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Shul Bulletin

Shabbos Beha'aloscha Schedule:

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:39 pm
  • Shacharis - Early Minyan: 8:20 am
  • Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Estulin: 9:00 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:00 pm in Shul
  • Shiur in Pirkei Avos with Rabbi Berkowitz: 6:55 pm 
  • Mincha: 7:40 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 2
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:42 pm

Kiddush Contributors:

  • Mr. & Mrs Yaacov BenZaquen - in honor of the yahrzheit of R' Yaacov's father Ezer ben Shimon - May the neshama have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch in honor of the yahrzheit of Kelly's father Moshe ben Avrohom - May the neshama have an aliya. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Godlamn in honor of their anniversary. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs Danny Rotenberg in honor of Rabbi Rotenberg's birthday - May he have a Shnas Hatzlocho Begashmiyus Ubruchniyus. 

The Kiddush for the early Minyan is sponsored by:

  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Antian in honor of their anniversary.

Announcements Beha'aloscha:

  • This Sunday, 17 Sivan (May 30th) the Los Angeles Ladies Bikur Cholim will be hosting their annual luncheon and health fair. This organization has very quietly helped numerous members of Anash over the years. They need and deserve our support. B"H last year a large contingent of women from our community attended and it is vital that we increase our attendance this year. Click here for more information.
  • This Tuesday, 19 Sivan (June 1) there will be a shloshim gathering and farbrengen for Nosson Notte Deitsch A"H at 9:00 pm at the Yeshiva. Click here for more information. 

Women's Shabbos Shiur / Shabbos Kallah:

Chaya Rochel Stroll invites you to her Shabbos Kallah
At the Stroll residence 360 N Detroit St.
at 6:00 pm
Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman

Mazal Tov To:

 

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Nachman Kreiman on the marriage of their daughter Mushky to Motty Ifergan.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky on the marriage of their daughter Mushky to Shaya Lowenstein.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Eyal Rav-Noy on the bith of their son. Mazal Tov to the grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-noy.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mayer Schmukler on the engagement of their daughter Chaya to Boruch Shneur Krinsky. Mazal Tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Zalman Schmukler
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler on the engagement of their son Chesky to Dobie Rosenblum.

Upcoming Birthdays:

  • Mr. Yosef Chazanow - 16 Sivan
  • Rabbi Danny Rotenberg - 16 Sivan 
  • Mr. Jonathan Glabman - 17 Sivan
  • Mr. Frank Revere - 18 Sivan
  • Aaron Binyomin Revere - 20 Sivan
  • Yaakov Rotenberg - 21 Sivan
  • Mr. Reuven Solomon - 22 Sivan

Upcoming Anniversaries:

  • Dr. & Mrs Sholom Fine - 19 Sivan 

Weekly Thought - Beha'aloscha

Among the subjects this week's parsha speaks about are the travels of Bnei Yisroel through the desert. The parsha tells us that when the ananei hakavod (clouds) signaled, the Bnei Yisroel travelled. In some places they stayed for a year, or a week, or even just a day or two. What practical knowledge do we gain by knowing the various travels and camping places of Bnei Yisroel in the desert? The answer is to teach us that the Bnei Yisroel camped and traveled according to the word of Hashem.

The Gemorah asks: How do we know that we may not carry between a private domain and a public domain on Shabbos? If we learn this halacha from the desert, we know that a desert is not considered a city, but rather a karmelis (not a public domain)? The Gemorah answers that we learn the halacha out of the fact that the Bnei Yisroel traveled and camped according to Hashem. When the Bnei Yisroel encamped, that place became a permanent establishment. Thus, the laws of a private domain and a public domain applied. This teaches us that even though the Bnei Yisroel might have only stayed briefly in a certain place, because Hashem told them to stop there, their stay, however short, was considered permanent.

