- Melave Malka/Farbrengen this Motzei Shabbos for men in shul - commemorating 25 Years of Didan Natzach.
- In honor of Hey Teves Chabad/Atara's will be opening Motzei Shabbos - 7:00 pm - especially for our community to be able to fulfill the Rebbe's instructions to celebrate Hey Teves not only with Chassidic gatherings but also with purchasing books. They will also be having a special SALE!!! Ample parking available in the back.
- Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shul Bulletin
Announcements
Shabbos Schedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:35 pm
- Kabolas Shabbos: 5:10 pm. This will enable you to make Kiddush before 6
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm
- Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:27 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
- Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:35 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:38 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
- Atara's Chabad Mid- City Center opening for the community to purchase seforim: 7:00 pm
- Melava Malka in honor of Hey Teves in shul: 8:30 pm
Thursday, January 5
Fast of Asarah B'Teves
- Fast Starts: 5:40 am
- First shacharis minyan (the 6:30 minyan) starts at 6:15 am
- Minchah: 4:25 pm
- Fast Ends: 5:33 pm
Sholom Zochor
Rabbi & Mrs. Berel Yemini
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at the home of the Kreiman's 180 S Highland Ave.
Kiddush Sponsors
- Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s grandmother Bluma bas R' Eliezer Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Jon Engelson for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Jon Engelson’s mother Chaya Barbera bas Binyomin ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Doron Israeli for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Doron Israeli’s father Yona ben Yitzchok ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s mother Yenta bas Nochum ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Stroll in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
Also for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s mother Tsharna Gittel bas R' Yaakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by
- Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Anatian for the yahrtzeits of Mrs. Rochel Anatian's father Moshe Pulat ben Bechor ob”m and mother Chaya Soro bas Dovber ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Drizin in honor of Rabbi Dovid Drizin’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Allan Stark’s father Aharon Dovid ben Yitzchok Aizik ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Women's Shabbos Shiur/Farbrengen
At the home of Mrs. Yocheved Lezak
423 N Fuller Ave
4:30
Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rachel Schusterman
Mazal Tov To
- Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel for the birth of their grandson (Rabbi & Mrs. Sruly Karasik).
- Rabbi & Mrs. Nachman Kreiman for the birth of their grandson (Rabbi & Mrs. Berel Yemini).
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Shmuel Dovid Andrusier - 10 Teves
- Mr. Bob Meyer - 10 Teves
Upcoming Anniversaries:
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Stroll - 11 Teves
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Bluma bas R' Eliezer Hakohen (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s grandmother) - 5 Teves
- Tsharna Gittel bas R' Yaakov (Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s mother) - 5 Teves
- Aharon Dovid ben Yitzchok Aizik (Mr. Allan Stark’s father) - 6 Teves
- Chaya Barbera bas Binyomin (Mr. Jon Engelson’s mother) - 8 Teves
- Mordechai ben (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s brother) - 9 Teves
- Yenta bas Nochum (Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s mother) - 9 Teves
- Yisroel Yitzchok ben Mordechai Hakohen (Mrs. Miriam Feiner’s father) - 10 Teves
- R' Yona ben R' Yitzchok (Mr. Doron Israeli’s father) - 10 Teves
- Chaya Soro bas Dovber (Mrs. Rochel Anatian's mother) - 11 Teves
Devar Torah
There are two Yomim Tovim in which we say ‘Al Hanisim’, Purim and Chanukah. On Purim we celebrate with a feast and food while on Chanukah we celebrate with candles and hallel. The Meforshim explain this difference between Purim and Chanukah. On Purim, Haman’s decree was to destroy the Jewish nation physically while during Chanukah the struggle was against the Neshama of a Yid. Once the Maccabees were victorious in their war against the Greeks, their dilemma revolved around how to light the menorah oil in a state of purity. Whether the oil is pure or tamei is not a physical thing that we can touch, but it is a spiritual matter as the Rambam explains.
One of the qualities of oil is that it floats to the top of all liquids. In a person oil represents intelligence the level of a person that is on top. Through using oil we get light. So too a person uses seichel to guide him or her in the best way to live. Oil is greasy and permeates everything it comes in contact with. So too seichel penetrates into every level of a person. The job of seichel is to have an affect every aspect of life. The Greeks were intelligent and wanted everything to be done for strictly rational reasons. If we would have agreed to go along (chas v’shalom) with their reasoning we could have continued to keep kosher, but it would have only been for health reasons. We would have kept Pesach, but it would have been to celebrate the concept of freedom. We would have been able to continue learning the Torah but it would have been viewed (chas v’shalom) as a constitution. The Greek’s were opposed to us calling it ‘Your Torah’, Hashem’s Torah.
