Shul Bulletin

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:30 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:13 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
• Shiur Chassidus: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am
• Mincha: 5:30 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:33 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Mr. & Mrs. Zalman 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. 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.

• The Nassy Family for the yahrtzeit of their father Reb Ahron ben Reb Yitzchok ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Elozor Plotke in honor of the ufruf of their son Zalmy. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
• Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark in honor of Mr. Allan Stark’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Danny Weiss in honor of Mr. Danny Weiss’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

5:00 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Mrs. Chani Pinson

• Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Kramer on the birth of their daughter Zelda.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Danny Weiss - 4 Adar
• Moshe Simacha Burston - 5 Adar
• Yoav Antian - 5 Adar
• Mr. Allan Stark - 7 Adar
• Mr. Jack Soussana - 7 Adar
• Mendy Chazanow - 7 Adar
• Rabbi Nochum Labkowsky - 10 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Nachum Cherman - 7 Adar
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz - 9 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• 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

Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Stand, You’re not Alone
Rabbi Shimon Raichik

In the many articles we have discussing how important it is to implement Chassidus into our daily lives. Often it can be challenging because we feel that Chassidus is so lofty and therefore unrelated to us in our lowly state. So what can we do? Some decide: this (Chassidus) cannot possibly be speaking to me; after all I know who I am and how I act. This perspective is both overly humble and just plane wrong.

This year for Yud Shevat, many of us learned the maamar Basi l'Gani 5720-1960, which is based on chapter 10 of the maamar  Basi l'Gani 5710-1950. In Chapter 3, the Rebbe calls the above perspective "anivus shel sheker- misplaced humility" and harmful to avodas Hashem. This attitude of: who am I, what am I is often accompanied with disbelief that our and Torah and Tefilla have an effect on high. It's hard to conceive that our personal avodah nurtures the malachim because we feel so far from any level or loftiness so that whatever we do is by definition of no interest on high. This kind of defeated approach says that Hashem doesn't find value because ‘I am a nobody’. All of this is opens the door to the yetzer hara to chip away at us: to miss a mincha here, a maariv there, then a hidur mitzvah. What difference does it make if there is no effect.

The Baal Shem Tov compares this attitude to a Gemara. The Gemara Gitten (56a) tells the story of Bar Kamza. The following section of the story continues after Bar Kamza has been humiliated and thrown out of Kamza’a party. [Bar Kamza] went and said to Caesar, “The Jews have rebelled against you.”[Caesar] said to him, “How can I tell?” [Bar Kamza] said to him, “Send a sacrifice to them and see whether they offer it.”[Caesar] sent a young calf with [Bar Kamza]. While on the way, [Bar Kamza] made a blemish on its upper lip, or as some say, on the white of its eye, in a place which is considered a blemish to [the Jews], but not to [the Romans]. The Rabbis considered sacrificing it for political peace, (but) Rabbi Zechariah ben Abkulas said, “They will say that blemished animals may be slaughtered on the altar.” They considered killing [Bar Kamza] so that he not go and inform, (but) Rabbi Zechariah said to them, “They will say that one who blemishes a consecrated animal shall be killed.” Rabbi Yohanan said, “The discretion of Rabbi Zechariah ben Abkulas destroyed our House, burned our Temple, and exiled us from our Land.”

The Baal Shem Tov says that the Gemara is teaching that the reason for the churbon was because R. Zecharia refused to take a stand. So too with our self defeating thinking that our avodah has no value. By not taking a stand with regard to our own avodah we are destroying the internal Beis Hamikdash, which is within each person. The Baal Shem Tov then teaches that if we will meditate upon the fact that every word of Torah and Tefilla is so precious to Hashem that it’s similar to a great and awesome King that kisses the lips of the one who utters each word, as he utters them. When we contemplate this it enables us to serve Hashem with great joy and gladness of heart in all aspects of life. Then we are ready to give everything we have when we realize the effect our avodah has and brings down into all of the worlds. We run to daven, to learn a do mitzvos because this avodah is building the Beis Hamikdash.

