Updates

BH these last six weeks we have been successful to keep people engaged online even in the absence of physical gatherings with online "meetings" of classes, daily davening, "sermons" and online social gatherings. We hope you are also joining us for these opportunities. Pesach is usually a high traffic time, physically, for Chabad of Uptown, not this year. It has taken a toll on the financial support, but gam zeh yaavor, this too shall pass....

We know you have been missing the signature Uptown challah & matzah ball chicken soup! Next week, in honor of First Fridays of May we are doing "A Taste of Chanie's Shabbat-To-Go"! Reserve your to go package here! Your sponsorship and volunteering to help deliver sponsored Shabbat-to-Go kits to seniors and homebound is appreciated and optional... 

All is well on the family front. We have been home now, without Shul, for about 6 weeks, with hardly an end in sight. It has been wonderful, though, for the kids to really connect with each other as a family in ways not possible with the constant distractions, three of them being out of town at different schools and the coming and going of usual modern life.

An interesting phenomenon as I searched and discovered a new sweet spot to enjoy at home, our porch! Without realizing or planning it, it has become a daily tradition for many to stop by on their (dog) walks.... for a short conversation (or two :)). You too can stop by to say hello for your Torah morning minute! BYOC  (= Bring Your Own Coffee).

We hope you are using this period of time as well to find new and creative ways to connect with yourself and others, finding dimensions of life and the silver lining in all of this physical distancing as an opportunity for emotional closeness.

• Mazel tov Dr. Rachel Graff Levine on her successful PHD dissertation defense!! Here's to many more simchos, successes and achievements!
• Mazel tov Lindsay & Alexander Barsky on the birth of a baby boy! 

Wishing you a good Shabbos, 

Warm wishes,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Why Animals Come Before People
It is striking that when it comes to the laws of ritual purity, the Torah only addresses the laws pertaining to people after it addresses the purity of animals. more… 

 Coronavirous Resources 

The Coronavirus Outbreak
How to celebrate Shabbat in isolation. How to talk to kids. How to stay calm and healthy. Things you can do. What the Rebbe said. What our sages teach. With much, much more! Check out this growing section of COVD-19 survival resources more…

SHABBOS ROSH CHODESH IYAR, PARSHAS TAZRIA-METZORA

FRIDAY, ROSH CHODESH IYAR I, NISSAN 30 - APRIL 24
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at home at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:36 pm

SHABBOS, ROSH CHODESH IYAR II, IYAR 1 - APRIL 25
Shacharis at home at  10:00 am
Printable page number order of prayers for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh: www.chabaduptown.org/4720586
Latest Morning Shema at 10:00 am
Latest Shacharis at 11:06 am
Read Parshas Tazria-Metzora, Maftir & Haftorah for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh
Special Musaf for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh
Mincha at 7:35 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 2
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:33 pm
Living Torah #13 at www.70years.com

 WEEKDAY VIRTUAL CHABAD
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

DAILY
Shacharis at 8:15 am

TUESDAY
12:00 pm - Parsha Class

WEDNESDAY
8 PM YJP CLASS

THURSDAY
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law (Laws of Torah & Holy Books)
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha (The Mitzvah to Appoint a King)

Yizkor was said yesterday, when it is customary to commit to tzedaka. Pesach is usually a peak time for giving and Chabad of Uptown relies on your support. We know it is a hard time for many of you. If you can, please consider giving today to keep our online programming and coronavirus homebound and seniors support going. This will also ensure that the facility is still in operation when everyone returns. www.chabaduptown.org/donate

The holy matzah Pesach experience has come to a close. We now bring back the holy Challah Shabbos experience.

After eight days of Pesach holiness, do we really need to have another holy day immediately afterwards, tonight the holy Shabbos? Don't we we feel holy enough? 

This weeek, we read how Nadav and Avihu enter the Holy of Holies, they sought to find Hashem, to experience holiness. Hashem takes their life for offering a foreign fire. Why? What did they do so wrong to deserve such a harsh punishment? They only wanted to get closer to Hashem!

The reason is, they wanted to serve Hashem on their own terms. Especially in this time of social isolation, we surely need to pay heed to this concept. Its not what you want to do that should be pursued but what you need to do. Life has many elusive wants and many that are also within reach. However, just because we can have it, get it, achieve, fulfill it, doesn't mean we should. Hashem, is our guiding light for the correct path. We follow it for a fulfilled purpose and a fulfilled life.

