Updates

This year Chanukah and Thanksgiving overlap for the first time since 1918, (1945 for us proud Texans) and is scheduled not to overlap again until 2070. This year we will have a unique overlap of two holidays to thank Hashem for being free. Free from the persecution of our enemies and free to live in America, the land of promise and liberty.

As we approach the end of 2013, when we thank Hashem for these liberties on Thanksgiving and the Jewish festival of Chanukah, I hope you will find it within your kind heart to come forward and help us reach our financial goals. 

We are excited to announce that an anonymous friend has agreed to match dollar for dollar up to $7,200 to help us reach our $30,000 year-end goal to balance our annual budget. That mean each $1r your contribute is really worth $2!

Chabad of Uptown has an annual expense (only) budget of $280,000, 100% of which Chanie & I must raise. It’s you, your family and friends that make this possible. 

Many people have asked how they can best help support our dynamic and growing community. We're particularly touched by this desire to help, because it’s only through your support that we can provide:

• Exquisite High Holiday services and meals
• Sukkot Dinners & Passover Seders
• Shabbat Dinners
• Campus, Young Adults & Professionals Programs
• Community Study and social opportunities
• Seniors & Volunteer Partnerships
• Holiday parties and events
• Mezuzah, Matzah, Sukkah and mitzvah campaigns and so much more

As you consider the many fine organizations and endeavors which merit your support, please consider Chabad of Uptown as you make your year-end giving decisions. Your tax-deductible charitable donation will create more light this year and in the years ahead, ensuring a strong and proud Jewish future.

To make an operational or capital campaign donation, visit: www.chabaduptownorg/donate. To become a monthly recurring donor, as many have recently done, please check off the "recurring" checkbox. 

We hope you will join us for our Chanukah party, Coin Menorah Celebration. For more information and to RSVP visit www.chabaduptown.org/coin . 

Thank you for your consideration and support, 

Rabbi Chaim

P.S. If you’d like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, stock transfers, foundations or just get a better picture of our overall financial and operational structure, please contact me and I’d be happy to set up a time to meet.

Shechyanu, vkimanu, vhigianu lazman hazeh!

On January 6, 2011 we began an indescribable journey every Thursday through the life altering wisdom of the Tanya. The Tanya is "a longer, shorter way" of a roadmap for life, that actually gets you to where you want to go. In perfect timing, today, our noon class concluded a three year intense study of the Alter Rebbe's magnificent work of Likkutei Amarim, the 53 chapter, first section of the Tanya. This evening marks the "Rosh Hashana of Chassidus", the day the Alter Rebbe was released from prison and embarked on a new era to disemminate his teachings with even greater strength.

Our sages teach, Mtalmidai yoser m'kulam - from students one learns more than from all. I certainly am familiar with the pages, ideas and teachings of the Tanya, it is after all the central work of Chabad Chassidic thought. But, truth be told, I must confess that I have never had the opportunity to study the Tanya is such depth and comprehension. I thank all the participants from the bottom of my heart for giving me the gift of Tanya.

The noon class will continue with the following sections of the Tanya and the evening class will also conclude the section of Likkutei Amarim shortly. It is never "too late" to join the class as we make sure you that you can jump in at any time. Join us!

Marking this special day, we dedicate this weekend together with Chassidim worldwide to joyfully celebratetonight (at 7:30 pm 10900 Fondren Rd), Friday and Shabbos as the Rosh Hashanah ("new year") of Chassidism, with farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings) and an increased commitment to the ways and teachings of Chassidism. We will explore greater insights, teachings and inspiration from these special days.

We thank Linda Suib and Danny & Rivka Fishman for graciously sponsoring the Uptown Menorah that stands proudly in Post Oak Park at Post Oak & Uptown Park Blvd (near the Starbucks). The Post Oak lights night will now be lit up with the message of Chanukah.

The Chabad of Uptown sponsored Chanukah event challenges the community to assist homebound seniors by filling our giant Menorah charity box with coins! We are getting close! Please collect your loose change, (or make some :)) and bring in over to drop it in! Please RSVP for the all you can eat buffet and crafts for the kidsat www.chabaduptown.org/coin. Read all about it in the Jewish Herald Voice and see our son Mendel's commercial of Houston Rockets Omri Casspi dropping in some coins (after his Torah study) and asking you to do so as well!

Check out the over sixteen events throughout Chanukah all over the Houston area, check out www.chabadhouston.com/menorah.

Most notable (or better read "Don't miss these"!):

Nov 27: Hoops & Hanukkah with the Houston Rockets & Meet & Greet with Omri Casspi 
Nov 28: Chanukah Float will join the annual Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade! If you join, pls tag your pictures on social media with #HanukkahFloatHOU 
Dec 1: Chanukah Coin Menorah Celebration benefits homebound seniors at Chabad of Uptown 
Dec 4: "Galleria Lights" beautiful Lone Star Menorah between Macy's & Nordstroms

Shabbos Parshas Vayeshev

Friday, November 22 
Services at 6:30 pm 
Candle Lighting at 5:05 pm

Shabbos, November 23 
Preprayer Kabbala Study at 9 am 
Services at 10 am 
Followed by kiddush & Yud Tes-Chof Kislev Farbrengen 
Mincha at 5:05 pm 
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos Ends at 6:02 pm 
Living Torah

Sunday, November 24 
Shacharis at 8:30 am 
The real BLT - Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9 am

Have a Good Yom Tov and a Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

What a beautiful Shabbos celebrating Dan's bar mitzvah with Uptown and Melnik family & friends!! Mazeltov!!!

Some friends got together to surprise Chanie for her birthday. What a treat (and the pizza was great)! :)

By popular demand, we have introduced a new shiur on the weekly Parsha. Study the week's Torah portion as illuminated with classic and mystical teachings making the parshah relevant and compelling! Every Tuesday at noon. Contact us for more info and to RSVP.

The Uptown Houston District has invited Chabad of Uptown to sponsor a nine foot menorah display on Post Oak Blvd! We are looking for a $1500 sponsor of this beautiful menorah to bring the message of Chanukah to the major Post Oak thoroughfare of Uptown. www.chabaduptown.org/donate

Chanukah at the Rockets with Omri Casspi! There only a few tickets left to be part of the first 250! Get yours now at www.chanukahinhouston.com

The menorah has begun to fill! If you have been to Chabad recently you may have seen our giant translucent menorah in preparation for our Thanks & Giving Chanukah event! Please collect (or trade cash in for) coins to help us meet our challenge! You can also help sponsor the event, Shamash or Menorah branch. Check it all out atwww.chabaduptown.org/coin. Read the Jewish Herald Voice publishednews story here.

Next Thursday evening, Nov 21, is the Chassidic Holiday of 19 Kislev, the "New Year" of Chassidisim. Please join us at 7:30 pm for a special program and farbrengen with Rabbi Mendel Dubrawsky of Dallas at the Chabad Lubavitch Center, 10900 Fondren Road. Click here for more information. (Thursday evening class will move there).

Someone sent me this image to the left. I am intrigued by its message and have been seeking a nice caption. How about:

Ignorance is bliss. 
Knowledge can be dark & destructive. 
True wisdom reaches the heavens.

Or perhaps:

Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge.

What do you think?

PARSHAH: Feminine Leadership and Modesty

There is only one incident of sexual abuse that is recorded explicitly in the Torah. It is quite a tragic read, and the repercussions are curiously significant. more...

Shabbos Parshas Vayishlach 

Friday, November 15
Services at 6:30 pm 
Candle Lighting at 5:08 pm

Shabbos, November 16 
Preprayer Kabbala Study at 9 am
Services at 10 am 
Followed by kiddush
Mincha at 5:10 pm 
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos Ends at 6:03 pm 
Living Torah

Sunday, November 17 
Shacharis at 8:30 am 
The real BLT - Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9 am

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Jewish Herald Voice - Nov. 15, 2013 - By Menachem Posner
Campaign to fill giant translucent coin Menorah to benefit homebound & seniors

For the first time in living memory, the first day of Chanukah coincides with national celebration of Thanksgiving—a point that is not going unnoticed at Chabad of Uptown, where Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff is overseeing the creation of a “Thanks & Giving Menorah,” which is essentially a giant translucent eight-branched charity collector.

Every Chanukah, Chabad of Uptown celebrates in style with another unique menorah. In 2008 it was a CANorah, built out of food cans that were used to feed the hungry. It was followed by menorahs fashioned from chocolate, flowers, and ice—and even a glow-in-the-dark menorah.

Chabad of Uptown’s Menorah of donated cans to feed the hungry
at a  past Chanukah celebration 

“Rabbi Chaim and Chanie always make it exceptional,” says Valerie Katz, who has been attending Chabad of Uptown Chanukah celebrations with her husband and two children for years. “The celebration always has a very warm spiritual environment with lots of happiness and laughter. It’s something we look forward to.”

Lazaroff points out that the Chanukah and Thanksgiving have interconnected themes. “Chanukah celebrates the triumph of a small band of righteous Judeans to overcome mighty Rome, a world superpower that tried to squelch their religious rights and cultural identity,” he says. “In that same vein, the pilgrims instituted Thanksgiving to show their gratitude to G-d for bringing them to a secure land and saving them from religious oppression.”

The completed menorah—which is as tall as an average adult and much wider—will be lit on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m. at Chabad of Uptown’s Chanukah celebration, which will feature an all-you-can-eat dinner and lots of Chanukah treats at 4311 Bettis Drive, in Houston. Entry for the celebration is $15 per adult and $8 per child. Sponsorships are available.

The thousands of coins that will fill the menorah will benefit people who are homebound and seniors. To get a charity box to fill with coins please call 713-419-3960. Charity boxes must be returned by Nov. 29 to be included in menorah. www.chabaduptown.org/coin

“To fill a menorah this big with coins is going to take all of our efforts,” says Lazaroff, “so please keep on saving your loose change and ask your friends to do the same. Together, we can make the world a brighter place.”