Don't miss Purim with YJP Houston at the Rodeo and Chabad of Uptown in the Shtetl! Complete Purim schedule below!
Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. Religious observance of Shabbat includes a prohibition against operating electricity - which means not even touching phones and other electronic devices.
But this past Shabbat was different. Because Jewish law puts saving lives over everything.
Ukrainian-speaking Chabad emissaries and volunteers spent the whole day on the phone, trying to convince Ukrainian Jews to leave before it’s too late.
The volunteers went through every phone number they had, often patiently explaining to the elderly Jews the significant danger ahead, as missiles are now falling on civilian homes, and escape routes are closing in.
Then the callers provided detailed instructions on how to securely reach the busses and carpools arranged by Chabad that will bring them to safety outside of the battered Ukraine.
One such emissary was Rabbi Silberstein from Chernigov. His young daughter was distraught and confused.
“Tatty (daddy), it doesn’t feel like Shabbat when you’re on the phone the whole time.”
“You’re right,” he answered her. “But thank God we got to coordinate 13 cars to leave Chernigov over Shabbat! That’s 13 cars with 5 people in each one - we got to save 65 worlds! How fortunate we are!
(Pictured: A Chabad operations room, with volunteers organizing busses for Ukrainian Jews. (Picture taken after Shabbat.))
Many more daily stories have been collected and can be read, including a powerful interview with CNN, on our Ukraine news coverage here.
Support the Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund here.
- Critical food packages in 131 communities throughout Ukraine. Cost: $1,691,470
- Evacuate 30,000 people to safe locations in Ukraine and 15,000 people to neighboring countries. Evacuation Cost: $2,600,000.
- 9,800 people to travel to safety in 185 busses
- 5,100 people in minibuses 7,200 people by train; and 8,000 people via private transportation.
- In Odessa alone, 35 evacuation buses to Moldova in the last three days.
- Shluchim in refugee locations host and feed over 10,000 people. Accommodation Cost: $270,000
- 6 planeloads of refugees traveling from Romania and Hungary to Israel. Transport Cost: $378,000
Parshat Zachor This being the Shabbat before Purim, on which we celebrate the foiling of Haman the Amalekite's plot to destroy the Jewish people, the weekly Parshah is supplemented with the Zachor reading (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) in which we are commanded to remember the evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of the earth. "Parshat Zachor" is the second of four special readings added during or immediately before the month of Adar (the other three being "Shekalim", "Parah" and "Hachodesh") Links: The Zachor Reading with commentary, More on Who Was Amalek?
BREAKING NEWS: Nissim Black is joining the CTeen regional Texas Shabbaton! Did you(r teen) register yet? www.cteen.com/texasshabbat
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- March 16-17 - Purim: Join us on Wednesday evening and Thursday for Megillah readings - See schedule below
- March 16 YJP Houston "Purim at the Rodeo": Western Themed Cowboy Carnival Party www.yjphouston.org/rodeo
- Macrh 17 Community 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
- May 11-15 - YJP Encounter with Antigua Guatemala! An adventurous weekend of nature, soulfulness, and connection with fellow young Jewish professionals. LIMITED SPACE. CLICK FOR MORE INFO & TO APPLY
- May 13-15 - Shabbat in the Heights A spirited Shabbos experience in the nerve center of the Chabad Lubavitch Movement. More info and to register using invitation code ChabadUptown shabbatintheheights.com
Mazel tov to Meir & Tzivia Mandel on the birth of a baby boy!
Mazel tov to on the marriage of our nephew Menachem Lazaroff to Shterna Karp!
Mazel tov to Cory Glass and Natalya Cohen on their marriage this weekend!
We extend condolences to Sara Wolkowitz on the passing of her great niece, Ariana bas Aimee
Shabbos Zachor Parshas Vayikra
Friday, March 11, 8 Adar II
Candle Lighting and Mincha at 6:10 pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:30 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Shabbos, March 12, 9 Adar II
Chassidus at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Mandatory Torah Reading of "Zachor"
Followed by lunch kiddush sponsored by anonymous
Mincha at 6:10 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 7:04 pm
Living Torah
Sunday, March 13, 10 Adar II - Shacharis at 8:00 am
Mon-Fri., March 14-18, 11-18 Adar II - Shacharis at 6:45 am
Wed. March 16 Fast of Esther & Purim Eve
6:16 am Fast of Esther Begins
6:45 am Shacharis Services
7:00 pm Fast of Esther Mincha
7:55 pm Fast Ends & Maariv
8:00 pm Megillah Reading Followed by
YJP HOUSTON PURIM AT THE RODEO - RSVP REQUIRED www.yjphouston.org/rodeo
10:00 pm Late Night Megillah Reading
Thursday, March 17, Purim Day
6:45 am Shacharis
7:30 am Megillah Reading at Chabad of Uptown
10:30 am The Galleria Level I at Donna Ella near Westin Oaks
1:00 pm Seniors Party & Megillah Reading at Brookdale Galleria - 2929 Post Oak
(Brookdale reading not open to the public, due to COVID health protocols)
5:00 pm PURIM IN THE SHTETL RSVP REQUIRED www.chabaduptown.org/shtetl
Megillah Readings at 5:00 pm & 6:45 pm at Purim in the Shtetl
Have a good Shabbos!