This Shabbos is Shabbos Mevarchim Iyar. The custom is to say the entire book of Tehillim (Psalms) on Shabbos morning, usually done in shul. This week, we will be at home. 

The third Lubavitcher Rebbe once said that if we only knew the power of Tehillim and the effects of its recitation, we would recite them constantly. "Know that the chapters of Tehillim shatter all barriers, they ascend higher and still higher with no interference; they prostrate themselves in supplication before the Master of all worlds, and they effect and accomplish with kindness and compassion."

Today, more than ever, we can use the power of Tehillim to keep us all safe and healthy and provide healing to those battling for their health. Please open the book tomorrow and make your voice heard on high.

Wishing you a good Shabbos, 

Warm wishes,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Coronavirous Pesach Resources 

The Coronavirus Outbreak
How to celebrate Shabbat in isolation. How to talk to kids. How to stay calm and healthy. Things you can do. What the Rebbe said. What our sages teach. With much, much more! Check out this growing section of COVD-19 survival resources more…

We are sorry to notify you that Reuven (Randy) Krumbein, a past Uptown community member, has passed away over Pesach

SHABBOS MEVARCHIM IYAR PARSHAS SHEMINI

FRIDAY, NISSAN 23 - APRIL 17
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at home at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:32 pm

SHABBOS, NISSAN 24 - APRIL 18
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim 8:30 am
Shacharis at home at  10:00 am
Latest Morning Shema at 10:04 am
Latest Shacharis at 11:10 am
Read Parshas Shemini
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 1
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:28 pm

WEEKDAY VIRTUAL CHABAD
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

DAILY
Shacharis at 8:15 am

TUESDAY
12:00 pm - Parsha Class

WEDNESDAY
8 PM YJP CLASS

THURSDAY
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law (Laws of Torah Reading)
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha (The Mitzvah to Appoint a King)

FRIDAY - Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Shacharis at 8:15 am
Radishes at home 

It has been a bittersweet Yom Tov. Missing seeing all of you in person at Chabad of Uptown, not hosting our mega seders and meals and not having the regular daily davening in shul. Yet, it has been so special to sit with our children and spend some very quality time over our first-ever family-only seders and Pesach. 

As the final days of Pesach are only hours away (sunset of April 14 through nightfall of April 16), we are pleased to share with you information and resources about the final days of Pesach.

• Today at 12 pm have your kids join the Houston Jewish Children's Passover Party and Rally, online here
• For your convenience, we have prepared a page for you with the order of prayers for the last days of Pesach to use when praying at home (to print before the holiday).
• Please remember that Yizkor is customarily recited in the shul on the final day of Pesach (April 16). This year it is to be recited at home (more info here). We will have a special, meaningful program to prepare for Yom Tov and Yizkor, online today at 5 pm.
• The customary 'Moshiach's Meal' which is held on the last day of Pesach, a tradition that was instituted over 250 years ago by the Baal Shem Tov. Although we will not be able to celebrate together in person this year, please print the guide below before the holiday so you will be prepared to conduct this celebration on your own.  After Yom Tov ends, Say "Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'chol" and join the Houston Online Moshiach Seudah at 8:30 pm.

We hope and pray that very soon we will merit to the coming of Moshiach, when our entire world will know no more pain and suffering.

Wishing you a happy — and safe — last days of Pesach! 

Warm wishes,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Mazel tov to Chanie on the (Online) Bar Mitzvah celebration of her nephew Levi Wolf of Chicago!

Coronavirous Pesach Resources 

The Coronavirus Outbreak
How to celebrate Shabbat and Pesach in isolation. How to talk to kids. How to stay calm and healthy. Things you can do. What the Rebbe said. What our sages teach. With much, much more! Check out this growing section of COVD-19 survival resources more…

TUESDAY, NISSAN 20 - APRIL 14 | DAY 6
Parsha Class at 12 pm
PreGame, PreYomTov, PreYizkor Program
Including musical rendition of Birchas Kohanim
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

Candle Lighting at 7:31 pm
Shel Yom Tov (No Shehechiyanu at candles or kiddush)
Mincha and Yom Tov Maariv at home at 7:30 pm
Printable page number order of prayers: www.chabaduptown.org/471409
All Night Torah Study
 
