MOTZEI SHABBOS:
Monday Night/Tuesday
1st Day of Sukkos
Tuesday Night/Wednesday
2nd Day of Sukkos
For all the laws and customs please see the Chabad Chodesh
Zvi & Shayna Boyarsky
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 430 N Poinsettia.
Shmuli & Chaya Chazanow
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at Ohe Eliyahu.
Upcoming Birthdays
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
Post Yom Kippur. What Now?
There is a story about the Previous Rebbe that took place on the day after Yom Kippur. He asked his father the Rebbe Rashab about the proper way to serve Hashem, what was next, after having completed the avodah of Yom Kippur. The Rebbe Rashab’s answer was to start to do Teshuva. This answer needs to be understood. How can it be that one day after Yom Kippur, the day that we were surely forgiven for our sins that we first begin the process of Teshuva? Even Baba ben Buta who would bring a Korban Asham (known as an Asham Talui) every day for any sin he may have unwittingly committed, would take a break on the day after Yom Kippur and not bring a Karbon! How do we understand the concept of Teshuva the day after Yom Kippur?
The Rebbe explains that avodah during the 26 hours of Yom Kippur includes five tefillos. These five tefillos correspond to the five levels of the neshama, Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chaya and Yechida in an ascending fashion throughout the day. As we elevate from one level to the next we become increasingly refined. If we were forgiven on Yom Kippur night by Maariv, corresponding to Nefesh, as the day progresses we need to address a deeper and more subtle level of the neshama and come to a more complete teshuva. As the process deepens new things that could not arise previously come into focus. One could liken this to different types of cloth. There is thick cloth, a thin cloth, and a silk cloth. The more thin and refined the cloth, the more the stain is apparent. A stain that does not show up on thick cloth will show up on silk cloth. The more refined and developed state requires a higher level teshuva. This is why we repeat Al Cheit over again after each tefilla to ask for forgiveness for things needing teshuva that were not yet addressed that arise though becoming more connected to Hashem in tefilla.
When a person completes these five levels he can come to feel as if he has reached a peak in his avodas Hashem. When this feeling of “ich bin a fartiker Yid” I have become a complete Jew occurs, growth is curtailed. At the very point where growth and expansion stops, that very same place is where slipping can occur. This is the lesson in avodas Hashem the Rebbe Rashab taught. Completing the five levels of Yom Kippur now provides an opportunity, a platform for continued growth and even deeper service of Hashem.
While there is a very important spiritual side to Yom Kippur and we must focus fully upon it, still, we know that the action is the main thing. We must remind ourselves that through every action, every mitzvah, every word of Tehillim, Bracha and Pasuk Chumash, we connect with Hashem and draw Him down into this physical world. After Yom Kippur a voice from Shomayim proclaims “Go eat your food in joy because Hashem has accepted your service.” The avodah of Yom Kippur enables us to bring that deep connection and focus into all aspects of our daily lives.
Similarly , the first thing we were commanded to do by Hashem after Yom Kippur was to build a Mishkan, a home for Hashem. To bring Hashem into life and into the world is our greatest simcha, to make from our body, home, and workplace a Mishkan for Hashem.
Wishing you all a good and a sweet year with abundance in all things both spiritual and physical, and the main thing, the geula amitis with Moshiach in the third Bais HaMikdash.
Wednesday - Erev Yom Kippur
Thursday - Yom Kippur
For all the laws and customs please see the Chabad Chodesh
MOTZEI SHABBOS:
Sholom Ber & Leah Kesselman
Invite the community to a sholom zochor
9:00 at 151 S Detroit
Yossi & Devora Pinson
Invite the community to a sholom zochor
at 243 S Formosa
Upcoming Birthdays
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
Shabbos Teshuva
During these days of the eseres yemei teshuva, a time when Hashem is near to all who call out to Him I would like to wish everyone a chasima and gmar chasima tovah.
The Gemara refers to these days as the ten days of teshuva that occur between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The Rebbe points out that there are only seven days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and then asks what the Gemara’s intention is in saying that there are ten days when actually are only seven. The Rebbe explains by first pointing out the common denominator that Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and the eseres yemei teshuva all share. He then explains the unique aspect each day has, and finally what all of this teaches us in the service of Hashem.
The theme of Rosh Hashana is coronation; crowning Hashem as the King. We do not say vidui at all on Rosh Hashana. This teaches us not to focus on ourselves, but upon Hashem alone; how He is the King and we are his servants. This is the service of bitul; to nullify the focus on our individual lives and to accept making Hashem the center of our attention 24/7. Only once we have established Hashem as the King and us as His servants do we begin to think of ourselves as an individual. We ask ourselves; how is this service of Hashem expressed in my daily life?
After this comes the eseres yemei teshuva. During these days we begin to analyze our past behavior, decide how well we served Hashem last year, and how we will correct and improve to better fulfill Hashem’s wishes and will in the coming year. Each of the seven days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur correspond to a different day of the week. As we go through each day, we review how we acted on that day throughout the previous year, and then plan corrections and improvements for that day of the coming year.
After these seven days we reach Yom Kippur, a day when we do teshuva, in order to tap into ‘itzumo shel yom mikaper’, in order to allow the essence of the day to atone. For this we need to do teshuva and say vidui to let the essence of a person become united with the essence of Hashem. When this happens all of our aveiras are forgiven so completely that they were never there; the only thing remaining is the inner connection between the neshama and Hashem. It is not enough to rely solely upon the power of the day itself, ‘itzumo shel yom’ to accomplish this, but we must do our part by making ourselves a vessel in order to bring this about, which is through teshuva and vidui. There are many stories about Jews from all walks of life who went to tremendous efforts to be in shul or fast when they heard that Yom Kippur was coming because Itzumo shel yom mikaper, its a day when the essence of a person becomes united with the essence of Hashem.
Let us all use these days of the eseres yemai teshuva and Shabbos Teshuva to do our utmost to rectify the past and prepare for the coming year.
Through doing teshuva may we merit to see the return of the Shechina to Tzion, immediately in these days. Good Shabbos
Dear Shul Members
In addition to the individual pan that each of us writes to the Rebbe
we are sending a general Pan to the Rebbe on behalf of our shul
Anyone who would like to join this Pidyon Klali should sign it ASAP for themselves and their families
We would like to send the Pan at 10 pm (LA time.)
To sign the Pan - Click Below
https://forms.gle/ywrcoPduitHya6BB9
All names should be entered into the form.
Please do not reply to this email with names.
With blessings for a sweet new year.
Rabbi Shimon Raichik
