Shul Bulletin

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:37 pm
• Shiur Chassidus with 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: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Shiur in Pirkei Avos by Rabbi Raichik: 6:35 pm 
• Mincha: 7:35 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 6
• Light Yom Tov Candles from a pre-existing flame after: 8:40 pm
  (Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

Sunday, Sivan 6/May27
First Day Shavuos

• Alos HaShachar: 4:16 am
• Last Time to Read Shema: 9:17 am
• Shacharis upstairs: 10:30 am
• Aseres Hadibros: 12:00 pm
• Mincha: 7:35 pm 
• Light Candles from a pre-existing flame after: 8:40 pm
  (Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu)

Monday, Sivan 7/May 28
Second Day Shavuos

• Shacharis upstairs: 10:15 am
• Yizkor: 12:00 pm
• Mincha /Farbrengen: 7:00 pm
• Yom Tov Ends: 8:41 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman in honor of Mr. Milton Goodman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Zalman Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Zalman Roth’s father Yaakov ben Zalmen Leib ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Simcha Levenberg in honor of Mr. Simcha Levenberg’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Vcherashansky in honor of Rabbi Eli Vcherashansky’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Mailaich Weiss for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Chana Weiss’s brother Lee ben Yacov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Anatian in honor of their daughter Rivka Naomi’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp in honor of the dedicated mispalelim of the early minyan. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.

Special Shabbos Achdus Shiur & Farbrengen 
At the home of Mrs. Yehudit Schneerson  - 364 N Fuller Ave.
6:30 pm - Speaker: Rabbi Zalmen Freidman 

Special Shavuos Farbrengen - Second day of Shavuos
At the home of Mrs. Ruchama Thaler - 418 N. Martel Ave.
6:30 pm - Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rachel Schusterman

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner on the engagement of their son Eli to Tova Wilmovsky.
• Mr. & Mrs. Alon Asefovitz on the birth of their daughter Esther.
  
• Rabbi & Mrs. Hertzie Richler on the birth of their granddaughter Chana Richler to Rabbi & Mrs. Ari Richler. 

Upcoming Birthdays:

• Nosson Pesach Sroka - 6 Sivan
• Rabbi Yisroel Noach Raichik - 9 Sivan
• Mr. Yisroel Schochet - 9 Sivan
• Mr. Simcha Levenberg - 9 Sivan
• Yossi Nathanson - 11 Sivan
• Yoisef Yitzchok Halevi Ginsburg - 11 Sivan

Upcoming Anniversaries:

• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholem Perl - 9 Sivan
• Rabino Noach Gansburg - 9 Sivan
• Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Eiferman - 9 Sivan
• Rabbi & Mrs. Noach Vogel - 10 Sivan

Upcoming Yahrtzeits:

• Hena bas Yakov (Rabbi Mordechai Berger’s mother) - 5 Sivan
• Yehoshua ben Moshe Yaakov (Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz’s brother) - 6 Sivan
• Lee ben Yacov (Mrs. Chana Weiss’s brother) - 7 Sivan
• Mich'l ben Shlaima (Mrs. Esther Ginsburg’s father) - 9 Sivan
• Bracha Toiba bas Yitzchok (Rabbi Lazer Handelsman’s mother) - 10 Sivan
• Yaakov ben  (Mrs. Baila Edelson’s father) - 10 Sivan
• Yaakov ben Zalmen Leib (Mr. Zalman Roth’s father) - 10 Sivan

Lost in the desert without a compass?

Over the past few weeks we have discussed the topic of mashpiim and the Rebbe’s call for ‘asei lecha rav.’ In 1986 the Rebbe began to speak on a regular basis about the importance of ‘asei lecha rav’. The last few articles explained the function of the Rav and a mashpia in the spiritual sense, and the difference between a Rav and a chaver- a friend.

People have various explanations and reasons for why they have not followed the Rebbe’s call for ‘asei lecha rav.’ The following are of some of the answers that people have given for not having a Rav.

1. Some say that they don’t need a Rav because they were by enough fabrengens and got enough direct answers from the Rebbe in order to know what to do on their own.

2. Another reason given is that when they need to find an answer they use the index from the Rebbe’s letters to research the topic that they are interested in. Since the Rebbe’s letters cover almost any question, they are confident that they will find their answers.

