Updates

 ON A PERSONAL NOTE

We are looking forward to celebrating our family Seder along with the community, on both nights of Pesach! The seder is a very special moment for us as all of our children will be in town, as well as family and special guests, that includes you! We actually don't have unlimited space and we will have to close bookings at some point. So please don't delay and make sure you can be a part of it! Book now  www.chabaduptown.org/seder and don't be disappointed.

This week, Rabbi Chaim and Bluma went to NY to visit the Ohel in honor of her Bas Mitzvah and to bake Matzah for the family. It really begins to make Pesach feel real with the regular chanting of "Lshem Matzos Mitzvah" and the rush to get the matzah in the oven, and let's do it quick! :) - VIDEO of RC kneading the dough

THOUGHT FOR THE PARSHA

This week we begin reading the Book of Leviticus, which focuses primarily on the various sacrifices offered regularly in the Temple.

Although today, in the absence of a Temple, there are no physical sacrifices, our sages teach that studying the laws of the sacrifices and praying three times a day help us accomplish the same things our ancestors did through animal offerings—connection with the One Above.

At the same time, we shouldn't be content with this substitute; we must pray every day for the coming of Moshiach, who will rebuild the Temple and reinstate the daily service in its most pristine fashion. And our studies and daily prayers are what will hurry this along and bring it about very soon!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

This year's Houston's Kosher Chili Cookoff was a great success! Great  chili, great times, and team tefillin certainly wins!

Pesach is coming, April 5-13! Our Pesach website and seder RSVP is now open! www.chabaduptown.org/pesach2023

• Sell your chametz now! www.chabaduptown.org/chametz
• Order handmade Shmurah matzah www.chabaduptown.org/ordermatzah
• RSVP for the Seder www.chabaduptown.org/sederrsvp
• Complete Pesach candle lighting and service schedule www.chabaduptown.org/pesachschedule

Upcoming Events:

• Wed. March 29. 8 pm  - Ambassador of Freedom of Matzah Pre-Pesach Launch Party hosted by Bracha Gandjian. Young Professionals are encouraged to please join in this beautiful mitzvah of giving out matzah. Reach out to Bracha if you'd like to join / be a Jr ambassador of freedom! More info and contact Bracha here...
• Wednesday & Thursday, April 5-6 - The Uptown Seders - Learn from our ancestors! Gather with new and old friends to experience an authentic Pesach Seder with Uptown Flare! www.chabaduptown.org/seder
• Friday, April 7 - First Fridays - Pesach Edition - What is different this First Fridays from all other First Fridays? It’s Pesach! Join Young Jewish Professionals Pesach Shabbat, of course with crunchy matzah and choice wine / grape juice with Young Jewish Professionals, ages 21-39. www.yjphouston.org/pesachfirstfridays
• Thursday, April 13 - Moshiach Seudah - Mystical Seder Grand Pesach Closing - Enjoy wine and matzah, discuss words of Torah and inspirational stories, sing Chassidic melodies, and find out why this final day of Pesach has a special energy related to the coming of Moshiach. www.chabaduptown.org/3967478
• May 3-7 Antigua Guatemala Trip - An adventurous weekend of nature, soulfulness, and connection with fellow young Jewish professionals.  www.yjphouston.org/guatemala

Shabbos Parshas Vayikra

Friday, March 24, 2 Nissan
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 7:18 pm
Services at 7:30 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, March 25, 3 Nissan
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Say the Nassi for 3 Nissan
Followed by Lunch Kiddush 
Torah Study of Rebbe's teachings at 6 pm
Mincha at 7:15 pm
Laws of Pesach
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 8:12 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, March 26, 4 Nissan
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Mon.-Fri., March 27-31, 5-9 Nissan
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Good Shabbos!

This Shabbos we read the fourth in a series of special Torah readings. In preparation for Pesach (yes, it’s around the corner…) we read about the first time the Jews celebrated the holiday, while still in Egypt.

The reading begins with the commandment to establish a Jewish calendar, and only once that’s done can holidays be observed. Instead of Hashem simply telling us when to observe them, He tells us to establish the calendar and determine when the holidays are to be observed.

In doing so, G‑d makes us His partner in Creation. He made the world, but He expects us to keep it going by performing mitzvahs and owning it. Every mitzvah we do, starting with the very first one of keeping holidays on specific dates, is how we connect with G‑d and partner with Him in this special project called Creation.

