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.
6:30 pm at the home of Mrs. Tzirel Frankel
109 S Vista
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht
Upcoming Birthdays
Upcoming Anniversaries
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
It Really Is Up to Us
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Over the last few years we have spoken many times about the importance of the Rebbe’s directive of Asei lecha Rav-To appoint yourself a Rav. In general, there are special moments in our lives when we feel an acute need for reach out for some sage advise. There is a story of Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb who sought the Rebbe’s advise to a question he thought only the Rebbe could answer. When he called Rav Hadokov and requested to speak with the Rebbe, he didn’t give his name. After checking with the Rebbe, Rav Hadakov related the Rebbe’s answer that there was a person in his town with whom he could speak by the name of Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb. The man calling was the very person to whom he was being sent by the Rebbe! He took this to mean that he must first look a little deeper into the matter by himself to find his answer.
There is a similar story with Rav Moshe Hecht brought in Igros Kodesh v. 23 where the Rebbe’s answer to his question was that he already sent a shalich to his town to help him named Rav Moshe Hecht and added: “You should get to know him”…
So what do we actually do? Do we look within or do we go to a mashpiah? In a JEM video where the Rebbe asked R. Yehuda Avner, an advisor of Menachem Begin, why doesn’t he become part of us (meaning Lubavitch). He responded that he could see that the Rebbe has great capabilities that he doesn’t realize. The Rebbe replied: “Some people need crutches”. The Rebbe then explained what a Rebbe is with the example of a candle. What is a candle? You may have wax and a wick but it’s not yet a candle. It only becomes a candle when you set it in a holder light the wick and then the light illuminates the room. This fulfills the purpose of the candle because we can then have use of it. So too with our soul, only by lighting the wick, our neshamos used together our bodies, which is like the wax are we able to fulfill our purpose in the service of Hashem. The job of a Rebbe is to bring the fire to light the neshama. R. Yehuda then asked the Rebbe: “Rebbe, did you light my neshama?” The Rebbe answered: “No, I gave you the match”
Our ability to receive the Rebbe’s brachos depends upon our will to utilize our intellect emotions and abilities and not just to use the Rebbe as a crutch. A mashpiah serves a pivotal role in between a Rebbe and chosid to bring the chosid’s intellect emotions and abilities from potential into action.
In the sicha for parshas Behaloscha in 5751 the Rebbe explains that the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah is until the flame goes up by itself. So too it is with teachers and mashpiim with their students and mushpayim. They need to continue giving until the students are able to stand on their own.
The fact that we need to stand on our own two feet and make important decisions does not mean that we go it alone. The Rebbe has given and continues to give us the kochos so that we can accomplish what we need to, without crutches.
So in summary, it isn’t that we are looking for the Rebbe to take care of everything. Also, if we’ve gone it alone then were off the path. Rather, the Rebbe has given us the match; and we need to light it and keep it lit. The source of the light, the koach comes from the Rebbe. When the Rebbe said to look toward oneself for advice, he gave us the koach to look, decide and then to act.
Sunday, Tammuz 18/July 21
Fast of Sheva Asar B’Tammuz
6:30 at the home of Mrs Chana Weiss
411 N Martel
Speaker: Mrs Chani Pinson
Upcoming Birthdays
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
Linking the Past to the Future, From the Arrest and Liberation of the Previous Rebbe to the True and Complete Redemption, Today
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This Shabbos follows the Chassidishe Yomim Tovim of the Yud Beis and Yud Gimmel Tammuz. We celebrate the liberation of the Previous Rebbe in 1927 after his arrest for spreading Judaism in Communist Russia. A few months after the release of the Previous Rebbe he left for Latvia then Poland and finally arrived in America. Not only did the Previous Rebbe leave but our Rebbe also left Russia at the same time. Therefore this redemption from Communist Russia was not only for the Previous Rebbe but for the Rebbe as well.
What connection does the entire story of the arrest and liberation have to us today? In a fabrengen for the Yud Beis Tammuz the Rebbe related the story as told originally by the Previous Rebbe. In those rough and difficult times of the early 1920s when they were closing down the Shuls and Yeshivos, the Previous Rebbe fought a warriors battle together with a small army of Chassidim to uphold Judaism. In the midst of this battle the Previous Rebbe called a meeting with 9 Chassidim altogether completing it to a minyon. The Rebbe made a bris, a covenant to uphold Judaism to the last drop of blood with complete self-sacrifice.
In the fabrengen for Yud Beis Tammuz the Rebbe asked why the Previous Rebbe decided to relate this story. Today we live in America, no one is running after us to harm us if we go to Shul or to Yeshiva. What do we gain today by telling a story about their difficulties then and how do we apply it to us today? Certainly the Previous Rebbe didn't tell that story only to relate their greatness at that time, there must be a lesson for us.
The Rebbe explained that self-sacrifice doesn't mean only to give our life away for Hashem, that means sacrificing one's body. Self-sacrifice refers to the sacrifice of the soul, the essence and willpower from within us. When we are ready for self-sacrifice it's automatic and it applies to whether it is physical or spiritual. Therefore even in America it also applies. Self-sacrifice means to give our soul our will and our being to Hashem.
This type of self sacrifice was seen, clearly, by the Previous Rebbe in Russia where he was in physical danger to uphold Judaism. When the Previous Rebbe arrived in America the Rebbe wasn't a physical danger but there was a clear and apparent spiritual danger. At that time the Previous Rebbe was confined to a wheelchair and limited in speech, nevertheless the Rebbe came out in force with the statement “America is not different!” and went about the business of transforming America. The Rebbe sent young yeshiva students across America to build a day school network. This was considered a revolutionary idea at the time that was considered by many (who openly voiced their opposition) to be destined to failure. Nevertheless the Previous Rebbe continued unabated while defending these young students from criticism for having full beards and wearing their tzitzis on the outside; much to the consternation of many of the Jews in America at that time. The Rebbe persevered upstream and against the currents of the time, proudly without shame against the spiritually emptiness that was America at the time.
The Rebbe successfully broke through the cold ice of America. This is our example of what self-sacrifice is all about. This is what the Rebbe wants from us. The Rebbe wants that we should not be afraid, rather we should be filled with inspiration and desire that comes from learning Chassidus to go out and change and transform the world with goodness and kindness and bring Moshiach today.
In the year the Previous Rebbe was born (Yud Beis Tammuz 5640-1880), the 17th of Tammuz fell on Shabbos. The Rebbe Maharash said that since the fast is pushed off by Shabbos; ‘let it be pushed away all together’. There were many times that when the 17th of Tammuz fell on a Shabbos the fabrengen by the Rebbe was with great simcha (especially in 5724-1964). This year the 17th of Tammuz also falls out on Shabbos. Let us pray to Hashem that since it is pushed off, it should be pushed off entirely with the coming of Moshiach now.
A Good Shabbos
Farbrengen for men in shul
in honor of 12-13 Tammuz
Tuesday night after Maarive (around 8:45 pm)
Guest Speaker: Rabbi Reuven Wolf
6:30 at the home of Mrs. Miriam Rav-Noy
423 N Fuller
Speaker: Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz
Upcoming Birthdays
Upcoming Anniversaries
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
The 25th Anniversary of Gimmel Tammuz:
Desiring a Living Connection, from the Heart
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This Shabbos is the week following the 25th anniversary of Gimmel Tammuz. The following story teaches us an important insight into the meaning of Gimmel Tammuz and our connection to the Rebbe.
Rabbi Hillel served as the Chassidishe Rav of the city of Paritch which had both Chassidim and non-Chassidim. In those times acquiring a proper esrog for the mitzva of the arba minim on Sukkos was always a challenge. One year, the Rosh HaKahal (who was not Chassidish), the most prestigious leader in the community that was involved in overseeing communal affairs, acquired a mehudar, beautiful esrog for Sukkos. Word of the beautiful esrog spread throughout town and early on the first morning of Sukkos R’Hillel knocked on the door of the Rosh HaKahal requesting the honor of making a bracha on his esrog. The Rosh Hakahal, seeing Rav Hillel at his door so early with a pure desire to fulfill a mitzvah b’hidur was clearly moved. He invited Rav Hillel in with open arms, welcoming him with great honor and afforded Rav Hillel the opportunity of fulfilling the mitzvah of shaking the arba minim with his esrog.
Word of their encounter spread around the town. When the Rav of the Rosh HaKahal heard about it he decided that he too would request to use the esrog. When he arrived, the Rosh HaKahal let him use the esrog but did not afford him the kind special honor as he did for Rav Hillel. The Rav taking notice of this asked; Why is it that when Rav Hillel, who is not your Rav, came you afforded him so much honor, and then when I came you did not? The Rosh HaKahal answered his Rav honestly. When Rav Hillel came, he came strictly for the purpose of fulfilling a mitzvah. For that there is no difference between a chosid and a non chosid. You however came because you heard that Rav Hillel came. Now it's not so much about the mitzvah, it’s a matter of your honor. If the reason you came is because (as it says in the Haggadah) “Kein asah Hillel, so did Hillel” then no special honor is necessary.
