Local Jewish News

News for the Cleveland Orthodox Jewish Community

Bikur Cholim Health & Safety Fair (CJN)

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View full article at Cleveland Jewish News:

Bikur Cholim of Cleveland’s Children’s Health and Safety Fair June 25 at Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood will feature hands-on exhibits and seminars for families and children. This will be the third Children’s Health and Safety Fair organized by Dr. Giela Gellis, who said each of the previous ones were attended by more than 1,000 people.

Ohio Tax Free Weekend, August 4 Through August 6

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Mark your calendars for Ohio Tax free weekend in August. http://www.tax.ohio.gov/sales_and_use/salestaxholiday.aspx

Starts Friday, August 4, 2017 at 12:00 a.m. and ends on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at 11:59 p.m.

During the holiday, the following items are exempt from sales and use tax:

  • Clothing priced at $75 per item or less;
  • School supplies priced at $20 per item or less; and
  • School instructional material priced at $20 per item or less.

Did you know: (http://www.tax.ohio.gov/sales_and_use/salestaxholiday/holidayfaq.aspx)

  • School and athletic uniforms are included
  • Costumes (but not the masks if sold separably) are included (think Purim!)
  • Diapers are included!!!
  • The exemption applies to items selling for $75 or less. If an item of clothing sells for more than $75, tax is due on the entire selling price.
  • Reference books, reference maps and globes, textbooks, and workbooks are included
  • Qualified items sold to consumers by mail, telephone, e-mail, or Internet shall qualify for the sales tax (read the FAQ regarding additional details)
  • The sales tax holiday is set by law and all vendors must comply.

NCSY First Annual Cow Raffle Winners!

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CONGRATULATIONS to Matthew Faigen and Elyssa Brent Faigen, Nati Klein and Chany Klein and Steve and Jodie Goldman on being our first annual Cow Raffle Winners!

Thank you to the entire community for helping us raise CRUCIAL funds to help our teens go to Israel this summer!

Chef Dave's Catering

Graco Recalling Harnesses from More than 25,000 My Ride 65 Car Seats

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Graco’s announcement of recall includes the following:

While waiting for a replacement kit, consumers may continue to use the My Ride 65 convertible car seats.

NHTSA’s announcement of recall

Article from Syracuse.com:

Graco is recalling over 25,000 car seats due to harness webbing that could fail to restrain children in crashes.

The recall includes certain models of the company’s My Ride 65 convertible car seats, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The models include:

  • 1871689
  • 1908152
  • 1813074
  • 1872691
  • 1853478
  • 1877535
  • 1813015
  • 1794334

The problem with the seats’ webbing was uncovered during mandated testing, according to Graco. The webbing did not meet federal requirements for breaking strength and could tear, according to NHTSA.

The affected car seats were made from May 16, 2014 to Aug. 1, 2014, Graco said.

The company plans to notify consumers affected by the recall and provide replacement kits with new harnesses and installation instructions. Owners can continue to use their car seats while waiting for replacement harnesses, according to Graco.

There have been no injuries associated with the recall, the company said.

Graco is expected to begin sending out replacement kits in July, according to NHTSA.

Dave's Electric - Residential & Commercial
Computer Problems? Gardin Technologies

The Friends of Heights Libraries Spring Mega Sale, May 4 -7

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It’s back and better than ever! The Friends of Heights Libraries Spring Mega Sale, May 4-7.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW Thursday Evening May 4, from 5:00 to 8:45 p.m. ONLY for FRIENDS Members & $10 INSTANT NEW Memberships holders. Don’t forget to bring your membership card. Instant new memberships for $10 will be available at the door.

The sale continues Friday, May 5, through Sunday, May 7,and is open to all. All adult books are $1, except small paperbacks which are 10/$1. Audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs are $1, children’s and teen’s books are 2/$1. A wonderful selection of new “Specials” are individually priced.

SUNDAY May 7 is clearance day. A bag of books for $4!

You can’t beat these prices! And you can’t beat supporting your library!

The Friends of Heights Libraries Spring Mega Sale, May 4 -7

Leave a Comment

It’s back and better than ever! The Friends of Heights Libraries Spring Mega Sale, May 4-7.

SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW Thursday Evening May 4, from 5:00 to 8:45 p.m. ONLY for FRIENDS Members & $10 INSTANT NEW Memberships holders. Don’t forget to bring your membership card. Instant new memberships for $10 will be available at the door.

The sale continues Friday, May 5, through Sunday, May 7,and is open to all. All adult books are $1, except small paperbacks which are 10/$1. Audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs are $1, children’s and teen’s books are 2/$1. A wonderful selection of new “Specials” are individually priced.

SUNDAY May 7 is clearance day. A bag of books for $4!

You can’t beat these prices! And you can’t beat supporting your library!