On Shavuos in 1969 during one of the suedos upstairs, the Rebbe asked Reb Zalmen Teibel to sing a nigun. He responded that for him it was an av melacha. The Rebbe answered that an av melacha is permissible on Yom Tuv for ochel nefesh; and that he should sing. He sang the nigun “Ana avdah” (the words from this nigun are said during the prayer of Brich Shmei when we open the Aron HaKodesh for Krias HaTorah) which the Rebbe accepted with great love and passion. Afterwards he instructed him to teach it to the yungeleit and bachurim. In the early 1980’s after Rosh Hashana when Reb Zalmen Teibel came for kos shel bracha the Rebbe stopped and sang with him that nigun (Ana Avda). The Rebbe then said to him that we say those words on Rosh Hashana, Eseres Yemei Teshuva, Yom Kippur etc., until Moshiach, and further. The Rebbe sang this niggun with great enthusiasm because it expresses who we are, our essence that we are servants and Hashem is waiting for us to serve him, and he is kissing us as we learn and daven. That’s our simcha, that we can do this for the King as He is on the highest level. A Jew can accomplish that which even a malach cannot accomplish as a neshama in a body in this physical world.

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

To our fellow Anash

Please join us in an open house celebrating Yitzi’s birthday. From 8:00-11:00 Wednesday night the 2nd of Adar. There will be light refreshments and music.

We look forward to seeing you there,

Dina and Yitzi Hurwitz
821 N. Formosa Ave. apt 202

• 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. 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:24 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:18 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: 5:25 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:27 pm
• Father & Son Learning: 7:15 pm - NEW Time. NEW Prizes!
• Molad Chodesh Adar: Sunday, Shevat 28/February 23, 9:30 (10 chalakim) pm.
• Rosh Chodesh Adar: Tuesday & Wednesday, February 25 & 26.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Burston in honor of the birth of their daughter Feiga. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Esther Davidoff’s grandmother Charna bas Reb Avrohom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Yechezkel Deutsch in honor of his son's marriage. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad. 
• The Fishman Family for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Moshe ob”m 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.

• Mr. Avrohom Benarroch in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Burston in honor of the birth of their daughter Feiga. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
• Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum in honor of Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  Also, for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum’s grandfather Reb Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy for the Bar-Mitzvah of their son. May he give them much nachas and may he grow up to be a true chossid yirei shomaim and lamdan.
  Also, in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

5:15 at the home of Mrs. Milka Elharrar
157 N Fuller
Speaker: Rabbi Haller

• Mr. & Mrs. Yechezkel Deutsch on the ufruf of their son. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin on the engagement of their son Mendel  Rochel Baron.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yanky Raichik on the birth of their granddaughter (to Bentzi & Simi Shemtov.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy on the bar mitzvah of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Dr. & Mrs. Zeev Rav-Noy and Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Hertzie Richler on the engagement of their son Mendy to Leah Lew.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yerachmiel Wolowik on the birth of their grandson (to Mendel & Chaya Mushka Wolowik.)

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

• 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
• 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

Everything we do, however small,
Changes the World Forever
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is parshas Mishpatim, Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Adar and Shabbos Shekalim. With so much going on some feel challenged to keep up. Having learned the parshas of Yisro with Matan Torah and then parshas Mishpatim with all details we’ve been busy. Next week will be parshas Terumah with the Mishkon with all its parts and particulars. Add onto it that this week is also Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Adar and Shabbos Shekalim!  When we feel overwhelmed we either go numb, get nervous, or fall into a depression. In today’s world when we feel depressed many go to a therapist to take care about how feel about ourselves.

The Alter Rebbe in the Tanya chapters 26-28 gives all the answers about how to keep moving forward when we are feeling down.   Our job is to simply apply what is written. Many times we feel that we do not have what it takes to see our challenges through in a happy way. Especially at times when there’s so much going on we feel the pitch. One day we’re doing okay the next we fall through. Other times we try and we try but we never seem to arrive. The Alter Rebbe in these chapters sets down a fundamental focus and principle.  Internally, within our daily experiences there are two simultaneous parts at work. The animal soul wants to do negative and selfish things while the G-dly soul is motivated to do only good.  At any moment any time or any situation that we defer a pleasure, overcome an obstacle, learn a little extra, daven  with a little more focus and intention or overcome our impatience and be nice to someone anyway, no matter how small the act we change the world. It may look like some small detail or insignificant act but every detail has infinite value on high.