The Rebbe explains that a desert has two features: no one can live there and nothing grows there. This shows a level of klipa.  Nothing positive can come from klipa, and klipa wants everything for itself. When the Bnei Yisroel entered the midbar, wherever they settled converted that part of the desert into a city. There were six hundred thousand households and a population of over two million individuals, they were supplied with water from Miriam's well and they erected the Mishkan. The Midrash adds that plants even began to grow. Bnei Yisroel converted the physical desert into a physical city and a spiritual desert into a home for Hashem. This same lesson should be applied to our avodas Hashem in this time of golus. We are living in a spiritual desert without revelation of Hashem. Our job in this desert is to erect a Mishkan, a dwelling place for Hashem. In this sense, every one of us represents the shevet Levi who must establish our dwellings as a Mishkan and do the service of Hashem in our home – where each of us represents the kohanim.

Sometimes we travel away from home.  Even if only for a day or so, we may feel that we are only traveling and what we do is not so important.  One might say to himself, “ich bein nor interveigen - I am neither here nor there.” Why should I be mehadar in kashrus, in tznius, davening with a minyan, etc. while in transit?  I am on the road, don't bother me. This week's parsha teaches us that even when the Jews only encamped for one day, the Levi’im had to erect the Mishkan, disassemble it the next day and load the wagons with much hard labor! The Levi’im did not excuse themselves saying, “we don't need to get so involved, why should we bother for only a day or two?” Instead, they knew their encampment was by the word of Hashem and it was their task to prepare the Mishkan for the Cohanim to bring korbonos.  They therefore treated every temporary place as permanent, and erected the Mishkan and performed avodas Hashem in that place.

The same is true for us. When we travel, we must remember the lesson from the Baal Shem Tov that everything is by Divine Providence.  As the possuk says in Tehillim 37:23, “The steps of man are directed by Hashem.” So if one ends up somewhere, even overnight, it’s because Hashem wants him to be in that specific place.  Our whole life is and wherever we are must be “al pi Hashem”. One must behave as if one is at home, and make that campground, hotel, motel or airport lounge into a Mishkan for Hashem.

Likutei Sichos, Vol 13 and vol 7, p. 351; sicha said to the shluchim going to Australia, 11 Iyar 5731/1971

Shloshim for Nosson Deitsch

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Announcements:

  • Parents: All children, even those who are very young should be brought to shul to hear the Aseres Hadibros on the first day of Shavuos.
  • Thank you to Rabbi Mendel Duchman for arranging the children’s program on the first day of Shavuos (especially the Har Sinai ice Cream Cones!). Click here for details.
  • The third yahrzeit of Rabbi Avremel Levitansky will be commemorated on Sunday, May 23 at 6:00 pm (Mincha 5:30) at Chabad of Simcha Monica, 1428 17th St. Rabbi Leibel Groner will farbreng.
  • Congratulations to all the Cheder Menachem boys on their accomplishments in Mishnayos Baal Peh. Thank you to R' Yankel Ginsberg for sponsoring this program in memory of his father, Reb Dov Reuven ben Dovid HaLevi.
  • This Shavuos marks the 250th yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov. For sichos, stories and letters from the Rebbe about the Baal Shem Tov and information about Shavuos please see the Chabad Chodesh for Shavuos.
  • Beruchim Habo’im to Rabbi and Mrs. Mordechai Berger on their move to our neighborhood. 
  • The Los Angeles Ladies Bikur Cholim is having their Annual Luncheon Sunday, May 30th. This organization helps many families in our community. It is important that we show are support. Click here for more information. 

