Updates

👉🏻 This past week we heard the sad news of the passing of Ronnie Levy of Capetown South Africa. A good friend of Maurice Purcell, Ronnie and Maurice facilitated the Torah of the Capetown Ponevez Shul to be transitioned, fixed up and welcomed to its new home at Chabad of Uptown in 2014. He even came all the way from South Africa to participate in the welcoming ceremony and deliver an inaugural address! May his neshama have an aliya.

👉🏻 This Shabbos is Yud Shevat, the transition of leadership from the Previous Rebbe who passed away on the tenth day of Shevat in 5710 / 1950 to the most recent Lubavitcher Rebbe who assumed leadership the following year on the first yartzeit in 5711 / 1951. 

After a year of resistance to taking the position, the Rebbe finally accepted the role of leadership with extreme humility. On that day the Rebbe made an inaugural address, with the teaching of the "Maamar" chassidic discourse called Basi Legani. In this first discourse the Rebbe spoke in a deeply personal way, at once invoking mystical themes, fighting back sobs, and articulating a very practical vision of the mission facing Chabad’s seventh generation. “Upon us rests the mission to draw from the loftiest heaven below… When you come to a place where they don’t know of G‑dliness, they don’t know of Judaism... you put yourself totally aside… and make sure that those who until now knew of nothing should go into the streets and shout… that G‑d and the world are one.”

When he had finished he turned directly to the subject of leadership. “The leaders of Chabad always demanded that chassidim must achieve things themselves… You think you have laid the burden on me… that you can have a peaceful life… Make no mistake! No one is relieving you of your missions… no one is relieving you of any work.” From the outset the Rebbe made it clear that he expected his chassidim to be leaders too.

This transition of leadership, to one of inspiring leaders, created a revolution of Jewish engagement with its effects then a ripple now a tidal wave of influence. There is hardly a Jewish corner of the Earth that the Rebbe's work and teachings are not felt with the presence of a Chabad House, shluchim or travelling students who are there to uplift, engage and inspire. 

May the Rebbe's teaching and inspiring leadsership live on, through every one of us. With this Shabbos marking 71 years to his leadership, please consider (enhancing) one more mitzvah and to teach or encourage another to do the same. Together we will realize the dream of a life with freedom and prosperity free from wars or illness with the arrival of our true redeemer, Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

👉🏻 The fourth life saving blood drive was held with enormous response and success, with the greatest response yet!

We extend condolences to Avi Sheleg on the passing of his grandmother, Miriam Mizrachi, a"h.

SHABBOS YUD SHEVAT PARSHAS BO

Friday, 9 Shevat - January 22
Candle Lighting at 5:33 pm
Mincha at 5:35 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 pm
Earliest Shema at 6:17 pm

Shabbos, 10 Shevat - January 23
Chassidus Study of Maamar Basi Legani at 9 am
Latest Morning Shema at 9:52 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Followed by Plaza Kiddush marking Yud Shevat
Mincha at 5:30 pm
Continue study of Maamar Basi Legani
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:30 pm
Living Torah

This week we will read how blood is a plague for the Egyptians, but, its a literal life saver to the Jewish people... This Thursday, January 21, at Chabad of Uptown, step up to save lives at the Blood Drive! You perform a wonderful mitzvah of giving blood. What do you get? You also get your antibodies results and go home with a life saving Mitzvah, a free stadium tote bag and a Shabbat Challah To-Go! Reserve your slot here!

Mazel tov Pfrenger family on the bar mitzvah of Yonah Dovid (Jonas)!

What to Tell Yourself When Things Go Wrong

In the meantime, it’s dark, confusing, and difficult. That’s only because the process of getting to a deeper place can give space for negative consequences. But just around the bend is a time, a space that is even deeper and greater, that it will make this period worthwhile. more…

SHABBOS PARSHAS VA'EIRA

Friday, 2 Shevat - January 15
Candle Lighting at 5:27 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 pm
Earliest Shema at 6:11 pm

Shabbos, 3 Shevat - January 16
Chassidus at 9 am
Latest Morning Shema at 9:52 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 5:30 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:24 pm
Living Torah

This week is Shabbos Mevarchim when we bless the new month of Shevat. It is a Chabad custom to recite the entire book of Tehilim before morning prayers, and to conduct farbrengens in the course of the Shabbos.

It is an extra time for prayer when our country is in turmoil in so many ways. Rabbi Chanina, deputy to the kohanim, would say: Pray for the integrity of the government; for were it not for the fear of its authority, a man would swallow his neighbor alive. (Avos 3:2).

It’s OK Not to Have Aspirations

Don’t feel any less worthy because you’re not the next big thing, because in reality you are—by dint of the practical things you do every day. more…

 We share our sincere condolences to Michael Pasternak on the passing of his dear sister Mimi Toubin of Brenham, Texas

SHABBOS MEVARCHIM SHEVAT PARSHAS SHEMOS

Friday, 24 Teves - January 8
Candle Lighting at 5:21 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 pm
Earliest Shema at 6:06 pm

Shabbos, 25 Teves - January 9
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Latest Morning Shema at 9:51 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 5:20 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:18 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, 26 Teves - January 10
Shacharis at 8:30 am

Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Shevat - January 14
Shacharis at 6:45 am
Followed by breakfast in honor of Jonas Pfrenger