Updates

 
Where young Jewish professionals connect 
in a sophisticated, welcoming, and relaxed setting 
with a spirited vibe 

October Events

Sukkot | Moishe House Micasa Sukkasa | J-Hype Smoke Shack | Pink First Fridays | Simchas Torah | Academy Meditation | Speeddating | NYC

Fri.-Sun., Sept. 29-Oct. 1 - Celebrate Sukkot with Holidays Services, Dinners, Luncheons
and (Sunday only) Lulav Shake & Parade! Complete schedule at www.chabaduptown.org/joy

Friday, Sept. 29, 8 pm - Community Sukkos Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP www.chabaduptown.org/sukkotdinner

Saturday, Sept 30, 8 pm - Moishe House & YJP Houston - Micasa Sukkasa Sukkot Holiday Dinner Under the Stars
elebrate a Sukkot Holiday Dinner with Moishe House and YJP Houston under the 3,000-year-old mystical canopy called The Sukkah. 6:50: Holiday Services, AFTER 7:44: Light Holiday Candles, 8:00: Dinner in the Sukkah.
LAST DAY: $18 until Thursday Sept 28, $25 after Use promo code: ilulavyou RSVP www.yjphouston.org/micasa

Wed. Oct 4,, 6:30 pm - YJP & J-Hype Sukkos Smoke Shack Party
Young professionals Sukkah BBQ party with Authentic Texas Smoked Meat BBQ by the Kosher Smoke Shack, Open Bar, Great Music, Great People and Lulav & Etrog Shaking. Can't wait to see you! - RSVP: www.yjphouston.org/shack

 Friday, October 6, 6:45 pm - October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition 
Enjoy a Shemini Atzeres Pink themed Shabbat dinner with other Young Jewish Professionals, a warm up for Simchas Torah tomorrow night! Dinner (in the Sukkah) includes the traditional Shemini Atzeres Hakafot -celebratory dancing. This one is only the warm up – to connect with Israel! (See main hakafot on Oct 7 in schedule here).  $18 until Thursday, $25 after Use promo code: advance www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres

Sat. Oct. 7, 6:45 pm Saturday Night Alive! Dance Like a Star!
Come join us for an unbelievable, all night, happy, thrilling, stress-relieving, dance-til-you-drop, beyond belief and total excitement, feast-on-amazing-foods, l'chaims and fun for all Simchat Torah Party!  

Wednesdays, Oct. 11-Nov 1 | 7:30 pm - Dinner, Class & Social
CYP Academy 4-Part Course - Meditation From Sinai: Jewish Spirituality
Mindful awareness and Divine spirituality to help you think, feel, and live more deeply.  Join us on our 4-week journey, connecting with our inner selves, and becoming mindful of the world around us, with the secrets that the Jewish people have had for over 3000 years. 
COST: $36 Registration Required. Complimentary access for CHAI Club Members, Use Coupon Code “chai”.

.Met@Chabad Speeddating, Thursday Sept. 28 & Oct. 31 at 8 pm Houston time
www.metatchabad.com/speeddating

SAVE THE DATE!

What a beautiful Yom Tov of Rosh Hashana with overflowing services, dinners, luncheons and gorgeous Tashlich walk! Thank you to every one of you, our dear community, for making it so special! Thank you to our main minyan Chazzan Danny & Chani Gavin and family for joining, Chaim Ziv Mesulati for leading the Sunrise Sefardi Minyan, our Torah reader, Elchonon & Naomi Reizes and family for joining, Elana Loftspring for running the youth program! On the food front, thank you to Chanie for the amazing delectable meals, Chaya for the outstanding glazed and crumble honey cakes, and Brian and Dana Gavin for the overflowing Zbiltong buffet! (Get your own bag of authentic South African Biltong at zbiltong.com).

A phrase in the High Holiday liturgy that stands out is: “Teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah, avert the severity of the decree.” This means that increasing in these three acts can help assure us a blessed and good year, rather than the opposite, G-d forbid.

The traditional translation of these words as “repentance,” “prayer,” and “charity,” don’t do the original Hebrew justice.

Teshuvah: More than just repentance, the word means “return” – the Jew must recognize that his soul yearns to return to its origins. The Jewish soul is a part of G-d and we must reclaim our origin and focus on being the best Jew possible in the year to come. This applies to all Jews, even those that don’t necessarily have something to “repent” for.