Shavuos Schedule:

Erev Shavuos
Tuesday Sivan 5/May 18

  • Light Candles: 7:32 pm
    (Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

First Day Shavuos
Wednesday Sivan 6/May 19

  • Alos HaShachar: 4:22 am
  • Last Time to Read Shema: 9:19 am
  • Shacharis upstairs: 10:30 am
  • Aseres Hadibros: 12:00 pm
  • Followed by the KYY ice-cream party. Click here for details.
  • Light Candles from a pre-existing flame after: 8:35 pm
    (Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

Second Day Shavuos
Thursday Sivan 7/May 20

  • Shacharis upstairs: 10:15 am
  • Yizkor: 12:00 pm
  • Mincha /Farbrengen: 7:00 pm
  • Yom Tov Ends: 8:35 pm

Shabbos Parshas Nasso Schedule:

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:34 pm
  • Shacharis - Early Minyan: 8:20 am
  • Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
  • Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:00 pm in Shul
  • Shiur in Pirkei Avos with Rabbi Raichik: 6:45 pm 
  • Mincha: 7:35 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 1
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:37 pm

Shabbos Parshas Nasso Kiddush Sponsors:

  • Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman in honor of Miltons 90th birthday - May he be blessed with many more happy and healthy years with nachas from his entire family.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Zalman Roth in honor of the yahrzheit of R' Zalman's father Yaakov ben Zalman - May the neshama have an aliya.
  • Together with:
    Rabbi & Mrs. Yaakov Ginsburg, in honor of the Yahrzheit of Mrs. Ginsberg's father Michoel ben Shlomo.
    Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Binyomin Burston, in honor of their anniversary and Rabbi Burston's birthday. 

Women's Shabbos Shiur / Shabbos Kallah:

 

 

 

 

Mushka Raigorodsky & Mushka Kreiman
Invite you to their Shabbos Kallah
At the Kreiman residence 180 S. Highland Ave.
at 6:00 pm
Speaker: Mrs. Devora Kreiman

Mazal Tov To:

  • Rabbi and Mrs. Boruch Braude on the birth of their grandson.

Upcoming Birthdays:

  • Yossi Nathanson - 11 Sivan
  • Rabbi Chaim Binyomin Burston - 14 Sivan
  • Mr. Yosef Chazanow - 16 Sivan
  • Rabbi Danny Rotenberg - 16 Sivan

Upcoming Anniversaries:

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholem Perl - 9 Sivan
  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Antian - 14 Sivan
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman - 14 Sivan
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Binyomin Burston - 15 Sivan

Weekly Thought Shavuos

This year, the first day of Shavuos marks two hundred and fifty years since the passing of the Baal Shem Tov.
 
It is known that the Baal Shem Tov passed away on Shavuos, but there is disagreement whether his passing was the first or the second day of Shavuos. In Hayom Yom, the Rebbe writes: “The Baal Shem Tov passed away on Wednesday, the first day of Shavuot, 5520 (1760) and is interred in Mezibuz. The Alter Rebbe commented (on Wednesday, the 20th of Kislev 5559 (1798) in Petersburg [the day after his release from prison]: ‘On the fourth day the luminaries [referring to the Baal Shem Tov] were taken away.’” (See Hayom Yom, Sivan 6, note 4; see also Likutei Diburim, English edition, Vol. 1 p. 75)
 
When was the Baal Shem Tov buried? From the Rebbe's sichos, the burial appears to have taken place on the second day of Yom Tov and was performed by the talmidim.
 
The Baal Shem Tov especially loved the second day of Shavuos, and he used to make a special seudah and farbreng on that day.  (See Likutei Sichos Vol. 4, p. 1027; notes 29 & 30.) It was the custom of the Rebbeim at the Shavuos meal to say a Torah of the Baal Shem Tov and to tell a story of the Baal Shem Tov. (See Sefer Hasichos 5704 1944, p. 140.) The Rebbe explains in the Sicha above that it may be for this reason that the Previous Rebbe divided the Chitas daily study in such a way that we learn the beginning of Shaar HaYichud V'emuna on the second day of Shavuos, where it discusses the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov.
 
In a letter from the Rebbe marking the two hundredth yahrtzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, the Rebbe notes that there are three teachings of the Baal Shem Tov that are entwined with one another. First, the Baal Shem Tov expounds on the verse, “Forever Hashem your words stand firm in the Heavens.” (Tehillim 119) That Your words by which You uttered “let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,” the words with which the heavens were created, stand firmly in the heavens and give them life. The Alter Rebbe in Shaar HaYichud V'emuna adds that all the heavens above and the earth below exist only from the G-dly words with which He creates them and constantly re-creates them every second. This is one of the main teachings of the Baal Shem Tov.
 
