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Shul Bulletin

Devar Torah - Ki Teitzei

Broadening Our Boundaries and Our Horizons in the Month of Elul

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week's parsha of Ki Teitzei begins by speaking about going to war. The parsha begins: “When you go out to war on your enemies, the L-rd your G-d shall deliver them into your hands, and you shall capture from them captives.” There is an obligation to go out from inside our boundaries and fight.

Rashi explains that this verse is referring to a non-obligatory war. In reference to an

obligatory war of conquering the Land of Israel, the Torah would not stress, "and you seize their captives," because it has already said: "You may not allow any soul to live". 

What does the idea of an optional war mean to us today in 2020, a time when we aren’t waging wars, both personally and globally? 

Chassidus explains that a non-obligatory war for each individual refers to conquering all of our mundane activities and using them in the service of Hashem. On a practical level this refers to our commitment to eat, to speak and dress like a Jew. 

Our mitzvah of waging elective combat is to go out from our home into the world outside and reveal the glory of Hashem in a world that hides His presence. Our home is the Torah we learn, mitzvos we do, the shul we attend and our personal environment. There is a natural tension, a low grade state conflict, a state of resistance and war between our homes and the outside active right beneath the surface that we wage as we go out into the world of business and our interactions.

We have an obligation to go out into the world.  Without entering the world we cannot provide our  basic necessities. This is the obligatory war that is fulfilled once we have procured our basic needs. There's nothing requiring us to engage any further with technology or with the culture other than the bare minimum.

An elective battle is waged for the purpose of broadening boundaries. For this we do use technology and worldly concepts to a greater extent to express a G-dly purpose.  It's not an obligation, it's an opportunity. 

When we exploit these opportunities every detail of life can be permeated with sanctity and directed toward fulfilling our purpose of making this world a dwelling place for Hashem.

The Rebbe showed us an example of this from the interactions of visitors of the Rebbe. If the Rebbe met with a reporter for example, he would tell him to use his newspaper to spread Judaism to as many people as possible. The Rebbe  also spoke about using telephones and radio to spread the message of Chassidus. The Rebbe said that this was the purpose for which these things are created.

In the past it was common to shun the world and anything worldly.  That approach would say to avoid the internet and stay off of Zoom  so as not to expose the children to negative influences. While we need to be on guard (the Rebbe wrote and spoke against having televisions in the home), nevertheless the Rebbe’s  message was to use all these things for a holy purpose. This was the approach of both the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe when sending young yeshiva bachurim and young men to different  and distant places as their shluchim  to build yeshivos and to strengthen Judaism  everywhere. Since the furthest place in the world also needs to be a dwelling for Hashem a neshama needs to be aware that its purpose is to accomplish this task. The neshama needs to go out of his or her own comfort zone, ‘Ki Teitzei’ from home outside into an elective war of making a dwelling place for Hashem.

Because of this approach, the Rabbeim of Chabad were the original trailblazers in the outreach movement.  With time everyone else has learned and followed in their wake.

An elective war also needs to be waged within our personal service of Hashem as well.  We can get comfortable and well adjusted to the place that we have reached in our service of Hashem based on previous accomplishments. The message from this week's Parsha is to go out, Ki Tetzei, and reach the next level. To strive further and further, higher and higher, day to day to reach even greater heights. This is our focus during the month of Elul,  a time when we try to go beyond our previous accomplishments and reach new and more broad vistas in the areas of Torah, Avodah and Gemilus Chasadim. Ki Tetzei, to go out also applies to working with our children. This is also an important and essential shlichus.

Once we use everything in our homes and in our lives in the service of Hashem, then we are converting the world into a place for Hashem. Our accomplishments bring the revelation of Moshiach and Hashem's kingdom will shine openly over the entire world.

A Good Shabbos

(Adapted from Sefer HaSichos 5750-1990 pages 655-670)

Announcements - Ki Teitzei

  • 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 - Ki Teitzei

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:06 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:37 am
  • Shacharis: 9:00am in the tent, 10:00am & 11:00am in the shul.
  • Mincha: 7:05 pm. Followed by - Pirkei Avos Chapters 1 & 2
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:09 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:30pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Teitzei

  • Rabbi & Mrs Mordechai Leaderman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Leaderman’s father Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yona Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Mazal Tov To - Ki Teitzei

  • Rabbi & Dr. Nochum Pinson on the birth of their great granddaughter. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Schmukler on the marriage of their son Memem to Shaina Liberow. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmen Schmukler. 

