In tribute to Rabbi David Montag, 68, spiritual scientist, Reb Carlebach's L.A. "Ohr Chadash" founder, grandfather, and teacher

Rabbi David Montague, Professor of Physics most recently at East L.A. College, died of a massive coronary at his home north of Pasadena on Thursday, 20th March 2008, the Jewish holiday of Purim. He died one month short of his 69th birthday.

A funeral service was held in Los Angeles on Sunday, 23 March. Burial followed at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Commerce, California.

Rabbi Montag co-founded the L.A. congregation, Ohr Chadash, with Reb Carlebach who granted him smicha, along with Rav Wasserman. Ohr Chadash was the predecessor havurah to today's Happy Minyan. Rabbi Montag served as Reb Carlebach's emissary in Los Angeles. He possessed a thorough knowledge of the unseen universe, teaching college-level physics at several colleges in L.A. (most recently East L.A. College) and teaching Kaballah avocationally. He was knowledgable in many areas of science and technology - he was deeply involved in the digital media revolution, reporting from the annual Consumer Electronics Show, but he shunned mobile phones out of concern about their carcinogenic properties. Ironically, at the time of his heart attack at home, he was not able to make it to a landline to dial 911.

Rabbi Montag has passed on his legacy to many former college students. His family survivors include his first-wife, Bracha and daughter, Esther, now of Montpellier, Idaho; his sons Michael of Arcata, California (Humboldt County) and Daniel of Los Angeles. David's second wife of 16 years, Olga Volozova (whose wedding Reb Carlebach officiated), and David's step-son, Daniel, of Hollywood.

Shiva for the late Professor Rabbi David Moshe Montag is being observed through Friday at Daniel Montag's apartment in L.A.: 137 1/2 S. Sycamore (one block east of LaBrea, between 1st & 2nd Streets) Shacharit 7:00am; Mincha 6:30pm. May his family and friends be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Express your feelings, pay tribute to Rabbi David Montag, share your grief, and offer condolences to the family through the Comment capability below. Please indicate if you have photos you'd like to have posted at http://www.davidmontag.com/ - such as this one filmed by Olga 16 years ago.

Enjoying the whole megillah at Purimpalooza 2008 JConnect LA

Jconnect Executive Director, Cheston Mizel and wife, Laura, explain the history of Jconnect's five Purimpaloozas.



Jewish-Americans celebrate Am Yisrael's survival on Purim - mindful of the need to defend it against those who make Jewry their enemy in each generation. Jconnect makes the religious and the cultural expression accessible to the new generations.

(The) Moshav (Band) Celebrates Shushan Purim at the Carlebach Happy Minyan, L.A.

Great musical performed filmed March 22, '08 in available (low) ambient lit performance. (Video improves as performance progresses, by second of 11-parts). The Chai Center's Rebbetzin Olivia Schwartz leads a hora in honor of an announced engagement in segment 6. (Click second button for videos menu).

How could anyone in his right mind not be on the side of Israel?

Easter gift from agnostic, Hugh Fitzgerald, published in DhimmiWatch:

The Israelis, or a majority of them, know their true situation. It is their government, from which so many Israelis are now so obviously disaffected, that refuses to know. But that government is wrong. Soberly recognizing the permanent meaning, and menace, of Islam, and acting and planning accordingly, and helping or insisting that other countries, including the United States, recognize the real nature of the threat that Israel faces, is not a counsel of despair.

Nor is helping those other countries, including the United States, to understand that the Jihad against Israel is a Lesser Jihad, one of many whose sum is the worldwide Jihad, a "struggle" by Muslims, using various instruments that go beyond, and are more effective, than terrorism, to remove all obstacles to the spread and then to the dominance of Islam.

Read it all.

Kabbalistic Artist's Paintings "World of Unlimited Possibilities" Exhibited in L.A.

The artist, Benson Simmonds, known for his acting, dramatic instruction, and paintings, opened a 24-hour charitable show Tuesday 18 March, The World of Infinite Possibilities.



Live, jazz entertainment was performed by at the opening by the talented and gracious, Richard Glazer Jazz Trio. Singer/songwriter Mary Rand (www.myspace.com/maryrand/) also entertained.

The show ran at SPF:a (www.spfa.com/) 8609 Washington Blvd, Culver City, Calif 90232. 30% of art sale proceeds will go to For the Child to help child victims of domestic violence.

What Israelis Gave for Peace - to learn from

Hat tip to Paul of Moral Madness: "Not one more inch! Gaza Pullout, it gained nothing."

Purim's Live, Global, Solidarity Rallies to be Webcast

Purim Thursday: Join The Largest Ever Online Solidarity Rally For Israel

A global series of simultaneous pro-Israel rallies are planned for Purim night.

The solidarity rallies on March 20 will be presented live on the Internet by the sponsoring organization, One Family Fund, which supports victims of terrorism. A Web site (www.together4israel.org) created for the event will allow the public to participate.



Alan Dershowitz, the well-known American lawyer, and Irwin Cotler, a member of the Canadian Parliament and a human rights expert, will begin the event from Sderot with residents of the rocket-plagued town.

The rally will then move to Jerusalem, where psalms will be read at the Western Wall. At the same time there will be a gathering in London followed by rallies in New York City at the Kehilat Jeshuran synagogue, in Los Angeles at the Simon Wiesenthal Center and finally in Australia.

To Sir, With Love - with Chabadnik as Sidney Portier

NBC Today Show's video: skeptical, dangerous South Bronx Jr High School undergoes transformation from worst to first- under rookie Principal Shimon Waronker - a Spanish-speaking, Lubavitcher Chassid.

Christian Tourism to Israel Increases Support for Strong Jewish State

Pastor Kay Arthur Supports Israel Tourism Execs
Originally uploaded by gameways

Pastor Kay Arthur encourages Christian leadership's support for Israel, spiritually, politically, and in personal pilgrimages. Ms. Arthur stands together with Israel Tourism Ministry's Rami Levi, El Al's CEO Ofer Gat, Israel's Ministry of Tourism Director-General, Shaul Zemach; El Al Chairman Izzy Borovitch.

G. Gordon Liddy Tough on anti-Semites; Importance of Strong, Independent Israeli Defense

G. Gordon Liddy greets Unity Coalition for Israel's Esther Levens
Originally uploaded by gameways

G. Gordon Liddy, prior to speaking-out against anti-Semitism and over-restraining Israeli self-defense. He addressed the first Judeo-Christian, "Proclaiming Justice to the Nations" Alliance dinner. Pictured chatting with Unity Coalition for Israel's Director, Esther Levens, at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville.

Pastor Kay Arthur Encourages Christians' to Defend Israel

Pastor Kay Arthur Encourages Christians' to Defend Israel
Originally uploaded by gameways

Pastor Kay Arthur encourages Christians to better understand the Judaic nature behind Christianity, including making personal pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Israel. At Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Pastor Jerry Sutton.

Christian teens honor the 12 tribes of Israel with Israeli folkdancing

Christian teens honor the 12 tribes of Israel with Israeli folkdancing
Originally uploaded by gameways

A pageantry of folk-dances and banners representing the 12 tribes of Israel adorned the Proclaiming Justice to the Nations' dinner at the NRB in Nashville.