The Rebbe wrote a letter to a bachur (14 Shevat 5715-1955) in response to his complaints about his spiritual standing and the fact that he does not follow through on his resolutions. The Rebbe told him that the best way to get out of his situation is to stop involving himself with thoughts about himself. Since our job is to be “day workers” people who bring light into the world, he should busy himself with others. When he will do this he will see how things will change for the better in his personal life as well. 

The Rebbe took so much joy in every little detail that people did for others. Once there were two boys in a yeshiva in Israel that decided that the Rebbe wanted them to create a gemach. They found a few shekalim and bought some pencils. With this they opened “Keren David” (named after one of the two)  an official and beneficial ‘pencil gemach’  providing benefit for their fellow students. When the new institution was up and running they wrote the Rebbe to inform him. They received an answer (Channukah 5742-1981) . The Rebbe acknowledged receipt of their letter and said that it was a good and timely idea. He also noted that it was the days of Chanukah and during Chanukah we add consistently in light. He encouraged the boys to continue this throughout the year and said that he would read their letter by the previous Rebbe’s resting place. He also sent money to be a partner in their operation!

We could be cynical. We could say what’s the big deal; a couple of kids were lending a few pencils to some of their fellow students. That was not the Rebbe’s approach. How valuable and how precious it is that two boys would do something good for others! The main thing is to start. If we will begin it will grow and grow if we remain focused on the positive. May everyone’s efforts, no matter how small combine with all the good deeds that everyone does and has done, and altogether merit the ultimate good of Moshiach now.

A Good Shabbos A Good Chodesh

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.

• 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 Candle Lighting: 5:17 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:22 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: 5:15 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:20 pm

Yitzchok  & Chaya Tennenbaum
Invite the community to a sholom zochor
at 181 n Mansfield

• The Fishman Family for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Moshe ob”m Fishman’s father Reb Yaakov ben Reb Moshe ob"m and stepmother Ruth Gittel bas Reb Meirob”m. May the neshomos 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.
• 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. Zalman Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Esther Roth’s mother Sheva bas Reb Yitzchok Aizik 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.

• 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.

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

• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch on the engagement of their granddaughter Estee Sperlin to Mendy Karp. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Fine on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Sanowitz. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on becoming great-grandparents (their son Eliyahu’s daughter gave birth to a baby boy.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Tennenbaum on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Duchman. 

Upcoming Birthdays

• Yechezkel Pinson - 22 Shevat
• Baruch Mordechai Rav~Noy - 22 Shevat
• Mr. Sender Klein - 22 Shevat
• Rabbi Sholom Wilansky - 22 Shevat 
• Mr. Beryl Kaufman - 24 Shevat
• Zalmy Gurary - 24 Shevat
• Rabbi Pinchas Winograd - 25 Shevat
• Levi Yitzchok Berger - 26 Shevat
• Avrohom Benarroch - 26 Shevat

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• 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 (Mr. Moshe ob”m Fishman’s father) - 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
• Dina Reizel bas Reb Yitzchok Aaron (Rabbi Velvel Tsikman’s mother) - 25 Shevat
• Raizel bas Reb Chaim Binyomin Halevi (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s mother) - 26 Shevat
• Ruth Gittel bas Reb Meir (Mr. Moshe ob”m Fishman’s stepmother) - 26 Shevat

 This is also a reminder for all who took on mishnayos to finish up!

 Schedule Change for 1st Minyan

Rabbi Bart Chassidus Shiur: 5:55 am
Shacharis on Tue, Wed & Fri: 6:25 am
Shacharis Mon & Thur: 6:20 am

• 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!!
• Click here for CSI Advisory about 1st Amendment Auditors. 
• TUESDAY: Shloshim for Reb Yakov Greenbaum ob"m. Tuesday, 16 Shevat/February 1, 7:30 pm in shul. Click here for more info. 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:10 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:26 am
• Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
• Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
• Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 am
• NO Kol Yaakov Yehuda this shabbos
• Mincha: 5:10 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:13 pm

