Shul Bulletin

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:37 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:30 am
• Shacharis: 9:00am in the tent, 10:00am & 11:00am in the shul.
• Siyum Shabbos morning: 10:45 am 
• Mincha: 7:35 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 3
• Shabbos Ends: 8:40pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

• 10:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Cohen on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmen Schmukler. 

Upcoming Birthdays

• Moshe Meir Polityko - 11 Av
• Sender Labkowsky - 11 Av
• Nadav Lerman - 11 Av
• Yosef Gorelik - 13 Av
• Rabbi Sheye Eichenblatt - 15 Av
• Yakov Yehuda Duchman - 15 Av
• Mr. Eliezer Yaakov Kahan - 16 Av
• Mr. Izzy Soussana - 17 Av

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Bob Meyer - 13 Av
• Mr. & Mrs. Yrachmiel Kahn - 13 Av
• Dr. & Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-Noy - 13 Av
• Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Drizin - 15 Av

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Shayna bas Reb Shlomo (Mr. David Milner’s mother) - 11 Av
• Reb Moshe Aharon Hakohen ben Reb Noson Notte (Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold’s brother) - 12 Av
• Kaila bas Reb Yedidya (Rabbi Danny Rotenberg’s mother) - 12 Av
• Reb Yaakov Yehuda ben Reb Yehoshua (Mrs. Chana Rochel Duchman’s father) - 15 Av
• Reb Shlomo ben Reb David (Mr. Zev Oster’s father) - 17 Av

Wednesday

• Mincha: 2:00 & 6:15 pm 
• Fast Begins: 7:56 pm
• Ma’ariv: 8:30 pm
• Followed by Siyum around 8:40 pm.
• Followed by Megilas Eicha. (women are welcome)

Thursday

• Shacharis: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 am
• Midday: 12:59 pm
• First minyan Mincha:
  Talis & Tefilin at 1:15 pm. Korbanos @ 1:30 pm.
• Followed by Siyum around 2 pm.
• Second Minyan Mincha: Talis & Tefilin at 2:00 pm. 
• Third Minyan Mincha: Talis & Tefilin at  7:00 pm. Ashrei @ 7:15 pm. 
• Followed by Siyum around 7:40 pm.
• Maariv: 8:15 pm (read shema again after 8:23.) 
  Followed by Siyum around 8:30 pm
• Fast Ends: 8:23 pm
  ***Light refreshments will be served***

For the laws and customs of the fast
Please see the “Chabad Chodesh”.

• 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!!
• SUNDAYS: Rabbi Yosef Bukiet will be giving his yearly class to the women about the Beis Hamikdosh in his backyard. Starting on Sunday 20 Tammuz 9:00 am - for 3 consecutive Sundays (Tammuz 20, 27 & Av 5/July 12, 19 & 26) 
• SIYUMIM: The rebbe encouraged everyone to listen to a daily siyum from the beginning of the 9 days through tu b’av.
  You can participate in a siyum every night in shul after maariv. For those who live out of town and are unable to make it to a siyum you can call in to listen live to our siyum Dial (319) 527-9676. If you would like to receive nightly reminders via WHATSAPP, please WhatApp Shmuly Gurary- 323-540-0485 your name and number. 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:42 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:28 am
• Shacharis: 9:00am in the tent, 10:00am & 11:00am in the shul.
• Siyum Shabbos morning: 10:45 am 
• Mincha: 7:40 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 2
• Shabbos Ends: 8:45 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

• 10:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Fast of Tishah B’Av

Wednesday Night

• Mincha: 2:00 & 6:15 pm 
• Fast Begins: 7:56 pm
• Ma’ariv: 8:30 pm
• Followed by Megilas Eicha.
• Followed by Siyum around 9:30 pm.

Thursday

• Shacharis: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 am
• Midday: 12:59 pm
• First minyan Mincha:
  Talis & Tefilin at 1:15 pm. Korbanos @ 1:30 pm. Followed by Siyum around 2 pm.
• Second Minyan Mincha: Talis & Tefilin at 2:00 pm. 
• Third Minyan Mincha: Talis & Tefilin at  7:00 pm. Ashrei @ 7:15 pm. Followed by Siyum around 7:40 pm.
• Maariv: 8:15 pm (read shema again after 8:23.) 
  Followed by Siyum around 8:30 pm
• Fast Ends: 8:23 pm
  ***Light refreshments will be served***

For the laws and customs of the fast
Please see the “Chabad Chodesh”.

• Mr. & Mrs. Yakov Nassy on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandmother Mrs. Shoshana Nassy. 

Upcoming Birthdays

• Daniel Avraham Goldman - 4 Av
• Mr. Dennis Blauner - 5 Av
• Rabbi Heshy Mishulovin - 7 Av
• Rabbi Dovi Goldman - 7 Av
• Mendy Lerman - 8 Av
• Akiva Hoffman - 9 Av
• Mr. Nachum Cherman - 10 Av

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb Yehuda Shmuel ben Reb Yitzchok (Rabbi Chaim Burston’s father) - 4 Av
• Reb Yacov ben Reb Yehoshua (Mrs. Miriam Diller’s grandfather) - 7 Av
• Reb Yaakov ben Reb Menashe (Mrs. Chana Rachel Schusterman’s father) - 8 Av
• Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Yakov (Mrs. Ruchama Thaler’s father) - 9 Av
• Roichel Devorah bas Reb Yaakov (Mr. Mitch Reichman’s mother) - 10 Av

Tzion Bemishpat Tipadeh Veshaveha Bitzdaka!! 

It is customary to give tzedaka in connection with the daily siyumim.

The Shul respectfully asks that the gaboyim of all of the minyanim collect tzedaka by the siyumim and make sure to give the proceeds to the Shul.

The rebbe encouraged everyone
to listen to a daily siyum 
from the beginning of the 9 days through tu b’av.

You can participate in a siyum every night in shul after maariv.

For those who live out of town
and are unable to make it to a siyum
you can call in to listen live to our siyum
Dial (319) 527-9676

STARTING TONIGHT!!!
Thursday, L'Erech 8:40 pm

If you would like to receive nightly reminders via WHATSAPP 
please WhatApp Shmuly Gurary- 323-540-0485 your name and number.

Thank you to all those who volunteered to make siyumim.  
If you have a siyum to make, Please contact Rabbi Levi Raichik

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

• 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!!
• Looking for a family/hosts for two sisters from S. Francisco, to board in the La Brea area. The girls will be attending High School in LA. Willing to quarantine for a week and take a test a day before entering your house. Room and Board needed (including Shabbos at maximum 2 times a month). Please, call / text Rabbi Shimon Margolin 415-517-1651
• TEHILLIM CLUB: Any child who says Tehillim for 30 minutes should have their parents send Rabbi Frankel a WhatsApp or text message at 323-678-6115 and as soon as we are out of quarantine they will receive their pizza coupon and a treat! There will also be two raffles for sefarim One for boys and one for girls.
• SUNDAYS: Rabbi Yosef Bukiet will be giving his yearly class to the women about the Beis Hamikdosh in his backyard. Starting on Sunday 20 Tammuz 9:00 am - for 3 consecutive Sundays (Tammuz 20, 27 & Av 5/July 12, 19 & 26) 
• 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.  
• SIYUMIM: The rebbe encouraged everyone to listen to a daily siyum from the beginning of the 9 days through tu b’av.
  You can participate in a siyum every night in shul after maariv. For those who live out of town and are unable to make it to a siyum you can call in to listen live to our siyum Dial (319) 527-9676. If you would like to receive nightly reminders via WHATSAPP, please WhatApp Shmuly Gurary- 323-540-0485 your name and number. 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:46 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:24 am
• Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 - Since we expect more people this week and the minyonim are not staggered, we request everyone wear a mask.
• Followed by a farbrengen.
• Mincha: 7:45 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 1
• Shabbos Ends: 8:49 pm
• Molad Chodesh Menachem Av: Monday, 28 Tammuz/July 20, 1:10pm and 15 chalakim.
• Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av: Wednesday, July 22.

