New Torah Welcomed in Downtown Beijing

Plans originally called for a dedication of the Chabad House of Downtown Beijing’s new Torah scroll to be held at the Great Wall of China, but heavy snowfall prevented revelers from making the trek. But according to Rabbi Shimon and Dini Freundlich, the celebration was nevertheless a blast, filling a local hotel’s ballroom with hundreds of guests.

N.Y. Toy Drive Memorializes Jerusalem Girl

A new campaign in memory of Shula Swerdlov, the young Jerusalemite who perished in a freak traffic accident last month, recently hit the streets of Brooklyn. Bins urging residents to drop off donated toys have appeared in stores throughout the neighborhood of Crown Heights, and the local chapter of the Friendship Circle will be giving the items to children with special needs.

Moscow Ovens Preparing for Passover

Passover may be four months away, but the Moscow Matzah Bakery has been churning out its signature unleavened bread daily since beginning production in October. Under the supervision of Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, the bakery will be shipping boxes of matzah to hundreds of Jewish communities around the world in the coming months.

Campus Jewish Center Celebrating Decade of Service

The Chabad-Lubavitch center serving the University of Southern California will officially commemorate its 10th anniversary next month with a gala banquet. Established by Rabbi Dov and Runya Wagner in 1999, the Chabad House coordinates a variety of activities, from Shabbat meals and holiday programs to Torah classes, Israel trips and in-depth explorations of Jewish law.