Shul Bulletin

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:29
• Shiur in the Rebbe's Sichos by Rabbi Raichik following Maariv.
• Chassidus, Starbucks and babysitting: 8:40-9:30 sharp @ 118 S Orange Dr. 
• Chassidus for Early Minyan with Rabbi Zalman Friedman: 8:45 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:14 am
• Parshas Zachor is a Torah obligation. According to many Halachic authorities women are obligated as well as men.
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
• Mesibas Shabbos For Girls: 3:30 pm
• Mincha: 5:30 pm 
• Shabbos Ends: 6:32 pm
• FINAL - FATHER AND SON LEARNING: 7:30-8:30 -- PIZZA WILL BE SERVED!!!

• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch in honor of Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s mother Rochel bas Reb Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fishman in honor of Mr. Moshe Fishman’s 70th birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Yankel Ginsburg for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Yankel Ginsburg’s father Reb Dov Reuven ben Reb Dovid Helevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Levenberg for the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Yosef Yitzchok. May he give them much nachas and may he grow up to be a true chossid yirei shomaim and lamdan.

• Anonyms in honor of purim. May the simcha of purim lead us into the simcha of the geula now!
• Mr. & Mrs. Meir Finck for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown their family in saving their life from a car crash. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Pinson in honor of Rabbi Mendel Pinson’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

4:45 pm - At the home of Mrs.Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia Pl.
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

• Mr. & Mrs. Amil Amilov on the birth of their granddaughter (to Mr. & Mrs. Nochum Kaplen.) 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Glick on the birth of their daughter. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Levenberg on the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Yosef Yitzchok.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Nassi on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Aron Nassi.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Menachem Mendel Freeman - 9 Adar
• Mr. Moshe Fishman - 9 Adar
• Rabbi Nochum Labkowsky - 10 Adar
• Rabbi Laizer Labkowsky - 12 Adar
• Rabbi Chaim Avrahom Mentz - 12 Adar
• Rabbi Mendel Pinson - 12 Adar
• Yaakov Moshe Friedman - 13 Adar
• Mr. Shimon Benarroch - 13 Adar
• Rabbi Shmuel Novack - 13 Adar
• Chaim Yehuda Leib Perl - 15 Adar
• Dovid Raigorodsky - 15 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz - 9 Adar
• Mr. & Mrs. Yosef Yitzchok Mishulovin - 11 Adar
• Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson - 12 Adar
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik - 15 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Sara Rochel bas Reb Mordechai Shlomo Schochet - 10 Adar
• Reb Mordechai ben Reb Abraham (Mrs. Ester Gutierrez’s grandfather) - 11 Adar
• Reb Yitzchok Dovber ben Reb Shlomo (Rabbi Schneur Zalman Schmukler’s stepfather) - 12 Adar
• Hinda Ettel bas Reb Yakov (Mrs. Tova Levine’s mother) - 12 Adar
• Reb Dov Reuven ben Reb Dovid Helevi (Mr. Yankel Ginsburg’s father) - 14 Adar
• Reb Zalmen Leib ben Reb Yaakov Yitzchok (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s father) - 15 Adar
• Reb Nachman ben Reb Asher Hakohen (Rabbi Mordechai Katz’s father) - 15 Adar
• Rochel bas Reb Moshe (Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s mother) - 15 Adar

By Being Connected
Each One Can Make their Essential Contribution
Needed for the Geula
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

The topic covered in the series of parshios we are reading these weeks is the Mishkon. How to build the Mishkon is explained in parsha’s Terumah and the garments of the Kohen are explained in parsha’s Teztaveh. Later on in parshios Vayakel and Pekudei we learn how Bnei Yisroel carried out the gathering of the materials and the building of the Mishkon. After all the details are said and done one may ask; What does all of this have to do with my life and the state of this world in the year 5775-2015?

Beginning with parsha’s Terumah the first thing one would expect to be told is the general idea of making a Mishkon, as the Torah says later; "Make for me a Mikdash and I will dwell within it". Instead the parsha begins with donations as it says; "Take for Me a Terumah" before even describing what it will be used for! Also, why does the Chumash explain the building of the Mishkon, which was a temporary dwelling instead of the Beis HaMikdash, which is permanent? Later on, this week’s parsha begins with a commandment to Moshe Rabbenu to bring olive oil for the lighting of the menorah. This command seems out of order. Either place it by the description of the menorah in parsha’s Terumah or later in parshas Pekudei where it describes the set up and function of the Mishkon. It appears to be unrelated and out of place over here at the beginning of parshas Teztaveh.

In a sicha, the Rebbe quotes two opinions about the pasuk "Basi L'Gani, I came to My garden". It isn’t clear what the garden is or when this occurred. One opinion says that it refers to the first time the Mishkon was constructed. The second opinion says that it refers to the moment of Matan Torah. The Rebbe explains that the two opinions are not contradictory. Hashem began to "Come into his garden" by the giving of the Torah. The world stood still at the great revelation; the birds did not chirp and the oxen did not gore. Still the actual location of Har Sinai did not retain the kedusha of the great revelation of Matan Torah. The world was shocked by the awesome revelation yet the world did not change. It may have only affected the world temporarily but Matan Torah started the process of permanent change and gave us the power to build a permanent dwelling place for Hashem through the Torah and mitzvos.

The job of every Jew is to make Hashem's presence known within the world. By doing this he or she completes their shlichus, their purpose for having come into this world. By learning Torah and doing mitzvos we turn this world into a permanent Mishkon and Mikdosh for Hashem. We start by bringing a terumah, a donation for the construction of this Mishkon. Our donation is to separate, bit by bit our energy, our focus and our possessions in the service of Hashem. It's not just one thing at one time. It's many things, in all areas of life throughout our lifetimes, a bit at a time. It's not shock and awe, but when we donate bit by bit we accomplish what is necessary and bring the 'Shechanti b'socham' the dwelling of Hashem's presence into this world. This has an everlasting effect. Our primary focus is to attend to what we are contributing. Then we are able to say that we have made our lives into a Mishkon for Hashem.

At times we may wonder where we are going to find something to donate. This is an important answer to questions that arises when we look at the world and see obstacles and challenges in every direction. As Chassidim we need to take an honest look at ourselves.  When we do we are forced to acknowledge our real and present shortcomings. When we look at our environment it’s even worse! We see that it isn’t holy; it’s a transitory desert. It’s Holly-follywood, a place full of shtus and vanity.  We see a world filled with strife, pressures anxiety and uneasiness. It looks at times like a desert with scorpions and snakes, an uninhabitable place.  How and what do we expect to accomplish here?

In parsha’s Terumah we are being told that because we have a neshama we have the power and the resources to provide all the material necessary for the building of our individual Mishkon. Still some may say that this is good for the untainted souls of yesteryear, the great Chassidim of the past. But me, here, today, how is that possible? Parsha’s Teztaveh begins with the words; “V’Atah Teztaveh, and you will connect”, we have a Rebbe, we are not alone. We do not do it all by ourselves, we do it by being together and connected with the essence (V’Atah) of Moshe Rabbenu, the Rebbe, and through that connection we accomplish our shlichus. This message is especially important, more than ever today in 5775-2015. We all have that spark. Once we connect and reveal the spark of Moshe that lies within the heart of each one of us, anything and everything is possible. This year Shabbos falls out on Tes Adar the day that the Previous arrived to the shores of America and said that America is not any different than Europe. People came to the Previous Rebbe and said that hair will grow from their hands before Jewish men will grow beards in America. The Previous Rebbe said otherwise and went about proving it by taking action.

Preparing for Moshiach means that we don't sit and wait for anything because we can see more clearly than ever before what the opposite brings. Also, with all the advances in technology and global trouble making is it obvious what the power of one good deed has, and that one good deed can tip the entire situation to the good and bring the return of the Shechina to this world with the coming of Moshiach Now!

A good Shabbos

TONIGHT (Tuesday),
8:30-9:30 pm, in shul
FINAL Shiur in the halachos of Amira L'acum

For Men
Given by Rabbi Shmion Raichik

The Ehrlich Bris
Will iy"h take place Tuesday, 5 Adar/February 24
Shacharis - 7 am. Bris - 8 am
At Maayon Yisroel 140 N La Brea Ave.