• Dr. & Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-Noy for the yahrtzeits of Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s brother Reb David ben Reb Aharon Yehuda Halevi H'YD, and grandfather Reb Shaltiel Ze'ev ben Reb Yitzchok Alter ob”m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
• The Bastomski Family for the yahrtzeit of their sister Nechomo Basya bas Reb Avrohom Yitzchok Bastomski ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Shea Bastomski in honor of Mr. Shea Bastomski’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky in honor of Mr. Shaul Raigorodsky’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yossi Schneerson’s grandparents Harav Boruch Sholom ben Admur haTzemach Tzedek & Reb Yehudah ben Reb Tzvi Hirsh ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. Also, in honor of Rabbi Sender Munitz’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi Eli Vcherashansky for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Inna Vcherashansky mother Sima bas Reb Shimshon ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. Also, for the shloshim of Rabbi Eli Vcherashansky’s mother Yides bas Reb Avrohom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Sanowitz on the engagement 9f their son Shmuly to Sara Kugel.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneeron on the birth of their grandson. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik on the marriage of their son Mendel to Mushky Rosenblum.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Shea Bastomski - 13 Shevat
• Rabbi Sender Munitz - 14 Shevat
• Mr. Pesach Kornreich - 14 Shevat
• Rabbi Nochum Pinson - 16 Shevat
• Rabbi Lazer Handlesman - 16 Shevat
• Baruch Mordechai Muchnik - 17 Shevat
• Rabbi Yankee Raichik - 17 Shevat
• 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

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz - 14 Shevat
• Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Lerner - 18 Shevat

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb David ben Reb Aharon Yehuda Halevi H'YD (Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s brother) - 14 Shevat
• Nechomo Basya bas Reb Avrohom Yitzchok Bastomski - 16 Shevat
• Reb Yehudah ben Reb Tzvi Hirsh (Rabbi Yossi Schneerson’s grandfather) - 17 Shevat
• Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Nochum Tzvi (Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s father) - 19 Shevat

How we can break through this Golus!!!

In this week’s parsha the Torah says that Moshe Rabbeinu took the bones of Yosef HaTzaddik when the Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim. The proper place to mention this seems to be in last week’s parsha, Bo when the Exodus is discussed. Why is it mentioned here in parshas Bashalach which speaks of the travel in the Midbar?

Because of this question the Rebbe asks the following questions about what this teaches us in daily life. What does the fact that Moshe was the one who took Yosef HaTzaddik’s bones teach? Secondly, what does placement in the Torah of this by their travels in the Midbar teach?

To better understand we first need to ask about the term “bones”. Isn’t the term “aron-coffin” a more appropriate and respectful term than “bones”? The Rebbe explains that the word “atzmos-bones” in Hebrew means essence. (Just like by a person, their bones are their essential structure) When Moshe Rabbeinu took the aron of Yosef HaTzaddik, he took his essence with them. Rachel Emeinu, when naming him Yosef explained the meaning; ,to add a another son , a Ben Acher. The Tzemach Tzedek explained that Yosef had the power to take an individual who was ‘acher’ different, estranged from Hashem, and reveal in him his ability to be a ‘Ben-a child’ of Hashem. If Rachel had just wanted a son she would not have added the word ‘acher-another’. Passing through the desert, Moshe Rabbeinu strengthened each and every Jew, to overcome his mentality of servitude from Mitzrayim, and brought that person them to identify as a Ben to Hashem.

If the Yidden would have gone directly to Eretz Yisroel they would not have needed that extra strength. Since, however, they needed to traverse the desert; a place of scorpions and snakes, a place of spiritual danger there remained a possibility that someone may not be able to endure the prolonged challenge. For this reason Moshe Rabbeinu the leader of Klal Yisroel needed to take the bones, the essence of Yosef, to help those individuals. And that is why it is mentioned in parshas Bashalach, not parshas Bo because they were going through the desert and not yet in Israel.

So too in this protracted and difficult galus we live in, filled with challenges to connect with Hashem, to be a Ben. We take strength from our ‘secret weapon’, from our connection with the essence of Yosef the ability to be a Ben, and to help others to be a Ben as well and to yosif-add them to Klal Yisroel.

In connection with Yud Shevat, the Previous Rebbe’s first name is Yosef. The entire Nesius of the Previous Rebbe was characterized by this concept of ‘making from another a Ben’. His Shluchim in Communist Russia, in America and all over the world carried out their Shlichus with the power of the Mishaleiach- the one who sent them, the Yosef of the generation to make Tzivos Hashem and lead Bnei Yisroel out of galus upright with an upheld head.