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Levi Gurary - 9 Elul
  • Rabbi Levi Zirkind - 9 Elul
  • Ezra Kaplan - 12 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yudi Schmukler - 9 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson - 10 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman - 10 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel - 11 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson - 13 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Wolf - 15 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Naftoli Estulin - 15 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yona Halevi (Rabbi Mordechai Leaderman’s father) - 12 Elul
  • Chaya Baila bas Reb Yaacov (Rabbi Chaim Burston’s mother) - 14 Elul
  • Reb Yosef ben Reb Efraim Nachman (Mrs. Sima Bart’s father) - 15 Elul
  • Chaya Stera bas Reb Yisroel Boruch (Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine’s mother) - 15 Elul

Announcements - Shoftim

  • 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 - Shoftim

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:15 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:36 am
  • Shacharis: 9:00am in the tent, 10:00am & 11:00am in the shul.
  • Mincha: 7:15 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 6
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:18  pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:30pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Shoftim

6:00 at the home of Mrs. Chana Liba Nathanson
132 S Mansfield
Speaker: Rabbi Shmuel Schneerson

Mazal Tov To - Shoftim

  • Dr. & Mrs. Alan D. Dauer on the birth of their great granddaughter.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Leib Lerner on the engagement of their daughter Chaya to Mendel Tiefenbrun.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Levine on the marriage of their granddaughter Chana Levine to Leibel Mangel.
  • Rabbi & Dr. Nochum Pinson on the marriage of their granddaughter Itta Pinson to Dovid Rosenfeld.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Yechiel Dovid Yonah Friedman - 5 Elul
  • Rabbi Benyomin Hoffman - 6 Elul
  • Sholom Dov Ber Polityko - 8 Elul
  • Moshe Dov Ber Stark - 8 Elul
  • Levi Bart - 1 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Benyomin Hoffman - 3 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Richard Rosenbloom - 4 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff - 5 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Asher Bastomski - 5 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Raigorodsky - 6 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler - 7 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Tsikman - 8 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Sima Baila bas Reb Avrohom (Rabbi Yoel Edelson’s mother) - 3 Elul
  • Reb Yisroel Meir ben Reb Alexsender Sender (Rabbi Sender Munitz’s father) - 4 Elul

Devar Torah - Shoftim

Elul: Does everything we Hear, See and Speak make a Difference?

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha, Shoftim, begins with the mitzvah of setting up judges and law enforcement in all the gates of our cities. Chassidus explains that similarly in our service of Hashem there are the 7 gates of the body. Everyone has 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils and a mouth. We need the knowledge to judge what is best to do and on what is best to avoid doing. These are the judges that we place over our gates. 

Even when we realize what is best we still may lack necessary resolve to follow though. We are reminded to deploy and to strengthen our inner law enforcement team; to arouse a strong will to follow through on our best decisions according to the Torah. Uniting this divide between what we know and how to act, getting the judges and law enforcement to work together as one is an essential lesson of the first pasuk of this week’s parsha. 

This message is most timely because this week’s parsha falls in the month of Elul, a month of review and reconsideration of what influenced our decisions and behaviors over the past year. As we review, we make new and innovative resolutions to expand our knowledge base and add in all areas of Torah, tefillah and gemilus chasadim. We also resolve to oversee the entire process and make sure that both the knowledge and the action come together and work well as one. This is how this first pasuk ends; “And they shall judge the people (with) Mishpat Tzedek, (righteous judgment)”. So too every one of us knows that our lives are respectable and honorable when we implement and integrate the Torah that we learn into our behavior throughout the year.

The purpose of our two eyes is to look positively upon another Jew. There is an acronym for the first word Shema of the Shema Yisroel, Sau Marom Eineichem,  lift up your eyes on high. Our service of Hashem is to  lift up our eyes and see how Hashem created the world. By gazing upon the wonders of creation we arouse a feeling of connection to Hashem, a love and fear of Hashem. We have two ears with which to hear the commandments that Hashem has given us to follow and to do. We have two nostrils with which to smell. In the Beis HaMikdash  the sense of smell is related to the service of the Ketores which  represents our bond with Hashem. The pleasantness of the aroma comes from our opportunity to be able to serve and bond as one with Hashem.

Our mouths were created to be used for words of tefillah the Torah  and speaking positively about another Jew.  Our mouth was not created for gossip. When the opportunity arises to hear a juicy piece of gossip, at that moment we are presented with an opportunity to realize that how we react right now makes all the difference. This does not just refer to speaking lashon hara  but also listening to anything that's not positive about another Jew.  When we stand before Hashem on the day a judgement the prosecutor approaches to present all of our shortcomings. If we had closed our ears to the negativity about others, so too Hashem will not listen to anything negative about us. 

I was amazed as a child when my father stood in the shul davening late one Friday night after minyan with his fingers in his ears as the shul erupted in discussing a big fresh piece of lashon hara. Two people had an argument and one had hurt the other. My father didn’t go home but instead stayed in his place to complete the davening. That’s when I learned this lesson that every thought word and deed counts. My father went over to the accused person and implored him for his own well being to go back home. By doing this he most likely prevented a difficult confrontation. 

If we use our words to brag about our own accomplishments we are wasting the gift of speech. Hashem is waiting for a Jew to use his speech for words of the Torah, davening and words of help and comfort for each other with ahavas Yisroel. The same applies to sight smell and hearing. It’s a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week test and accomplishment. Yetzer Hara tries it’s best to disrupt and intervene. The Yetzer Hara has it’s familiar way of putting us down and getting us to be insensitive. It says; “Don’t think so much of yourself to think that everything you hear, see and speak makes a big difference”

We constantly confront the Yetzer Hara, and if we are weak then the Yetzer Hara  becomes the spokesman that dictates to look at inappropriate things. The Yetzer Hara  says that it's okay because we are cold and unaffected by what we see. The truth however is  that even if we are not affected by it in the moment in the long-term it leaves an impression on us. In time that impression will surface and affect us, testing us to act inappropriately.

So too with the sense of smell. We are naturally hard-wired to be attracted to and desire to consume things that smell good. This creates a conflict within ourselves when it's forbidden, inappropriate or unhealthy. Similarly improper thoughts cause a challenge to overcome the attraction created by those thoughts.

There is a story told about Reb Mendel from the years that he was in the Gulag. One day he noticed a follow prisoner didn’t look well. Another prisoner approached the man and asked him what was bothering him. He responded by saying that once he was a great doctor. He wasn’t just any doctor; he was the director of a very large hospital, which had many departments. He said; “People were constantly coming to me for all kinds of advice and guidance. Then they arrested me and threw me into this prison. Now look at me, and what has become of me; my life has no value.” Another one of the prisoners overheard the conversation and approached with his story. He said; I was the lead attorney of a large law firm. I was responsible for litigating some of the most famous and important cases in recent history. He then sighed and said “Look at me today and where I am.” Another man approached to say that high ranked Natchalnik who wielded a lot of authority and of whom everyone was afraid. One day the NKVD arrested him and now he is the prisoner, in the place he put so many of his victims. “Now look at me” he said. They then all turned to Reb Mendel to see what he would say. Reb Mendel said: “I never lost anything. Before I came I was a servant of G-d, 24 hours a day seven days a week. It is different now because before it was easier and now it's harder, but I never lost anything. I am still the exact same servant who still needs to serve 24 hours a day seven days a week.” So too us today we are the same today in 2020.

Where do we begin to make our review in the month of Elul? With an accounting of all the 7 gates; our eyes, our ears, our nose and our mouth. We take practical and concrete steps in the right direction. By reviewing and renewing on our end, symbolized in the words in the Elul acronym; Ani L’Dodi, we merit the renewal of the marriage contract with Hashem, and merit to have Hashem be with us “V’Dodi Li” throughout the year. When Moshiach comes we will no longer need shotrim, law enforcement, because there will be no more Yetzer Hara. Shotrim will be replaced with Yoatzim, advisors and coaches to help us grow. Only then can we defund the police. May we all merit to hear the shofar of Moshiach and see with our eyes the return of Hashem’s presence to Tzion with the Geula Ha’Amitis v’HaSheima.

