Shul Bulletin

Ta’anis Esther
Wednesday, Adar 13/February 28

• Fast Begins: 5:09 am
• Shachris: 6:15, 6:45, 7:15 & 8 am 
• Machatzis HaShekel/Minchah: 12:35 & 5:15 pm
• Fast Ends: 6:23 pm
• Maariv 6:15 pm
• Megillah: 6:25 pm.
• Grand KYY Event - in Moshe Ganz Hall: 7:45 pm

Purim Day
Thursday, Adar 14/March 1

• Sunrise: 6:21 am
• 1st Minyan: 6:15 (in Shul)- Megillah: 6:30
• 2nd Minyan: 7:00 (in Kollel) - Megillah: 7:20
• 3rd Minyan: 8:00 (in Shul) - Megillah: 8:30
• 4th Minyan: 8:30 (in Kollel)- Megillah: 9:00
• 5th Minyan: 9:00 (in KYY)- Megillah: 9:30
• 6th Minyan: 9:30 (in Shul) - Megillah: 10:00
• Mincha: 12:35, & 3:30 pm
• Sunset: 5:49 pm
• Maariv: ?

The Nassy Family
is sitting shiva until shabbos on the passing of their father
Reb Ahron ben Yitzchok ob"m

Address: 640 N Poinsettia Pl.
Visiting Times: Shachris until noon, 2-4 pm & 6:30-9:30 pm

Minyanim Times:
Shachris- 7:00, 8:45 & 9:30. Mincha & Maariv: 5:30
Wednesday Mincha - Taanis Esther: TBA
No Minyanim on Purim - Wed night and Thursday.
Thursday night - Maariv: TBA
Friday Mincha: 2 & 2:30 pm

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

It is with great sadness that we inform the community of the passing of
Reb Ahron Nassy 
(Ahron ben Yitzchok ob"m)

The Levaya will today (Sunday)
2 pm at Mt. Olive Cemetery
7231 East Slauson Ave. 90040

THE LEVAYA WILL PASS BY YESHIVA AT 1 PM
7215 Waring Ave. 

Shiva details to follow
when it becomes available 

May we share only good news!!!

It is with great sadness that we inform the community of the passing of
Rivkah Farkash - Rivka ob"m bas yblct"a Harav Yekusiel
Sister of Harav Amram Farkash 

Rabbi Farkash will be sitting shiva in LA 
today (Sunday) until 3 pm

Address: 821 N Formosa #301
Times: Shachris 8:30 am, Mincha 2:30 pm
Email: [email protected]

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

• Click here for KYY update.
• 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!!!
• Do you need a Private Megilla reading? Click here to book!
• SUNDAY: L’Chaim of Mendel Lerner and Miriam Ives this Sunday, Nemes Hall, 309 New York Ave., Brooklyn 11213, between 1:30-4:00 pm.  If you happen to be in Crown Heights, please stop by. 
• MONDAY: Special Purim Shiur. Click here for more info. 
• TZEIZCHEM LESHALOM: The Shul wishes Isser Goldstein a heartfelt tzeizchem leshalom on his move to Houston, TX.  Nishtana makom nishtana mazal l’tova v’livracha.

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:26 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:16 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 Yakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
• Mincha: 5:25 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:29 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp in honor of the Avrohom Nassy’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  MOST IMPORTANTLY in honor of Baruch Aharon Nassy’s birthday on Purim. Please get together on Shabbos on make a big LECHAIM for him that he should have a complete refua and arichus yomin veshnoim begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• 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.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai Katz for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Katz’s father Reb Nachman ben Reb Asher Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Levine for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tova Levine’s mother Hinda Ettel bas Reb Yakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. 

• Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp in honor of the Avrohom Nassy’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  MOST IMPORTANTLY in honor of Baruch Aharon Nassy’s birthday on Purim. Please get together on Shabbos on make a big LECHAIM for him that he should have a complete refua and arichus yomin veshnoim begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Finck 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.

5:00 pm at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia Pl

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Nochum Labkowsky - 10 Adar
• Rabbi Mendel Pinson - 12 Adar
• Rabbi Laizer Labkowsky - 12 Adar
• Rabbi Chaim Avrahom Mentz - 12 Adar
• Rabbi Shmuel Novack - 13 Adar
• Mr. Reuven Kasten - 13 Adar
• Mr. Shimon Benarroch - 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

• Reb Mordechai ben Reb Abraham (Mrs. Ester Gutierrez’s grandfather) - 11 Adar
• Reb Yitzchok Dovber ben Reb Shlomo (Rabbi 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
• Rochel bas Reb Moshe (Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s mother) - 15 Adar
• Reb Nachman ben Reb Asher Hakohen (Rabbi Mordechai Katz’s father) - 15 Adar
• Harav Zalmen Leib ben Reb Yaakov Yitzchok (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s father) - 15 Adar

To Build and to Rebuild

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

We are in a state of pain and shock from the terrible tragedy that occurred this last week in Parkland Florida. Seventeen people were lost including four Jewish students and one Jewish teacher.

