Have you ever stood by a belief you knew was right, even when those around you disagreed? It takes courage to go against the crowd, especially when you feel alone.

This week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, introduces us to Abraham, the first Jew. The Torah calls him Avram Ha'Ivri, meaning "Abraham the Hebrew." The title Ivri comes from eiver, meaning "the other side." The Midrash explains that the entire world stood on one side, while Abraham stood on the other.

Abraham challenged the beliefs of his society and taught that life has a higher purpose and that we have a responsibility to bring goodness into the world.

Abraham could have given up. Instead, he remained committed to his beliefs, even when they made him an outsider. His courage reminds us that one person with strong convictions can change the world.

For Jews, this lesson continues to be relevant today. We all want to belong and feel accepted. Yet Jewish history reminds us that we cannot always count on others to stand with us. That can be discouraging, but it also clarifies what matters most.

Our response should never be to hide who we are. Instead, we should stand together, take pride in our Jewish identity, and live the values Abraham taught.

And here's something worth remembering: Abraham didn't change the world simply by believing differently. He changed it by doing differently.

He prayed. He gave generously. He studied and searched for deeper truths. He wasn't afraid to ask difficult questions, and he understood that spiritual growth means constantly working to become better.

That's what Jewish life is all about. And this coming week, we have six opportunities to follow in Abraham's footsteps.

• We begin Shabbos morning by exploring the deeper meaning of the Torah portion through Torah Or, the Alter Rebbe's classic Chassidic teachings.
• On Sunday evening, women will gather for Sparkle & Sushi, discovering the power of Tehillim and connecting through prayer.
• On Tuesday at noon, our Lunch & Learn explores Tzedaka: More Than Money, reminding us that generosity is about much more than what we give.
• Tuesday evening launches our six-week JLI course, Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You, exploring the mysteries of the soul and our deeper purpose in life.
• On Wednesday evening, YJP's Fascinating Facts asks some of Judaism's most intriguing questions: What is Satan's actual job? Does Judaism believe in the evil eye? And what do our traditions teach about angels and demons?
• And on Thursday evening, our Chassidus study of Derech Mitzvosecha explores confession and Teshuvah, reminding us that no matter where we stand today, we can always grow closer to Hashem.

Six opportunities. Six different ways to grow. One timeless lesson from Abraham: Judaism isn't just something we believe. It's something we live.

Abraham began with one person willing to make a difference. Four thousand years later, his example continues to inspire us to bring more light into the world, one good deed at a time.

Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie Lazaroff

THE COHEN CORNER
You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. 

The first time we meet Avraham in the Torah, Hashem commands him to leave his homeland and go to a place He will show him. Yet the Torah omits the first 75 years of Avraham’s life, when he discovered the One G-d at age three and dedicated his life to challenging the idolatrous world. Until Hashem revealed Himself to Avraham, it was Avraham who had discovered Hashem through his own intellect. But no matter how brilliant he was, his understanding was limited. He could not reach an infinite G-d through his own finite understanding. When Hashem revealed Himself, their relationship became something entirely different. It was no longer just a connection Avraham had discovered, but an infinite bond initiated by Hashem Himself.

The same is true of our connection to Hashem. It is not something we earn through knowledge or observance, but an inherent bond that goes beyond what we can understand. Sometimes, we hold back from a mitzvah because we don't feel connected to it or fully understand its meaning. But we don't need to understand the connection before acting on it. Choose one mitzvah to practice today, even if its deeper meaning isn't clear to you. The deeper understanding will come through the act itself.

Have a marvelous Shabbos!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

UPCOMING EVENTS & CLASSES

• Shabbos, Oct. 24, 9:00 am - Torah Or - Kabbala of the Parsha - Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Masterworks on the weekly Parsha.
• Sunday, Oct. 25, 6:30 pm - Sparkle & Sushi: Women's Tehillim Bedazzling Workshop - Discover the power of Tehillim while creating your own beautifully personalized Tehillim book to take home. Enjoy sushi, creativity, and inspiration! chabaduptown.org/bedazzle
• Tuesday, Oct. 27, 12:00 pm - Lunch & Learn: Tzedaka, More Than Money - RSVP chabaduptown.org/lunch
• 6 Tuesdays, Oct. 27-Dec.1, 7:30 pm - JLI Course: Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You - A six-session JLI course exploring reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, the mysteries of the soul, and how Kabbalah reveals the hidden design of your life. Course fee: $119. Register
• 2 Wednesday, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4, 7:30 pm  - YJP Fascinating Facts: Exploring the Myths and Mysteries of Judaism - Join CYP Academy for a fascinating 4-part course exploring surprising facts, myths, and mysteries of Jewish tradition. Dinner and textbook included. $36 for the course, complimentary for CHAI Club members. Complete the course and earn a $200 voucher toward a CYP trip or Encounter! yjphouston.org/facts
• Thursday, Oct. 29, 8:00 pm - Evening Chassidus- Derech Mitzvosecha - Mitzvah of Confession and Teshuvah
• Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30 pm - YJP November First Fridays Soupper Shabbat - Join YJP Houston in partnership with Moshe Pod for a cozy Shabbat dinner featuring delicious soups, fresh salads, and great company! Register before Thursday with the ADVANCE coupon for special pricing. yjphouston.org/soup

Mazel tov to Nathan & Nicole (Harari) Nakhmanovitch on the birth of a baby boy!

SHABBOS PARSHAS LECH LECHA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, MARCHESHVAN 12
6:25 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
6:30 pm Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 24, MARCHESHVAN 13
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush & Farbrengen
6:25 pm Mincha
Torah Study
7:28 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, MARCHESHVAN 14
8:00 am Shacharis

MON. & THURS., OCTOBER 26 & 29, MARCHESHVAN 15 & 18
6:45 am Shacharis

After weeks of beautiful Yomim Tovim, we finally experienced our first full week of ordinary life. Well, almost ordinary. We still had Rosh Chodesh, and of course, breakfast!

This week's Parshah, Noach, couldn't be more timely.

Noach and his family entered the teivah, the ark, finding shelter, strength, and protection from the storms outside. But the purpose of the ark was never to remain inside forever. Eventually, Noach had to open the doors, step back into the world, and begin rebuilding civilization for generations to come.

That is the beauty of a Jewish community. We come together in our own teivah, our shul, our Torah, our celebrations, and our friendships, to find strength and inspiration. But that strength is meant to accompany us when we step outside, into the everyday world, fulfilling the mission of "מלאו את הארץ וכבשוה", to fill the earth and transform it into a home for Hashem.

And this week, we saw exactly what that looks like.

On Rosh Chodesh, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast, including some absolutely incredible tarts lovingly prepared by Jessica in memory of Sarah bas Meir, mother of Rachel Minchen, who recently completed sitting shiva. Tsion and the crew couldn't get over how beautiful those tarts looked, and they tasted every bit as good! Thank you, Jessica, for bringing such sweetness and meaning to our morning.

We also witnessed the warmth of our community as so many came together to support the Terk family, both at the funeral and throughout the week of shiva. At moments like these, we are reminded that community isn't simply about coming together for celebrations. It's about showing up for one another through every chapter of life.

This Shabbos, we will also honor the memory of Leonard Goldberg, Shmuel ben Nosson, a"h, brother of Sarah Anne Goldstein and cousin of the Schultz family, whose yahrtzeit falls this Sunday, 7 Cheshvan.

A few of us visited his resting place this week, where we reflected on the beautiful legacy that continues in his name. We shared that the Sefer Torah dedicated in his memory is regularly read in our shul, and that this Shabbos we will once again read from it with his neshamah in mind.

When Sarah Anne dedicated that Torah, her vision was for it to inspire generations of young Jewish people to experience the joy of shul, Torah, and Yiddishkeit. And that is exactly what happens every week at Chabad of Uptown and YJP Houston.

What a remarkable legacy. A Torah that continues to be read, embraced, celebrated, and passed on to the next generation, surrounded by a community that shares in one another's joys and supports one another through life's challenges.

That is how we build a world after leaving the ark. 

After all, the ultimate purpose of all those beautiful Yomim Tovim is to bring their inspiration into the ordinary days that follow.