A Good Shabbos and a Freilichen Chodesh and a Chasima vChasima Tovah

Chabad Chodesh - Elul

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

Announcements - Re'eh

  • 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!!
  • 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.
  • 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 Schedule - Re'eh

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:23 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:34 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: 7:20 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 5
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:26 pm
  • Molad Chodesh Elul: Wednesday, Av 29/August 19, 1:54 am and 16 chalakim.
  • Rosh Chodesh Elul: Thursday & Friday August 20 & 21.

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:30 pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.  

Kiddush Sponsors - Re'eh

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Elharar in honor of the many heoros of the Rebbe encouraging him to make farbrengens. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel for the yahrtzeits of Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s mother Ratza Liba bas Reb Chaim ob”m and grandfather Reb Mannis ben Reb Yitzchak Leib Halevi ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yehuda Lerman in honor of the marriage of their son Mendy. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
  • Mr. David Milner for the yahrtzeit of his mother Shayna bas Reb Shlomo ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Reb Sholom HaKohen Rosenfeld in honor of the ufruf of his son Dovid HaKohen. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Re'eh

6:15 at the home of Mrs. Tzirel Frankel
109 S Vista
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

Mazal Tov To - Re'eh

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Menachem Mendel Perl - 26 Av
  • Rabbi Mendel Dubinsky - 27 Av
  • Mendel Thaler - 29 Av
  • Mr. Pinchas Hirsch - 29 Av
  • Mr. Yossi Palace - 1 Elul
  • Menachem Mendel Davidson - 1 Elul
  • Levi Bart - 1 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Mentz - 1 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Mannis ben Reb Yitzchak Leib Halevi (Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s grandfather) - 26 Av
  • Ratza Liba bas Reb Chaim (Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s mother) - 28 Av
  • Esther Leah bas Reb Shmuel Tuvia (Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s mother) - 29 Av
  • Musa bas Reb Yehoshua Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Tibor’s mother) - 30 Av
  • Reb Yaakov ben Reb Chaim (Mr. Chaim Lerner’s father) - 30 Av
  • Reb Refoel ben Reb Yitzchok (Mr. Avrohom Plotkin ob”m’s brother) - 1 Elul
  • Reb Moshe Yaakov ben Reb Aron (Mr. Avrohom Aron Grunfeld’s father) - 1 Elul

Devar Torah - Re'eh

Taking One Small Step Today is One Giant Leap Toward the Geula

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week we read parsha’s Re’eh and it’s Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Elul. Elul is the last month of the year. Elul is dedicated to making a review of the year past, doing teshuva and preparing for a better year ahead.

In a fabrengen (Shabbos Parshas Re’eh Mevarchim Chodesh Elul 5729-1969) the Rebbe discusses how unmoved and lacking of feeling and appreciation we can be for the important difference that the avodah of Elul makes in our lives.  The preoccupations of business, news, trends and our physical needs desensitize us to the difference between Elul, Iyar, or Shevat. Shabbos we feel a difference because  we put aside our weekly activities, wear different clothes, eat different foods and daven differently. When it comes to the differences of Elul and the other months often we don't see or feel those differences. We live like  any other day  similar in our conversation and in action. Yes it is true, we take two minutes to say ‘L’David Ohi vYishi’ and hear the sound of the Shofar,  but that's it. People say the  same thing with regard to the weekly Parsha .  They say; ‘We read this every year, what's new that I haven’t already heard before?’ 

