NEW YORK, NY [AP] — Billionaire Michael Bloomberg won a third term as New York mayor Tuesday in a closer-than-expected race against a Democratic challenger who stoked voter resentment over the way Bloomberg changed term-limits law so he could stay in office.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Bloomberg, the richest man in New York and founder of the financial information company Bloomberg LP, defeated William Thompson Jr. 51 percent to 46 percent.

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Lipa Shmeltzer, Ohad Moscowitz, and Abie Rotenberg performed for thousands at the annual Ohel concert in Lincoln Center.

» Many more pictures in the Extended Article! (by Baruch Ezagui - Shlager.net)

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — A fire broke out this afternoon in a basement of two adjoining stores on Utica Avenue and President Street. The fire started in the storage area and was not deemed suspicious; firefighters had the blaze out in less than 15 minutes.

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SIOUX FALLS, SD — The founder of Agriprocessors Inc. says he spent every penny he could get to keep a kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa open after an immigration raid last year.

Abraham Rubashkin testified Tuesday during his son's federal financial fraud trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls, S.D.

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Devorah Benjamin and Levi Shemtov are two Lubavitcher that were selected and are among the five finalists in the Jewish Federations ‘Jewish Community Heroes’ contest. Each of the finalists will receive $1,000 towards their cause.

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BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — Before opening arguments began on Monday in state supreme court, where six Shomrim volunteers stand trial for an alleged assault, the prosecution notified the court that it will be seeking to revoke bail and may bring charges of witness-tampering before a grand jury against the Shomrim Six in connection to the witnesses being summoned Friday to the Jewish Court of Law, and the community pressure relating to the court case.

On Sunday night, the Israeli yeshiva students who pressed charges, along with attorney Paul Levi Huebner, arrived at the Beth Din at 9:30 PM. None of the rabbinical authorities were present at that time, so the group was told to return at 10:30 PM. When they convened later that night, the rabbinical authorities cautioned the yeshiva students, saying that testifying against fellow Jews is against Jewish law. The students agreed with the Jewish Court and gave their promise to not testify.

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This weekend, Shabbos Parsha Vayeira, over 800 students and 100 Shluchim and Shluchos will be coming bez"h to Crown Heights for the largest Pegisha of its kind in history.

As Shluchim on campus, many of my colleagues deal with great mesiras nefesh with a constant uphill battle, inspiring and serving hundreds of Jewish students each and every week. Around this time each year, though, we are reminded that we're not alone.

Seeing the unbelievable Hachnosas Orchim with which the residents of Crown Heights open their doors, take care of our students, and put up with all of the tumult that goes along with such an endeavor – especially knowing that this comes so closely on the heels of an already very taxing month of Tishrei – is the greatest reminder that Chassidim Ein Mishpocha, that we are part of a family of Chassidim who are true partners in our work.

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BEIJING, China [CHI] — Hundreds of Beijing residents and guests from South East Asia, the U.S., South America, and Europe celebrated the completion of China's third Kamhin family Sefer Torah this past Sunday. The Torah which was dedicated by the Kamhin families of Hong Kong, New York, Mexico, and France was welcomed in a lavish and joyous celebration at the new Marriot Northeast hotel in Beijing's Chaoyang District.

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Firefighters from Ladder Company 132, which is based out of 489 St. John's Place, were seen around Crown Heights doing their bi-yearly inspections of the fire hydrants in their response area, our neighborhood.

» More Pictures in the Extended Article!

CrownHeights.info wishes Mazal Tov to Shmulie and Chanie (nee Altein) Zirkind (Montreal, Canada) on the birth of their daughter.

May the newborn be a source of Nachas to her parents, grandparents and Klal Yisroel.

Kosher Clashers - Beat-trial Defense Blames Orthodox Rivals

A long-standing rivalry between two Orthodox Jewish neighborhood patrols took center stage yesterday in the trial of a half-dozen men accused of assaulting yeshiva students in Crown Heights two years ago.

Six members of the Shomrim patrol are charged with attacking the four students after having been called to break up a melee at the school.

But one of the defense lawyers said in her opening statement that the defendants were charged as a result of efforts by Levi Huebner, a lawyer for a rival patrol called Shmira.

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