community organizations and leaders have said they will offer an array of guidelines and advice to help voters make informed decisions on the candidates and parties. Howard English, spokesperson for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, said his organization is urging Jews to find ways to vote despite the conflict with Sukkot. "We will heavily publicize the many ways in which Jewish community members can vote for the candidate of their choice," he wrote in an e-mail to The CJN just prior to the election call. "Not only are advance polls an option, but it is possible to vote during a federal election campaign, on any day, at an Elections Canada office. We will make that clear to our community. Our objective is to encourage community members to exercise their franchise through the many options available." Last week, B'nai Brith Canada said that it, too, had been in "ongoing" discussions with the prime minister and called the Sukkot election date "regrettable yet understandable," declaring that all parties and candidates should make the security of its citizens a "top issue" in the election campaign. B'nai Brith issued the statement after a security scare involving El Al in Toronto on Sept. 3. (See related story "http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=15323Itemid=86") "In recent months, Israel's security establishment has repeatedly warned that North American Jewish communities are particularly vulnerable to potential terrorist threats, notably by Hezbollah – a terrorist group with a known presence in this country," said Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada. Last Friday, the Conservatives addressed this issue by pledging more money to the Jewish community via the government's $3-million Security Infrastructure Program. Launched in July 2007 to help ethnic communities at risk of hate crimes beef up security at their places of worship, schools and other areas, the announcement promised another $392,735 to Toronto-area Jewish organizations in its second round of funding, including $100,000 to Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation, $39,595 to Bialik Hebrew Day School of Toronto, $62,183 to B'nai Brith Canada, $95,000 to UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, $16,977 to Chabad at Flamingo in Thornhill and a combined $53,280 to two Eitz Chaim School campuses in Toronto. Six Montreal Jewish community organizations also received more than $144,000 to help defray their security costs: Federation CJA for its Cummings House headquarters ($50,535), Congregation Beth Ora in St. Laurent ($27,100), the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Snowdon ($23,274), Congregation Beth Israel Beth Aaron in Côte St. Luc ($16,466), Beth Zion Congregation, also in Côte St. Luc ($15,568), and the YM-YWHA Jewish Community Centre's West Island branch in Pierrefonds ($11,540). CJC applauded the funding announcement, with Farber calling it "a very good beginning," but cautioning that there was "still much work to be done." If the Conservatives are not re-elected, the new government will have to decide whether to continue the security program. Another organization that will speak to Jewish voters in this campaign will be the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC). In the past, the grassroots, non-partisan group – whose mandate is to "engage the community in the political process" – has helped convene candidate debates on both provincial and federal levels and will be fully involved in encouraging Jewish Canadians to vote and participate again this year, said Josh Cooper, CJPAC's executive director. Cooper said that while the Sukkot scenario does present a challenge, it's no reason for Jews to abandon political activism in Canada this election. "CJPAC is planning to focus on a specific advance voting day for the community. Working with all campaigns in electoral districts with large Jewish constituencies, we want to ensure the community votes in large numbers," he said. "While the community will be able to ensure our voice is heard at the ballot box, the larger problem exists that many of us will not be able to volunteer on election day. This is also an issue for Jewish candidates. However, members of the community can still volunteer for the candidate of their choice throughout the election period, as well as take a lawn sign." One politician not content with the government's election call is Toronto Liberal Joe Volpe, MP for Eglinton-Lawrence. In a statement to The CJN, Volpe called the Sukkot election date "disappointing" and "insensitive" and cited Harper's decision as a "complete lack of judgment and consideration" with regard to Jewish constituents. A Sept. 7 Ekos poll showed the Conservatives leading in popular support on the eve of the election campaign, citing the national federal vote intention among decided voters as Conservatives with 37 per cent, Liberals 24 per cent, NDP 19 per cent, Green party 10 per cent, and Bloc Québécois six per cent. The poll also showed the Conservatives having a leadership edge, with Harper seen as "best prime minister" with 32 per cent support, followed by NDP Leader Jack Layton at 19 per cent and Dion a distant third with 12 per cent. With files from JTA. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:16 PM CDT Suburban NY county bans texting while driving WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) Westchester County is banning text messaging while driving. The county Legislature voted 17-0 on Monday to prohibit texting by motorists. Legislator Bill Burton says the bill would especially benefit younger, less experienced drivers, who are more likely to use text messaging. Suffolk County, also in the New York City suburbs, has passed a similar measure, and New York City has a bill pending. The states of Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington also have banned texting while driving. County Executive Andrew Spano's office says he will sign the bill, which will go into effect six months later. To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:11 PM CDT SUKKAH on Wheels The SUKKAH on Wheels, a public service by Chabad @ the Beaches Center for Jewish Life, will make its way away around the Beaches area during the intermediate days of the upcoming Sukkot holiday. It is actually a real kosher Sukkah perched on the back of a truck the goal of the SUKKAH on Wheels is to make the traditions customs and Mitzvot of Sukkot – eating in the Sukkah and making the blessing on the Lulav and the four kinds – available to as many people as possible. The Sukkah is available to visit community events, schools and homes on a first come first serve basis. For more information call Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky at Chabad at 543-9301. For more about the Holiday of Sukkot Thursday, October 16, 2008 - Monday October 20, 2008 All are welcome regardless of religious affiliation. Fee: Donation Only http://www.chabadbeaches.com/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4126/jewish/Sukkot.htm To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Rabbi Aviner: Rosh Hashana visit to Uman not from the 613 mitzvot Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:02 PM CDT Religious-Zionist leader claims abandoning wife, children on High Holidays to prostrate on tombs of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov is halachic problem Tickets have already been purchased and travel agencies have already earned a pretty penny but this year too, there is someone who doesnt approve of the influx into Uman. Rabbi Shlomo Aviner has attacked the Jewish New Year's Eve trend of massive prostration on the grave of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in the Ukrainian town. Worldwide Protection Breslov hasidim ask State to secure Rebbe Nachmans grave in Ukraine / Nissan Schtrauchler Hasidim fear attack at gravesite of sects founder in Uman as retaliation for Hizbullah commander Mugniyahs assassination He also said surprisingly that it is completely uncertain that there is a mitzvah of prostrating on the tombs of the just. There are 613 mitzvot from the Torah and many mitzvahs prescribed by the rabbis, but there is no such mitzvah. Regarding the righteous man buried at the site, Rabbi Aviner said, With all his greatness and holiness, his opinion has been considered individual until this very day, not only amongst Israels great and grand but also within Hasidism itself. The rabbi published his opinion in his weekly article in the "B'Ahava Ub'Emuna" synagogue bulletin. Under the title The Land of Israel and not Uman, Rabbi Aviner claimed that leaving a family, a wife and children during Rosh Hashana is a moral problem and even a halachic (Jewish law) one. He also reminded that the Rav Kook proved that there is no permission to leave Israel and to prostrate on the tombs of the just. An additional claim is that there are numerous graves in Israel including those of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and our foremothers Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah; which must not be cancelled out even for the rabbi from Breslov. What about Rabbi Nachmans promise to exclude from hell all those who visit in Uman? We were already acquitted from hell by Abraham¦ and Isaac our forefather¦and moreover, our forefather Abraham sits at the entrance of hell and does not allow a circumcised person to enter we dont need to look for new schemes in order to be saved from hell. Are our righteous ones words not enough? Later, the rabbi quoted from Breslov Hassidisms books which prove that one must stay in Israel during Rosh Hashana and speak of Rabbi Nachmans students who did just that. On Rosh Hashana, the people of the land of Israel who received the honor to settle in the land of life¦do not need to travel to Uman. It is explicit in our holy Torah and in the entire Bible that there is a unique Providence and special observation from the Creator, blessed be he, in Israel on Rosh Hashana (and throughout the entire year including Rosh Hashana eve); which does not exist anywhere else in the world and no creation, even a righteous person or a prophet can change this and say differently than what is written in this verse, he said. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:00 PM CDT Purchase Of Pub By Bobov Elicits Reactions Seen As Anti-Semitic --- Clapton Common, England -- The recent purchase of The Swan, a pub in London by the Bobov community elicited a number of reactions from the gentile community, some of them seen as dangerously close to anti-Semitic. The Swan in Clapton Common, a residential community lying between Upper Clapton and Stamford Hill, had been struggling financially and was put up for sale by the owners of the building. Regular visitors at the bar were angered at the news that the Bobov community had offered £1 million to buy the pub, and vowed to stop the purchase. Save the Swan, the campaign begun by residents of Clapton Common to halt the sale of the site, was meant to be an effort to preserve a location important to the community. Sasha Johnson, the spokeswoman for the group said, "Stamford Hill is an area where everyone has lived side by side and there is very little friction between communities. No one wants the campaign to be seen as an attack on the Jewish community. It isn't. We simply want to keep our pub." However, some comments got nasty. A letter to the editor in one of the local papers claimed that the Jewish community has an agenda. It stated, "It's the nature of the Jewish community to snap up any building that comes on the market, in and around its designated area, and [they don't care about] the feelings and concerns of residents. The Swan belongs to the people of Hackney, and is part of Hackney's history, but the Bobov Jewish community has no "respect" for that." A spokesman for Bobov said that the pub was slated to be sold regardless of Bobov's interest in it. He went so far as to offer a new lease to keep the building functioning as a pub, but reported that the leaseholder was not interested in the idea. The spokesman added, " We don't want to cause any upset. Everyone lives peacefully side by side here and our neighbors are wonderful to us." Despite the efforts of the neighborhood campaign, Bobov succeeded in purchasing the building. They plan to convert it into a shul and meeting rooms. Once the refurbishments are completed, organizers estimate that 150 people will be able to use the complex at any one time. The building is expected to be ready for use within several months. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:57 PM CDT Purchase Of Pub By Bobov Elicits Reactions Seen As Anti-Semitic --- Clapton Common, England -- The recent purchase of The Swan, a pub in London by the Bobov community elicited a number of reactions from the gentile community, some of them seen as dangerously close to anti-Semitic. The Swan in Clapton Common, a residential community lying between Upper Clapton and Stamford Hill, had been struggling financially and was put up for sale by the owners of the building. Regular visitors at the bar were angered at the news that the Bobov community had offered £1 million to buy the pub, and vowed to stop the purchase. Save the Swan, the campaign begun by residents of Clapton Common to halt the sale of the site, was meant to be an effort to preserve a location important to the community. Sasha Johnson, the spokeswoman for the group said, "Stamford Hill is an area where everyone has lived side by side and there is very little friction between communities. No one wants the campaign to be seen as an attack on the Jewish community. It isn't. We simply want to keep our pub." However, some comments got nasty. A letter to the editor in one of the local papers claimed that the Jewish community has an agenda. It stated, "It's the nature of the Jewish community to snap up any building that comes on the market, in and around its designated area, and [they don't care about] the feelings and concerns of residents. The Swan belongs to the people of Hackney, and is part of Hackney's history, but the Bobov Jewish community has no "respect" for that." A spokesman for Bobov said that the pub was slated to be sold regardless of Bobov's interest in it. He went so far as to offer a new lease to keep the building functioning as a pub, but reported that the leaseholder was not interested in the idea. The spokesman added, " We don't want to cause any upset. Everyone lives peacefully side by side here and our neighbors are wonderful to us." Despite the efforts of the neighborhood campaign, Bobov succeeded in purchasing the building. They plan to convert it into a shul and meeting rooms. Once the refurbishments are completed, organizers estimate that 150 people will be able to use the complex at any one time. The building is expected to be ready for use within several months. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:54 PM CDT Porushs mayoral campaign still lacking haredi unity --- United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush continues to face difficulties in his bid to muster a united haredi front for the Jerusalem mayoral campaign. Over the weekend, there were haredi media reports that Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv had ordered UTJ's Degel Hatorah faction to suspend negotiations with Porush. A source close to Elyashiv said the nonagenarian rabbi, considered the supreme halachic authority for Ashkenazi-Lithuanian haredim, was concerned that Porush lacked the requisite backing within his Agudat Yisrael faction. "How can you expect Degel Hatorah to reach an agreement with Porush if he cannot seem to get the backing of his own party?" said the source. " First let him get things straightened out in Aguda, then we can talk." UTJ, the political party representing Ashkenazi haredi interests, is composed of two factions, the hassidic Agudat Yisrael and the Lithuanian Degel Hatorah. Degel Hatorah - the faction of Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski - and Agudat Yisrael signed a rotation agreement before the mayoral elections in 2003, under which an Agudat Yisrael candidate was to be the agreed-upon haredi candidate in this year's contest. Polls, however, have been predicting that Porush will lose the mayoral race against Nir Barkat, a secular venture capitalist who lost to Lupolianski in 2003 and has since been a member of the Jerusalem City Council. Concern that Porush does not have what it takes to win the race may have helped lead ex-Shas chairman Aryeh Deri to consider a bid for mayor. Even within Porush's own Agudat Yisrael there are those who would prefer to see Deri run, since he is considered more likely to defeat Barkat. Meanwhile, another development has further undermined Porush's political fortunes. Agudat Yisrael's list for the Bnei Brak elections has split into two separate lists: one affiliated with Porush and one affiliated with the Ger Hassidim, the nation's largest hassidic sect. Although the split might still be rectified, resembled the larger split within Agudat Yisrael between those supporting Porush and those who have yet to pledge their support. UTJ chairman Ya'acov Litzman, who is a Ger hassid, told The Jerusalem Post Sunday that he was concerned about the ramifications of the split in Bnei Brak for Jerusalem. "If Porush cannot come through in Bnei Brak, how can we trust him in Jerusalem?" he asked. Litzman said Ger was still holding negotiations with Porush over ongoing disagreements, but he would not elaborate. A spokesman for Porush said Sunday night that headway was being made in the negotiations with Ger. "The plane is on the runway ready for takeoff," the spokesman said. "Anyone who is not on board will lose out." The excitement in the haredi street at the prospect that Deri might run underlines Porush's relatively drab standing. Deri, however, will have to overcome legal problems before he can run. He was convicted in 1999 of accepting $155,000 in bribes from the Lev Banim nonprofit organization and sentenced to three years in jail. The conviction included a determination by the court that the crimes involved "moral turpitude," meaning that Deri could not run for public office for seven years after completing his prison sentence - in this case, in 2009. The only way Deri can run is if President Shimon Peres agrees to shorten the length of time that the status of "moral turpitude" applies to him. Deri has not yet asked Peres to do so, but if he is serious about running, he will have no choice. The Movement for Quality Government has asked to meet with Peres to demand that he does not accede to any such request from Deri, should he make it. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:52 PM CDT Bone marrow recipient meets life-saving donor --- Bone marrow recipient meets life-saving donor To treat his leukemia, Metuchen man turned to national registry Gary Schnitzer of Metuchen, right, met Steven Eisenberg of Long Island, left, who saved his life almost two years ago by making a stem cell donation. The meeting took place during Jewish Heritage Day Aug. 24 at Shea Stadium; with them is Omar Minaya, New York Mets vice president of baseball operations and general manager. Photo courtesy Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation High Holy Days donations During Jewish Heritage Day at Shea Stadium, Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation executive director Jay Feinberg " a West Orange native who started the organization after his own life was saved by a transplant " announced it was undertaking an ambitious campaign to register 25,000 new bone marrow and blood stem cell donors during the High Holy Days. For information or to have a testing kit mailed to your home, visit www.giftoflife.org "http://www.giftoflife.org" or call toll-free 800-9-MARROW. Gary Schnitzer of Metuchen, who two years ago was facing death in his battle with leukemia, was filled with anticipation and questions as he prepared to meet the man whose stem cell donation saved his life. It was special for the entire family, including our son, Cole, who is eight years old, said the 45-year-old Schnitzer. We had waited a long time to be able to meet. The meeting took place Aug. 24 at Shea Stadium in Queens, during a Jewish Heritage Day game between the New York Mets and Houston Astros. The Mets donated a private suite for the occasion. ˜It was a wonderful experience and an important blessing. Schnitzer was introduced to Steven Eisenberg of Woodmere, Long Island. Up until then, Eisenberg knew only that his decision to undergo a procedure to donate blood stem cells on Nov. 7, 2006, had saved someones life. Donor and donee were brought together by the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, a Boca Raton, Fla., organization founded by former West Orange resident Jay Feinberg. The organization seeks compatible donors for people with forms of leukemia, lymphoma, immuno-deficiencies, and aplastic anemia. While international regulations require bone marrow donations to be anonymous., donors and recipients may meet after one year by mutual agreement. The weeks leading up to the emotional meeting were described by Schnitzers wife, Loren Roller Schnitzer, as very nerve-wracking. The couple tried to formulate a picture of what the donor was like. The biggest surprise tuned out to be his age. We just thought the donor would be in his 20s, said Roller Schnitzer. It turned out he was 51 years old. Schnitzer immediately felt at ease with Eisenberg; both men are reserved. Loren hit it off with Eisenbergs wife, Malka. The Long Island couple also brought their four children, ages 13 to 25. Schnitzer said the two discussed what it was like to go through the donation process and what being a donor meant to Eisenberg. But it was something else the donor said that particularly struck him. When Steven received the phone call in January 2007 that I was doing well, he was with Malka, who was prepped for cancer surgery, recalled Schnitzer. He said she was 15 minutes from being brought into the operating room. To receive the news that I was doing well was a sign that his wife would also be well " and she is. Since the transplant, Schnitzer has also been unable to eat shellfish and was curious whether Eisenberg shared his new food allergy or if it was the result of the iodine he received in the testing process. It turned out he is an Orthodox Jew and, of course, doesnt eat shellfish, said Schnitzer. Since the transplant, neither can I. Eisenberg, in a statement released through Gift of Life, described getting tested as like buying a lottery ticket¦if youre a match you both hit the jackpot. Code blue Schnitzer received the transplant at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, where he was also treated for his leukemia. During the harrowing period Schnitzer came close to death four times. At one point the hospital called a code blue, a designation meaning death could be imminent. He has been leukemia-free since the transplant, although he is still troubled by immunological setbacks known as Graft Verses Host, common among transplant recipients. I live a normal life with few exceptions, said Schnitzer, who owns the Bike N Gear bicycle shop in Somerset. In fact, he was planning to take part in the 100-mile Century for the Cure Ride for the second year in a row. Held this year on Sept. 6, the event benefits research at the cancer institute, which is affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. If everyone would be willing to be not only tested, but also be willing to follow through, countless lives could be saved, said Schnitzer. People dont realize how important this is until someone they know or someone they love becomes ill and then the race is on to find a donor. Timing is so important, he said. Chemo treatments weaken the entire body. The more chemo treatments you have to have to hold off the cancer until a donor is found, the harder it is to fight back. He himself went through five rounds of chemotherapy before Gift of Life matched him with Eisenberg. If Steven had not donated through their efforts, I might not have had a transplant or would have had to keep waiting with more chemo until a donor could be located, added Schnitzer. Steven told me although the preparation for the donation took time and made him uncomfortable sometimes, it was a wonderful experience and an important blessing. And will the two families stay in contact? Absolutely, said Schnitzer. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:40 PM CDT DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) Larry Blumberg is looking for a few good Jews to move to his corner of the Bible Belt. Blumberg is chairman of the Blumberg Family Relocation Fund, which is offering Jewish families as much as $50,000 to relocate to Dothan, an overwhelmingly Christian town of 58,000 that calls itself the Peanut Capital of the World. Get involved at Temple Emanu-El and stay at least five years, the group's leaders say, and the money doesn't have to be repaid. More Jews are living in the South than ever — about 386,00 at last count in 2001, according to Stuart Rockoff, historian at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Miss. But young Jews are leaving small places like Dothan in favor of cities like Atlanta and Birmingham, Rockoff said, and dozens of small-town synagogues have closed. "A lot of the older people have died, and not many of the younger ones have stayed," said Thelma Nomberg, a member of the Dothan temple who grew up in nearby Ozark, where she was the only Jewish student in public school in the 1940s. "We are dying." Being outside the Christian majority was never a problem, Nomberg said, even six decades ago: She won the Miss Ozark beauty pageant at 14 and sometimes attended church with friends after sleep-overs. Now a widow, Nomberg has watched two of her four adult children leave for Florida as Temple Emanu-El lost nearly half its membership, down to about 50 families. She can only hope the recruitment plan works for her synagogue. Launched in June, the Blumberg program has put advertisements in Jewish newspapers in Boston, Miami, Providence, R.I., and Washington, and it plans to expand the campaign. "I think it's important that we try to find young people that we could use in our religious school, our Sunday school and help in the way of trying to create more of a family-type atmosphere in our temple," Blumberg said. Groups offered financial aid for Jews to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Jewish organizations around the country offer moving assistance for relocating families. A congregation has loans and other benefits for Jewish families moving into an area near Boston. "Our program is distinctive because it's Dothan, but it's also distinctive because of the type of financial assistance," said Rob Goldsmith, executive director of Blumberg Family Jewish Community Services, which will screen applicants and administer the grant program. Trying to lure Jewish families to a quiet Southern town in a state with a reputation for hard-right politics and racial intolerance might be difficult. About 20 Jewish families have sought information about Dothan, though none has made the move. Rockoff credits Blumberg and the rest of the congregation with fighting to remain in Dothan, where the synagogue has a full-time rabbi and the temple, which is aligned with the reform movement, hasn't missed having a Friday night service in decades. "It is a small community, but they have some deep pockets to be able to do this," said Rockoff. "As a historian it is fascinating to see them trying to buck this trend." Dothan lies at the heart of the South's peanut region, in Alabama's southeastern corner just minutes from Florida and Georgia. It's dotted with big fiberglass peanuts painted to resemble characters and people — there's even an Elvis peanut. Little things are big here: The city boasts what it calls the world's smallest city block, a triangular traffic island near the civic center. But the Blumberg foundation is selling prospective Jewish residents on Dothan's quality of life — its low cost of living, the heritage of its synagogue and its proximity to Florida beaches, about 80 miles away. The city is the site of the down-home National Peanut Festival each fall, and it has a full schedule of community cultural events. It has two hospitals, a branch of Troy University and is just a short drive from Fort Rucker, the Army's main helicopter training base. Downtown is filled with quaint red-brick buildings and colorful murals, and traffic never gets too bad on Ross Clark Circle, the perimeter road. "We have Friday afternoon rush minute, and that's about it," said manufacturing executive Ed Marbletree, 69, who grew up Jewish in Texas but married a Dothan girl and has lived in the town since 1961. Valerie Barnes grew up in Panama and moved several times before settling 20 years ago in Dothan and becoming active at the synagogue. She's never experienced any anti-Semitism and can't imagine living anywhere else. "The biggest thing Dothan has to offer is that it's just a very family-oriented community," said Barnes, who directs a hospital foundation. "Our congregation is very vibrant, and we have a lot of things that we get involved in." Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith didn't know quite what to expect when she moved to Dothan a year ago to serve as pastor at Temple Emanu-El, which was founded in 1929. She came with her husband, who directs the Jewish community services group. A Connecticut native, the rabbi halfway expected the Alabama of old with wide-open racism and dirt roads. "The Northeast has a really warped perception of what the South is all about, and I found out it was all wrong," she said. "The South is a wonderful place to be. The people are warm and friendly. There's very little traffic. And best of all, there's no snow." — — — On the Net: Blumberg Family Jewish Community Services: http://www.bfjcs.org To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT OU Calls on Synagogues Beyond NY to Attend Stop Iran Rally, 9/22 The organization defines in proximity as not only the New York Metropolitan area, but as a one-day round-trip bus ride, which would place Boston, Baltimore, Washington, Eastern Pennsylvania and points in between within range of attending. The rally is sponsored by the National Coalition to Stop Iran Now, together with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, United Jewish Communities, UJA-Federation of New York, and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. In a message to OU synagogues, Rabbi Bini Maryles, Director of the OUs Pepa and Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue Services, declared: On Monday, September 22 there will be a large rally outside of the United Nations to stop Iran. We encourage you to please spread the word and to do everything in your power to attend and to encourage others to attend. The rally will send a clear message to world leaders -- particularly in advance of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's General Assembly address the next day -- that we oppose Iran's nuclear program and supporting global terrorism. We condemn Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial, his threats to ˜wipe the U. S. and Israel off the map, and his blatant abuse of human rights. It is vitally important for the Jewish community to be out in force to express its opposition to Ahmadinejads genocidal rantings, Rabbi Maryles said, so that the world can see that this man must be stopped; that the worlds ineffectual response to the Iranian nuclear threat facing Israel and the West must finally be replaced by firm action; and that his annual use of the U.N. as a forum is an affront to decent and peace-loving people everywhere. For more information on the rally, contact info@conferenceofpresidents.org "mailto:info@conferenceofpresidents.org" or info@jcrcny.org. "mailto:info@jcrcny.org." Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 12:47 PM CDT New Chassidishe Communities: South Fallsburg, Swan Lake --- A new, all-year development has been announced in South Fallsburg, with large condominium apartments priced at $120,000, with down payments less than $12,000. In combination with gemach loans, monthly "mortgage" payments will be less than $1,000. South Fallsburg already has two large frum developments: Yeshiva Zichron Moshe, founded in 1955, presently led by its roshei yeshiva Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel and Rav Abba Gorelick, as well as the Kiryas Vishnitz in nearby Kiamesha Lake, led since 2002 by Rav Mendel Hager, rosh yeshiva and son of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey. More than 300 frum families (2,000 people) live in South Fallsburg, in addition to almost 400 yeshiva bochurim, as well as thousands of summer residents who own homes there. Having all the amenities that residents of a year-round frum community seek, South Fallsburg is a thriving American small town with many major chain stores, several open 24/7. In addition, it is less than 20 minutes from Middletown, a large city. South Fallsburg's promising new development is on well-maintained major traffic arteries. Steve Levine, South Fallsburg's Town Supervisor, is most accessible and has extended every possible consideration and courtesy. South Fallsburg has all the necessary ingredients to make for a most successful new observant community. New Chassidishe Communities: Swan Lake On Sunday afternoon, August 17, 2008, hundreds of Chassidishe families visited a new all-year development being built in Swan Lake. It is located one mile off of Exit 101 on Route 55. Initially, 108 homes are being built, representing the development's first phase. The homes will be ready for occupancy before Pesach (April) 2009. In addition to the homes, shuls, yeshivos, girl schools, mikvaos, stores, and a medical center have been started. The development is not exclusive to any Chassidishe group. Prices for the large homes on large properties are 25% lower than comparable houses in New York City's Chassidishe communities. Swan Lake, too, has all the requisite components for a successful new observant community. {Macheberes/Matzav.com NewsCenter} Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 12:31 PM CDT United States Attorneys Available To Receive Election Complaints MICHAEL J. GARCIA and BENTON J. CAMPBELL, the United States Attorneys for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, respectively, announced today that special telephone numbers have been set up to receive complaints of possible violations of federal election laws relating to the upcoming general elections in New York City and other counties in their districts. The United States Attorneys said that their Offices will be available to receive complaints at the following numbers on Tuesday, September 9, 2008: (212) 637-0840 (for Manhattan, Bronx, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties) and (718) 254-7000 (for Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties) In addition, complaints of possible violations of federal election laws may be made directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (212) 384-1000. A spokesperson for the United States Attorneys said that the enforcement of federal laws protecting the rights of all eligible persons to vote for the candidates of their choice is a high priority of the Department of Justice. It is unlawful under federal law to deny or abridge anyone's right to vote because of race, color or national origin. Federal laws also require local election authorities to make voting accessible to disabled and elderly voters. Voters who require assistance because of blindness, disability or inability to read and write have the right to receive such assistance from a person of their own choosing. In counties with substantial numbers of non-English speaking voters, federal laws prohibit the denial or abridgement of a voter's ability to participate in the election process in certain languages other than English (i.e., Spanish, Chinese, Korean). In addition, certain activities designed to subvert the integrity of the election process are federal crimes. It is a federal crime, for example, to deprive citizens of their right to fair elections or to conspire to do so. Specific election laws also make it a crime to bribe or intimidate voters, to cause ballots to be cast fraudulently in the names of individuals who did not vote ("ballot stuffing"), to vote more than once, or to alter or falsely report the vote count. It can also be a federal offense to challenge qualified voters without cause and in bad faith or to harass persons seeking to vote for the purpose of discouraging their vote. The spokesperson said that the ability of federal law enforcement authorities to detect and eliminate improper restrictions on voting rights and to prosecute election fraud depends to a large extent on the watchfulness and cooperation of the voters. It is therefore imperative that those who have been asked to participate in illegal election practices, who have been the subject of such practices, who have observed such practices, or who have information bearing on such practices, make that information known promptly to the FBI or the United States Attorneys at the telephone numbers listed above. The United States Attorneys also noted that the following additional telephone numbers are available on election day for citizens to call for routine inquiries, such as where to vote or how late the polls are open, or to register complaints that may concern violations of New York State election laws: IN NEW YORK CITY City Board of Elections Main Office (212) 487-5300 Bronx (718) 299-9017 Brooklyn (718) 797-8800 Manhattan (212) 886-2100 Queens (718) 730-6730 Staten Island (718) 876-0079 IN COUNTIES OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY County Boards of Elections Dutchess (845) 486-2473 Nassau (516) 571-2411 Orange (845) 291-2444 Putnam (845) 278-6970 Rockland (845) 638-5172 Suffolk (631) 852-4500 Sullivan (845) 794-3000 Westchester (914) 995-5700 Assistant United States Attorney DAVID J. KENNEDY is responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud for the Southern District of New York. Assistant United States Attorney MICHAEL J. GOLDBERGER is responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud for the Eastern District of New York. To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 12:20 PM CDT Lawsuit filed over lower Manhattan surveillance NEW YORK (AP) The New York Civil Liberties Union wants police to disclose more details about a plan to use 3,000 surveillance cameras to help secure lower Manhattan against terror attacks, saying it could threaten the privacy of millions of law-abiding New Yorkers. In a lawsuit filed Monday in state Supreme Court, the NYCLU claimed the New York Police Department has moved forward with the plan — expected to cost tens of millions of dollars — without explaining how it will use and store images and data captured by the closed-circuit cameras, license-plate readers and other high-tech security devices. "A plan of this scope, expense and intrusiveness demands robust public debate and legislative oversight," said Donna Lieberman, NYCLU executive director. "The public has a right to this information." The department already has turned over 91 pages of material about the so-called Lower Manhattan Security Initiative. But the NYCLU said the documents were redacted, and that more information should be disclosed. The NYPD "must have hundreds if not thousands of documents that would be responsive to the NYCLU's request," the suit says. Police spokesman Paul Browne said the NYPD had provided everything it could, "short of a road map terrorists could use for another attack." The security proposal prepared by the NYPD's counterterrorism division will rely on 116 stationary and mobile license-plate readers and on a network of 3,000 closed-circuit cameras — both public and private — that would be monitored by officers at a command center. It was modeled in part after the "ring of steel" surveillance measures in London's financial district. Police officials say photos and license plate numbers would be cross-checked with information about potential terror suspects and suspicious vehicles. They insist data deemed innocent would be purged from police records after 30 days. To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 12:07 PM CDT Lakewood police nab suspect in five Commerce Bank robberies --- LAKEWOOD Police here on Sunday captured the man suspected in a series of Commerce Bank robberies in Central Jersey, said Detective Lt. Joseph Isnardi. At about noon, members of a task force set up to solve the robberies - in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties - stopped Justin J. Grabowski, 25, of Hancock Road in Howell as he entered the Commerce Bank at Route 9 and County Line Road, Isnardi said. Grabowski, who had a note in his possession demanding money in the form of $100, $50 and $20 bills, was arrested, Isnardi said. The officers were watching the banks, suspecting that Grabowski could strike again, Isnardi said. Grabowski is suspected of robbing Commerce banks in Lakewood, Brick and Old Bridge, and two in Neptune Township, Isnardi said. Members of the Lakewood police, FBI, Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and