Birkas ha-Ilanos in Cleveland 2017

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blossoms
Below appears a list of locations from last year. If you know of a new location for this year or a previous location that is no longer extant let us know via comments. Many are now blooming very nicely.  Gutow’s trees already have blossoms and a sign in front of it on the front lawn.
Cleveland Heights:
3654 Shannon Rd.(Gutow) – home ‘pardes’ with cherry, apple and  pear trees
3534 Berkeley Road (Greenberger) – apple tree on the front tree lawn
3504 Severn Rd. (Greenspan) – fruit tree in front with sign with bracha text
3582 Shannon Rd. (Goldfarb) – orchard, 2 trees (Goldfarb)

University Heights, Beachwood:
2572 S. Green (Fleksher Home) – Pear trees by sidewalk at driveway
2596 S. Green – Numerous trees on front lawn
24920 Sittingbourne Ln. (Seltzer) – Several fruit trees planted 2 years ago (Plum, Cherry, Peach & Apple). Walk around the house on the right. The blessing is hanging by the trees. Stay close to our house, the neighbors have a dog on a long leash.
Wickliffe
28784 Johnson Drive (Compton) – a pear and plum tree in back yard
Misaskim has an international list which can be viewed here.
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Rosh Chodesh Nissan marks the beginning of the season for Birkas ha-Ilanos – the blessing we recite upon seeing fruit trees in bloom. Since this blessing, which extols Hashem’s ongoing renewal of creation, is recited only once a year, its halachos are difficult to remember. Women, too, may recite this blessing since it is not considered a “time-related mitzvah” from which women are exempt.
THE TEXT OF THE BLESSING:
The text of the blessing, as quoted in all of the early sources, is as follows: Boruch ata Hashem Elokeinu melech haolam shelo chisar baolamo klum uvara vo beriyos tovos vilanos tovim lehanos bahem beni adam.
In several siddurim the word davar appears instead of the word klum. But since all of the early sources indicate that the original text had the word klum, not the word davar, and the reason for the change is unsubstantiated, it is, therefore, proper to follow the early sources and recite the word klum and not the word davar.
WHEN IS BIRKAS HA-ILANOS RECITED?
The l’chatchilah, preferred time to recite this blessing is immediately upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom during the month of Nissan. Most poskim agree that the halachah mentions Nissan since generally, that is the month in which trees begin to bloom. Accordingly, in an area where they start blooming in Adar, or where they do not bloom until Iyar or Sivan, the blessing should be recited in those months. In the countries where fruit trees blossom in Tishrei or Cheshvan, the blessing should be said at that time.
If a tree bloomed in Nissan, but one did not see it until later, he may recite the blessing the first time he sees the tree as long as the fruit of the tree has not yet ripened. Once the fruit has ripened, the blessing may no longer be said.
One who saw the trees in bloom during Nissan, but forgot or neglected to recite the blessing, may recite the blessing at a later date but only until the time that the fruit of the tree has begun to grow.
The blessing is said upon seeing the actual blooming (flowering) of the tree. The growth of leaves alone is not sufficient to allow one to recite the blessing.
Some poskim hold that this blessing should not be said on Shabbos and Yom Tov, since we are concerned that it may lead to shaking or breaking a branch off the tree. All other poskim who do not mention this concern, apparently do not forbid reciting this blessing on Shabbos and Yom Tov. It is customary, though, to recite the blessing only during the week, unless the last day of Nissan falls on Shabbos.
The blessing may be said at night.
WHICH TREES REQUIRE BIRKAS HA ILANOS?
Birkas ha-Ilanos is said only on fruit-bearing trees. If one mistakenly said the blessing on a barren tree, he need not repeat the blessing on a fruit-bearing tree.
The poskim debate whether one is allowed to say the blessing on a tree which has been grafted from two species, since the halachah does not permit such grafting. It is preferable not to make the blessing on such a tree.
Some acharonim prohibit the recitation of the blessing on an orlah tree. A tree is considered orlah for the first three years after it is planted. Many other poskim, however, permit reciting the blessing on an orlah tree.
During the year of shemittah in Eretz Yisrael, it is permitted to recite the blessing even on a tree which – in violation of the halachah – has been cultivated.
BIRKAS HA ILANOS – HIDDUR MITZVAH
There are several hiddurim mentioned in the poskim concerning this once-a-year mitzvah. According to the kabbalah, especially, this blessing has special significance. Among the hiddurim are:
The blessing should be recited on two or more trees. No blessing is said on a single tree. Although the two trees do not have to be from two different species, several poskim mention that the more trees the better. Indeed, l’chatchilah the blessing should be said on trees in an orchard that is planted outside the city limits.
The blessing should be recited in the presence of a minyan followed by Kaddish. Before the blessing is recited, V’yehi noam followed by Hallelukah hallelu Keil min ha-shamayim is said.
The blessing should be recited at the earliest possible time, which is on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, unless it falls on Shabbos or it is raining.

 

Statement Regarding Apprehension of Suspect in Threats to Jewish Institutions

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 From the Jewish Federation of Cleveland:

We are grateful to the FBI, and all other authorities locally, nationally, and internationally who played a role in apprehending this subject. Thank you for protecting and defending our Jewish community and the many community members from diverse faiths and cultures who use our institutions. No group of people should be a target of hate, from within or outside of their community, for any reason. We stand against hate and for unity.

Gary L. Gross
Board Chair