Mazal Tov and may we share only good news.

• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for the KYY update.
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your kibud pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!
• Motzei Shabbos: Birthday fabrengen for Rabbi Yitzi Horwitz in his hom - 821 N Formosa Ave. #202. We encourage all to stop by and say lechaim to wish him a gezunter year! 
• Nichum Aveilim: Mrs. Henny Wolowik is sitting shivah until Wednesday for the passing of her father Reb Zalman Gelernter ob"m. Email: [email protected]. Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom! 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:23
• Shiur in the Rebbe's Sichos by Rabbi Raichik following Maariv.
• Chassidus, Starbucks and babysitting: 8:40-9:30 sharp @ 118 S Orange Dr. 
• Chassidus for Early Minyan with Rabbi Zalman Friedman: 8:45 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:19 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
• Mesibas Shabbos For Girls: 3:30 pm
• Mincha: 5:25 pm 
• Shabbos Ends: 6:26 pm
• FATHER AND SON LEARNING: 7:30-8:30 -- PIZZA WILL BE SERVED!!!

Aryeh Leib & Meira Ehrlich
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 326 N Curson Ave.

• Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Frances Goodman’s mother Tzivya bas Reb Moshe Hersh ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Nachum Cherman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Esther Davidoff’s grandmother Charna bas Reb Avrohom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s father Reb Moshe ben Reb Nachum Dov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi Yossi Dubrowski of Tampa Florida for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown his son Ari. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
• Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Hayman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Daniel Hayman’s father Reb Yeshayahu ben Reb Avraham Nissan ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• In honor of Mr. Chaim Lerner for his 70th birthday sponsored by his children and grandchildren. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus and many more years of kol tuv sela.
• Mr. & Mrs. Zalmen Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Esther Roth’s father Reb Meshulam Zalman ben Reb Volf Hersh Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. Joel Yachzel for the yahrtzeit of his father Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Antian in honor of their son Yoav’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Yoav Antian - 5 Adar
• Mr. & Mrs. Jack Soussana in honor of Mr. Jack Soussana’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Yisroel Shaul for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown him. May Hashem continue to shower him and the entire community with kol tuv sela. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark in honor of Mr. Allan Stark’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also in honor of their son Yitzchak’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

4:30 pm - At the home of Mrs. Chana Weiss
411 N Martel Ave.
Speaker: Rabbi Zalmen Munitz

• Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Leib Ehrlich on the birth of their son.
• Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Piperno on the engagement of their daughter Sima to Efi Manshari.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on the birth of twin grandsons (to Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Schusterman.) 

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Chaim Lerner - 2 Adar
• Mr. Shimon Zeifman - 2 Adar
• Chaim Asher Andrusier - 2 Adar
• Schneur Zalman Wagshul - 3 Adar
• Sholom Dovber Winograd - 3 Adar
• Rabbi Sruly Yusevitch - 3 Adar
• Rabbi Baruch Kreiman - 3 Adar
• Mr. Danny Weiss - 4 Adar
• Yoav Antian - 5 Adar
• Moshe Simacha Burston - 5 Adar
• Mr. Jack Soussana - 7 Adar
• Mr. Allan Stark - 7 Adar
• Mendy Chazanow - 7 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Isser Goldstein - 4 Adar
• Mr. & Mrs. Nachum Cherman - 7 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Tzivya bas Reb Moshe Hersh (Mrs. Frances Goodman’s mother) - 3 Adar
• Yehudis bas Reb Kasriel Hakohen (Mr. Efraim Lezak’s mother) - 3 Adar
• Reb Leib ben Reb Shmuel (Mr. Betzalel Fleischman’s father) - 4 Adar
• Reb Meshulam Zalman ben Reb Volf Hersh Hakohen (Mrs. Esther Roth’s father) - 5 Adar
• Reb Moshe ben Reb Nachum Dov (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s father) - 6 Adar
• Reb Yeshayahu ben Reb Avraham Nissan (Mr. Daniel Hayman’s father) - 6 Adar
• Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi (Mr. Joel Yachzel’s father) - 8 Adar
• Chaya bas Reb Aharon (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s grandmother) - 8 Adar

Dvar Torah
By Rabbi Shimon Raichick

This week's parsha is Terumah which explains the building of the Mishkon. The first thing one would expect is to be told is to make a Mishkon, as the Torah says later; "Make for me a Mikdash and I will dwell within it". Instead this week's parsha begins with donations as it says; "Take for Me a Terumah" before even describing what it will be used for!