We hear a lot of discussion about gun control as a solution to this problem. While it’s true that guns should be controlled,  it’s not a solution to the problem. It’s a Band-Aid on top of the sore but it doesn’t go to the core of the wound. 40 years ago there were plenty of guns but there were no mass shootings. What happened to then until now?

The Rebbe spoke on many occasions about the need for a moment of silence at public schools throughout the country. The concept is constitutional because it can be instituted in a nonsectarian fashion by allotting time for each student to be quiet and reflect in accordance with their chosen belief.

The awareness of a higher power, an eye that sees and an ear that hears, has an immeasurably positive affect on the individual and upon society at large. The Rebbe likened the condition of the world to a jungle (how much more so today). By making it a priority to have a moment of silence shows our children the importance we as a community at large place on its value to each child. By instilling this awareness each child strives to become a better person. The collective effect is cultivating a civilized and civilizing world, preventing it from devolving into a jungle.

Unfortunately nowadays far from the recommendations of the Rebbe, Hashem has been forced into a closet. This void has been filled with violence and improper behaviors between men and women by the entertainment industry. The concept of freedom to practice the religion of our choice detailed in the United States Constitution has morphed into freedom from religion, the exact opposite of what the founding fathers designed.

Once there is no awareness of Hashem in the mind of a child, the ability of society to strengthen our youth and safeguard them from gravitating  towards negative behaviors is eroded. What exactly stands in the way of wild and deviant preoccupations and inhumane atrocities? This is especially true for confused alienated and angry children who have been somehow overlooked or shunned. Take a look at how the ‘leadership’ allowed the unbridled ‘rage’ in Ferguson and Baltimore to spiral out of control as if to give it tacit approval.

Nowadays children open up their iPhones and go on Facebook or their favorite newsfeed and see these events on a regular basis. It becomes the national conversation for weeks at a time. This is the new culture and the new normal.

Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu; how fortunate we are to have guidance in every aspect of our lives from the very beginning of the day when we open our eyes and say Modeh Ani, expressing our gratitude for life. We know that it is the responsibility of each individual to go in a good way, to serve Hashem and to do all within our means to ensure life for our communities. One person can make all the difference and change the world for the good. We can see this from what occurred in Florida. If one FBI agent misses the warning signs or doesn’t do his or her job a, disaster can occur; all the more so in positive pursuits.

This is a lesson for all of us in our service of Hashem. Our purpose is to make a Mishkan, a dwelling place for Hashem in this world. This begins in our homes by creating a secure environment embued with emunah and bitachon, full of all the Jewish warmth and Chassidishe spirit necessary to envelop our families friends and visitors with hope and inspiration.

Through living a life of Torah and mitzvos according to Chassidus we are filled with the awareness that we are all responsible and can help. With one act of goodness and kindness both you and I can and will change the world for the better. When we all unite together, parents and schools and the community at large, we can do what is necessary to make this world a safe secure warm and vibrant dwelling place for Hashem.

A Good Shabbos 

Rabbi Raichik is finalizing his order for matzah on Sunday night. 
If you plan on ordering through the Rabbi, 
please contact him immediately

The shul sends our condolences to Mrs. Rochel Revere on the passing of her mother. May she only know of simcha and nachas from her family in good health.

She will be receiving visitors at her home 101 N Orange Dr.
Wednesday: 1 to 8 pm
Thursday: 10 am to 1 pm

May we share only good news!

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

• Click here for KYY update.
• 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!!!
• SUNDAY:  Masbia Program. The shul kitchen will be open from 7am till 12pm. All foods are fine, including Milchig, Fleishig, Pareve, fruits, vegetables, frozen, canned and packed foods. All except foods cooked at home. Please note: If you can send proteins such as- chicken, meat, fish, and cheeses, it would be tremendously beneficial to these families. For your convenience, if you prefer having the food picked up from your front porch, please text 323-710-9954. Pick up time will be between 10am and 11:30am.
• SUNDAY: Siyum Sefer Torah in memory of Rabbi Josh Gordon. Click here for more info.  
• TUESDAY: 40 year YOEC banquet. Tuesday, 5 Adar/February 20. Click here for more info.
• WEDNESDAY: Marriage Lecture by Rabbi Manis Friedman. Wednesday, 6 Adar/February 21. Click here for more info. 
• Do you neen a Private Megilla reading? Click here to book!
• CONDOLENCE: We send our condolence to Mrs. Rochel Revere on the passing of her mother. May she only know of simcha and nachas from her family in good health  A separate email will be sent out iy”H on Monday with dates and visiting times. 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:19 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:29 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:21 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
• Mincha: 5:20 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:22 pm