Neptune Police Department participated in the task force, Isnardi said. Police in Lakewood charged him with the first robbery of the bank and Sunday's attempted robbery, Isnardi said. The first in the string of robberies was at the same Lakewood branch on Aug. 9, he said. Lakewood Detectives Robert Humeny and Leroy Marshall continue to investigate, along with members of the task force and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigation Unit. Bail for Grabowski was set at $250,000 by Superior Court Judge Wendell Daniels without the option to post 10 percent. Grabowski was lodged in the Ocean County Jail, where he remained this morning, officials said. Source To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 12:03 PM CDT Schumer visits South Florida to tell of Obama's support for Israel New York Sen. Charles "Chuck" Schumer urged Jewish voters across South Florida on Sunday to back Barack Obama's presidential bid, touting the Democratic nominee's record on Israel. Schumer, D-N.Y., visited temples and community centers in Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton and Aventura as part of a statewide strategy by Obama's campaign to reach out to the Jewish community, many of whom had supported Hillary Clinton. Schumer visited only five days after Democratic vice presidential pick Joe Biden held similarly themed rallies in Deerfield Beach and West Palm Beach. "If Obama wins South Florida by a large-enough amount, he will win Florida, and if he wins Florida, he will win the election," Schumer told the more than 200 people who went to see him Sunday afternoon at Temple Solel in Hollywood. Schumer assured the temple audience that Obama's support of Israel is "deep and profound." A former Clinton supporter himself, Schumer urged those who supported her in the primary to listen now when she talks about the importance of voting for Obama. He said Republicans are spreading "the vilest of rumors" about Obama, attempting to raise questions about his support of the Jewish state. He told audience members they have an obligation to rebut "this shmutz"—the Yiddish word for dirt. The Obama campaign said Sunday that it has established six Jewish Community Leadership Committees in the state, including one in each of South Florida's three counties, to lead a grass-roots effort to support the Obama-Biden ticket. Michael Eibeschitz, 66, of Hollywood, said at first he was alarmed by Internet rumors about Obama's background. But he has changed his mind since watching Obama speak at the Democratic National Convention and learning more about his stance on Israel. "Right now I'm 120 percent for Obama," said Eibeschitz, who has dual U.S.-Israel citizenship. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbschumer0908pnsep08,0,3785385.story?track=rss To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 12:00 PM CDT Schumer visits South Florida to tell of Obama's support for Israel New York Sen. Charles "Chuck" Schumer urged Jewish voters across South Florida on Sunday to back Barack Obama's presidential bid, touting the Democratic nominee's record on Israel. Schumer, D-N.Y., visited temples and community centers in Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton and Aventura as part of a statewide strategy by Obama's campaign to reach out to the Jewish community, many of whom had supported Hillary Clinton. Schumer visited only five days after Democratic vice presidential pick Joe Biden held similarly themed rallies in Deerfield Beach and West Palm Beach. "If Obama wins South Florida by a large-enough amount, he will win Florida, and if he wins Florida, he will win the election," Schumer told the more than 200 people who went to see him Sunday afternoon at Temple Solel in Hollywood. Schumer assured the temple audience that Obama's support of Israel is "deep and profound." A former Clinton supporter himself, Schumer urged those who supported her in the primary to listen now when she talks about the importance of voting for Obama. He said Republicans are spreading "the vilest of rumors" about Obama, attempting to raise questions about his support of the Jewish state. He told audience members they have an obligation to rebut "this shmutz"—the Yiddish word for dirt. The Obama campaign said Sunday that it has established six Jewish Community Leadership Committees in the state, including one in each of South Florida's three counties, to lead a grass-roots effort to support the Obama-Biden ticket. Michael Eibeschitz, 66, of Hollywood, said at first he was alarmed by Internet rumors about Obama's background. But he has changed his mind since watching Obama speak at the Democratic National Convention and learning more about his stance on Israel. "Right now I'm 120 percent for Obama," said Eibeschitz, who has dual U.S.-Israel citizenship. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbschumer0908pnsep08,0,3785385.story?track=rss To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 11:56 AM CDT 12-year-old presents penny drive donation in NY NEW YORK (AP) A 12-year-old Philadelphia girl aims to collect 6 million pennies for a human rights organization. Jenna Steinbrink presents her first installment — a check for $5,000 — on Monday at the Manhattan offices of The Simon Wiesenthal (VEEZ'-ehn-thahl) Center. She started her "Millions to Remember" penny drive to memorialize the 6 million lives lost in the Holocaust. Her bat mitzvah is being held in a few weeks, but she plans to continue her fundraising through high school. Says Jenna: "It's about raising awareness of all ethnicities and religions and the celebration of diversity. That's what life is all about." To join our mobile text message group for your phone. Send JOIN VOSIZNIES to 8762 To end, send QUIT VOSIZNIES. or goto http://www.upoc.com/group.jsp?group=vosiznies

Posted: 08 Sep 2008 11:56 AM CDT

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