ב"ה

Updates

Thoughts, notes and happenings...

Chabad of Uptown and personal diary updates! Please comment on our posts, we would love to hear from you!

last week to register

Friday, December 30, 2022 - 11:33 AM

This week we entered the month of Tevet, which the Talmud describes as the coldest month of the year, with the only way to keep warm being body heat – i.e., by being in close contact with others and keeping each other warm.

This quality takes on unique significance in a Hakhel year, a year of gathering, when Jews around the world are making efforts to gather at every possible occasion

Whenever Jews come together, we automatically become stronger and warmer. This is true any time Jews gather, but it is especially so when we come together in the spirit of Hakhel – uniting to hear words of Torah and with the purpose of enhancing our collective Jewish life.

So next time you look outside and it feels cold or dark, remember that all you need to do is join or host a Hakhel event, and your soul will become warm and vibrant!

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

P.S. Check out the report in the JHV of the YJP Houston fire and snow social!

Fast of Asara B'Teves - This Tuesday, Jan. 3 is Teves 10. It is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance, in remembrance of the siege of Jerusalem. We refrain from food and drink from daybreak (in Houston at 5:57 am) to nightfall (6:02 pm), and add the Selichos and other special supplements to our prayers. More recently, Teves 10 was chosen to also serve as a "general kaddish day" for the victims of the Holocaust, many of whose day of martyrdom is unknown. Links: Learn about Tevet 10, Essays and Stories on the Holocaust

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 6, 6:00 pm - YJP Houston First Fridays 2023 - Bring in 2023 other Young Jewish Professionals over Shabbat Dinner! www.yjphouston.org/shabbat2023
Jan. 13-15 - ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER! Join our CYP Shabbaton to NYC! As we have hit a Hakhel sized group you can now use coupon code "YJPHouston" for the half price $200 rate, a $200 savings! Can not be used in conjunction with the $50 "refer a friend" promotion. www.cypshabbat.nyc

Our sincere condolences to Dr. Margaret Spitz-Berman and the entire Berman family on the passing of their husband, father and grandfather, Dr. Louis Berman, Lev ben Yitzchak, o.b.m.

Shabbos Parshas Vayigash

Friday, December 30, 6 Teves
Candle Lighting and Mincha at 5:14 pm
Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, December 31, 7 Teves
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush sposnored by Dr. Jose and Dr. Viviane Cohen
Mincha at 5:15 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:12 pm
Kiddush Levana

Sunday, January 1, 8 Teves
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Mon.-Fri., Jan. 2-6, 9-13 Teves
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Tuesday, January 3, Fast of Asara B'Teves
Fast Begins at 5:57 am
Shacharis with Selichos and special Torah Reading at 6:45 am
Mincha with special Torah reading at 5:00 pm
Maariv and Fast Ends at 6:02 pm

Good Shabbos!

it's snowing in Houston, again?

Friday, December 23, 2022 - 1:38 PM

When lighting the Chanukah candles, the original mitzvah was for each family to light one candle each night of the holiday. Those choosing to enhance their observance, says the Talmud, would light one candle for each member of the household. An additional enhancement calls for every person to light their own candle and to increase the amount of candles each night to correspond with the day of Chanukah.

So although one can technically fulfill the mitzvah with a minimum of one candle a night per family, almost nobody settles for that today.

May the enhanced light of Chanukah serve as a springboard for going the extra mile with all the other mitzvahs too, which will help hasten the ultimate enhanced light, the coming of Moshiach.

Good Shabbos, Good Chodesh and happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Chanukah with Chabad of Uptown
Over 250 kicked off Chanukah with 10,000 lbs of snow at this year's annual Post Oak Menorah Lighting in cooperation with the Uptown Houston District. Consul of Israel to the Southwest, Hon. Elad Shoshan lit the 12 foot menorah at the event, produced by Chabad of Uptown and sponsored in part by Allegiance Bank. Revelers played in the snow, enjoyed hot latkes, fresh sufganiyot, Chanukah sand art and a Dreidel prize wheel. Adding excitement to the celebration, the car menorah parade drove by as it made its way from Southwest Houston to Houston City Hall. Credits: Hagit Bibi Photography, Laykies Gourmet Doughnuts. Check out the report in the JHV here.