The Greeks may have even tolerated us having some form of a belief system. They may have accepted if we subdued our opinion to a higher authority. They would have viewed it to being similar to accepting the opinion of a doctor because we realize that he has an understanding that is superior to our own. They would have accepted this because it makes sense. But if we do mitzvos because they are ‘chukei r’tzoneicha- because it’s Hashem’s will’ and it doesn’t matter whether there is a reason or not at all, this they could not tolerate.
One may ask, what do we care about the reason why we do the mitzvos, hamaisa hu haikar, the action is the main thing? If we actually rest on Shabbos we have done the mitzvah, why does it matter if he is doing it to benefit his family life? If he doesn’t eat chaazer because it is unclean, what does it matter if in the end he doesn’t eat chaazer? The Greeks were prepared to allow this kind of observance. This is what the war of the Chashmonayim was all about. They fought for the kedush, the holiness and purity of the mitzvah as is represented in the oil. We don’t honor our parents and not desire other people’s possessions (lo sachmod) because it is nice, we do it because it says so in the Asares Hadibros! This is what we fought for in the war; we fought for the soul, the kedusha of neshamos Yisroel and the kedusha of the Torah and mitzvos.
Today, when learn the Torah and we perform any and every mitzvah, we need to remind ourselves to connect with the ‘Nosein HaTorah’, Hashem who gave us the Torah and the mitzvos. Every mitzvah; be it Matzah, Marror, Shofar, or Sukkah needs to be connected to the kedusha within it. This is also true of nigunim. Even if the words of the songs are Jewish, is the nigun also kodesh? The Rebbe converted the French national anthem into the nigun of Aderes v’Emunah; not everyone can do that. When we do not do this properly then the kedusha is missing. We are not necessarily the ones who can do this.
The Rebbe answered an individual who asked to make a recording of songs with pesukim and non-Jewish melodies. The Rebbe answered that he needs to seek the opinion of a Lubavitcher Rav, who is a posek and also involved in communal affairs. The Rav needs to ascertain if it is possible and worthwhile to make the melodies kosher. In cause of a doubt one needs to be strict and not allow. (see Likkutei Sichos v.24 pg.429)
Chanukah teaches us that the oil needs to be pure. Chanukah also teaches us that the oil needs to be sealed with the Kohen Gadol’s seal; these are our Rebbeim. If our customs come through the Rebbeim we know that it is kadosh v’tahor. If not, it may be kosher but it may not be appropriate for our menorah.
Announcements
- On Tuesday, Dec. 27th, the 8th night of Chanukah will be the annual Car Menorah Parade! Lineup at YOEC is at 6:30 PM. Make sure to be there! Click here for more info.
- The Ladies Bikur Cholim is looking for volunteers. If you are available for visitations, cooking, driving etc from time to time please contact Miriam Gross by phone or text 323-551-8579. Thank you.
- Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shabbos Schedule
- Mincha: 3:30 pm
- Chanukah Candles are to be lit before Shabbos Candles.
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:31 pm
- Kabolas Shabbos: 5:10 pm
- Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
- Thillim Club: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:24 am
- Followed by a Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik
- Shacharis: 10:15 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:30 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:30 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:34 pm
- Chanukah Candles are to be lit after havdala before veyiten lecha.
- NO Father & Son Learning: Due to Nittel
- Molad For Chodesh Teves: Sunday, Kislev 29/Dec 25, 7:20 am + 17 Chalakim
- Rosh Chodesh Teves - Monday & Tuesday, December 26 & 27
Kiddush Sponsors
- Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Milton Goodman’s mother Risha bas R' Tzvi Hirsh ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Arnold for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold’s mother Devorah bas Yechiel Shraga Faivish Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Naftoli Estulin in honor of Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Lerner for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Chaim Lerner’s mother Bassya bas Mordechai ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s father Yitzchok Yosef ben Avrohom Dov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy in honor of purchasing a new building for the friendship circle. May it be meshane makom meshane mazal letova ulivracha. Mazal Tov.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Yitzchok Halevi Shagalov in honor of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Halevi’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 son Menachem Mendel Yishai‘s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Ari Goldman in honor of his birthday and his wife’s birthdays. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Elchonon Dovber Grossman in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Michael Zaghi in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Women's Shabbos Shiur/Farbrengen
At the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia Pl
4:00
Speaker: Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz
Mazal Tov To
- Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler on the birth of their granddaughter.
