PLEASE RSVP FOR NEW TORAH CELEBRATION! Chabad of Uptown will be dedicating a new Torah scroll. Like a wedding, it is celebrated with great pomp and excitement. Be a part of history and join us on August 15 at the Staybridge Suites - Galleria. www.chabaduptown.org/torah. So we can plan the catering accordingly, please RSVP here Tishrei, the month of the High Holidays, Days of Awe and Days of Joy is fast approaching! Now is 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! Visit our High Holiday section of the website at www.chabaduptown.org/services CALENDAR: Sofer to Check Tefillin & Mezuzos: Beginning on the 15th of Av one should increase one's study of Torah, since at this time of the year the nights begin to grow longer and "the night was created for study". We also begin introspection for the upcoming month of Elul. It is an appropriate time to have one's tefillin and mezuzahs checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use. Once again, as in the past 16 years, expert sofer Rabbi Faitel Lewin will be coming to Houston to check mezuzos and tefillin, from 1:00 pm, Tuesday, Av 25 (Aug 3), through 2:00 pm Thursday, Av 27 (Aug. 5) at Chabad Lubavitch Center, 10900 Fondren Road. You may leave your items as early as that Tuesday morning in the Judaic library, all in one bag, marked clearly with your name and cell number, first come, first served. According to halacha, mezuzos should be checked twice every seven years. Some have the custom to inspect mezuzos and tefillin annually. SHABBOS PARSHAS EIKEV Friday, 21 Av - July 30 Shabbos 22 Av - July 31
Next Shabbos is First Fridays of August! Join Young Jewish Professionals on Friday, August 6 for a Japanese Themed Shabbat Dinner at YJP Houston – where spirits run high! www.yjphouston.org/japan
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 7:58 pm
Chassidus at 9 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:00 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 4
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:54 pm
Living Torah
Updates
Thoughts, notes and happenings...
re: are you coming to Torah siyum?
time to start celebrating
A great time was had last night celebration Tu B'Av the holiday of love and celebration of the breaking of the ax, with the fusion of the two at Houston Axe throwing! Pics here. Thank you Deedee Hoffer for preparing the yummy desserts! For more about the many wonderful things Tu B'Av celebrates see "Jewish History" on our daily calendar here. Besides for being Tu B'Av, this Shabbos is also called Shabbos Nachamu, the Shabbat of Consolation. The Shabbos after the Ninth of Av is called Shabbos Nachamu after the opening words of Haftara. This is the first of the series of readings known as "The Seven of Consolation" read in the seven weeks from the Ninth of Av to Rosh Hashanah. Links: Seven Degrees of Consolation, Consolation, Shabbat Nachamu. SAVE THE DATE - NEW TORAH! Chabad of Uptown will be dedicating a new Torah scroll. Like a wedding, it is celebrated with great pomp and excitement. Be a part of history and join us on August 15 at the Staybridge Suites - Galleria. www.chabaduptown.org/torah CALENDAR: Mazel tov we have a new niece! A baby girl to Rabbi Yossi & Manya Lazaroff of College Station! SHABBOS NACHAMU TU B'AV PARSHAS VA'ESCHANAN Friday, 14 Av - July 23 Shabbos Tu B'av, 15 Av - July 24
With Tisha B'av mourning behind us, it is time to start celebrating! Tu B'Av, Torah completion and the holidays that are coming up!
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:02 pm
Chassidus at 9 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:00 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 3
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:59 pm
Living Torah
can you see?
Shabbat of Vision - The Shabbat before the Ninth of Av is called Shabbat Chazon ("Shabbat of Vision") after the opening words of the day's reading from the prophets ("haftara"), which is the third of the series of readings known as "The Three of Rebuke." On this Shabbat, say the Chassidic masters, we are granted a vision of the Third Temple; we may not see it with our physical eyes, but our souls see it, and are empowered to break free of our present state of galut (exile and spiritual displacement) and bring about the Redemption and the rebuilding of the Temple. Links: The Holy Temple: an Anthology, Shabbat of Vision About the "Three of Rebuke". Tisha B'Av - Disease and despair are darkening our world. Fear and hatred, rage and anger, loss and loneliness have become keywords in our lives. Tisha B'av - the 9th of Av - marks the date when both of our Holy Temples were destroyed, and spiritual darkness in exile began. A sad day, indeed. It is reserved as a day of mourning, fasting and lamentation. But even the saddest date on the Jewish calendar, cannot be relegated to bitterness and suffering as an end for itself. As tradition has it, Tisha b'Av is also the birthday of our Redeemer. Salvation and redemption is born! This, a timely reminder that when surrounded by utter despair, forever a better world beckons. Hope and joy, peace and unity are not just words. Rather, they are a reality that has been promised to us from on High. We are believers, the children of believers. On our lips and in our hearts is embedded, Ani Maamin - We Believe! Furthermore, Torah tells us; "Whomever mourns over the Holy Temple, will merit to see it rebuilt." Shabbat evening, the Book of Eicha (Lamentations) is read. Sitting on low chairs in a dimly lit Shul, wearing non-leather shoes, one could hear the quiet, timeless, soul-stirring tune of "Eichah" steadily grow, as together in one voice we recall; "How much longer must we sit alone... Like widows mourning.. We long to be reunited, together, in Jerusalem." May we merit to celebrate Tisha B'Av this year together with Moshiach and the rebuilding of our third Holy Temple, AMEN! Click Here for Laws & Customs of Tisha B'Av Next Shabbos Nachamu is also Tu B'Av. In celebration of this special day we will have our annual White Party at Houston Axe Throwing. www.yjphouston.org/whiteaxe What is the connection between Tu B'Av, wearing white at a white party and axe throwing? Read all about it this week's Jewish Herald Voice - CLICK HERE Upcoming Events: Shabbos Chazon Parshas Devarim & Tisha B'Av Friday, July 16, 7 Av Shabbos, July 17, 8 Av Sunday, July 18, 9 Av - Tisha B'av Monday, July 19, 10 Av Thursday, July 22, 13 Av
This Shabbos Chazon is unique since the fast of Tisha B'Av begins (in Houston at 8:23 pm) before Shabbos ends (9:03 pm). We will have an early mincha so people can eat until sunset. Please plan to stay after davening for kiddush, so we can do the early Mincha. If one is at home at 9:03 PM, the words "Boruch Hamavdil bein Kodesh L'chol," should be said marking the end of Shabbat and then one is able to drive to Shul for services.
