to be holy

It has been a busy week of travel celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Rabbi Chaim's nephew, Eliezer Rivkin in Morristown and the first time another nephew Zalman Lazaroff of the medical center Chabad put on tefillin at the Ohel. It was very meaningful and a moment of holy serenity to spend time together as family and visit the ohel.

The name of this week’s Torah portion is Kedsohim, which literally means “holy,” as G‑d tells the Jewish people that they are obligated to always be holy.

Holiness can mean different things depending on the context, and here it means that G‑d wants us to be different, to stand out and live differently from everyone around us. Another term sometimes used in the Torah for this is hevdel, “separation,” implying that we are to keep ourselves separate and behave differently.

These words might sound familiar, as at their root they are associated with the ceremonies we use to usher Shabbat in and out. We begin Shabbat with kiddush and we conclude it with havdalah — leaving the holy day sandwiched between these two rituals.

Shabbat is a day that stands out among the rest of the week, and it must therefore be highlighted by special rituals at its beginning and end.

And just like Shabbat, the Jewish people must also be highlighted, in the way we act and in the way we treat the world around us.

With prayers for the coming of Moshiach very soon and Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie

Torah Day School of Houston is hiring! Let me know if you or someone you know wants to join the TDS family, and I will put you / them in touch with the right person!

• Office manager (starting immediately).
• Front Desk Receptionist (starting in June)
• Elementary teachers (For 2022-2023 school year)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• May 6 - YJP Cinco de Shabbat - May First Fridays www.yjphouston.org/cinco2022
• 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
• May 17 - Lag B'Omer YJP Got Talent - An outdoor evening of Lag B’Omer with fellow young professionals performing their musical talents! Jamming session lead by Gal Litani! RSVP REQUIRED - $25 At door. Coupon $18 "Advance" - Expires May 16 - RSVP HERE
• May 22 - Mental Health First Aid Course - We are pleased to host our first hybrid, online / in-person Mental Health First Aid since covid! Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use conditions. CEU credit available. REGISTER HERE

Shabbos Parshas Kedoshim
Friday, May 6, Iyar 5
Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat Services 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting 7:44 pm
Omer Count
 
Shabbos, May 7, Iyar 6
Chassidus at 9 am
Morning Service 10:00 am
Followed by lunch Kiddush
Mincha Service 7:45 pm
Maariv Havdalla and Shabbos Ends 8:41 pm
Omer Count
Living Torah

Sunday, May 8, Iyar 7 - 8:00 am
Monday-Friday, May 9-13, 8-12 Iyar- Shacharis at 6:45 am

Have a Good Shabbos!