- Click here for this week's 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.
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Shul Bulletin
Announcements - Toldos
Shabbos Schedule - Toldos
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:25 pm
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:15 pm
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:10 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 this Shabbos
- Mincha: 4:25 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:28 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00-8:00 pm
Kiddush Sponsors - Toldos
- Tzeischem Leshalom to Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Hakohen Dubinsky. May it be meshane makom meshane mazal letova ulivracha.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Fischel Grossman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s father Reb Nota Moshe ben Reb Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson in honor of their continued success. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
- Mr. & Mrs. Tulupen for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tulupen brother Reb Mendel Moshe ben Reb Shimon ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Toldos
- Rabbi Eli Baitelman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Eli Baitelman’s father Reb Avrohom Moshe ben Reb Yakov Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Noteh Berger in honor of Rabbi Noteh Berger's birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also, in honor of their son Muli's birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Munish Weiss in honor of Rabbi Munish Weiss’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Women's Shabbos Shiur - Toldos
4:30 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Yecheskel Raeburn
Mazal Tov To - Toldos
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner on the birth of their twin grandchildren(to Mordy & Itty Feiner.)
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik on the engagement of their son Mendel to Mushky Rosenblum.
Upcoming Birthdays
- Rabbi Eli Feiner - 3 Kislev
- Yecheskel Pinson - 3 Kislev
- Mendel Levenberg - 4 Kislev
- Michoel Gavriel Wachtel - 4 Kislev
- Dr. Sholem Gimpel - 4 Kislev
- Shneur Zalman Plotke - 5 Kislev
- Rabbi Yerachmiel Helfant - 5 Kislev
- Mr. Yirmiyahu Andrusier - 6 Kislev
- Mr. Tzvika Grossman - 6 Kislev
- Mr. Noteh Berger - 7 Kislev
- Shmuel Berger - 7 Kislev
- Rabbi Yisroel Munitz - 8 Kislev
Upcoming Anniversaries
- Mr. & Mrs. David Rafael Gutierrez - 3 Kislev
- Mr. & Mrs. Ariel Haratz - 4 Kislev
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yonah Mordechai Weiss - 7 Kislev
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Mishulovin - 7 Kislev
- Mr. & Dr. Martin Leaderman - 7 Kislev
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yrachmiel Wolowik - 8 Kislev
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Miriam bas Reb Pesach Halevi (Mr. Berl Sroka’s mother) - 3 Kislev
- Beila Guta bas Reb Yechiel (Mrs. Leah Hoffman’s mother) - 4 Kislev
- Chaya bas Reb Sendor (Mrs. Marsha Alperin’s mother) - 6 Kislev
- Reb Yisroel (Rabbi Yisroel Bastomski’s grandfather) - 6 Kislev
- Reb Nota Moshe ben Reb Tzvi (Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s father) - 7 Kislev
Chabad Chodesh - Kislev
The new issue of the "Chabad Chodesh"
is now available online by clicking here
Announcements - Chayei Sarah
- Click here for this week's 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!!
- 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.
- MONDAY: Shloshim for Rabbi Simcha Frankel's father. 5:30-6:30 pm in shul.
Shabbos Schedule - Chayei Sarah
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:27 pm
- Late Minyan Kabolas Shabbos: 6:15 pm
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:06 am
- Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
- Followed by a Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik
- Thillim Club: 9:00 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Shacharis: 10:15 am
- Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
- Mincha: 4:30 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:30 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00-8:00 pm
- Molad Chodesh Kislev: Wednesday, MarCheshvan 29/Nov 27, 7:18 (7 chalakim) AM
- Rosh Chodesh Kislev: Thursday & Friday, November 28 & 29.
