Shul Bulletin

• The Munitz Bris will be beshaah tovah umutzlachas Sunday, 25 Iyar/May 29, at 1:45 pm in Moshe Ganz Hall - 365 N. La Brea.
• Farbrengen With Rabbi Leibel Groner: This Sunday, 25 Iyar/May 29 - 8:30 pm, there will be a farbrengen in shul for men with Rabbi Leibel Groner as a Hachono to Shavuos.
• Thank you to Rabbi Mendel Duchman for organizing the Lag B'Omer Parade, and thank you to all of the participants and volunteers for making this the best Lag B'Omer Parade that LA has ever seen!!
• The Friendship Circle dinner was a great success, and a number of our shul members participated and were honored. Click here for more information.

• Mr. & Mrs. Fischel Grossman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Neshe Grossman’s mother Chana bas R’ Avrohom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik in honor of Rabbi Levi Raichik's birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Meilach Weiss in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

At the home of Mrs. Varda Rav-Noy
428 N Martel Ave.
6:30 pm
Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman

• Mr. Ari Kaufman on his marriage to Chanah Ainya Nerenberg. Mazal tov to his parents Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman.
• Mr. Michael Zaghi on his marriage to Malka Chana.
• Rabbi & Mrs, Yisroel Hecht on the birth of their granddaughter Shayna Hecht.
• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch on the birth of their granddaughter.
• Mr. & Mrs. Efraim Lezak on the birth of their granddaugter.
• Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Novack on the engagement of their daughter Bryna to Avi Webb.

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

Upcoming Anniversaries:

• Mr. & Mrs. Meilach Weiss - 28 Iyar

• Chana bas R’ Avrohom (Mrs. Neshe Grossman’s mother) - 25 Iyar

This last week the President gave every pulpit Rabbi a speech. Anyone who witnessed the occurrences of 1967 clearly remembers the Rebbe’s unwavering and unequivocal encouragement to the Yidden in Eretz Yisroel and his statements about our certain victory (see the Lag B’Omer Sicha from 5727).

Our problem is that the Israeli government says it’s willing to make concessions. Even if it’s not back to the borders of 1967 or Jerusalem, it’s for everything else, and this causes us pressure to make more and more concessions.

The Rebbe once said that after the war, representatives of Israel went to then President Johnson saying that they wanted to give the land they won away to the Arabs. For making that suggestion President Johnson threw them out of the White House! The Rebbe commented the President Johnson was an “Oheiv Yisroel”, a lover of the Jews. And now, today they still want to repeat the same mistake! Enough! When we give in we get stones and bullets in return, and then we turn around and give yet more!

There are members of the Knesset that are “Galus Yidden”. They still think that they should dress up in a bear suit and dance in front of the Poretz! If we do not give a clear message that there will be no more compromises, they will not understand. The Rebbe was screaming to those at Camp David, and begging them to realize what they were doing to themselves. The religious amongst them said that the prohibition of “Lo Sechanem-Do not give them an encampment in the land” was overridden in a case of pikuach nefesh, when it is life threatening. The religious voted for it and only the Rebbe was against. And now, after all these years, they still have not learned! Unfortunately, and sad to say, whatever the Rebbe said would occur if they made the wrong choice, with regard to concessions, oil and security, has all come to pass. We saw the Rebbe speak out as a lone voice with regard to Mihu HaYehudi as well. As a matter of fact, the same individuals who did not fight for Mihu HaYehudi were the same ones who voted to give away the shtachim.

What can we do? Add in Mitzvos. Put on Tefillin with another Jew, give Tzedaka, and say extra Tehillim. We see clearly that everything the Rebbe spoke about came true. So too in the positive we need to strengthen our emunah that what the Rebbe said will be fulfilled. Moshiach is coming, and whether or not we are able to see, the Rebbe sees beyond. The Rebbe is not limited by the galus mentality that so many others are bound. By listening to the Rebbe’s guidance in our daily lives we will witness how it brings us and the entire world to the revelation of Moshiach Now!

• This Sunday, May 22 is Lag B’omer. There will be a big concert and parade on Pico Blvd. at Schneerson Square beginning at 10:30 am. For details about the event click here. For info about the clown contest click here. For all other parade info log on to the parade web site http://www.lagbomerla.blogspot.com/.
• Mrs. Michal Levin is arranging dinners for Rabbi Zali and Zavi Munitz as 2 babies are b"h home now. If you can help out please click here and fill in which day you can do. If you have any questions, please email Michal Levin at [email protected].

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:33 pm
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 8:20 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Simcha Bart: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:19 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
• Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Pirkei Avos Shiur by Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz: 6:35
• Mincha: 7:35 pm
• Pirkei Avos Chapter 4
• Shabbos Ends: 8:36 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman in honor of their birthdays. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Yirmiyahu Andrusier in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Bastomski in honor of Mrs. Etty Bastomski’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Braude for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Boruch Braude’s father Moshe ben Shmuel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Reuven Nathanson’s father Yitzchok ben Yaakov Shmuel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson in honor of Mrs. Yehudit Schneerson’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Arnold for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Chana Arnold’s father Moshe Bunim ben Shlomo ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

At the home of Mrs. Chana Weiss
411 N Martel Ave.
6:00 pm
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel on the birth and bris of their grandson
• Mr. & Mrs. Benyomin Hoffman on the engagement of their son Aryeh to Rochel Novoseletsky.
• Mr. Ari Kaufman on his upcoming marriage to Chanah Ainya Nerenberg. Mazal tov to his parents Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman.
• Mr. Ephraim Piperno on his upcoming marriage to Djorah Ouaknin.
• Mr. Michael Zaghi on his upcoming marriage.

Upcoming Birthdays:

• Rabbi Dovi Gorelik - 18 Iyar
• Mr. Ephraim Piperno - 19 Iyar
• Mendel Raichik - 19 Iyar
• Yaakov Moshe Sroka - 19 Iyar
• Zusha Lerman - 21 Iyar
• Mendel Schochet - 21 Iyar
• Rabbi Yoel Edelson - 22 Iyar
• Mr. Yrachmiel Kahn - 22 Iyar

Upcoming Anniversaries:

• Mr. & Mrs. Aleksandr Ganzburg - 18 Iyar
• Mr. & Mrs. Yirmiyahu Andrusier - 18 Iyar

• Moshe Bunim ben Shlomo (Mrs. Chana Arnold’s father) - 17 Iyar
• Moshe ben Shmuel (Rabbi Boruch Leib Braude’s father) - 17 Iyar
• Yitzchok ben Yaakov Shmuel (Rabbi Reuven Eliezer Nathanson’s father) - 22 Iyar

This Sunday is Lag B”Omer. The Rebbe once spoke about how we teach children that the Talmidim of Rebbe Akiva stopped passing away is a reason for the celebration of Lag B”Omer. The child will then ask; who is Rebbe Akiva? We will answer that he is the greatest Tanna, so much so that the Mishna follows his opinion. The child may wonder; what is my connection to Rebbe Akiva and his students? We should answer him in the following manner. Don’t think that Rebbe Akiva was raised with a great chinuch! He only began to learn aleph beis at 40 and became the great Rebbe Akiva. So too if you dedicate yourself to the Torah you can be a Talmid of Rebbe Akiva.

When we approach our children to grow in learning and in Yiddishkeit they may feel that it is beyond their abilities. They may doubt they can be able to fulfill the level that is being asked of them to be student of Rebbe Akiva. They may think that such a level is for someone who grew up with a lineage, an education and illustrious parents. Perhaps if I would have grown up in Lubavitch or the Europe of the past, but in this generation, the generation of the iPhone and the internet, what could you possibly expect? Ask my parents or the Rabbi, but not me! To this child and his perspective we relate the story of the great Rebbe Akiva. We tell him that Rebbe Akiva was a child of Gerim, he had no yichus at all! He had no chinuch either or even a means of financial support that would allow him the time to sit and study! Yet he overcame all of these things and nonetheless became the great Rebbe Akiva!