Also, why does the Torah explain the building of the Mishkon which was a temporary dwelling instead of the Mikdash, which is a permanent dwelling.

In a sicha the Rebbe quotes two opinions about what the pasuk "Basi L'Gani, I came to My garden" refers. One opinion is that it was said when the Mishkon was first erected. The second opinion says that it refers to the moment of Matan Torah. The Rebbe explains that the two opinions do not contradict one another. Hashem began to "Come into his garden" by the giving of the Torah. The world stood still at the great revelation; the birds did not chirp and the oxen did not gore. Still the actual location of Har Sinai did not retain the kedusha. The world was shocked by the awesome revelation yet the world did not change. It only effected the world temporarily but it started the process of changing and gave us the power to accomplish.

The job of every Jew is to make Hashem's presence known within the world. By doing this he or she completes their shlichus, their purpose for having come into this world. By doing learning Torah and doing mitzvos we make a permanant Mishkon and Mikdosh for Hashem. We start by bringing a terumah, a donation for the construction of this Mishkon. Our donation is to separate, bit by bit our energies our focus and our possessions in the service of Hashem. It's not just one thing at one time. It's many things, in all areas of life throughout our lifetimes, a bit at a time. Our primary focus is to attend to what we are contributing. Then we are able to say that we have made our lives into a Mishkon for Hashem.

At times we may wonder where we are going to find something to donate. We look around and we see a transitory desert. We see a world filled with strife, pressures anxiety and uneasiness. It looks at times like a desert with scorpions and snakes, an uninhabitable place. We are being told in this parsha that because we have a neshama we have the power and the resources to provide all the material necessary  for the the building of our individual Mishkon. It's not shock and awe, but when we donate bit by bit we accomplish what is necessary and bring the 'Shechanti b'socham' the dwelling of Hahsem's presence into this world. This has an everlasting effect.

This is an important answer to questions that arise when we look at the world and see obstacles and challenges in every direction. Every time we feel overwhelmed by a gap between the enormity of how much is necessary to make this world into a Mishkon for Hashem compared to the wherewithal  we feel we have we need to remember the message of parshas Terumah. We remember that we have all that we need to accomplish our mission. We need to take matters into our hands and do our part and then we effect everlasting change.

Preparing for Moshiach means that we don't sit and wait for anything because we can see more clearly than ever before what the opposite brings. Also, with all the advances in technology and global trouble making is it obvious the power of one good deed, and that one good deed can  tip the entire situation to the good and bring the return of the Shechina to this world with the coming of Moshiach Now!

A good Shabbos

• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for the KYY update.
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your kibud pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:16 pm
• Shiur in the Rebbe's Sichos by Rabbi Raichik following Maariv.
• Late Minayan for Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm 
• Shabbos Mevorchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
• Followed by a Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik
• Thillim Club: 9:00 am 
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:23 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Shacharis: 10:15 am
• THIS WEEK -- NO Kol Yakov Yehuda :(
• Mesibas Shabbos For Girls (in KYY) 3:30 pm
• Mincha: 5:15 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:19 pm
• FATHER AND SON LEARNING: 7:30-8:30
• Molad for Chodesh Adar: Wednesday, 29 Shevat/February 18, 11:59 pm and 2 chalokim.
• Rosh Chodesh Adar: Thursday & Friday, February 19 & 20.

Shai and Malka Butel
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
8 pm at 257 S Citrus Ave.

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fishman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  Also for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman and stepmother Ruth Gittel bas Reb ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Pinchas Hirsch for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Pinchas Hirsch’s brother Lin ben Reb Avrohom Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Raitman in honor of them moving out on shlichus to northern CA. May they have much haotzloch higher then all expectations and may we all merit the coming of Moshiach NOW!!!

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchak Abend in honor of the birth of their daughter. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yakov Greenbaum for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Baila Greenbaum’s father Reb Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka in honor of Mr. Berl Sroka’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Steve Zipp’s brother Reb Yosef ben Reb Dovid ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  Also in honor of their son in law Mr. Sender Klein’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

4:30 pm - At the home of Mrs. Tova Levine
361 N Vista St.
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

• Mr. & Mrs. Shai Butel on the birth of their son.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson on the birth of their grandson (to Saadya & Chaya Sara Kaufmann.)
• Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky on the birth of their granddaughter (to Mordi & Suri Adelist.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler on the engagement of their son Berel to Leora Field..

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Pinchas Winograd - 25 Shevat
• Aharon Yechezkel Gross - 26 Shevat
• Avrohom Benarroch - 26 Shevat
• Menachem Mendel Halevi Ginsburg - 27 Shevat
• Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum - 29 Shevat
• Yosef Yitzchak Shusterman - 30 Shevat
• Mr. Berl Sroka - 30 Shevat
• Yitzchak Menashe Stark - 1 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Efraim Lezak - 30 Shevat
• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fishman - 30 Shevat
• Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy - 30 Shevat
• Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Leib Ehrlich - 1 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Dina Reizel bas Reb Yitzchok Aaron (Rabbi Velvel Tsikman’s mother) - 25 Shevat
• Raizel bas Reb Chaim Binyomin Halevi (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s mother) - 26 Shevat
• Ruth Gittel bas Reb Meir (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s stepmother) - 26 Shevat
• Reb Yitzchak Aharon ben Reb Aharon (Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin’s father) - 28 Shevat
• Lin ben Reb Avrohom Halevi (Mr. Pinchas Hirsch’s brother) - 28 Shevat
• Reb Yosef ben Reb Dovid (Mr. Steve Zipp’s brother) - 29 Shevat
• Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother) - 29 Shevat
• Reb Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman (Mrs. Baila Greenbaum’s father) - 30 Shevat
• Charna bas Reb Avrohom (Mrs. Esther Davidoff’s grandmother) - 1 Adar

The Rebbe’s Request for Us is
to stay Anchored in a World of Turmoil
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Today we live in a rapidly changing and chaotic world. Especially in Eretz Yisroel but now everywhere the events are unfolding on a global scale quickly with important and long term consequences. In general never in the history of the world has there been so much information and so many distractions available to so many and so many ways to communicate. This brings great opportunities but it seams at times that the world has a giant case of global ADHD! One day it’s Global warming the next day it’s Iran. One day it’s ISIS the next day it’s the oil pipeline and the budget. One day we are going to have sanctions on Iran the next day Netanyahu’s visit to Congress is controversial.

This entire dizzying array of distractions challenges us more today than ever before to bring life back into focus and act upon what’s really important. Unless we make an effort to through break the effects of the 24-hour news cycle we too will be affected, and what’s at stake is profound and long lasting. We cannot let our ability to focus on what’s really important fade into the background. The truth is that yesterday’s news is quickly forgotten and always replaced with something else. Aside from the excitement of being up to date, we know today that tomorrow the only thing the newspaper will be good for is for wrapping dishes. Still we know that the constant changes preoccupy many people.

How often do we take the time to stop everything, close our phones and our computers and ask ourselves why we here in this world? How often do we refresh our feeling about our purpose? How often do we change our daily schedule and priorities to reflect a better consideration of how to get done what it is that we are here to accomplish? Out of the six days of the week how many of them do we allow ourselves to join the legions of the distracted that mindlessly pull our iPhones out of our pockets to check the news texts and emails every 5, 15 and 25 minutes? How often do we put aside all of our personal concerns and truly listen to what our children are saying to us? Do we make the time to then act upon what we hear from them and help them plan their futures, and how they are going to make it as Chasidim in the coming years? 

During a yechidus on Yud Kislev 5732-1972 the Rebbe encouraged a yeshiva bachor that next time he enters yechidus he should have good things to write about (not just his challenges). The Rebbe went on to say that he has simcha and tanug nafshi u’pnimi, deep inner soul pleasure when he hears that a bachor from Tomchei Tmimim is learning, davening and acting appropriately. It’s self understood what the opposite brings. Therefore the Rebbe requested that since this is a matter of ahavas Yisroel (from a chosid to a Rebbe) perhaps he and his friends would make an effort to improve and add in these areas.

When this bachor asked for a bracha for hiskashrus the Rebbe spoke to him directly about what hiskashrus really is. He said that a person cannot just wander about with and empty mind and be connected. If a bachor doesn’t keep the sedarim or learn properly or act properly he (the Rebbe) won’t be bribed by his occasional learning of Likutei Sichos or that sometimes he does me the great favor of doing some Ufarutzta.  Later the Rebbe gave him a beracha that Hashem Yisborach should help him to be a true tomim and a true mekushar, which begins with “Tamim t’hiyeh eim Hashem Elokecha”, being completed, simple and honest with Hashem. By doing all of this with simcha and a good heart eventually we will be able to look upon your accomplishments with pride and say; “Rau gedulim sh’gidalti”.

It’s self understood that this applies to all of us.

The Hayom Yom for the 11th of Shevat the day that the Rebbe’s leadership began (unofficially. Officially it began a year later on Yud Shevat 5711) says the following.

   “The routine of the day begins with saying the prayer of Modeh Ani. This is said before the morning washing of the hands, even while the hands are "impure." The reason is that all the impurities in the world do not defile a Jew's "Modeh Ani" He might lack one thing or another, but his Modeh Ani remains intact.”

The prayer of Modeh Ani is our focus and our anchor. Modeh Ani is our mission statement of who we are and why we are here. It expresses the essence of a Jew and cannot be contaminated by anyone or anything. That’s why it is said even before negel vaser. There is an important lesson for us as Chassidim from the fact that this Hayom Yom by hashgacha protis should be the first Hayom Yom of the Rebbe’s nesius on the 11th of Shevat. What does this Hayom Yom teach us about being his Chassidim?

There was a great Rav, one of the Torah giants of the 20th Century HaRav Ha Gaon Rav Yechezkel Avramsky who was close with the Rabbeim. At one point he was arrested and was kept in prison in Russia without his Tefillin and without any Sefarim. After his release he recounted an experience he had while in prison to the Previous Rebbe. One morning he woke up and looked around at all the other prisoners and asked himself; how am I different than them as a Jew? (This was very upsetting to him) I don’t have anything that distinguishes me. I don’t have Tallis and Tefillin; I don’t have any Sefarim to learn Torah etc.  Then he realized, he told the Rebbe, that the difference is that he is a Jew, and a Jew has emunah in Hashem This the difference that he lives for and this is what brought him simcha and lifted his spirits. The Rebbe told him that his entire imprisonment was worthy to have reached this understanding and feeling.

This is what the Rebbe wants from each and every one of us. The Modeh Ani should be our entire focus. This helps us to define ourselves as well as others.  Just as the Rebbe requested of the bachor in yechidus that since this is a matter of ahavas Yisroel from a chosid to a Rebbe perhaps he and his friends would make an effort to improve and add in these areas, so too we can and should make this effort as well. By doing all of this with simcha and a good heart, beginning with Modeh Ani by being completed, simple and honest with Hashem, eventually we will be able to look upon our accomplishments and bring nachas to Hashem and to the Rebbe.

To be able to bring out this feeling of what a Jew is and to focus on our purpose and mission to make this world a dwelling place for Hashem can only be accomplished by learning Chassidus.  Learning Chassidus keeps us focused and energized that the fools and follies of the world should not distract our determination to fulfill the will of Hashem with the revelation of Moshiach and bringing the geula Now!

A Good Shabbos!

• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for the KYY update.
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your kibud pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!
• Tuesday: Tuesday, Or Le'Chof Beis Shevat/Feb 10, 5:30 pm. PST thousands of Chassidim worldwide, will unite for a Global Webcast, for an hour of connection, reflection and inspiration marking the 27th yahrtzeit of our dear Rebbetzin. The Webcast will feature presenters from around the world, live from near the Rebbe's Ohel. For more info please go to chabadofla.com/22shevat.  
• Click here for a special letter from Rabbi Zvi Boyarsky Regarding Aleph's auction THIS MOTZEI SHABBOS .
• Nichum Aveilim: Jonathan Glabman is sitting shiva until shabbos for the passing of his sister at 518 Hauser Blvd. Phone: 323-704-6500 Email: [email protected] MINCHA EREV SHABBOS 3 PM. Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehe besochom!

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:10
• Shiur in the Rebbe's Sichos by Rabbi Raichik following Maariv.
• Chassidus, Starbucks and babysitting: 8:40-9:30 sharp @ 118 S Orange Dr. 
• Chassidus for Early Minyan with Rabbi Zalman Friedman: 8:45 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:26 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• 10:15 am - No KYY - Only bainany and gesher (big kids are away on shabbaton)
• Mesibas Shabbos For Girls: 3:30 pm
• Mincha: 5:10 pm 
• Shabbos Ends: 6:13 pm
• FATHER AND SON LEARNING: 7:30-8:30 pm 

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fishman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Moshe Fishman’s father Reb Yaakov ben Reb Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Fischel Grossman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s grandmother Chaya Soro bas Reb Note Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Levine for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tova Levine’s father Reb Meir ben Reb Chaim Aryeh Leibesh ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. Zev Oster for the yahrtzeit of his mother Esther bas Reb Volf ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s father Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Nochum Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Zalmen Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Esther Roth’s mother Sheva bas Reb Yitzchok Aizik ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Anatian for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Moshe Anatian’s father Reb Yoav ben Reb Dovid ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuli Pinson in honor of Rabbi Shmuli Pinson’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Miriam Raichik’s father Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

4:30 pm - At the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia Pl.
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

• Rabbi Yitzchak and Mussi Abend on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Braude on the birth of their grandson (to Moshe and Avital Braude.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Burston on the birth of their grandson (to Pesach & Chana Burston.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Nachman Kreiman on the birth of their granddaughter (to Berel and Zeecy Yemini.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Vcherashansky on the birth of their grandson (to Abi and Lindsay Vcherashansky.)

Upcoming Birthdays

• Yisroel Aryeh Leib Friedman - 18 Shevat
• Binyomin Wolowik - 18 Shevat
• Mr. Shaul Raigorodsky - 18 Shevat
• Rabbi Shmuli Pinson - 19 Shevat
• Rabbi Moshe Aron Weiss - 19 Shevat
• Rabbi Yosef Bukiet - 19 Shevat
• Baruch Mordechai Rav~Noy - 22 Shevat
• Yechezkel Pinson - 22 Shevat
• Rabino Noach Gansburg - 22 Shevat
• Mr. Sender Klein - 22 Shevat
• Aharon Eliezer Mishulovin - 23 Shevat
• Zalmy Gurary - 24 Shevat
• Mr. Beryl Kaufman - 24 Shevat

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Lerner - 18 Shevat

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Nochum Tzvi (Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s father) - 19 Shevat
• Reb Meir ben Reb Chaim Aryeh Leibesh (Mrs. Tova Levine’s father) - 20 Shevat
• Sheva bas Reb Yitzchok Aizik (Mrs. Esther Roth’s mother) - 21 Shevat
• Reb Yoav ben Reb Dovid (Mr. Moshe Anatian’s father) - 21 Shevat
• Chaya Soro bas Reb Note Moshe (Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s grandmother) - 22 Shevat
• Reb Yaakov ben Reb Moshe (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s father) - 22 Shevat
• Reb Avrohom Yaakov ben Reb Meir Hakohen (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s grandfather) - 22 Shevat
• Esther bas Reb Volf (Mr. Zev Oster’s mother) - 23 Shevat
• Reb Efrayim ben Reb Avrohom (Rabbi Benyomin Hoffman’s father) - 24 Shevat
• Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef (Mrs. Miriam Raichik’s father) - 24 Shevat
• Reb Ezra Refoel ben Reb Dovber (Mrs. Gittel Kaplan’s father) - 24 Shevat

Dvar Torah Parshas Yisro
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha discusses how a Father-in-Law gives advice to his Son-in-Law. Yisro travelled into the desert to visit with his Son-in -Law Moshe Rabbenu. He saw him judging the entire Jewish people by himself, from morning until night. Yisro let him know “You have a big shul of 600,000 adult men. You need help!” Hashem agreed with Yisro and Moshe appointed a system of judges over groups of ten, hundreds and thousands. Why did Moshe think that he could do it all on his own?

