What a beautiful Yom Tov of Rosh Hashana with overflowing services, dinners, luncheons and gorgeous Tashlich walk! Thank you to every one of you, our dear community, for making it so special! Thank you to our main minyan Chazzan Danny & Chani Gavin and family for joining, Chaim Ziv Mesulati for leading the Sunrise Sefardi Minyan, our Torah reader, Elchonon & Naomi Reizes and family for joining, Elana Loftspring for running the youth program! On the food front, thank you to Chanie for the amazing delectable meals, Chaya for the outstanding glazed and crumble honey cakes, and Brian and Dana Gavin for the overflowing Zbiltong buffet! (Get your own bag of authentic South African Biltong at zbiltong.com).
A phrase in the High Holiday liturgy that stands out is: “Teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah, avert the severity of the decree.” This means that increasing in these three acts can help assure us a blessed and good year, rather than the opposite, G-d forbid.
The traditional translation of these words as “repentance,” “prayer,” and “charity,” don’t do the original Hebrew justice.
Teshuvah: More than just repentance, the word means “return” – the Jew must recognize that his soul yearns to return to its origins. The Jewish soul is a part of G-d and we must reclaim our origin and focus on being the best Jew possible in the year to come. This applies to all Jews, even those that don’t necessarily have something to “repent” for.
Tefillah: Prayer implies requesting, asking G-d for something that we lack. But what it really means is to become intertwined and connected with G-d. Tefillah must happen even if we don’t feel that we’re missing something, for having an ongoing connection with the Divine is central to being Jewish.
Tzedakah: While charity means giving someone something that is yours, sharing out of the benevolence of your heart, the Hebrew root of the word is tzedek, which means “righteousness.” It means doing the right thing, not something extra because we are kind, but something that is actually expected of us. Being generous to others is not a “nice” thing to do once in a while, but something we must focus on all the time, as an actual responsibility and obligation.
Doing all of the above properly will help ensure that we are granted a year of blessing and prosperity, for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
Wishing you a Gmar Chasima Tova, meaningful Yom Kippur and an easy fast,
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
P.S. Lulav and Etrog set: We have a few sets left in each category! Please order here. Be sure to put "UPTOWN" in the note field.
Upcoming Events:
DAYS OF AWE
- Sun-Mon, Sept 24-25 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast - RSVP. Special Children's program lead by Elana Loftspring!
DAYS OF JOY
- Fri.-Sun., Sept. 29-Oct. 1 - Sukkos Services www.chabaduptown.org/joy
- Friday, Sept 29 & Sat. Sept. 30, 8 pm - Community Sukkos Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
- Saturday, Sept 30, 8 pm - Moishe House & YJP Houston - Micasa Sukkasa Sukkot Holiday Dinner Under the Stars - RSVP
- Tues., Oct. 3, 12-1:30 pm - Community Lunch & Learn: Spiritual Shelter: Finding Purpose in the Sukkah - RSVP
- Wed. Oct 4 - YJP & J-Hype Sukkos Smoke Shack Party - Young professionals Sukkah BBQ party with Authentic Texas Smoked Meat BBQ by the Kosher Smoke Shack, Open Bar, Great Music, Great People and Lulav & Etrog Shaking. Early Bird (till September 15) - $15 Use coupon code "smoke", Regular Ticket - $30, Can't wait to see you! - RSVP
- Friday, Oct. 6, 6:45 pm YJP First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
- Fri.-Sun., Oct. 6-8 - Simchas Torah www.chabaduptown.org/joy
- Sat. Oct. 7, 6:45 pm Saturday Night Alive! Dance Like a Star!
Shabbos Shuva Parshas Haazinu
Friday, September 22, 7 Tishrei
Services at 7:00 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:01 pm
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Shabbos, September 23, 8 Tishrei
Chassidus - Likkutei Torah at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
Study of Rebbe Teachings 6:00 pm
Mincha at 7:00 pm
Study of Laws of Yom Kippur
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 7:53 pm
Living Torah
Erev Yom Kippur
Sunday, September 24, 9 Tishrei
Shacharis at 8 am
Erev Yom Kippur Mincha 2:00 pm
Light Holiday Candles & Fast Begins 6:58 pm
Kol Nidrei
Simultaneous Main and Sefardi Service 7:00 pm
Children's Program 7:00-8:30 pm
Yom Kippur Day
Monday, September 25, 10 Tishrei
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan 7:00 am
Community Morning Service 9:30 am
Children's Program 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Yizkor Memorial Service 12:30 pm
Sefardi Mincha 4:15 pm
Mincha Afternoon Service 5:30 pm
Neilah Closing Service 6:45 pm
Havdala & Fast Ends 7:50 pm
Break the Fast Buffet - RSVP Required
Friday, September 26-29, 11-14 Tishrei
Shacharis at 6:45 am
Sukkot & Simchat Torah
Holiday, Service & Candle Lighting Schedule >
Shana Tova and Good Shabbos!