Chanukah with YJP Houston
YJP Houston hosted a third light Chanukah Fire and Snow social for 100 young professionals with dinner, gelt s'mores and bites around the fire. Consul of Israel to the Southwest Hon. Elad Shoshan helped light the giant menorah embedded in 10,000 pounds of snow.

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 6, 6:00 pm - YJP Houston First Fridays 2023 - Bring in 2023 other Young Jewish Professionals over Shabbat Dinner! www.yjphouston.org/shabbat2023
Jan. 13-15 - Join our CYP Shabbaton to NYC! Amazing News!!! As we have hit a Hakhel sized group you can now use coupon code "YJPHouston" for the half price $200 rate, a $200 savings! Can not be used in conjunction with the $50 "refer a friend" promotion. www.cypshabbat.nyc

Mazel tov to Danielle Resh and Noam Fisher on their engagement!

Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Chanukah Parshas Mikeitz

Friday, December 23, 29 Kislev, Sixth light
Chanukah Candles before Shabbos Candle Lighting at 5:10 pm
Mincha & Torah Study
Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos Rosh Chodesh I, Chanukah, December 24, 30 Kislev
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Chanukah Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 5:10 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:07 pm
In Shul: Chanukah Candles then Havdalla
At home: Havdalla then Chanukah Candles

Sunday, Rosh Chodesh II, December 25, 1 Teves
Shacharis at 8:00 am
Followed by monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast

Mon., Dec. 26, 2 Teves, Last Day "Zos" Chanukah
Shacharis at 6:45 am with Hallel and Torah Reading

Tues.-Fri., Dec. 27-30, 2-6 Teves
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Good Shabbos, Good Chodesh and Happy Chanukah!

check out chanie crushing it on TV... (video)

Friday, December 16, 2022 - 12:55 PM

Milestone! For the first time ever, Chanie joined in studio to talk about Chanukah on Fox 26 Houston with Melissa Wilson! Check out the replay here! Join us for Chabad of Uptown's Chanukah events this Sunday and Tuesday!

Sun. Dec. 18, 4:30 pm - Chanukah in the Snow - Community Hakhel Post Oak Menorah Lighting www.chabaduptown.org/snow
Tues. Dec. 20, 7:30 pm - Chanukah Fire & Snow - Young Jewish Professionals 20s & 30s party in style around the fire in snow (yes, SNOW) with gelt s'mores, hot cocoa, drinks and music. Dinner Buffet, Sufganiyot & Latkes www.yjphouston.org/snow

Thought for the week:

This week Chabad communities around the world celebrated a holiday known simply as “Yud-Tes Kislev”—the 19th of Kislev, the anniversary of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi’s release from Czarist prison.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman, also known as the Alter Rebbe, referred to his imprisonment as a spiritual challenge to his work of bringing the teachings of Jewish mysticism to the masses, and for a time he actually considered stopping as a result. But then he discovered that not only was it not a reason to stop, but ultimately it is what propelled him to keep growing the Chabad movement, disseminating his teachings further than before.

This is similar to what occurred to Joseph, son of Jacob, about whom we read about in this week’s Torah portion. He was sold into slavery, but instead of disappearing and losing his identity, he thrived and grew until he became defacto ruler of Egypt.

The same message can be found in Chanukah, which starts this Sunday night. The menorah in the Temple was kindled with pure olive oil. The way the oil is extracted from an olive is by crushing it, destroying the olive. But instead of disappearing, the oil now brings light and warmth to the world around it.

So be like an olive—turn your challenges into opportunities for growth and light!

Good Shabbos and happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

P.S. Are you an #ambassadoroflight? Come by Chabad to get a menorah and share one with friend! Together, let's make sure that every Jewish home in Houston is filled with the light of Chanukah!