The Rebbe explained that Yisro added a parsha to the Torah. Moshe Rabbenu had a unique approach and Yisro added a new dimension and thereby merited a parsha in the Torah. We find a similar thing by Kabbolos haTorah.  Klal Yisroel approached Moshe saying that it was impossible to hear the Torah directly from Hashem. They requested that Moshe receive it, and they in turn hear from him. When Moshe Rabbenu heard this he became upset. He told them that their request had weakened him. He wanted Klal Yisroel to achieve a level that would allow them to receive the Torah directly from Hashem. At the end of this episode Hashem did not agree with Moshe Rabbenu but instead with Klal Yisroel! What was Moshe Rabbenu thinking? How is it possible that he didn’t know that it was too much for Klal Yisroel to bear? A leader is certainly in touch with his flock.

Rebbe explains when Klal Yisroel was with Moshe Rabbenu; Moshe Rabbenu lifted them to his level. This enabled them to receive the Torah on Moshe's level, directly from Hashem. The Yidden said that while this was true, this elevated state was not who they really were, and they wanted to receive the Torah on their level according to their mind, being, and circumstances. Hashem agreed with Klal Yisroel that the Torah would have deeper impact if it was internalized on their level according to their circumstances.  That’s what Moshe Rabbenu conveyed when he told the Yidden that they weakened him. Now, because of their choice, instead of lifting them to his level he now needed bring himself into their situation, on their level in order to be an intermediary between them and Hashem.

After Yom Kippur Moshe Rabbenu taught Klal Yisroel the Torah. Moshe Rabbenu felt that he was the only one who could teach it with its full impact because he had received it directly from Hashem. As the Torah says, the Shechina spoke through him. Yisro saw Klal Yisroel in their homes. He saw the dichotomy between their normal lives and the level that they achieved while together with Moshe Rabbenu. From Yisro’s perspective Moshe Rabbenu should not be the one to adjudicate their disputes, except for rare exceptions. His reasoning was that their situation needed to be addressed strictly according on their actual level, not a state they achieved only while in the presence of Moshe Rabbenu. Therefore he recommended that he create a judicial system.

In truth at the moment that they stood in the presence of Moshe Rabbenu all the extraneous external or peripheral aspects of their issue melted away, revealing only the essential core issue at hand. Because of this Moshe Rabbenu was able to penetrate the core of their situation with absolute truth and adjudicate their arguments to rectify their issues in a permanent and everlasting manner. Even a child realized when he stood in front of Moshe Rabbenu that it was different. Therefore Moshe Rabbenu was right on a level beyond that which Yisro saw or perceived.

The reason that Hashem nevertheless agreed with Yisro is because Moshe Rabbenu wasn’t going to be bringing Klal Yisroel into Eretz Yisroel, something that Moshe Rabbenu had not yet been told by Hashem. Therefore, if they were only going to learn directly from Moshe Rabbenu, later on they would be lost without him when new challenges would arise. The reason is because they would have only absorbed the Torah from Moshe Rabbenu, something that they would be unable to achieve without him present. Since Moshe Rabbenu thought he was entering the land, he would be there and therefore there would not be a need for anything additional. Therefore Hashem agreed with Yisro in order to insure that the Torah would continue. Nevertheless Moshe Rabbenu had to be the one to appoint the judges, they needed his smicha. This was so that the later generations would have achieved their abilities to judge through Moshe. Moshe endowed Klal Yisroel through his smicha, and that assured that even today there is a koach of Moshe Rabbenu to judge and lead according to way that Hashem gave the Torah to Moshe.

The Rebbe required that all Chassidim have a Rav and a Mashpia. The Rebbe gives the koach through them that Chassidim should live in the way the Rebbe leads.

(Adapted from Likutei Sichos v. 16)