Please join us this Shabbos as we settle back into everyday life, where the real work, and the real beauty, of building Hashem's world begins.

Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie Lazaroff

THE COHEN CORNER
Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time. 

Parshat Noach tells the story of a man whose world was turned upside down. At 600 years old, Noach faced the destruction of the world and spent a year aboard the ark caring for his family and every kind of animal. Yet his name, Noach, means rest. How could someone who experienced such upheaval embody tranquility? Noach teaches us that peace is not determined by the circumstances around us, but by the faith we carry within us. Noach knew that even in the midst of chaos, he was not alone.

We may not have control over the storms life brings, but we can build a relationship with Hashem that gives us the strength to weather them. Find your daily moments of connection in the Morning Blessings, the nighttime Shema, or a few minutes of daily Torah Study. Go ahead and enter the ark Hashem has made available for you.

Have a stupendous Shabbos!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

UPCOMING EVENTS & CLASSES

• 3 Wednesday, October 21, 28 & November 4, 2026, 7:30 pm  - Fascinating Facts: Exploring the Myths and Mysteries of Judaism - Join CYP Academy for a fascinating 4-part course exploring surprising facts, myths, and mysteries of Jewish tradition. Dinner and textbook included. $36 for the course, complimentary for CHAI Club members. Complete the course and earn a $200 voucher toward a CYP trip or Encounter! yjphouston.org/facts
• Sunday, October 25, 2026, 6:30 pm - Sparkle & Sushi: Women's Tehillim Bedazzling Workshop - Discover the power of Tehillim while creating your own beautifully personalized Tehillim book to take home. Enjoy sushi, creativity, and inspiration! Early bird pricing ends October 21. chabaduptown.org/bedazzle
• Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 12:00 pm - Lunch & Learn: Tzedaka, More Than Money - RSVP chabaduptown.org/lunch
• 6 Tuesdays, Oct. 27-Dec.1, 2026, 7:30 pm - JLI Course: Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You - A six-session JLI course exploring reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, the mysteries of the soul, and how Kabbalah reveals the hidden design of your life. Course fee: $119. Register
• Friday, November 6, 2026, 6:30 pm - YJP November First Fridays Soupper Shabbat - Join YJP Houston in partnership with Moshe Pod for a cozy Shabbat dinner featuring delicious soups, fresh salads, and great company! Register before Thursday with the ADVANCE coupon for special pricing. yjphouston.org/soup

The Chabad community extends condolences to Arielle Terk Mesulaty, Eliav Terk, Ilanit Meckley and Ahuva Terk on the passing of their beloved mother and grandmother, Sara bat Zalman Rozin, z״l.

SHABBOS PARSHAS NOACH

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, MARCHESHVAN 5
6:30 pm Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat
6:32 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 17, MARCHESHVAN 5
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush & Farbrengen, sponsored in part by Sarah Ann Goldstein in memory and marking the yartzeit of Shmuel ben Nosson, obm
6:30 pm Mincha
Torah Study
7:25 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, MARCHESHVAN 5
8:00 am Shacharis

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 & 22, MARCHESHVAN 8 & 11
6:45 am Shacharis

SHABBOS BEREISHIS: THE WAY WE BEGIN IS THE WAY WE CONTINUE!

There is a well-known Chassidic saying: ווי מען שטעלט זיך שבת בראשית, אזוי גייט א גאנץ יאר. The way we establish ourselves on Shabbos Bereishis sets the tone for the entire year!

What an incredible month of Tishrei we have experienced! From the inspiration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to the joy of Sukkos and the dancing of Simchas Torah, we have filled ourselves with blessings, strength, and spiritual energy.

But now comes the real challenge: What do we do with everything we have gained?

The Rebbe taught that Tishrei is like a great marketplace where we acquire precious merchandise. We fill our bags with treasures, but when we return home, we must unpack them and put everything to use. Otherwise, what good are all those treasures sitting in our luggage?

Shabbos Bereishis is when we begin unpacking our bags! We take the inspiration of the holidays and bring it into our homes, our relationships, our Torah study, our mitzvos, and our everyday routines.

This is the meaning of ויעקב הלך לדרכו, "And Yaakov went on his way." The holidays may be behind us, but their inspiration travels with us. Each of us returns to our own path, bringing the holiness and joy of Tishrei into everything we do.

And we are already seeing that inspiration in action! This past Wednesday's Oct. 7 YJP Dinner, Class & Social was a wonderful indication of what's to come this year! The energy, meaningful conversation, and enthusiasm for learning showed us what happens when we carry the inspiration of the holidays into our weekly routines.

And we're just getting started!

We are excited to launch an all new CYP Academy course: FASCINATING FACTS! Exploring the Myths and Mysteries of Judaism Join the course: yjphouston.org/facts

And there's an exciting bonus! Complete the course and receive a $200 voucher toward the upcoming CYP Shabbaton in NYC! Even better, with your Academy voucher, you can register during Opening Week, October 12 to 19, for only $99! Shabbaton details: cypshabbat.nyc

And this Sunday and Monday are Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan! What better way to begin the first month after Tishrei than by putting our inspiration into action? Join us for our monthly Rosh Chodesh minyan and breakfast, starting the new month together with tefillah, friendship, and a delicious breakfast!

As we begin the Torah anew with Bereishis, let's begin our year with renewed commitment to learning, growing, connecting, and celebrating Jewish life together.

Because the real success of Tishrei isn't only how we celebrated the holidays. It's how we live the rest of the year!

Good Shabbos Bereishis! May this be the beginning of a wonderful year filled with blessings, joy, good health, meaningful connections, and revealed goodness for us all!

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie

THE COHEN CORNER
Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior.

We are constantly exposed to ideas and opinions, and even when we disagree with them, they can influence the way we think. In the first Torah portion, we read that after Adam and Chava ate from the Tree of Knowledge, Hashem banished them from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever. But why should eternal life suddenly become a problem?

Until they ate from the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Chava had been unaware of evil, but once they encountered it, that awareness became part of them. Human beings are inevitably influenced by what they experience, and allowing Adam and Chava to live forever would therefore mean granting permanence to the evil they had absorbed. Herein lies an important lesson about the influences we allow into our lives. We may think that negative ideas and experiences cease to affect us once we stop engaging with them, but in reality, whatever enters our consciousness leaves an impression. We must therefore be mindful of what we choose to see and hear, and seek out positive influences and good company, knowing that these experiences gradually shape who we become.

Have a fantastic Shabbos!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 4 Wednesday, October 14, 21, 28 & November 4, 2026, 7:30 pm  - Fascinating Facts: Exploring the Myths and Mysteries of Judaism - Join CYP Academy for a fascinating 4-part course exploring surprising facts, myths, and mysteries of Jewish tradition. Dinner and textbook included. $36 for the course, complimentary for CHAI Club members. Complete the course and earn a $200 voucher toward a CYP trip or Encounter! yjphouston.org/facts
• Sunday, October 25, 2026, 6:30 pm - Sparkle & Sushi: Women's Tehillim Bedazzling Workshop - Discover the power of Tehillim while creating your own beautifully personalized Tehillim book to take home. Enjoy sushi, creativity, and inspiration! Early bird pricing ends October 21. chabaduptown.org/bedazzle
• Friday, November 6, 2026, 6:30 pm - YJP November First Fridays Soupper Shabbat - Join YJP Houston in partnership with Moshe Pod for a cozy Shabbat dinner featuring delicious soups, fresh salads, and great company! Register before Thursday with the ADVANCE coupon for special pricing. yjphouston.org/firstfridays

The Chabad community extends condolences to Rachel Minchen on the passing of her mother, Sandy Poulin, Sarah bas Meir a"h

SHABBOS MEVARCHIM MARCHESHVAN, PARSHAS BEREISHIS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, TISHREI 28
6:40 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
6:40 pm Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 10, TISHREI 29
8:00 am Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim
9:30 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Haftarah Machar Chodesh
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush & Shabbos Mevarchm Farbrengen
6:40 pm Mincha
Torah Study
7:32 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

ROSH CHODESH MARCHESHVAN I, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, TISHREI 30
8:00 am Shacharis
Followed by monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast - Sponsorship Available

ROSH CHODESH MARCHESHVAN II, MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, MARCHESHVAN 1
6:45 am Shacharis
Followed by breakfast sponsored by Norman Lazarus

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, MARCHESHVAN 4
6:45 am Shacharis

What an incredible Sukkos it has been! From beautiful Sukkos dinners, to Simchas Beis Hashoeiva, Lunch & Learn, the men’s Sushi & Scotch social, Wednesday night Torah and dinner, the ladies’ Sukkot Mahjong night, and finally a packed house for our grand finale, Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot with YJP Houston, YAD and Olami. Night after night, Jews came together to eat, learn, laugh, celebrate and rejoice. (Complete photo albums will be posted eventually). And now comes the climax: Simchas Torah.

The Midrash describes Shemini Atzeres with the words נגלגל אני ואתה במה שתמצא, meaning that after the great seven day celebration of Sukkos, the King says to the one he loves: everyone else has gone, now stay with Me one more day, just you and Me, and we will celebrate with whatever we have. That is the deepest feeling of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah. After all the crowds and all the activity, Hashem says to every Jew: stay close to Me. This is not about how much Torah you know. On Simchas Torah the Torah is closed, held against our hearts, and every Jew dances equally. The scholar and the beginner, the deeply observant and the Jew just reconnecting. The bond is deeper than understanding. It is the bond between Hashem, the Torah and every Jewish soul.

And this year, we have so much to thank Hashem for. Just days ago, Flydubai Flight 1073 experienced a terrifying emergency in the cockpit, the plane plunged thousands of feet, the captain was injured, passengers and crew rushed forward, the attacker was restrained, off duty pilots helped take control, medical assistance was available onboard, the aircraft recovered and was able to land safely in Saudi Arabia. So many separate things had to happen, one after another, and nearly 180 people came through alive. We recognize the courage of the people involved, and we also look upward and say: Thank You, Hashem. Thank You for watching over Your children, for the miracles we see and the countless miracles we never even know about. Hashem is watching over us, Hashem wants us close, and Hashem wants to celebrate with us.

So after a month of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos and nonstop celebration, we are not finished yet. Now we dance. Now we hold the Torah close to our hearts. Now it is just us and Hashem. Join us for Simchas Torah and see the complete schedule at ChabadUptown.org/joy.

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie

THE COHEN CORNER
The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.

If you want to see what it means simply to be a Jew, come on Simchas Torah. We take the Torah while it is closed, wrapped and tied, and we dance with it. The scholar and the Jew who cannot read a word of Hebrew hold the same Torah and dance the same dance, because the Torah is the birthright of every Jew. Our bond with Hashem runs deeper than how much we know or how much we understand. On Simchas Torah we pause from analyzing that bond and simply celebrate it. We take the Torah into our arms and dance with Hashem.

Yesterday we saw a remarkable reminder that the relationship goes both ways. What happened on FlyDubai Flight 1073 was a moment when the protecting hand of Hashem was so clear that it is difficult to look at the sequence of events and see only coincidence. At precisely the right moments, the right people were there, the impossible became possible, and an entire plane of Jews walked away safely. Tomorrow night, when we take the Torah into our arms and dance, perhaps we can dance with a little more awareness of what that embrace means. We hold tightly to Hashem and His Torah, and yesterday we were reminded just how tightly Hashem holds on to us.

Have a euphoric Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

SHEMINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS TORAH
FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2
SHEMINI ATZERES
6:45 pm: Mincha & Evening Services
6:48 pm: Light Shabbos & Holiday Candles
Final day of the mitzvah of Lulav & Etrog until sunset.
YJP October First Fridays: Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition
Simchas Torah Warm Up, Brief Dancing & Dinner in the Sukkah
RSVP for First Fridays: YJPHouston.org/PinkAtzeres

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 3, 22 TISHREI
SHEMINI ATZERES
10:00 am: Morning Services
12:15 pm: Yizkor Memorial Service
Including a special service honoring the memory of those murdered in the October 7 massacre
Tefillas Geshem
Final opportunity to eat in the Sukkah
6:45 pm: SIMCHAS TORAH SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE!
Grand Hakafot & Family Celebration
Celebratory dancing, refreshments & tremendous Simchas Torah joy
Details: ChabadUptown.org/Joy
After 7:40 pm: Light Holiday Candles
Yaknehaz: Special Kiddush / Shabbos Havdalla Combination

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 23 TISHREI
SIMCHAS TORAH
10:00 am: Morning Services
Hakafot & Celebratory Dancing
Mincha after Musaf
7:00 pm: Seder Niggunim
7:39 pm: Maariv, Havdallah & Holiday Ends
Living Torah

MONDAY & THURSDAY, OCT. 5 & 8, TISHREI 24 & 27
6:45 am Shacharis

A whole group of Levi’s friends came to join us for Sukkos and bring even more Sukkos joy into our gigantic sukkah! And there is room for you too!

The Midrash teaches that the four species represent four kinds of Jews. The esrog, which has both taste and fragrance, represents the Jew who has both Torah and mitzvos. The lulav, hadassim and aravos represent Jews whose Torah learning or mitzvah observance may be stronger in one area than another, or may still be developing.

Yet on Sukkos, we bring everyone together.

The esrog, lulav, hadassim and aravos all become part of one mitzvah. And then we enter the sukkah, a mitzvah that surrounds every one of us completely. We walk in with our whole selves, even with our dirty shoes. Inside the sukkah, every Jew is equally surrounded by the mitzvah.

But there is something fascinating.

If the message is to bring all four kinds of Jews together, why is the esrog not actually tied together with the lulav, hadassim and aravos?

Chassidic thought explains that the esrog, representing the Jew who possesses both Torah and mitzvos, remains separate from the bundle. Yet it cannot remain distant. It must be held right alongside the other three species. It is close to them, connected to them, and through that closeness it helps elevate them.

Perhaps there is a powerful lesson here.

The Jew who is strong in Torah and mitzvos is not meant to withdraw from other Jews. Quite the opposite.

Be close to everyone. Love everyone. Bring everyone together. Connect, engage and influence.

But even while coming close, the esrog remains an esrog.

Never forget who you are, what you stand for and the Torah and mitzvos that define your life. When you find yourself in environments or activities that do not strengthen Torah and mitzvos, make sure that you are there to influence, not to be influenced, while remaining firmly connected to who you really are.

That is true Jewish unity. Not becoming identical, but standing close enough to strengthen one another while each remains rooted in who they are.

This year, because the first day of Sukkos is Shabbos, we begin shaking the lulav and esrog on Sunday, the second day of Sukkos.

Stop by, come into the sukkah, shake the lulav and esrog, and add your own Sukkos joy. The complete schedule is below and on www.chabaduptown.org/sukkotschedule

There is always room for one more Jew in the sukkah!

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie

THE COHEN CORNER
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.

Most people think that getting out into nature means going backward. We leave behind our homes, our technology and the complexity of modern life, and return to something simpler and more primitive. At first glance, Sukkos seems to do exactly that. The Torah tells us that the sukkah reminds us of the Jewish people traveling through the desert, protected from the elements by Hashem’s miraculous Clouds of Glory. Thousands of years later, we leave our permanent homes, sit beneath branches and recreate that ancient experience. It seems like Sukkos is asking us to step out of the present and return, for a week, to our past. But there is a deeper message hidden in that return.

The sukkah is pushing us forward. Our permanent homes represent stability, security and routine, all of which are valuable, but they can also convince us that where we are is where we need to remain. The sukkah removes that illusion. We step outside the walls that make life feel settled and remember that we are still on a journey. There is still somewhere to go, something to become, and a world still waiting to be made more G-dly through one more intentional action.