Kiddush Sponsors - Chayei Sarah
- Rabbi & Mrs.Simcha Frankel for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tzirel Frankel’s mother Matil bas Reb Volf Ber ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- The Raichik & Klyne Families for the 50th yahrtzeit of their grandmother Sima bas Reb Avrohom Abela Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Yehudit Schneerson’s father Reb Shmuel Gronim ben Reb Yitzchok Meir ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Chayei Sarah
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Avtzonin honor of Rabbi Yosef Avtzon's birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Women's Shabbos Shiur - Chayei Sarah
4:30 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer
Mazal Tov To - Chayei Sarah
- Rabbi Zalman Friedman - 26 Cheshvan
- Mr. Eli Kagan - 27 Cheshvan
- Hershel Tsikman - 27 Cheshvan
- Mr. Simcha Kagan - 27 Cheshvan
- Rabbi Sholom Ber Kesselman - 28 Cheshvan
- Mr. Yerachmiel Kuzecki - 29 Cheshvan
- Rabbi Tzvi Ferszt - 30 Kislev
- Rabbi Munish Weiss - 1 Kislev
- Rabbi Naftoli Fishman - 1 Kislev
- Boruch Shalom Allison - 1 Kislev
Upcoming Anniversaries
- Mr. & Mrs. Pinchas Hirsch - 26 Cheshvan
- Rabbi & Mrs. Ari Goldman - 1 Kislev
- Rabbi & Mrs. Dovi Goldman - 1 Kislev
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Hatomim Yosef ben yblct”a Reb Nachman Ber (Rabbi Nachman Kreiman’s son) - 28 Cheshvan
- Reb Shmuel Gronim ben Reb Yitzchok Meir (Mrs. Yehudit Schneerson’s father) - 1 Kislev
- Sima bas Reb Avrohom Able (Rebbitzen Leah Raichik's mother)- 1 Kislev
Devar Torah - Chayei Sarah
Removing The Wool from Our Eyes
(The ONLY Way to Accomplish Our Purpose is By Speaking the Truth!)
Rabbi Shimon Raichik
In this week’s parsha of Chayei Sarah we read about how Avraham Avinu bought Mahras HaMachpelah. On this Shabbos every year the city of Chevron welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world. They come to show solidarity and as a result are saying that Mahras HaMachpelah is the undisputed acquisition of Avraham Avinu and the inheritance of the Jewish people along with the entire city of Chevron; the first capitol of David HaMelech.
The city of Chevron had a continuous Jewish community throughout the millennia up until the 1920’s. In 1929 there was a massacre carried out by the local Arab population. As a result the community was temporarily disbanded. Notwithstanding the history, for some reason the Israeli government has decided to give the city of our forefathers away to the grandchildren of the murderers that carried out that massacre. Why did they and how could they do such a terrible thing? Shouldn’t they have rather rebuild the Jewish community of Chevron with Mahras HaMachpelah at its center? There is no dispute that Mahras HaMachpelah is the possession of Avraham Avinu, the acquisition itself clearly written and recorded in the Torah. Also, why has the Israeli government given almost exclusive use of the tomb of Yizchok to the Arabs and disbar access to Jews who are his heirs? They aren’t even related to Yitzchok! Also, after all the terrorism and broken promises why does the Israeli government even consider the self destructive possibly of two states (living side by side in terror!)?
On Yom Tov we say in the Musaf prayer: “Mipnei chataeinu galinu m’artzeinu; Because of our sins we were exiled from our land”. This prayer is the same for every Jew whether he lives outside or inside Eretz Yisroel. The reason is because the galus isn’t just physical and only for those living outside of Eretz Yisroel but is also spiritual and relevant to everyone, even those living inside Eretz Yisroel.
The Jewish people have developed a style of appeasement and compromise throughout our long and bitter galus. We have paid exaggerated taxes, come up with exorbitant ransoms, and have been disbarred and exiled from living in many locations around the globe in ways too inhumane to mention. Unfortunately it is easy to see that our galus habits and styles are alive and well today in Eretz Yisroel. We continue with our appeasements and we still pay our ransoms, as if attached to a ball and chain (the ball and chain of galus) and are endangering lives and then passing it’s consequences on to our children and future generations.
Each one of us in our personal lives have similar challenges. We try to strike a balance between living a Jewish life and having a Chassidishe home while being successful in the outside world. We often seek compromises and appeasements as a way of keeping it all together.
Just like Avraham never changed the mind of Og the King of Bashan, so too we will never appease world opinion by giving in and we will never achieve peace through compromise, everyone knows it. So when will this madness stop??
The Rebbe was the only leader who foresaw where all the consequences of our decisions lead and was the only one to courageously speak out about them. The Rebbe clearly said that only by being outspoken in a straightforward and honest way about our beliefs and positions would we be successful in accomplishing the right outcome. Why was the Rebbe the only one to speak out? Where were all the other leaders? It’s because the Rebbe is the Nasi. The word Nasi is an acronym in hebrew for Nitzus Shel Yaakov Avinu, a spark of Yaakov Avinu. The Rebbe is like a ceder tree that Yaakov planted that can see beyond the horizon. He is tall like a date palm, as it says in Tehillim that the tzaddik is like a tall date palm tree. There are special neshamos that come down into every generation that are part of the geula. They see above and beyond the galus. Their goal is to stop the suffering of those that are effected by the galus and bring geula to the world. They are here to guide us.
Therefore, the Rebbe is telling us to remove the galus cataracts from our eyes and look at our situation from a geula perspective. We have a strong connection with Hashem that gets stronger every day as we learn more Torah, especially Chassidus the neshama of the Torah, and do more mitzvos. Through our strong, and only getting stronger connection to Hashem and to the Rebbe we have more than enough strength and courage to stand up and tell the world that Eretz Yisroel is ours, as it says in the Torah and we will settle the entire land, where we want and when we want.
So too in our daily lives, we never give up on ahavas Yisroel. With ahavas Yisroel and with Chassidus we can turn the tide in our homes, communities and with our youth. It does not come from making compromises and appeasements saying things like; what can I do, today we don’t live in the generation of the Alter Rebbe or in the shtetel. We need to remove the cataracts from our eyes and our galus perspective of weakness and though hiskashrus, our connection to Hashem and to the Rebbe transform the world with strength and with resolve. It's time to stop being politically correct and say the truth in Eretz Yisroel that Mahras HaMachpelah belongs to the Jews and not Yishmael. So too in our homes we need to speak without compromise, with warmth and ahavas Yisroel To be continued…
A Good Shabbos
Reminder! Masbia Program
Dear shul member
We'd like to remind everyone that this Sunday is the 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.
Letter to Anash of CLY
Dear Members of Congregation Levi Yitzchak,
In this difficult time, with Eretz Yisroel now under rocket fire, it is helpful to reflect on the Rebbe's directives in such a situation.
The following is excerpts from a sicha of the Rebbe on 28th of Nissan, 5750
BITOCHON
“It is therefore necessary to invoke and emphasize the blessings from G-d to all Jews in all places, in all their needs. Primarily the most needed blessing is the miracle of the complete and perfect Redemption through Moshiach (whom we await every day that his coming not be delayed even as much as the blink of an eye). These blessings should be emphasized with complete trust and confidence, as well as with joy and gladness of heart.”
THINK POSITIVE
“We should especially fulfill the directive of the Chabad Rebbes, 'Think good and it will be good. This means that thinking positively causes the course of events to actually turn out good.”
TORAH AND TEFILLAH
“On the verse (Gen. 27:22), 'The voice is the voice of Jacob,' our Sages tell us that the power of the Jewish people is with 'our mouth.' Through our heartfelt prayers and Torah learning we can eliminate the plans of 'the hands of Esau,' the terrible schemes of our enemies. Thus there should be additional activities in Torah study and prayer and in mitzvot in general.”
TEHILLIM
“…It would be advisable to recite daily an extra three chapters of Psalms. One of these three chapters should be the final chapter of Psalms (ch. 150)
TZEDOKAH
At such a time, when generally people would take on a fast, instead of fasting we should redeem it by adding in tzedokah in the amount of two or three meals.