On July 20th 1969 the Apollo 11 was the  space flight that  first landed humans on the moon. In the summer of 1969 this  is what captured the imagination of the world.  People were riveted and excited by this accomplishment in the days and weeks that followed. In the fabrengen the Rebbe  noted that the excitement distracted people to the point that it was affecting their focus in davening and learning. The Rebbe  said that enough time has passed to learn the lessons in avodas Hashem from Apollo and questioned the excitement. The Rebbe asked why it is amazing that after spending billions they were able to reach the moon which is only a finite amount of miles to travel. It's the same qualitatively as a regular plane flight. How does it compare to the journey of the neshama from it's exalted place above to the pit down here below? This is a much greater and incomparable journey in contrast not just quantitatively but essentially qualitatively.  The neshama is carved out from underneath the Throne of Glory even higher than the exalted heights and from there he goes down and is clothed in a body of flesh and blood in this physical world even lower than the deep pit. All of this energy that was invested in bringing the soul down into the body can only be accomplished by the Creator. All of this was done in order to fill the mission within the days that were set aside for this purpose. What can be more vital and central to one's focus than fulfilling this mission, not just a mission of a few extra miles than an ordinary flight.   This journey of the neshama surpasses without comparison a journey to the moon or Mars or even the most distant star. 

Our neshamos  came into this world to serve Hashem through the Torah and mitzvos  to the point that we are on the level of Re’eh,  the point that we are moved  and excited  because is so visual that we can see it. This is incomparably more valuable than seeing Apollo 11 on television! The power of a Jew is not expressed in either a quantity or quality, it's an expression of his or her essence. It doesn't depend on how many mitzvos or the quality of one's refinement.  By doing a mitzvah we take a physical object and change its essential identity from a physical object into a holy object. This is the power of the neshama in the body that was given by Matan Torah.  

Just as we should be moved by our overall mission in this world, so too we should be moved by the theme month of Elul, Ani lDodi v’Dodi Li,  I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.  Every day of the month should be filled with a heartfelt review and preparation for the year ahead. Just like the  astronauts on the Apollo 11 needed special clothing  and had to press specific buttons to accomplish their mission so too with our avodas Hashem.  Our clothing needs to be free of shatnez and we need to wear tzitzis.  We need to press the buttons of physical activities made into mitzvos such as putting on Tefillin. The concept of Tefillin is to bind and to open our minds and hearts to Hashem. The Alter Rebbe says that this is not only the intention but a part of the mitzvah. So too with all mitzvos done with thoughtful attention, we connect everything to Hashem with our physical actions. As we do each mitzvah we don;t just think about binding ourselves but we intend to bind everyone together through the mitzvah similar to the lulav and esrog. This is how we change the world for the better. With each  step that we take we make a giant leap forward. With one act we can bring Moshaich. 

This is who we are and this is what we can accomplish. When we live and feel this way and we live fully in the days  of Elul,  it is obvious and apparent to anyone who looks upon us. 

In Igros Kodesh (Volume 6, 2 Menachem Av 5712) the Rebbe  responded to a person who requested a bracha  to increase his hiskashrus.  This individual wrote that until now he had not had the opportunity to receive guidance and encouragement from anyone that he was able to learn  Chassidus and good character traits.  But now, having seen (my father) the Chosid Rav Menachem Shmuel David HaLevi Raichik  and having meditated on his ways, he became aroused with an increased desire to connect to ‘Ilana dChaya, the living tree’, penimius HaTorah and Toras HaChassidus.

The Rebbe responded with words of inspiration based on the saying of Chazal “Yagati u’metzasi taamin,  If you toil and then you find results it is believable”.  The meaning is that since he has been aroused with an inner will and desire certainly he will achieve his objective through his efforts. He does not need to be overwhelmed if he achieves his desire all at once. 

Nowadays we have been blessed with technology  that enables us at any time to tap in on our phones to see and hear  lively examples and be inspired by them to fulfill our mission.  The Rebbe is visible 24/6  to be felt, seen and to connect. 

May we merit to greet the King in the field this Elul with the coming of Moshiach

A Good Shabbos, A Good Gebentched Chodesh
A Kesiva v'Chasima Tovah

(Adapted from the fabrengen Shabbos Parshas Re’eh Mevarchim Chodesh Elul 5729-1969)

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.

Farbrengen for men

TONIGHT!!! 

Farbrengen for men
in honor of 20 AV - Yhartzeit of the Rebbe's father.
8:30 pm in shul
with Rabbi Mendel Schapiro.

