This Shabbos is known as "Shabbos Selichos", when we kick off a series of Selichos recited in preparation for the "Days of Awe" of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur beginning this Saturday night, after midnight (after the Ashkenazic custom; the Sephardic community began on the 1st of Elul). On the subsequent days, this year Monday through Wednesday, the custom is to recite the Selichos in the early morning hours, before the morning prayers, each morning up to and including Elul 29, the eve of Rosh Hashanah.
Please let us know if we can count on you for the Selichos minyan this Saturday night at 1:10 am
This week’s double Torah portion, Nitzvaim-Vayelech, contains in its name a seeming paradox. The first word, Nitzavim, means “standing firm,” while the second, Vayelech, means “going.”
Both readings are part of the final speech Moshe gave to the Jews in the days before his passing, entreating the people to stay steadfast in their commitment to Hashem. Even in the inevitable event of sin and straying from the correct path, we are guaranteed that all is never lost and the door to repentance is always open.
Combining these two readings with their seemingly contradictory titles reminds us that the Jewish soul is dynamic. We are always moving, growing and looking to put the past behind us. But that doesn’t mean that we do so with uncertainty; in fact, the only way to truly grow and expand our horizons is through commitment and certainty in our ways. When we stand firm and believe in who we are as Jews, that is how we are guaranteed to continue climbing higher.
When reading this portion on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah, we look back at the past year. We acknowledge that it was a difficult year for the Jewish people in Israel and around the world, and we are more than ready to “Vayelech” to move on to better and brighter times—with the certainty of Jewish pride—knowing who we are and what we represent.
That commitment to our Jewish identity ensures that we are here to stay, and we will indeed have a blessed year to come!
Wishing you a Shabbat shalom and a shanah tovah umetukah — a happy and sweet year,
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
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
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
- Wed.-Fri., Oct 2-4 - FREE Rosh Hashana Services, RSVP for Dinner and Luncheons
- Fri.-Sat., Oct. 11-12 - Yom Kippur Services and Break Fast
- Wed., Thurs. & Fri. Oct. 16, 17, 18 - Community Sukkot Dinners Under the Stars
- 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!
UPCOMING YJP EVENTS
- Friday, October 4, 6:45-11 pm - Chocolate Shabbat First Fridays - Rosh Hashana Edition - Join Young Jewish Professionals for Chocolate Themed Shabbat Dinner at YJP Houston - where spirits run high! 6:30 pm – Abbreviated Shofar Service, 6:45 pm - Candle Lighting & Friday Night Services, 8:30 pm – Chocolate Themed Shabbat Dinner, $20 until Tuesday, $36 after, Use promo code: advance www.yjphouston.org/rhchocolate
- Sat. Oct. 19, 9:00 pm - YAD, J-HYPE & YJP Houston - Sukkot Stir Fry Showdown: Wok-N-Roll All Night - Join Young Professionals 20s & 30s for a Sukkah Stir-Fry Showdown! Dinner & Open Bar www.yjphouston.org/showdown
Check out the photos from this past Sunday crafting shofars & memories with YJP Houston & FCYA! 
Amazing morning of fun, friendship & inclusion with Young Adults with special needs 
!
Mazel tov to Moshe & Guitel Melnik on the engagement of their daughter Sigal to Shuey Rothman!
We share condolences to the Irina, Artyom, Felix & Yan Digilov on the passing of their husband and father Dr. Mikhail Digilov, Michoel Ben Yosef, a"h.
SHABBOS SELICHOS, PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYELECH
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 24 ELUL
6:53 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting
7:00 pm Mincha
7:15 PM Kabbolas Shabbos
RSVP for Shabbat Dinnerwww.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
SHABBOS, SEPTEMBER 28, 25 ELUL
8:00 am Shabbos "Mevarchim" Tehillim
9:30 am Chassidus
10:00 am Shacharis
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush
6:55 pm Mincha
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 5 & 6
7:45 pm Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends
Living Torah Video
SELICHOS
Sunday, September 29 (AKA Sat. night September 18) at 1:10 am
ROSH HASHANA
Wednesday, October 2
Light Holiday Candles 6:47 pm
Community Evening Service 6:45 pm
Children's Program 6:45-8:15 pm
Community Holiday Dinner - RSVP required
www.chabaduptown.org/2283117
Thursday, October 3
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan 6:30 am
Community Morning Services 9:30 am
Children's Program 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Shofar Service 12:30 pm
Holiday Lunch Kiddush - RSVP
Mincha Service 6:00 pm
Community Tashlich Walk 6:30 pm
Light Holiday Candles AFTER 7:39 pm
Community Evening Service 7:40 pm
Community Holiday Dinner - RSVP required
www.chabaduptown.org/2283117
Friday, October 4
Sefardi Sunrise Minyan 6:30 am
Community Morning Services 9:30 am
Children's Program 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Shofar Service 12:30 pm
Holiday Lunch Kiddush - RSVP
Community Evening Service 6:45 pm
Light Shabbat Candles 6:45 pm
YJP October Chocolate Shabbat First Fridays - Rosh Hashana Edition 7:45 pm
www.yjphouston.org/events/rhchocolate
Shabbat, October 5
Chassidus Study 9:00 am
Morning Service 10:00 am
Shabbat Lunch Kiddush - RSVP
Mincha Service 6:45 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbat Ends 7:37 pm
Living Torah Video Magazine