This week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, stands out because Moses’s name is absent—the only time from his birth until the end of the Torah. This omission coincides with the 7th of Adar, the day of his passing.
But this isn’t about Moses being “missing.” In fact, Moses is everywhere in Tetzaveh. Instead of his name, we find the word “you,” directly addressing Moses’s essence. A name is what others call us, but “you” points to who we truly are, beyond labels.
Our sages teach that a righteous person’s influence becomes even greater after their passing, as their soul is no longer limited by a physical body. Moses’s life, leadership, and teachings continue to uplift and inspire us today, reminding us that true greatness transcends time and place.
Remarkably, the 7th of Adar is also the day of Moses’s birth, a powerful reminder that his life was a complete cycle of purpose and impact. This reminds us that even when something feels absent or distant, the essence often remains, stronger than ever.
May our prayers for the Ultimate Redemption be answered quickly, with the coming of Moshiach!
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
COHEN CORNER
"The most genuine acts of kindness are done without fanfare and when no one is looking."
Ketores, the incense burnt on the Inner Altar in the Mishkan, was a service preformed in utter privacy. The Kohen preforming it was alone with Hashem. We are taught that the Divine Presence was felt most strongly as a result of this private service.
The lesson of the incense is powerful in our noisy world: true holiness, especially in kindness and charity, shines brightest when done in private, without seeking attention, simply because it is the right thing to do.
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale & Mushka Cohen
The winning Chili that actually tastes like Chili was amazing! Thank you for the winning team, Jeff Karchmer, Andrew Goldstein, Alex Brown, Chaim Kamman, Gary Caplan and Jake Siegel for the Chili A-Team! 31 men put on tefillin at the Uptown Tefillin stand in memory of Yonah David ben Yaffa, a"h and many women took upon themselves to light Shabbos candles on time using the Chabad of Uptown candle lighting refrigerator magnet! May next year's judges know which chili actually tastes the best!
JEWISH CUSTOMS
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Parshas Zachor - This being the Shabbos before Purim, on which we celebrate the foiling of Haman the Amalekite's plot to destroy the Jewish people, the weekly Parshah is supplemented with the Zachor reading (Devarim 25:17-19) in which we are biblically commanded to hear this Torah portion to remember the evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of the earth. "Parshas Zachor" is the second of four special readings added during or immediately before the month of Adar (the other three being "Shekalim", "Parah" and "Hachodesh") Links: The Zachor Reading with commentary, More on Who Was Amalek?
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS:
- Sunday, March 9, 12:30 pm - Family Hamantash Bake - RSVP to Chanale via text 954-716-9353
- Wednesday, March 12, 10:30 am - Mommy & Me with Chanale Cohen - REGISTER
- Friday, March 14, 4:30 pm - Community Purim at the Stadium - Sports themed Purim featuring a human foosball and sports challenge, join us for a Purim Feast and Megillah Reading! www.chabaduptown.org/stadium
- Shabbos, March 21-22 - Community Shabbaton "From Surviving to Thriving" with scholars in Residence, Rabbi Yisrael & Vivi Deren of Stamford, CT. www.chabaduptown.org/shabbaton
UPCOMING YJP EVENTS:
- Friday, March 7, 6:30 pm - YJP Rodeo Night Shabbat - First Fridays Dinner - Saddle up, partners! We’re rustlin’ up a rootin’-tootin’ good time at our Rodeo Night Shabbat! This ain’t our first rodeo, but it’s gonna be a doozy! So, mosey on over and get ready to lasso some new friends and memories! Ages 21-39, so come one, come all, and let’s get this rodeo started! www.yjphouston.org/rodeoshabbat
- Sunday, March 9, 5-8:30 pm - YJP Girls Night / Guys Night - A night out for the girls. A night out for the guys. Girls, dessert & discussion with the Rebbetzin. Guys, wings BBQ with the Rabbi www.yjphouston.org/girlsguysnight
- Wednesday, March 12, 7:30 pm - YJP Pre-Purim Hamantash Bake - RSVP to Chanie via text - 713-419-3962
- Thursday, March 13, 8 pm - YJP Purim Night in the Shuk - YJP 20s and 30s Celebrate Purim in Style with Open Bar, Music, Juice Bar, Spice Making and more www.yjphouston.org/shuk
- Thurs. March 20, 7:30 pm - Third Thursdays Happy Hour – Heights Bier Garten - No charge, no maximum capacity, no RSVP. Yes drinks, yes new people, yes fun. See you there! www.yjphouston.org/biergarten
- Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 pm - Career Coaching Network Event - Bringing together an impressive and powerful group industry executives www.yjphouston.org/career
- Monday, March 31, 8 pm Met@Chabad Virtual Speeddating www.metatchabad.com/speeddating
- Wed-Sun., May 7-11 - CYP Encounter Guatemala - Join us for an adventurous weekend of nature, soulfulness, and connection with fellow young Jewish professionals. www.chabadyoung.com/gua
THIS WEEK'S CLASSES:
- Shabbos, March 8, 9:00 am - Chassidus - Torah Or with Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff
- Monday, March 10, 8 pm - Hebrew Language: The Tanya with Rabbi Menny Raichik
- Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 pm - JLI Decoding the Talmud with Rabbi Moishe Traxler - REGISTER
- Wednesday, March 12, 7:30 pm - YJP Pre-Purim Hamantash Bake - RSVP to Chanie via text - 713-419-3962
SHABBOS ZACHOR PARSHAS TETZAVEH
Friday, March 7, 7 Adar
6:07 pm Light Shabbat Candles & Mincha
6:30 Kabbalat Shabbat
7:30 pm RSVP for Rodeo Night First Friday Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/rodeoshabbat
Sponsored in honor of Samuel Levy’s grand parents, Samuel and Nina Levy from Saloniki and Kasoria Greece
Shabbos, March 8, 8 Adar
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Morning Services
Reading of Parshas Zachor
Shabbat Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen sponsored by the Benjaminov family marking the yartzeits and in memory of ברכה מרגלית בת מיכל ז״ל & דוד בן שרה ז״ל
6:05 pm Mincha
Torah Study
7:01 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbat Ends
Living Torah Video Magazine
COMPLETE PURIM SCHEDULE WITH CHABAD OF UPTOWN
FAST OF ESTHER, THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 13 ADAR
6:19 am Fast Begins | 6:45 am Shacharis Services
7:00 pm Fast of Esther Mincha | 7:53 pm Fast Ends & Maariv
PURIM EVE, Thursday, MARCH 13
8:00 pm Megillah Reading
Followed by YJP
PURIM NIGHT AT THE SHUK - RSVP REQUIRED
11:00 pm Late Night Megillah Reading
PURIM DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 14
6:45 am Shacharis | 7:30 am Megillah Reading at Chabad of Uptown
11:00 am Seniors Party & Megillah Reading at Brookdale Galleria - 2929 Post Oak
PURIM IN THE STADIUM - RSVP REQUIRED
4:30 pm Community Purim Party
6:00 Megilla Reading
7:12 Shabbos Candle Lighting
SHABBOS PARSHAS KI SISA SCHEDULE
Fri., March 14, 14 Adar
7:12 pm Light Shabbat Candles & Mincha
7:30 Kabbalat Shabbat
8:30 pm RSVP for Shabbat Dinner www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner