Thoughts, notes and happenings...

We nailed it!

Thursday, August 28, 2014 - 11:28 PM

Great High Holiday news!! The Hampton has agreed to extend the cutoff for the special Chabad hotel room rate until Sept. 5!! You must reserve directly with them. Nail down your plans and check out the hotel information and all the services, schedule, Rosh Hashana dinners / luncheons, Yom Kippur break fast and RSVP details at www.chabaduptown.org/services. We are very limited in space this year and RSVP is absolutely required for the meals. Please RSVP early, first come first served.

FIDF donation.jpg This past Friday, FIDF saluted the Young Adults & Professionals of Chabad of Uptown for their generosity when they nailed it at the White Party in support of Israel!

Next Shabbos is September "First Fridays" for Young Pros! Last month we had an overflowing crowd and we kindly request that you RSVP in advance so we can plan accordingly atwww.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

#ALSChallenge - Wed. Sept 3, weekly dinner, class & social for young professionals is the Neurologist Dr. Steve Lovitt Challenge to learn about ALS. Are you accepting the challenge? :)

Introducing JHouston.org! JHouston is a community initiative to help Houston Jewish singles meet their soul mate. The local service focuses on Jewish singles in the Houston area and expands beyond, in partnership with other established Jewish organizations, to multiple States around the USA and Canada. They all have the same goal, to help Jewish singles connect and form meaningful relationships.

JHouston is an online dating service where local Jewish matchmakers, with the help of Advanced Computer Algorithms, assist Jewish singles of all backgrounds and observance levels with finding love.

It’s a human touch with a computer aid! Check it out and sign up free at www.JHouston.org!!

More young adults affixing mezuzot

Jewish Herald Voice, Front Page, Thu, Aug 21, 2014, By CHABAD.org and JHV Staff

Nic and Cat Trammell just installed their very first mezuzah.

The Los Angeles couple is one of hundreds across the United States who recently have affixed mezuzot to their doorposts under a nationwide initiative, spearheaded by Chabad Lubavitch centers that cater to young adults. Houston’s Chabad of Uptown is taking part in the campaign.

More about how they nailed it...

Photo credit: Jillian Levinson

Houston’s Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff helps Brian Levinson affix his new mezuzah.

#joinprotectiveedge

Shabbos Parshas Shoftim

Friday, August 29
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:29 pm

Shabbos, August 30
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:23 pm
Living Torah

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

Soul Challenging the ALS #IceBucketChallenge

Thursday, August 21, 2014 - 11:47 PM

These weeks we had a great time having Chanie's sister visiting for her last weeks of summer. On Sunday & Monday she joined us and the kids for a grand time driving out to Dallas in anticipation of go carting to find it... closed! Arcades were just as good, as well as visiting the local kosher restaurants and Legoland Discovery Center.

The High Holiday Services registration is in full swing. The Hampton hotel group room rates expires this week, Aug. 24. We expect a full house and fill up quickly, especially for the dinners and luncheons. So, please make your reservations now! www.chabaduptown.org/services

This week's classes:

Shabbos, 9 am, Likkutei Torah, Parshas Re'eh
Listening to the Inner Voice: The inner workings of the soul and the strength it possesses to achieve its mission
Sunday, 9 am : Wrap Tefillin, at BLT
Hayom Yom: Healing the Soul's Illnesses
Tuesday, 12 pm - Parshas Shoftim:
Judges and Law Enforcement at the "gates of society" and the "gates of the soul"
Wednesday, 8 pm: YJP weekly dinner class & social:
Prayer as a tool for personal growth
Prayer is the most potent tool in Jewish spirituality to achieve personal growth and inspiration. Yet for most, prayer remains a secret and locked treasure chest. Get ready for the High Holidays and transform your prayer experience by learning the art of prayer and its deeper meaning.
Thursday, 12 pm: Tanya Igeres HaTeshuvah Chapter 11:
The Soul's Harboring Simultaneuos Anguish & Joy
Thursday, 8 pm: Tanya Igeres Hateshuvah Chapter 5:
The Soul's Divine Powers

The ALS #icebucketchallenge is a social movement that has moved the nation. Rabbi Chaim waschallenged and did it, but, with a special plot twist. The challenge continues for all those who particpated in the #icebucketchallenge to actually raise their own and friends awareness of this disease. Neurologist Dr. Steve Lovitt will speak about the disease and Rabbi Chaim will share some Jewish lessons one can learn from it at the weekly Wednesday dinner, class & social for young professionals on Sept. 3 at 8 pm. The challenge is on! Will you be there?

The kids started school today at Torah Day School, and came back bubbling over with all kinds of reports of the fresh start of day one. May we all look at every day as well as "day one", freshly looking at how we are doing to make ourselves and this world a better place.

This Shabbos is Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, when "the winds of teshuvah begin to blow". We will have a special farbrengen following davening to discuss Elul and what it means to us.

Tuesday & Wednesday are Rosh Codesh Elul when we add L'Dovid Hashem Ori (Psalm 27) to the morning prayers. We will blow the shofar for the first time at our monthly Rosh Chodesh minyan and breakfast sponsored by the Melniks on Wednesday, August 27 at 6:45 am. Please let us know if we can count on you for the minyan.

From the beginning of Elul and throughout the High Holiday season, we include the blessing
"May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year" (Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim) in letters and greetings to one another. We extend these greeting to you and look forward to seeing you on Shabbos!

Shabbos Parshas Re'eh

Friday, August 22
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:38 pm

Shabbos, August 23
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Mevarchim Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:40 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Ch. 6
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:32 pm
Living Torah

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

Mind over matter (& ghosts)

Thursday, August 14, 2014 - 11:06 PM

The White Party was an amazing success! We were so overwhelmed by the response that the host venuehad to turn people away! Thanks to the dedication and generosity of more than 70 Houston Jewish young professionals over $1100 will be donated to terror victims in Israel, through the Chabad Terror Victims Project and FIDF. A very big thank you to our host Ira Chenkin and cosponsors Israeli House of the Israel Consulate and FIDF. Nir Moriah made a presentation about his achievements and goals as a Taekwondo champion and asked for the community's support in his current campaign. Check out the photo gallery, with pics by MaltzPhotography.com

This week's JHV includes a story about Nir Moriah's aspirations:

Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff has been studying Tanya with Moriah for several years. Moriah has been able to apply what he learns to both his spiritual and sports life.

“Tanya really takes you on a mind-over- matter journey on learning how to put yourself on the right path,” Rabbi Lazaroff said. “One of the main messages is that the mind controls the heart.

“There is an erroneous view that you must follow your heart to follow your dreams. Tanya points out that the heart is wonderful, but it can often distract you. The human is given a tool – the mind – to control your heart and any obstacle you encounter. You let your mind focus instead of letting your heart distract you.

“With all of the adrenaline and the rush of tae kwon do, it could become a distraction which could make you incapable of achieving your goal. To focus on your goal, you need to use your mind.”

At this week's classes, you too can learn some of this wisdom:

Shabbos morning, 9 am - Likkutei Torah - Eikev
Tuesday, Parshah at 12 pm
Wednesday, Young Professionals Meat Taco Dinner, Class & Social: Ghosts, Goblins & Dybbuks
Thursday, Tanya at 12 noon or 8 pm

The High Holidays are coming quick! This year we will host services at The Hampton Inn - Galleria followed by dinners and luncheons only two blocks away at Chabad of Uptown. The complete schedule and RSVP form is now online at www.chabaduptown.org/services. If you intend to join or stay with us, reserve your rooms at the hotel ASAP, since the group discounted rate expires on Aug. 24 and there is limited room for dinners and luncheons.

This Shabbos, Chof Av, marks seventy years since the passing of the Rebbe's father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson 1944-2014. He was arrested and exiled to Kazakhstan by the Stalinist regime as a result of his work to preserve Jewish life in the Soviet Union. Links:A Brief Biography, Rebbetzin Chana Scneerson's biography, which includes her account of her husband's heroism, arrest and passing.

During the year of Rabbi Chaim's bar mitzvah,Chof Av was also on Shabbos and he merited to have an aliya together with the Rebbe and receive a special blessing the next day on "the dollar line" together with his father. Chanie ordered a newly released archival picture of the special moment that now hangs proudly in our dining room along with a moment that Chanie had with the Rebbe as well..

Shabbos Parshas Eikev

Friday, August 15
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:45 pm

Shabbos, August 16, Chof Av
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush & Chof Av Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:45 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:40 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, August 17
Shacharis at 8:30 am
BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9 am

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

Half price expiring

Thursday, August 7, 2014 - 11:10 PM

With the "days of mourning" behind us, we now set our sights on the "days of awe", followed by the "days of joy". It is not enough to lament the destruction of Jerusalem - with sorrow, but, we find consolation to rebuild Jerusalem - with action. Gearing up for these days, we begin with Tu B’Av this Monday, when many wonderful things historically happened including loving relationships. From this point on, we begin to wish each other Kesiva Vachasima Tova, may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year and we begin to get in the mode of thinking about and studying Teshuvah, return, to Hashem.

Guess what? You can mark these days at Chabad of Uptown!

Dress in white and party for a cause! We are expecting a great crowd on Sunday for The White Party marking Tu B'av and co-sponsored with the Israeli House of the Israeli Consulate and FIDF. 100% of all proceeds will benefit Israel terror victims. Half price tickets are expiring tomorrow, Aug. 8, $20 at the door.www.chabaduptown.org/white
Every Thursday join an engaging group as we study Igeres Hateshuvah section of Tanya at noon (with optional lunch) and / or 8 pm!

This Shabbos, the first Shabbos after the Ninth of Av is called Shabbat Nachamu ("Shabbat of Consolation") after the opening words of the day's reading from the prophets ("haftara"). This is the first of the series of readings known as " The Seven of Consolation" read in the seven weeks from the Ninth of Av to Rosh Hashanah. Links: Seven Degrees of Consolation, Consolation, Shabbat Nachmu

PARSHA AUDIO: Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?

