Thoughts, notes and happenings...

Time to Joy it up a Notch

Friday, September 24, 2021 - 1:55 PM

A beautiful first days was had with wonderful people, shaking the lulav and esrog and meals in the wonderful outdoors while we all enjoy Sukkos!

The Brookdale Galleria residents enjoyed a wonderful sukkah this year as well, with a choir of dedicated kids singing their hearts out bringing them the feels to their hearts and smiles to their faces! Thank you to Bluma, Menucha, Ella, Levi, Joshua, Tzion and Ruthie for doing a great mitzvah!

In the news: Young professional groups pride themselves on bringing people together for big events. For Sukkot, two (actually, three) popular Houston organizations will be joining forces to make the party even more exciting. Read all about it in this week's Jewish Herald Voice!

TONIGHT: Shabbos dinner with Moishe House! www.yjphouston.org/sukkotshabbat
SUNDAY: Sukkah BBQ Party with JHype! www.yjphouston.org/sukkahbbq
MON.-WED: Simchas Torah www.chabaduptown.org/joy
OCT 1: Pink Shabbat First Fridays www.yjphouston.org/pink

SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT
Contact us to book your own private and social distanced time in the sukkah

Friday, Sept. 24
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
6:30: Lulav & Etrog Happy Hour
Light Shabbat Candles at 6:57 pm
7:00 pm Evening Services
Moishe House & YJP Houston Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP required
www.yjphouston.org/sukkotshabbat

Shabbos Chol Hamoed, Sept. 25
No Lulav & Etrog Shabbos
10:00 am Morning Services
Kiddush Lunch in the Sukkah
7:00 pm Mincha Service
7:50 pm Maariv, Havdalla (in Sukkah) & Shabbos Ends

Sunday, Chol Hamoed, Sept. 26
8:00 am Morning Services
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
J-Hype and YJP Houston Sukkah Party & BBQ - RSVP required
www.yjphouston.org/sukkahbbq
Stay awake on eve of Hoshana Rabba to study Torah, recite the entire Book of Devarim and the Book of Tehillim

Monday, Hoshana Rabba, Sept. 27
6:45 am Morning Services - Hoshana Rabba Special Service
7:11 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
Strike 5 Arovos on ground 5 times
Eat Meal in Sukkah with Kreplach, wash for meal before midday 1:12 pm

SHEMINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS TORAH
Mon., Sept 27 - Shemini Atzeret
6:54 pm Light Holiday Candles
6:55 pm Mincha & Evening Services Hakafot-celebratory dancing - This one is only the warm up - to connect with Israel! (See main hakafot below).

Tues, Sept. 28 -
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah
10:00 am Morning Services
12:15 pm Yizkor
Teffilas Geshem
Lunch Kiddush sponsored by Regina (& Ben) Shamooelian and Juliette (& Ilan) Melnik in memory of their brother Yonatan ben Rafael Halevi a"h Levy
Say Goodbye to Sukkah
6:55 pm Mincha & Evening Services Grand Hakafot-celebratory dancing - This one is the real deal!
After 7:46 pm Light Holiday Candles

Wed., Sept. 29 - Simchat Torah
10:00 am Morning Services
Hakafot-celebratory dancing
Mincha after Hakafot
7:45 pm Maariv, Havdalla & Holiday Ends

Sukkos: Last day to register (for some of it)

Monday, September 20, 2021 - 2:41 PM

We have a few hours until the first days of Sukkos sets in! The Sukkah is set, the lulav is bound and we are getting ready to celebrate joy like never before (this year :)).

Thank you thank you to our dedicated volunteers for helping erect the sukka at the Brookdale Galleria and Chabad of Uptown for all to enjoy! Thank you Ariel, Charlie, Lev, Baruch, Yossi, Guy, Omer and Levi. The schedule is below, with the complete Sukkos and Simchas Torah schedule on our website at www.chabaduptown.org/joy

Tonight's Sukkot community dinner is completely full, but we would love for you to join us for lunch kiddush tomorrow or Wednesday, or dinner under the stars tomorrow night. www.chabaduptown.org/sukkotdinner
If you know any Jewish residents at the Brookdale Galleria, let them know about the sukkah and we will have a sukkah party at 4 pm there Tuesday and Wednesday
Register FREE today (or pay money later) for Shabbos dinner with Moishe House! www.yjphouston.org/sukkotshabbat
Today is the last day to register for 50% less (or pay double later) for the Sukkah BBQ Party with JHype! www.yjphouston.org/sukkahbbq