Still yet, the child may persist and say that Rebbe Akiva was that one in a million person that for some miraculous reason achieved this. If he could receive a sign from above, perhaps then, he would also be able to rise to this challenge as well. We answer him with Rebbe Akiva’s story. Do you know what inspired Rebbe Akiva? It was a rock! A rock? Yes, a simple, natural, non miraculous rock. He saw that water drops, consistently falling on a rock wore away its hard surface and made a hole in the rock. He learned a lesson from this natural occurrence to his situation. That he too, if he remains dedicated to the Torah, its ‘waters’ will eventually penetrate and he will be able to learn. He learned all this from nature without a miraculous intervention. So too, we tell the child, you can accomplish to be a student of Rebbe Akiva, it is within your reach.

On Lag B’Omer we also teach our children that it is the Hilula of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai- the Rashbi. We explain that he was on the level of ‘Toraso umnaso- His Torah was his business’. This means that his entire being was 100 percent involved and dedicated to learning the Torah. The child will ask; is this a level that is possible for us in these times? When he hears that it is rare state and uncommon to these times, he will wonder how the Rashbi’s example is relevant to him. We should explain that when Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai learned the Torah, nothing else was happening; he was fully focused on his learning. So too, we need to set aside time to study Torah on the level of Toraso umnaso, where nothing else is going on with our own ‘business’, just the learning of the Torah. We learn this lesson from the example of Rebbe Simon bar Yochai, the Rashbi.

The Gemora says that a Talmid Chacham is called ‘Shabbos’. Our lesson, similar to above is that when we learn, it needs to be on the level of Shabbos. Do we pick up the phone? No! Do we answer e-mail? No! These are the lessons that we learn from Lag B’Omer.

(Based on a Sicha from Shabbos parshas Emor the 17th of Iyar 5733 (1973))

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:28 pm
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 8:20 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:21 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
• Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Pirkei Avos Shiur by Rabbi Raichik: 6:30 pm
• Mincha: 7:30 pm
• Pirkei Avos Chapter 3
• Shabbos Ends: 8:31 pm

• Pesach Sheni - This Wednesday 14 Iyar/MAy 18 is Pesach Sheni. No Tachnun is said. Don’t forget to eat Matzah. For all other laws please click here to read the "Chabad Chodesh."
• Sunday, May 22 is Lag B’omer. There will be a big concert and parade on Pico Blvd. at Schneerson Square beginning at 10:30 am. For details about the event click here. For info about the clown contest click here. For all other parade info log on to the parade web site http://www.lagbomerla.blogspot.com/.
• Rabbi Gershon Schusterman is sitting shiva for his mother Mrs. Henya Chasha Schusterman at 465 Empire Blvd. Brooklyn, NY. Phone: 718-756-6032 Email: [email protected]. Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.
• Rabbi Chaim Hanoka is is sitting shiva until Sunday morning for the passing of his father Dr. Yaacov Hanoka at 511 Crown St. Brooklyn, NY.
  E-mail: [email protected]. Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.
• Mrs. Michal Levin is arranging dinners for Zali and Zavi Munitz as 2 babies are b"h home now. If you can help out please click here and fill in which day you can do. If you have any questions, please email Michal Levin at [email protected].
• The Los Angeles Ladies Bikur Cholim is having their Annual Luncheon this Sunday, May 15th. This organization helps many families in our community. It is important that we show oue support. Click here for more information.

Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Greenbaum
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 140 N. Mansfield Ave.

• Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman for the shloshim of Mr. Goodman’s brother Avrohom Yitzchok ben Yisroel ob”m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shaya Berkowitz in honor of Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Sarah Horwitz’s father Sender Elya ben Avram Yosef Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholem Perl for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Perl’s father Moshe ben Alter Asher Anchel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Ephraim Piperno for his ufruf. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
• Mr. & Mrs. Mottel Polityko for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Mottel Polityko’s grandfather Ber ben Yisroel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

• Michael Zaghi for his ufruf. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.