• 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.
• 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.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Mayberg for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yosef Mayberg’s grandfather Reb Dovber ben Reb Yakov Kopel haKohen ob”m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• 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. & Mrs. Berl Sroka in honor of Mr. Berl Sroka’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Vcherashansky in honor of the birth of their granddaughter. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
• Mr. & Mrs. Joel Yachzel for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Joel Yachzel’s father Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• For the yahrtzeit of Elka bas Reb Aron 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.
• Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark in honor of Mr. Allan Stark’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

4:45 pm at the home of Mrs. Chana Weiss
411 N Martel
Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman

• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benharosh on the birth of their great-grandson. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Elharrar on the marriage of their daughter Sarah to Zevi Haller.
• Mr. Danny Fishman on his marriage to Romy Krassenstein. Mazal tov to whole Fishman Family.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel on the birth of their granddaughter.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Vcherashansky on the birth of their granddaughter (to Avigdor & Sima Simmonds.)

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Chaim Lerner - 2 Adar
• Mr. Shimon Zeifman - 2 Adar
• Rabbi Sruly Yusevitch - 3 Adar
• Rabbi Baruch Kreiman - 3 Adar
• Mr. Danny Weiss - 4 Adar
• Moshe Simacha Burston - 5 Adar
• Yoav Antian - 5 Adar
• Mr. Allan Stark - 7 Adar
• Mr. Jack Soussana - 7 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

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

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Yehudis bas Reb Kasriel Hakohen (Mr. Efraim Lezak’s mother) - 3 Adar
• Tzivya bas Reb Moshe Hersh (Mr. Milton Goodman’s mother in law) - 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

In this week's Parsha Hashem tells Bnei Yisroel to build a Mishkan. To construct the Mishkan it was necessary to use cedar wood. Rashi asks where did they acquire wood (of such size and quality - 15 feet high x 2 1/4 feet in diameter) in the Midbar? He answers that Yaakov Avinu saw through Ruach Hakodesh that the Jews would build a Mishkan in the desert, so he brought small seedlings from Eretz Yisroel down to Mitzrayim, and instructed the Jews to take them – as full grown trees – when they left Egypt.

When Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim they had enough money to buy wood from the nearby nations. Why had Yaakov bothered to plant trees from Eretz Yisroel in Mitzrayim? Rashi hints the answer by noting that the source of this is Rebbi Tanchuma and the meaning of Tanchuma is comfort. Yaakov foresaw the pain the Jews would have in Mitzrayim, the hardship of their labor and the casting of children into the Nile, etc. Hashem promised that Bnei Yisroel would leave Mitzrayim and Yaakov wanted them to have something physical to see, that would encourage them while they were enslaved.

Yaakov knew that there would be a Mishkan built in the desert after leaving Egypt. So he took seedlings from Eretz Yisroel and brought them to Egypt and planted a forest which grew for over 200 years. Hence, when a Jew in Goshen would pass this forest of over 100 large cedar trees, and he would ask who planted this forest, he would be told that Yaakov Avinu planted it from the seedlings he brought from Eretz Yisroel. When we are going to leave Egypt, we will take the trees with us to build a Mishkan and go back to Eretz Yisroel. Now this Jew had something tangible to see that would serve to remind him that he would someday be redeemed from Egypt: this would give him comfort. Similarly, the Jewish people came from Eretz Yisroel and are now in Golus Mitzrayim will go out from this golus like the trees and return to Eretz Yisroel.

This is also the comfort for us. Our Golus is compared to the Jews wandering in the desert, a place of kelipa. We must convert our Midbar to a dwelling place for Hashem. When we do that, then the Beis HaMikdash will be built.

How do we have the power to overcome the darkness of this exile? That is what Yaakov Avinu provided. He brought cedars to Mitzrayim. Cedar trees represent tzadikim. As the possuk says “the righteous will flourish like a palm tree and grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon” (Tehillim 92:13). A tzadik is on a very high level; he is the Nosi (leader). The word Nosi is an acronym for Nitzutei shel Yaakov Avinu – the spark of Yaakov Avinu. Yaakov encompasses all of the neshomas of Bnei Yisroel, especially the leaders of the generations. Yaakov envisioned the problems of golus so took certain neshomas which are beyond the level of exile and not affected by it, and planted them in golus, so they will encourage us so that we shouldn't become affected by the surrounding darkness of our environment and instead to make this golus a dwelling place for Hashem; through this we shall go to the Geulah. This is the comfort Yaakov provided us.