Upcoming Events:

Sun. Dec. 18, 4:30 pm - Chanukah in the Snow - Community Hakhel Post Oak Menorah Lighting www.chabaduptown.org/snow
Tues. Dec. 20, 7:30 pm - Chanukah Fire & Snow - Young Jewish Professionals 20s & 30s party in style around the fire in snow (yes, SNOW) with gelt s'mores, hot cocoa, drinks and music. Dinner Buffet, Sufganiyot & Latkes www.yjphouston.org/snow
Jan. 6, 6:00 pm - YJP Houston First Fridays 2023 - Bring in 2023 other Young Jewish Professionals over Shabbat Dinner! www.yjphouston.org/shabbat2023
Jan. 13-15 - Join our CYP Shabbaton to NYC! Amazing News!!! As we have hit a Hakhel sized group you can now use coupon code "YJPHouston" for the half price $200 rate, a $200 savings! Can not be used in conjunction with the $50 "refer a friend" promotion. www.cypshabbat.nyc

Mazel tov Ryan and Michelle Melnik on the birth of a baby daughter, Galit Jaya Melnik! Mazel tov to the entire Melnik and Mizrahi families!

Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev

Friday, December 16, 22 Kislev
Mincha and Candle Lighting at 5:07 pm
Torah Study
Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Sponsored in part by Yonatan & Liora Tzion

Shabbos December 17, 23 Kislev
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush sponsored by Rafael Levy marking the yartzeit and in memory of his mother, Regina bas Ruchama
Mincha at 5:05 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:04 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, December 18, 24 Kislev, Erev Chanukah
Shacharis at 8:00 am
COMMUNITY at 4:30 pm: Chanukah in the Snow www.chabaduptown.org/snow

Mon.-Fri., Dec. 19-23, 25-29 Kislev, Chanukah Days 1-5
Shacharis at 6:45 am with Hallel and Torah Reading

Good Shabbos!

are you an ambassador of light?

Friday, December 9, 2022 - 1:44 PM

Picture this: Jacob traveling with his entire family and all his property – animals and manpower – hoping to arrive and settle in the Holy Land. Considering their large footprint, when Jacob realized he had left a few small, empty jugs on a riverbank, it would have been totally understandable if he'd have written them off as a loss. In the big picture, leaving them behind makes perfect sense.

But in Jacob's mind, nothing and no one is insignificant. If it exists, it has a purpose. So he went back, himself, to collect the forgotten jugs. He didn't send a child or a servant, because he knew that if he wanted it done with the proper attention, he had to be the one to make it happen.

Let’s continue in Jacob's footsteps, paying attention to even the smallest detail in the world around us, using everything—even a small, empty jug—to prepare the world for the coming of Moshiach. May it happen speedily, in our days.

Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

P.S. Are you an #ambassadoroflight? Come by Chabad to get a menorah and share one with friend! Together, let's make sure that every Jewish home in Houston is filled with the light of Chanukah!

Upcoming Events:

Wed. Dec. 14, 8 pm: YJP Houston PreChanukah - Launch party for Hakhel year of "Ambassadors of Light" project! Get a menorah kit and candles for yourself and to share with others! Graduation ceremony of the CYP Academy Happiness course.
Sun. Dec. 18, 4:30 pm - Chanukah in the Snow - Community Hakhel Post Oak Menorah Lighting www.chabaduptown.org/snow
Tues. Dec. 20, 7:30 pm - Chanukah Fire & Snow - Young Jewish Professionals 20s & 30s party in style around the fire in snow (yes, SNOW) with gelt s'mores, hot cocoa, drinks and music. Dinner Buffet, Sufganiyot & Latkes www.yjphouston.org/snow
Jan. 13-15 - Join our CYP Shabbaton to NYC! Amazing News!!! As we have hit a Hakhel sized group you can now use coupon code "YJPHouston" for the half price $200 rate, a $200 savings! Can not be used in conjunction with the $50 "refer a friend" promotion. www.cypshabbat.nyc

Mazel tov the marriage of Rabbi Chaim's nephew from College Station, Rabbi Menachem & Moussie (Feller) Lazaroff!

