Updates

• A fun time was had be all at out multi-generational Shabbos dinner with young blood, great comeradrie and spirits running high! Come explore for yourself the grat place Uptown is to hang out, especially on Friday nights at Shabbat dinners...
• Today is the last chance to vote for Friendship Circle. Shabbos begins at 5:32 pm, we only have a few hours left to vote! @mellisapierce is looking for a Shabbos goy to help her in the final hours of voting :)....
• Did you get your tickets for the Gad Elbaz concert at the Worthan Center yet? What? What are you waiting for? www.aishelhouse.org
• This Monday is Yud Shevat, and will mark Sixty Years to the day since our beloved Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory, was asked to assume leadership of the Lubavitch movement on the passing of his father in law and predecessor. On the first Yarzeit of the passing of the previous Rebbe, when the Rebbe finally accepted leadership of the movement, in his "Mission Statement" on that historic day, the Rebbe established the foundation of his vision on three loves; "Ahavat Hasherm"  - love of G-d, "Ahavat HaTorah" love of Torah, and central to the three of them - "Ahavat Yisrael" love of your fellow man.
  We have been preparing for this special day with an in depth study of the monumental Maamar, - Chassidic discourse - Basi Legani 5710. Although the class was only supposed to last three weeks, by democratic (actually, unanimous) vote it has been determined to continue learning this maamar until conclusion. Please join us for some very thought provoking and introspective study and conversations! No prior knowledge required!
• So a 17 year old puts on teffilin on a plane. Everyone freaks out. News everywhere are now talking about teffilin. Nothing make me happier than to see all the news agencies including the Houston Chronicle promoting teffilin! Read about teffilin at www.chabadtexas.org/tefillin. USA Today  "The less we know, the more we fear both Muslims and Jews" as if anyone thought he was a Jewish terrorist! They have changed the article title since.... But, hey, if some Jew sees it and is inspired to learn more about teffilin - that is cool!
• Mazel tov to Ohad and Efrat Nezer upon the birth a baby boy, Yaron! May we only share simchos!
• We look forward to seeing you this Shabbos, Parshas Bo!
  Friday services at 6:30 pm. (Candle lighting at 5:33 pm)
  Shabbos day, Chassidus at 9 am, Services at 10 am followed by lunch kiddush.
  Mincha at 5:35 pm.
  Maariv Havdalla and Shabbos Ends at 6:29 pm followed by screening of Living Toah video magazine...
  Have a Good Shabbos!
  Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
  **********************************
  Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
  Chabad of Uptown
  4311 Bettis Dr., Houston, TX 77027
  713-419-3960 | www.chabaduptown.org
  ***********************************
  Learn Torah online, or choose from over 30 ongoing classes citywide at www.collel.org!

• Today, Thursday (and every Thursday), Jan. 14, 8-9 pm (and lunch 12-1:15 pm) - Kabbala course on life's purpose continues - Basi Legani 5710. Join at any time.
• Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 15-, final voting for Friendship Circle to win $1,000,000 from Chase Bank begins. They are the only Jewish org competing against 100 other non-profits, chosen from over 500,000 charities to compete. Voting lasts only one week, and can only be done on Facebook. Vote and spread the word to those who have or know others who have Facebook accounts! More at www.votefc.com for the many ways to help spread the word.
• Friday, Jan. 15 services at 6:30 pm (candle lighting at 5:27 pm)
• Shabbos, Jan. 16 Preprayer class 9:00 am; services at 10:00 am followed by kiddush
• Wednesday, Jan. 20 (and every Wednesday)Young Professionals class meets 8:30-9:30 www.chabadtexas.org/youngadults
• Sunday, Jan. 24/25 - go to NYC for one day for only $247.80! Be inspired and visit the Ohel in honor of the auspicous day of 10 Shevat (the day Basi Legani, above, is from). More at www.chabadtexas.org/bulletin
• Sunday, Jan. 31 @ 7:00 pm - Gad Elbaz in concert to benefit Aishel House! www.aishelhouse.org
• Feb 3-8 Chanie will be going (this year with Chaya Mushka) to the International Conference of Chabad Shluchos....
• Sunday, Feb 14, Rabbi Chaim will be giving a lecture together with many others at the annual Yom Limmud. See more here
• Friday, Feb 19-21 - Grand Texas Intercollegiate Shabbaton at Chabad Texas A&M. Tons of Students! Tons of Schools! Tons of Fun! On Facebook and register at www.jewishaggies.com/student
• Sunday, February 21, Walk for Friendship Circle! www.houstonfriendshipwalk.com

• Mazel Tov to Professor Dan on his designation for Tenure at U of H! May he (and all of us Uptownians) go from strength to strength!
• Chanie (Chana bas Shifra) has been battling allergies, she is recuperating at home after a a few day visit to the hospital. We all wish her a complete recovery.... Shabbos is still on schedule now, Rabbi Chaim has done all the shopping!

Dear Friends,

A wonderful time was had by the clan on our road trip up north. Probably the greatest moment was realizing that the drive up to Michigan was fun, but, now we had to get back!

We spent two days visiting Chanie's sister, Elkie Wolf in Chicago (18 hrs), then drove on to Commerce, Michigan to spend the rest of the week at Chanie's sister Esti Greenberg. The kids loved playing with their cousins, going to school with them and most of all seeing and playing with SNOW!! A sled was not to be found, so Tatti (they always get these jobs) bundled up as well, busted open an empty diaper box and made a makeshift sled while the other adults watched with glee from the window!

While there, Chanie and I visited an amazing facility, the flagship Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield, Michigan. They have huge facility with therapy rooms and "Life Town", a realistic 5,000 square foot indoor town features its own movie theater, beauty salon, pet shop, library, drug store and bank where kids with special needs learn life skills. They were chosen from over 500,000 other non-profit charities to enter a second round of voting the Chase Community Giving campaign to win $1,000,000. The voting will begin on Jan. 15, only for one week, through Facebook, and each user can only vote once. They are the ONLY JEWISH ORG in this competition. Visit www.votefc.com to see how you can help children with special needs win $1,000,000! We have our own chapter of Friendship Circle here in Houston who do amazing work and will have their second annual Friendship Walk in February!

Aishel House will be having their 6th annual benefit concert on Sunday, Jan. 31 with Israeli and International Pop Sensation Gad Elbaz at the Wortham Center. Don't miss this amazing event for an amazing org! See below.

Around Uptown

We celebrated Mendel's seventh birthday with his cousins in Commerce and will be celebrating Chaya Mushka's eighth birthday this Shabbos... and of course, we would love to have you join us for her birthday celebration!

It is not too late to join the special Kabballa course on life's purpose. Held every Thursday at two choice times. More info here.

YOUNG PEOPLE: Of course there is also:

• the regular Wed. eve popular young professionals class at 8:30
• and Thursday night Shabbos cooking club (call Chanie for details 713-419-3962)
• and R&R (Run - 2 miles - and wRap - tefillin & eat breakfast) with the Rabbi on Friday morning at 5:30 am....

The Shabbos Schedule:

Friday, Jan. 8
Services at 6:30 pm (Candle lighting 5:21 pm)

Shabbos, Jan. 9
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10:00 am
Followed by Kiddush & Shabbos Mevarchim Farbrengen
Mincha at 5:30 pm
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:18 pm

Looking forward to seeing you Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie