Shul Bulletin

• Click here for the KYY newsletter. 
• Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!
• MONDAY: Farbrengen for men 8 pm in shul in honor of 24 Teves.
• Nichum Aveilim: 
  Mrs. Rivky Raichik is sitting shiva in NY until Sunday on the passing of her father Reb Yaakov Shlomo ben Reb Dovid Goldberg ob"m. Email: [email protected] Text/WhatsApp: 323-447-7450.
  Reb Meir Finck & Mrs. Chaya Mushka Revere are sitting shiva in NY until Wednesday on the passing of their father Reb Shmuel Yakov Finck ob"m. Meir's Email: [email protected] Cell: (347) 451-4304, Chaya's Email: [email protected] Cell: 718-812-0494.
  Mrs. Chani Rotenberg is sitting shiva in NY until Thursday on the passing of her brother Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin ob"m. Cell: 323-422-1373
  Rabbi Eli Hecht is sitting shiva until Tuesday on the passing of his son Hatomim Yehoshua Hecht ob"m. Address:  24413 Hendricks Ave. Lomita. Hours: 4-8 pm
  Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehem besochom! 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:34 pm
• Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm 
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:26 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
• Mincha: 4:35 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 5:36 pm
• Father & Son Learning: 7:00-7:45 pm - Click here for more info.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart in honor of Rabbi Simcha Bart’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also, for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Simcha Bart’s father Reb Mordechai ben Reb Yechezkel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sheye Eichenblatt for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Sheye Eichenblatt’s grandmother Sadie bas Reb Shmuel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• Mrs. Miriam Fishman for the yahrtzeit of her mother Basya Rochel bas Reb Shmuel Hirsh ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Ariel Haratz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Elisa Haratz’s father Reb Mordechai ben Reb Yaakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Elozor Plotke in honor of Mr. Elozor Plotke’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Chana Rachel Schusterman’s mother Chava bas Reb Yakov Yisroel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Y. Shagalov, for the yahrtzeits of Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov’s grandparents Reb Yitzchok Elchonon ben Reb Yehuda Leib hy"d and Mariashe bas Reb Ben-Tzion ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
• Mr. Allan & Mrs. Nana Rushka Stark for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Nana Rushka Stark’s mother Masha bas Reb Shlomo ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Geisinsky in honor of Rabbi Velvel Geisinsky’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Yossi Goldman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Dina Tova Goldman’s mother Bracha Chaya bas Reb Refoel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Zali Munitz in honor of Rabbi Zali Munitz’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

4:15 at the home of Mrs. Etty Bastomski
418 N Fuller
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

• Rabbi & Rebbitzen Shimon Raichik on the birth of their grandson (to Yisroel Noach & Mushky Raichik.)

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Zali Munitz - 21 Teves
• Sholom Dovber Friedman - 22 Teves
• Yitzchok Wolowik - 23 Teves
• Mr. Elozor Plotke - 24 Teves
• Rabbi Zalmy Shem Tov - 24 Teves
• Rabbi Yehudah Lerman - 25 Teves
• Dovid Leib Bastomski - 26 Teves
• Rabbi Dov Fine - 26 Teves
• Rabbi Simcha Bart - 26 Teves
• Ryan Leaderman - 27 Teves
• Yitzchak Yosef Munitz - 27 Teves

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Lieba bas Reb Boruch (Rabbi Yisroel Hecht’s mother) - 21 Teves
• Basya Rochel bas Reb Shmuel Hirsh (Mrs. Miriam Fishman’s mother) - 22 Teves
• Tova bas Reb Avner (Mr. David Sharabi’s mother) - 24 Teves
• Reb Avraham Dov ben Reb Yehoshua (Rabbi Yisroel Hecht’s father) - 24 Teves
• Reb Mordechai ben Reb Yaakov (Mrs. Elisa Haratz’s father) - 25 Teves
• Reb Mordechai ben Reb Yechezkel (Rabbi Simcha Bart’s father) - 25 Teves
• Masha bas Reb Shlomo (Mrs. Nana Rushka Stark’s mother) - 25 Teves
• Chava bas Reb Yakov Yisroel (Mrs. Chana Rachel Schusterman’s mother) - 26 Teves
• Bracha Chaya bas Reb Refoel (Mrs. Dina Tova Goldman’s mother) - 26 Teves
• Reb Yaakov Chayim ben Reb Mordechay (Mrs. Milka Elharrar’s father) - 26 Teves
• Sima bas Reb Fivel (Mr. Steven Leaderman’s mother) - 26 Teves
• Harav Chaim Meir ben Reb Avrohom Shmuel (Rabbi Yosef Bukiet’s father) - 27 Teves

Jewish Education Today: Is it like Deja Vu, all over again?

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

As I was learning the Rebbe’s Sichos for this week’s parsha of Shemos I was struck by the eerie similarities between the events that occured back in Mitzrayim and the challenges and opportunities that we face today.

One of the worst decrees that Pharaoh made was the decree to throw all children into the Nile River. Since Pharaoh's advisors notified him that the savior of the Jewish people would be punished by water and he did not know if the savior was Jewish or not, he decreed that all male children get thrown into the Nile. The Rebbe explains that throwing the children into the Nile River is not just a story about a past event alone. It teaches us an eternal lesson about Exile and Redemption. Just as there was an Mitzrayim, a Pharaoh, a Nile River and a Moshe Rabbenu then, so too these things are with us today in the year 5779-2018.

A fundamental difference between Eretz Yisroel and Mitzrayim is with the need for water.  Since the primary source of water in Eretz Yisroel is rain, when someone living there needs water, they look up to the heavens for rain. Looking upwards towards the heaven also symbolizes relying on Hashem and praying to Hashem for all of our needs both physical and spiritual. Since the primary source for water in Mitzrayim comes from the Nile river, when people there need water they look downward to the Nile that it should rise and irrigate all the rivulets and agricultural trenches. Looking downward toward the Nile symbolizes looking solely for physical and natural causes alone to fulfill our needs, which is spiritually why they worshipped the Nile as an idol.

This denial of Hashem and a higher authority represents looking at the world strictly  superficially and physically. When one looks coldly only at what is required for sustenance, without a regard for the source of all blessing which comes from beyond the physical, then one is worshipping the Nile. This is a secular mindset. It’s standards are focused exclusively on creating a livelihood. Public schools today deny a Creator when they disallow to teach about a Creator even as a possibility. This omission is tantamount to denial. By focusing solely on the secular development, only skills that will help children provide a physical sustenance, defacto they create an amoral word; we have seen the tragic results. According to the secularist mentality, the vast majority the time  needs to be spent solely on secular studies even in religious institutions! A couple of hours here and there in an afternoon Talmud Torah to remind children about their heritage is okay as long as it doesn't get in the way of a secular education.

Pharaoh’s response to Moshe Rabbenu’s message that Hashem said to free the Jews was: “I do not know Hashem.” Pharaoh only knew about the laws of nature. He rejected a higher authority.

The Rebbe, the Moshe Rabbenu of our generation, tells us that to live with a secular mindset is the same  as giving oneself over to Pharaoh the King of Mitzrayim. The Rebbe said that it's necessary, for the survival of a Jewish child, to constantly be in a Jewish environment filled with Jewish values. This will sustain the child to be a Jew, live like a Jew and marry another Jew.  Today we see the end result of secular Judaism; 70% intermarriage may Hashem protect us.

To combat this mindset the Rebbe wants the institution of a moment of silence in the public school system, to remind the children that there is a Creator. Pharaoh, the King of Mitzrayim of today, the secularists, don't allow this. Today, after the third generation living without a moment of silence, we see that the tragedy which is unfolding in front of us. The Rebbe saw it coming and the Rebbe warned us.

This problem doesn't only affect the world at large it also has come to affect the Jewish Community as well. The Rebbe said in a Sicha that ultimately it would impact the Jewish community. Today there's a new decree in New York against the Yeshivos. New New York State Education Department guidelines say that private schools that don't provide instruction "substantially equivalent" to New York state's public schools will be threatened with loss of funding for textbooks, transportation, and other services under new state Education Department rules.These guidelines will require secular studies 6 hours a day in all schools, including Yeshivos. The guidelines also mandate that only teachers approved by the public school system are permitted to do the teaching. This is a modern-day manifestation of the ancient decree of Pharaoh the King of Mitzrayim to throw the children into the Nile, into a secular education.

Once we jump into the river, denying Hashem and living a life of denial, we do not know where it will end. It will only depend on whatever a person thinks is right in the moment.  This is very similar to the Rebbe Rashab’s fight against the Czarist Russian Government forced changes in Jewish education in his time. The Rebbe Rashab said that only our bodies went into galus, not our souls. So too with us today, our calling is to tell the world in no uncertain terms “Do not touch our anointed ones”, our Jewish children and our Jewish Education.

From the Rebbe’s Sichos we learn what is at stake today. Our job is to continue the work began by Moshe Rabbenu. Today it's a decree in New York, tomorrow it's the rest of America as we have seen with other issues such as marriage and the like, G-d forbid.

What should we do? We should resist these decrees with everything that we have. Those that have influence in communal affairs should use their influence to their utmost. Everyone else should say Tehillim, give tzedaka and strengthen education in our homes and in our schools. Those in the work world should explain the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noah to others.

By preparing ourselves, others and the world at large, we will bring about a good world, a world filled with the goodness and kindness that Hashem wants with the revelation of Moshiach now.

A Good Shabbos

Reb Meir Finck & Mrs. Chaya Mushka Revere
are sitting shiva in NY until Wednesday on the passing of their father
Reb Shmuel Yakov Finck ob"m

Meir's Email: [email protected]
Meir's Text/WhatsApp: (347) 451-4304

 Chaya's Email: [email protected]
Chaya's Text/WhatsApp: 718-812-0494

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!

* * * * *

 Mrs. Chani Rotenberg
is sitting shiva in NY until Thursday on the passing of her brother
Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin ob"m

Cell: 323-422-1373

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!

* * * * * 

Rabbi Eli Hecht
is sitting shiva until Tuesday on the passing of his son
Hatomim Yehoshua Hecht ob"m

Address:  24413 Hendricks Ave. Lomita, CA
Hours: 4-8 pm

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom! 

Mrs. Rivky Raichik
is sitting shiva in NY until Sunday on the passing of her father
Reb Yaakov Shlomo ben Reb Dovid Goldberg ob"m

Address: 553 Montgomery St.
Email: [email protected]
Text/WhatsApp: 323-447-7450

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!

• Click here for the KYY newsletter. 
• Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:30 pm
• Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm 
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:23 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
• Mincha: 4:30 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 5:32 pm
• Father & Son Learning: 7:00-7:45 pm - Click here for more info.

• 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.  Yitzchok Arnold for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold’s father Reb Noson Notte ben Reb Yakov Yeshayohu Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Shaya Berkowitz for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz’s father Reb Moshe Yaakov ben Reb Yeshaye ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Binyomin Burston for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Chana Baila Burston’s father Reb Dov ben Reb Pesach ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Binyomin Kaplan in honor of Mrs. Gittel Kaplan’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai Katz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Rivka Katz’s father Reb Mordechai Meir ben Reb Chaim Elozar Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s father Reb Yitzchak ben Reb Nachman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Meilach Weiss in honor of Mr. Meilach Weiss’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.

4:15 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Yecheskel Raeburn

• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch on the birth of their great granddaughter. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on the engagement of their granddaughter Shelbelle to Leivy Lapidus.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Meilach Weiss - 14 Teves
• Mr. Zev Geisinsky - 15 Teves
• Chaim Binyomin Estulin - 16 Teves
• Mattisyahu Tzvi Stark - 16 Teves
• Yitzchok Tzvi Gorelik - 18 Teves
• Dr. Moshe Benarroch - 19 Teves

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb Noach ben Reb Zalman Leib (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s brother) - 14 Teves
• Reb Moshe Yaakov ben Reb Yeshaye (Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz’s father) - 14 Teves
• Reb Mordechai Meir ben Reb Chaim Elozar Hakohen (Mrs. Rivka Katz’s father) - 14 Teves
• Reb Tanchum ben Reb Moshe Yaakov (Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz’s brother) - 14 Teves
• Sulika bas Reb Shlomo (Rabbi Shalom Elharrar’s grandmother) - 15 Teves
• Reb Noson Notte ben Reb Yakov Yeshayohu Hakohen (Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold’s father) - 17 Teves
• Sora Golda bas Reb Yaacov (Mrs. Nettie Lerner’s mother) - 17 Teves
• Reb Dov ben Reb Pesach (Mrs. Chana Baila Burston’s father) - 19 Teves
• Reb Chaim Zeev ben Reb Avrohom Yitzchok Bastomski - 19 Teves
• Reb Yitzchak ben Reb Nachman (Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s father) - 19 Teves 

Chassidim are one Family: No one gets left behind, No one is forgotten.

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik 

In this week’s parsha Yaakov speaks with Yosef about his two sons, Ephraim and Menashe.  Yaakov says, “And now, [as for] your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt, until I came to you, to the land of Egypt they are mine. Ephraim and Menashe shall be mine like Reuven and Shimon.” 

The Rebbe asks why Yaakov added the words “until I came to you, to the land of Egypt”. These words do not seem to add any meaning to Yaakov’s message and are self understood based on previous pasukim. The Rebbe answers that Yaakov viewed Yosef as an extension of himself. Yosef  educated his children in Mitzrayim in the ways of the Torah. By Yosef continuing in Yaakov’s ways with the same intensity warmth and inspiration as he received, notwithstanding the fact his children were born in the land of Mitzrayim, far from being in physical proximity to Yaakov; Yosef brought a completion to Yaakov and his purpose in this world.  Yaakov told Yosef, since you educated your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt, until I came to you, to the land of Egypt; they are mine. Ephraim and Menashe shall be mine like Reuven and Shimon.

Yosef ran the great superpower of his time during an intense famine.  The needs for an entire nation and its environs laid squarely upon his shoulders. Nevertheless when he came home from work,  this home wasn't filled with politics of the day or his worries, it was focused on education. He used the time to expose his children to the warmth and inspiration of his father's teachings just as if his father were in the room. He had no Cheder nor a Mashpiah to send them to, nevertheless he persevered and was successful. His father, their grandfather Yaakov was alive with them in their home. This is the reason Yakov said; although I was not physically there, it was before i arrived in Mitzrayim, nevertheless they are the same to me as my very own children Reuven and Shimon.

When we learn this Sicha we realize the beauty of its insight. When, however, we take it personally it becomes a powerful lesson in  daily living. By continuing in the Rebbe’s ways, so many years after Gimmel Tammuz, sharing the warmth and inspiration of the Rebbe’s teachings and directives with a generation of our children and grandchildren who  never saw the Rebbe physically , we bring out a special and unique connection between our children ourselves and the Rebbe today. Through this transmission the Rebbe is alive today with us in our homes.

When I reflect on this it reminds me of my own upbringing. I look back upon my formative years growing up on Edinburg Avenue. We were far away from the Rebbe in Los Angeles a place which at the time lacked basic Jewish services. In those days you couldn't make regular trips to New York  nor were there live hookups yet to hear a fabrengen of the Rebbe to recharge. Nevertheless, our home was a hub of Torah, Chassidus and had an example of a living Chosid. Through their warmth dedication and self sacrifice my parents brought all of this into our home.

In our homes, by turning our focus from silly posts on social media or even the politics or latest palace intrigue in Washington (we aren’t going to change  a thing anyway) and instead focusing on the Rebbe and Chassidus, the Torah and mitzvos, soon soon may we witness the Rebbe say; these children, born to you in galus after Gimmel Tammuz are my children. We are waiting for that day, may it come immediately with Moshiach now.

A Good Shabbos.

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Dr. Mel Weiner
Father of Mr. Reuvain Weiner & Mrs. Devory Goldstein

They will be sitting shiva in LA Monday & Tuesday.

Minyanim: 
Shachris Tues: 9 am in Levi Yitzchok.
Mincha: Mon- 4:30, Tue- 4:15 at the Perls - 448 N Poinsettia.

Shiva times:
Monday 4:30-9pm,
Tuesday 4:30-6:30pm
at the Perls - 448 N Poinsettia.

 Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim.
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!

• Click here for the KYY newsletter. 
• Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:27 pm
• Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm 
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:19 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
• Mincha: 4:25 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 5:29 pm
• Father & Son Learning: 7:00-7:45 pm - Click here for more info.

Tuesday, Teves 10/December 18
Fast of Asarah B’Teves

• Fast Starts: 5:41 am
• Minchah: 4:15 pm
• Maariv: 5:14 pm 
• Fast Ends: 5:20 pm

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Miriam Feiner’s father Reb Yisroel Yitzchok ben Reb Mordechai Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Munitz for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown their family. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.

4:30 pm at the home of Mrs. Tzirel Frankel
109 S Vista
Speaker: Mrs. Chani Pinson

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Chazanow on the engagement of their son Menny to Tonia Lazaroff.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Daniel Levin - 8 Teves
• Rabbi Levi Benjaminson - 8 Teves
• Rabbi Yossi Schneerson - 8 Teves
• Shmuel Dovid Andrusier - 10 Teves
• Rabbi Shalom Elharrar - 12 Teves
• Mr. Betzalel Fleischman - 12 Teves

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Stroll - 11 Teves
• Mr. & Mrs. Asher Katz - 12 Teves

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Chaya Barbera bas Reb Binyomin (Mr. Jon Engelson’s mother) - 8 Teves
• Reb Mordechai ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s brother) - 9 Teves
• Reb Yisroel Yitzchok ben Reb Mordechai Hakohen (Mrs. Miriam Feiner’s father) - 10 Teves
• Reb Yona ben Reb Yitzchok (Mr. Doron Israeli’s father) - 10 Teves
• Yenta bas Reb Nochum (Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s mother) - 11 Teves
• Chaya Soro bas Reb Dovber (Mrs. Rochel Anatian’s mother) - 11 Teves
• Perel bas Reb Naftoli (Mr. Betzalel Fleischman’s mother) - 12 Teves

How we keep the Chanukah candles burning Bright All year long

By Rabbi Raichik

As we look back over the past week when we celebrated Zos Chanukah on the 8th night of Chanukah and Hei Teves we reflect and take a message with us for the days ahead. As mentioned many times before the Greeks didn't  want to destroy our physical bodies, rather the struggle was spiritual and aimed at the soul of the Jewish people and the kedusha of Torah and mitzvos. The Greeks agreed to and even encouraged the practice of Torah and mitzvos based on rational alone providing it be devoid of emunah and kedusha, the true source of the warmth and simcha in the Torah and mitzvos. Therefore this is where the struggle with the Greeks took place, it was a spiritual battle.

The drama of the Chanukah story is being relived  again in our times albeit in a modern context.

Yesterday it was the Hellenism as it says in the Hayom Yom for the 30th of Kislev “The sins of Israel in the time of the Greeks were: Fraternizing with the Greeks, studying their culture, profaning Shabbat and Holy Days, eating t'reifa and neglecting Jewish tahara.”

Today we see it in secular Judaism with its focus on Tikun Olam and making sure that the youth are educated in a university. Beyond this it ends in a myopic and constant focus on the culture and what is trending in a world of social media, a world without rules or borders, a place where anything goes.

While of course it's a good idea to fix the world, but we need to remember that it's a world created by Hashem. Hashem  gave us the Torah and the mitzvos to direct us in the best and most direct possible way to bring the world to its fulfillment of being a Dwelling Place for Hashem and  to usher in the era of Moshiach.

To go about trying to fix the world without Torah and  mitzvos, G-d forbid is not only an enterprise doomed to failure (as history has shown us so many times before) it is to remove the soul of the Jewish purpose. Without delight in the Torah our wells of inspiration and warmth for what is holy and what is bright about our future run dry.

When children go to a university, even from a traditional home, over time they are fed by their professors and their environment a not so subtle ideology that denies the existence of a Creator. In other words today is the same as in the days of Chanukah when the Greeks profaned the oil in the Bais Hamikdash. The Greeks tried to change our perception of what the Torah is and what it should be, this is the way they profaned the oil spiritually. The oil represents the delight that the soul of the Jew has from learning the Torah and doing a mitzvah. The candles represent warmth and joy. The culture represents coldness and darkness of a world without moral clarity purpose or values.

We have the oil. The oil is Chassidus, Penimius HaTorah. The Chassidus of the Rebbeim  is the container of oil that is sealed with the seal of the Kohen Gadol. We crack open the seal of the container of oil by studying the Torah in general and Chassidus in particular. On Hei Teves we have a custom to buy sefarim, but it’s not enough to buy them we also need to crack open the seals and learn them, Each person according to their level.

When we absorb the oil, the quality of the oil seeps through everything, penetrating our hearts and minds with inspiration pleasure warmth and joy which shines “m’pesach beiso m’bachutz, from our house outward”  just like the lights of the candles of Chanukah. By keeping the Torah and mitzvos fused with the inspiration of Chassidus infused with emunah and genuine warmth we inspire our children to do the same. They do the same because they recognize the truth of our connection to Hashem something they cannot find in the world outside in the cold Hellenistic culture of today or by browsing on their smartphones.

And then we and our children together as one become the lamplighters of the world providing guidance light and warmth to the world outside thereby dispelling the darkness of the exile and ushering in the era Moshiach now.

A Good Shabbos

Farbrenegen for men in shul in honor of Hey Teves
Thursday, 8 pm

Guest Speaker: Rabbi Leibel Korf 
who was in NY during the entire time of the court case

Upon the Rebbe's instructions, Chassidim have a tradition of celebrating the 5th Teves not only with Chassidic gatherings but also with purchasing seforim, since the real victory for the seforim is when we fill our homes with volumes of Jewish books, and our days with their teachings.

To facilitate following the Rebbe's instruction, Chabad Atara's will be open tonight and tomorrow night until 10:00 pm. 

Seforim will be discounted!

We therefore encourage all of Anash to join together at Chabad/Atara's to fulfill this special tradition.

Chabad/Atara's is located at:
369 North Fairfax Avenue #1. 
(323) 655-9282 

The new issue of the "Chabad Chodesh"
is now available online by clicking here

With sadness we inform you of the passing of
Gershon Mertzlak - Gershon ben Dovid ob"m

Gershon who visited our shul regularly, left no relatives and had no funds to pay for the levaya, we need to gather the money (around $6,000) urgently, to pay for the levaya, 
please help with what you can by going to www.Chabadofla.com/donate
please mention in the note ‘Meis Mitzvah'
you can also give a check to Levi Raichik.

Levaya will iy"h be Today (Tues) 1 pm at Mt. Olive Cemetery
7231 East Slauson Ave. 90040

PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU CAN HELP WITH MINYAN
TODAY AT 1 PM. 

May we share only good news!

Hachnosas Sefer Torah today in honor of Rabbi Ami Meyers mother

Click here for more info 

• Click here for the KYY newsletter. 
• Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
• Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
• Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
• Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:26 pm
• Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm 
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:15 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• NO Kol Yaakov Yehuda
• Mincha: 4:25 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 5:29 pm
• Father & Son Learning: 7:00-7:45 pm - Click here for more info.

 Levi & Chaya Liberow
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 843 N Mansfield

• Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown their family. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
• Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky in honor of Mrs. Mila Raigorodsky’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Tsikman in honor of Mrs. Polina Tsikman’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Anatian for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Rochel Anatian’s father Reb Moshe Pulat ben Reb Bechor ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Chonye Grossman in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s father Reb Yitzchok Yosef ben Reb Avrohom Dov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Menachem Rubinstein for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Menachem Rubinstein’s father Reb Moshe ben Reb Nosson ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Allan Stark’s father Reb Aharon Dovid ben Reb Yitzchok Aizik ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

4:15 pm at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

• Rabbi & Rebbitzen Shimon Raichik on the birth of their grandson (to Levi & Mushky Zaltzman.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Liberow on the birth of their son.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Elazar Plotke on the birth of their grandson (to Mendy and Sarah Aidel Grifkin.)

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Naftoli Estulin - 2 Teves
• Elchonon Dovber Grossman - 3 Teves
• Rabbi Dovid Drizin - 4 Teves
• Mr. Yossi Rimler - 5 Teves
• Aaron Schneerson - 6 Teves

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Rabbi & Mrs.  Sheye Eichenblatt - 2 Teves