Second is the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov regarding Divine Providence: that there is a direct G-dly influence on every small thing in this world. As the Baal Shem Tov taught, even a leaf blown from one place to another as it falls from a tree is by Divine Providence, and it effects the entire creation. The aggregate of all individual acts brings to completion G-d's grand design in the mystery of all creation. (Hayom Yom, 28 Cheshvan)
 
From the two concepts above, that Hashem constantly creates the world and Divine Providence, we come to the third teaching of the Baal Shem Tov.  The Baal Shem Tov said: Every single thing one sees or hears is an instruction for his conduct in the service of G-d. This is the idea of ‘avoda’ - service, to comprehend and discern in all things a way in which to serve G-d. (Hayom Yom, 9 Iyar) Even the simple events in our daily lives that we see and hear must be a lesson to love Hashem and fear Hashem.  This will give us inspiration to learn Torah and fulfill mitzvos with true life and beauty.
 
When we think about all of the above, it brings life and light to our service of Hashem.
 
In these special days – the eve of Matan Torah and the Yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov – we must take these lessons to heart, and use these lessons to affect the entire world. Just as it was told to the Baal Shem Tov (by Moshiach), that when your wellsprings will spread out – meaning, when the inner secrets of Torah shall reach to the farthest part and in all parts of Creation, this will hasten the complete Geulah, when the entire world will feel and see that Anochi Hashem Elokecha.
 
Based on the Rebbe's letter of Shavuos 5720/1960, Igros Kodesh, Vol. 19 p. 328.

KYY Ice Cream Party

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Shabbos Bamidbar Schedule:

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:29 pm
  • Shacharis - Early Minyan: 8:20 am
  • Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
  • Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:00 pm in Shul
  • Mesibos Shabbos for Boys: 5:45 pm in Shul 
  • Shiur in Pirkei Avos with Rabbi Raichik: 6:45 pm 
  • Mincha: 7:10 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 6
  • Followed by a Shalosh Seudos Farbrengen
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:32 pm

Announcements:

  • Shabbos Achdus: This shabbos as a preparation for Shavuos there will be a Shalosh Seudos Farbrengen following Mincha - Mincha will be at 7:10 pm.

  • Sheimos: The shul does not take responsibility for any sheimos. Please do not leave your sheimos in shul as the cleaning crew will put it in the trash. 

  • REMINDER: Check labels on all dairy products you are buying for Shavuos to be certain they are Chalav Yisroel. Many items have new packaging. 

  • Please continue to give extra tzedoka and say the following chapters of Tehillim: 20, 43, 130, 142 and 150 for Sholom Mordechei Halevi ben Rivka Rubashkin. May Hashem have rachmanus on him and his family.

Shalosh Seudos Sponsors:

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shimon Raichik
  • Together with Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Fogelman  - In honor of Rabbi Fogelman's birthday - May he have a Shnas Hatzlocho Begashmiyus Ubruchniyus.

Women's Shabbos Shiur:

At the home of
Mrs. Etty Bastomski - 418 N Fuller Ave.
at 6:00 pm
Speaker: Rabbi Moshe Levin

Upcoming Birthdays:

  • Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman - 3 Sivan

Nichum Aveilim:

Mrs. Miriam Labkowsky is sitting shiva on the passing of her father, Rabbi Yehoshua Dubrawsky of Crown Heights.
Phone: 718-774-1614. Email: [email protected]
Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!

Shavuos Schedule:

 

Erev Shavuos
Tuesday Sivan 5/May 18

  • Light Candles: 7:32 pm
    (Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

First Day Shavuos
Wednesday Sivan 6/May 19

  • Alos HaShachar: 4:22 am
  • Last Time to Read Shema: 9:19 am
  • Shacharis upstairs: 10:30 am
  • Aseres Hadibros: 12:00 pm
  • Light Candles from a pre-existing flame after: 8:35 pm
    (Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

Second Day Shavuos
Thursday Sivan 7/May 20

  • Shacharis upstairs: 10:15 am
  • Yizkor: 12:00 pm
  • Mincha /Farbrengen: 7:00 pm
  • Yom Tov Ends: 8:35 pm

Weekly Thought - Bamidbar

Shavuos this year marks 250 years since the passing of the Baal Shem Tov. There is a Torah of the Baal Shem Tov that the Rebbe has constantly stressed, that everything a Jew sees and hears teaches something in his or her service of Hashem.  This is because everything that occurs is by hashgocha protis, so if a Jew heard about something or saw something, that means there is a lesson to be learned.
 
Certain things happened lately which are shaking America and the world.  What do these events teach us?  Last week, in a matter of minutes, the stock market crashed almost 1000 points. Experts said it happened because of a computer glitch, instead of entering an “M” there was a “B” changing "million" to "billion" - and the value of stocks fell dramatically. What can we learn from this? The Rebbe constantly stresses the statement of the Rambam that with one action or one word a person can change the entire world and bring salvation. We always hear it, think it, believe it, but the stock market drama illustrates it.  One mistake on a keyboard shook the entire world. Hashem is showing us that with one good act we can shake the entire world and bring redemption and Moshiach!!
 
Greece has major financial problems, accompanied by riots. In the Gulf of Mexico there is now a massive oil spill that has turned into an environmental and financial fiasco. The situation in Greece didn't happen overnight, but was brought about to a great extent by government leaders who ignored warning signs but decided not to face the problem. The attitude was “let my successor take care of it.” Similarly, during the eight days before the oil hit the Gulf Coast, people turned a blind eye, assuming someone else would care for the oil spill.
 
What do we learn from these markedly different issues? If someone has a problem, don't ignore it!
 
For example, rabbonim get calls about sholom bayis issues. Many times, instead of reaching out when there is only a "hint" of a problem, a couple might come to the rav when everything has grown into a major crisis. Just like governments, people might live in denial; instead, the right way to handle things is to take early action and solve the problem before it blows up out of proportion.
 
Right now it is before Shavuos.  By Matan Torah, Hashem demanded guarantors that the Jews would keep the Torah.  The Bnai Yisroel promised that their children would be their guarantors. Hashem accepted these guarantors, and we received the Torah.
 
We must take a lesson from the above situation with regard to educating our children.  Sad to say, many children are lacking certain basic skills. Sometimes, even after eight years of elementary school, problems have not been identified or addressed. There may be a reading problem. The student reaches high school and cannot translate a possuk of Chumash or understand basic Gemorah.  Such a child may not have had behavior problems in class (which might have brought some sort of attention), but now that vital skills are lacking, the child’s parents want to know why their son or daughter cannot attend the school of their choice. Unfortunately, the child might end up with a life-long handicap. Such children end up in the educational system, but because their problems were not addressed early on, they beccome not interested in learning. I am not laying blame in any one quarter, as this is an issue which is the responsibility of both the parents and the schools. If there is no effort by all parties concerned, at the end of the day it is the child who is left to suffer the consequences.
 
When people come with their problems and everyone points a finger at someone else, it doesn't mean that one side is wrong and one is right. There is some truth to what everyone is saying. The schools are screaming that the kids are on the Internet, seeing what is not permitted, and they are right. Parents are saying that the schools should not be assigning reports that require research to be done on the Internet. And the schools scream that the parents have to supervise. With one click of a button, a child can go from one place to another and a parent cannot spend his entire time as a policeman. We don't know who our children communicate with on Facebook, etc.  What our children pick up on the way is unknown, and to undo those negative things requires much strenuous work.  To avoid it in the first place would be the best solution.
 