At the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia Pl.
6:00 pm
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Greenbaum on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Yaacov Greenbaum.

Upcoming Birthdays:

• Shmuel Dovid Yehoshua Perl - 11 Iyar
• Chaim Dovid Sroka - 12 Iyar
• Menachem Mendel Plotke - 14 Iyar
• Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz - 16 Iyar
• Mr. Aleksandr Ganzburg - 16 Iyar

• Ber ben Yisroel (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s grandfather) - 11 Iyar
• Sender Elya ben Avram Yosef Hakohen (Mrs. Sarah Horwitz’s father) - 13 Iyar
• Emanuel ben Kalman (Mr. Maayan Kerbel’s grandfather) - 13 Iyar
• Moshe ben Alter Asher Anchel (Rabbi Sholem Perl’s father) - 14 Iyar
• Ozzie ben Zev (Mrs. Julie Glabman’s father) - 16 Iyar

My Father A’H was very particular to wash for Melava Malka and tell a story of the Baal Shem Tov. On Parshas Behar he told a story that he heard from Rabbi Shmuel Levitan, and explained its connection to Parshas Behar.

When the Parsha discusses Shmitah, it says that if you will ask what will we eat when there is Shmitah or Yovel year, Hashem answers that He will command His bracha-v’Tzivisi es Birchasi. Hashem assures those that ask His blessings for sustenance. Why does the Torah have to say that if you will ask, then I will command? Let the Torah simply state that if you will observe the laws of Shmitah and Yovel then Hashem will send His blessings?

To answer this question, my Father told a story about Reb Dovid Lekas a Talmid of the Baal Shem Tov. Once he sent a Shadchan to a woman to make a wedding proposal. The woman refused the offer explaining that she still wanted children and he was too old to have children. He sent back an answer that he promised her a child. She sent back an answer saying that even if they do have a child, she will end up raising it by herself. He sent back a message that he promised her that they would both be there to take their child to the Chupah. The woman agreed to the proposal, they got married and had a son.

At the wedding by the Kabbalos Panim there was a discussion about emunas Tzaddikim. Reb Dovid, the father of the Chosson told the following story about the true meaning of emunas Tzaddikim. One Motzoi Shabbos after Havdala there were no candles, and the Baal Shem Tov loved light. The Baal Shem Tov told all of us to put our hands into our pockets and pull out a certain coin. He said that we then should collect the coins to buy candles and food for Melava Malka. Everyone there that night had been there from Shabbos and this was immediately afterwards. Nevertheless no one hesitated or questioned and we indeed found the coin in each of our pockets. The fact that the coins were there, was a miracle of the Baal Shem Tov. The fact that we did not even hesitate or ask before pulling out the coins was because of our complete emunah in the Baal Shem Tov.

When it comes to the Shemitah year, if we do not have any questions, certainly we will receive the brachos. With regard to Shmitah however, there is a special exception. Hashem says that even if you will ask a question, nevertheless; v’Tzivisi es birchasi- I will make an exception to the norm and even then, even with the question, guarantee my blessings for sustenance.

Asking questions when we have received a blessing can interfere with its fulfillment. There was many times my Father also told the following story. There was a Chosid of the Alter Rebbe who didn’t have children. He went to the Alter Rebbe but did not receive a bracha. He decided to go to the Great Chassuna between the Granddaughter of the Alter Rebbe and the Grandson of Rav Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev because he knew that it was an auspicious time and the gates of Heaven would be open to receive a bracha for a child. When he went to the Alter Rebbe for a bracha, the Alter Rebbe instructed him to ask his Mechutan Rav Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev, who indeed gave him a bracha. As this Chosid was leaving, he began to wonder why it was that the Alter Rebbe sent him to Rav Levi Yitzchok for a bracha. After all the Alter Rebbe was the head of the Holy Society of the Talmidim of the Maggid. Why didn’t He give the bracha? As he was thinking he heard a voice call out from Reb Levi Yitzchok, “Young man, young man, don’t think (ask questions), and don’t ruin it!” That’s because his emunah is the vessel for the bracha, and not his intellect.

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:23 pm
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 8:20 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:24 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
• Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Pirkei Avos Shiur by Rabbi Raichik: 6:25 pm
• Mincha: 7:25 pm
• Pirkei Avos Chapter 2
• Shabbos Ends: 8:26 pm

• Mrs. Michal Levin is arranging dinners for Zali and Zavi Munitz starting this Monday, May 9th, as 2 babies will i"yh be home by then. If you can help out please click here and fill in which day you can do. If you have any questions, please email Michal Levin at [email protected].
• Aliyos/Pledges
  If you purchased an Aliya or other Kibud during Pesach, or if you did not yet pay any pledge to date, please do so by:
  a: Logging on to www.chabadofla.com/Donate 
  b: Giving a check to any of the gabboim.
  c: Dropping it off in the metal shul pushka.

Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Greenbaum
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 314 N. Alta Vista Blvd.
From 9pm.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Braude in honor of their children. May they have much nachas from them betov hanireh vehanigle.
• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff in honor of Mr. Davidoff’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  Also in honor of their son Ephraim’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Duchman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Mendel Duchman's father Yisroel ben Shneur Zalmen Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  Also in honor of the birth of their grandson to Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Greenbaum. May they have much chasidishe yideshe nachas.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman in honor of Rabbi Goldman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Asher Habibian in honor of Rabbi Habibian’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  Also in honor of their son Yisroel Aryeh Leib’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Eliyahu Horwitz for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Reuven Eliyahu Horwitz’s father David ben Yitzchok ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  Rabbi. & Mrs. Dovid Kagan in honor of Rabbi Kagan’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin in honor of Mr. Plotkin’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Rebbitzen Shimon Raichik for the yahrtzeit of Rebbitzen Chana Leeba Raichik’s father Yaakov ben Menachem Mendel Hilel and mother Rivka bas Yisroel Noach ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Zalman Roth in honor of Mr. Roth’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Mindy Sroka’s mother Shaindel bas Moshe Yitzchok ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi???.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman in honor of Rabbi Goldman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

At the home of Mrs. Sara Malka Gottlieb
437 N Alta Vista Blvd.
6:00 pm
Speaker: Mrs. Sara Malka Gottlieb

• Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Greenbaum on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Duchman and a special Mazal Tov to aunt Srula Duchman, our dedicated youth leader.

 Upcoming Birthdays:

• Ephraim Davidoff - 3 Iyar
• Mr. Moshe Davidoff - 4 Iyar
• Mr. David Rafael Gutierrez - 4 Iyar
• Rabbi Asher Habibian - 5 Iyar
• Aryeh Hoffman - 5 Iyar
• Rabbi Sholom D. Langsam - 5 Iyar
• Rabbi Ami Pykovski - 5 Iyar
• Mr. Zalman Roth - 5 Iyar
• Yisroel Aryeh Leib Habibian - 6 Iyar
• Mr. Avrohom Plotkin - 8 Iyar
• Sholom Dovber Berkowitz - 9 Iyar
• Rabbi Dovid Kagan - 9 Iyar

• David ben Yitzchok (Mr. Reuven Eliyahu Horwitz’s father) - 6 Iyar
• Yaakov ben Menachem Mendel Hilel (Mrs. Chana Leeba Raichik’s father) - 6 Iyar
• Yisroel ben Shneur Zalmen Halevi (Rabbi Mendel Duchman’s father) - 6 Iyar
• Baruch ben Yehudah Mordechai (Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s brother) - 8 Iyar
• Shaindel bas Moshe Yitzchok (Mrs. Mindy Sroka’s mother) - 8 Iyar
• Rivka bas Yisroel Noach (Mrs. Chana Leeba Raichik’s mother) - 9 Iyar