Thoughts, notes and happenings...

🍸 FIRST FRIDAYS: 🍫 Last day before tix go up!

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 - 4:25 PM

September Events: First Fridays Chocolate Shabbat - 9/2 | DIY Shofar Factory - Drill. Sand. Blast - 9/28

September Classes: Beware of Blood - 8/31 | Life Behind Bars: Is incarceration a Jewish Thing? - 9/7 | Journey of the Soul - 9/14 | Sheva Brachot - 9/21

October Save the Dates

September Events

9.2.2016 - THIS FRIDAY: Come celebrate this month's First Fridays in a "Chocolate Shabbat" with other Young Jewish Professionals at this month's Chocolate Inspired Shabbat Dinner & Cocktails. Always the best party in town. Bring your friends, ages 21-39! Suggested donation of $18 before Wednesday at 6:00PM - $25 after. RSVP at www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

09.28.2016: Hang out with other Young Professionals as you craft your very own shofar, starting with the raw horn. Saw, drill, polish and shellac the horn to create a genuine kosher Shofar! Learn how to sound the Shofar and how to follow the traditional sequence of notes blown on Rosh Hashanah! Advance: $15. At door: $25

September weekly dinner, class & socials

TONIGHT: Numerous times the Torah mentions the prohibition against eating blood. Not that you’d want to eat it, but if meat is kosher, what’s so bad about the red fluid found within? This class probes beneath the skin of the Torah’s aversion to blood, providing us a guide to living a kosher life.

09.07.2016: Perhaps our prison systems indicate our rigorous sense of justice, but could there be a more productive way of “correction” than years spent locked away? Understanding why Jewish law doesn’t promote incarceration reveals Torah’s unique approach to crime and punishment.

09.14.2016: Heaven, hell, and the world to come: all loaded terms. But what is the Jewish take on life after death? And what difference does it make now? By exploring these matters, this class gives an empowering perspective of what we are doing here.

09.21.2016: Explore the age old custom of celebrating the week after the Jewish wedding with daily Sheva Brachot as we celebrate with and have a sheva brachot dinner for Karen Nudelman and Yossi Abeshouse!!

October Save the Dates

Sunday, Oct. 2: Rosh Hashana Dinner
Wednesday, Oct 12: Yom Kippur & Break Fast
Friday, Oct. 7: Pink Shabbat - YJP First Fridays
Sun. Oct. 16: Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars
Wed. Oct. 19: Oktoberfest Sukkahfest
Mon. Oct 24: Simchat Torah - Dancing with the Stars

Banning the internet

Thursday, August 25, 2016 - 10:41 PM

We are so excited that Mendel, the last one home from summer camp, has finally come home making the family whole again!

Next week, September 2, come celebrate this month's First Fridays for a "Chocolate Shabbat" with other Young Jewish Professionals at this month's Chocolate Inspired Shabbat Dinner & Cocktails

The rest of the YJP Houston Tu B'Av White Party photos are in! Check 'em out and tag your friends!

Shabbos dinner this week is sponsored by Ira Chenkin in loving memory of his mother, Sarah Bas Yisroel, a"h.

PARSHA: Why I Banned Internet for My Kids

As much as I try to be vigilant, the transitions on the Web are so smooth, and the options are so tempting, that it’s too hard to monitor what the kids pull up. more...

Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, Parshas Eikev

Friday, August 26
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:32 pm
RSVP for Shabbos dinner sponsored by Ira Chenkin memory of his mother.

Shabbos, August 27
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Mevarchim Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:26 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, August 28
Shacharis at 8:30 am
The real BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9 am

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

Happy, Loving, New Year!

Friday, August 19, 2016 - 4:29 PM

Historically, joyous events occurred on Tu B'Av (see Av 15 "Today in Jewish History"), our sages regarded today to be one of the two most auspicious days on the Jewish calendar (the other being Yom Kippur--Talmud, Taanit 26b). Links: Love and Rebirth: On the Significance of Av 15

Last night YJP Houston hosted a Tu B'Av White Party, celebrating love, happiness and romance for an evening of live music and laughter with comedian Danny Lobell and exquisite eats and drinks at Genesis Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Some pictures here, check back for more to come!

Talking about marriage, Mazel tov to Chanie's brother, Rabbi Mendel Galperin on his marriage this past week to Chyena Gansburg of Florida! It was a beautiful simcha and was wonderful to get together with family! Can you find us in the "Where's Waldo" picture?

Kesiva Vachasima Tova! “May you be inscribed and sealed for good.” From the 15th of Menachem-Av it is customary to bless one another upon the upcoming year.