The article from last week addresses these two excuses. In Chabad, we have always had mashpiim as a central focus. Since everyone is ‘meshuchad’ meaning that we are subjective, we need the objective viewpoint of a mashpia. Once Rabbi Yitzchok Groner asked an older bochur at a farbrengen who his mashpia was. He answered; “The Rebbe.” The bochur who was sitting in New York said later that the kick he received for saying, “the Rebbe,” could have sent him all the way back to Australia. Rabbi Groner told him that the Rebbe is not his mashpia. He said that everyone needs an older chosid to look up to. On a personal note he said when he was in his fifties and already very involved in community affairs in Australia, he would still take out the time go to France to spend time by Reb Yisroel Noach.

3. People say that they want a mashpia but cannot find one. The reason they give is that they are looking for a real chosid. What they are seeking is an ideal, not a person. They say that if there were a Reb Mendel Futerfas available, a Reb Nissan, or a Reb Hillel Partitcher, then they would have a mashpia. What they really seek is someone without faults.

4. Others say that they can’t have a mashpia, because the mashpiim aren’t down to earth. What good is it to have a mashpia who cannot truly understand my needs and basic outlook on life. If he was the kind of person who would feel comfortable spending time with me then he would understand me. But because he is the way he is, he won’t understand me.

5. Some people seek a caretaker, not a mashpia. Their idea of having a mashpia is to have a person to pour out all their problems to. Then they put it on their mashpia to figure it all out and come back with a detailed list of what to do. The expectation is that the mashpia should tell him how to wake up, what to wear, what to say, what to do from A to Z. He wants the mashpia to make it that all he has to do is follow his list of instructions and check them off as he goes.

6. Some feel that they don’t understand what the job of the mashpiim is all about. They don’t want to be a burden by doing or asking something inappropriate for the job of a mashpia. It’s not clear to many how much to tell the mashpia about the intricacies of one’s life. What is appropriate to share and what is better left unsaid.

When the Rebbe spoke about ‘asei lecha rav’, the Rebbe knew that the Rav wasn’t perfect. He knew that the Rav was not without fault and perhaps not the beinoni of the Tanya. Certainly the Rebbe did know that he was someone who learned, davened and was striving to do what is best.

I remember once when Reb Nissan Neminov came to a fabrengen in Montreal. There were yungelite who had attended his yeshiva twenty years beforehand. I was affected by the great respect that they had for Reb Nissan. There was one yungerman who took l’chaim and started to cry. He expressed how far he felt from the times when he was in yeshiva by Reb Nissan when he was holding on a higher level. One could see clearly the connection and impact that Reb Nissan had upon him. On the other hand, there were those who would not go to Reb Nissan for hashpa’a. The reason they gave was that he wasn’t mekushar- connected to the Rebbe the way they thought was best. These people didn’t have any mashpia because no one fit into their unreasonable imagination of what a chosid is. These same folks are now wondering why the younger generation aren’t listening to them.

Once at a fabrengen in Australia, a yungerman spoke about some of the yungelite that he knew. He explained that they realized that their mashpia isn’t perfect. Nevertheless, they know that he is striving for truth in his avoda. They knew that he is striving for something that they themselves do not yet have, and therefore they accept him as their mashpia.

When my father had to pick a Rav he took a yungerman thirty five years younger than himself as his mashpia.

Regarding the reason that many give that the Rav is not on my level and therefore he won’t understand me because he is so lofty. The fact of the matter is that we all live in the physical world, including the Rav. If you are sincere and the Rav is sincere then he will understand. Many ba’alei teshuva had my father as their mashpia. He understood very well their problems even though the subjects and difficulties that they were struggling with were very different than his own. Even though he was on a high level in his own avodah, he understood. Reb Shlome Hochler, a chaver of my father, once said that he didn’t understand how my father was able to communicate with two brothers that he knew. They spoke English. My father spoke Yiddish. Nevertheless, he understood. There was truth between them and there was a connection between them.

