Rabbi Hershel Fogelman, the longest serving Chabad-Lubavitch emissary who led the growth of Jewish life in Massachusetts, passed away on June 2 at the age of 91.

He immigrated to the United States from Poland, and in the early 1940s, was sent on shlicus to Worcester, Mass., by the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory. There, he founded the Yeshiva Achei Tmimim Academy and synagogue, and subsequently served as director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Western Massachusetts.

The school, which comprises pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade, has educated thousands of Jewish children since its establishment in 1942.

The rabbi and his wife, Rochelle Fogelman, ran a Chabad House that became so successful that it prompted emissaries to settle in vicinities east of Worcester, towards the growing suburbs of Boston. Today, six other Chabad Houses are situated in Framingham, Milford, Natick, Sudberry, Wellesley and Westborough.

In addition to his wife, the rabbi is survived by their children: Bassie Levin (Worcester, Mass.); Rabbi Menachem Mendel Fogelman (Worcester, Mass.); Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Fogelman (Natik, Mass.); Rabbi Shmuel Binyomin (Mushi) Fogelman (Los Angeles, Calif.): Sheva Liberow (Worcester, Mass.); Rabbi Mordechai (Mutty) Fogelman (Crown Heights, N.Y.); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his oldest son, Rabbi Chaim Yosef Fogelman of New York.

A more extensive obituary on Rabbi Fogelman is being prepared by Chabad.org.

Democratic New York Assemblyman David Weprin has championed a bill that would prohibit discrimination in the workplace against attire worn for a religious purpose. Called the “Beard Law,” it seeks to address the host of religious minorities in the city and state who dress differently than the norm.

“No person should have to choose between working at their place of employment or observing their religion,” he said. “When employees continuously face discrimination because of their religion and ethnicity at the workplace, then it infringes on their civil liberties.”

The bill will amend the civil-rights law, the executive law and the labor law in relation to prohibiting discrimination against religious attire, including facial hair. This proposed legislation will protect the rights of both uniformed employees and all New Yorkers from discrimination by allowing them to dress according to their customs. It will also protect them against discrimination for wearing any sort of religiously motivated or mandated garb or appurtenances, including beards, as long as such garb or appearance does not pose a hazard to that person or to the public.

A graduate of University at Albany SUNY, Weprin has close ties to Rabbi Israel Rubin, director of Capital Region Chabad which includes the Shabbos House Rohr Chabad Center that serves hundreds of Jewish students. That relationship goes back to Weprin’s days at the university.

Weprin has been pushing the bill through the Assembly House over the past few months. Rubin emphasized the importance of such legislation in a state that encompasses one of the most diverse religious communities in the nation.

The bill was written in response to series of cases and concerns from religious communities who were discriminated because of their religious attire, including one last year when a Chassidic Jew, sporting a beard, was prohibited from joining the New York Police Department.

“We enthusiastically support” the idea behind this legislation, which calls “for equal-employment opportunities for all New Yorkers, regardless of religious attire and facial grooming,” said Rubin.

As you would expect at the second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit, there was no shortage of display booths promoting various and sundry tourism-related products and services.

But, visitors noted, one of these booths stood out from the rest because of its focus: a booth announcing “We pack Tikun Olam into Tourism.” This attention-grabbing idea belonged to Pantry Packers, a division of Colel Chabad that offers tourists an unforgettable, 90-minute opportunity to help provide food for thousands of needy families that Colel Chabad sustains throughout Israel.

The booth itself was a condensed version of the Pantry Packers facility in Jerusalem. It enabled attendees to experience a hands-on mitzvah by packing basic items such as rice, beans and other dried cooking staples, which are added to food baskets that go to the pantries of Israel’s neediest.

According to the project's director Rabbi Menachem Traxler, “the interest level in our operation was intense, and we succeeded in grabbing the attention of hundreds of delegates, who were mesmerized by the whole idea of ‘Tikkun Olam Tourism.’ That’s because visiting Israel is meant to be an elevating experience, and few things elevate a visitor more than the chance to do something truly good and that can be shared by the entire family.”

Among notable individuals who stopped by to fill bags of goods were Korean Tourism President Charm Lee; Elhanan Dvir of Kenes Tours, one of Israel's leading tour operators; Simi Mor and Yaakov Halprin of the Jerusalem City Council; and Israel Tourism Minister Uzi Landau.

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” says Traxler. “For us, the real measure of our success is whether it yields any increase in traffic at the Pantry Packers plant in Jerusalem. Thank G-d, the answer is a resounding ‘yes,’ as new reservations keep coming in as a result of our presence at the summit."

It was a busy Monday morning in Montreal, as the families of three Chabad emissaries celebrated the circumcisions of their respective sons within hours of each other.

The first to be circumcised on May 20 was Chaim Shneur Zalman Itkin, son of Rabbi Levi and Mushkie Itkin, co-directors of Chabad of Nuns Island, a small island community right outside of Montreal. The ceremony took place at Chabad of Old Port, a center that caters to locals and tourists alike amid the enchanting cobblestone streets and 19th-century homes that make up Montreal’s center.