Tefillah: Prayer implies requesting, asking G-d for something that we lack. But what it really means is to become intertwined and connected with G-d. Tefillah must happen even if we don’t feel that we’re missing something, for having an ongoing connection with the Divine is central to being Jewish.

Tzedakah: While charity means giving someone something that is yours, sharing out of the benevolence of your heart, the Hebrew root of the word is tzedek, which means “righteousness.” It means doing the right thing, not something extra because we are kind, but something that is actually expected of us. Being generous to others is not a “nice” thing to do once in a while, but something we must focus on all the time, as an actual responsibility and obligation.

Doing all of the above properly will help ensure that we are granted a year of blessing and prosperity, for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Wishing you a Gmar Chasima Tova, meaningful Yom Kippur and an easy fast,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

P.S. Lulav and Etrog set: We have a few sets left in each category! Please order here. Be sure to put "UPTOWN" in the note field.

Upcoming Events:

DAYS OF AWE

• Sun-Mon, Sept 24-25 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast - RSVP. Special Children's program lead by Elana Loftspring!

DAYS OF JOY

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 29-Oct. 1 - Sukkos Services www.chabaduptown.org/joy
• Friday, Sept 29 & Sat. Sept. 30, 8 pm - Community Sukkos Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
• Saturday, Sept 30, 8 pm - Moishe House & YJP Houston - Micasa Sukkasa Sukkot Holiday Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
• Tues., Oct. 3, 12-1:30 pm - Community Lunch & Learn: Spiritual Shelter: Finding Purpose in the Sukkah - RSVP
• Wed. Oct 4 - YJP & J-Hype Sukkos Smoke Shack Party - Young professionals Sukkah BBQ party with Authentic Texas Smoked Meat BBQ by the Kosher Smoke Shack, Open Bar, Great Music, Great People and Lulav & Etrog Shaking. Early Bird (till September 15) - $15 Use coupon code "smoke", Regular Ticket - $30, Can't wait to see you! - RSVP
• Friday, Oct. 6, 6:45 pm YJP First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
• Fri.-Sun., Oct. 6-8 - Simchas Torah www.chabaduptown.org/joy
• Sat. Oct. 7, 6:45 pm Saturday Night Alive! Dance Like a Star!

Shabbos Shuva Parshas Haazinu

Friday, September 22, 7 Tishrei
Services at 7:00 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:01 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, September 23, 8 Tishrei
Chassidus  - Likkutei Torah at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
Study of Rebbe Teachings 6:00 pm
Mincha at 7:00 pm
Study of Laws of Yom Kippur
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 7:53 pm
Living Torah

Erev Yom Kippur 
Sunday, September 24, 9 Tishrei
Shacharis at 8 am
Erev Yom Kippur Mincha 2:00 pm
Light Holiday Candles & Fast Begins 6:58 pm
Kol Nidrei
Simultaneous Main and Sefardi Service 7:00 pm
Children's Program 7:00-8:30 pm

Yom Kippur Day
Monday, September 25, 10 Tishrei
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan 7:00 am
Community Morning Service    9:30 am
Children's Program    11:30 am-1:00 pm
Yizkor Memorial Service    12:30 pm
Sefardi Mincha    4:15 pm
Mincha Afternoon Service    5:30 pm
Neilah Closing Service    6:45 pm
Havdala & Fast Ends    7:50 pm
Break the Fast Buffet - RSVP Required

Friday, September 26-29, 11-14 Tishrei
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Sukkot & Simchat Torah 
Holiday, Service & Candle Lighting Schedule >

Shana Tova and Good Shabbos!

Did you know that the day we celebrate as Rosh Hashanah does not commemorate the creation of the universe?

Wait for it... watch until the end, we blew it out of the park! Rabbi Chaim talked Rosh Hashana with Melissa Wilson and Denise Middleton of  FOX26 and this years campaign to light candles in honor of the speedy recovery of our dear niece, Chava Guta bas Henya Chasya. She is in a coma and can not begin to light herself, as she would otherwise, for her third birthday. Please light in her honor and if you light already, consider taking in the holiday by lighting 5 minutes early.

As I mentioned in the interview, according to the Talmud, the world was created on the 25th of Elul, and Rosh Hashanah – the 1st of Tishrei – was Friday, the sixth day of creation. And, as the Torah describes, the final creature that G-d created on that sixth day was humankind, Adam and Eve.

The purpose of creation was for us, and thus the world was not considered complete until humans were created. It is for this reason that Rosh Hashanah is considered the beginning of the world. True, all of creation—including the skies and the seas, plants and trees, animals and insects—already existed. But with the arrival of Adam and Eve, the world began to function.

Humans are the highest of G-d’s creatures. The lowest being the inanimate, one step up is vegetation, and the third level is the animal kingdom. Humans are greater than all these, because we maintain a level of intellect far beyond that of animals, which we utilize not merely for survival. We are also the only creations with the gift of free choice. G-d created us to fulfill His commandments, which requires both intellect and free choice, and thus, until humans were created, in G-d’s eyes creation itself was not yet complete.

Although the world was full, complete with its natural beauty and efficiency, it lacked quality. The world required a being whose life represented a purpose greater than itself: us.

Wishing you a most fulfilling 5784, both qualitatively and quantitatively!

Kesiva Vachasima Tova, L'Shana Tova Umesuka, May you be inscribe and sealed for good and sweet year,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

P.S. Lulav and Etrog set: Don't wait until the last minute! Please order here. Be sure to put "UPTOWN" in the note field.

P.P.S. Of course everyone's mind is on Rosh Hashana, but, tomorrow, Sept 15 is the last day for early bird tickets for Sukkah Smoke Shack! Don't snooze and save some cash for the best authentic Kosher BBQ in the Wild West!  RSVP at www.yjphouston.org/shack

LAWS & CUSTOMS

• Erev Rosh Hashana Selichot - Tomorrow, Friday, is the last day of the Jewish year, and a day of preparation for Rosh Hashana. A more lengthy version of the Selichos prayers are recited in the early morning hours, before the morning prayers. In the morning prayers we omit Tachnun. 
• No Shofar Friday morning - The Shofar is not sounded on the day before Rosh Hashana, to separate between the shofar soundings of the month of Elul (which are a minhag), and the Rosh Hashana soundings, (which are a biblically ordained mitzvah, divine commandment).
• Annulment of Vows - Following the morning services Friday morning, Hatarat Nedarim, the annulment of vows, is performed (the text for this procedure is found in most prayer books).
• Visiting the Cemetery - It is customary visit the the graves of the righteous on this day and pray there, as the resting place of a righteous person is an opportune place to beseech the Almighty.
• Friday Light Shabbos & Holiday Candles Combo - Make the combination Bracha of "Shel Shabbos v'Yom Hazikaron" & Shehechiyanu.
• Good Wishes - Upon the conclusion of the Rosh Hashana evening prayers in the shul on Friday night, we extend to one another greetings of Leshana Tovah Tekatev Vitechatem, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."
• Traditional Foods - In the evening meal of Friday night, we a special section of Shabbos to the kiddush, eat apple dipped in honey, the head of a fish, pomegranates , tzimmes (sweet carrots) and other foods signifying a sweet and successful year.
• Shehecheyanu (New Fruit) - On Saturday night when lighting candles and making kiddush on the eve of the 2nd day of Rosh Hashana, a "new fruit" (i.e., one that has not yet been eaten this season) is placed on the table; the fruit is then eaten after kiddush. This is to enable us to make the Shehecheyanu blessing praising G-d for "granting us life, sustaining us, and bringing us to this season" (because the two days of Rosh Hashana are regarded as "one long day", the Shehecheyanu blessing, recited on the festivals by the women when lighting the candles and by the men in kiddush, requires an additional source of rejoicing).
• No Shofar/Tashlich on Shabbos - Because it is Shabbos, the shofar is not sounded on the first day of Rosh Hashana this year, nor is the "tashlich" ceremony performed; both these observances are done on the second day only.
• Saturday Light Holiday Candles After 8:01 - only from pre-existing flame . Make the  Bracha of "Shel Yom Hazikaron" & Shehechiyanu. The candles should be in view of the dinner table when making kiddush and looked at for the Havdalla bracha for the special "Yaknahaz" special Kiddush / Havdalla combo.
• "Yaknahaz" Special Kiddush / Havdalla Combo - When the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, the kiddush for the eve of the second day includes these five elements, in order: blessing on the wine, blessing on the sanctity ("kiddush") of the day, blessing on fire (as we do each week after Shabbos ends), Havadalah ("separation" blessing marking the close of the Shabbos), and the Shehecheyanu blessing. ("Yaknahaz" is an acronym for the Hebrew words for "Wine, Day, Candle, Separation, Season"). No smelling of spices are used.
• SHOFAR SUNDAY ONLY - The most important part of Rosh Hashana is that in the course of the morning and musaf service, the shofar (ram's horn) is sounded one hundred times, in various combinations of tekiah (a long blast), shevarim (a trio of broken sobs) and teruah (a staccato of short notes), in fulfillment of the primary mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The shofar serves to trumpet our coronation of G-d as King of the Universe, as a call to repentance, and to evoke the memory of the Binding of Isaac. Link: The Cry of the Shofar: Two Parables. Because the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat this year, the shofar is sounded on the 2nd day only.
• Tashlich - On Sunday afternoon, the Tashlich prayer service, in which we ask G-d to "cast away our sins in the depths of the sea", is recited at a body of water (sea, river, lake, pond, etc.) containing fish. Tashlich is postponed this year to the 2nd day of Rosh Hashana because of Shabbos. We will have a community 15 minute walk to Tashlich after the afternoon service at 6:00 pm.
• Fast of Gedalia - Monday is a fast day mourning the killing of Gedaliah, we abstain from food and drink from dawn to nightfall; selichot prayers are included in the morning prayer.

Upcoming Events:

DAYS OF AWE

• Fri.-Sun., Sept 15-17 - Rosh Hashana Services, Dinners and Luncheons - RSVP. Special Children's program lead by Elana Loftspring!
• Sun. Sept. 17, 6:00 pm - Rosh Hashana Mincha & Tashlich Walk
• Sun-Mon, Sept 24-25 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast - RSVP. Special Children's program lead by Elana Loftspring!

DAYS OF JOY

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 29-Oct. 1 - Sukkos Services www.chabaduptown.org/joy
• Friday, Sept 29 & Sat. Sept. 30, 8 pm - Community Sukkos Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
• Saturday, Sept 30, 8 pm - Moishe House & YJP Houston - Micasa Sukkasa Sukkot Holiday Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
• Tues., Oct. 3, 12-1:30 pm - Community Lunch & Learn: Spiritual Shelter: Finding Purpose in the Sukkah - RSVP
• Wed. Oct 4 - YJP & J-Hype Sukkos Smoke Shack Party - Young professionals Sukkah BBQ party with Authentic Texas Smoked Meat BBQ by the Kosher Smoke Shack, Open Bar, Great Music, Great People and Lulav & Etrog Shaking. Early Bird (till September 15) - $15 Use coupon code "smoke", Regular Ticket - $30, Can't wait to see you! - RSVP
• Friday, Oct. 6, 6:45 pm YJP First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
• Fri.-Sun., Oct. 6-8 - Simchas Torah www.chabaduptown.org/joy
• Sat. Oct. 7, 6:45 pm Saturday Night Alive! Dance Like a Star!

Shabbos & Rosh Hashana Schedule

Friday, September 15, 29 Elul
Special Selichot for Erev Rosh Hashana
No Tachanun, No Shofar
Hataras Nedarim, Visit Graves of Righteous

Rosh Hashana 5784
Friday, September 15
Light Holiday Candles at 7:09 pm
Community Evening Service 7:00 pm
Children's Program    7:00-8:30 pm
Community Holiday Dinner - RSVP required
-- Eat apples dipped in honey, head of a fish, pomegranates, Tzimmes and more

Shabbos, September 16, Rosh Hashana Day 1
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan    6:30 am
Community Morning Services    9:30 am
Children's Program    11:30 am-1:00 pm
No Shofar Service on Shabbos
Holiday Lunch Kiddush - RSVP     
Evening Service 7:00 pm
Light Holiday Candles AFTER 8:01 pm
Community Holiday Dinner - RSVP required
-- Eat new Fruit fo Shehechiyanu
      
Sunday, September 17, Rosh Hashana Day 2
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan    6:30 am
Community Morning Services    9:30 am
Children's Program    11:30 am-1:00 pm
Shofar Service    12:30 pm
Holiday Lunch Kiddush - RSVP     
Mincha Service 6:00 pm
Community Tashlich Walk 6:30 pm
Havdalla & Holiday Ends 8:00 pm

Monday, Tzom Gedalia, September 18, 3 Tishrei
Fast begins at 5:53 am
Shacharis with Torah Reading at 6:45 am
Mincha with Torah Reading at 7:00 pm
Fast Ends at 7:48 pm

Shana Tova and Good Shabbos!

This Tuesday, we will have our next popular Lunch & Learn, to discuss and make relevant the "Heart of Prayer", as we explore the spirit of prayer in time for the High Holidays. Please let us know if you plan on attending.

For 40 years, as the Jewish people wandered in the desert, Moses instilled within them steadfast faith in G-d and commitment to Torah’s ways. In this week’s Torah portion, Moses tells them that now, days before his own passing, they’ve finally reached the stage of Torah being practical and relevant to their lives.

Until that point, everything they were taught was still somewhat abstract. But Moses never gave up on them, trusting that they would eventually come around to recognizing the importance of living with the word of G-d in their everyday lives. Now, after four decades of learning from Moses, it finally happened; and from that point on, every Jew, in any generation and in every situation, can easily attain that closeness with G-d.

This is especially true as we look toward the High Holidays, when every Jew—regardless of how Torah observant they are throughout the year—has the opportunity to connect closely with G-d. All we need to do is show up and reap the benefits of this relationship.

Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

UPCOMING EVENT

• Tues., Sept 12, 12-1:30 pm - Community Lunch & Learn: Heart of Prayer: Explore the Spirit of Prayer in time for the High Holidays - RSVP

DAYS OF AWE

• Sun., Sept. 10 (AKA Sat. night Sept. 9) 1:15 am - Midnight Selichos Kickoff
• Fri.-Sun., Sept 15-17 - Rosh Hashana Services, Dinners and Luncheons - RSVP
• Sun-Mon, Sept 24-25 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast - RSVP

DAYS OF JOY

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 29-Oct. 1 - Sukkos Services
• Friday, Sept 29 & Sat. Sept. 30, 8 pm - Community Sukkos Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
• Saturday, Sept 30, 8 pm - Moishe House & YJP Houston - Micasa Sukkasa Sukkot Holiday Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
• Tues., Oct. 3, 12-1:30 pm - Community Lunch & Learn: Spiritual Shelter: Finding Purpose in the Sukkah - RSVP
• Wed. Oct 4 - YJP & J-Hype Sukkos Smoke Shack Party - Young professionals Sukkah BBQ party with Authentic Texas Smoked Meat BBQ by the Kosher Smoke Shack, Open Bar, Great Music, Great People and Lulav & Etrog Shaking. Early Bird (till September 15) - $15 Use coupon code "smoke", Regular Ticket - $30, Can't wait to see you! - RSVP
• Fri.-Sun., Oct. 6-8 - Simchas Torah

JOIN CHABAD OF UPTOWN FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

Chabad of Uptown looks forward to celebrating the holidays with you. Our doors are to the entire Jewish community to daven and to celebrate, regardless of background or affiliation. 

For the complete schedule of services, to RSVP for holiday dinners or lunches, visit www.chabaduptown.org/services.

Now is also the time to join or renew your voluntary membership to Chabad. Your partnership allows us to provide free, open and welcoming services to all, for the holidays and year round! www.chabaduptown.org/membership

Shabbos Selichos Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech

Friday, September 8, 22 Elul
Candle Lighting at 7:18 pm
Services at 7:30 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

Shabbos, September 9, 23 Elul
Shabbos "Mevarchim" Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
Study of Rebbe Teachings 6:30 pm
Mincha at 7:15 pm
Pirkei Avot Chapter 5 & 6
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 8:10 pm
Living Torah

Selichot at Chabad of Uptown will be after halachic midnight, this Saturday night at 1:15 am

Sunday, September 10, 24 Elul
Shacharis at 8:00 am

Monday-Friday, Sept 11-15, 25-29 Elul
Join Rabbi Chaim for Selichos and Shacharis at Chabad Lubavitch Center at 10900 Fondren Road
Minyan #1: 6:15 am: Selichos, 6:45 am: Shacharis
Minyan #2: 7:30 am: Selichos, 8:10 am: Shacharis

Good Shabbos!