If someone has an illness chas v’Shalom you search for a doctor. You will never find the perfect doctor who never made a mistake. You may find a younger doctor but take him for his experience. Any responsible person would never self-medicate themselves from Dr. Google, even though there is a lot of information available. When it comes to the process of healing, personal guidance is absolutely necessary. They say that a doctor is his own worst patient. This is specifically because he is knowledgable about his condition. He is even more knowledgable about the fact that his condition will cloud his opinion. Therefore A doctor always seeks the advice of another doctor when it comes to his health. If one doctor doesn’t work, we try another doctor or get a second opinion. No one would ever think that the doctor is here to take their place. A doctor’s role is to give you general instructions which if you follow, you will get better. It is upon you however to implement it responsibly. He never stands in your place. So too a mashpia is not responsible to implement the guidance he gives. It always is upon you to follow through.

Therefore, in conclusion:

• Everyone needs to have a Rav to fulfill the Rebbe’s call for ‘asei lecha Rav.’
• The Rav that you chose should be someone you feel is an eish emes. He needs to be someone that you can trust and hold your confidentiality.
• It’s best to speak face to face, not over the phone, in order to be comfortable and confident that the Rav understands what you’re saying
• It’s advisable to make a pre-agreed upon time limit to be certain that it is not overwhelming on the Rav’s time.
• It is also advisable to agree about how long and how often you will meet with the Rav, not just every Rosh Hashana.
• It is also advisable to agree upon the appropriate topics of discussion in advance.

Kabolos HaTorah bSimcha ubPnimius.

• For the Kol Yakov Yehuda newsletter click here.
• Professional Day Camp for 3-6 year olds in La Brea Neighborhood, directed by Ms. Simi Raichik, for more info click here. 
• Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:32 pm
• Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
• Followed by a Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik
• Tehillim Club: 9:00 am 
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:19 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Shacharis: 10:15 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:30 am 
• Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Shiur in Pirkei Avos by Rabbi Raichik: 6:30 pm 
• Mincha: 7:30 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 5
• Shabbos Ends: 8:35 pm
  
• Molad of Chodesh Sivan: Sunday, Iyar 28/May 20, 11:01 pm + 4 chalakim 
• Rosh Chodesh Sivan: Tuesday, May 22.

• The Weiss Family for the first yahrtzeit of Reb Berel Weiss - Yissacher Dov ben Yonah ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Dr. & Mrs. Ze’ev Rav-Noy in honor of Mrs. Varda Rav-Noy’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s brother Yosef ben Avrohom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Fogelman in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• The Gaboim of the shul in honor of Shabbos Chazak. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Fishel Grossman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Neshe Grossman’s mother Chana bas Avrohom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuly Gurary in honor of the birth of their daughter Chaya Mushka. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
• Mr. & Mrs. Rafael Gutierrez thanking Ha-shem for all the blessings and miracles in their lives. May they continue to see open and revealed good with kol tuv se’ela. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Meilach Weiss in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Fogelman in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
• The Gaboim of the shul in honor of Shabbos Chazak. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman in honor of the early minyan and his aliya last week. May they all have much hatzlocho and be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.

 At the home of Mrs. Varda Rav-Noy
428 N Martel Ave.
6:30 pm
Special Speaker!!!

• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuly Gurary on the birth of their daughter Chaya Mushka.
  Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Rebbitzen Shimon Raichik.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Alti Burston on the birth of their daughter.
  Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Burston.
• Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Novack on the birth of their granddaughter Menucha Basya (to Bryna and Avi Webb).

Upcoming Birthdays:

• Noson Kesselman - 29 Iyar
• Mr. Yaakov Michoel Ginsburg - 1 Sivan
• Mr. Yisroel Zev Feiner - 1 Sivan
• Mr. Moshe Susman - 1 Sivan
• Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman - 3 Sivan

Upcoming Anniversaries:

• Mr. & Mrs. Meilach Weiss - 28 Iyar
• Rabbi & Mrs. Nachman Kreiman - 3 Sivan

Upcoming Yahrtzeits:

• Reb Yissacher Dov (Berel) ben Reb Yonah Weiss - 27 Iyar 
• Mordechai ben Shlomo Yom Tov (Mrs. Chana Leiba Nathanson’s father) - 4 Sivan

Giving our very best,
something that Rabbi Google cannot provide

In the end of 1980’s the Rebbe spoke many times about asei lecha Rav- that everyone should have a personal Rav. The Rebbe spoke about this one Shabbos after another. He emphasized that it says, ‘make’, meaning to force yourself to have a Rav. Until this point Chassidim always went directly to the Rebbe for advice. In 1988, the Rebbe gave specific instructions about who to speak to depending on the question. If it had to do with health he advised to ask a medical doctor. For halachic issues, he said to ask a Rav. Even though the Rebbe spoke about making for yourself a Rav to ask your questions to, chassidim still continued to write to the Rebbe and he answered their questions. Nowadays, people write to the igros and get answers.