One of the Rebbe’s Shluchim, my Father who’s Yartzeit is the 8th of Shevat, escaped Europe in 1946. He lost his entire family to the Nazi’s, yemach shemam. He knew that his way of life was to attach to the Rebbe. A tzetel was found after his passing in which he wrote to the Previous Rebbe a request for guidance to clarify his purpose in America and a bracha for success in its fulfillment. Soon thereafter he was appointed as a Shadar (a Shlucha d’Rabbana- an Emissary of the Rebbe) to travel all over America. The purpose of his shlichus was to find Jews spread out in little towns all across America. He was to reach out to them and make them into a Ben to Hashem.

Although he met and touched the lives of hundreds of people, he always felt that he was only a Shliach of the Rebbe.

Mrs. Leah Devora Schmukler
is sitting shiva in Montreal until Shabbos
on the passing of her father Reb Yakov Tzvi ben Reb Yistchok ob"m

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 323-806-3864

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

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

     The Community Security Initiative (CSI) analysis center is providing the below information for advisory purposes only.  You are receiving this information due to the incident’s awareness value.

Description:  This CSI Advisory Message is to provide updated information regarding a potential increased effort by 1^st Amendment Auditor Zhoie Perez (AKA: Furry Potato) to record or film Jewish institutions throughout greater Los Angeles.  Last night, Perez issued a statement concerning the Los Angeles Jewish community via her YouTube channel.  On her channel, Perez states, “I am going to hit them every day, without a doubt” and “I’m going to do my news stories on them every day”.  Due to this statement, CSI believes Perez will intensify her focus on our community and may become more aggressive in her attempts to engage your staff, security personnel and congregants.  Perez’s apparent goal is to record acts of violence against her so she can have law enforcement arrest the perpetrators and potentially hold them and/or the institution criminally liable. 

Actions:   If you witness someone filming or photographing your institution, especially surreptitiously, DO NOT ENGAGE them, call law enforcement immediately and then report the incident to CSI.  These behaviors are suspicious and could be a pre-incident indicator of a future attack (i.e. intelligence gathering or pre-attack surveillance).  Make sure you describe the individual and their behaviors to law enforcement from a safe location.  At no time should you, your staff, or your congregants interact with the individual.  If you have security personnel employed at your site, make sure they understand their rights and the rights of citizens to film from a public space in order to avoid an unlawful use of force.  Guard orders at your site should include procedures for effectively dealing with auditors.  

Note: 1^st Amendment Auditors are generally not a threat to your institution since their goal is to test their constitutional rights and to provoke others to violate them.  Indications that someone might be an Auditor include; if they are filming in the open,  wearing obvious recording equipment, and appear to be reporting what is around them, like a journalist.  CSI has identified several area Auditors based on past incidents, so the Analysis Center may be able to help you identify whether someone is an auditor or not.  Auditors will eventually leave the area if left alone, as they believe the site has “passed the audit.”  

Background:  Over the last couple of months, CSI and our law enforcement partners received numerous reports involving Perez.  Perez has been observed filming the exterior of Jewish institutions and attempting to interact with congregants and security personnel, while live streaming (or uploading later) on an online video sharing website.  When confronted or asked to stop filming, Perez has used provocative and/or provoking language, which has resulted in some individuals using physical force against Perez. 

First Amendment Auditing is an American social movement that usually involves photographing or filming a public space.  It is often categorized by its practitioners, known as “Auditors,” as activism and citizen journalism that tests constitutional rights; in particular, the right to photograph and video record in a public space.  Auditors usually film from a lawful place, such as a public sidewalk or roadway.  Auditors are generally well versed in their rights and will likely respond aggressively if they believe their rights are being violated.  In some instances, Auditors will attempt to provoke a negative response from a representative of the site, its security personnel, and law enforcement to later post on social media and possibly file a lawsuit. 

CSI will continue coordinating with our law enforcement and government partners regarding these types of incidents.  CSI is asking everyone to stay vigilant, follow your security protocols, and report any suspicious activity around your institution to law enforcement and to CSI.  As always, you may contact CSI anytime at [email protected] should you have any questions.

Respectfully,