MOSHIACH
“The main thing is that the resolutions regarding the above should hasten and quicken the concept of 'think good and it will be good' in actuality starting from the ultimate good -- the complete and perfect Redemption through Moshiach.”
The Aibishter surely will accept our prayers and all the Yidden will be safe wherever they are and we should be zoche to the Geula Sheimal Now!!
Rabbi Shimon Raichik
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Announcements - Vayeira
- Click here for this week's 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 Schedule - Vayeira
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:31 pm
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:01 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: 5:34 pm
Sholom Zochor - Vayeira
Tzvi & Sheina Boyarsky
Invite the community to a sholom zochor
at 430 N Poinsettia
Kiddush Sponsors - Vayeira
- Mrs. Annette Kaufman for the yahrtzeit of her father Reb Zelig ben Reb Yitzchok ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Solomon for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Roberta Solomon’s brother Reb Doniel Refuel ben Reb Gershon ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Vayeira
- Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Finck for the siyum hakadish of Rabbi Meir Finck’s father Reb Shmuel Yakov ben Reb Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Alan Stark in honor of their children Shlomo Yaakov & Mendel’s birthdays. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Vayeira
4:30 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Mrs. Chani Pinson
Mazal Tov To - Vayeira
- Rabbi & Mrs. Tzvi Boyarsky on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Bastomski.
Upcoming Birthdays
- Mr. Levi Nagel - 19 Cheshvan
- Mr. Yossi Goldman - 20 Cheshvan
- Mendel Stark - 20 Cheshvan
- Dr. Ira Cohen - 21 Cheshvan
- Mr. Shmuel Eiferman - 22 Cheshvan
- Dovid Tsikman - 24 Cheshvan
Upcoming Anniversaries
- Rabbi & Mrs. Jonathan Glabman - 20 Cheshvan
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Keira bas Reb Yosef (Mrs. Elka Soussana’s mother) - 19 Cheshvan
- Reb Zelig ben Reb Yitzchok (Mr. David Kaufman’s grandfather) - 22 Cheshvan
Devar Torah - Vayeira
Who, Me? Yes, You!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This Monday is Chaf Cheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab. On one hand, when we remember and celebrate special days of the Rabbeim we increase our connection and become inspired. On the other hand we can wonder how it is relevant to us today in our situation. The Rebbe asks this question with regard to the well-known story brought in Hayom Yom for the 9th of Cheshvan.
When my father was four or five years old he went to his grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, on Shabbat Vayeira, and began to cry as he asked, "Why did G-d show Himself to our father Avraham - but He does not show Himself to us?" The Tzemach Tzedek answered him: "When a tzadik decides at the age of ninety-nine years that he should be circumcised, he deserves that G-d appear to him."
The Rebbe Rashab was a son of a Rebbe, and part of part of a dynasty of Rabbeim. In general they didn’t speak about themselves. This story was told to us so that we should to give us kochos to learn to be this way. How can we expect to be like them?
The Rebbe (Likutei Sichos v. 15) says that not only can we expect this of ourselves; this should be the way that we approach chinuch as well. We should inculcate within our children the desire that Hashem should be revealed to them. They should have the intention that the reason for all Torah and mitzvos is to reveal Moshiach.
This is a very nice vort for the Shabbos table but what has it got to do with our environment and our streets etc.? Isn’t it just wishful thinking to expect to reach such a level? How can we expect this of a 20 year old who tells that he never saw the Rebbe? He has shut himself down from listening, even if he doesn’t let you know. How do we explain this to him?
I’ve mentioned a few times that once Moshe Hecht wrote the Rebbe for help and the Rebbe responded that he already sent a shliach to his city and he gave him the kochos. His name is Moshe Hecht (himself!) he should go speak with him. The Rebbe sent him the message that he already had given him all the kochos he needed to succeed. He just needed to uncover them and use them.
When we attend a fabrengen for a chassidishe Yom Tov we know its special. By just showing up and eating some kugel and herring, we will not be affected. We don’t say l’chaim just to get high. We need to uncover the block of the physical and allow the neshama to feel and reveal the connection that’s already there.
