the final exodus, is now

We hope your ​​​​​Pesach was meaningful and the air of freedom has permeated all of our collective consciousness. We consider freedom from our personal exiles, more importantly an end to our final exile with Moshiach. One of the ways, is through education and sharing with others. 

Right before Pesach, Education and Sharing Day was observed across the nation, including Texas, in recognition of the crucial importance of teaching our young people the values of a moral life and giving to others, a cause championed by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, the most influential rabbi in modern history.  Governor Greg Abbott proclaimed March 24, 2021 to be “Education and Sharing Day, Texas''.  Both chambers of the Texas Legislature passed resolutions (HR 313 and SR 186), as well as a number of Texas city leaders, including Mayor Sylvester Turner in Houston, Mayor Becky Ames of Beaumont, Mayor Joe Zimmerman of Sugar Land.

In observance of this statewide day of reflection, on Wednesday, March 24 every desk in the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives featured an iconic giving box, known as an “ARK”, sponsored by the over thirty-five Chabad Lubavitch Centers of Texas. During the session House resolution sponsor Speaker Pro Temp. Joe Moody of El Paso discussed the significance of daily giving and its central role in building a more just and empathetic society. Senator José Menéndez of San Antonio, the Senate resolution sponsor, presented the same in the chamber of the Texas Senate. A virtual event was also held in advance of the day. You can watch the replay here.

• Here is a collection of Education and Sharing Day for Texas.
• You can see the entire playlist of this and previous year's Texas events, here.

This Shabbos marks 28 Nissan. On the eve of Nissan 28, 5751 (April 11, 1991), the Lubavitcher Rebbe issued an emotional call to his followers, and to the world Jewish community, to increase their efforts to bring Moshiach and the ultimate redemption. Spoken in an anguished voice and couched in uncharacteristically personal terms, the Rebbe's words deeply shocked the Chassidim present in the Rebbe's synagogue and reverberated worldwide. "How is it that the Redemption has not yet been attained?" the Rebbe cried. "That despite all that has transpired and all that has been done, Moshiach has still not come? What more can I do? I have done all I can to bring the world to truly demand and clamor for the Redemption...The only thing that remains for me to do is to give over the matter to you. Do all that is in your power to achieve this thing--a most sublime and transcendent light that needs to be brought down into our world with pragmatic tools... I have done all I can. I give it over to you. Do all that you can to bring the righteous redeemer, immediately! I have done my part. From this point on, all is in your hands..." Links: Transmission, Moshiach: an Anthology, Moshiach and the Future Redemption.

This Shabbos afternoon after Mincha, in preparation for Shavuos, we will study the first of the six chapters of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Pirkei Avos"). They will be studied on the afternoon of each of the six Shabbatot between Pesach and Shavuos; this week, being the first Shabbat after Passover, we study Chapter One. (In many communities -- and such is the Chabad custom -- the study cycle is repeated through the summer, until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.) Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 1.

SHABBOS MEVARCHIM IYAR, PARSHAS SHEMINI
Friday, 27 Nissan - April 9
Light Shabbat candles & Mincha at 7:27 pm
Evening Services at 7:30 pm
Omer Count

Shabbos, 28 Nissan - April 10
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Mincha at 7:30 pm
Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 1
Maariv, Omer Count, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:22 pm
Living Torah

Monday, 30 Nissan, Rosh Chodesh Iyar Day 1 - April 12
Shacharis at 6:45 am

Monday, Rosh Chodesh Iyar Day 2 - April 13
Shacharis at 6:45 am