Even though Moses’ fervent prayer seems to not have been granted, he teaches us to never give up on our prayers being answered. more...

Shabbos Nachamu, Parshas V'eschanan

Friday, August 8
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:52 pm

Shabbos, August 9
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush
Mincha at 7:55 pm
Ethics of our fathers, Ch. 4
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:47 pm
Living Torah

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

THE Vision - 5 buck mezuzah

Friday, August 1, 2014 - 1:15 AM

Rabbi Chaim just returned after spending 48 hours collaborating with 27 other Chabads who program for the next-gen demographic. Great times, great ideas, great things to come to Houston! #CYAN

The kids complete an amazing six weeks of camp and we welcomed Mendel back from overnight camp in update Michigan. School supplies are on the agenda!

ONLINE CAMPAIGNS:

Israel needs security, and, so does your home! We joined a national campaign for a mezuzah to be had, for every Jewish pad - for only 5 bucks! Check it out at www.joinprotectiveedge.com!
We will reach a goal for 1800 mitzvot by Aug. 11 in the State of Texas! Join and pledge yourmitzvah at www.texasmitzvot.com

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The nine day mourning period breaks for Shabbos Chazon, the Shabbos of Vision, the day we are shown the vision of Moshiach and the Third Temple, may it be rebuilt soon!

We will celebrate it on August First, a true "First Fridays" for young professionals! RSVP at www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner. We will also read on Shabbos day, Aug. 2nd, a special reading from the prophets ("haftara"), which is the third of the series of readings known as "The Three of Rebuke."

On the Eve of Tisha B'av following Maariv & Eicha the whole community is invoted to watch a timely film describing how we got here in the Israel conflict. HIJACKING THE HOLY LAND takes you behind the headlines and past the media bias against Israel. The Palestinians have been trying to sell “land for peace” for decades: Find out why this tactic will never work. - Facebook event
There will not be a Tuesday parshah class this week, in observance of Tisha B'av (see below). There will be Tanya classes on Thursday at noon and 8 pm
Young Pros are welcome to join us on Sunday, Aug. 10, to support victims of terror at THE WHITE PARTY co-sponsored by Israel Consulate of the Southwest & FIDF. See who else is coming here!
Expert sofrim (scribes) from Brooklyn, N.Y., Rabbis Faitel Lewin & Aryeh Moskovits, will be coming to Houston in preparation for the High Holidays to check mezuzos and tefillin in the week of Tu B'Av - from midday Monday, Aug. 11 12:30 pm, through 4 p.m. Wed, Aug. 13, at Chabad Lubavitch Center. According to Jewish law, mezuzos and tefillin should be checked twice every seven years. Some have the custom to inspect them annually.

Shabbos Chazon, Parshas Devarim

Friday, August 1
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:57 pm

Shabbos, August 2
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 8:00 pm
Ethics of our Father, Ch. 3
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:05 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, August 3
Shacharis at 8:30 am
BLT = Bagels, Lox & Teffilin at 9 am

Monday, August 4 - Eve Tisha B'av
Fast begins 8:13 pm
Maariv & Eicha 8:30 pm
Followed by 90 min. film: Hijacking the Holy Land: Palestine, Propaganda & Peace

Some of the fast's mourning practices--such as refraining from Torah study other than texts related to the events and nature of the fast day--are observed beginning from midday, Chatzot, today at 1:28 pm.
The final meal before the start of the fast, eaten shortly before sunset, is called seudah hamafseket. Only one cooked food is eaten at this meal, customarily an egg dipped in ashes.
On Tisha B'Av we are mourning the destruction of the Temple and the exile of Israel, (see " Today in Jewish History") we abstain from eating and drinking, bathing, the wearing of leather footwear, and marital relations--for the night and day of Av 9 (i.e., from sundown on Av 8 to nightfall on Av 9).
It is customary to sit on the floor or a low seat until after mid-day. Torah study is restricted to laws of mourning, passages describing the destruction of the Temple, and the like.
"Eichah"--the Book of Lamentations--is read tonight in the synagogue after evening prayers.
Links: Mitzvah Minute: Tisha b'Av; Laws of Tishah B'Av

Tisha B'Av Tuesday, August 9
Fast Ends at 8:37 pm

Talis & Tefillin is not worn during Shacharit, morning prayers. You may join Chabad Lubavitch Center (10900 Fondren) at 6:45 am or 8 am for Shacharit. Rabbi Chaim will be at the 8 am minyan.
The tefillin are worn only during the afternoon Minchah prayers. (Chabad on Fondren at 7:15 pm)
In commemoration of the burning of the Temple which lasted into the 10th day of Av, we continue the mourning practices of the "Nine Days" (abstaining from meat and wine, music, recreational bathing, etc.--see "Laws and Customs" for " Av 1) until after mid-day, Chatzot, at 1:27 pm on Wednesday August 10.

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!