Thoughts, notes and happenings...

Tragedy in Surfside

Friday, June 25, 2021 - 12:43 PM

We are reeling from the shock and pain of this tragedy. We cry for the victims of this calamity, even as we continue to hope for miracles. And we pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and strength for all the families affected, who even now await news of their loved ones.

We are of course thankful for the aid being offered by local, state and federal first responders and pray for their success as they heroically endeavor to bring aid in the midst of these horrible circumstances.

We’re looking into an unfathomable darkness. There are no words that can explain or assuage what we’re seeing in Surfside.

What we can do, however, is act. We can offer support—a place to stay, a shoulder to cry on, even a simple “thinking of you” message—to those who need it now more than ever. We must take a moment to pray to G‑d Almighty, for the victims, for the community, for ourselves and our families—for only He can make things right. And we must commit ourselves to bringing more light into the world by doing an extra mitzvah, a good deed—put on tefillin, give extra tzedakah or light Shabbat candles tomorrow evening.

The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, emphasized that each of us have immense G‑dly potential to change the world, and when we are met with darkness and destruction we need to remember that we each have it within ourselves to be an agent for positive change. In this moment of darkness, we must all seek to bring more G‑dly light into a world that desperately needs it.

An emergency fund has been set up by Chabad of Bal Harbour to assist the victims and their families. Click here to help now.

Next week is July First Fridays! Join Young Jewish Professionals for All American Themed BBQ Shabbat Dinner at YJP Houston - where spirits run high! $18 until Thursday, $25 after. Use promo code: advance www.yjphouston.org/bbq

We extend condolences to the Maxine Epstein and the entire Pasternak family on the passing of the Shul's "Shamash" Michael William Pasternak, Mendel Volf ben Avraham Tzvi, a"h. To participate in the Pasternak Shiva Meal Train or the Pasternak Memorial Fund click here and choose the desired donation purpose in the drop down menu.

PARSHA: Was Moses in a Forbidden Marriage?
To question the legitimacy of someone’s marriage is to cut right to the bone. That is what happened when a leader of the Tribe of Simeon – a man we later discover went by the name of Zimri ben Salu – faced off against Moses over his assertion that he had a right to marry a Midianite woman. more…

SHABBOS PARSHAS BALAK

Friday, 15 Tammuz - June 25
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:07 pm

Shabbos, 16 Tammuz - June 26
Chassidus at 9 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 6
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:07 pm
Living Torah

Pasternak Shiva Service Schedule
Sunday, June 27 - Fast of 17 Tammuz
5111 Locust, Bellaire
4:54 am Fast Begins
8:00 am Shacharis Service
10am-12pm Shiva Visitation
8:00 pm Mincha & Maariv Service
8:54 pm Fast Ends and Break the Fast

Monday-Tuesday, June 28-29
7:00 am Shacharis Service
8:00 pm Mincha & Maariv Service

Wednesday, June 30
7:00 am Shacharis Service

Citas rápidas

Friday, June 18, 2021 - 2:17 PM

We returned from an inspiring trip and visit to NY, visiting the Ohel on the Rebbe's yartzeit and participating in a conference of colleagues of Shluchim that serve communities of young professionals.

UPCOMING
Sunday, June 20 at 7 pm - Citas rápidas CoronaCrush 💕 - Una iniciativa realizada junto con Met@Jabad! After the success of our last online speed dating, we are joining a spanish speaking version of the same! https://coronacrush.co/metatjabad/

Thursday, June 24 at 6 pm - Gift of Life / The Jewish Value of Saving a Life - Moishe House is partnering with YJP Houston and Gift of Life to support Sloane, who is in search of a bone marrow match. We will explore the Jewish values of saving a life, led by Chanie Lazaroff, plus you can sign up to get a swab kit to enter the Gift of Life database; one day, you can save a life more...

Monday, June 28, 9am-3:30 pm - Mental Health First Aid - Coordinated by Jewish Family Service Houston. A two hour self paced pre-work followed by a training on zoom. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is to learn the signs, symptoms and risk factors of behavioral and mental health conditions and addictions. Upon completion of the training you will receive a certificate valid for three years. There are limited seats available and required by 6/14, so register now at https://www.jfshouston.org/events/bmhs-mfha-june-training

Mazel tov to Nathaniel and Rivka Assayag on the birth of a baby girl!

We wish a refuah shleima to our shamash, Michael Pasternak, Mendel Volf ben Chana.

PARSHA: Waters of Strife

A common denominator in all the explanations of the “Waters of Strife” incident is the implication that whatever the problem was, that wasn’t really the problem. Basically, G‑d is getting Moses on a technicality. more…

SHABBOS PARSHAS CHUKAS

Friday, 8 Tammuz - June 18
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:07 pm

Shabbos, 9 Tammuz - June 19
Chassidus at 9 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 5
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:06 pm
Living Torah

Yartzeit and Rambam

Friday, June 11, 2021 - 11:32 AM

Two monumental occasions are happening this forthcoming Sunday - the 3rd of Tammuz (June 13th):

1. The Rebbe’s 27th Yahrzeit.
2. the Siyum HaRambam - conclusion on the 40th cycle of the study (of three chapters) of Rambam.

Both occasions are cause for reflection and a time to connect and to be observed each in their appropriate fashions.

GIMMEL TAMMUZ
The Rebbe’s Yahrzeit should be observed by 1. additional tzedakah, 2. study of the Rebbe’s teachings (click here for numerous options in English) as well as learning a chapter of Tanya (suggested: Iggeres Hakodesh, chapter 27 and its elaboration), 3. lighting a Yahrzeit candle (after Shabbos ends, in Houston at 9:04 pm).

Our family will be visiting the ohel in honor of this auspicious time. It would be an honor and pleasure to pray for you (and your family), as well, at the Rebbe's "Ohel." Please e-mail us your name and your mother's name (preferably the Hebrew or Yiddish names), and those of anyone else you would like us to mention, we would be glad to have them in mind as well. If there's a specific need you would like us to pray for, please mention it as well. May all our prayers be fulfilled and may we merit to change our lives and the entire world through adding just one more mitzvah at a time. You can also send your own note directly to the ohel, as posted at www.chabaduptown.org/ohel

RAMBAM
The Rebbe instituted, encouraged and campaigned for the daily study of Rambam (click for more info). This Gimmel Tammuz - the day of the Rebbe’s Yahrzeit - marks the completion of the 40th cycle of the daily study of three chapters of Rambam.

It is an excellent time for joining in the daily study of Rambam in one of the three cycles: three chapters per day, one chapter per day, or daily Sefer haMitzvot. Click here for each of these offerings - text, video and audio.

UPCOMING
Thursday, June 24 at 6 pm - Gift of Life / The Jewish Value of Saving a Life - Moishe House is partnering with YJP Houston and Gift of Life to support Sloane, who is in search of a bone marrow match. We will explore the Jewish values of saving a life, led by Chanie Lazaroff, plus you can sign up to get a swab kit to enter the Gift of Life database; one day, you can save a life more...

Monday, June 28, 9am-3:30 pm - Mental Health First Aid - Coordinated by Jewish Family Service Houston. A two hour self paced pre-work followed by a training on zoom. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is to learn the signs, symptoms and risk factors of behavioral and mental health conditions and addictions. Upon completion of the training you will receive a certificate valid for three years. There are limited seats available and required by 6/14, so register now at https://www.jfshouston.org/events/bmhs-mfha-june-training

PARSHA: Moses Never Gave Up on Them
Moses sets an example for us how to never give up trying to inspire positive change in ourselves and others. more…

REBBE: What Did the Rebbe Say to the Anti-Religious Chief Justice Who Came for Simchat Torah?

What do you do if you’re celebrating with friends, and the man who opposes you turns up at the party? more…

SHABBOS PARSHAS KORAH

Friday, Rosh Chodesh Tammuz - June 11
Evening Services at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:04 pm

Shabbos, 2 Tammuz - June 12
Chassidus at 9 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 4
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:04 pm
Living Torah

a new Torah!

Friday, June 4, 2021 - 2:21 PM

Many people ask, how do we gain respect from the nations of the world? When will they respect us and realize our worth and contribution to the world?

When the spies returned from the Land of Canaan they reported “there we saw the giants . . . and we were in our own eyes as locusts, and so we were in their eyes.” A careful reading of the verbiage of this week's Parshas Shelach, a truth jumps out. Since they said "we were in our own eyes as locusts" that is why “so we were in their eyes.” We must always remember that how another person sees us depends on how we see ourselves.

People respect people who respect themselves. Chassidus teaches us that "Ratzon" - strong will - can overcome every obstacle. It is not to be confused with egotism and pride. We need to realize who we are, what we stand for and secure our own appreciation of being a Jew and doing something because of it. Let's pick a mitzvah, any mitzvah, and focus on improving our observance of it and our collective responsibility to encourage others to observe it as well.

Not sure what mitzvah to pick? Check out Ten Absurdly Simple Ways to Live Higher.

SAVE THE NEW TORAH DATE! Sunday, August 15, 2021, 7 Elul, 5781 - Chabad of Uptown is getting a new Torah, with a Siyum ceremony and celebration to be held with the completion of the Torah that has been written in Israel. The Torah has been commissioned by Maurice Purcell and is being dedicated in memory of his dear friend Ronnie Levy, a"h, who had passed away this past January, 2021 in Capetown South Africa. Maurice and Ronnie 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.

Looking forward to seeing many of you YJPs tonight for the Outdoor Italian First Fridays for June! Don't forget to register if you haven't yet. If weather does not permit, dinner will be held indoors. Looking forward to seeing y'all! www.yjphouston.org/italy2021
Many have asked when the next Mental Health First Aid training will be. We will be doing another community training - online - coordinated by Jewish Family Service Houston. There is a two hour self paced pre-work that is then followed by a training on zoom on Monday, June 28, 9am-3:30 pm. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is to learn the signs, symptoms and risk factors of behavioral and mental health conditions and addictions. Upon completion of the training you will receive a certificate valid for three years. There are limited seats available and required by 6/14, so register now at https://www.jfshouston.org/events/bmhs-mfha-june-training

How Did the Mission of the Twelve Spies Go So Wrong?

Moses felt that the Israelites had no reason to fear the inhabitants, as they had all seen the great miracles wrought against the much more powerful Egyptians. more…

SHABBOS MEVARCHIM TAMMUZ PARSHAS SHELACH

Friday, 24 Sivan - June 4
Evening Services at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:01 pm
Italian First Fridays www.yjphouston.org/italy2021

Shabbos, 25 Sivan - June 5
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:00 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 3
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:01 pm
Living Torah

Thursday, 30 Sivan, Rosh Chodesh Tammuz I - June 10
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Friday, Rosh Chodesh Tammuz II - June 11
Shacharis at 6:45-8am
Followed by breakfast sponsored by Yuri marking the yartzeit of his mother, Marusia bas Zilpa, a"h

italian shabbat and mental health first aid

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 - 10:24 AM

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

June Events

Wednesdays 8 pm - Dinner, Class & Social
Wednesday In Person Classes are Back! Weekly Contemporary Jewish Classes for Young Professionals Come discuss, agree, disagree, mingle and network with other young Jewish professionals, singles and couples at series of classes / discussions on contemporary themes! Class, discussion and FREE DINNER! Topics Posted week of on Facebook Group

Friday, June 4, 7:30 pm - Italian First Fridays Shabbat Dinner
Join Young Jewish Professionals for an Italian Themed Shabbat Dinner at YJP Houston Outdoor Plaza - where spirits run high!
RSVP REQUIRED: www.yjphouston.org/events/italy2021/

Thursday, June 24 at 6 pm - Gift of Life / The Jewish Value of Saving a Life
Moishe House is partnering with YJP Houston and Gift of Life to support Sloane, who is in search of a bone marrow match. We will explore the Jewish values of saving a life, led by the amazing rebbetzin Chanie Lazaroff, plus you can sign up to get a swab kit to enter the Gift of Life database; one day, you can save a life more...

Monday, June 28 at 9am-3:30pm - Virtual Mental Health First Aid Course
Mental Health First Aiders are equipped to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and addiction issues.
REGISTER: www.jfshouston.org/events/bmhs-mfha-june-training