Giving permission to a teen to complete a report on the Internet is the same as giving a young child a sharp knife to cut with. It is dangerous. The Internet and email have become part of our life. But for a teen they are not suitable. Even todays phones are so sophisticated! Why should a child have a phone? We are distracting our children from learning! Instead of listening in class the children are texting one another – in both girls and boys schools! I managed my teen years – far away from home without a telephone, but maybe that's why I learned – because there was nothing else for me to do!
 
Today, everyone has to know what has happened in the world – if someone sneezes it is news. This is not learning. We must have learning... How do we expect a child who knows what's going on all around the world to immerse himself or herself in learning? We must take a lesson from Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who sat and learned in a cave, and remove our children from those things which are distractions.
 
In all of the above, I am speaking not as an educator, but as a parent of children.
 
The Rebbe stresses that a child’s education starts right when he or she is born. Just as the Bnai Yisroel entered Eretz Yisroel knowing that the ultimate goal was shmita, so too, in our times, when a couple gets married, they must know that the goal is to create a Yiddishe, chassidishe home. When a child is born, the parents must visualize the sort of chinuch they will give him or her.
 
Rabbi Gershon Schusterman has related the following story many times.  His mashpia, Rabbi Sholom Morozov, made a Kiddush one Shabbos in his house after the birth of a daughter. At the Farbrengen Rabbi Morozov said that he hoped that the girl should want to wed a chassidishe Bochur and that he should have a chassidishe son-in-law. He was asked, ”Reb Sholom, the baby isn’t even 24 hours old, why are you speaking about shidduchim?” R Sholom responded, “it’s not to early to start.” The lesson learned is that right when the baby is born, the parents must raise the child to build a chassidishe home in the future.
 
Why do we expect a child to attend an elementary school for eight years and wait until high school to start learning about Chassidus! Or to attend other schools through high school and expect the seminary or beis medrash to suddenly give the child the warmth and feeling that Lubavitcher teens should have? If we want to give our children a Chabad chinuch, it needs to exist from the start.

Ladies Bikur Cholim - Luncheon

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Announcements

  • Kashrus Alert: Smart & Final's "First Street" HOMESTYLE POTATO SALAD with a "Heart-K" (Kehilla) logo is dairy NON-CHOLOV Yisroel. (This is also  a reminder that to avoid problems one should not only check for the hashgachos, but also the ingredients.) 

  • Please continue to give extra tzedoka and say the following chapters of Tehillim: 20, 43, 130, 142 and 150 for Sholom Mordechei Halevi ben Rivka Rubashkin. May Hashem have rachmanus on him and his family.

Shabbos Schedule - Behar - Bechukotai

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:24 pm
  • Shabbos Mevorchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
  • Followed by a Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik
  • Shacharis: 10:15 am
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:30 am
  • Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:00 pm in Shul 
  • Shiur in Pirkei Avos with Rabbi Raichik: 6:30 pm 
  • Mincha: 7:25 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 5
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:27 pm
  • Molad of Sivan 
    Thursday Iyar 29/May 13 - 4:39pm + 15 Chalakim
  • Rosh Chodesh Sivan
    Friday May 14

Shabbos Mevorchim Farbrengen

Contributors to the farbrengen are:

  • Rabbi and Mrs. Yisroel Bastomsky 
  • Rabbi and Mrs. Levi Raichik, in honor of Levi's birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus uberuchniyus.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch in honor of R' Shimon's brother’s yahrzeit Yosef ben Avrahom. May the neshomo have an aliya

Woman's Shabbos Shiur

At the home of
Mrs. Tzirel Frankel - 109 S. Vista St.
at 6:00 pm
Speaker: Rabbi Simcha Frankel

We Would Like to Wish a Mazal Tov to:

  • Mr. and Mrs. Menachem Mendel Hilel Ganzburg on the marriage of their son Alexsandr to Sheyna Ariel
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz on the birth of their grandson Yitzchok Yosef, son of Mr. and Mrs. Yanky Munitz of Montreal.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Spalter on the birth of their daughter Sara Rochel.
    Mazal tov the grandfather Rabbi E. Schochet.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Arnold on the birth a granddaughter, and for the Bar Mitzva of a grandson, Avrohom Menachem Arnold.