Of course, the ultimate goal of our partnership with G‑d is to make the world a home where G‑d is comfortable, ready to welcome Moshiach and a time of true perfection, may it be very soon!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

This Shabbos has a whole list of special moments:

• Shabbos Mevarchim, we bless the new month of Nissan. We will read the entire tehillim and bless the new month with great fanfare and have a lunch kiddush and farbrengen sponsored in memory of מנחם צבי בן שרה ז״ל by his daughter Chana Benjaminov, Rafi and family.
• Chazak! - We complete the Chumash of Shemos with the combined Parsha of Vayakhel-Pekudei and the customary pronouncement of Chazak with great fanfare! 
• Parshas Hachodesh - We take out a second Torah to read this special section that sets the tone for the Jewish calendar.
• 25 Adar is the birthday of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah, wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. On her first birthday after her passing in 1988, the Rebbe initiated an international birthday campaign, urging people to celebrate their birthdays and utilize the day as a time of introspection and making resolutions involving an increase in good deeds. When is your Jewish birthday?
• Shabbos day is now longer, we will therefore be bringing back the weekly study of the Rebbe's talks, approx. an hour before Mincha.
• Laws of Pesach We will prepare and review the practical laws of Pesach between Mincha & Maariv on Shabbos afternoon.

This week with Chabad

• The Jewish Herald Voice published a report on YJP Houston's volunteering: The power of giving: YJP Houston brings Purim to seniors Purim is a time to come together and celebrate with community. However, for some, participating in Purim festivities can be difficult. This is particularly true for homebound seniors, who may not have the ability to attend community events or participate in traditional Purim activities. That’s where the volunteers of YJP Houston come in. Read more.
• JHV also published Purim photos and brief captions for the Chabad of Uptown megillah reading with the Israel Consul, Livia Link-raviv, the community Purim in the Lab party and YJP Houston Purim out of this World. Click on the links for the photo and report.
• We had an amazing Networking Oil & Gas Summit Wednesday night! YJP Houston produced a business networking event, with a focus on oil and gas, featuring business powerhouses Norman Lazarus and Andy Serotta. The young Jewish professionals had an opportunity to hear from these Jewishly engaged and successful entrepreneurs and network with others to further their own life goals. Check out the photos here.

Pesach is coming, April 5-13! Our Pesach website and seder RSVP is now open! www.chabaduptown.org/pesach2023

• Sell your chametz now! www.chabaduptown.org/chametz
• Order handmade Shmurah matzah www.chabaduptown.org/ordermatzah
• RSVP for the Seder www.chabaduptown.org/sederrsvp
• Complete Pesach candle lighting and service schedule www.chabaduptown.org/pesachschedule

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday & Thursday, April 5-6 - The Uptown Seders - Learn from our ancestors! Gather with new and old friends to experience an authentic Pesach Seder with Uptown Flare! www.chabaduptown.org/seder
• Friday, April 7 - First Fridays - Pesach Edition - What is different this First Fridays from all other First Fridays? It’s Pesach! Join Young Jewish Professionals Pesach Shabbat, of course with crunchy matzah and choice wine / grape juice with Young Jewish Professionals, ages 21-39. www.yjphouston.org/pesachfirstfridays
• Thursday, April 13 - Moshiach Seudah - Mystical Seder Grand Pesach Closing - Enjoy wine and matzah, discuss words of Torah and inspirational stories, sing Chassidic melodies, and find out why this final day of Pesach has a special energy related to the coming of Moshiach. www.chabaduptown.org/3967478
• May 3-7 Antigua Guatemala Trip - An adventurous weekend of nature, soulfulness, and connection with fellow young Jewish professionals.  www.yjphouston.org/guatemala

Mazel tov Josh & Meira Young on the birth of a baby girl, Florence Ruth!

Shabbos Mevarchim Nissan, Chazak & Hachodesh, Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei

Friday, March 17, 24 Adar
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 7:13 pm
Services at 7:30 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, March 18, 25 Adar
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Mevarchim Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen sponsored in memory of מנחם צבי בן שרה ז״ל by his daughter Chana Benjaminov, Rafi and family.
Torah Study of Rebbe's teachings at 6 pm
Mincha at 7:15 pm
Laws of Pesach
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 8:07 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, March 19, 26 Adar
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Mon.-Fri., March 20-24, 27 Adar-2 Nissan
Shacharis at 6:45 am
Thursday, March 23, Rosh Chodesh Nissan Shacharis & monthly breakfast

Good Shabbos!