We need to spend time learning sichos and maamarim and realize that the Rebbe is speaking to us. We need to think about what it means to us. We need to search and find the connection and then apply it. Then its real, then it will have continuity.
Once Michoel der Alter gave a mashal to his students about how to learn chassidus. It was a story of a simple unlearned person who hired a melamed to teach his children in a village distant from the community. Since the man was unlearned, he would also have the melamed read him his mail. One day a telegram arrived with the sad news of his father’s passing. When the man heard the melamed read the news he fainted on the spot. Michoel der Alter asked: “Certainly the melamed should have fainted because he read it first! Why didn’t he faint?” He answered; “Because it wasn’t his father”. So too with chassidus, when you realize that its our Father then its different. When we learn chassidus this way it affects us.
So too with nigunim; by tapping into the spiritual which we already have, we allow the neshama to feel the connection. Moshe Hecht needs to speak to Moshe Hecht because the Rebbe gave him the kochos already.
So too with chinuch when Yaakov lo meis, when the Rebbe is still alive, then it is definitely possible to reach a very high standard. Because its not, and it never was, about the physical, it’s the spiritual connection that makes it all possible.
There’s a story of a tzaddik (not Chabad) that told his son near his passing; I am no longer in a body. The son held his hand and said I’m touching your hand. The tzaddik responded; you are holding a hand because you only feel the physical. So too when we grasp hold of the physical we are unable to feel the spiritual.
By connecting to the Rebbe and living and doing Torah and mitzvos with the intention to reveal Moshiach may we merit to see the complete revelation of Moshiach Now
Good Shabbos
Announcements - Lech Lecha
- Click here for this week's 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 Schedule - Lech Lecha
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:36 pm
- Last Time To Read Shema: 8:58 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: 5:39 pm
Kiddush Sponsors - Lech Lecha
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Bastomski in honor of Rabbi Yisroel Bastomski’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Binyomin Kaplan in honor of Rabbi Binyomin Kaplan’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman in honor of Mr. David Kaufman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Also, for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s Grandmother Malkah bas Reb Nosson ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. - Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmy Klyne in honor of the birth of their daughter Batya. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim., batya
- Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
Also, for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Berl Sroka’s grandfather Reb Aron ben Reb Moshe Dovid ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Also, for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Berl Sroka’s grandmother Zlata bas Reb Yitzchok Dovid ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Also, for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Mindy Sroka’s father Reb Yosef ben Reb Noson Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. - Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Vcherashansky in honor of the birth of their daughter Batsheva. 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 mother Tzerel bas ben Reb Tzion ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Lech Lecha
4:30 at the home of Mrs. Milka Elharrar
157 N Fuller
Speaker: Rabbi Haller
Mazal Tov To - Lech Lecha
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shaya Berkowitz on the birth of their grandson.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Dubinsky on the birth of their granddaughter.