Click Here to Download a copy of Eichah, Lamentations
Click Here for The Book of Lamentations Online
Click Here for Kinos and Eicha On Smart Siddur App
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 8:05 pm
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by a Shabbos Kiddush & Farbengen
Refrain from general Torah study at 1:26 pm
Early Mincha at 2:03 pm
No Pirkei Avos, No Egg & Ash
Fast begins at 8:23 pm
Shabbos ends 9:03 pm
Say Baruch Hamavdil bein Kodesh L'Chol
Change out of leather shoes, leave on Shabbos clothes
Maariv & Havdalla Candle 9:15 pm
Megilat Eicha - Book of Lamentations 9:30 pm
Followed by a moving documentary film, “The Wave”
Ritual wash (negel vasser) only to knuckles
8:30 am Shacharis with Torah Reading
No Talis & Tefillin by Shacharis
9:30 am Kinos - Lamentations
1:27 pm Midday - Resume sitting normally
7:30 pm Mincha – Talis, Tefillin, Krias HaTorah
8:50 pm Maariv, Havdalla (on wine only) & Fast Ends
Kiddush Levanah
1:28 pm Nine day mourning practices cease (i.e. meat and wine, music, recreational bathing)
7:30 pm YJP Houston The White Party - Axe Throwing celebrating Tu B’Av - www.yjphouston.org/whiteaxe
The nine days - a film next week
This Shabbos is Rosh Chodesh Av, Hallel is said and a second Torah is taken out to the dedicated Rosh Chodesh portion. It is also when the "Nine Days" begin. The Talmud (Tannit 26b) teaches "When Av begins, we diminish [our] rejoicing". On the 1st of Av, "The Three Weeks" mourning period over the destruction of the Holy Temple--which began 13 days earlier on Tammuz 17--enters an intensified stage. During "The Nine Days" from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, a heightened degree of mourning is observed, including abstention from meat and wine, music, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous and enjoyable activities. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent Halachic authority for details).
Consumption of meat and wine is permitted on Shabbat, or at a Seudat Mitzvah (obligatory festive meal celebrating the fulfillment of a mitzvah) such as a Bris (circumcision), or a "Siyum" celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the custom of conducting or participating in a Siyum on each of the Nine Days (even if one does not avail oneself of the dispensation to eat meat). Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with Tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period. Links: When and (How) to be Sad, www.thethreeweeks.com
Join us next week on July 17-18 to commemorate the Fast of Tisha B'av. The fast begins on Shabbos, Sat. 8:23 pm and ends on Sunday 8:50 pm. We will send out a complete schedule next week.
Upcoming Events:
- Sat. July 17, 9:15 pm - Tisha B'Av - An evening of film, study and personal reflection. Screening "The Wave" (44 min., 1981) - CLICK FOR MORE
- Thurs. July 22 - The White Party - Tu B'Av Axe Throwing www.yjphouston.org/whiteaxe
- Sunday August 15, 2021, 7 Elul - Community Siyum Sefer Torah Celebration & Parade www.chabaduptown.org/torah
Why is it important to list the journeys? The Torah isn’t a history book, nor is it a travelogue, so what’s the purpose of this list? more…
SHABBOS ROSH CHODESH AV PARSHAS MATOS-MAASEI
Friday, 29 Tammuz - July 9
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:07 pm
Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh Av - July 10
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 2
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:06 pm
Living Torah
the home is empty
Empty house as (almost) all the kids went off to camp! Chaya is assistant director in Orlando Florida camp, Rivky a counselor in Las Vegas CGI, Levi in Yeshivah Summer Program in Morristown and Bluma in GCI Detroit! Luckily Menucha is still home going to CGI Houston and Mendel came home for a few weeks after finishing as a staff member at CKids overnight camp in Florida.
However, we do expect a wonderful crowd from YJP Houston for the July All American First Fridays... Enjoy your July 4th weekend celebrations!
We are also now in the mourning period of "The Three Weeks" that has left our home empty for thousands of years. During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av (June 27-July 19), we commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people. Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.) Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period. Links: The Three Weeks
Upcoming:
- Shabbos July 9-10: Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av
- July 17-18: Fast of Tisha B'av, Sat. 8:23 pm-Sun. 8:50 pm
Events:
- Thurs. July 22 - The White Party - Tu B'Av Axe Throwing www.yjphouston.org/whiteaxe
- Sunday August 15, 2021, 7 Elul - Community Siyum Sefer Torah Celebration & Parade
Mazel tov to Josh Young and Meira Rosenthal on their engagement!
Why Orphans Are Not Made to Give Charity
What happens in a situation where a person has income but is in a physical or mental state that renders him unable to fulfill his charitable obligations? Is he exempt from being charitable, or must others contribute from his resources on his behalf? more…
SHABBOS MEVARCHIM AV PARSHAS PINCHAS
Friday, 22 Tammuz - July 2
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 8:08 pm
Shabbos, 23 Tammuz - July 3
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 8:05 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 1
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:07 pm
Living Torah