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Menachem Mendel Yishai Antian - 28 Kislev
- Rabbi Ari Goldman - 28 Kislev
- Rabbi Chayim Mishulovin - 28 Kislev
- Chaim Eliyahu Mishulovin - 28 Kislev
- Mr. Michael Zaghi - 29 Kislev
- Rabbi Naftoli Estulin - 2 Teves
- Elchonon Dovber Grossman - 3 Teves
- Rabbi Dovid Drizin - 4 Teves
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Devorah bas Yechiel Shraga Faivish Halevi (Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold’s mother) - 28 Kislev
- Bassya bas Mordechai (Mr. Chaim Lerner’s mother) - 1 Teves
- Chaya Liba bas Yosef (Mr. Mendel-Hilel Ganzburg’s mother) - 2 Teves
- Simcha bas (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s sister) - 3 Teves
- Yitzchok Yosef ben Avrohom Dov (Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s father) - 3 Teves
- Risha bas R' Tzvi Hirsh (Mr. Milton Goodman’s mother) - 3 Teves
- Chaim ben Avraham Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Tibor’s father) - 4 Teves
Devar Torah:
In Al Hanisim which we say during Chanukah, we thank Hashem that for the deliverance of the “mighty into the hands of the weak, and the many into the hands of the few”. We also thank Hashem for delivering the “impure into the hands of the pure, the evil into the hands of the righteous and the rebellious into those who are involved in your Torah”.
The fact that the Chashmonaim were victorious over the Greeks who were mighty and many, teaches us about the great miracle of Chanukah. However, what does the fact that they were impure, wicked and rebellious have to do with the miracle of Chanukah? It seems that there is no connection to the miracle of overcoming the Greeks during the time of the victory of Chanukah.
The Rebbe answers this question by explaining the historical background of the Greek decrees. Matisyahu and his children were the minority of the Jewish people. The majority of Jews at that time were Hellenists who accepted Greek philosophy. Therefore the Chashmonaim, the minority, were involved in a two-front battle, one from without and one from within. They were battling the decrees that the Greeks had placed upon them. They were also struggling with the Jewish Hellenists who consented to those decrees.
Now we can understand the greatness of the miracle of Chanukah from both angles. Chanukah comprised the victory of the physical battle against the Greek army. The miracle is magnified by the fact that we were victorious not withstanding the fact that many of our people were not deserving of the miracle. The miracle is that Hashem considered the minority, who were the pure, the righteous and those that were occupied in Hashem’s Torah, over the majority.
What does this teach us when we light the Chanukah lights? The lights of Chanukah represent the lights of the Beis Hamikdash of the future redemption with Moshiach. In the world, Jewish people are a minority. Those that keep Torah and Mitzvos are a minority of the Jewish people. How could a minority of a minority possibly change the entire world and bring Moshiach? This is the lesson that Chanukah teaches us. Because of the self sacrifice of the minority Hashem performed a miracle for the majority as well.
This is especially relevant to us today. Today the power of the individual is even more potent than ever. Most people today are no longer Hellenists. There are not many that have an ideology that stands in opposition to the Torah and Mitzvos. The majority of the Jewish people that do not perform Torah and Mitzvos do not do so because they are against the Torah per se (chas v’shalom). Rather the majority of the Jewish people today are Tinokos Shenishba, they don’t understand what Torah and Mitzvos really is. Most Yidden are like the child at the Seder that doesn’t know how to ask. Therefore, the fact that they don’t perform Torah and Mitzvos is not held against them, nor can it hold back the Geulah. We cannot blame them, nor can they affect whether or not Klal Yisroel is ready for Geula. Therefore the individual, the minority will prevail in tipping the scales and bringing the redemption. Just as nothing stood in the way of the Chashmonaim from being victorious and bringing about the miracle of Chanukah, so too will we be victorious over the galus and bring Moshiach and rekindle the menorah in the Beis HaMikdash. May we merit the immediate revelation of Moshiach and the rekindling of the menorah in the Beis Hamikdash Hashlishi now!
Announcements
- Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson invite the community to the Upshernish of their son Moshe'le. This Sunday, 5:30 pm. Click here for more info.
- Informative Melava Malka for women this Motzei Shabbos. Click here for more info.
