Ukraine, Shekels.... Purim is coming!

UKRAINE: The  largest Jewish community center in the world is  not based in Israel or the United States. It is the Chabad Menorah Center building below in Dnepropetrovsk Ukraine (birthplace of the Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM) built by Chabad It is one of the many Chabad centers throughout the Ukraine service the approx. 350,000 Jews with over  200 Chabad couples serving 154 communities - including 49 educational centers, 7 orphanages, 32 soup kitchens, synagogues, mikvahs and community centers. Please light Shabbat candles for Ukraine today at 6:00PM, put on tefillin this morning and lets pray for peace in Ukraine - to give directly to the rabbi on the ground in communities of Ukraine 33 cities: www.chabaduptown.org/Ukraine

SHEKALIM: This Shabbos is called "Shabbos Shekalim". When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, each Jew contributed an annual half-shekel to the Temple. The 1st of Adar marked the beginning of the collection of the shekalim. In commemoration, the Torah reading of the Shabbat that falls on or before Adar 1 is supplemented with the verses (Exodus 30:11-16) that relate G-d's commandment to Moses regarding the first giving of the half-shekel. "Parshat Shekalim" is the first of four special readings added during or immediately before the month of Adar (the other three being "Zachor", "Parah" and "Hachodesh") Links: The Shekalim Reading with commentary; Partner; Tzedakah: Charity

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• March 4, 6 pm: First Fridays for March of YJP Houston!
• March 16-17 - Purim: Join us on Wednesday evening and Thursday for Megillah readings
• March 16 YJP Houston "Pruim at the Rodeo": Western Themed Cowboy Carnival Party www.yjphouston.org/rodeo
• Macrh 17 Communtiy Purim in the Shtetl: Tevya's Petting Zoo, Yankel's Carnival Games, Zadies Megillah, Bubbie's Buffet Dinner, Live Fiddler & Moshe Kretchmer Open Bar www.chabaduptown.org/shtetl
• March 25 - CTeen Texas Regional Shabbaton: Join teens grades 9-12 from all over Texas for an amazing weekend in College Station near Texas A&M University! Be an early bird and save! www.cteen.com/texasshabbat

PARSHA: From Nice to Nasty and Back

The person you shared coffee with in the morning is now competition, and you’ll cut him down at the first opportunity.more…

Shabbos Shekalim. Mevarchim Adar II, Parshas Vayakhel

Friday, February 25, 24 Adar 1
Candle Lighting, Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm
Thiis Shabbos we are celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Dalia Karni! Mazel tov to Ron & Mollie Karni and the entire Karni family!

Shabbos, February 26, 25 Adar 1
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim at 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos mevarchim lunch kiddush & farbrengen sponsored by Rafi & Etti Benjaminov in memory of his grandfather, Menachem Tzvi ben Sarah, a"h. 
Mincha at 6:00 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:55 pm
Living Torah

Sunday, Feb. 27, 26 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Wed., Feb. 28-March 2, 27-29 Adar 1 - Shacharis at 6:45 am

Rosh Chodesh Adar II, Thurs. & Fri. March 3-4 - Shacharis at 6:45 am
Followed by monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast

Have a good Shabbos!