Tomorrow is the birthday of the Previous Lubvitcher Rebbe, Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson. It’s also the anniversary of the day he was freed from Prison. (Interesting bit of information, it was partly due to pressure from the U.S. and specifically President Hoover that they eventually gave in and released him.)

When The Freidiker Rebbe got to America he was bothered by the lack of religion among by now, long time assimilated “American Jews.” This of course led him to declare “America is no different”, and he began the amazing course of starting Chabad Houses, Schools, Learning Centers, Youth Clubs, and many more things.

It was this mission that later The Rebbe would continue on and eventually grow into today’s incredible network of Chabad all over the country.

I think as a side note it’s interesting that this year Yud Beis Tammuz falls out on July 4th weekend, a special day for all Americans. A day when we celebrate our freedom and independence. It’s a good reminder that along with this freedom, we are blessed with the amazing chance to be as Frum as we want, and follow the Torah and Mitzvos without any interference. Something almost unheard of in our long history.

So with this, I say G-d Bless America, and may we all embrace this inedible privilege and use it to prove that America truly is no different, Hashem is here too. We have to remember that and help bring spirituality and g-dliness into this country.

From Lubavitch.com:

The intervention of many leading foreign and American statesmen were significant in securing Rabbi Schneersohn’s miraculous release and arranging for his escape to the U.S. On the third day of Tammuz, 5687 (1927), Rabbi Schneersohn was released from the notorious Spalerno prison in Leningrad, after 18 days of excruciating confinement. He was then exiled to Kostrama, a small town in the Urals. But here again under high-level diplomatic pressure including that of the United States President Hoover, the Rebbe was released, on his 47th birthday, on the twelfth (though official notice came on the thirteenth) day of Tammuz. Less than a half year later he was able to leave Russia with most of his family, and the bulk of his famous library intact.

From Hayom Yom:

Birthday of the Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak, in 5640 (1880).

On this day, in 5687 (1927), he received the good tidings that he was freed from the exile imposed upon him after his arrest and imprisonment for his efforts in strengthening Torah and Judaism.

From a letter of the Rebbe (R. Yosef Yitzchak): During the forthcoming two Days of Liberation 12 and 13 Tamuz, Chassidim are to farbreng, for material and spiritual good and blessing, as instituted by our first father, the Alter Rebbe (may the memory of this holy tzadik be a blessing for life in the Hereafter; his soul rests in the hidden exalted heights; may his merit protect us). During this farbrengen chassidim are to talk to one another in a spirit of brotherhood about strengthening fixed times for Torah study. I send them my blessing that G-d favor them in body and spirit.

The song was recorded by Avraham Fried at Chony Milecki Studios. Written by Nechama Treitel.

Today, Tes Tammuz we mark the first Yartzeit of Chana bas R’ Aharon Leib, Chana (Raskin) Wolvovsky.

Last year, in honor of Chana’s Shloishim, a beautiful song was written entitled “A Gift From Above”.

This year in tribute of Chana, “Neim Zmiros Yisroel” “Kohen Ish Hachesed” Avraham Fried (a dear family friend) arranged and recorded the song so everyone (men and women) could be inspired by Chana’s life and her example – “V’Hachai Yitein El Libo”.

- – - – - – -

Chana faced her life’s toughest challenge as a kallah and a newlywed.
That’s why Chana will forever be remembered as a kallah na’ah va’chassudah—a bride of beauty, grace, and modesty.
Chana’s classmates and friends have arranged a luxurious new bridal suite to be dedicated at the Crown Heights Mikvah in Chana’s memory.

At the Chana (Raskin) Wolvovsky Bridal Suite, the giving spirit of Chana (Raskin) Wolvovsky will live on.

Help us extend Chana’s Touch to every kallah.

To contribute, Click Here

May we be reunited with Chana, Hukitzu V’raninu Shoichnei Ufar with MOSHIACH NOW!

(source)

… but you sure can stop the dancing!

I wish blogs were around when I was in school so I could send my complaints to the intersphereworldwideweb. When I was a kid I could complain to anyone I wanted, but that limited me to about 7 people. With blogs, now every dumb rule in any school gets world wide attention. How bonkers is that??

So – they banned dancing at the Annual Beis Yaakov of Monsey production. For some reason this seems to be such a shocker. We live in a frum culture where they ban everything from books, to types of music to strawberries to unfiltered water. Does this surprise anyone?

From Ezzie’s Blog:

My sister is in Bais Yaakov of Monsey, and they had their end of year assembly today. The principal announced that from now on at the annual play, they are not having dance, because it’s not tzniusdik. The end.

It is pretty funny that they do allow “musical movement”, which I’m picturing in my mind to be some sort of Feminist Hippie one woman interpretative dance you’d expect to see in the Village or Park Slope. Something involving very thin long scarves (which are also banned by the way as is “cheering vocally.”) Good times people, good times. I won’t even go for the obvious Taliban joke, because it’s really that funny anymore.

