Thoughts, notes and happenings...

program replay

Friday, June 26, 2020 - 7:02 PM

As Houston is entering code red levels, we need to consider risks for our own Chabad of Uptown community.

The following is critical as we enter these next few weeks:

1. Please stay home unless for critical tasks.

2. Please try not to expose yourself to other communities, so we can keep to our own "community bubble".

3. If you or a family member contract the virus, or get exposed to someone with the virus, please let us know ASAP so we can determine if there is community spread within our community bubble and make informed decisions.

The guidance we are getting is that we do not need to close minyanim as we do not know of an active case of the virus in the community that have been to shul, we have been having community compliance in shul with social distancing, mask wearing and entry screening.

Yesterday marked Gimmel Tammuz the Rebbe's yartzeit. We held a few classes in honor of the day, the replay can be found on Rabbi Chaim's facebook page at facebook.com/rabbichaim. Here is a direct link to the replay of Transform & Transcend.

Please consider supporting Chabad of Uptown and YJP Houston and make a donations today, commemorating the holy day marking Gimmel Tammuz. Your donation to an institution founded and dedicated to the Rebbe's mission will support your Shul, Torah classes for young and old, seniors, general community, young professionals and even babies.

With programming, minyanim and personal interactions being limited, donations are needed now more than ever before. Thank you and may all the blessings of this holy day be fulfilled! www.chabaduptown.org/donate

You can also using cashapp, venmo or paypal: @chabaduptown
Zelle: Rabbi Chaim's chabaduptown.org email address.

Direct app links:
http://paypal.me/chabaduptown

http://venmo.com/chabaduptown

http://cash.app/chabaduptown

Korach and Anarchy Korach is a figure I can highly identify with. From primary grades on, I never got along too well with authority. more…

SHABBOS PARSHAS KORACH

Friday, Tammuz 4 - June 26
Candle Lighting at 8:07 pm
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 8:08 pm
Evening Shema after 8:54 pm

Shabbos, Tammuz 5 - June 27
Latest Morning Shema at 9:52 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 4
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:07 pm
Living Torah #22 at www.70years.com

Sunday, Tammuz 6 - June 28
8:30 am Shacharis

VIRTUAL CLASSES
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

Tuesday
12:00 pm - Parsha Class

Wednesday
8 PM YJP CLASS

Thursday
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha

Saving a life, physically & spiritually

Friday, June 19, 2020 - 4:13 PM

The Blood Center is overwhelmed by the support of our community! After we sent out the email last week, today's drive got booked up in a matter of a few hours! We therefore invited them to come a day earlier on Thursday, and that booked up in an hour as well!

Victoria, the Blood Center account manager expressed in an email to us this morning "The turn out was absolutely incredible and considering how quickly the appointments have filled up for both days, we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. I’m excited to see what today brings!"

Here are the stats from yesterday alone! Of the 36 reservations, we had 27 successful donors, 30 collected units and 90 LIVES SAVED!

JUNE 21 UPDATE: The final stats are in! Over two days, our blood drive had 54 successful donors, 64 units, 192 lives saved!

This coming Thursday is Gimmel Tammuz, the Rebbe's yartzeit. World Jewry will mark the Rebbe's, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, OBM, Yahrtzeit anniversary. Due to the Coronavirus, the Yahrtzeit this year will be marked very differently than any time in the past.

Whether directly or through a ripple effect, we have each been affected by the Rebbe's example and teaching of how to love every Jew, cherish every mitzvah, treasure the Torah, and rise to accomplish our unique role in G-d's master plan. Of particular significance is this year, the 70th anniversary of the Rebbe's leadership. The Rebbe has raised the Jewish conscience, offered solace to our people, and set forth an agenda for the Jewish community; his teachings continue to inspire and guide the Jewish people to this day.

The Rebbe's Yarhtzeit is a holy day and an opportune time to reconnect with the Rebbe and his directives; an auspicious day of elevation.

Click here for a special section on our website for Gimmel Tammuz.

The Vacuum of Choice

On whose initiative were the spies sent? The way the story is told in Numbers 13, it was by divine command. But when Moses recounts these events 40 years later, he tells the people of Israel that it was their idea. The contradiction describes a watershed in the history of freedom of choice. more…

SHABBOS MEVARCHIM TAMMUZ PARSHAS SHELACH

Friday, Sivan 27 - June 19
Candle Lighting at 8:07 pm
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 8:10 pm
Evening Shema after 8:53 pm

Shabbos, Sivan 28 - June 20
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim 8:30 am
Latest Morning Shema at 9:50 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 3
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:04 pm
Living Torah #21 at www.70years.com

Sunday, Sivan 29, June 21
8:30 am Shacharis

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, 30 Sivan, June 22
Shacharis at 6:45 am

VIRTUAL CLASSES
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

Tuesday
12:00 pm - Parsha Class

Wednesday
8 PM YJP CLASS - The Rebbe's Yartzeit

Thursday - Gimmel Tammuz
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha

Free covid antibodies test at Chabad

Friday, June 12, 2020 - 4:49 PM

Congratulations Chaya Lazaroff on her graduating 12th grade from the Maimonides High School in Albany, NY. Please join us on Monday at 6 pm for an online graduation program to watch her graduate with honors! Reply to this email for the link info.

Guys, amazing news! Next Friday, June 19, at Chabad of Uptown, we will be hosting a blood drive! The blood bank just yesterday added Covid-19 antibodies test and all blood donors get the report! The Chabad of Uptown hosted blood drive will be one of the first to offer it! People have already started making appointments, so reserve your spot now!

Give Blood and go home with a life saving Mitzvah, Shabbat Challah, a free T-shirt To-Go!

With surgeries starting back up at local hospitals, the need for more blood donations is growing daily. Your blood donation is essential to keep the blood supply strong and steady. Without on-going donors, we cannot ensure patients have the blood they need. Don’t miss your chance to save lives!

APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED. Schedule your appointment today!

PARHSA: Trumpets of War and Trumpets of Peace

Upon his arrival in the U.S., he declared that “America is no different.” What did the Rebbe mean? more…

SHABBOS PARSHAS BEHA'ALOSECHA

Friday, Sivan 20 - June 12
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 8:00 pm
Candle Lighting at 8:05 pm
Evening Shema after 8:51 pm

Shabbos, Sivan 21 - June 13
Shiur Chassidus at home
Latest Morning Shema at 9:49 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:00 pm
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 2
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:04 pm
Living Torah #20 at www.70years.com

Sunday, Sivan 22, June 14
8:30 am Shacharis

VIRTUAL CLASSES
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass

Tuesday
12:00 pm - Parsha Class

Wednesday
8 PM YJP CLASS

Thursday
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha

This Aggie was a Light

Friday, June 5, 2020 - 3:34 PM

For First Fridays, we dedicated Shabbat. To Go. in memory of our dear friend Bob Epstein, Reuven ben Pesach, a"h.

Yes, this week we said our final goodbyes with the passing of Robert Epstein at the age of 97. Bob the Aggie. Bob the Legend. Bob the Inspiration. Most importantly, Bob the Proud Jew. This was a man that never stopped learning, growing and living life to it's fullest. It was an honor to journey through the book of Tanya together, help my brother put the final touches on his Aggie Room to adorn it with an Aggie Mezuzah and many more meaningful times and experiences in and out of Shul. We were so blessed to just last week be able to visit with social distancing as we shared a taste of Shabbos and Shavuos with our dear Bob. May his memory be for a blessing. We extend our condolences to his family.

In this week's Parshas Naso it says, "when Moshe would come into the Tent of Meeting so Hashem could speak with him, he would hear His voice". As much as we would like to, we cannot hear Hashem's voice everywhere and at all times. If we would, we would be deprived of our freedom of choice as a world in which Hashem's voice is constantly heard does not challenge its population. It was Hashem's desire to create a world of Divine silence. Then, through our efforts, we uncover Hashem's concealed voice. Every one of us has heard the Divine voice at Mt. Sinai and in our lives, perhaps as what may seem as an echo.

We are charged to transmit that silent voice to the rest of time and space, making this world a world of peace, harmony and divine revelation. In these difficult times of isolation and social unrest, let's light the Shabbat candles to fill our world with divine light. One candle lights up an entire room, many candles light up the entire world.

We extend condolences to Aline Levy Sitnoveter on the passing of her grandmother in Brazil, Sarah Esther bat Miriam, a"h.

SHABBOS PARSHAS NASO

Friday, Sivan 13 - June 5
Candle Lighting at 8:02 pm
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 8:00 pm
Evening Shema after 8:48 pm

Shabbos, Sivan 14 - June 6
Shiur Chassidus at home
Latest Morning Shema at 9:48 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:00 pm
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 1
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:01 pm
Living Torah #19 at www.70years.com

Sunday, Sivan 15, June 7
8:30 am Shacharis

Tuesday
12:00 pm - Parsha Class

Wednesday
8 PM YJP CLASS

Thursday
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law (Intentions Should be for the Sake of Heaven)
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha (The Mitzvah to Building a Sanctuary)