The Chabad of Uptown community is overwhelmed with gratitude for your outpouring love and financial support in the annual matching campaign! 264 donors made the magic open to raise more than $100,000 to assist in the operations of Chabad of Uptown and YJP Houston. Thanks to your support the broad programming for babies, children, bar and bat mitzvahs, teens, young professionals, weddings, families and seniors are able to happen. Your shul is in regular operation and dinner and lunches served every week. The feeling of "Hakhel", the year of gathering and supporting one another, was felt in a very strong way!
Every year on the last Shabbat of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, thousands of Chabad rabbis from around the world gather in New York City for the Kinus Hashluchim — the international conference of Chabad emissaries.
I had the opportunity to inscribe a letter vov in one of 36 Torah scrolls that will go to communities around the world, to be completed at the Kinus.
In addition to arranging the logistics, which include feeding thousands of rabbis for an extended weekend and planning innovative workshops and creative programming, the organizers are tasked with coming up with a theme to be highlighted throughout the Kinus.
The theme of this year’s Kinus is obvious: Hakhel, the year of gathering. Besides for the Kinus itself serving as a massive Hakhel gathering, the overall focus of the conference will be the importance of bringing Jews together in Jewish settings throughout the year. While Chabad rabbis are always bringing Jews together, in a Hakhel year we double our efforts.
But one need not be a rabbi to host or organize a Hakhel gathering. Invite some friends over and have your own Hakhel gathering! Use this how-to guide and download our monthly packets with suggested programs and tips.
Isaac married Rebecca, who married in this week’s Torah portion, pledged to emulate their parents, Abraham and Sara, and to keep their doors open for all people, with the goal of spreading recognition of G‑dliness. Their home functioned as perhaps the first Hakhel in history, and we take our cue from them to turn our own homes into beacons of Jewish light for all.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
P.S. Join Rabbi Chaim on Sunday at 4:30 pm, Houston time, at the "Banquet" closing ceremony of the annual Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries streaming live at www.chabaduptown.org/kinus
Upcoming Events:
- Wednesdays, Nov. 30 & Dec. 7, 8 pm - YJP Houston CYP Academy: Stop Chasing Happiness - An intellectually exciting journey into your own mind and psyche. Relevant and fascinating topics, paired with delectable dinner. - Click here to register.
- Fri. Dec. 2, 6 pm - Chinese Shabbat Dec. First Fridays www.yjphouston.org/chinese
- Sun. Dec. 18, 4:30 pm - Chanukah in the Snow - Community Hakhel Post Oak Menorah Lighting www.chabaduptown.org/snow
- Tues. Dec. 20, 7:30 pm - Chanukah Fire & Snow - Young Jewish Professionals 20s & 30s party in style around the fire in snow (yes, SNOW) with gelt s'mores, hot cocoa, drinks and music. Dinner Buffet, Sufganiyot & Latkes www.yjphouston.org/snow
Shabbos Mevarchim Kislev Parshas Chayei Sarah
Friday, November 18, 24 Cheshvan
Mincha and Candle Lighting at 5:07 pm
Services at 6:00 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Shabbos November 19, 25 Cheshvan
Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim 8:30 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Mevarchim lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen sponsored by Yonatan & Liora Tzion & Liora
Mincha at 5:10 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 6:02 pm
Living Torah
Sunday November 20, 26 Cheshvan
Shacharis at 8:00 am
Monday-Wed., Nov. 21-23, 27-29 Cheshvan
Shacharis at 6:45 am
Rosh Chodesh Kislev, Thursday & Friday, Nov. 24 & 25
Shacharis at 6:45 am followed by monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast
Good Shabbos!