WEDNESDAY, NISSAN 21 - APRIL 15 | DAY 7
Shacharis at home at  10:00 am
Latest Morning Shema at 10:06 am
Latest Shacharis at 11:11 am
"Shira" Splitting Sea Torah Reading
Yom Tov Mincha at home at 7:30 pm
Light Candles & Maariv AFTER 8:26 pm
Shel Yom Tov (No Shehechiyanu at candles or kiddush)
Eat Gebrokts
 
THURSDAY, NISSAN 22 - APRIL 16 | DAY 8
Shacharis at home at 10:00 am
Latest Morning Shema at 10:05 am
Latest Shacharis at 11:11 am
Say Yizkor before Musaf
Mincha at home at 5:45 pm
Moshiach Meal at 6:00 pm
Printable Moshiach Meal program: www.chabaduptown.org/4712962
Yom Tov Ends at 8:26 pm
Wait an hour before using Chametz to be purchased back

Say "Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'chol" and join the:
Houston Online Moshiach Seudah at 8:30 pm
> ENTER SEUDAH < 
Maariv & Havdalla (wine only)

WEEKDAY VIRTUAL CHABAD
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

DAILY
Shacharis at 8:15 am

Dear Friends, 

Tonight, we will sit down to the seder the first time ever, without guests, without other family. Just us two and our own kids.

This Passover let us focus on our trust in G-d for a better future. The Jewish people were so overwhelmed with slavery they couldn't fathom freedom. The world was so dark they couldn't dream of a tomorrow.

The Passover story and the seder is relevant today more then ever. Tomorrow there can be a cure. Tomorrow the world can be bright again. Its happened before and it will happen again. 

The Haggadah Says: And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands.

Every generation has its challenges, every decade has it fears, and this year we are facing very hard times around the world. The Haggadah gives us a promise of hope. Let's take the Haggadah advice and put our trust in Him.

Tonight, we will be raising a glass of wine- a l'chaim - to you, our friends and community. May G-d watch over us and protect us. May G-d bless all those who are suffering physically, emotionally or financially. May we all merit a happy and joyous Passover ushering in the final exodus. This Year in Jerusalem!

Warm wishes,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

We send condolences to Sara Sandhaus on the passing of her grandfather, Rabbi Leibel Groner.

Coronavirous Pesach Resources 

The Coronavirus Outbreak
How to celebrate Shabbat and Pesach in isolation. How to talk to kids. How to stay calm and healthy. Things you can do. What the Rebbe said. What our sages teach. With much, much more! Check out this growing section of COVD-19 survival resources more…

WEDNESDAY, 14 NISSAN, APRIL 8 | PESACH 1ST NIGHT
MAKE ERUV TAVSHILIN:
www.chabaduptown.org/708595
PRINT HAGADDAH:
www.chabaduptown.org/2538665
7:27 pm Candle Lighting (Shel Yom Tov & Shehechiyanu)    
Maariv with Hallel
AFTER 8:10 pm Evening Shema and Earliest to Begin Seder 
 
THURSDAY, 15 NISSAN, APRIL 9 | PESACH DAY 1
10:00 am Shacharis at home
10:10 am Latest Morning Shema
Before Yom Tov Musaf silent amida, announce to all who can hear, "Time to say Tal" and say Morid Hatal
7:30 pm Mincha at home
7:46 pm Shkia
Maariv with Hallel
Sefiras Haomer
AFTER 8:22 pm Light Candles (Shel Yom Tov & Shehechiyanu), Shema and Earliest to Begin Second Seder

FRIDAY, 16 NISSAN, APRIL 10 | PESACH DAY 2
10:00 am Shacharis at home
10:09 am Latest Morning Shema
BEFORE 7:28 pm Light Shabbos Candles (Shel Shabbos Kodesh (only))
7:30 pm Mincha at home
7:46 pm Shkia
AFTER 8:11 pm Evening Shema and Kabbolas Shabbos
 
SHABBOS, APRIL 11 | DAY 3
10:00 am Shabbos Shacharis at home
Yom Tov Musaf
10:09 am Latest Morning Shema
7:30 am Mincha at home
7:47 pm Shkia
8:23 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos Ends
Regular Motzei Shabbos Havdalla with candle
Chabad does not use cloves for besamim on Pesach

WEEKDAY VIRTUAL CHABAD
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

DAILY
Shacharis at 8:15 am