The month of Elul began this week, kicked off with the blowing of the shofar. It is the final month of the Jewish calendar year, the month before the High Holidays.
Elul is traditionally considered a month of reckoning, when we are meant to take stock of our behavior over the past year, much like a business takes an account every so often of its inventory, income, expenses, and so on. We look back at the year that has passed and we attempt to determine what we did right and what worked, and what could use improvement in the year to come.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi – the Alter Rebbe, founder of Chabad – taught that during this month G-d’s attributes of mercy shine brighter than all year, and His glory is far more accessible than it usually is. With this knowledge, we are encouraged to work on our relationship with G-d in ways that might not have been possible throughout the year.
And if we may be so bold, we implore G-d to also take a reckoning of His actions in the past year. The Jewish people have suffered tremendously all year as a result of the horrific terrorist attacks last Simchat Torah, and as recently as this past week when we learned of the brutal murder of six of the hostages in Gaza. For Yizkor on Shmini Atzeres this year we will have a special program honoring the memory of all the lives lost on that day and since. Please make your calendars.
We demand of G-d that we see His mercy in a most tangible manner, not leaving anything to the imagination. We pray that the coming year will be better than the last, and that we merit to celebrate the ultimate joy with the coming of Moshiach, may it be today!
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
In the month of Elul it is an appropriate time to have one's tefillin and mezuzahs checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
As is customary to check tefillin and mezuzos in Elul, and in order to have uncompromising professionalism in the checking of Tefillin and Mezuzos, the Belles family will be sponsoring boxes to be sent overnight both ways to Rabbi Faitel Lewin at Hasofer. (For personal reasons, he could not make the trip to Houston work this year).
Packing instructions:
- Mezuzos should brought to CLC, (10900 Fondren Road) in a Ziploc bag with name, address and phone number written on it.
- Tefilin should also have name, address and phone number written with it.
Shipments will be done overnight on Tuesday and will be back in the CLC office by Thursday.
You may leave your items at the CLC office 10900 Fondren Road as early as 9:00 am - 3:00pm, Friday (September 6), Monday (September 9) & Tuesday (September 10) all in one bag, marked clearly with your name and cell number.
RESERVE HERE (first reserved, first served): https://forms.gle/msWezejo3t9PDgzv6
Limited capacity
Only bring items once you have received the confirmation email
- Tefilin check (regular closing) $65
- Posul tefilin $15
- Mezuza check $8
- Posul mezuzah $2
- Retzuos $55-85
According to halacha, mezuzos should be checked twice every seven years. Some have the custom to inspect mezuzos and tefillin annually.
Thank you Belles family for sponsoring this project.
SAVE THE HIGH HOLIDAY DATES OF AWE AND JOY
Chabad of Uptown looks forward to celebrating the holidays with you. Our doors are to the entire Jewish community to daven and to celebrate, regardless of background or affiliation.
For the complete schedule of services, to RSVP for holiday dinners or lunches, visit www.chabaduptown.org/services.
Now is also the time to join or renew your voluntary membership to Chabad. Your partnership allows us to provide free, open and welcoming services to all, for the holidays and year round! www.chabaduptown.org/membership
- Wed.-Fri., Oct 2-4 - FREE Rosh Hashana Services, RSVP for Dinner and Luncheons
- Fri. Oct. 4 - October YJP First Fridays Chocolate Shabbat Dinner
- Fri.-Sat., Oct. 11-12 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
- Wed., Thurs. & Fri. Oct. 16, 17, 18 - Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
- Sat. Oct. 19, 9:30 pm - YAD & YJP Houston - Sukkot Stir Fry Showdown!
- Thurs. Oct. 24 12:15 pm - Shemini Atzeret Yizkor with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
- Thurs Oct. 24, 6:25 pm - Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!
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THIS WEEK'S CLASSES:
- Shabbos, 9:00 am - Chassidus - Likkutei Torah - Kabbala Insights on the Parsha
- Wednesdays, 8 pm - YJP Dinner, Class & Social - Contemporary Themes
To be added to a reminder broadcast list, including status of each class, please reply to this email to subscribe
Welcome to the Chai Club Monthly Giving group, Jordan Esrig!
SHABBOS PARSHAS SHOFTIM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 3 ELUL
7:19 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
7:30 pm Mincha & Kabbolas Shabbos
RSVP for YJP Game Night First Fridays Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/gameshabbat
SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 7, 4 ELUL
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Shacharis
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush
7:20 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 1
8:12 pm Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends
Living Torah Video
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 5 ELUL
8:00 am Shacharis
Good Shabbos!