Upcoming Birthdays
- Mr. Meir Finck - 11 Cheshvan
- Mr. Shmuel Sufrin - 11 Cheshvan
- Mr. David Kaufman - 12 Cheshvan
- Ephraim Lerner - 12 Cheshvan
- Mendel Munitz - 12 Cheshvan
- Rabbi Yisroel Bastomski - 13 Cheshvan
- Mr. Noteh Berger - 13 Cheshvan
- Shlomo Yaakov Stark - 14 Cheshvan
- Dr. Binyomin Kaplan - 15 Cheshvan
- Menachem Mendel Eliyahu Goldman - 16 Cheshvan
Upcoming Anniversaries
- Mr. & Mrs. Frank Revere - 11 Cheshvan
- Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka - 12 Cheshvan
- Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Koch - 12 Cheshvan
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Chana Rivkah bas Reb Aron (Mrs. Fayge Estulin’s mother) - 11 Cheshvan
- Shaina Baila bas Reb Moshe (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s grandmother) - 11 Cheshvan
- Reb Aron ben Reb Moshe Dovid (Mr. Berl Sroka’s grandfather) - 11 Cheshvan
- Zlata bas Reb Yitzchok Dovid (Mr. Berl Sroka’s grandmother) - 13 Cheshvan
- Reb Yosef ben Reb Noson Halevi (Mrs. Mindy Sroka’s father) - 13 Cheshvan
- Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Yisroel (Mr. Milton Goodman’s brother) - 13 Cheshvan
- Tzerel bas ben Reb Tzion (Mr. Joel Yachzel’s mother) - 14 Cheshvan
- Reb Dovid ben Reb Moshe Yehushua (Mrs. Sarah Morris’s father) - 15 Cheshvan
- Alta Elka bas Reb Avrohom Bunim Hakohen (Mrs. Chana Arnold’s mother) - 16 Cheshvan
- Malkah bas Reb Nosson (Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s grandmother) - 16 Cheshvan
- Reb Doniel Refuel ben Reb Gershon (Mrs. Roberta Solomon’s brother) - 17 Cheshvan
Devar Torah - Lech Lecha
The True Inheritors of Avraham
Don’t Check Polls and Don’t Look Back
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
In this week’s parsha of Lech-Lecha the Torah describes the war of the 4 Kings against the 5 Kings. When Lot was taken captive by the stronger more formidable successful group of 4 Kings, Og the King of Bashan came to inform Avraham.
Og had a plan. He knew that Avraham was a man of his word and had agreed to protect Lot. He was hoping that Avraham would throw caution to the wind against overwhelming odds and go fight the war against the 4 kings. In Og’s mind he didn’t have a chance. Then, after Avraham would fall in war he would take Sarah as his wife.
The Midrash says that night was Pesach and Avraham was busy baking matzos when Og arrived. The Rebbe asks why the Midrash mentions this point; there must be an underlying intention or message.
The Rebbe explains that Og was filled with doubt if his plan would succeed. While its true that Avraham had agreed to protect Lot, everyone knew, especially Avraham that his 318 men (or just Eliezer according to a second explanation) faced impossible odds. Would Avraham take on a completely unnatural and metaphysical conflict with no logic to save Lot? He was unsure. Then he saw the matzo. He saw the pure emunah of Avraham and then he knew that his plan would work. Avraham would go to war, get killed and he would have Sarah as a wife. Og got the surprise of his life when Avraham returned victorious.
The lesson to all of us, inheritors of Avraham and his way, is obvious. There’s an Og out there with different names. Call him the UN the EU or even the US. The world is screaming at us that we cannot build and live peacefully in our own land. There is a big temptation to recoil in fear from what could happen to us if we don’t listen to and follow conventional wisdom. Our odds aren’t so great from an empirical perspective. It’s not easy to stand up against the whole world to fulfill our agreement to live the life of the Torah and mitzvos open and proudly and settle Eretz Yisroel. But we are the children of Avraham and it’s with his example of rock solid emunah that we go forward proudly and openly keeping the Torah and mitzvos and settling the land knowing that we have the strength to overcome despite any and all odds.
We know and we have seen over and over that compromise has never helped; it has only complicated matters and ended in even greater dangers. With emunah we can fight and win, the same today as in the times of Avraham.
The Rebbe said that Moshiach is coming and we need to prepare the world. Some look around in fear at the UN the EU and even the US and start using polls and odds in our approach coopting the doubting mindset of the giant Og. We need to go out together with Eliezer, Kel-li-ezer, Hashem is my help, together with the Aibishter’s help and be victorious regardless of any other consideration. With Hashem and Toras Emes we will break through all of the doubts and all of the worries. Practically speaking by strengthening the chinuch of our children and the values in our homes, by dressing modestly and having a shiur Torah and davening we have the strength to break through all of the fears without any calculations and prepare the world for the revelation of Moshiach, Now!
CSI Training: Personnel Resiliency Training (PRT)
There are a few reservations left for this upcoming security event. This is open to our shul members. Please respond ASAP to [email protected] if you would like to attend.
Melech Weiss
Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,
Did you know that 89% of active shooters demonstrated concerning behaviors prior to conducting their attack? According to a recently released FBI report, “A Study of the Pre-Attack Behaviors of Active Shooters in the United States,” it was also revealed 77% of active shooters spent a week or longer planning their attack and some 56% of attackers displayed their first concerning behaviors as early as 25 months before the attack! This report verifies what we at CSI have been teaching for years. There are always signs or behaviors before an attack, and it is imperative that we identify and quickly report these “pre-incident indicators” in order to prevent an attack on our community.
If you want to learn how to harness the power of advanced situational awareness, sign up today for Personnel Resiliency Training (PRT), Nov 13th, 2019. This course was specifically developed by security and law enforcement experts for the needs and circumstances of the Jewish Community! PRT teaches staff and volunteers to be an early warning system for their site by recognizing and reporting suspicious activity before an incident occurs. The target audience for this course is anyone who works or volunteers at a Jewish site to include; Executive Directors, Front Office Staff, Facilities Personnel, Security Guards, Lay Leaders, Board Members, Security Committee Members and others.
Course Information:
Training will be held at The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, 6505 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 from 8:30am – 1:30pm, Nov 13th, 2019. The training is absolutely free. Refreshments, lunch and free limited parking will be available on site! As with our last course, we anticipate heavy registration, so get your folks registered TODAY! Those who end up on standby will have priority seating when seats become available or on future PRT iterations.
Note: Weapons are not allowed at this training site as it is a secure facility.
As always, CSI will continue scheduling and hosting quality training that is practical and will help secure our Jewish institutions. If you have any questions regarding this security training or other CSI programs, please contact the CSI team via email.
Thank You and Stay Vigilant!
Announcements - Noach
- Click here for this week's 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 Schedule - Noach
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:42 pm
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:54 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: 5:40 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 6:45 pm
Kiddush Sponsors - Noach
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shloime Arnold in honor of Rabbi Shloime Arnold’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson in honor of the birth of their daughter Bluma. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Schneerson in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Schneerson’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also, in honor of the birth of their daughter Basya. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Noach
- Mr. & Mrs. Sholom Wilansky and Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky in honor of the birth of their twin grand/daughters Basya & Bracha Frieda Wilansky. May they have much nachas from them and may they grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Noach
4:45 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer
Mazal Tov To - Noach
- Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Duchman on the birth of their granddaughter (to JJ and Frumie Duchman.)
Upcoming Birthdays
- Rabbi Shmuel Schneerson - 4 Cheshvan
- Rabbi Elozor Fisch - 5 Cheshvan
- Zev Aharon Allison - 6 Cheshvan
- Rabbi Shloime Arnold - 7 Cheshvan
- Mendel Berkowitz - 9 Cheshvan
- Rabbi Aharon Shapiro - 10 Cheshvan
- Shmuel Elimelech Cohen - 10 Cheshvan
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Reb Moshe ben Reb Chayim Zev (Mr. Harvey Benton’s father) - 7 Cheshvan
Devar Torah - Noach
Enter the Rebbe’s Teivah!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This week we read parshas Noach which discusses the mabul, the great flood. Chassidus explains that the waters of the mabul refer to all of the tests trials and tribulations that come with daily living. Especially as we leave the spiritual heights of the Yomim Tovim of Tishrei, we seem to become plunged into the many waters of worldly concern. We confront all of the stresses and anxieties of properly addressing the mundane; shuffling through the daily routine of managing our livelihoods, trying to balance our checkbooks, getting our children’s school year off on the right foot while trying to keep the upbeat attitude and increased shiurim that we committed to on Rosh Hashana. And don’t forget we decided to stop worrying, which we are now worried about because the return to this daily flood which has gotten us a bit overwhelmed! Chassidus explains that we need to enter the Teiva of Noach, the teivos, words of Torah, Tefillah in order to stay afloat.
While we know that this is true for all of Bnei Yisroel, as Lubavitcher Chassidim the Rebbe has given us a unique mission and therefore we need to best understand which teivos, words, work best for our specific circumstances. Today in this year of 5773, when we have need advice where do we turn for guidance? What is our teiva to enter during difficult times?
Many use the Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe. They say that the best thing to do is write the Rebbe a letter and place it into the Igros and look on the page you placed it for advice, guidance, and bracha. Others say that it is preferable to follow what the Rebbe spoke about in the years 5746-7; to appoint a Rav or a mashpia to consult with get advice and guidance both in general and for specific questions. This is known as the campaign of Asei Lecha Rav, discussed in previous articles at length. In 5748, the Rebbe said for matters of business one should consult with business experts, for health he should consult with doctor who is an expert in the field and a friend, and for ruchnius matters to consult with a mashpia.
In the forward of volume 12 of Igros Kodesh (printed in 5749), a historical explanation is given as to why the Rebbe published many volumes of Igros Kodesh in the 1980’s. In the early years of the Rebbe’s nesius, the Rebbe held personal yechidus with individuals for birthdays and special occasions. He also responded to individual requests with private letters. As the years passed and requests grew, instead of letters, answers were written directly onto the request often in the form of an edit, a comment or a bracha. This allowed for a greater volume of letters to be answered. As the requests continued to grow, in 1975 personal yechidus for birthdays stopped. In 1980 most personal yechidus stopped. In its place the Rebbe held general yechidus for guests, Chossonim and Kallos, and Bar and Bas Mitzvos. They usually took place after a Yom Tov.
Later on at a time when most personal answers stopped we merited the publishing of many volumes of Igros Kodesh. During this time the Rebbe stressed in many sichos, similar to what is written in the forward of the Tanya, to take advice from a Rav.
The volumes of Igros Kodesh are printed with an index which allows the reader to get a detailed perspective on any topic of concern. The Igros Kodesh offer eitzah v’hadracha, advice and guidance, by providing a compendium of ideas and answers to any question. As the Alter Rebbe wrote in the forward to the Tanya; “Someone who finds it difficult to understand the advice inside these writings should talk to the leaders in his town and they will provide insight.” The forward to volume 12 of Igros Kodesh was printed under the auspices of the Rebbe and therefore reflects the Rebbe’s wishes. Therefore it is obvious that the same approach described in the Tanya applies also to Igros Kodesh. It is true that the Rebbe can answer from the Igros or at the Ohel, and that is fine and good. It certainly however must be combined with this approach described in the hakdama of volume 12 and the Tanya.
Therefore, if a friend, talmid, or child tells you that he or she wrote to the Igros Kodesh but he didn’t get an answer, tell them that they should go to a mashpia to seek guidance or advice. If a bochur comes to a mashpia to find out which yeshiva he should go learn in the coming year, it is not right that the mashpia should tell him to just write into Igros and if there is a hint in the letter such as, the word Montreal or Eretz Yisroel or Yeshivas Tores Emes that he should consider that his answer. This is not the way Lubavitch. What is necessary is for the mashpia to first become acquainted with all the details in the life of the bochur and then to come to an understanding as to what is in his best interests, and then to write if that is the preference. The Rebbe wants you to work with your Chabad, your intellect. Study the topic and then work it out with your mashpia.
Based on the above, it is incumbent upon everyone to have a regular seder of learning Igros Kodesh. Learning Igros Kodesh provides a broad understanding and clarity of the advice and guidance that the Rebbe provides for any problem of life. This is our ‘Teivas Noach’ which has protected us and continues to protect us on our unique journey through the mayim rabim, the flood of worldly concerns that surround us.
In conclusion, the Alter Rebbe in the hakdama of Tanya concludes; “From the provider of life, may He merit us and enliven us to the day when man will no longer learn from his friend, as everyone will know Me because the knowledge of Hashem will fill the earth etc.” Amen may it be his will.
Chabad Chodesh - Mar-Cheshvan
The new issue of the "Chabad Chodesh"
is now available online by clicking here