Dear Friends,
This past week's second freeze took a toll on our starter. It was a crazy morning (as usual) and Chanie was stuck at home with no car to join us at my (TMC) nephew's first haircut. Baruch Hashem for #road on our cell phone they came out and got it started. We left it running straight to the mechanic, who was honest enough to tell us not to change it, it was just the sudden cold weather. Next morning, it wouldn't start. Chanie said that the mechanic said to tap the starter. Huh?! What, where is that? "He showed me" she says! So we pop the hood, and get a hammer and at Chanie's instruction, tap the "starter" (silver cylinder looking thing) and walla! the car starts! We are proud of Chanie becoming a real proud Texas Cowgirl!
Here is a nice one: The crumbling, old Shul building desperately needed a face llift, so the Rabbi made an impassioned appeal, looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the message, the rich man stood up and announced, "Rabbi, I will contribute $1,000."
Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood again and shouted, "Rabbi, I will increase my donation to $5,000."
Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, "Rabbi, I will double my last pledge."
He sat down, and an larger chunk of plaster fell hitting him on the head. He stood once more and hollered, "Rabbi, I will give $20,000!"
This prompted the Gabbai to shout, "Hit him again, Hashem! Hit him again!"
This week's Parsha of Ki Sisa states: This they shall give... half a shekel (30:13). The mitzvah of the half-shekel is that each should contribute a coin that [is valued at] half of the dominant coin of that time. If the prevailing coin is takal, they should give a half-takal; if it is a selah, they should give a half-selah; if it is a darcon, they should give a half-darcon. (- Midrash HaGadol) Why not a complete coin? To teach us that no man is a complete entity unto himself. Only by joining with another can a person become a "whole thing". (-The Chassidic Masters). More at www.chabaduptown.org/parsha
We are humbled by the response of many of you to contribute towards our first fundraiser for Chabad of Uptown, and thank you for allowing us to take the liberty to "hit" you again with another email about it... You see - every little bit counts.When you do your small part, with your "shekel", you become a part of the greater whole. The journal is almost at the printer and you can still get in the last minute ads! Please give generously and make your reservation for a fantastic evening with formal NFL Packers and Cowboy player and Super Bowl winner, and Jewish, Alan Veingrad! www.chabaduptown.org/dinner.
Friday is Purim Katan - Minor Purim. In regular years, the 14th of Adar is Purim, the festival that celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman's evil decree in the year 3405 from creation (356 BCE). In a leap year -- which has two Adars -- Purim is celebrated in Adar II (Purim Cafe @ Aroma Classique below), and the 14th of Adar I is designated as Purim Kattan, the "Little Purim." There are no special observances, however, associated with Purim Kattan, other than the omission of Tachnun ("supplications") from the daily prayers and a prohibition against fasting or holding eulogies on this day. The Code of Jewish Law cites an opinion that one should increase in festivity and joy, but rules that there is no obligation to do so; "Nevertheless,a person should increase somewhat in festivity... for 'One who is of good heart is festive always' " (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 697:1). Link: Always Happy
This weekend, February 18-20, we will head over to Texas A&M in College Station where hundreds of students from around Texas and as far as Tulane and Illinois will convene for a Shabbaton at the Chabad House there. Over 25 stduents from Houston are attending! Don't fret the Trusches are coming! Please join them for a fabulous Shabbos!
Sunday, February 20, Rabbi Chaim will be presenting at the final (2pm) session of the annual Yom Limmud of the BJE on Tattoos and Body Art: Whys, Myths and Facts That Will Surprise You. The session will explore Jewish sources, philosophy, Kabbalistic thought and applied Jewish law for tattoos and body art in Jewish practice. If you are going, be sure to look it up! Immediately afterwards they are offering a FREE concert of the YouTube sensationlist Maccabeats! Visit www.houstonjewish.org/yomlimmud for more information.
The weekly classes on Wednesday for Young Professionals class at 8:30 pm, Thursday lunch hour Tanya class and Thursday evening 8 pm parsha class are still going strong! Please join us!
Sunday, February 27, will be our first ever fundraiser (as above). www.chabaduptown.org/dinner.
Sunday, March 6, will be the annual Aishel House concert, this year featuring Yehudah Glantz at the Wortham Center - Cullen Theater. More info at www.aishelhouse.org.
Purim, Saturday, March 19, we will have our famous Chabad of Uptown Purim Party! Purim Cafe @ Aroma Classique will begin at 9:30 pm with a delicous Pasta, Falafel, Salad & Drink Bars. Variety of coffees and desserts. Havdalla ceremony, Megillah reading, L'chaims and Hamantashen! More at www.chabaduptown.org/purimcafe. Chanie's brother Shimon, studying for his "Semicha", Rabbinical degree, will please G-d be joining us.
Purim, Sunday, March 20, we will have Shacharis morning services at 8 am and Megillah reading at 9 am.
Sunday, March 27, will be the Annual Frieship Circle walk. See www.frienshiphouston.com for more details.
Pesach, April 18-26, Chanie's family will be joining us for Pesach!!! Stay tuned for Seder details...
Wow! That was too much information.....
Please join the Trusches this Shabbos Parshas Ki Sisa for a wonderful weekend!
Friday, February 18, Purim Katan
Services at 6:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 5:55 pm | Please RSVP for dinner at www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner!
Shabbos, February 19, Shushan Purim Katan
Preprayer Kabbala study at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Kiddush with the best Trusch'es cholent! :)
Mincha at 6:00 pm
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos Ends at 6:49 pm
Have a great Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie