Thoughts, notes and happenings...

it's cold outside...

Friday, January 28, 2022 - 10:53 AM

Last week marked the Annual Conference of Shluchim, where Chanie joined 5384 Shluchos, women's emissaries of the Chabad movement, joined together for a hybrid event, some in person and most virtual to mark the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka's Yartzeit on 22 Shevat. You can watch the replay here.

It's cold outside, but, warm inside - in more than one way! Next week is First Fridays of February, and you know what that means! It's time for YJP in their 20s and 30s to gather with old, current and new friends to celebrate Shabbos with YJP Houston, for a "Souper Shabbat", with a variety of hearty soups, salads and more! RSVP before Thursday for $18, $25 after at www.yjphouston.org/soup.

Welcome to the Leap Year! This coming week we celebrate as new month, the month of Adar 1.Of course we will have our monthly breakfast with radishes after the Rosh Chodesh Shacharis. As this year is a shanah meuberes (lit., "a pregnant year") or a leap year on the Jewish calendar. The Jewish leap year, which occurs 7 times in a 19-year cycle, has 13 months instead of the regular year's 12. This is so that the lunar-based Jewish year should remain aligned with the solar seasons (12 lunar months make up a total of 354 days -- slightly more than 11 days short of the 365.25 day solar cycle). The added month is called "Adar I" and is inserted before the month of Adar (termed "Adar II" in leap years). The holiday of Purim celebrated on Adar 14, is in Adar II on leap years, while the 14th of the Adar I is marked only as "Purim Katan.", a minor Purim. Similarly, birthdays and most other anniversaries are marked on the 2nd Adar. Links: The 19-Year Marriage, Leap Year Explained

Mazel tov to Maxine Epstein on the birth of a grandson to Adam and Clara Chaya Epstein in New York.

Condolences to Staci Minchen, Matthew Minchen and Elyse MInchen on the passing of their father and grandfather, Albert Skalovsky, Yitzchok ben Shmuel Halevi, a"h, of Oklahoma City.

A Glass of Milk and a Cup of Kindness

The laws of milk and meat teach us how to balance kindness and discipline. more…

Shabbos Mevarchim Adar I, Parshas Mishpatim

Friday, January 28, Shevat 26
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:38 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner - www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, January 29, Shevat 27
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Mevarchimlunch kiddush & farbrengen
Mincha at 5:35 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:35 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, Jan. 30, Shevat 28 - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Fri., Jan. 31-Feb. 1-4, Shevat 29-Adar I 3 - Shacharis at 6:45 am

Rosh Chodesh Shacharis on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 1 & 2
Monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast on Tuesday, first day of Rosh Chodesh

Have a good Shabbos!

see the forest from the trees

Friday, January 21, 2022 - 12:19 PM

CYPShabbat in NYC with young professionals from everywhere was amazing!

"I really enjoyed the party last night and the farbrengen Friday night!"
"Shabbos dinner with the Young Jewish Professionals Great Neck.... Dancing ecstatically with Nissim Black... Learning and being with Rabbi Simon Jacobson "
"Amazing! A really good time, met some great people, listened to incredible speakers… you could tell it was all from the heart last night was so much fun! And Chaya is an amazing young woman!"
"seeing all the wonderful, wonderful, people.... The weekend was definitely a revelation of everyone's true essence.... there is a really palpable energy, in the Rebbe's study..."

Tu Bshvat Tasteful Tones with fruit, wine and budding artists celebrating the New Year for Trees! Can you spot the artists' message from among the trees?

PARSHA: Don't Be a Building in the Desert

Moses wasn’t telling Yitro anything he didn’t know. Rather, he was trying to see if his father-in-law really possessed the mettle to join G‑d’s people more…

Shabbos Parshas Yisro

Friday, January 21, Shev at 19
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:32 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner - www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, January 22, Shevat 20
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by lunch kiddush
Mincha at 5:30 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:29 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, Jan. 23, Shevat 21 - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Fri., Jan. 24-28, Shevat 24-28 - Shacharis at 6:45 am

Have a good Shabbos!

a time to sing, celebrate and draw

Friday, January 14, 2022 - 11:20 AM

This Shabbos, we have a lot of exciting things going on!

First of all, Chaya is leading a delegation from YJP Houston to NYC for a Shabbos encounter with Crown Heights! They are having an awesome time so far!
Tonight, we will be celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Gabi Karni and look forward to a meaningful Shabbos! Mazel tov to Amir and Tammy Karni and the entire Karni family!
"Shabbos Shira" - Shabbat of Song - This week's Torah reading contains the "song at the sea" sung by the Children of Israel upon their deliverance from the Egyptians, when the Red Sea split to allow them to pass and then drowned their pursuers. Hence this Shabbat is designated as Shabbat Shirah, "Shabbat of song." Our sages tell us that the birds in the sky joined our ancestors in their singing; for this reason it is customary to put out food for the birds for this Shabbat (to avoid the possibility of transgressing the laws of Shabbat, the food should be put out before Shabbat). Links: Parting of the Red Sea, Miriam: Tambourines of Rebellion
Rivky came home for her school's winter break, and she got her permit today, on her legal 17th birthday! Yay!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No parking on Bancroft Street that will be closed all week, starting tonight! Please do not park overnight on Bancroft as they will setting up a huge crane early 4-5 am on Saturday morning for work on the Highland Tower across the street, and you don't want your car to be in the way....

Tu B'Shvat Paint Night Monday for the whole community! Jan. 17, 7:00 pm - Chabad of Uptown and YJP Houston will be having a joint program for adults of all ages... Tu B'Shvat Tasteful Tones painting with a professional instructor and Tu B’Shvat twist of fruit, nuts and wine! Use coupon code "advance" to save $8 - RSVP

PARSHA: Triggering G-d

G‑d behaves with you as you behave with Him and others. more…

Shabbos Shirah, Parshas Beshalach

Friday, January 14, Shevat 12
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:26 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner - www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Bat Mitzvah Celebration of Gabi Karni!

Shabbos, January 15, Shevat 13
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by lunch kiddush
Mincha at 5:26 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:23 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, Jan. 15, Shevat 14 - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Fri., Jan. 16-21, Shevat 15-19 - Shacharis at 6:45 am

Tu B'shvat, Mon. Jan 17, 7 pm - Paint Night with a Jewish Twist! www.chabaduptown.org/paint

Have a good Shabbos!

here's how to get out of it

Friday, January 7, 2022 - 10:41 AM

We hope you are doing well during this surge of unwellness in Houston and worldwide. Thankfully, all whom we know personally have done ok and are recovering / recovered nicely. If you are unwell, please do let us know, we have a bowl of chicken soup for you!

The Exodus from Egypt, which we read about in this week's Torah portion, is commemorated every year with the holiday of Passover. We have a seder, eat matzah and bitter herbs, drink four cups of wine, and celebrate our freedom. But more than just recounting events of the past, we are meant to relive the Exodus in our own lives. And not only during Passover, but every day of the year.

The Hebrew word for Egypt is "Mitzrayim," and the letters that compose that word can also spell the word "meitzarim," which means "boundaries" or "limitations."

Whenever we recall the exodus, we must also be prepared to leave our own Egypt, our own limitations. These limitations can sometimes be self-imposed, where we convince ourselves that we are unable to perform as Jews are expected to. But like our ancestors in Egypt, the Exodus is possible and we must do all we can to break free.

And like our ancestors, we hope and pray every day for the final redemption from the current exile, with the coming of Moshiach!

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Join us for these awesome community experiences!

Friday, Jan. 7, 6 pm - YJP First Fridays Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/shabbat2022
Fri-Sun, Jan. 14-16 - YJP NYC Shabbat Experience Use promo code CYPENCOUNTER to save - www.cypshabbat.nyc
Monday, Jan. 17, 7:30 pm - Tu B'Shvat Tasteful Tones painting with a professional instructor and Tu B’Shvat twist of fruit, nuts and wine! Use coupon code "advance" to save $8 - RSVP

When Life Knocks You Down

Perhaps you don’t deserve it, but neither did our fathers in Egypt—and G‑d was there for them. He’ll be there for you, too. more…

Shabbos Parshas Bo

Friday, January 7, Shevat 5
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:20 pm
Torah Study
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for First Fridays 2022 edition - www.yjphouston.org/shabbat2020

Shabbos, January 8, Shevat 6
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by lunch kiddush and farbrengen in honor of 10 Shevat
Mincha at 5:20 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:18 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, Jan. 9, Shevat 7 - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Fri., Jan. 10-14, Shevat 8-12 - Shacharis at 6:45 am

Have a good Shabbos!