Have a joyous Sukkos!
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Fri. & Sat. Sept. 25 & 26, 7 pm -  Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
• Tues. Sept. 29, 12 pm - Sukkot Lunch & Learn - Enjoy an upscale lunch in the Sukkah with like-minded friends for a spirited Torah class and meaningful discussion.
• Tues. Sept. 29, 7 pm - Sukkot Men's Social: Sushi & Scotch in the Sukkah - Join us in the Sukkah for a relaxed guys’ night with fresh sushi, a great selection of Scotch, and plenty of good company. Enjoy a l’chaim, catch up with friends, meet some new faces, and spend a great Sukkos evening together under the schach.. chabaduptown.org/guys
• Wed. Sept. 30. 8 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social - In the Sukkah! www.yjphouston.org/wednesdays
• Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm - Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot w/ YJP, YAD & Olami - Join young professionals in their twenties and thirties for an evening of magic, dinner, drinks and joy in the Sukkah under the Stars! www.yjphouston.org
• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

SUKKOS, CHOL HAMOED & SIMCHAS TORAH SCHEDULE
14-23 TISHREI 5787 | SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 4, 2026

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 14 TISHREI
EREV SUKKOT
6:56 pm: Light Shabbat & Holiday Candles
7:00 pm: Mincha & Evening Services
Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars
RSVP: ChabadUptown.org/sukkotdinner

SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 26, 15 TISHREI
SUKKOT DAY 1
Lulav & Etrog are not used on Shabbos
9:00 am: Chassidus Torah Study
10:00 am: Morning Services
Kiddush Lunch in the Sukkah
7:00 pm: Mincha & Evening Services
After 7:49 pm: Light Holiday Candles
Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars
RSVP: ChabadUptown.org/sukkotdinner
Yaknehaz: Special Kiddush / Shabbos Havdalla Combination

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 16 TISHREI
SUKKOT DAY 2
7:13 am: Sunrise & Earliest Time for Lulav & Etrog
9:00 am: Chassidus Torah Study
10:00 am: Morning Services
Kiddush Lunch in the Sukkah
A Lulav & Etrog will be available for public use
7:00 pm: Mincha & Evening Services
7:47 pm: Maariv, Havdallah & Holiday Ends
Living Torah

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 17 TISHREI
CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT DAY 1
7:00 am: Shacharis
7:14 am: Sunrise & Earliest Time for Lulav & Etrog
A Lulav & Etrog will be available for public use

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 18 TISHREI
CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT DAY 2
7:00 am: Shacharis
7:14 am: Sunrise & Earliest Time for Lulav & Etrog
A Lulav & Etrog will be available for public use
12:00 pm: Sukkot Lunch & Learn RSVP: ChabadUptown.org/lunch
6:45 pm: Guys Sushi & Scotch in the Sukkah RSVP: ChabadUptown.org/guys

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 19 TISHREI
CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT DAY 3
7:00 am: Shacharis
7:15 am: Sunrise & Earliest Time for Lulav & Etrog
A Lulav & Etrog will be available for public use
8:00 pm: YJP Dinner, Class & Social in the Sukkah YJPHouston.org/wednesdays

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 20 TISHREI
CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT DAY 4
7:00 am: Shacharis
7:15 am: Sunrise & Earliest Time for Lulav & Etrog
A Lulav & Etrog will be available for public use
6:30 pm: Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot with YJP, YAD & Olami RSVP: YJPHouston.org/SukkotSmoke

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 21 TISHREI
HOSHANA RABBAH
7:00 am: Shacharis Hoshana Rabba Special Service
7:16 am: Sunrise & Earliest Time for Lulav & Etrog
Final day of the mitzvah. A Lulav & Etrog will be available for public use.

SHEMINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS TORAH
FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2
SHEMINI ATZERES
6:45 pm: Mincha & Evening Services
6:48 pm: Light Shabbos & Holiday Candles
YJP October First Fridays: Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition
Simchas Torah Warm Up, Brief Dancing & Dinner in the Sukkah
RSVP for First Fridays: YJPHouston.org/PinkAtzeres

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 3, 22 TISHREI
SHEMINI ATZERES
10:00 am: Morning Services
12:15 pm: Yizkor Memorial Service
Including a special service honoring the memory of those murdered in the October 7 massacre
Tefillas Geshem
Final opportunity to eat in the Sukkah
6:45 pm: SIMCHAS TORAH SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE!
Grand Hakafot & Family Celebration
Celebratory dancing, refreshments & tremendous Simchas Torah joy
Details: ChabadUptown.org/Joy
After 7:40 pm: Light Holiday Candles
Yaknehaz: Special Kiddush / Shabbos Havdalla Combination

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 23 TISHREI
SIMCHAS TORAH
10:00 am: Morning Services
Hakafot & Celebratory Dancing
Mincha after Musaf
7:00 pm: Seder Niggunim
7:39 pm: Maariv, Havdallah & Holiday Ends
Living Torah

What a beautiful beginning to 5787!

Our Rosh Hashanah Community and Sefardi services were filled to overflowing, with an incredible crowd coming together to daven, hear the shofar, celebrate Yom Tov, and begin the new year as one community.

A special thank you to Chazzan Daniel Gavin for beautifully leading the davening, to Sara Tehilla, Elana, and Chanale for the wonderful children’s programs, and to Chanie for the decadent Yom Tov meals that brought everyone together around the table.

The photo captures some of those who stayed together after services for Havdalah and Living Torah, one more special moment of learning and connection at the close of a beautiful day.

Now, during Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Teshuvah, the focus turns inward.

This weekend is Shabbos Shuva, the special Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a time to think more deeply about what Teshuvah is really about. Not simply looking back at what we may have done wrong, but returning to who we truly are, strengthening our relationship with Hashem, and preparing ourselves to enter Yom Kippur with greater meaning and purpose.

Below you will find the complete schedule and customs for Shabbos Shuva and Yom Kippur. We hope you will join us for Sunday & Monday for Kol Nidrei, Yizkor, Neilah, Break the Fast, and throughout these sacred days.

Gmar Chasima Tova. May we all be sealed for a good and sweet year.

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie

THE COHEN CORNER
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

In this week’s parsha, Haazinu, Moshe says that Hashem “found” the Jewish people in the desert. Of course, Hashem knew exactly where they were. He had led them there. Rashi explains that what Hashem “found” was something within the Jewish people: a depth of faith they had never been called upon to show before. They followed Hashem into an empty and uncertain desert, trusting Him beyond what reason alone could justify. Sometimes it takes an unfamiliar or demanding situation to reveal just how deep a relationship really runs.

The same is true of our Judaism. It is easy to connect when Judaism is comfortable or inspiring. Real growth asks us to discover something more within ourselves. As we begin a new year, each of us can identify an area of Jewish life that represents a personal stretch, whether quantitatively, by doing more, or qualitatively, by bringing greater depth and commitment to what we already do. Sometimes we only discover what we are capable of when we reach beyond where we are today.

Have a marvelous Shabbos!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

• Mazel tov to Yehoshua & Sigal (Melnik) Rothman on the birth of a baby boy!
• We send sincere condolences to Seth & Rivka Weisberg on the passing of her mother.

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 the Yom Kippur Break Fast, Sukkot 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

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Sun.-Mon., Sept. 20-21 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
• Wednesday, September 23, 8:00 pm - YJP & Moishe Pod Wednesday Dinner, Class & Social
• Fri. & Sat. Sept. 25 & 26, 7 pm -  Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
• Tues. Sept. 29, 12 pm - Sukkot Lunch & Learn - Enjoy an upscale lunch in the Sukkah with like-minded friends for a spirited Torah class and meaningful discussion.
• Tues. Sept. 29, 7 pm - Sukkot Men's Social: Sushi & Scotch in the Sukkah - Join us in the Sukkah for a relaxed guys’ night with fresh sushi, a great selection of Scotch, and plenty of good company. Enjoy a l’chaim, catch up with friends, meet some new faces, and spend a great Sukkos evening together under the schach.. chabaduptown.org/guys
• Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm - Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot w/ YJP, YAD & Olami - Join young professionals in their twenties and thirties for an evening of magic, dinner, drinks and joy in the Sukkah under the Stars! www.yjphouston.org
• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

SHABBOS SHUVA & YOM KIPPUR SCHEDULE & CUSTOMS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, TISHREI 7
7:00 pm Mincha & Shabbos Service
7:05 pm Shabbat Candle Lighting

• Custom to Light 24 hr "Teshuvah Candle"

Followed by  Shabbat Dinner, RSVP

SHABBOS SHUVA, SEPTEMBER 19, TISHREI 8
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Shabbos Shuva Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen 
7:05 pm Mincha
Study of Laws of Yom Kippur & Sukkot
7:57 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

YOM KIPPUR 5787
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, TISHREI 9

• After 3 am & before 5:54 am ideal time for Kapparos (with money) 

8:00 am Shacharis
No Mizmor Lesoda, Tachanun or Avinu Malkeinu in Shacharis

• Ask for Lekach
• Men Receive Malkus
• Men's Mikvah (10900 Fondren Rd) 9 am - 6 pm. Non-members $5/adult, $2/child, $2 Towel
• Before Chatzos, 1:14 pm, eat Festive Meal with Challah dipped in honey & fish.

2:00 pm Mincha with Al Chet

• Eat festive meal with Kreplach
• Light 24 hour "Living Candle" for whole Family
• Light an additional 24 hour Yizkor Candle for those who say Yizkor

7:03 pm Light Holiday Candles and Fast Begins
Blessings: Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom HaKippurim & Shehechiyanu

7:00 pm Kol Nidrei
Simultaneous Main & Sefardi Services
7:00-8:30 pm Children’s Program

• Five YK Restrictions: No Eating or Drinking, Washing Body, Lotions, Leather Shoes or Intimacy

YOM KIPPUR, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, TISHREI 10
7:00 am Sefardi Sunrise Minyan
9:30 am Community Morning Service
11:30 am-1:00 pm Children’s Program
12:30 pm Yizkor Memorial Service
4:30 pm Sefardi Mincha
6:00 pm Mincha Afternoon Service
7:00 pm Neilah Closing Service
7:55 pm Havdallah and Fast Ends
Break the Fast Buffet following Services, RSVP required

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, TISHREI 13
6:45 am Shacharis

As we stand at the doorway of a new year, we want to pause for a moment and say something from the heart.

A community is not built by one person, one family, or even one group of people. It is built by every individual who chooses to be part of it.

Some give generously. Some volunteer their time. Some help organize, cook, set up, clean up, teach, encourage, introduce a friend, or quietly lend a hand when it is needed. Some come every week, and some we may not see nearly as often as we would like.

But every one of you matters.

Sometimes, even when you are not physically here, simply knowing that you are part of this community, that you care, that you are connected, and that we can count on one another makes a real difference.

We feel deeply grateful for the privilege of sharing this community with you. The friendships, the simchas, the challenges, the ordinary moments and the special ones all weave together into something that feels like family.

As Rosh Hashanah begins, we want to wish you and your family a Kesiva Vachasima Tova, L’Shana Tova U’Mesukah.

Please join us at 12:15 pm on Sunday as we stand together as a community to hear the shofar blown.

May this longest possible complete year be filled to the max with Hashem’s brachos. May every bracha you are hoping for, every tefillah you are carrying in your heart, and every good thing you wish for your family be fulfilled in the fullest and sweetest way.

Thank you for being part of our community. It truly would not be the same without you.

With much love,

Rabbi Chaim and Chanie

THE COHEN CORNER
New Year’s resolutions are familiar, and Rosh Hashanah similarly calls us to make positive resolutions in Torah and mitzvot. Yet we know how quickly resolutions can disappear. The problem is that most resolutions are based on what we want for ourselves. We want to be healthier, more productive, or more fulfilled. But human desires constantly compete. The person who sincerely decides to wake up early and exercise can wake up the next morning and sincerely decide that sleep is much more important. When one personal desire motivates a commitment, another personal desire can easily override it.

Teshuvah approaches change differently. It is not simply the desire to become a better version of myself, but the recognition that I am here to serve Hashem and can serve Him better than I have until now. When the commitment is about what Hashem wants from me, it is no longer competing with every other thing I happen to want that day. So choose one practical commitment this Rosh Hashanah: make Kiddush every Friday night, study the daily portion of Chumash, or volunteer to help the less fortunate. There will be days when we don't particularly feel like it. But when the commitment is rooted in what Hashem wants from us, it no longer depends on whether we feel inspired that day. That is how the inspiration of Rosh Hashanah can become something we carry with us throughout the year.

K’siva Vachasima Tova, L’Shana Tova Umesuka!
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

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

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 11-13 - FREE Rosh Hashana Services, RSVP for Dinner and Luncheons
• Wednesday, September 16, 8:00 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social
• Sun.-Mon., Sept. 20-21 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
• Fri. & Sat. Sept. 25 & 26, 7 pm -  Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
• Tues. Sept. 29, 12 pm - Sukkot Lunch & Learn - Enjoy an upscale lunch in the Sukkah with like-minded friends for a spirited Torah class and meaningful discussion.
• Tues. Sept. 29, 7 pm - Sukkot Men's Social: Sushi & Scotch in the Sukkah - Join us in the Sukkah for a relaxed guys’ night with fresh sushi, a great selection of Scotch, and plenty of good company. Enjoy a l’chaim, catch up with friends, meet some new faces, and spend a great Sukkos evening together under the schach..
• Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm - Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot w/ YJP, YAD & Olami - Join young professionals in their twenties and thirties for an evening of magic, dinner, drinks and joy in the Sukkah under the Stars! www.yjphouston.org
• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, ELUL 29
7:14 pm Light Holiday & Shabbat Candles

• Blessings: Shel Shabbat V'Shel Yom Hazikaron & Shehechiyanu

7:15 pm Community Evening Service
7:15-8:45 pm Children’s Program
Community Holiday Dinner following Services, RSVP required

• Hamotzi Dipped in Honey, then Apples Dipped in Honey
• Eat from the Head of FIsh and Pomegranate in Meal

SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 12, TISHREI 1
FIRST DAY ROSH HASHANAH
6:30 am Sefardi Sunrise Minyan
9:30 am Community Morning Services
11:30 am-1:00 pm Children’s Program

• No Shofar Service on Shabbos

Holiday Lunch Kiddush, RSVP

• Hamotzi Dipped in Honey

7:00 pm Mincha Service

• AFTER 8:06 pm Light Holiday Candles from an existing flame, with the New Fruit present and in mind for Shehechiyanu. (Blessings: Shel Yom Hazikaron & Shehechiyanu)

8:06 pm Community Evening Service
Community Holiday Dinner following Services, RSVP required

• Special Rosh Hashana Kiddush with Havdalla with New Fruit Present and in mind for Shehechiyanu
• Before Hamotzi, Eat New Fruit. Hamotzi Dipped in Honey.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, TISHREI 2
SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH
6:30 am Sefardi Sunrise Minyan
9:30 am Community Morning Services
11:30 am-1:00 pm Children’s Program
Approx. 12:15 pm Shofar Service
Holiday Lunch Kiddush, RSVP

• Hamotzi Dipped in Honey

6:15 pm Mincha Service
6:45 pm Community Tashlich Walk
8:05 pm Maariv, Havdallah and Holiday Ends

• Havdallah with wine only, no spices or flame

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, TISHREI 3
TZOM GEDALIAH
5:50 am Fast Begins
6:45 am Shacharis with Torah Reading
7:00 pm Mincha with Torah Reading
7:52 pm Fast Ends

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, TISHREI 6
6:45 am Shacharis

The Bee Stings. So Why Is Honey the Symbol of a Sweet New Year?

One of the most familiar traditions of Rosh Hashanah is dipping an apple into honey and saying, “May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year.”

But why an apple? Why specifically bee honey? If the goal is simply sweetness, why not dip a grape in sugar or a peach in date honey?

The apple carries a message. When our forefather Jacob entered to receive the blessings from his father Isaac, Isaac said, “The fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field blessed by G-d.” Our sages explain that the fragrance of the Garden of Eden entered with Jacob. Jewish mystical teaching describes this realm as a holy apple orchard.

The apple therefore represents more than taste. It recalls Jacob’s blessing and expresses our hope for a year filled with warmth, harmony and closeness to G-d. It symbolizes blessings we recognize immediately, such as good health, loving family, meaningful friendships, peace and success.

Yet the apple is already sweet. Why dip it into bee honey rather than date honey?

Date honey comes from a naturally sweet fruit. Bee honey comes from a creature that can sting. Remarkably, the very creature capable of causing pain also produces extraordinary sweetness. The sting is not a problem with the symbolism. It is the heart of it.

Bee honey represents transformation. It reminds us that G-d can not only bring sweetness into our lives, but can also transform what might otherwise sting into revealed blessing. Some experiences begin with disappointment or pain, yet later awaken strength, deepen relationships or open unexpected doors.

Still, Judaism does not ask us to seek hardship or pretend that pain is pleasant. Quite the opposite. We ask for goodness that is clear and immediately recognizable.

That is why we pray for both a “good” and a “sweet” year. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s father, explained that something may be good in its spiritual source without feeling sweet to the person experiencing it. On Rosh Hashanah, we ask for more. We pray for health that feels healthy, relationships filled with visible joy, livelihood without anxiety and opportunities accompanied by clarity and peace of mind.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe also drew a lesson from the bee itself. The bee has a stinger, but its primary purpose is to produce honey. The same should be true of us. Our defining purpose should be to create sweetness, to help, encourage and bring people closer. Firmness may sometimes be necessary, but it should never become who we are.

Perhaps this is why we dip the apple into honey. The apple represents blessings that are sweet from the beginning. The honey represents the power to transform what might otherwise sting.

As we perform this simple custom, we ask for goodness we can see, feel, share and celebrate. May the coming year be good, visibly good and genuinely sweet for us all.

No Jew should be alone on Rosh Hashanah. At Chabad of Uptown, our doors are always open, and you are warmly invited to join us as we welcome the new year together and make the holiday a little sweeter. Check out the full schedule of programming at chabaduptown.org/celebrate

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie Lazaroff

THE COHEN CORNER
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn

In Moshe’s final words to the Jewish people, he teaches them two mitzvos that answer one question: how will Judaism remain alive long after the generation of Sinai is gone? Hakhel gathered the entire nation in Yerushalayim to hear the Torah from the king and relive Sinai, as though the Torah were being given to them at that moment. But Hakhel happened only once in seven years. How could that experience remain alive wherever a Jew might be? The final mitzvah of the Torah provides the answer: write a Torah scroll of your own and keep it with you. Hakhel recreated our national encounter with Hashem; the Sefer Torah makes that encounter personal, bringing Sinai into our own home and life.

There is a Judaism we can know, respect and even practice, yet still experience from the outside, like something studied in a laboratory. And then there is a Judaism that becomes our own story. On this final Shabbos of the year, perhaps we should ask ourselves: Did my Judaism become more mine this year? Was there a moment when Torah spoke directly to me, when a mitzvah became something I genuinely valued? As we enter a new year, the goal is to experience the Judaism we inherited deeply enough that it truly becomes our own. That is how Judaism remains alive.

Have an inspiring Shabbos!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen

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

THIS WEEK AT CHABAD:

• Shabbos, Sept 5, 9:30 am - Likkutei Torah - Kabbala of the Parsha - Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Masterworks on the weekly Parsha.
• Wednesday, September 9, 8:00 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social
• Thursday, September 10, 8:00 pm - Evening Chassidus

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 11-13 - FREE Rosh Hashana Services, RSVP for Dinner and Luncheons
• Sun.-Mon., Sept. 20-21 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
• Fri. & Sat. Sept. 25 & 26, 7 pm -  Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
• Tues. Sept. 29, 12 pm - Sukkot Lunch & Learn - Enjoy an upscale lunch in the Sukkah with like-minded friends for a spirited Torah class and meaningful discussion.
• Tues. Sept. 29, 7 pm - Sukkot Men's Social: Sushi & Scotch in the Sukkah - Join us in the Sukkah for a relaxed guys’ night with fresh sushi, a great selection of Scotch, and plenty of good company. Enjoy a l’chaim, catch up with friends, meet some new faces, and spend a great Sukkos evening together under the schach..
• Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm - Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot w/ YJP, YAD & Olami - Join young professionals in their twenties and thirties for an evening of magic, dinner, drinks and joy in the Sukkah under the Stars! www.yjphouston.org
• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

SHABBOS SELICHOS PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYELECH

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, ELUL 22
7:22 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
7:30 pm Mincha & Shabbat Services
RSVP for Sweet & Sour Sept. First Fridays Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/sweetsour

SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 5, ELUL 23
8:00 am Shabbos "Mevarchim" Tehillim
9:30 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Shabbos Selichos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen 
7:20 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 5 & 6
8:15 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

SELICHOS
Saturday night, Sept. 5 / Sunday, Sept 6
Farbrengen at 11 pm
Selichos at 1:15 am

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, ELUL 24
8:00 am Shacharis

MONDAY & THURSDAY, SEPT. 7 & 10, ELUL 18 & 21
6:15 am Selchos
6:45 am Shacharis

During the month of Elul:
We reciting Psalm 27, L’David Hashem Ori, daily
We blow the Elul shofar after Shacharis each day through Erev Rosh Hashanah.
We recite the daily chapters of Tehillim as divided by the Baal Shem Tov for the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur.

Friday, Erev Roshana, Sept. 11: Selichos, No Tachanun, No Shofar, Hataras Nedarim (Annulment of Vows)

New Year. New Beginning.

School is back, routines are starting again, and Rosh Hashanah is just around the corner. What better way to get ready than with a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos together?

This Shabbos, join us for a special Community Shabbaton with Rabbi Yechiel Krisch, “When Science Meets Ultimate Power.” Friday night we will explore Can Science Prove G-d? and at Shabbos lunch, The Nuclear Question, looking at nuclear power through a Torah lens.

And we cannot have a complete Shabbaton without YOU!

A heartfelt thank you to our Shabbaton sponsors: the Benjaminov Family, in honor of the community; the Pfrenger Family and Daniel Casslasy in memory of Yona David ע״ה ben Yaffa; the Mesulati Family, in memory of Fortuna bat Gemila; and the Van Dam Family, for a refuah shleima for Moshe ben Arieh.

Looking forward to having you join us this Shabbos! www.chabaduptown.org/shabbaton

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie Lazaroff

THE COHEN CORNER
The way to love anything is to realize it may be lost.

The tribe of Levi always occupied a unique place within the Jewish people. They were set aside for Divine service and Torah study, and while every other tribe would receive a portion of the Land of Israel, the tribe of Levi would not. “Hashem is their inheritance.” That distinction could easily leave an ordinary Jew wondering whether closeness to Hashem really belonged to everyone equally. So when Moshe, on the final day of his life, gave the Torah scroll specifically to the tribe of Levi, the Jewish people objected. We also stood at Sinai. The Torah is ours too. Moshe was thrilled. Their protest revealed that Judaism had become personal to them. They could no longer tolerate the thought that Torah might belong more to someone else than to themselves.

This message begs us to reflect: What really matters to us? The answer is often found less in what we say and more in where we express passion, what we participate in regularly, and what we make room for even when life gets busy. Where does Judaism fit into that picture? Do we approach Shabbat dinner as something meaningful that we want to be part of, or as a burden to fit in when convenient? The Jews in the desert cared enough to protest when they feared Torah might not fully belong to them. Their reaction challenges us to do the same.

Have a fantastic Shabbos!

Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka and Mendel Cohen

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

CHABAD IN PHOTOS:

• A beautiful evening of food, friendship and inspiration as women from across Houston gathered for our annual Pre Rosh Hashana Cooking Demo. We enjoyed delicious recipes, great company and meaningful ideas to help us prepare for a sweet and meaningful New Year. CLICK FOR PHOTOS
• Residents at Brookdale Galleria got into the Rosh Hashana spirit with a special Honey Cake Bake. Together we mixed, baked and shared the sweetness of the upcoming New Year, along with warm conversation, Jewish tradition and plenty of smiles CLICK FOR PHOTOS

THIS WEEK AT CHABAD:

• Friday, August 28, 8:30 PM and Shabbos, August 29, 1:00 PM – Community Shabbaton: When Science Meets Ultimate Power with Guest Rabbi Yechiel Krisch - Explore a rational case for G-d and a Torah perspective on nuclear power over Friday night dinner and Kiddush lunch. RSVP required.  www.chabaduptown.org/shabbaton
• Shabbos, August 29, 9:00 am - Likkutei Torah - Kabbala of the Parsha - Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Masterworks on the weekly Parsha.
• Monday, Aug. 31, 7:00 pm – Building a New Day Benefit Dinner – Celebrate nearly 50 years of Jewish education in Houston, honor community leaders, and help launch the next chapter of the Chabad Lubavitch Educational Campus. BuildingANewDay.com
• Tuesday, September 1, 12:00 pm - Lunch & Learn: Tehillim, Faith in Uncertain Times - RSVP at chabaduptown.org/lunch.
• Wednesday, September 2, 7:00 PM – Grand Challah Bake - A pre-Rosh Hashanah evening of braiding, bonding and live music. A joint partnership of the Chabad centers in Uptown, Bellaire and Medical Center. RSVP at GrandChallahBake.com
• Wednesday, September 2, 8:00 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social
• Thursday, September 3, 8:00 pm - Evening Chassidus
• Friday, Sept. 4, 7:30 pm -  September First Fridays: Sweet & Sour Shabbat - Join Young Jewish Professionals for a Sweet & Sour themed Shabbat dinner at YJP Houston with great food, new friends, and a lively Shabbat atmosphere. www.yjphouston.org/sweetsour

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 11-13 - FREE Rosh Hashana Services, RSVP for Dinner and Luncheons
• Sun.-Mon., Sept. 20-21 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
• Fri. & Sat. Sept. 25 & 26, 7 pm -  Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
• Tues. Sept. 29, 12 pm - Sukkot Lunch & Learn - Enjoy an upscale lunch in the Sukkah with like-minded friends for a spirited Torah class and meaningful discussion.
• Tues. Sept. 29, 7 pm - Sukkot Men's Social: Sushi & Scotch in the Sukkah - Join us in the Sukkah for a relaxed guys’ night with fresh sushi, a great selection of Scotch, and plenty of good company. Enjoy a l’chaim, catch up with friends, meet some new faces, and spend a great Sukkos evening together under the schach..
• Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm - Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot w/ YJP, YAD & Olami - Join young professionals in their twenties and thirties for an evening of magic, dinner, drinks and joy in the Sukkah under the Stars! www.yjphouston.org
• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

SHABBOS PARSHAS KI SAVO

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, ELUL 15
7:30 pm Mincha & Shabbat Services
7:31 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner with Guest Rabbi Yechiel Krisch chabaduptown.org/shabbaton
Topic: Can Science Prove G-d?
Shabbaton Sponsored by the Benjaminov Family, in honor of the community; the Pfrenger Family and Daniel Casslasy in memory of Yona David ע״ה ben Yaffa; the Mesulati Family, in memory of Fortuna bat Gemila; and the Van Dam Family, for a refuah shleima for Moshe ben Arieh

SHABBOS, AUGUST 29, ELUL 16
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen with Guest Rabbi Yechiel Krisch
Topic: The Nuclear Question
7:30 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 3 & 4
8:24 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, ELUL 17
8:00 am Shacharis

MONDAY & THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 & SEPT. 1, ELUL 18 & 21
6:45 am Shacharis

During the month of Elul:
We reciting Psalm 27, L’David Hashem Ori, daily
We blow the Elul shofar after Shacharis each day through Erev Rosh Hashanah.
We recite the daily chapters of Tehillim as divided by the Baal Shem Tov for the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur.

After an extraordinary week in Israel, we returned home to Houston and jumped right back into the energy of Elul.

It was wonderful to have so many women together last night for our Pre Rosh Hashanah Cooking Class, and now, hello from New York, where a group of the guys is heading into a special Shabbos together at the Ohel.

This week’s parsha, Ki Seitzei, tells us, “Ki sivneh bayis chadash” — “When you build a new home.”

The Torah goes on to tell us that even before the home is complete, we have to think about how it will be lived in and make the proper preparations.

That feels very much like Elul.

The new year has not started yet, but this is our time to prepare for it. To think about what we want the coming year to look like and what we can do now to begin building it that way.

For us, that preparation has taken a few different forms this week. Coming home inspired from Israel. Women gathering together to prepare for Rosh Hashanah. And now a group of men spending Shabbos at the Ohel.

Rosh Hashanah may still be a few weeks away, but the building of the new year has already begun.

Wishing you a good Shabbos and a meaningful Elul.

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie Lazaroff

P.S. 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.

P.P.S. 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

THE COHEN CORNER
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

“When you go out to battle against your enemy, and G-d delivers him into your hands…” Our parsha begins with an important sequence. First, you go out to battle. Then Hashem delivers the enemy into your hands. Anxiety can reverse that order. We want to know that we will succeed before we are willing to act. When we cannot see that certainty, we retreat into our own mental fortress. What was meant to protect us from failure can become the very thing preventing us from moving forward.

The Torah says we go al oyvecha, “over your enemy,” rather than simply “against” it. Chassidic teachings explain that we enter the struggle already knowing that we have the advantage. If Hashem placed this challenge before us, then the challenge itself is part of our path and we have been given what we need to meet it. The practical work is getting ourselves off the diving board. Instead of waiting for certainty, identify what fear is keeping you stuck and take the first real step anyway. Once we move forward, we create the space for the Divine assistance that the verse promises.

Have an empowering Shabbos!

Have a joyous Shabbos! 
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka and Mendel Cohen

UPCOMING CLASSES:

• Wednesday, August 26, 8:00 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social
• Tuesday, September 1, 12:00 pm - Lunch & Learn: Tehillim, Faith in Uncertain Times - RSVP at chabaduptown.org/lunch.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Shabbos Weekend, August 21-23 - Men’s Shabbos at the Ohel - Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, this Shabbos is a chance to recharge, reflect, and connect with the Rebbe’s timeless vision during an inspiring weekend of Jewish growth and brotherhood.
• Sunday, August 23, 12:30 pm - FCYA Shofar Factory with Friends - Create it, blow it, own it! Join volunteers of YJP Houston with FCYA (Friendship Circle of Houston - Young Adults) to fabricate shofars together with Young Adults with special needs for a morning of fun, camaraderie and integration. $10 prepaid with coupon code “advance,” $18 at the door. RSVP at yjphouston.org/fcyashofar.
• Friday, August 28, 8:30 PM and Shabbos, August 29, 1:00 PM – Community Shabbaton: When Science Meets Ultimate Power with Guest Rabbi Yechiel Krisch - Explore a rational case for G-d and a Torah perspective on nuclear power over Friday night dinner and Kiddush lunch. RSVP required.
• Wednesday, September 2, 7:00 PM – Grand Challah Bake - A pre-Rosh Hashanah evening of braiding, bonding and live music. A joint partnership of the Chabad centers in Uptown, Bellaire and Medical Center. RSVP at GrandChallahBake.com.
• Friday, Sept. 4, 7:30 pm -  September First Fridays Shabbat Dinner - Join Young Jewish Professionals For a Themed Shabbat Dinner at YJP Houston – where spirits run high! www.yjphouston.org

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate

• Fri.-Sun., Sept. 11-13 - FREE Rosh Hashana Services, RSVP for Dinner and Luncheons
• Sun.-Mon., Sept. 20-21 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
• Fri. & Sat. Sept. 25 & 26, 7 pm -  Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
• Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm - Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot w/ YJP, YAD & Olami - Join young professionals in their twenties and thirties for an evening of magic, dinner, drinks and joy in the Sukkah under the Stars! www.yjphouston.org
• Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm -  YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah
• Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm -  Shemini Atzeret Yizkor  with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
• Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!

IN PHOTOS

Volunteer in Israel Summer Trip - See the photos from our unforgettable Volunteer in Israel trip and relive the incredible week of giving, connecting, and experiencing Israel together. Click here.

SHABBOS PARSHAS KI SEITZEI

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, ELUL 8
7:30 pm Mincha & Shabbat Services
7:38 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner

SHABBOS, AUGUST 22, ELUL 9
10:00 am Services
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
7:35 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 1 & 2
8:32 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, ELUL 10
8:00 am Shacharis

MONDAY & THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 & 27, ELUL 11 & 14
6:45 am Shacharis

During the month of Elul:
We reciting Psalm 27, L’David Hashem Ori, daily
We blow the Elul shofar after Shacharis each day through Erev Rosh Hashanah.
We recite the daily chapters of Tehillim as divided by the Baal Shem Tov for the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur.

Shalom from the Anava Vineyards in the Judean foothills near Jerusalem, between Kiryat Gat and Chevron!

As I write this, we are sitting in the shade of the olive groves, about to begin helping with the grapevines.

We began our day with Rosh Chodesh Elul Shacharis and, for the first time this month, the sound of the shofar.

Standing here among the olives and grapes, there is a beautiful Elul message all around us.

Olives must be crushed to release their oil. Grapes must be pressed to produce their wine. Sometimes, a little pressure is exactly what brings out something deeper and more precious.

And then there is the shofar.

The shofar begins narrow and opens wide. We blow from the narrow end, giving physical expression to the words of Tehillim:

“Min hameitzar karasi Kah, anani vamerchav Kah.”

“From the narrow place I called to G-d, and He answered me from the wide open space.”

That feels especially meaningful after the extraordinary week we have experienced here to Volunteer in Israel with Mayanot Birthright-Israel.

We packed mikvah kits in Tzfat for the wives of IDF soldiers. We danced and sang with residents of an old age home in Tiberias. We packed food for families in need at Colel Chabad’s Pantry Packers in Jerusalem. We worked the land at Kibbutz Re’im, clearing an area that will become a beautiful new grove. We visited Sderot and heard about the remarkable strength of the community. We traveled through the Gaza Envelope to pay our respects at the Nova Festival site, where we heard the incredible firsthand story of Nova survivor Barak Nixon, and visited the Tekuma memorial of vehicles destroyed on October 7. Throughout the week, we have met Israelis whose courage, warmth and determination have inspired us.

One of the highlights was visiting an IDF base near Nachal Oz, where we brought a huge barbecue for the soldiers of Paratroopers Battalion 202. We sang, danced and ate together, spoke with the soldiers, put tefillin on several of them, and had the privilege of expressing our gratitude to those protecting Am Yisrael. Their spirit and appreciation made it an incredibly uplifting experience.

Everywhere we have gone, we have seen the same thing: the strength, warmth, and determination of Am Yisrael to keep building.

Planting. Building. Volunteering. Singing. Helping one another. Protecting one another. Living Jewishly with tremendous pride.

And now, on Rosh Chodesh Elul, we find ourselves literally among the vines of Eretz Yisrael.

And then we discovered one more remarkable bit of Divine Providence.

One section of the vineyard we were working in is now in its fourth year. Today is Friday, and in today’s sixth portion of Parshas Shoftim, the Torah speaks about soldiers preparing to go to war and says:

“U’mi ha’ish asher nata kerem v’lo chil’lo”

“Who is the man who planted a vineyard and has not yet redeemed it?”

Rashi explains that this is referring specifically to the fourth year of the vineyard, when its fruit was to be eaten in Jerusalem, or redeemed so that its value could be enjoyed there.

Here we were, after spending yesterday with Israeli soldiers, standing today in a fourth year vineyard in the hills outside Jerusalem, on the very day the daily Torah portion speaks about soldiers and a fourth year vineyard.

Sometimes Hashem gives you a little wink and reminds you that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

Perhaps that is the message of the olive, the grape and the shofar.

The olive does not remain crushed. It produces light.

The grape does not remain pressed. It produces wine and joy.

And the shofar does not remain in the narrow place. Its sound emerges into the wide open space.

That is Elul.

It is an invitation to look at our own lives and ask: What more can I become? What strength, goodness and holiness can I bring out of myself? How can I make this coming year broader, brighter and more meaningful than the year before?

“Min hameitzar karasi Kah, anani vamerchav Kah.”

May the sound of the shofar this Elul carry all of us from narrowness to expansiveness, from potential to action, and from strength to even greater strength.

As the sun will soon set here in Jerusalem, we wish you a Good Shabbos from Eretz Yisrael. We are looking forward to an incredible Shabbos in Yerushalayim, followed by one final day of volunteering and experiences together on Sunday before heading home.

Chodesh Tov and Kesivah Vachasimah Tovah from the vineyards of Eretz Yisrael!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie Lazaroff

P.S. Speaking of shofars… Come join us for the FCYA Shofar Factory, where you can make your own shofar while celebrating friendship and inclusion together with young adults with special needs.
yjphouston.org/fcyashofar

THE COHEN CORNER

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. 

In a Jewish court of law, the only form of acceptable testimony is from two valid witnesses. There is one fascinating exception: when it comes to money owed, a person’s admission about himself is accepted, but when the result of his admission is a punishment that will affect his body, it is not. Why the difference? Your money belongs to you, but your body belongs to Hashem, entrusted to you for a purpose. You are its caretaker, not its owner.

That idea offers a powerful perspective on fitness. Judaism does not dismiss exercise, healthy eating, or strength. The question is why we do it. Fitness can easily become an obsession with appearance, performance, or seeing just how far we can push the body. But if the body belongs to Hashem, taking care of it becomes something much deeper. We exercise so we have the strength and energy to live well, care for our families, help others, and serve Hashem. The goal is not to make the body the center of our lives, but to make it capable of carrying out what our lives are really about. 

Have a joyous Shabbos! 
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka and Mendel Cohen

Mazel tov to Anthony and Mathilde Attal on the birth of a baby boy!
May they raise him to Torah, Chuppah, and good deeds and merit to bring him in to the covenant of Avraham Avinu!

Mazel tov to Corey Weinberg on the occasion of his marriage to Abbey Cumnock this coming week! Please join us in shul as he is called to the Torah in preparation for their special day.

UPCOMING CLASSES:

• Shabbos, August 15, 9:00 am - Likkutei Torah - Kabbala of the Parsha - Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Masterworks on the weekly Parsha.
• Monday, August 17, 8 pm - Hebrew Language: The Tanya with Rabbi Menny Raichik
• Wednesday, August 19, 8:00 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social
• Tuesday, September 1, 12:00 pm - Lunch & Learn: Tehillim, Faith in Uncertain Times - RSVP at chabaduptown.org/lunch.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Thursday, August 20, 6:30 pm - Women’s Pre-Rosh Hashanah Cooking Demo & Tasting with Chanie and Chanale at Chabad of Uptown, 4311 Bettis Drive. chabaduptown.org/cook
• Shabbos Weekend, August 21-23 - Men’s Shabbos at the Ohel - Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, this Shabbos is a chance to recharge, reflect, and connect with the Rebbe’s timeless vision during an inspiring weekend of Jewish growth and brotherhood.
• Sunday, August 23, 12:30 pm - FCYA Shofar Factory with Friends - Create it, blow it, own it! Join volunteers of YJP Houston with FCYA (Friendship Circle of Houston - Young Adults) to fabricate shofars together with Young Adults with special needs for a morning of fun, camaraderie and integration. $10 prepaid with coupon code “advance,” $18 at the door. RSVP at yjphouston.org/fcyashofar.
• Friday, August 28, 8:30 PM and Shabbos, August 29, 1:00 PM – Community Shabbaton: When Science Meets Ultimate Power with Guest Rabbi Yechiel Krisch - Explore a rational case for G-d and a Torah perspective on nuclear power over Friday night dinner and Kiddush lunch. RSVP required.
• Wednesday, September 2, 7:00 PM – Grand Challah Bake - A pre-Rosh Hashanah evening of braiding, bonding and live music. A joint partnership of the Chabad centers in Uptown, Bellaire and Medical Center. RSVP at GrandChallahBake.com.

SHABBOS PARSHAS SHOFTIM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, ELUL 1
7:30 pm Mincha & Shabbat Services
7:45 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
 

SHABBOS, AUGUST 15, ELUL 2
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
7:50 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 6
8:40 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, ELUL 3
8:00 am Shacharis

MONDAY & THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 & 20, ELUL 4 & 7
6:45 am Shacharis

During the month of Elul:
We reciting Psalm 27, L’David Hashem Ori, daily
We blow the Elul shofar after Shacharis each day through Erev Rosh Hashanah.
We recite the daily chapters of Tehillim as divided by the Baal Shem Tov for the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur.