Do you like to dance? If I was to guess, I'd say that there are two types of people in the world: those who like to dance, and those who hate it. Dancing seems to be one of those pronounced activities that it's an either-or: either you like it, or you can't stand it. And as someone that belongs to the definitely-enjoy-dancing camp, I wonder if some people don't like to dance because dancing is an act that makes you feel like losing yourself. When you dance, you are not in your typical composure, your clothing might be messed up, and your body movements might not be perfect. I can see why many people don't like that.
Today, let me introduce you to a different type of dance: the Jewish dance. No, not the hora (by the way, the hora was not even invented by Jews. It originated in Romania!). I am talking about the Jewish way of dancing. The dancing where you don't lose yourself; you actually find yourself.
With Simchat Torah around the corner, we are about to enter a holiday filled with dancing. We will take out the Torah, do the "Hakafot", dance with the Torah, dance again, and then dance some more. Why so much dancing? Here is a beautiful saying by The sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory: "The Torah wants to dance, but it has no feet! So we serve like the Torah's feet when we take the Torah and dance with it!"
And here is another one, by the Rebbe: "When we dance, the Torah is covered. Because our joy is not about how much we understand or learn the Torah. It's because we all share the same deep connection to the Torah." When we dance the Jewish way, we don't lose ourselves. We find ourselves.
Because we know who we are.
We know that we belong.
We know that we are all connected to the Torah and each other.
We know that we are all like the feet of the Torah, carrying her with us wherever we go.
So this Simchat Torah, let's dance! Let's dance with our feet, clap with our hands, and sing as loudly as possible.
Because we are lucky, and we know it.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and happy Simchat Torah - good yom tov!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
Wonderful holiday celebrating in our packed and enlarged sukkah with so many of you! Thank you Chanie for the amazing food operation, Chaya for the baked desserts and all for the sukkah construction, dinner and lunch sponsors! Thank you all for being the decorations of our sukkah!
The residents at the Brookdale celebrated Sukkot as well as many visits made all over town giving people the opportunity to make the brocho on the lulav and esrog...
Now, on to Shabbos Chol Hamoed (when we dont shake lulav, we eat in the sukkah), Hoshana Rabba (our last ditch effort asking for a good y ear) and Simchas Torah! Complete schedule below.
Upcoming October Events:
- Fri. Oct. 14 - Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
- Sat. Oct. 15, 8:30 pm - Young Professionals YAD, Moishe House & YJP Houston - Sukkot Sukkot Beer Garden and Biltong Demo & Pairing Event
- Oct. 16, 6:30 pm - Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!
- 6 Tuesdays, Nov 1-Dec 6, 7:30- 9:00 PM New JLI Course: My G-d - Defining the Divine Click here to register
- Nov. 9, 9 am - 5:00 pm - Mental Health First Aid Training at Jewish Federation - Click here to register and for further info
Friday, Oct. 14, 19 Tishrei
Light Shabbat Candles at 6:34 pm
6:35 pm Evening Services
- Community Hakhel _Sukkot Dinner Under the Stars - Sponsored by Rick & Dorit Guttman in honor of the new baby
RSVP required_ www.chabaduptown.org/sukkotdinner
Kiddush dedicated by Lydia Hasson in loving memory of her beloved Father, Elie ben Avner whose yahrzeit is on 19 Tishrei. May his dear neshama have an Aliyah
9:30 pm Guttman Baby Shalom Zachor
Shabbos Chol Hamoed, Oct. 15, Tishrei 20
No Lulav & Etrog Shabbos
10:00 am Morning Services
1:00 pm _Guttman Bris followed by festive kiddush for community in honor of the new baby 🍼
6:35 pm Mincha Service
7:27 pm Maariv Havdalla (in Sukkah) & Shabbos Ends
8:30 pm YAD, Moishe House & YJP Sukkot Sukkot Biltong and Beer Garden Demo & Pairing Event - RSVP required
www.yjphouston.org/biltong
Sunday, Hoshana Rabba, Oct. 16, Tishrei 21
- 7:11 am Sunrise - Earliest Lulav & Esrog
8:00 am Morning Services - Hoshana Rabba Special Service
Lulav & Etrog Available for public use
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah
Sun., Oct. 16 - Shemini Atzeret, Tishrei 21
6:32 pm Light Holiday Candles
6:30 pm Mincha & Evening Services Hakafot-celebratory dancing - This one is only the warm up - to connect with Israel! (See main hakafot below)
Mon., Oct. 17 - Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah, Tishrei 22
10:00 am Morning Services
12:15 pm Yizkor
Teffilas Geshem
Followed by lunch kiddush in Sukkah sponsored by the Shlakman family in honor of the new Guttman baby
Say Goodbye to Sukkah
6:30 pm Mincha & Evening Services Grand Hakafot-celebratory dancing - This one is the real deal!
After 7:25 pm Light Holiday Candles
Tues., Oct. 18 - Simchat Torah, Tishrei 23
10:00 am Morning Services
Kiddush Hakafot-celebratory dancing
Completion of the Torah and Starting Again
Musaf
Mincha after Musaf
7:24 pm Maariv, Havdalla & Holiday Ends
Good Shabbos and Good Yom Tov!