- Please say Tehillim for Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev Schedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:28 pm
- Kabolas Shabbos: 5:10 pm. This will enable you to make Kiddush before 6
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm
- Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:21 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
- Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:25 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:31 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Sholom Zochor
Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Cohen
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad.
The Brown’s and Bloch’s Shlolom Zochor
will take place at 530 N Fuller.
Kiddush Sponsors:
- Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson’s birthdays. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Also in honor of the Upshernish/birthday of their son Moshe'le. May he give them much nachas and may he grow up to be a true chossid yirei shomaim and lamdan. - Mrs. Chana Redden in honor of the ufruf of her grandson Sean Aviv Topps. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
- Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Aron Grunfeld in honor of Mr. Avrohom Aron Grunfeld’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Alsoin honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:
- Sponsors are welcome.
Women's Shabbos Shiur/Farbrengen
At the home of Mrs. Bracha Finkelstein
444 N Poinsettia Pl
3:45
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer
Mazal Tov To
- Rabbi & Mrs. Naftoli Estulin on the birth of their TRIPLET grandchildren (2 boys & 1 girl to Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Mintz).
- Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Cohen on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Zalman Schmukler.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on the birth of their TWIN grandsons (to Rabbi & Mrs. Nochum Sosover).
- Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson for the Upshernish of their son Moshe'le.
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Shneur Zalman Klyne - 21 Kislev
- Moshe Davidson - 23 Kislev
- Yaakov Wolowik - 24 Kislev
- Mr. Shmuel David Faynerman - 24 Kislev
- Sholom Yehuda Gorelik - 27 Kislev
- Mr. Zechariah Davidson - 27 Kislev
Devar Torah
This week was Yud Tes Kislev, the Rosh Hashana of Chassidus. Everyone knows the story of the arrest and liberation of the Alter Rebbe. When we attend farbrengens on Yud Tes Kislev we need to take practical lessons that we can apply to our daily lives. The following is what I was thinking about what would be best to take from Yud Tes Kislev this year.
The Alter Rebbe is known as the author of the Tanya and the Shulchan Aruch. It is known that the Tanya was printed two years before the imprisonment of the Alter Rebbe. Due to its printing, and the dissemination of Chassidus in the way of Chabad there was a kitrug, a decree on high. Therefore, when the liberation of the Alter Rebbe occurred all opposition towards spreading the teachings of Chassidus was defeated. From that point onward, it became our responsibility to do all we can to apply and spread the teachings of Chassidus in even a greater measure.
Since the Tanya has 53 chapters, we need guidance on which chapters to focus in specific. In 1976, the Rebbe inaugurated the year of Chinuch. On Thursday night, Rosh Chodesh Iyar, the Rebbe made a special farbrengen. In this farbrengen he explained the first six of the twelve Pesukim and Maamorei Chazal. On Lag B’omer of that year, he added the other six. There are four phrases from the Tanya found in the Yud Beis Pesukim.
The first is from the title page of the Tanya. It quotes the posuk, “Ki karuv eilecha hadavor me’od b’ficha u’bilvavcha lasoso” – The Torah and Mitzvos are very close to you in speech, thought, and action. The entire sefer HaTanya is based on this pasuk about how the Torah and Mitzvos are close to us. Even though a young child is preoccupied with his own play, food and toys, we need to guide him or her to think about Torah and Mitzvos as something that is very precious, something to hold dear. He or she also needs to think that the Torah and Mitzvos are everlasting and have been given to all of us today (even here in California and in Los Angeles).
In Chapter 41 of Tanya it says that Hashem placed aside the higher and lower realms and unified His Kingship upon us. This was so that we should do a Mitzvah. The Tanya reads: “v’hinei Hashem nitzav alav umalo kol ha’aretz kevodo umabit alav ubochein klayos balev, im avdo k’raui - Hashem stands upon us, He fills the entire world with His honor, and He is staring upon us intently to see if we serve Him properly. It needs to be our focus that Hashem cares to know what we will do next. We need to ask ourselves what is our focus in our lives, and what can we do next to serve Hashem properly.
In Chapter 33 it says:“Ze kol ha’adam v’tachlis briaso elyonim v’sachtonim liyos lo dirah zuh btachtonim” – This is the entire purpose of man’s creation and the creation of all the higher and lower realms, to make a dwelling for Him here in the lower world. From this we need to realize our purpose in life. What is important is that I have a shlichus to make a dwelling place for Hashem. This realization brings to: “Yismach Yisroel B’osav; Pirush, shekel mi shehu mizerah yisroel yesh lo lismoach b’simchas Hashem asher sas v’sameach b’diraso b’tachtonim.” – Yidden should rejoice in their maker. Meaning, that anyone that is Jewish should rejoice in Hashem’s simcha, that he is joyous and happy in his dwelling place down here.