SUKKOT FIRST DAYS
Contact us to book your own private and social distanced time in the sukkah

Monday, 14 Tishrei - Sept. 20
7:02 pm Light Holiday Candles
7:00 pm Mincha & Evening Services
Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP required
www.chabaduptown.org/sukkotdinner

Tuesday, 15 Tishrei -Sept. 21
7:10 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
10:00 am Morning Services
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
Kiddush Lunch after services
7:00 pm Mincha & Evening Services (Maariv)
After 7:55 pm Light Holiday Candles
Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP required, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Rafi Benjaminov in memory of his grandfather, Raphael Ben Hanna, z’’l
www.chabaduptown.org/sukkotdinner

Wednesday, 16 Tishrei - Sept. 22
7:10 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
10:00 am Morning Services
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
Kiddush Lunch after services sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Rafi Benjaminov in memory of his grandfather, Raphael Ben Hanna, z’’l
7:00 pm Mincha
7:53 pm Maariv, Havdalla (in Sukkah) and Holiday Ends

Chol Hamoed, Thurs., Sept. 23
- 6:45 am Morning Services
- 7:11 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
- Lulav & Etrog Available for public use

Friday, Sept. 24
6:45 am Morning Services
7:11 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
Light Shabbat Candles at 6:57 pm
7:00 pm Evening Services
Moishe House & YJP Houston Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP required
www.yjphouston.org/sukkotshabbat

Shabbos Chol Hamoed, Sept. 25
No Lulav & Etrog Shabbos
10:00 am Morning Services
7:00 pm Mincha Service
7:50 pm Maariv, Havdalla (in Sukkah) & Shabbos Ends

Sunday, Chol Hamoed, Sept. 26
8:00 am Morning Services
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
J-Hype and YJP Houston Sukkah Party & BBQ - RSVP required
www.yjphouston.org/sukkahbbq
Stay awake on eve of Hoshana Rabba to study Torah, recite the entire Book of Devarim and the Book of Tehillim

Monday, Hoshana Rabba, Sept. 27
6:45 am Morning Services - Hoshana Rabba Special Service
7:11 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
Strike 5 Arovos on ground 5 times
Eat Meal in Sukkah with Kreplach, wash for meal before midday 1:12 pm
Tonight begins Shmini Atzeres & Simchas Torah

Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

Friday, September 17, 2021 - 11:58 AM

Yom Kippur was so meaningful, especially being able to celebrate it with many of you. For those who could not make it for personal health or other reasons, know that we are thinking of you and look forward to celebrating with you once again very soon.

We are very grateful to Ziv for leading our Sefardic minyan held in the Chai Lounge. As a community, davening in the main Chabad of Uptown shul facing the Jerusalem like stone wall is always a meaningful experience. Shouting out loud "Next Year In Jerusalem" at the end of Neilah is a peak crescendo to the Yom Kippur liturgy. Yet, having the sounds of the sefardic tunes radiating in from the distance, as if from a nearby shul down the road, felt like we were truly that much closer to the Jerusalem aura. May Hashem grant us that Moshiach come today so that we will truly be able to celebrate Yom Kippur, next year in Jerusalem!

We now turn from the Days of Awe to Days of Joy! Please join us for the many holiday celebrations and experiences coming up on Sukkos and Simchas Torah.

For now, Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

UPCOMING SUKKOS & SIMCHAS TORAH EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/joy

Sept. 20-27 - Sukkot - RSVP For Sukkot Dinners ↓
- Sept 20 & 21 - Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars
- Sept. 24 - Moishe House & YJP Sukkot Dinner Under Stars
- Sept. 26 - J-Hype and YJP Sukkah BBQ Party
Sept. 28-29 - Simchas Torah

Lulav and Etrog set: Even if someone decided to snooze, why should they lose?! It's Simchas yom tov! So we got a couple extra in each category for purchase for the last minute buyers and guests...... Pickup is on Sunday and Monday at the hours listed on the website. Please order here. Be sure to put "UPTOWN" in the note field.

Mazel tov to Yonatan and Noa Deutsch on the birth of a baby boy!

SHABBOS PARSHAS HA'AZINU
Friday, 11 Tishrei - September 17
Mincha at 7:05 pm
Light Shabbat candles at 7:06 pm
Evening Service at 7:30 pm

Shabbos 12 Tishrei - September 18
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:05 pm
Study of Laws of Sukkos
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 7:58 pm
Living Torah

SUKKOT FIRST DAYS
Contact us to book your own private and social distanced time in the sukkah

Monday, 14 Tishrei - Sept. 20
7:02 pm Light Holiday Candles
7:00 pm Mincha & Evening Services
Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP required

Tuesday, 15 Tishrei -Sept. 21
10:00 am Morning Services
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
7:00 pm Mincha & Evening Services (Maariv)
After 7:55 pm Light Holiday Candles
Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP required

Wednesday, 16 Tishrei - Sept. 22
10:00 am Morning Services
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
7:00 pm Mincha
7:53 pm Maariv, Havdalla (in Sukkah) and Holiday Ends

Chol Hamoed, Thurs., Sept. 23
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use

Shabbos of Return & Yom Kippur

Friday, September 10, 2021 - 11:53 AM

A beautiful Rosh Hashana was had, and it was wonderful to gather as a community as we kicked off the New Year with prayers of singing, crying and laughing.

This Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuvah, "Shabbat of Return." The name derives from the Haftarah for this Shabbos, which opens with the words (Hosea 14:2), "Return O Israel unto the L-rd your G-d..." Occurring in the "Ten Days of Repentance", it is a most auspicious time to rectify the failings and missed opportunities of the past and positively influence the coming year.

The master Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria ("Arizal") taught that the seven days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (which will always include one Sunday, one Monday, etc.) correspond to the seven days of the week. The Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur includes within itself all Sundays of the year; the Monday embodies all Mondays, and so on. Shabbos Shuvah is thus the archetypal Shabbos -- the juncture in time at which we are empowered to influence every Shabbos of our year!

Wishing y'all a Gmar Chasima Tova, with continued spiritual growth for all.

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

P.S. As we did on Rosh Hashana, we ask all to please use a facemask on Yom Kippur, so everyone can feel comfortable.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:
www.chabaduptown.org/services

Sept. 15-16 - Yom Kippur - RSVP for Break Fast Buffet
Sept. 20-27 - Sukkot - RSVP For Sukkot Dinners ↓
- Sept 20 & 21 - Community Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars
- Sept. 24 - Moishe House & YJP Sukkot Dinner Under Stars
Sept. 28-29 - Simchas Torah

Lulav and Etrog set: Orders are due TODAY by 5 pm! Please order here. Be sure to put "UPTOWN" in the note field.

PARSHA: Was the Hakhel Gathering in the Seventh or Eighth Year?

By very definition, there cannot be an eighth year in a seven-year cycle! more…

SHABBOS SHUVA PARSHAS VAYELECH
Friday, 4 Tishrei - September 10
Light Shabbat candles at 7:15 pm
Mincha at 7:15 pm
Evening Service at 7:30 pm

Shabbos 5 Tishrei - September 11
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:15 pm
Study of Laws of Yom Kippur
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:07 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, 6 Tishrei - September 12
Kapporos 11 am - 1:30 pm - Reserve

YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, September 15
Erev Yom Kippur Mincha at 2:00 pm
Light Holiday Candles & Fast Begins at 7:09 pm
Kol Nidrei at 7:15 pm
Children's Program at 7:15-8:30 pm

Thursday, September 16
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan at 7:00 am
Community Morning Service at 9 :30 am
Children's Program at 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Yizkor Memorial Service approx. 12:30 pm
Sefardi Mincha at 4:15 pm
Mincha Afternoon Service at 5:15 pm
Neilah Closing Service approx. 6:30 pm
Maariv, Havdala & Fast Ends at 8:01 pm
Break the Fast Buffet - RSVP Required

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

Ida fuel relief pics, taco shabbat and more

Friday, September 3, 2021 - 3:43 PM

Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on our neighbors in New Orleans. Rather than preparing for Rosh Hashana the local Chabad centers, Rabbis and community have been assisting the local community with food, generators and fuel as they remain without power, even while sustaining damage to their own homes and buildings.

However, critical fuel is needed to power the relief effort, and the local Chabad reached out to Houston to see what we can do. Kicking into high gear, over 500 gallons of fuel were delivered last night by dedicated volunteers with fuel distribution this morning!

What an amazing community we have! Check out the photo gallery of the relief efforts ongoing in New Orleans here.

Support Chabad of Louisiana relief efforts at www.chabadneworleans.com/ida

YJP Houston First Fridays - Taco 'Bout Shabbat: Tonight we host the September First Fridays Shabbat Dinner! Click here to RSVP.

Tishrei, the month of the High Holidays, Days of Awe and Days of Joy are HERE!

Chabad of Uptown looks forward to celebrating the High Holidays with you. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have done all we can to provide a safe environment for the community to daven and celebrate.

For the increased attendance expected on the High Holidays we will ask all to please use a facemask so everyone can feel comfortable.

If you do not feel comfortable attending the services indoors, we recommend that you please attend the 12:30 pm Shofar blowing times on both days, when we will have a Shofar service on the outdoor patio. You may also want to attend the outdoor Tashlich walk, that leaves the shul at 7 pm. The shofar will be blown at the Tashliach service as well.

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!

SHEMITA: Like the seventh day of the week, every seventh year is holy. The Shemittah (Sabbatical) year is a year devoted to strengthening our bond with G-d - specifically, honing our faith in His omnipotence and our trust in His kindness.

This year, 5782 since creation (Sept. 7, 2021 - Sept. 25, 2022), is a Shemittah year. The articles and classes in the following sections will discuss this year's special observances as well as its spiritual message.

Click here to read a practical summary of the laws and customs of observing Shemitah while living outside of Israel.

PRUZBUL: Part of the observance of Shemittah includes the forgiving of loans. More than 2,000 years ago, Hillel the Elder saw that people were avoiding giving loans as the Shemittah year neared. In order to encourage people to continue lending money, he instituted the pruzbul system. The Torah states that while all private debts are forgiven, public debts are exempt. The act of pruzbul makes private debts public, and therefore redeemable. (See Loan Amnesty for more information on the origins of the pruzbul .)

Though the pruzbul is done on the eve of the Rosh Hashanah preceding the Shemittah year, according to many halachic authorities one should execute another pruzbul one year later, on the last day of the Shemittah (considering that the actual annulment of all debts transpires on that date).

The pruzbul can be done orally before three adult men who constitute a court. One approaches this "court" and states that he or she is transferring to them all debts which may be owed to him or her, thus making them collectable.

If this option is not available to you, fill out the form before early afternoon of Monday, September 6, 2021. Click here for the Pruzbul Form

CALENDAR OF TISHREI HOLIDAYS:
www.chabaduptown.org/services

Sept. 6-8 - Rosh Hashana
Sept. 15-16 - Yom Kippur
Sept. 20-27 - Sukkot
Sept. 28-29 - Simchas Torah

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

Mazel tov to Guy & Melissa Ohana on the birth of a baby girl, Amy Rivkah!

SHABBOS PARSHAS NITZAVIM
Friday, 26 Elul - September 3
Light Shabbat candles at 7:23 pm
Evening Service at 7:30 pm
YJP Houston Taco 'Bout Shabbat - www.yjphouston.org/tacoshabbat

Shabbos 27 Elul - September 4
Whole Tehillim at 8:30 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:20 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 5 & 6
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:16 pm
Living Torah

ROSH HASHANA
Monday, 29 Elul - September 6
Selichos at 7 am
Shacharis
Hataras Nedarim & Pruzbul
Light Holiday Candles   7:20 pm
Community Evening Service   7:20 pm
Community Holiday Dinner - RSVP required
--Apples dipped in honey

Tuesday, 1 Tishrei, September 7
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan   6:30 am
Community Morning Services   9:30 am?}
Shofar Service approx. 12:30 pm
Holiday Lunch Kiddush - RSVP
Mincha Service & Tashlich Walk   6:30 pm
Light Holiday Candles   AFTER 8:12 pm
Evening Service   8:15 pm
Community Holiday Dinner - RSVP required
—New Fruit for Shehechiyanu

Wednesday, 2 Tishrei September 8
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan   6:30 am
Community Morning Services   9:30 am
Shofar Service Approx. 12:30 pm
Holiday Lunch Kiddush - RSVP
Evening Service   7:20 pm
Havdalla & Holiday Ends   8:11 pm

Thursday, 3 Tishrei, Fast of Gedalia, September 9
Fast Begins at 5:48 am
Shacharit at 6:45 am
Mincha with Torah Reading at 7:00 pm
Ma’ariv, Fast Ends at 7:59 pm