Even though the Rebbe continued to answer questions, he still wanted to promote the inyan of asei lecha rav because the Rebbe wanted each person to have a personal Rav and guide in life. When we have our own Rav and madrich, it can be difficult to actually fulfill what we are told to do. For this we have, “knei lecha chaver-aquire yourself a friend”. A friend encourages us to go to the Rav and seek the advice. A friend also helps us implement the advice the Rav has given.

These days, some people walk around without a Rav. They will ask the igros. If they find an answer then they follow. If they don’t see an answer then often they do nothing. But this is not how Chabad is built. Chabad is built on mashpiim. My mashpia, Rabbi Greenglass A”H, had answers from the Rebbe that instructed him on the proper way to work with bochurim. The Rebbe did not always give answers to questions. Often it was upon the mashpiim to guide the bochurim. Today, in our yeshivas, where is the relationship between a mashpia and a bochur? In some places, the ratio is 75 bochurim to 1 mashpia. There is not enough time even to get to know each bochur individually. What does the bochur do? He goes to older bochurim for advice and guidance. Although this is a wonderful thing, an 18 year old guiding a 16 year old is not enough. Parents rely on the system, but the system doesn’t always come through. Children at times fall through the cracks. Often our children need someone to speak do and they don’t feel comfortable being honest with the mashpia in their yeshiva. What can be done?

Rabbi Binyomin Klein once told me a story about a bochur who wrote to the Rebbe for permission to go to college. He wrote that his Rav had given him his permission. The Rebbe didn’t answer him. The Rebbe asked Rabbi Klein to find out who the Rav was that gave him permission. When the bochur came in for an answer, Rabbi Klein said that the Rebbe didn’t give an answer and suggested that if he writes who his Rav is, then maybe it would help to get an answer. The bachur agreed. Rabbi Klein asked for permission to read the letter and the bochur approved. It said that the Rav was a yungeman from the kollel. The Rebbe asked Rabbi Klein to ask the young Rav why he said this without letting him know that it was the Rebbe who was inquiring. Rabbi Klein told the yungerman that the Rebbe didn’t give an answer and if he said the reason for his decision then maybe it would help in receiving an answer. The Rav answered, “What should I have answered him? Would it help if I said no? Would it really stop him from going?” 

A Rav is not a rubber stamp. A Rav needs to know that he needs to take into consideration the best interest of the individual asking. Before a Rav makes a decision he needs to listen with care to the person he is helping and only then consider his answer. When a Rav does this then the one asking will be open and will listen to the decision. In the old times when someone came to the Rav, the Rav looked into the person and life circumstance of the questioner. It wasn’t an email or a text message that is without personal contact.

Once I heard a bochur say; “Why should I go to the fabrengen? They will just repeat what they saw by the Rebbe. I can read it myself.” We don’t go to a fabrengen to hear the mashpia say what he heard. We go to hear what he felt from the atmosphere, the impact it had on him and the vort he took away from it.  At a fabrengen chassidim speak out their inner impressions, they clarify them, they live it. That is a chassidishe fabrengen, it’s not just information. We internalize it – “emor v’amarta.”

Years ago in Los Angeles, I used to meet with the old Yidden in the park for Mivtzoyim. We used to call them the UN. This is because they would sit outside and they would speak all their philosophies about how the world should work. They would say, “If I were President Johnson then I would…” “This is what Israel should do….” etc.. They were busy taking care of the whole world. They were calling out as if they were responsible. People would disturb in shul in order to say their opinions. Now with the internet, it has gotten even more widespread. Where do we have time for such things? The world doesn’t need to hear everyone’s opinion as if they are the leader of the free world. We need to ask ourselves; “What is our achrayus?” It is to our homes and our local communities.