Shabbos Parshas Vayishlach

Friday, December 9, 15 Kislev
Mincha and Candle Lighting at 5:05 pm
Torah Study
Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos December 10, 16 Kislev
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush sponsored by Rafi Benjaminov marking the yartzeits in memory of his grandmothers, Margalit Rachel bas Adina, a"h (15 Kislev) and Tova bas Rochel, a"h (17 Kislev)
Mincha at 5:05 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:02 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, December 11, 17 Kislev
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Mon.-Fri., Dec. 12-16, 18-22 Kislev
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Tuesday & Wednesday, Dec. 19-20 Kislev
Rosh Hashana of Chassidus www.chabaduptown.org/335659

Good Shabbos!

overcoming adversity, mitzvos - bday vibes

Friday, December 2, 2022 - 9:19 AM

Throughout his life, our forefather Jacob encountered some of the first anti-Jewish sentiment in history, and in his case it was literally family: his brother Esau and his father-in-law Laban. Both wished him harm, but neither succeeded.

Esau wanted to kill Jacob and Laban wanted to swindle him out of his rightful earnings. Jacob overcame their adversity because he refused to play their game. He did not allow his survival to hinge on putting others down and pointing fingers. Instead of blaming others for his problems, he focused on being the most successful servant of G‑d he could be.

We inherited this spirit from our forefather, and with each passing generation the Jewish people get better at it. As a nation, we have had good times and better times. And there have been times of terrible suffering. Yet even when things look bleak and we feel—rightfully—that the entire world is against us, giving up is not in our DNA. Jacob didn’t do it, and we certainly won't.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Message from Chanie:
Thank you to all the ladies who came out to celebrate my birthday! It was a beautiful Hakhel fabrengen of women from across the community.... May Hashem bless each and every one of you with good health, prosperity, happiness, serenity, nachas and fulfillment, physically, emotionally and spiritually!

Rabbi Asher and Henya Federman are the shluchim/Chabad emissaries in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. They have dedicated their lives to their beautiful community.

Henya was in a terrible accident and their baby did not make it. She is the mother of thank G-d, 13 children, and the Rebbetzin of her loving community.

Please take on a mitzvah in her honor, let’s storm the heavens!

We need Moshiach. There's a special website to share the mitzvot being done in Henya's merit.

https://onemitzvah.org/mitzvahforhenya

Upcoming Events:

Fri. Dec. 2, 6 pm - Chinese Shabbat Dec. First Fridayswww.yjphouston.org/chinese
Sat, Dec 3, 8:00 pm Chanukah Book Trail at Market Square Park in cooperation with the Houston Downtown Management District, 301 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002 - Walk the 18-step book trail - a visual & audio walking experience bringing the Chanukah story to life! Enjoy Chanukah music, crafts and prizes!
Wednesday Dec. 7, 8 pm - YJP Houston CYP Academy: Stop Chasing Happiness - An intellectually exciting journey into your own mind and psyche. Relevant and fascinating topics, paired with delectable dinner. - Click here to register.
Wed. Dec. 14, 8 pm: YJP Houston PreChanukah - Launch party for Hakhel year of "Ambassadors of Light" project! Get a menorah kit and candles for yourself and to share with others! Graduation ceremony of the CYP Academy Happiness course.
Sun. Dec. 18, 4:30 pm - Chanukah in the Snow - Community Hakhel Post Oak Menorah Lighting www.chabaduptown.org/snow
Tues. Dec. 20, 7:30 pm - Chanukah Fire & Snow - Young Jewish Professionals 20s & 30s party in style around the fire in snow (yes, SNOW) with gelt s'mores, hot cocoa, drinks and music. Dinner Buffet, Sufganiyot & Latkes www.yjphouston.org/snow
Jan. 13-15 - Join our CYP Shabbaton to NYC! Amazing News!!! As we have hit a Hakhel sized group you can now use coupon code "YJPHouston" for the half price $200 rate, a $200 savings! Can not be used in conjunction with the $50 "refer a friend" promotion. www.cypshabbat.nyc

Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei

Friday, December 2, 8 Kislev
Mincha and Candle Lighting at 5:04 pm
Torah Study
Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Chinese Dec. First Fridays Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/chinese

Shabbos December 3, Tes Kislev
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush
Mincha at 5:05 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:00 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, December 4, Yud Kislev
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Mon.-Fri., Dec. 5-9, 11-15 Kislev
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Good Shabbos!

Looking for older posts? See the sidebar for the Archive.