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

• 10:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.  

• Gavriel Abraham Gutierrez - 26 Tammuz
• Moshe Dov Berger - 26 Tammuz
• Rabbi Levi Lesches - 26 Tammuz
• Rabbi Michy Rav-Noy - 28 Tammuz
• Rabbi Mendel Eichenblatt - 29 Tammuz
• Menachem Mendel Lerner - 29 Tammuz
• Rabbi Shaya Lowenstein - 3 Av
• Dr. Sholom Fine - 3 Av
• Mr. Ephraim Levy - 3 Av

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp - 26 Tammuz

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Sara Relka bas Reb Nochum (Mrs. Fradel Bukiet’s mother) - 26 Tammuz
• Reb Hershel Tzvi ben Reb Avraham (Mr. Richard Rosenbloom’s father) - 28 Tammuz
• Chaika bas Reb Yosef (Mrs. Sarah Goldstein’s mother) - 28 Tammuz
• Reb Tzvi Hirsch ben Reb Yechezkel Yaakov (Rabbi Menachem Rubinstein’s grandfather) - 29 Tammuz
• Reb Velvel Efraim ben Reb Yisroel Halevi (Rabbi Simcha Levenberg’s father) - 1 Av

The shul sends our condolences to
Reb Yerachmiel Soto
on the passing of his mother.
May he only know of simcha and nachas from his family in good health.

He can be reached at (323) 201-1462

May we share only good news! 

Reb Mottel Polityko
is sitting shiva until Tuesday on the passing of his father
Avraham ben Avraham ob"m. 

Address: 
181 S. Sycamore Ave.

Times:
9am-12pm & 7-9:30pm

Minyanim: 
Shachris: 9:30am
Mincha/Maariv: 8pm

Shiva and Minyan are outside, please wear a mask. 

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

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.

With great sadness we inform the community of the passing of
Mr. David Stern - David ben Moshe Halevi ob"m
Father of Rayi, Alya Stern & Shirit Gold.
Brother of Yehuda Stern

David lived in Reseda/Tarzana and later in Oak Park
for over 30 years was the premier videographer at weddings
in the LA Jewish community
& helped numerous chassan/kallahs preserve the precious memories

The funeral/burial will be today 
23 Tammuz/July 15 
5 PM 

Mount Olive Cemetery
7231 Slauson Avenue
City of Commerce

Please observe social distancing

As the 9 days are approaching and many will need to make a Siyum,
this Sunday, Rabbi Bukiet’s daily Gemoro shiur
will be starting Masechta Tomid.

Sunday-Friday, 8am to 9am 

• To join live: Go to 343 N Formosa -  in the yard.
• To join shiur via desktop/laptop: Click link below (or copy n paste) & enter meeting number (217-367-6171) when prompted.
  https://meetings.ringcentral.com/join.
• To join shiur by video conference via smartphone: You need to download Ring Central Meetings App. Once in app, select Join Meeting (do not try to sign in). Meeting number is 217-367-6171.
• To join shiur by phone, dial 1-773-231-9226.  Enter meeting #217-367-6171 when prompted. Please use mute button unless you are asking a question.

Don’t Wait for Others to Act

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha of Pinchas continues from last week's parsha with the story of Aaron’s grandson Pinchas and the reward received for his act of courageous zealotry in attacking Zimri and thereby saving the Jewish people from the plague that had claimed 24,000 lives.

Moshe Rabbenu, the Sanhedrin and 88,000 judges were present as Pinchas  recalled the halacha that Moshe Rabbenu taught. He approached Moshe and asked: “Didn’t you teach us that if someone sees another person having relations publicly with a gentile woman and is overcome by righteous indignation, he may warn him and, if he does not stop, etc without trial?” Moshe replied, “You are correct! If you qualify, then since you remembered this halacha, you deserve the honor of fulfilling it!”

Why didn't Pinchas assume that if it were important any of these other great people would surely have taken care of it without his help? This teaches us a great lesson. When we see something wrong and other people seem to be standing on the side, even great people, for whatever reason we don't look the other way. We don't say if it were important surely they would have taken care of it. We learn from the story of Pinchas the essential lesson that it's up to us to confront what we see and take action when it's necessary.

Pinchas knew that when people would see Zimri  behave in such a fashion with a non-jewish woman it would establish the acceptability of intermarriage. He knew he had only one moment, this moment to act based on the halacha. 

Some might interpret Pinchas’ actions to be overzealous. When the Torah recounts this story  it mentions Pinchas by name; Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen.  The Torah  reminds us that Pinchas was a Kohen, a man of Chesed. The children of Aharon love peace and pursue peace. Pinchas did not act because he was overzealous. He did it because he was from the family of Aharon who bless the Jewish people with love, not with anger. His intention was to stop the plague which had claimed 24, 000 lives.  

He was zealous, but he wasn't overzealous.  He first consulted with Moshe Rabbenu.  

Today we are not dealing with a Zimri  who knows the difference. Nowadays we are dealing with people who don't know.  All the more so we need to consult with the Moshe Rabbenu of our times, the Rebbe.  When we take a look around us at the world today we know that it's upon us to do something to change the world for the better and to help bring Moshiach.  We consult the Rebbe’s teachings and guidance. We follow the Rebbe’s campaigns and do our part. We learn from the example of Pinchas and don't sit on the side and wait for others to act.

Eliyahu HaNavi will proclaim the arrival of Moshiach. Chazal says that Pinchas is Eliyahu. By emulating the ways of Pinchas may we merit the arrival of Moshiach today.

A Good Shabbos

• 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!!
• SUNDAYS: Rabbi Yosef Bukiet will be giving his yearly class to the women about the Beis Hamikdosh in his backyard. Starting on Sunday 20 Tammuz 10:00 am - for 3 consecutive Sundays (Tammuz 20, 27 & Av 5/July 12, 19 & 26) 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:49 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:22 am
• Shacharis: 8:30am in the tent, 10:00am & 11:00am in the shul.
• Mincha: 7:50 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 6
• Shabbos Ends: 8:52 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

• 10:00pm Melava Malka & and hemshech to Thursday night farbrengen online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

• Levi Tsikman & Zushe Lerman on finishishing their Smicha! 
• Reb Lazer Handelsman on the birth of his grandson (to Reuvein & Miriam Brochoh Handelsman.)
• Mrs. Mushka Lightstone on the birth of her granddaughter (to Mordechai & Chana Lightstone.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler on the birth of their granddaughter.  

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Joseph Gertz - 20 Tammuz
• Yosef Yitzchak Plotke - 20 Tammuz
• Eliyahu Ratner - 20 Tammuz
• Mr. Moshe Sufrin - 21 Tammuz
• Menachem Mendel Lipsker - 21 Tammuz
• Nochum Zalman Gorelik - 24 Tammuz

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Priva bas Reb Yisroel Dovid (Rabbi Dovid Thaler’s mother) - 19 Tammuz
• Reb Yechiel ben Reb Chaim (Mrs. Shoshana Brocha Plotke’s father) - 19 Tammuz
• Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yitzchak Elimelech (Mrs. Varda Rav-Noy’s father) - 19 Tammuz
• Reb Shlomo Binyomin ben Reb Dovid Leib Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Fine’s father) - 21 Tammuz
• Reb Yechiel ben Reb Yisroel Yitzchok (Mr. Dennis Blauner’s father) - 21 Tammuz
• Genendel bas Reb Noach (Mrs. Dorothy Grossman’s mother) - 21 Tammuz
• Reb Schneur Zalman ben Reb Yitzchok Elchonon (Mr. Yosef Shagalov’s father) - 21 Tammuz
• Reb Yehoshua ben Reb Tzvi Elimelch (Rabbi Yisroel Hecht’s grandfather) - 22 Tammuz
• Reb Boruch ben Reb Eliyahu (Rabbi Yisroel Hecht’s grandfather) - 22 Tammuz
• Simcha Chaya bas Reb Yosef (Mrs. Milka Elharrar’s mother) - 23 Tammuz
• Yocheved bas Reb Mordechai (Mrs. Varda Rav-Noy’s mother) - 23 Tammuz
• Reb Chaim Zeev ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Freida Bastomski’s father) - 24 Tammuz
• Reb Dovid ben Reb Feivel (Mr. Shaul Raigorodsky’s father) - 25 Tammuz
• Batyah bas Reb Shlomo Halevi (Mrs. Miryam Koch’s mother) - 25 Tammuz

This Shabbos we are expecting very hot weather
The (outside) early minyan - will begin at 8:30 am

Please say tehilim for
 רפאל אברהם בן שיינא ביילא
(father of Reb Mottel Politico) 

The Rotenburg Family
(longtime members of the LA community)
are sitting shiva on the passing of Mrs. Channie Rotenburg
Mother of:
Kaila Schafran, Naftoli Rotenberg, Dini Hecht, Malky Goodman,
Shmulie Rotenberg, Bassy Tauby, Mushky Messing & Yaakov Rotenberg

House Phone: 347 240 8141
Phone for Rab Danny: 213 220 7770

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

14 Tammuz 5780

As of late there have been opinions from different Rabbonim  from one extreme to another about whether or not to fast on the 17th of Tammuz this year 5780-2020.  While we hope and pray that Moshiach will come before and the 17th of Tammuz will be a Yom Tov with celebration and no fasting,  in the event that we have to fast the following are guidelines and exemptions from fasting based on the Chabad Rabbonim of Eretz Yisroel.

• Pregnant and nursing women are exempt.
• Someone with coronavirus or recovering from coronavirus is exempt.
• Someone suffering from chronic disease is exempt.
• Someone who is not sick and in quarantine can consult with their doctor*.
• Someone who is considered at-risk can consult with their doctor*.
• Someone who tested positive for Coronavirus but also tested positive for antibodies  and is otherwise healthy should be able to fast.  If they are concerned they can consult with their doctor*.

Anyone who is fasting should be indoors and only  go outside for davening and necessities. Anyone fasting should make sure to fully hydrate before the fast begins.

Those who are not fasting, should add in tezadaka, and only eat regular food not treats.

May the days of fasting be converted to days of joy and celebration with the coming of Moshiach now.
Rabbi Shimon Raichik

*If the doctor is frum and understands what the 17th of Tammuz is, follow his advice. If not consult with a Rav about what the doctor said.

• 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!!
• Tehilim: Please say tehilim for Reb Isser Goldstein - Isser Leib ben Chava Rivka. 
• SUNDAYS: Rabbi Yosef Bukiet will be giving his yearly class to the women about the Beis Hamikdosh in his backyard. Starting on Sunday 20 Tammuz 10:30 am - for 3 consecutive Sundays (Tammuz 20, 27 & Av 5/July 12, 19 & 26) 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:51 pm
• By Kabolos Shabbos we say 'besimcha' instead of 'berina'.
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:19 am
• Shacharis: 10:00 - Since we expect more people this week and the minyonim are not staggered, we request everyone wear a mask.
• Mincha: 7:50 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 5
• Shabbos Ends: 8:54 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

• 10:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.  

Sunday 13 Tammuz:

• 10:30 am - Gathering for women in the Bukiet backyard. Ladies should pm at 323- 803-5901 if they want to join.
• After arrive - Farbrengen for men in shul with Rabbi Moshe Kesselman in honor of 12-13 Tammuz.