This week is parshas Bechukosai teileichu. The Rebbe explains that there are different types of letters. Written letters are ink on parchment, which are two different things that become connected. Carved letters, Chakika, means that they have been carved into stone and have become part of the stone itself. The theme of the parsha teaches that in order to be successful in ‘going’, teleichu, it needs to be in a way that we are not only connected to the Torah, but also that it is carved into us. It needs to be like the body and the soul, as one thing. This is connected to last week’s article about emor v’emarta. This comes through going over it until it penetrates.

Anyone who spent time by the Rebbe’s fabrengens was able to get fully into it. He experienced the Rebbe’s emunah in Hashem, in Torah and Mitzvos and other Yidden. It permeated and carved into us. We lived it and affected us to the level that we sensed that “this is what it is.” When we saw others who did not attend we felt they were missing out. This is the emes of bechukosai, engraving, l’hazir gedolim al haketanim.

The question we have today is how to best pass on this connection. The Rebbe demanded mashpiim, aseh lecha rav. We cannot just impart information. We need to listen to people, to evaluate and to connect with them. Then we need to find the right words to bring the Rebbe’s teachings into their lives and to guide them according to their circumstances. In the Rebbe’s letters to Rabbi Greenglass, the Rebbe spoke about this. The Rebbe demanded that mashpiim use their minds and hearts to guide, but not to demand beyond the level of their students. Still, we must keep the focus on the goal. Why does one need to have a mashpia when he can go to Rabbi Google and get any answer he needs? The answer is that the Rebbe’s teachings need to go through the mashpia, the person who lives it and connects with the circumstances of his student and helps him integrate it into his life.

Reb Hillel Paricher and a chosid named Reb Yaacov were both sent by the Tzemach Tzedek as his personal shadar to various communities. Usually before they went, the Tzemach Tzedek would say to them a maamer in private. They would take this maamer as the primary message that they would disseminate in the communities that they would visit. One time before a trip, Reb Yaacov told the Tzedek that he is ready go and he needs to hear the maamer. The Tzemach Tzedek said he already said the maamer to Reb Hillel and that he should have him say it to him. Rav Yaacov responded; “Yes, but he is a kli sheni – a secondary vessel.” He meant to say that it is not the same as hearing it directly from the Rebbe who is the primary source. The Tzemach Tzedek replied; “Yes Reb Hillel is a kli sheni but he is yad tzoledes bo.” He meant that Reb Hillel is hot and is therefore a good person to get the maamer from because with the heat it will penetrate. This is a message we need to take when being mashpia on others. We need to be yad tzoledes bo, and in this way the words we speak will have their proper affect and penetrate.

• For the Kol Yakov Yehuda newsletter click here. 
• The L’chaim for Zalmy Klyne & Malky Raskin will iy"h take place this Sunday, Iyar 21/May 13, 4-7 pm at 184 N Orange Dr. 
• The Los Angeles Ladies Bikur Cholim is having their Annual Luncheon this Sunday, May 13th. This organization helps many families in our community. It is important that we show our support. Click here for more information. 
• Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:27 pm
• Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:22 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am 
• Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Shiur in Pirkei Avos by Rabbi Raichik: 6:25 pm 
• Mincha: 7:25 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 4
• Shabbos Ends: 8:30 pm

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Bastomski in honor of Mrs. Etty Bastomski’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• 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. Levi Raichik in honor of Rabbi Levi Raichik’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
  Also in honor of the engagement of (Levi's protege) Zalmy Klyne to Malky Raskin. May they be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson in honor of Mrs. Yehudit Schneerson’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Gershon Schusterman’s father Mordechai ben Eliyahu ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

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.
• Mr. & Mrs. Yaacov Avila in honor of the marriage of Mr. Yaacov Avila’s sister Ilana to Yossi Bassman. May they be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Dovi Gorelik in honor of Rabbi Dovi Gorelik’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

At the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman 
421 N Poinsettia Pl. 
6:30 pm 
Speaker: Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz

• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Duchman on the marriage of their daughter Srula to Dov-Ber Chaiton.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Binyomin Fogelman on the marriage of their daughter Chaya'le to Yanky Komar. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Avila on the marriage of their daughter Ilana to Yossi Bassman.
• Mr. & Mrs. Efraim Lezak on the bar mitzvah of their son Menachem Mendel.
• Mrs. Miriam Gluck on the engagement of her granddaughter Chaya Mushka Kinn to Yosef Yitzhak Cadaner. 

Upcoming Birthdays:

• Mendel Schochet - 21 Iyar
• Zusha Lerman - 21 Iyar
• Elimelech Moshe Allison - 21 Iyar
• Rabbi Yoel Edelson - 22 Iyar
• Mr. Yrachmiel Kahn - 22 Iyar
• Rabbi Levi Raichik - 25 Iyar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits:

• Mordechai ben Eliyahu (Rabbi Gershon Schusterman's father) - 22 Iyar
• Yitzchok ben Yaakov Shmuel (Rabbi Reuven Eliezer Nathanson’s father) - 22 Iyar
• Chana bas Avrohom (Mrs. Neshe Grossman’s mother) - 25 Iyar

Parshas Emor-breaking through the sound bite barrier
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha is parshas Emor. Hashem told Moshe to speak (emor) to Ahron and his children, “v’emarta – and to say to them”. Rashi comments on the double language emor and v’emarta and says that this teaches; “l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim”. This means that adult kohanim need to teach younger kohanim (about the laws of tuma and tahara etc). The word emor means to speak softly or pleasantly. Emor is different than the word ‘daber’ which means to speak strongly. This teaches us that if we want to teach in an effective way we need to repeat it often in a pleasant manner. We need to keep repeating it until it penetrates into the person(s) with which we speaking.

This lesson doesn’t apply only between adults and minors. It also can refer to dialogue between those who have learned towards others who haven’t yet learned. An example of this is from the Rebbe. When the Rebbe began the mivtza of tefillin he spoke of it repeatedly. The Rebbe about the importance of mivtza tefillin before the Six Day War and the positive effect it would have on the outcome of the war. After the war he continued to speak of the greatness of mivtza tefillin in general. In many sichos he answered people’s questions in halacha about the mivtza. He spoke about it over and over, on many occasions. The Rebbe followed the same pattern with regard to all the other mivtzaim. The Rebbe spoke about the mivtzoyim until the point that it became engraved in our beings, in a way of emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim.

In 1974, the Rebbe spoke about the mivtza of neshek, that even unmarried girls should light Shabbos candles. The Rebbe spoke about this for many months and connected each time with other concepts (the parsha, yomim tovim etc.). This way the Rebbe permeated us with the idea – emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim. This is the way the Rebbe taught and guided us.

When I was a bochur in Montreal, I used to go to the fabrengens of older chassidim to hear a good chassidishe vort. I enjoyed attending the fabrengens of Reb Hershel Ceitlin. He had a saying he used to often repeat; “zal halten bai a harale emes – we should be holding by a hair of the truth.” This had a deep affect on me because he spoke about it in a way of emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim. He kept on finding ways to bring it in to whatever he spoke about.  Reb Hershel was a chosid, he wasn’t a Rebbe. Nevertheless he had a truth, and he spoke about it until it penetrated us, emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim. The word ‘l’hazir’ doesn’t mean just to teach but also to shine (zohar means to shine). We need to learn from this example a lesson in our avodas Hashem in general, and how we speak to our children in particular.

Today, everything is in ten second sound bites. People say; ‘just get to the point!’ No one wants to sit around while a concept is being developed. Even the news has gone from ten minutes down to three. Torah and Yiddishkeit cannot be a sound bite. If it is, it will just go over our heads. Emor v’emarta, we need to repeat it, we need to dwell and spend time on what we learn.

What kind of real baseball enthusiast would be satisfied with just hearing the scores and not going to the game? If you told him; “What do you need to go to the game, just get to the point, and wait for the final score?!” he would think you’re crazy. A real fan wants to experience the whole game in detail, play by play, otherwise he isn’t a fan. Therefore, it is not even good enough to show up in the ninth inning to just see how it ends. So too, l’havdil, with the Torah and mitzvos, we need to live through it, “play by play”, emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim.

This is most especially true about the education we provide our children. We are the most important part of our children’s education. They look into our eyes when we speak to see if we truly mean what we say. In order to l’hazir, to illuminate their eyes, we need to be fully into it. When we are they will feel it and see it. We need to say it, we need to think it, and we need to live it – emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim.

People sometimes ask; what should they do, they aren’t excited themselves. In chapter 46 of Tanya the Alter Rebbe gives an example. He says to think of a simple person lost in the street without a home. Suddenly the king appears from his palace, and brings this simple person inside the palace. He takes care of all his needs and gives him all His attention with every type of affection. The Tanya teaches us to think how we would feel towards this king. So too, we have to realize that we have this, l’havdil, with the King of all Kings, Hashem, who took us out of Mitzrayim and gave to us His Torah. This arouses our love to serve Him. When we realize how lucky we are to be Yidden and have the Torah and mitzvos, we appreciate how great and important what we live for is. We also realize what a great responsibility we have. When we dwell upon this in a way of emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim, we internalize this for ourselves and for our children.

The challenges we face today surpass what we have seen in the past generations. This is true throughout the entire world. It is our love and fear of Hashem that can help us make guidelines to insure that we do not fall or falter. We will be successful once our eyes are upon the goal. This inspiration will do for us what a thousand locks and guards on the internet cannot. Emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim carries over into all areas of life.

In Chabad we focus on depth. We have so much Chassidus, like nowhere else in the world. We need to open it up and use it, because it is all there. Any question that we have, we are able find a profound answer by looking into the sichos and letters of the Rebbe. It is upon us to open the sefer, to learn relearn and to live it. Emor and v’amarta, l’hazir hagedolim al haketanim.

• Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:22 pm
• Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:24 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am 
• Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 4:30 pm in Shul
• Shiur in Pirkei Avos by Rabbi Raichik: 6:20 pm 
• Mincha: 7:20 pm - Pirkei Avos - Perek 3
• Shabbos Ends: 8:25 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Yirmiyahu Andrusier in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Braude for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Boruch Braude’s father Moshe ben Shmuel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Isser Goldstein for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Isser Goldstein’s father Tzvi Hersh ben Shmuel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Sarah Horwitz’s father Sender Elya Ha Kohain ben Avram Yosef ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Dr. Martin Leaderman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Martin Leaderman’s mother Tzipora bas Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  Also in honor of Mrs. Margaret Leaderman’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Antian in honor of Levi Raichik. May he be blessed with hatzlocho and kol tuv selo betov hanireh v'hanigleh.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik in honor of Moshe Antian. May he be blessed with hatzlocho and kol tuv selo betov hanireh v'hanigleh.

Srula Duchman
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla
at Greenbaum’s: 121 N Citrus Ave.
Speaker: Mrs. Binie Tenenbaum

Ilana Avila
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla
at the Citron’s: 723 N Orange Dr.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Klyne on the engagement of their son Zalmy to Malky Raskin.
• Dr. & Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-Noy on the birth of their granddaughter Devora Leah Muchnik.
• Mr. Joel Yachzel on the birth of his grandson. 

Upcoming Birthdays:

• Menachem Mendel Plotke - 14 Iyar
• Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz - 16 Iyar
• Mr. Aleksandr Ganzburg - 16 Iyar
• Yaakov Moshe Sroka - 19 Iyar
• Rabbi Dovi Gorelik - 19 Iyar
• Mendel Raichik - 19 Iyar
• Mr. Ephraim Piperno - 19 Iyar

Upcoming Anniversaries:

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

Upcoming Yahrtzeits:

• Sender Elya Ha Kohain ben Avram Yosef (Mrs. Sarah Horwitz’s father) - 13 Iyar
• Emanuel ben Kalman (Mr. Maayan Kerbel’s grandfather) - 13 Iyar
• Tzipora bas Moshe (Mr. Martin Leaderman’s mother) - 14 Iyar
• Tzvi Hersh ben Shmuel (Mr. Isser Goldstein’s father) - 14 Iyar 
• Moshe ben Alter Asher Anchel (Rabbi Sholem Perl’s father) - 14 Iyar
• Daniel ben Nochum (Mr. Efraim Lezak’s father) - 15 Iyar
• Ozzie ben Zev (Mrs. Julie Glabman’s father) - 16 Iyar
• Moshe Bunim ben Shlomo (Mrs. Chana Arnold’s father) - 17 Iyar
• Moshe ben Shmuel (Rabbi Boruch Leib Braude’s father) - 17 Iyar