Upcoming Birthdays:

  • Rabbi Levi Raichik - 25 Iyar
  • Noson Kesselman - 29 Iyar
  • Mr. Yisroel Zev Feiner - 1 Sivan
  • Mr. Yaakov Michoel Ginsburg - 1 Sivan
  • Mr. Moshe Susman - 1 Sivan

Nichum Aveilim:

  • Mrs. Leah Drizin is sitting Shiva after the passing of her mother, Mrs. Pearl (Perel Raizel) Goldstein of Crown Heights at 615 Montgomery St.
    Phone 718-771-7836 E-mail: [email protected]
  • The Deitsch family is sitting shiva after the tragic untimely passing of their son and brother, Nosson Nuta at 518 Crown St. E-mail: [email protected]

Weekly Thought - Behar - Bechukotai

This week's parsha begins with the mitzvah of shmita. The Torah says that when the Bnai Yisroel enter Eretz Yisroel “the land must be given a rest period, a Sabbath to G-d. For six years you may plant your fields, prune your vineyards, and harvest your crops, but the seventh year is a Sabbath of Sabbaths for the land” (Vayikra 25:2-4). At first glance, the possuk seems to say that the first year of entry into the land required a year of rest.  We know, however, that in actuality there were six years of work, and the seventh year of rest, just like in all of the following shmita cycles. How should this possuk be interpreted?
The Alter Rebbe explains that right when they were to arrive in Eretz Yisroel, the Bnai Yisroel needed to know that the seventh year would be a shmita year. When they entered into the land, before they began to work in the fields, they needed to recognize that the goal is shmita.
What is shmita? Shmita is called a Shabbos. Just as on Shabbos a Jew doesn't do any work, so too during the year of shmita, a Jew does no work in his field. Shmita enables a Jew to recognize that everything he has is from Hashem, and that the whole purpose of his work is to bring kedusha into the physical world. Therefore, if one has shmita in mind before he begins the six years of planting and harvesting, he will keep the laws of the Torah by not mixing seeds in the fields, by leaving peah and leket for the poor, and so forth, and this will in turn help him so that during the seventh year he will be able to keep shmita.
Having shmita in mind means that when a person initially walks on to his field, he knows that the land is Hashem's and he will have to keep shmita. For six years, he plows and harvests so that at the end of the sixth year, he can look at his orchard or field, see how much he has accomplished, and let the orchard or field go wild.  During shmita, anyone can come and eat from the wild growth, and the owner has no say. This is a very hard mitzvah to keep. But so long as during the six years of preparation he kept the Torah properly, he will be able to pull himself away from his labor in the field and connect himself to Hashem by learning Torah during the seventh year. This gives him the strength later, after shmita, to again remember that the land belongs to Hashem.
The same lesson applies to our lives. Every weekday, we must keep in mind that Shabbos is coming on the seventh day. If a person is doing successful business the whole week, then closing his business for Shabbos is a hard struggle. But if a Jew keeps Shabbos in mind from the beginning of the week, it will encourage him to conduct his business with honesty and in accordance with the Torah, and he will stay with the realization that the six days of the week are in order to prepare him for Shabbos.
The one who strives before Shabbos shall eat on Shabbos. The six days of the week help a person to keep Shabbos, and Shabbos helps a person act appropriately during the six days of the week, by imbuing the kedusha of Shabbos into every day of the week. Once Friday arrives, the Jew will have total trust in Hashem to provide for him, and he will honor Shabbos properly. And from honoring Shabbos, he will be blessed with a good week and good parnasah during the week that follows.
Based on Likutei Sichos, Vol. 1 & 12

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