Towards the end of this week's Torah portion, the Jewish people prepare to battle Og, king of Bashan. The Torah tells us that Hashem reassured Moshe Rabbeinu: “Do not fear him.” From this, the Sages deduce something surprising: Moshe was afraid.
But what frightened Moshe? Not Og’s physical strength alone, though Og was indeed a fearsome giant. Rather, Moshe feared Og’s spiritual merit. Generations earlier, Og had performed a good deed by alerting Avraham Avinu that his nephew Lot had been captured. Moshe worried: Could that one act of kindness protect Og and tip the spiritual scales in his favor?
Nevertheless, Moshe didn’t share his fear with the people. He didn’t let his personal doubts become their burden. He kept his anxiety between himself and Hashem.
Moshe understood that while honesty is important, leaders also have a responsibility not to project fear. He shielded his people from spiritual confusion or despair. Instead of riling them up with panic, he turned inward and led forward.
Moshe Rabbeinu's greatness wasn’t just in his faith, but in his ability to give others strength, even when he himself was uncertain. That’s leadership rooted in humility and courage.
That kind of leadership — giving others strength even amid uncertainty — is especially resonant this week as I (Rabbi Chaim) write from Israel. The mood here is tense, perhaps even more so than when I visited last summer. Mendel and I visited on day 635, 10 hours, 38 minutes, 54 seconds at Hostage Square.
What stands out most is the quiet resilience: people continue to live, to build, to believe — not allowing fear to define them.
May every hostage and soldier return home, and may all of Am Yisrael be safe
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie Lazaroff
THE COHEN CORNER
Faith isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about trusting enough to begin the journey.
This week’s Torah portion introduces the mysterious mitzvah of the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. It’s described as a chok, a commandment without a known reason. The ashes of the red heifer were used to purify those who had become spiritually impure, yet the process itself remains baffling. According to the Midrash, even Moshe didn’t understand it fully at first. Hashem told him that the meaning would be revealed only after he accepted it purely as Divine will. First came faith, and only then came understanding.
This mirrors how we often grow in real life. Sometimes we only begin to appreciate the value of something once we commit to it, whether it’s a healthy habit, a relationship, or a spiritual practice. A person might not “feel” connected to prayer or Jewish rituals at first, but if they approach them with sincerity, even before they fully grasp them, they often discover unexpected meaning. Whether it’s putting on tefillin, lighting Shabbat candles, or simply asking questions, the first step opens the door. If we wait until we ‘understand everything’ to start, we may never begin. But if we begin, we just might come to understand.
Have a marvelous Shabbos!
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale & Mushka Cohen
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Friday, July 4, at 7:30 pm - July 4 YJP First Fridays Shabbat - Join Young Jewish Professionals, ages 21-39, for All-American Themed BBQ Shabbat Dinner at YJP Houston - where spirits run high! 7:30pm – Friday Night Services, 8:08pm – Candle Lighting, 8:45pm – Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/july4shabbat
- 3 Thursdays, July 10-24 - Mommy and Me - Join us for a nurturing and engaging program designed for mothers and babies (newborn to 2 years) to learn, play, and connect in a warm Jewish environment www.chabaduptown.org/mommy
- Tuesday, July 8 at Noon - Lunch & Learn: Breached or Broken: The Historic Fall of Jerusalem and Why it Matters At the monthly Lunch & Learn, the community has an opportunity to enjoy an upscale lunch with like-minded friends for a spirited class and discussion! www.chabaduptown.org/lunch
CHABAD CALENDAR - YUD BEIS TAMMUZ
12-13 TAMMUZ (JULY 8-9) - Liberation of R. Yosef Yitzchak (1927): On the 12th of Tammuz of 1927, the sixth Lubavitcher rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, was officially granted release from his sentence of exile to Kastroma in the interior of Russia. Twenty-seven days earlier, the Rebbe had been arrested by agents of the GPU and the Yevsektzia ("Jewish Section" of the Communist Party) for his activities to preserve Judaism throughout the Soviet empire and sentenced to death, G-d forbid. International pressure forced the Soviets to commute the sentence to exile and, subsequently, to release him completely. The actual release took place on Tammuz 13, and Tammuz 12-13 is celebrated as a "festival of liberation" by the Chabad-Lubavitch community. Tammuz 12 is also Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's birthday.
On the 13th of Tammuz of 1927, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, received the documents authorizing his release from a sentence of exile to Kastroma in the interior of Russia. The Rebbe was actually notified of his release on Tammuz 12, but since that day was a legal holiday, the Certificate of Release freeing him to travel home was issued only the next day. Thus both the 12th and 13th of Tammuz are celebrated as a "festival of liberation" by the Chabad-Lubavitch community
Links: The Rebbe's Prison Diary, The Soviet war on Jewry
With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of the ten-day-old daughter of Lior and Eden, Eliya Yael bat Lior. In her memory, you may honor her soul with a mitzvah onemitzvah.org/eliyahyael
SHABBOS PARSHAS CHUKAS
FRIDAY, JULY 4, TAMMUZ 8
7:30 Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat
8:08 Shabbos Candle Lighting
RSVP for YJP July 4 All American First Fridays Shabbat www.yjphouston.org/july4shabbat
Sponsored by Sam in honor of Michal's last Shabbat
SHABBOS, JULY 5, TAMMUZ 9
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Morning Services
Shabbos Lunch Kiddush & Farbrengen
6:00 pm Torah Study
8:00 pm Mincha
Study of Pirkei Avos Ch. 5
9:07 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbat Ends
Living Torah Video Magazine
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, TAMMUZ 10
8:00 am Shacharis