Watch out women! I hear this might be spreading and if you’re seen clapping, dancing, or “cheering” you might have someone run up to you and hand your kid a note.

It must be Summer, because the boat concerts are back.

Tuesday Night, July 7th 2009

Boarding 7:15 PM from Pier 17 | Departing 8:00 PM SHARP

3 hours of Jewish Music, food and entertainment on the Hudson river

SINGING: YEHUDA GREEN, YISROEL WERDYGER, SHLOIME TAUSSIG, YOILY FOLKOWITZ

MUSIC BY: Dovi Tessler Joel Brach Zusha Glauber Yoily W

INTRODUCING the new singing sensation: Shragy Gestetner

Master of Ceremonies: R’ Michoel Schnitzler Performing a song from his upcoming album! A 3 hour cruise on board the Atlantica (8-11 PM)
Admission: $115, You must RSVP! Call: 718-301-9049 Email: boatkumzits@gmail.com
For updates and directions visit: www.KumzitsOnThehudson.com

The choir scene just keeps getting hotter. Yossi Goldstein’s choir is almost out.

Tmimim Boys’ Choir, led by Rabbi Yossi Goldstein of Crown Heights, has released the first single, “Karah LaShemesh” from their upcoming album titled “Tov Li.” Arranged by Rambam, the upbeat tune was composed by choir member Eli Goldstein.

Listen to “Karah LaShemesh” off the new CD Tov Li, coming soon.

(Source)

Barcalona:

World renowned Moroccan singer Jo Amar passed away in New York on Friday at age 79. Amar was an Israeli icon for the first decades of the state’s existence, a favorite of the newly arrived Sephardic immigrants in the country. Amar, who immigrated to Israel in 1956, pioneered the fusion sound of Israeli eastern “mizrachi” music, merging classical Jewish Sephardic and Arabic tunes with Western musical sensibilities, along with lyrics that discussed the personal and social angst and joys of Middle Eastern immigrants who sought to find a place in Israeli society. He was also a highly-regarded cantor.

He performed regularly in Chabad House concerts and gala dinners around North America, often mentioning his great respect for the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his Shluchim for their work with Morocco’s and North African Jewry.

One of his memorable concerts in later years was at the annual Simchas Bais Hashoiva in Montreal, organized by Moroccan bred Shliach Rabbi Mendel Raskin, Director of Beth Chabad Cote St. Luc, Quebec.

Amar’s body will arrive in Israel on Saturday night. His funeral will take place Sunday afternoon at Yad Rambam, the moshav that was his residence in Israel in recent years. (Source, INN/COL)

A full listing of his albums here …..

Sampling of his Greatest Hists ….

I love this song, what is happening with this CD, it’s “coming soon” forever, maybe the Chassidic Jewish Music scene is rubbing off on the big boys. (Same with Matisyahu’s new CD “coming soon” since chanukah …)

Whens this guys CD coming out, he sounds fantastic!

I haven’t tuned into Nachum Segal in a while, but I saw online that Beri Weber would be on, so I thought I’d tune in. I missed the beginning of the interview but I tuned in in time to hear Lipa call in. Lipa called the show and heavily endorsed this CD. He himself put in many hours into the CD and was pushing it very hard.

Why do I tell you this? Because those 20 minutes with Lipa, Beri and Nachum were HYSTERICAL. It was one of the most entertaining segments I’ve heard in ages. Lipa was so funny. I particularly liked a closing point that Lipa made about how technology is ruining our ability to judge if we like a CD.

He says with all the online buzzing, the blogs, the twitter, the Facebook, the email, the GPS, people aren’t LISTENING to the music. He very entertainingly described a person putting in a new CD into the player in the car and 1 minute into the song the GPS interrupts “RIGHT TURN HERE”, and then a minute later he gets a text. “DID YOU HEAR THE NEW CD YET? NU ANYTHING?”, then a minute later his email starts buzzing, ‘YOU’VE GOT MAIL”, then a minute later the GPS comes in, “OFF ROUTE, PLEASE CORRECT.”, Meanwhile, the song is finishing and the person is so distracted he barely heard it and already decided, “eh nothing excited me here, next. ”

I think he’s so right. I myself put on the Beri Weber CD on in the car on Sunday, and between the kids kvetching and the terrible traffic, and my phone buzzing a mile a minute. I was so distracted I don’t see how anyone can really enjoy a CD like that. That is why after I heard a CD a few times and am ready for a review I still sit by my computer, put on my good headphones, turn up the volume and then go through the songs one by one while I write my thoughts.

He’s right. We’ve got too much distracting us. In a time when there are so many annoying distractions in life, I think it’s smart to start ENJOYING the music again. Buy a nice stereo, get a good pair of Bose headphones and sit and just listen to the music.

3 Tammuz at the Ohel Niggun Choir from COLlive.com on Vimeo.

Story here. As of right now 9 injured, 2 dead.

UPDATE: 70 injured, 4 dead.