SHEKALIM: This Shabbos is called "Shabbos Shekalim". When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, each Jew contributed an annual half-shekel to the Temple. The 1st of Adar marked the beginning of the collection of the shekalim. In commemoration, the Torah reading of the Shabbat that falls on or before Adar 1 is supplemented with the verses (Exodus 30:11-16) that relate G-d's commandment to Moses regarding the first giving of the half-shekel. "Parshat Shekalim" is the first of four special readings added during or immediately before the month of Adar (the other three being "Zachor", "Parah" and "Hachodesh") Links: The Shekalim Reading with commentary; Partner; Tzedakah: Charity UPCOMING EVENTS: PARSHA: From Nice to Nasty and Back The person you shared coffee with in the morning is now competition, and you’ll cut him down at the first opportunity.more… Shabbos Shekalim. Mevarchim Adar II, Parshas Vayakhel Friday, February 25, 24 Adar 1 Shabbos, February 26, 25 Adar 1 Sunday, Feb. 27, 26 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 8:00 am Rosh Chodesh Adar II, Thurs. & Fri. March 3-4 - Shacharis at 6:45 am Have a good Shabbos!
UKRAINE: The largest Jewish community center in the world is not based in Israel or the United States. It is the Chabad Menorah Center building below in Dnepropetrovsk Ukraine (birthplace of the Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM) built by Chabad It is one of the many Chabad centers throughout the Ukraine service the approx. 350,000 Jews with over 200 Chabad couples serving 154 communities - including 49 educational centers, 7 orphanages, 32 soup kitchens, synagogues, mikvahs and community centers. Please light Shabbat candles for Ukraine today at 6:00PM, put on tefillin this morning and lets pray for peace in Ukraine - to give directly to the rabbi on the ground in communities of Ukraine 33 cities: www.chabaduptown.org/Ukraine
Candle Lighting, Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
Thiis Shabbos we are celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Dalia Karni! Mazel tov to Ron & Mollie Karni and the entire Karni family!
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos mevarchim lunch kiddush & farbrengen sponsored by Rafi & Etti Benjaminov in memory of his grandfather, Menachem Tzvi ben Sarah, a"h.
Mincha at 6:00 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:55 pm
Living Torah
Mon-Wed., Feb. 28-March 2, 27-29 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 6:45 am
Followed by monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast
Updates
Thoughts, notes and happenings...
Ukraine, Shekels.... Purim is coming!
our mental health
As part of this Shabbos "ShabbatTogether" of inclusion, this Shabbos: I hope you will join us! May Hashem bless each and every one of us with the strength and fortitude to include all we know and to ourselves be in a healthy frame of mind, physically and spiritually! Good Shabbos! UPCOMING EVENTS: Who were the sinners who required Divine forgiveness? more… Shabbos Parshas Ki Sisa Shabbos, February 19, 18 Adar 1 Sunday, Feb. 20, 19 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 8:00 am Have a good Shabbos!
This weekend is a global Shabbat of inclusion awareness, to address those living with mental health challenges and any disability in our communities. I am honored to have been placed in a position to scale the impact of mental health awareness by becoming a Mental Health First Aid instructor a few years ago for the local Houston community thanks to the encouragement and facilitation of the JFS. The in person limitations of 2020 then allowed MHFA to be taught virtually and I was then able to also reach my Chabad colleagues, Shluchim & Shluchos - the Rabbis and Rebbetzins of Chabad. This past Monday I taught another 30 Rebbetzins with co-instructor Gittel Francis of JFS, bringing the total of 196 Rabbis and Rabbetzins trained in MHFA. Just two weeks ago two of these Rabbis reported literally saving someone from the brink of suicide using this life saving knowledge.
Friday, February 18, 17 Adar 1
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:55 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by lunch kiddush
Mincha at 5:55 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:50 pm
Living Torah
Mon-Fri., Feb. 21-25, 20-25 Adar I - Shacharis at 6:45 am
we took a road trip
It is true, the very same sun that sets in Houston, sets in Austin. It's just from a different perspective. A sunset can bring a disappointing darkness or a beautiful serenity. It all depends on our perspective. The Jewish people would setup and take down the mishkan in the desert, even if only for one day, or only overnight until they moved to another location. Each location of the 42 encampments were from another perspective. It may have seemed like a waste of effort in the moment, however, that is what is key - to appreciate and harness the moment as a place of uplifting power, holiness and strength making it a great day today and even better tomorrow! May we all see the blessings in all of our lives to be present and a realized beautiful sunset! Rabbi Chaim & Chanie UPCOMING EVENTS: Mazel tov Baruch & Shani on their marriage! Condolences to Maria Itkin on the passing of her mother, Inna bas Volf Sabitova in Solnechnogorsk (outside of Moscow). Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh Friday, February 11, 10 Adar 1 Shabbos, February 12, 11 Adar 1 Sunday, Feb. 13, 12 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 8:00 am Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan: Feb. 15-16 Have a good Shabbos!
The kids were home this week for some quality family time. On a whim we headed out to Austin, with the older kids to spend some time together. What did we do there? Oh, we went to watch the sunset at Mt Bonnell, with a mandatory Texas road trip stop at Buccees and UT Chabad and then - we came right back!
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:50 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by "Shabbat Chatan" lunch kiddush and sheva brachot in honor of the marriage of Baruch & Shani!
Mincha at 5:50 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:45 pm
Kiddush Levana
Living Torah
Mon-Fri., Feb. 14-18, 13-17 Adar I - Shacharis at 6:45 am
how to get rid of depression
This week we kicked off a wonderful period of the Jewish year, that doesn't happen every year. This year, the joyous month of Adar is doubled, and it will last for 60 days, as we are in a Jewish leap year (which requires an additional month to ensure that Pesach is in the spring).
In 1992, which was also a leap year, the Rebbe compared these 60 days of joy to the halachic concept of “nullification by 60.” In certain cases, if a drop of non-kosher food falls into a pot of kosher food, as long as the offending material is less than 1/60th of the total volume of food, it is nullified, and the food remains kosher.
Since Adar is the month of Purim—the holiday when we celebrate the transformation from sorrow to joy—the entire month is a month of happiness, with the opportunity to transform the negative aspects of our lives into positive ones.
Sometimes the transformation still has remnants from the past, but in a year of two Adars, with 60 days of joy, we have the opportunity to completely nullify the negativity, leaving absolutely no remnant.
May the transformation and nullification of all negativity in our lives lead to the ultimate transformation—the coming of Moshiach the final Redemption!
PARHSA: Why Read the Ketubah at the Wedding?
A ketubah is far from (just) a contract of love. In fact, it’s pretty much the exact opposite. more…
Shabbos Parshas Teruma
Friday, February 4, 3 Adar 1
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 5:44 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP First Fridays Souper Shabbat Dinner - www.yjphouston.org/soup
Shabbos, February 5, 4 Adar 1
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos lunch kiddush
Mincha at 5:45 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:40 pm
Living Torah
Sunday, Feb. 6, 5 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Fri., Feb. 7-11, 6-10 Adar I - Shacharis at 6:45 am
Have a good Shabbos!