In addition to the regular Torah portion this week, we also read a special portion about the laws of the Red Heifer. Anyone who came into contact with a dead body would have to undergo a ritual purification process before being allowed to enter the Temple. Part of this process included being sprinkled with a mixture of water and ashes of the Red Heifer. (Related Links: The Parah reading with commentary; The Calf's Mother).

Interestingly, those involved in preparing the mixture would themselves become impure. Not the same level of impurity as the person they were purifying, but nonetheless impure.

Becoming impure when helping someone else become pure is somewhat of a dichotomy. But the lesson is clear: sometimes it takes getting a little dirty yourself to help someone else get clean. Helping others takes sacrifice, but the reward at the end is immense.

Being there for others is always rewarding, even if it means giving up some of your own comforts along the way.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Purim Report:

• We read the megillah a total of nine times over Purim for young and old!
• The Jewish Herald Voice featured Cory Weinberg's largest gragger on the front page of this week's paper along with a lovely Texas pride article for Thursday, March 9, 2023 By Judy Bluestein Levin: Everything’s bigger - and noisier - in Texas: Houstonian creates World’s largest solo-operation grogger. New Jersey is home to the world’s largest dreidel. New York claims the biggest matzah ball. And now, Houston is home to the world’s largest grogger operated by one person. Complete JHV Article...  | Fox 26 News | Chabad.org | Anash.org
• YJP Houston's Purim out of the World gathered Houston's finest Young Professionals to enjoy an outer space themed and amazing moments Purim party, featuring the world's largest single operator gragger, virtual reality, life size lite brite, arcade games, music, food and more! Photos by Hagit Bibi.
• Volunteers of YJPHouston read Megillah and lead Purim parties for Israel Consul to the Southwest Liva Link-Raviv and staff, the homebound, seniors at Anthology Tanglewood and Brookdale Galleria! What a mitzvah! Photos
• Community Purim in the Lab was an unforgettable Purim party for the whole family and community, bringing friendship, science and fun together! Megillah Reading, Purim Feast & Carnival. with a great show by Mad Science of Houston! Kids even got to ride the hovercraft! So cool! Check out these photos by Hagit Bibi

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, March 15, 7:30 pm - YJP Houston Oil & Gas Summit and Networking - Bringing together an impressive and powerful group of individuals and Oil & Gas industry Executives. www.yjphouston.org/oilandgas
• Wednesday & Thursday, April 5-6 - The Uptown Seders - Learn from our ancestors! Gather with new and old friends to experience an authentic Pesach Seder with Uptown Flare! www.chabaduptown.org/seder
• Friday, April 7 - First Fridays - Pesach Edition - What is different this First Fridays from all other First Fridays? It’s Pesach! Join Young Jewish Professionals Pesach Shabbat, of course with crunchy matzah and choice wine / grape juice with Young Jewish Professionals, ages 21-39. www.yjphouston.org/pesachfirstfridays
• Thursday, April 13 - Moshiach Seudah - Mystical Seder Grand Pesach Closing - Enjoy wine and matzah, discuss words of Torah and inspirational stories, sing Chassidic melodies, and find out why this final day of Pesach has a special energy related to the coming of Moshiach. www.chabaduptown.org/3967478
• May 3-7 Antigua Guatemala Trip - An adventurous weekend of nature, soulfulness, and connection with fellow young Jewish professionals.  www.yjphouston.org/guatemala

Mazel tov Dr. Sep & Diba Shabani on the birth and Bris of a baby boy, Aharon!

Shabbos Parah, Parshas Ki Sisa

Friday, March 10, 17 Adar
Candle Lighting & Mincha at 6:09 pm
Services at 6:30 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, March 11, 18 Adar
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush sponsored by Bonnie Pfrenger marking her mother's yartzeit, Sara bas Yitzchak, obm.
Mincha at 6:10 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 7:03 pm
Living Torah

Changing of the clocks!

Sunday, March 12, 19 Adar
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Mon.-Fri., March 13-17, 20-24 Adar
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Good Shabbos!