On Gimmel Tammuz we may choose to light a candle, to say Mishnayos learn Maamarim of the Rabbe. We then ask ourselves, what are we doing and why are we doing it? Are we just going through the motions because that’s what we do with no particular feeling or connection? Then it’s no more than checking off items on our to do list. Then it's like we're doing it similar to the Rav in the story, because Hillel did it. We are doing it because it's the socially acceptable and proper thing to do not because we truly desire to be connected to the Rebbe. If we however do the activities of Gimmel Tammuz similar to the way that Rav Hillel woke up early and knocked on the door of the Rosh HaKahal, then we doing it to be connected. We are doing it because we want to strengthen our connection, bring it out further than ever before and raise it to a higher level. This is the real reason we commemorate Gimmel Tammuz.
Before Yud Shevat 5710 the Rebbe wrote repeatedly about the importance of having a picture of the Previous Rebbe and to look at it often. The Rebb wrote in a letter: I wish you have a picture of the (Previous) Rebbe. Looking at it will give you fresh strength to do a lot of good in general, and in particular your personal tasks. Looking at a picture of the Rebbe strengthens our emunah and bitachon. This is why we have a picture of the Rebbe in our homes. It’s not because it's the right thing to do or the normal thing to do. It's not because every Jewish house must have pictures of Gedolim on their walls.
This week, coming from the 25th anniversary Gimmel Tammuz it's good to ask ourselves where are we standing. Are we serving Hashem and being connected to the Rebbe without feeling or inspiration,checking it off of our to-do list or are we doing it to stay connected and to grow that connection?
There is a story about a Shliach who’s father who was from Montreal and became a Baal Teshuva when he went with the Shaliach R Zushe Zilberstein on a trip to a fabrengen of the Rebbe. During the fabrengen everyone was lifting their cups to make l’chaim to the Rebbe. He looked around for some wine but couldn't find any in the surrounding area. Since he wanted to make a l’chaim to the Rebbe he decided to hold his hand around the cup in a way that you couldn't tell if it was empty or full and held up his hand covering the cup to get the Rebbe’s acknowledgment. The Rebbe seemed to skip him repeatedly acknowledging the person to his immediate right and left but not him. Finally he came to the conclusion that the Rebbe did not notice him. He decided to do something bold and stood up on top of a bench prominently displayed with his outstretched arm covering the empty cup as he solicited the Rebbe’s acknowledgement, just to hear the Rebbe say l’chaim u’l’veracha. The Rebbe then pointed into the Rebbe’s cup to signal he didn't have anything inside of his cup. It was as if to say that you can't make a l’chayim on an empty cup. He couldn't fool the Rebbe. He was finally given some wine and finally made a proper l’chaim and only then the Rebbe acknowledged him and wished him l’chaim u’l’vracha.
When he came home after the fabrengen he was so inspired from what had transpired that he wanted to immediately start putting on tefillin, grow a beard, keep Shabbos and kashrus etc. The Shaliach had to slow him down a bit not to take on too much too quickly.
The story of this first empty which ended up getting filled and finally getting the bracha reminds us of our approach towards connecting ourselves to the Rebbe. We can't come with an empty vessel. If we want a bracha we have to have accomplishments and commitments where the bracha can enter and take hold. When the 25th anniversary of Gimmel Tammuz comes around and we think about how we can deepen and expand our connection to the Rebbe we expand our commitment to learning the Rebbe’s maamarim, try to daven better, learn a Sicha at least once a week; go on mivtzoyim and do all we can for education, all in a tangible and real. Even when we make these commitments and we uphold them, still, we need to ask ourselves if we are doing it to check off that box on our to do list, to fit in with our community, or because we really feel the connection. If we feel that connection like Rav Hillel then our cup is not empty, then we can lift up receive the blessings the Rebbe’s brachos and thereby expand with great desire to fulfill all of the Rebbe’s directives b’simcha v’tuv levav. We can then share in the Rebbe’s desire to see and ultimately witness the coming of Moshiach now.
A Good Shabbos
There are a few open spots available for the August CSI training course. Anyone interested in going please email me at gemachshadar@gmailcom
Melech Weiss
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From: CSI
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2019 8:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: CSI Training: Personnel Resiliency Training (PRT), August 14th, 2019
Good Morning 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), August 14th, 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, August 14th, 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! To Register: Please email [email protected]
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!
This past Friday, the second of Tamuz, our dear brother and friend, Rabbi Tzemach Cunin A”H returned his holy soul to Hashem, when he was suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us, at the young age of 43.
Tzemach was always there for anyone when they needed him, and his famous smile was sure to brighten up your day.
Tzemach's wife Ada and her 5 precious children (Mendel 17, Goldie 16, Levi 13, Chaya Mushka 6, Chana Bluma 5) need us now. At the direction of the esteemed Lubavitch Rabbonim of Los Angeles (Rabbi Ezra Schochet, Rabbi Yosef Shusterman and Rabbi Shimon Raichik), a fund has been established to help cover the personal financial needs of the family, both during this difficult time, as well as for their future.
The funds will be managed with the guidance of financial professionals, to ensure the long term financial security of Tzemach’s family.
We ask that you open your heart and give generously at www.kerentzemach.com, and may we share only good news and Simchas.
We the undersigned committee will be the only ones with access to the funds, and we will be taking full responsibility for their proper distribution.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us by email or on our cell phones below.
Rabbi Tzali Wilschanski - Ada’s Brother
(262) 359-0770 [email protected]
Rabbi Dov Newman - Tzemach’s Brother in-law
(310) 871-2078 [email protected]
Shaya Lowenstein - Friend of the family
(323) 944-2221 [email protected]
Please add a Mitzva for Tzemach by clicking here!
Brocha Leah Kreiman
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla
6:00 at 180 S Highland
Speakers will be at 6:30
Upcoming Birthdays
Upcoming Anniversaries
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
The Love of Moshe Rabbenu for Every Single Jew
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This Shabbos is Gimmel Tammuz and parshas Korach. The parsha tells the story of how Korach argued and rebelled against Moshe Rabbenu. He argued that Moshe Rabbenu had wrongly set himself and Ahron above and apart the rest of the nation by appointing himself King and by appointing Aharon to be Kohen Gadol saying: "You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and Hashem is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the Hashem's assembly?" Moshe responded "In the morning, Hashem will make known who is His, and who is holy, and He will draw [them] near to Him, and the one He chooses, He will draw near to Him.”
Moshe Rabbenu then said: ”Do this, Korah and his company: Take for yourselves censers. Place fire into them and put incense upon them before Hashem tomorrow, and the man whom Hashem chooses he is the holy one; you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi."
Nevertheless Korach, Dasan and Aviram continued the rebellion and their incitiement unabated, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Hashem then commanded Moshe Rabbenu: "Speak to the congregation saying, 'Withdraw from the dwelling of Korach, Dasan and Aviram.'"
The next verse (Bamidbar 16:25) then says: “Moshe arose and went to Dasan and Aviram, and the elders of Israel followed him. He spoke to the congregation saying, "Please get away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything of theirs, lest you perish because of all their sins. Moshe said, "With this you shall know that Hashem sent me to do all these deeds, for I did not devise them myself...If Hashem creates a creation, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that is theirs, and they descend alive into the grave, you will know that these men have provoked Hashem."
Rashi comments on the words “Vayakam Moshe, And Moshe arose”: “He thought they would show him respect, but they did not.” This Rashi is difficult to understand. What was the purpose of Moshe Rabbenu going there? Was it to warn them to move away or was it that they should show him respect? The Rebbe explains that when it says that he arose it was for the purpose of showing his true and majestic authority as a King. His purpose in showing his Kingship was to arouse them to do teshuva. Moshe Rabbenu was hoping that perhaps Korach Dasan and Aviram would see him in his proper and true light, chosen by Hashem for his position and thereby soften their hearts and change their minds. If they would reverse their decision to rebel they could still be saved even in their final moments.
The Rebbe learns an essential lesson about the degree of ahavas Yisroel of Moshe Rabbenu. It was already too late, the decree was sealed. The opportunity for teshuva had passed and the door was closed. The people were commanded to clear away and the earth was about to swallow them up. Nevertheless Moshe Rabbenu did not give up. Moshe Rabbenu had so much ahavas Yisroel for every single Jew no matter what his situation or state that he never stopped searching for a way to spare them from falling into the pit, even after the decree.
This Shabbos is Gimmel Tammuz. When we reflect on the ahavas Yisroel of the Rebbe we see how the Rebbe gave up everything for every single Jew even those that were far away. They may not have only been unaware or lack knowledge about their Judaism, they may have also been rebellious. Nevertheless the Rebbe reached out to everyone without differentiation to help them both physically and spiritually
The lesson for us is clear. We can all learn to follow as best we can, each in our own way from the Rebbe’s example to love every Jew from every background without conditions. They may have gone far away, they may not know much about Judaism, and they may even be rebellious. Nevertheless as the Alter Rebbe says in the 32nd chapter of the Tanya we are commanded to pull them with ropes of love to bring them closer to the Torah and mitzvos.
Since we strive to be chassidim and talmidim of the Rebbe we take the valuable insight guidance instruction and inspiration from the Rebbe’s example to change the way we look at another Jew. We don't look to see if he's religious or not, went to yeshiva or not or even if he's with the program or not. As we stand on the Shabbos of Gimmel Tammuz and parsha’s Korach we are inspired to up our own game and with ahavas Yisroel bring the coming of Moshiach today.
A Good Shabbos
(Adapted from Likutei Sichos v. 28)
The new issue of the "Chabad Chodesh"
is now available online by clicking here