When we think into these four points from these four quotes in the Tanya, we come to the conclusion that we are on a shlichus to make a dwelling for Hashem. The making of this dwelling place brings Hashem great simcha in which we rejoice as well. We remain constantly aware that Hashem is watching us and that it all within our reach. It’s not too difficult to act like a Chossid in the fashion the Rebbe has shown us.
The Rebbe spoke often in Yechidus and in letters about the importance of thinking about chapter 41 of Tanya. He spoke of the great importance of thinking about the fact that Hashem is with us. Once, a person asked the Rebbe that he learns the beginning of 41st chapter (until “haMelech”) but it doesn’t affect him. The Rebbe answered that the more he will think into it and focus upon it, the greater the memory and impact of it will be. This teaches us is that we need to take time and if we do it will change us for the better. Through this we will be Chassidim of the Rebbe and do what the Rebbe wants.
Shabbos Parshas Vayishlach Schedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:26 pm
- Kabolas Shabbos: 5:10 pm. This will enable you to make Kiddush before 6
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm
- Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:17 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
- Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:25 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:29 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Announcements
- Start saying V’sein Tal Umatar L’Brochah by ma’ariv Monday night, Kislev 9/December 5.
- Please say Tehillim for Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei Schedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:26 pm
- Kabolas Shabbos: 5:10 pm. This will enable you to make Kiddush before 6
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm
- Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:13 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
- Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:25 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:29 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Kiddush Sponsors
- Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel in honor of Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- The Grossman Family for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s father Nota Moshe ben Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Kesselman in honor of Rabbi Sholom Ber Kesselman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yona Mordechai Wiess for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Hadassah Weiss’s father Ben-Zion Yisroel Meir ben Menachem Monish ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:
- In honor of Nota Berger’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Ari Goldman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
Also in honor of Rabbi & Mrs. Ari Goldman’s birthdays. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. - The Grossman Family for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s father Nota Moshe ben Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Shabbos Kalla
Estee Plotkin and Chayke Feiner
Invite all women to their Shabbos Kalla
at the Plotkin home 321 N Detroit St.
3:45
Mazal Tov To
- Mr. & Mrs. Aron Nassy for the engagement of their son Yossi to Chaya Loloyan.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman for the birth of their twin girl granddaughters (to Rabbi & Eliyahu Schusterman). Mazal tov also to Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Drizin.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yona Mordechai Weiss for the marriage of their daughter Mushky to Ari Mochkin.
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Rabbi Yosef Y. Shusterman - 8 Kislev
- Rabbi Sholom Raichik - 9 Kislev
- Rabbi Simcha Boruch Frankel - 10 Kislev
- Mr. Mendel-Hilel Ganzburg - 10 Kislev
- Shmuel Thaler - 10 Kislev
- Yehoshua Moshe - 11 Kislev
- Rabbi Moshe Levin - 11 Kislev
Upcoming Anniversaries:
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Yitzchok Mishulovin - 7 Kislev
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yrachmiel Wolowik - 8 Kislev
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Nota Moshe ben Tzvi (Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s father) - 7 Kislev
- Ben-Zion Yisroel Meir ben Menachem Monish (Mrs. Hadassah Weiss’s father) - 9 Kislev
- Shulamis bas Hershel (Mr. Jonathan Glabman’s mother) - 12 Kislev
- Leib ben Julius (Mrs. Vickie Elson’s father) - 13 Kislev
Nichum Availim
Mr. Berel (Brian) Sroka is sitting shiva after his mother Miriam bas Pesach.
He will be at his home 241 S Mansfield Ave. until Sunday after Shachris
Davening times: Shachris Friday and Sunday - 8 am, Mincha Friday - 1 pm.
Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehe besochom
Devar Torah
Two weeks ago, we quoted a portion of a letter that the Rebbe wrote regarding Chabad standards. This was in response to a discussion about Chabad standards and a term that has come to be known as ‘Chabad lite.’ The response did not represent a personal viewpoint, rather the Rebbe’s perspective on this matter.
The essential questions that we need to ask ourselves are; what is the best way to keep Chabad standards and why are we struggling so much right now with these standards? Once again in order to answer these questions we turn to the Rabbeim. The following is a portion of a sicha from the Friediker Rebbe.