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Bassya bas Reb Mordechai (Mr. Chaim Lerner’s mother) - 1 Teves
• Reb Moshe ben Reb Nosson (Rabbi Menachem Rubinstein’s father) - 1 Teves
• Reb Moshe Pulat ben Reb Bechor (Mrs. Rochel Anatian’s father) - 2 Teves
• Chaya Liba bas Reb Yosef (Mr. Mendel-Hilel Ganzburg’s mother) - 2 Teves
• Reb Yitzchok Yosef ben Reb Avrohom Dov (Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s father) - 3 Teves
• Simcha bas Reb Moshe (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s sister) - 3 Teves
• Risha bas Reb Tzvi Hirsh (Mr. Milton Goodman’s mother) - 3 Teves
• Reb Chaim ben Reb Aryeh Leib (Rabbi Dovid Morris’s father) - 4 Teves
• Reb Chaim ben vAvraham Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Tibor’s father) - 4 Teves
• Bluma bas Reb Eliezer Hakohen (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s grandmother) - 5 Teves
• Tsharna Gittel bas Reb Yaakov (Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s mother) - 5 Teves
• Reb Aharon Dovid ben Reb Yitzchok Aizik (Mr. Allan Stark’s father) - 6 Teves

Living Inspired in the Warm Glow of Kislev and the Chanukah Lights

By Rabbi Raichik

The month of Kislev has many Chassidic Yomim Tovim and ends with Chanukah. Chassidus brings warmth and light into Judaism. The Previous Rebbe would say that “We must listen carefully to what the Chanukah lights are saying”. Lingering near the lights gives us time to hear their message and let the warmth and light into our hearts.

Another thing that brings warmth and simcha into the life of a Jew is a Chassidishe fabrengen. While learning is an intellectual activity a fabrengen with others is not a lecture with some food thrown in. It’s a time when we get together and leave our worries and concerns behind. We escape back to ourselves. A fabrengen brings out the inner simcha and glow of the neshama.

In 5724-1963 Eli Weisel wrote an article about his experience attending a Yud Tes Kislev fabrengen. He drew a picture with his words, describing the people, seeing them completely oblivious of the outside world, far from the burdens of their difficult lives listening to the Torah of the Rebbe, making l’chaim and absorbed with all their vitality in the nigunim. He said that he couldn't have imagined seeing such a thing after after the Holocaust, that such a thing could still exist as it was in his childhood. He experienced first hand what a true  fabrengen is all about. In the difficult times in Russia it was the fabrengen that kept Chassidim alive and together, giving strength, providing a time and place to support each other and give each other hope that they would ultimately get out from behind the Iron Curtain.

This is similar to the lights of Chanukah in the times of galus. We look at the lights of the candles and hope with sincerity and simcha that these candles will be a precursor to the lights of Moshiach.

The word Chanukah comes from the word chinuch, as in the rededication of the Beis HaMikdash as well as chinuch, the education of our children. Chanukah is a time that  we rededicate ourselves to the education that we give our children and our grandchildren, an education filled with warmth, feeling, yiras Shomayim and a Jewish values and good character traits. It is these feelings of warmth inspiration hope and education that our children look back upon and gain strength from throughout their lives especially difficult and pivotal moments to make the right choices.

In the recently printed book Shadar there is a story about my mother. When the Second World War broke out she was ten years old. Her father passed away soon after the beginning of the war. After living through the horrors of the war, first in hiding in Poland and then escaping, she arrived in the United States in 5707-1947 at the age of 18. She worked during the days and at night she attended Bais Yaakov in Williamsburg where she continued to get a Jewish Education that had been interrupted by the Nazis eight years before.

Several family members urged lit her to marry a student from the Mir Yeshiva who’s future would be in the business world. They felt she needed someone who would support her respectfully, but my mother did not like this idea. She said that she recalled her father who was a Gerrer Chosid and wealthy man and he would want she said that I should marry a Chassidishe Bachur with a full beard. This memory of her father and the warmth of her childhood home and her education is what made her choose my father, a Chassidishe Bachur who had a full beard, wore a long coat, didn’t speak english and was not a businessman.

May we take inspiration and warmth in life from the month of Kislev observing the Chassidishe Yomim Tovim and Chanukah and Chassidishe fabrengens. And may we instill within our children many experiences of inspiration hope and warmth that they look back upon throughout their life to gain strength and guidance. May we merit this year rekindling of the Menorah in the Third Beis HaMikdash with Moshiach now.

A Good Shabbos a Good Chodesh and a Freilichen Chanukah