The second celebration was held at Chabad Queen Mary, where Moshe Eliezer Fine was welcomed by family and friends. The Chabad center is directed by his grandparents, Rabbi Ronnie and Simcha Fine, and his parents, Rabbi Mendel and Shaina Fine.

Festivities for the third baby boy ensued at the newly rebuilt Jewish Russian Community Center, where Rabbi Chaim and Chanie Brand, co-directors of Chabad of Lasalle, celebrated the circumcision of Mordechai Zev.

In Jewish tradition, eight days after a baby boy is born, he is circumcised and given his Jewish name. The first two circumcisions were done by Rabbi Mendel Altein, a Montreal mohel (trained circumcisor) who has circumcised well over 1,000 babies during his two-decade career. The third circumcision was performed by mohel Rabbi Pesach Sperlin, also director of Chabad of Montreal West.

Since Judaism places importance on doing mitzvahs at the first possible opportunity, all three circumcisions occurred during the morning hours, at the start of the babies’ eighth day of life.

According to Rabbi Leibel Fine, who was at all three events, “it was really nice to see the community coming together for these occasions.” Fine, uncle of baby No. 2 and cousin of baby No. 3, said the fact that Monday was Victoria Day—a public holiday in Canada—meant that the crowds were even bigger than anticipated.

Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis from across New Jersey recently gathered in the state capital of Trenton to meet with state legislators and discuss their communities’ needs.

New Jersey Senate President Steven Sweeney hosted and chaired a kosher luncheon to allow the group to meet in a social setting and discuss mutual goals.

“These events are so important,” said Sen. Sweeney, addressing the Chabad rabbis, “as we the legislators are constantly making decisions that affect you and your communities. It is vital that we get your input when addressing these important issues.

A large map of the 48 Chabad-Lubavitch centers in the state was displayed, which then prompted many legislators to interact with the rabbis that serve in their districts.

“Having a strong relationship with our government allows us to fulfill our duty to our communities by acting as a bridge between the people and our leaders,” said Rabbi Avi Richler, co-director of Chabad of Gloucester County, who coordinated the event along with Sen. Sweeney’s staff.

Rabbi Moshe Herson, director of the Chabad-Lubavitch in New Jersey and dean of the Rabbinical College of America, noted in his invocation the tremendous growth of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in New Jersey, and how it has now come to represent more than half a million Jews.

A shloshim memorial evening marking the conclusion of the first 30 days since the sudden passing of Rabbi Lipa Dubrawsky will be held Tuesday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. PDT at the Schara Tzedeck Synagogue in Vancouver, Canada.

A beloved rabbi and the educational director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Vancouver, Dubrawsky touched the lives of many people through his classes, optimistic attitude and personal warmth.

Many friends, family members, fellow Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and other rabbinic dignitaries are expected to attend the shloshim (Hebrew for "30") gathering, during which there is the recital of psalms, learning of Torah, and words of remembrance of the departed and comfort for the family.

Among the speakers will be Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inonyei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, and author and lecturer Rabbi Yosef Y. Jacobson.

The memorial gathering will be broadcast through a live video stream.

Rabbi Schneur Schneerson, co-director Chabad of Newbury Park, Cal., said he was “thankful for the outpouring of support” after returning to the Chabad center there. The center was evacuated late Thursday due to massive brush fires that raged through Ventura County, burning more than 10,000 acres.

Rabbi Aryeh Lang, co-director of Chabad of Camarillo, said he received a flood of calls, text messages and emails as the fire was spreading, noting that many members of the community offered their homes to those who were displaced. He was on hand at the scene on Friday, delivering food and spiritual support to the some 1,000 firefighters who were battling the blaze.

The Chabad centers were not damaged by the fires, and the winds pushed the fire toward the ocean and away from the populated areas over the weekend. Some areas were still off limits Sunday due to poor air quality.

“It’s been heartwarming to see how we’re all part of this big community,” said Lang.

More than 30,000 investors, professionals and businesspeople from around the world are gathering in Omaha, Neb., for the annual shareholders meeting of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, Once again Chabad-Lubavitch of Nebraska is inviting Jewish attendees to Shabbat dinner, and is letting them know that they are there for all their needs.

“The Berkshire Weekend affords Jewish visitors a Shabbat to remember by Chabad,” says Chani Katzman of Chabad of Nebraska.

“While they rely on Warren Buffet for financial direction,” says Katzman, “we offer them the most warm, haimish, delectable dinner- infused with Yiddishkeit, intellectual stimulation, and inspiration.”

To register for Shabbat dinner, for a schedule of activities or to order food, visit the center's Web site by clicking here. ...

Muscovites braved the rain on Lag BaOmer to light a bonfire in memory of the sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who asked that the anniversary of his passing be marked with joyous celebration instead of mourning.

Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Berel Lazar, chief rabbi of Russia, kindled the bonfire organized by Chabad of Moscow.

The fire represents the soul and esoteric teachings Rabbi Shimon taught, which to this day infuse warmth in Judaism and Jewish practice.