Thursday, Tammuz 17/July 9
Fast of Sheva Asar B’Tammuz

• Fast Begins: 4:13 am
• Minchah: 2:00 & 7:40 pm
• Siyum HaRambam - between Mincha & Maariv 
• Marive: 8:35 pm 
• Fast Ends: 8:36 pm

• Dr. & Mrs. Zeev Rav-Noy in honor of the anniversary of Dr. Rav-Noy’s miracle in Gaza - 10 Tammuz 5765. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Baitelman in honor of the birth of their daughter Chana Etke. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim. 
• Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Kaufman in honor of the chag hageula. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
• Mr. & Mrs. Yermi Kurkus in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. 
• Mr. David Milner in honor of the chag hageula. May Hashem continue to shower him and the entire community with kol tuv sela. 
• Rabbi & Rebbitzen Shimon Raichik in honor of the chag hageula. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela. 
• Reb Zalman Rosenbloom or the yahrtzeit of his father Reb Chaim ben Reb Avraham ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Sruli Schochet in honor of the chag hageula. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
• Mr. & Mrs. Meilech Weiss in honor of the chag hageula. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela. 

• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel on the birth of their granddaughter.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Nachman Kreiman - 13 Tammuz
• Sholom Dovber Raeburn - 13 Tammuz
• Rabbi Moshe Raichik - 14 Tammuz
• Yosef Yitzchak Plotke - 14 Tammuz
• Mr. David Milner - 15 Tammuz
• Zev Yisroel Cherman - 16 Tammuz
• Shmuel Dovid Raichik - 17 Tammuz
• Rabbi Yrachmiel Wolowik - 18 Tammuz

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman - 12 Tammuz
• Rabbi & Mrs. Asher Habibian - 13 Tammuz
• Mr. & Mrs. Yermi Kurkus - 14 Tammuz

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb Chaim ben Reb Avraham - (Reb Zalman Rosenbloom's father) - 10 Tammuz
• Reb Leima ben Reb Avrohom Yaakov Halevi (Mrs. Chani Rotenberg’s brother) - 14 Tammuz
• Reb Yaakov Naftoli ben Reb Shlomo Zalmen (Rabbi Danny Rotenberg’s father) - 14 Tammuz
• Reb Noson Kalmen ben Reb Tzvi Meir (Mrs. Etty Bastomski’s father) - 15 Tammuz
• Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Chana Ganzburg’s father) - 16 Tammuz
• Zlota Zelda bas Reb Yaakov (Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin’s mother) - 18 Tammuz
• Esther Fruma bas Reb Sholom (Rabbi Nachman Kreiman’s mother) - 18 Tammuz
• Reb Tzemach ben Reb Yitzchok (Mrs. Fayge Estulin’s father) - 18 Tammuz

Yud Beis Tammuz: A Time to Connect 
and to Break Through the Boundaries of Nature! 
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

While preparing for Yud Beis-Yud Gimmel Tammuz I came across a manuscript of a drasha given by ‘The Rav’, HaRav Dov Ber Soloveitchik about the nature of Chabad-Lubavitch. He delivered the drasha at the celebration of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva while standing in the presence of the Previous Rebbe. From the viewpoint of the Rav, not himself a Lubavitcher Chosid, it illuminates what we have and what we can accomplish as Chassidim of the Rebbe. It is therefore a good idea to provide a few excerpts in the following paragraphs as we approach Yud Beis and Yud Gimmel Tammuz, which offer a taste of the message he conveyed.

As a child I grew up in a small town in Russia where there lived both Chassidei Chabad and Misnagdim. My Melamed was specifically a Lubavitcher Chosid! During class it was not uncommon to have debates about who was greater, the “Gaon” (the Vilna Gaon) or the Alter Rebbe. As I traveled here today by train, in my thoughts I concluded that the best possible comparison there is, to the exclusion of any other that best describes the Lubavitcher Rebbe is; the Lubavitcher Rebbe is non other than the Rabi Chanina ben Dosa of our generation. Rabi Chanina ben Dosa took control over and governed the laws of nature!

The Gemara in Taanis (25a) tells how on a Friday night Rabi Chanina ben Dosa saw that his daughter was sad. She explained that she accidently poured vinegar into the lamp and lit the Shabbos candles. He consoled her saying she had nothing to be concerned about because; “The One Who commanded oil to ignite can command vinegar to ignite as well”. And so it was! So too it was when the Rebbe sent out His directives from Lubavitch to the Chassidim of the small town of my youth, even vinegar ignited; Lubavitch took control over nature!

The Gemara tells another story about a certain woman named Aiku, a neighbor of Rabi Chanina ben Dosa. She was building a house but the beams did not reach from wall to wall. She came before R. Chanina and asked him; “I built my house but my beams don’t reach (from wall to wall)”. He asked her for her name and then said; “Aiku (translation: “oh how, or may”) your beams reach (from wall to wall)”.  The wall elongated the necessary length. The Chassidim of my town, man and woman would go to Lubavitch to visit the Rebbe. They left burdened with their many troubles. They would meet with the Rebbe and cry out that their homes were collapsing under the pain and suffering of their burden, which they did not have the wherewithal to bear. The Rebbe gave them His advice and His bracha. That man or woman returned home happy full of optimism and hope because the beams upon which their homes rested were now elongated and able to support their home.

Images of that cruel era in Tsarist Russia pass through my memory. On one side stood the evil decrees waged against the Jews by the government. On the other side were the pressures being mounted by the Enlightenment movement that tried with it’s well known cadre of inciters to use force and cunning in an attempt to assert it’s ideology into the minds and hearts of the Jewish community. With all of this tightening like a noose from all sides the Litvishe Yeshiva was threatened and then closed. Lubavitch however stood up with mesirus nefesh, opposed the onslaught and went ahead to trample the snake. Again this is reflected in the activities of Rabi Chanina ben Dosa. The Gemara in Brachos (33a) tells a story that occurred in a certain place where there was an arod (a wild donkey) that would harm people. They came and told Rabi Chanina ben Dosa. He said to them; “Show me its burrow”. He placed his heel over the mouth of the burrow. When the arod exited, he bit him and then died. He placed it on his shoulder and bought it to the Beis Medresh etc. At that time they said; “Woe to the man who meets an arod, but woe to the arod who is met by Rabi Chanina ben Dosa”. Also Lubavitch; it has trampled the wild donkeys and the snakes of inciters; those that seek to destroy Judaism.

In the Sichos we find that the Rebbe compares the Previous Rebbe to Rabi Chanina ben Dosa (24th Teves 5723-1963). We learn from this that the Rebbe gives us the strength to light up the neshamos of Klal Yisroel. Every Jew has pure olive and a wick. Some will say that you are mistaken. They will say that some are so far away that they no longer have any oil, and that what he has left in him is spoiled (hichmitz) turned to vinegar. Don’t be afraid; it will burn, even better, as the Gemara ended with the story of the Shabbos candles, that it burned the entire Shabbos until the end. So too our job is to light up neshamos until Moshiach and not be afraid.

Also we can learn that our homes are not falling apart. If we feel that the beams are weak, that it is difficult to uphold the warmth of Judaism in our turbulent times. Once we connect to the Rebbe, the Rabi Chanina ben Dosa of our generation then the beams become elongated, meaning that the connection and warmth of His Torah and His guidance gives us the strength and inspiration to fill our homes with the warmth and light of Judaism and Chassidus.

Even when Judaism is being attacked from all sides, from within and without, as we see happening with the Enlightenment movement of our times (the wild donkey which bites), with regard to marriage, education, decency, not to mention foreign affairs. Nevertheless we go forward uninterrupted, staying connected to the Rebbe and focused on guidance of the Rebbe in all aspects, including the 12th Ani Maamain, the belief in the coming of Moshiach and living with it. This gives us the ability to burn the vestiges, the walls of galus and bring the revelation of Moshiach Now. 

A Good Shabbos