The Shabbat after the Ninth of Av is called Shabbat Nachamu ("Shabbat of Consolation") after the opening words of the day's reading from the 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 Nachamu

Yes, Rosh Hashana IS coming and we would love to have your participation to help us complete our beautiful new shul in time for the holidays! www.chabaduptown.org/building

Now is also the time to join or renew your voluntary membership at www.chabaduptown.org/donate

PARSHA: Shema: ‘Pay Attention!’

When we are called to concentrate, we often find it difficult to do so. more...

Shabbos Nachamu, Parshas V'Eschanan

Friday, August 19
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:40 pm

Shabbos, August 20
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush
Mincha at 7:40 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Ch. 3
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:34 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, August 21
Shacharis at 8:30 am
The real BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9 am

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

Here is a dream that will make you wonder...

Thursday, August 11, 2016 - 8:34 PM

This Shabbos is called Shabbat Chazon ("Shabbat of Vision") named after the opening words of the day's Haftorah reading. On this Shabbat, say the Chassidic masters, we are granted a vision of the Third Temple; we may not see it with our physical eyes, but our souls see it, and are empowered to break free of our present state of galut and bring about the Redemption and the rebuilding of the Temple. May it be speedily! Links: The Holy Temple: an Anthology, Shabbat of Vision About the "Three of Rebuke" http://www.thethreeweeks.com

Because of the holiness of Shabbat, the Fast of the Tish'ah B'Av is observed this Sunday, Av 10. The fast mourns the destruction of the Temple and the exile of Israel.

During this fast, that begins at the close of Shabbos (in Houston, 8:04 pm), we abstain from eating and drinking, bathing, the wearing of leather footwear, and marital relations. 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. The tefillin are worn only during the afternoon Minchah prayers. For the complete Tisha B'av schedule, see below. Link: Laws of Tish'ah B'Av

Aug 18, THE WHITE PARTY final advance ticket sales expires Aug. 15. Gain access now to the party for Young Jewish Proffesionals of the summer!www.yjphouston.org

Shabbos Chazon, Parshas Devarim

Friday, 8 Av, August 12
Services at 7:30 pm
7:47 pm Candle Lighting

Shabbos, 9 Av, August 13
9:00 Chassidus
10:00 am Shacharis
Kiddush
2:00 pm Early Mincha
8:04 Tish Ba'av Fast Begins
8:41 pm Shabbos Ends – say “Baruch Hamavdil Ben Kodesh L’Chol”
* Remove Leather Shoes
9:15 pm Maariv & Eicha

Sunday, 10 Av - Tisha B’av, August 14
8:30 am Shacharis with Torah Reading
9:30 am Kinos - Lamentations
7:15pm Mincha – Talis, Tefillin, Krias HaTorah
Living Torah
8:28 pm Maariv, Havdalla & Fast Ends
Kiddush Levana

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!

Chassidim Stink at...

Thursday, August 4, 2016 - 11:14 PM

Chassidim stink at being sad. But, sometimes we have no choice.

When Av begins, we diminish [our] rejoicing" (Talmud, Taanit 26b). On the 1st of Av, "The Nine Days" begins, from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, when a heightened degree of mourning is observed, including abstention from meat and wine, music, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous and enjoyable activities.

However, consumption of meat and wine is permitted on Shabbat of the Nine Days, especially when it is First Fridays Shabbat #JeSuisJuif - YJP!! Come celebrate aHappy Shabbat "in France" with other Young Jewish Professionals in their 20s & 30s at this month's French Inspired Shabbat Dinner & Cocktails

Meat is also permitted at a Seudat Mitzvah (obligatory festive meal celebrating the fulfillment of a mitzvah) such as a Bris or a "Siyum" celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the custom of conducting or participating in a Siyum on each of the Nine Days (even if one does not avail oneself of the dispensation to eat meat). You can join a LIVE daily siyum broadcast on our website here.

Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with Tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) andcharity during this period. Links: When and (How) to be Sad, www.thethreeweeks.com

Shabbos Parshas Matos-Massei

Friday, August 5
Rosh Chodesh Minyan at 6:45-8 am
followed by breakfast sponsored by the Melniks
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:53 pm
French YJP First Fridays - RSVP here

Shabbos, August 6
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush sponsored by the Sands family in memory of Marc's father, Yaakov ben Avraham, a"h for the Shloshim period that concludes this week.
Mincha at 7:50 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Ch. 2
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:48 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, August 7
Shacharis at 8:30 pm
Followed by the real BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube @youngchabad!