Dear friends,
- As you may have heard, this past Shabbat tragedy struck the heart of the Jewish people when a young family, a father, mother, and three children including a three month old infant, were brutally murdered by a heartless terrorist, while fast asleep at home in Itamar, Israel. The Fogel's surviving three children are sitting Shivah for their parents and siblings, while we, their brothers and sisters around the world, mourn with them. We mourn their loss that is a loss to all of Israel and a personal one as well, relatives of- for long and healthy years - Chagit Croock.
As our Sages teach us - we must turn pain into action. We have provided an opportunity for you to write to the Fogel Family and share your condolences and mitzvah resolutions with the Fogel orphans. Let’s show Tamar (12), Ro'i (6) and Yishai (2 1/2) that though we have never met them, their family is our family, their loss is our loss – and that the beautiful lives of Udi (36), Ruth (34), Yoav (11), Elad (4) and Hadas (3 months) will live on forever. Let’s commit to a mitzvah, to live more caring and inspired lives, in memory of their pure and holy souls. On our website there is a space for you to write the children and/or Udi and Ruth’s parents and siblings. Our representatives in Israel will hand-deliver your letter to them. May we never know such sorrow again. - On a happier note, mazel tov to Dr. Henry & Dr. Maxine Epstein on the marriage of their son Adam to Clara Chaya (Ulitsky now) Epstein! May we only share simchos with each other!
- Please help Chaya Mushka and Mendel walk to help special needs kids by sponsoring them and help them reach their big goals of $500! Visit http://friendshipwalkhouston.donordrive.com/participant/uptown for more info!
Hamantashen? Check! Megillah? Check? Drinks and DRINKS? Check! Shmaltz herring?! Check! Food galore? Check! We are ready to roll for the all you can eat and drink Purim parties!
- Purim will Purim like never before at Purim Cafe to be held on Sat. night at Aroma Classique! If you did not register yet, do it now and save yourself some cash to join the best Purim party in town! www.ChabadUptown.org/PurimCafe.
- We will also have a party for the whole family on Sunday morning at Chabad of Uptown following Shacharit at 8 am and Megillah reading at 9 am. See entire Purim Schedule online.
- Half Shekel: Today was the Fast of Esther. It is customary to give three silver half dollars to charity in commemoration of the half shekel contributed by each Jew to the Holy Temple -- and which the Talmud credits as having counteracted the 10,000 silver coins Haman gave to King Achashverosh to obtain the royal decree calling for the extermination of the Jewish people -- it is customary to give three coins in "half denomination" (e.g., the half-dollar coins) to charity on the afternoon of the Fast of Esther. (If you have not done it yet, Rabbi Chaim will have some on him, so that all could purchase them from the Shul to use in observance of this custom). Links: Parshat Shekalim; the mystical significance of the half-shekel.
- Parshas Zachor: This being the Shabbat 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 (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) in which we are commanded to remember the evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of the earth. "Parshat 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 Amalek.
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Purim observances need to be observed on Sunday, Purim day, after hearing the day reading of the Megillah. They include:
a) Reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle.
b) Giving to the poor (gifts of money should be given to at least two poor people).
c) Sending gifts of food to friends (a minimum of two ready-to-eat foods to at least one friend).
d) The Purim feast.
We also recite the Al Hanissim prayer in the silent amida and grace after meals. Other customs include dressing up in disguising costumes and the traditional Purim food, the hamantash. For more detailed information, see links below. (In Jerusalem and other ancient walled cities, the festival is observed on Shushan Purim, this year on Monday --see entries for Adar 15.) -
Here are some great Purim links! - Virtual Purim (a website offering the story of Purim, detailed How-To's, articles and essays, games, Purim songs and video clips, and a global Purim costume contest). A Purim anthology. The Book of Esther with commentary.
So! Please join us for all of it!
Beginning with this Shabbos Zachor reading (see above) - this is one of the few biblically mandated Torah readings of the year - so be there! With the change to DST we will now be on the Friday night summer schedule with evening services through the summer at 7:30 pm.
Shabbos Zachor Parshas Tzav & Purim Schedule
Friday March 18
Services at 7:30 pm
Light candles at 7:14 pm
Purim weekend Dinner at 8:30 pm RSVP at www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Shabbos March 19
Preprayer Kabbala Study at 9:00 am
Services at 10:00 am
Torah Reading with Zachor at approx. 11 am
Mincha at 7:15 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:08 pm
Purim Cafe at Aroma Classique at 9:30 pm (Second reading for those who miss the first at 11:30 pm
(Purim Cafe Sponsored in part by Optimum Investments & Village Flowery - You can sponsor too! - see event RSVP form online)
Sunday, March 20
BLT (= Bagels, Lox & Tefillin w/ complete Shacharis and Torah reading this time) at 8:00 am
Megillah Reading at 9:00 am
Party and reading for residents and family of The Hampton at Post Oak at 2:30 pm
Have a freilechen Purim!!!!
Rabbi Chaim, Chanie & Clan