Announcements - Eikev

  • 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!!
  • RABBI YITZI: There's a minyan outside Rabbi Yitzi Hurwuit'z house - downstairs right next to his window. Because some mispalelim from the Yeshiva are missing, we need help to make the minyon, which Rabi Yitzi really appreciates. Please can you email [email protected] if you can join tonight Kabolas Shabbos (8pm BEH). Shachris 10:40 am BEH and Mincho Shabbos day BEH. 
  • SUNDAY: Farbrengen for men in honor of 20 AV - Yhartzeit of the Rebbe's father. 8:30 pm in shul with Rabbi Mendel Schapiro.

Shabbos Schedule - Eikev

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:30 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:32 am
  • Shacharis: 9:00am in the tent, 10:00am & 11:00am in the shul.
  • Mincha: 7:35 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 4
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:33 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:30pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Mazal Tov To - Eikev

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Bukiet on the birth of their grandson.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff on the birth of their granddaughter (to Laivy & Tzippy Mochkin.)
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Amram Farkash on the marriage of their son Menachem to Nechama Morozow. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Rebbitzen Schochet. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler on the birth of their granddaughter.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Menachem Rubinstein - 19 Av
  • Shlomo Habibian - 19 Av
  • Mr. Ariel Haratz - 20 Av
  • Mr. Reuven Gradon - 20 Av
  • Rabbi Yisroel Gurary - 20 Av
  • Menachem Raeburn - 21 Av
  • Levi Perl - 21 Av
  • Yitzchok Meyer Davidson - 22 Av
  • Rabbi Tzvi Boyarsky - 24 Av
  • Rabbi David Diamand - 24 Av

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Tzvi Boyarsky - 19 Av
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmy Fogelman - 24 Av

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Bina Rivka bas Reb Moshe (Rabbi Ami Meyers’s mother) - 19 Av
  • Ester bas Reb Avrohom (Mr. David Peretz’s mother) - 19 Av
  • Reb Yaakov Immanuel ben Reb Dov Yehuda (Mr. Yisroel Schochet’s father) - 20 Av
  • Reb Yaakov ben Reb Meir (Mrs. Chana Weiss’s father) - 21 Av
  • Sima bas Reb Shmuel Dovid (Rabbi Tzvi Rauh’s mother) - 23 Av
  • Rebbitzen Leah bas Reb Avrohom Abele Hakohen Raichik - 24 Av

Devar Torah - Eikev

With the Rebbe’s Staff of Pleasantness we Hasten the Geula

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week on Wednesday was the 15th of Av, Tu b’Av.  Tu b’Av is one of the greatest Yomim Tovim. One reason is because “the daughters of Jerusalem would go dancing in the vineyards”. Whoever didn’t have a wife would go there to find himself a bride. The daughters would say; “Young man, lift up your eyes and see which you choose” (Taanis 26b). 

The Gemara describes different categories of "daughters" and how each would call out to her perspective bridegroom:

What would the beautiful ones among them say? "Look for beauty, for a woman is for beauty."

What would those of prestigious lineage say? "Look for family, for a woman is for children." etc. (Taanis 31a).

The Rebbe explains that the marriage of Hashem and His people also includes these different categories of "brides": the souls of Israel, which include "beautiful" souls, souls "of prestigious lineage," etc. 

We can learn a lesson today from the Tu b’Av and the custom of making shidduchim. Each man and each woman has something special to offer. We need to assure that their special qualities are a proper fit, one to the other. A marriage choice needs to be based solely on the needs of that couple not the expectations or desires of the parents. The daughter said; Young man, lift up your eyes”, she did not address the parents! Parents can help but they cannot choose for their children.

The narrative in the Gemara teaches another important lesson about making good choices. It shows us to choose life goals based on an overall outlook not on feelings alone. A person who gets married based on both the intellect as well as feelings stands a much greater chance of having an enduring marriage compared to those who choose based feelings alone.

This same thing applies back to every one of us in our service of Hashem.  An essential cornerstone of our service is to be able to explain to our animal soul that Elukus, that G-dliness is good and to live a life filled with Kedusha. 

The Rebbe explains that Bnei Yisroel were told to hold a stick in their hands (in Hebrew “makelchem b’yadchem) while they ate the Korbon Pesach on their way out of Mitzrayim. In spiritual terms this means that we  are so attached to the physicality of the world that we have no ability to remove ourselves from forbidden lust and desires. The animal soul is like a dog who always lusts for more and more. A kelev in hebrew can be read, k-lev, meaning kulo lev, meaning only heart and passion but no intellect. 

We are unable without the strong guidance of a stick to change our animal soul. We don’t wait for the animal soul’s approval, we tell it to do as we say. This approach is explained at great length in the 29th chapter of the Tanya. Once we have spoken directly to the animal soul with decisive strength we can go on to make true and lasting changes. The stick represents strong leadership and taking control over our base desires. 

Just as it is with ourselves similarly it is true in how best to parent. While of course it is essential to be supportive and take the time to listen and empathize with our children as they are, because we truly care we also need to be firm when necessary. At difficult moments there can be power struggles where it isn’t clear who’s the leader. If we lack firmness when it’s necessary we are the followers when a firm guidance is needed. It can be done with a ‘makal noam’ with pleasantness and compassion, but it must be firm. The same is true with community leadership. 

The Previous Rebbe (volume 7 page 59 of Igros Kodesh) quotes Rav Yisroel Salanter, one of the greatest leaders of the Mussar Movement. He once made the following comment on the Mishnah that says that the face of the generation leading up to Moshiach will be like the face of a kelev, a dog. He explained that a dog runs ahead of its owner but when it reaches  a crossroad or uncertainty it looks back to see what its owner wants. Rav Salanter  said that  to look backwards is not leadership. Leaders who cannot say what is necessary and instead say what they think others want to hear should not be leaders.

When we look at what's going on today in the coronavirus environment of 2020 the message could not be more relevant. The leaders of the greatest cities in America are not leading. They are following what the people want to hear not what is in their best interest. They are being political when they should be saving lives and restoring order on the streets. They are arrogant. That they cannot admit the obvious truth of the clear and open danger that their citizens face and instead  turn a blind eye. Just like dogs display chutzpa with their actions so too these leaders when confronted with the reality of violence and injury in the streets due to lack of good policing policies and the taking over of government buildings instead of taking action they join the protest! 

The Gemara ends with; “We have no one to lean on, only our Father in Heaven”. Now is the time to cry out in protest “Ad Masai!?” How do we make lasting change? By learning the Torah especially Chassidus, Mivtzoyim and Ahavas Yisroel to guide our lives and fill our days with  Kedusha. Instead of allowing our lust for pleasure and acceptance to take control, we use the stick of pleasantness (the Rebbe’s Gartel) and choose to be led by the Rebbe. This is the only solution which brings Moshiach.

By taking action; giving extra tzedakah, adding an extra pasuk in Chumash, an extra chapter in Tehillim and doing more to educate our children with love and fear of Hashem we can change things for the better. 

Instead of wasting our time finding out who's who in culture, entertainment, style and fashion, we  use a stick of guidance and a stick of pleasantness to guide ourselves and boldly take action. 

This is what the 15th of Av teaches us and is more relevant today than ever before. “Young man, lift up your eyes and see which you choose!” The daughters of Jerusalem, (the neshamos that have fear of Hashem) remind us to lift up our eyes to look beyond ourselves, and only then make a choice. “Lift up your eyes- Sao Marom Aynechem” is an acronym in Hebrew for the word Shema in the pasuk: “Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echod”. Accept upon yourself the existence of Hashem in this world and upon your personal life, and then choose. 

Just as on the 15th of the month the full revelation of the sun shines on the moon, so too Hashem is likened to the sun and the Jewish people to the moon. Tu b”Av is already fixed in our calendar as the greatest "15th" of them all. The 15 of Av provides us the first glimmers of the full moon of Moshiach. And with the revealed arrival of Moshiach, ...the 15th of Av will be truly revealed as our greatest Yom Tov. May we all merit to see the revealed unity of Hashem and the Jewish People, the best possible  shidduch, with the coming of Moshiach today.

A  Good Shabbos

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