Likutei Sichos, Vol. 31

With sadness we inform you of the passing of
Mrs. Liliya Khomutova (צילה בת גרש) ob”m

The Levaya will iy”H take place
Tuesday, 28 Shevat/Feb 13, 10:00 am 
at Mount Sinai: 
5950 forest lawn Dr. Los Angeles.

HELP NEEDED WITH MINYAN

May we share only good news!!

With sadness we inform you of the passing of
Mr. Alexander Raskin (Avraham ben Chaim) ob”m
Husband of Khana Raskin. Father of Mrs. Malka Bordoff ob”m

The Levaya will iy”H take place
Monday, 27 Shevat/Feb 12, 11:30 am
at Mount Sinai:
5950 forest lawn Dr. Los Angeles.

May we share only good news!!

• Click here for KYY update.
• 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!!!
• TUESDAY: Annual Reception for Hachnassat Kallah of Los Angeles. Click here for more info. 
• SAVE THE DATE: 40 year YOEC banquet. Tuesday, 5 Adar/February 20. Click here for more info.
• SAVE THE DATE: Marriage Lecture by Rabbi Manis Friedman. Wednesday, 6 Adar/February 21. Click here for more info. 
• Do you neen a Private Megilla reading? Click here to book! 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:13 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:24 am
• Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
• Followed by a Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik
• Thillim Club: 9:15 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Shacharis: 10:15 am
• Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
• Mincha: 5:15 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:16 pm
• Molad Chodesh Adar: Wednesday, Shevat 29/February 15, 3:09 pm and 3 chalakim.
• Rosh Chodesh Adar: Thursday & Friday, February 15 & 16.

• Mrs. Miriam Fishman in honor of her anniversary. Also for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman ob"m and stepmother Ruth Gittel bas Reb Meir ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Hertzie Richler in honor of their 36th anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. Also for the 10th yahrtzeit of Mrs. Bracha Richler’s grandmother Mrs. Teibel Lipskier ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Tsikman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Velvel Tsikman’s mother Dina Reizel bas Reb Yitzchok Aaron ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• 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.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Greenbaum in honor of Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Wilansky in honor their birthdays. May they 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.

Sara Elharar
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla 
4:00 pm at 157 N Fuller Ave
Speaker: Mrs. Menucha Schochet

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Gurary on the bar-mitzvah of their son Zalmy.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Pinchas Winograd - 25 Shevat
• Levi Berger - 26 Shevat
• Avrohom Benarroch - 26 Shevat
• Mendel Halevi Ginsburg - 27 Shevat
• Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum - 29 Shevat
• Mr. Berl Sroka - 30 Shevat
• Yitzi Stark - 1 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mrs. Miriam Fishman - 30 Shevat
• Mr. & Mrs. Efraim Lezak - 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
• Eyde bas Reb Nochum (Mr. Maayan Kerbel’s grandmother) - 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
• Lin ben Reb Avrohom Halevi (Mr. Pinchas Hirsch’s brother) - 28 Shevat
• Reb Yitzchak Aharon ben Reb Aharon (Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin’s father) - 28 Shevat
• Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother) - 29 Shevat
• Reb Yosef ben Reb Dovid (Mr. Steve Zipp’s brother) - 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

Machtzis Hashekel
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is Shabbos Shekalim. This parsha speaks about bringing a half shekel to the Bais Hamikdosh. On Rosh Chodesh Adar it was announced that everyone should bring their Machatzis HaShekel and on the fifteenth of Adar the collection began; so by the time it was Rosh Chodesh Nisan the funds would be amassed for the purchase of the communal sacrifice. On Rosh Chodesh Nissan they would bring the community sacrifices which had been acquired with the recently collected shekolim contributed by Bnei Yisrael. For this reason on Shabbos Mevorchim Adar we read for Maftir the parsha which speaks about Machatzis HaShekel.

The question is asked, why is only a half shekel given? Why not a complete shekel? Additionally, the Torah says that twenty gerah is a shekel, give half; since ten is a complete number, why does it not say give ten gerah? The Talmud Yerushalmi states that Moshe didn't know what Machatzis HaShekel is – so Hashem took out a fiery half shekel from under his Kisei Hakavod (Throne of Glory) and said _this_ is what you are going to give. How is it that Moshe Rabbenu couldn't figure this out?

The explanation is that the Machatzis HaShekel was an atonement for the Cheit Ha'eigel (sin of the Golden Calf). Moshe Rabbenu's question was how could a half shekel forgive the Cheit Ha'eigel? Hashem showed Moshe Rabbenu that in the coin that a Jew gives there is fire – the essence of the neshoma of a Jew which is carved out from under the Kisei Hakovod.

On a superficial level it appears as if we are forcing him to give a half shekel but deep down he is doing it because his neshoma, which has a burning love for Hashem, wants to do that mitzvah. That's why it is a half shekel. How is this an atonement? When a Jew knows that he is only half and his other half is Hashem and he unites himself with Hashem, the Jew's ten powers of the neshoma unite with the ten sifiros of Hashem and become one shekel - one being. The Jew removes himself from the sin of the eigel and he reveals his essence - the Yechidah - the part of the neshoma that is one with Hashem for there sin never touched and from there forgiveness comes.

The point is (a) that even if a Jew is forced to do a mitzvah and it appears to be a superficial act, the neshoma is burning with love for Hashem, and (b) that a Jew is only half and by connecting to another Jew he completes a shekel; this is the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel. The lesson for us is that even if a person is rich, whether spiritually or physically, he needs to know that he is only half, and even if one is poor, he should not feel that he is nothing; because the contribution of the rich cannot be complete without the contribution of the poor.

There is a saying told in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek that the word מחצית shows that a person has to be connected to a Tzadik. There are five letters in the word מחצית. The צ is in the middle of the word and near it, on either side, are ח and י spelling חי (life) and on the outside of the word, are מ and ת, meaning the opposite of life. Hence, to be truly alive one must be connected to the Tzadik.

Masbia Program will NOT be this week.

it will iy"h be next week 

With sadness we inform you of the passing of
Reb Shimon Menlo (Shmion ben Tzvi Dov) ob”m
Father of Mr. Frank Menlo

• Click here for KYY update.
• 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!!!
• SUNDAY: Lechaim of Yacov Nassy and Bina Banayan. 6-9 pm at 539 N Fuller. 
• SAVE THE DATE: 40 year YOEC banquet. Tuesday, 5 Adar/February 20. Click here for more info.
• SAVE THE DATE: Marriage Lecture by Rabbi Manis Friedman. Wednesday, 6 Adar/February 21. Click here for more info. 
• Do you neen a Private Megilla reading? Click here to book! 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:06 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:27 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 Yakov Yehuda this week :(((
• Mincha: 5:05 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:09 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Shea Bastomski in honor of Mr. Shea Bastomski’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mrs. Miriam Fishman for the yahrtzeit of her father in law 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. Binyomin Kaplan for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Gittel Kaplan’s father Reb Ezra Refoel ben Reb Dovber 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.
• 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.
• Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky in honor of Mr. Shaul Raigorodsky’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• 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.
• Mr. & Mrs. Sender Klein in honor of Mr. Sender Klein’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

5:00 pm at the home of Mrs. Tova Levine
361 N Vista
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

• Rabbi & Mrs. Leib Lerner on the engagement of their son Mendel o Miriam Ives.
• Mr. & Mrs. Aron Nassy on the engagement of their son Yaacov to Bina Banayan.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Ben-Zion Oster on the bar-mitzvah of their son Efraim Fishel.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Yisroel Aryeh Leib Friedman - 18 Shevat
• Mr. Shaul Raigorodsky - 18 Shevat
• Binyomin Wolowik - 18 Shevat
• Rabbi Shmuli Pinson - 19 Shevat
• Rabbi Yosef Bukiet - 19 Shevat
• Rabbi Moshe Aron Weiss - 19 Shevat
• Yechezkel Pinson - 22 Shevat
• Baruch Mordechai Rav~Noy - 22 Shevat
• Rabino Noach Gansburg - 22 Shevat
• Mr. Sender Klein - 22 Shevat
• Aharon Eliezer Mishulovin - 23 Shevat
• Mr. Beryl Kaufman - 24 Shevat
• Zalmy Gurary - 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
• Reb Yaakov ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Miriam Fishman’s father in law) - 22 Shevat
• Reb Avrohom Yaakov ben Reb Meir Hakohen (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s grandfather) - 22 Shevat
• Chaya Soro bas Reb Note Moshe (Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s grandmother) - 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 Ezra Refoel ben Reb Dovber (Mrs. Gittel Kaplan’s father) - 24 Shevat
• Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef (Mrs. Miriam Raichik’s father) - 24 Shevat