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Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Holiday fire was not the first

Orthodox Jews who plan to heat food during the first two days and last two days of Passover must light a flame before each two-day period begins and keep it lit for the duration.

In the case of yesterday's tragedy in Williamsburg, however, the flame apparently had been burning continuously for 2 1/2 days. It had been lit for the Sabbath, "so it was burning from Friday night on," said Joseph Potasnik, a Fire Department chaplain and Conservative rabbi.

The eight-day Passover celebration began at sundown Saturday, coinciding with the end of the Sabbath.

For Orthodox Jews, a fire may not be re-lit if it goes out during the Sabbath or during either Passover period, since kindling fire is considered work. Fire-building is one of 39 types of work that Jewish law forbids on the Sabbath, a prohibition that carries over to certain holidays.

What the Orthodox typically do to heat food during these times is "leave a low flame with an aluminum piece across, and leave something on top," such as a tea kettle, Rabbi Potasnik said.

"Somehow this got out of control," he said of yesterday's fire, "but I must tell you that this is not the first time we've had a tragedy with a holiday."

Potasnik recalled June 2000, when the granddaughter and infant great-granddaughter of a Satmar Hasidic rebbe died in a predawn fire started by religious candles that had been left burning in observance of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. The candles had been left burning on a stove under wooden cabinets, fire officials said at the time.

New York City fire safety educators will be in Williamsburg this afternoon to again distribute brochures that outline safety tips for the Passover observance, FDNY spokeswoman Virginia Lam said.

They are to be at Broadway and Lee Street from 2 to 7 p.m. The brochures, produced in cooperation with the New York Board of Rabbis, also were distributed last week.

Comments:
it will be with the help of "wspu" (w shomrim patrol unit)

 

“Faces of the Brave”
“Non-Profit” Tribute Artwork Project
The "Faces of the Brave" (FOTB) “Non-Profit” Tribute Artwork Project has been created as a lasting Tribute to Honor the lives of the fallen New York Emergency Services Personnel and other Heroes lost on 9-11 by putting their faces before the public. No longer will the thought of these brave men and women become a fading memory or mere statistic, there are more than 500 individual portraits to remind us of the personal sacrifice made that tragic day.
After more than 3 ½ years of Research & Development on the Tribute, Las Vegas artist Randy Soard has located each of the Surviving Family representatives (Estate Administrators) of the fallen Heroes lost on 9/11 and has invited each of them to participate in the “Faces of the Brave” Tribute Artwork Project. The artwork contains the images of 346 Firefighters (includes 3 retired FDNY), 23 Policemen (NYPD), 37 Port Authority Officers (PAPD), 16 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs-Paramedics), 3 New York State Court Officers, 2 (1 Active & 1 Retired) FBI Agents, 1 Secret Service Agent, 42 Security Officers, 11 Civilian-Volunteer Firefighters, 7 Civilian-Volunteer Fire Marshals and 20 Civilian heroes lost on 9/11.
All of the surviving families have been requested to provide one or two images of their fallen “family member” to be used in the artwork (a different image from the image(s) attached to the “Photo-Release” if they so choose). The “Final Version” of the “Faces of the Brave” artwork will “ONLY” contain images that have been legally authorized by the Estate Administrators (via a “Photo Release”). Many of the images provided to the artist by the survivors are from private collections and have never been viewed by the public.
Once the participation of the surviving families has been legally authorized and licensed, the artwork will then be printed and made available to the general public for purchase. 100% of the profits from the sale of the “Faces of the Brave” artwork will be gifted directly to the surviving families of the fallen Heroes or to the Charity, Foundation or Scholarship Funds of their choice.
The primary goal of this Project is to display the “Faces of the Brave” Artwork in public setting across the country and around the world including all Fire-Rescue Stations, Police & Paramedic-EMT Operations and Training Facilities, Educational Institutions (Schools, Universities), Hospitals and Medical Centers, Museums, Military Bases, Theaters, Transportation Terminals (Airports, Ferry, Rail, Bus, Cruise), Financial Institutions (Banks, Credit Unions and Brokerages), Municipal-County-Federal Court Houses, Sport Stadiums (College & Professional), Departments of the U.S. Government and all U.S. Embassies located World Wide. The “Faces of the Brave” artwork will also become a part of traveling and permanent public exhibits at State Fairs, Indoor Malls, Public Libraries and Building Murals dedicated to honoring those lost on 9-11.
For Additional Information, please contact us at the following:
Randy Soard

Email: RandySoard@hotmail.com
Web: Http://www.BraveFaces.com

 

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