My father frequently recalled, the sicha of Yud Tes Kislev of the year 5699, December 1938. The Rebbe gave them two examples for the period which we are now in. The first example was of someone who was climbing a mountain and was almost at the peak. Those last few steps are the hardest to take and overcome. At that time any small thing is precious - a clump of grass, a stone, a twig, something to hold onto with your body. If someone can give you a hand to help you, give you some light and show you how to go those few extra steps, then this is something very precious.
The same thing, we are now right before Moshiach, the last few steps. Every good thing we have to keep precious, we have to have the light to help us succeed. What is the light that helps us succeed? It is the light of Torah and Mitzvos. Setting for yourself a time to learn. We are holding just before Moshiach. There are only a few more steps and any good things that we can do hastens his coming.
The second example was of a person who doesn’t sleep a whole night and then in the last 10-15 minutes before daylight he has a compelling desire to sleep. If a person could only push himself not to fall asleep during that time and then if during the day he could push himself more and not fall asleep then he can accomplish what he is supposed to, but if he falls asleep before daybreak then the whole day is lost. His sleepiness affects him for the whole day and his mind is not clear.
So too us now, we are just minutes away from Moshiach coming. Before the light of the day (Moshiach) we get very sleepy spiritually. No one knows a din, We have to strengthen ourselves not to fall asleep! Everyone has to set aside time every day to learn. We have to give off Terumah and Maseros of time, tithing of our time, to learn! It’s not enough that we support Yeshivos and others to learn on our behalf, which is a very good and important thing to do. But we ourselves must learn! A day cannot pass in which we don’t learn something. You cannot prepare yourself to go to sleep at night and to say Krias Shema without at least learning 1/2 an hour during the day. This is intrinsically connected to our Parnossah. We have to know that we have to designate time to learn (in Beis Medrash, in a Shiur) and then we will not fall asleep before daybreak Chas V’Sholom. We will be a vessel to receive the light of the Day (Moshiach). This is an obligation on every single Jew to know. When you meet another Jew you have to tell him - Listen Brother don’t fall asleep before Daybreak, because then when the light of Day will come, you will be very upset.
In the second mashal the Friediker Rebbe is saying that it is very dark before the break of dawn, and we are getting very sleepy. When we get sleepy we need to keep ourselves awake with a renewed dedication to learning and davening.
The following story I heard from Rabbi Mendel Lerman who heard it from Reb Michoel Teitelbaum A”H. Reb Michoel’s father was called to report to the Russian army for the draft. He came to the Rebbe Rashab on a Friday for a bracha to be released from the draft. His appointment to stand before the army board was on the following Monday or Tuesday. He approached the Rebbe’s Gabbai and the answer he received was that the Rebbe doesn’t schedule appointments on erev Shabbos because he is preparing for the Shabbos. He tried with others but received the same answer. Finally, he went to his uncle Reb Michoel Baliner, the Mashpia in Lubavitch for advice about what to do. He told him that he could stand by the exit of the shul after Maariv on motzei Shabbos. At that time the Rebbe gives his good wishes and brachos to people who are leaving etc. Reb Michoel Baliner said, “Tell the Rebbe your problem and ask for a bracha.”
Reb Michoel Teitelbaum’s father followed his uncle’s direction. When he told the Rebbe that he needed to leave to be at a meeting at Monday or Tuesday, the Rebbe looked at him and said, “What? You come to Lubavitch on Friday to leave on motzei Shabbos? You need to stay a week in Lubavitch!” He responded to the Rebbe, “But Rebbe, I have an appointment to go to the draft board?!” The Rebbe answered, “You need to stay a week in Lubavitch and learn Chassidus!”
He returned to his uncle to ask what to do next. The answer he received was to listen to the Rebbe. He stayed the entire week and went back the following motzei Shabbos and received a bracha. In the end, everything worked out.
One of our greatest problems today is our need to have everything instantly. We need instant gratification, instant messaging, instant coffee, and drive by lunches. We also want instant spirituality. We want to be instantly motivated by Chassidus or to just visit the Ohel for five minutes etc. What we really need is to take time to develop. This is what the Rebbe Rashab and the Friediker Rebbe are teaching. Take the time to learn Torah. Put yourself inside the learning and then internalize what you learn. This way we won’t fall asleep and we will refresh our connection to the Rebbe. This is what some of us are looking for in order to give us the strength to stay awake and uphold the level that Chabad standards call upon us to keep.