We had a wonderful week celebrating Chaya's engagement to Shalom Burkis from Jerusalem! Rabbi Chaim turned back around for a guys trip to NY to visit 770 and the Ohel as is customary in preparation for the Jewish New Year. Shalom has caught up with us and took a picture in front of one of his many murals he made that adorn the walls of Crown Heights, entitled from Chaslavitch to Lubavitch, depicting Chassidim on their flying journey to the Rebbe. We have been learning of the Rebbe's care and concern for every Jew and how the Rebbe would always distribute dollars or coins for tzedaka, as when two Jews meet it should benefit another.
This week’s Torah portion contains Moshe Rabbeinu's review of the laws pertaining to care for the disadvantaged; specifically, when harvesting fields the owner is required to leave behind — for the poor — any sheaves he forgot to gather. The commandment concludes with a blessing for the owner for fulfilling this mitzvah.
Although the mitzvah comes about through forgetfulness, with little or no action on behalf of the owner, it is still considered meritorious, just as if he would have proactively given the sheaves to a poor person. The reason for this is that deep down every Jew wants to do the right thing and be as generous as we can. Sometimes, however, we require an extra “push” from above, in the form of forgetting. Nevertheless, we still receive full credit for our tzedakah, as though we did it intentionally.
The lesson behind this mitzvah is two fold. Firstly, it offers us an insight to how much Hashem loves every Jew, to the extent that He provides us with opportunities for mitzvahs even when we aren’t actively seeking them. Every mitzvah we do enhances and strengthens our connection with G-d, and G-d wants as much connection as possible, so He sometimes camouflages these opportunities within regular mundane activities. Even when we aren’t looking for it, we still benefit from the mitzvah associated with our actions.
Second, seeing how great the blessing for unintentional tzedakah is, imagine how much greater is the blessing for actively engaging in acts of kindness on a regular basis.
And with every additional mitzvah we do, especially in the realm of tzedakah, we hasten the coming of Moshiach and the ultimate redemption, may it happen in our times!
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.
FIRST SHIPMENT SENT LAST WEEK, RESERVE HERE FOR SECOND (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, J-HYPE & 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!
Mazel tov to (us :) and to) Chaya Lazaroff on the engagement to Shalom Burkis of Jerusalem Israel!
SHABBOS PARSHAS KI SEITZEI
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 10 ELUL
7:11 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
7:15 pm Mincha
7:30 PM Kabbolas Shabbos
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 14, 11 ELUL
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Shacharis
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush
7:10 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 2
8:03 pm Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends
Living Torah Video
Good Shabbos!