What an incredible Sukkos it has been! From beautiful Sukkos dinners, to Simchas Beis Hashoeiva, Lunch & Learn, the men’s Sushi & Scotch social, Wednesday night Torah and dinner, the ladies’ Sukkot Mahjong night, and finally a packed house for our grand finale, Smoke, Mirrors & Sukkot with YJP Houston, YAD and Olami. Night after night, Jews came together to eat, learn, laugh, celebrate and rejoice. (Complete photo albums will be posted eventually). And now comes the climax: Simchas Torah.
The Midrash describes Shemini Atzeres with the words נגלגל אני ואתה במה שתמצא, meaning that after the great seven day celebration of Sukkos, the King says to the one he loves: everyone else has gone, now stay with Me one more day, just you and Me, and we will celebrate with whatever we have. That is the deepest feeling of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah. After all the crowds and all the activity, Hashem says to every Jew: stay close to Me. This is not about how much Torah you know. On Simchas Torah the Torah is closed, held against our hearts, and every Jew dances equally. The scholar and the beginner, the deeply observant and the Jew just reconnecting. The bond is deeper than understanding. It is the bond between Hashem, the Torah and every Jewish soul.
And this year, we have so much to thank Hashem for. Just days ago, Flydubai Flight 1073 experienced a terrifying emergency in the cockpit, the plane plunged thousands of feet, the captain was injured, passengers and crew rushed forward, the attacker was restrained, off duty pilots helped take control, medical assistance was available onboard, the aircraft recovered and was able to land safely in Saudi Arabia. So many separate things had to happen, one after another, and nearly 180 people came through alive. We recognize the courage of the people involved, and we also look upward and say: Thank You, Hashem. Thank You for watching over Your children, for the miracles we see and the countless miracles we never even know about. Hashem is watching over us, Hashem wants us close, and Hashem wants to celebrate with us.
So after a month of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos and nonstop celebration, we are not finished yet. Now we dance. Now we hold the Torah close to our hearts. Now it is just us and Hashem. Join us for Simchas Torah and see the complete schedule at ChabadUptown.org/joy.
Rabbi Chaim and Chanie
THE COHEN CORNER
The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.
If you want to see what it means simply to be a Jew, come on Simchas Torah. We take the Torah while it is closed, wrapped and tied, and we dance with it. The scholar and the Jew who cannot read a word of Hebrew hold the same Torah and dance the same dance, because the Torah is the birthright of every Jew. Our bond with Hashem runs deeper than how much we know or how much we understand. On Simchas Torah we pause from analyzing that bond and simply celebrate it. We take the Torah into our arms and dance with Hashem.
Yesterday we saw a remarkable reminder that the relationship goes both ways. What happened on FlyDubai Flight 1073 was a moment when the protecting hand of Hashem was so clear that it is difficult to look at the sequence of events and see only coincidence. At precisely the right moments, the right people were there, the impossible became possible, and an entire plane of Jews walked away safely. Tomorrow night, when we take the Torah into our arms and dance, perhaps we can dance with a little more awareness of what that embrace means. We hold tightly to Hashem and His Torah, and yesterday we were reminded just how tightly Hashem holds on to us.
Have a euphoric Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah!
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen
HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES & EVENTS:
www.chabaduptown.org/celebrate
- Friday, Oct. 2 6:45 pm - YJP October First Fridays Shemini Atzeres Edition - Simchas Torah warm-up brief dancing and dinner in the sukkah www.yjphouston.org/pinkatzeres
- Shabbos. Oct. 3 12:15 pm - Shemini Atzeret Yizkor with special Service to Honor the Memory of the Oct. 7 massacre
- Shabbos, Oct. 3, 6:45 pm - Saturday Night ALIVE! Simchat Torah Uptown - Dance like a Star!
SHEMINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS TORAH
FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2
SHEMINI ATZERES
6:45 pm: Mincha & Evening Services
6:48 pm: Light Shabbos & Holiday Candles
Final day of the mitzvah of Lulav & Etrog until sunset.
YJP October First Fridays: Shemini Atzeres Pink Edition
Simchas Torah Warm Up, Brief Dancing & Dinner in the Sukkah
RSVP for First Fridays: YJPHouston.org/PinkAtzeres
SHABBOS, OCTOBER 3, 22 TISHREI
SHEMINI ATZERES
10:00 am: Morning Services
12:15 pm: Yizkor Memorial Service
Including a special service honoring the memory of those murdered in the October 7 massacre
Tefillas Geshem
Final opportunity to eat in the Sukkah
6:45 pm: SIMCHAS TORAH SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE!
Grand Hakafot & Family Celebration
Celebratory dancing, refreshments & tremendous Simchas Torah joy
Details: ChabadUptown.org/Joy
After 7:40 pm: Light Holiday Candles
Yaknehaz: Special Kiddush / Shabbos Havdalla Combination
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 23 TISHREI
SIMCHAS TORAH
10:00 am: Morning Services
Hakafot & Celebratory Dancing
Mincha after Musaf
7:00 pm: Seder Niggunim
7:39 pm: Maariv, Havdallah & Holiday Ends
Living Torah
MONDAY & THURSDAY, OCT. 5 & 8, TISHREI 24 & 27
6:45 am Shacharis