Dear friends,
OK, straight to the point: Shavuos is here. The complete Shavuos schedule at Chabad of Uptown is here. Come study all night, hear the Ten Commandments and join Yizkor. Make it happen. Reenact the giving of the Torah 3320 years ago - Men, Women & Children (hey, you may even enjoy the ice cream, blintzes, lasagnas, greek salad, cheesecake and more)!
We, Rabbi Chaim & Chanie (kids staying home), will be heading for a trip to NY the first week of July. Not only is it July 4 (Rabbi Chaim's legal birthday, you know), but, more importantly it is the Rebbe's Yartzeit on 3 Tammuz, this year July 5, when we will visit the Ohel. YOU are welcome to join us! We will also take you around to see the epicenter of Chabad and some great restaurants. Let us know if you want to join...
Join us this Shabbos, Parshas Naso
Friday, June 3
Services at 7:30
Candle lighting at 8:00 pm | RSVP for dinner
Shabbos, June 4
Pre prayer Kabbala study 9:00 am
Shacharis at 10 am
Followed by Kiddush
Mincha at 8 am
Pirkei Avos Chapter 6
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends 8:59 pm
Living Torah
Sunday, June 5
BLT! Bagels, lox and Tefillin at 9:30 am
Sunday will begin the three days of preparation for the festival of Shavuot known as the "Three Days of Hagbalah" (see " Today in Jewish History"); in the custom of certain communities, the mourning practices of the Omer period, such as not to hold weddings or get a haircut, are now suspended.
Tuesday, June 7 - Erev Shavuos
- Before 8:02 pm Light Yom Tov Candles (Blessings)
- 8:00 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
- 12:00 am All Night Torah Study
- The Talmud relates that when G-d came to give the Torah to the People of Israel in the early morning of Sivan 6, He found them sleeping. (The Chassidic masters explain that this was an attempt to connect to their subconscious, transcendent self in preparation for their reception of the divine wisdom.) To rectify this lapse, we spend the entire first night of Shavuot (which begins at nightfall tonight) studying Torah. The traditional Tikkun Leil Shavout ("Rectification for Shavuot Night") study program includes the opening and closing verses of each book of the Written Torah (Tanach), as well as of each Parshah; the entire Book of Ruth; the opening and closing sections of each tractate of the Talmud; a list of the 613 mitzvot; and selected readings from the Zohar and other Kabbalistic works.
Wednesday, June 8 - Shavuos Day 1
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 11:30 am Reading of Ten Commandments
followed by dairy kiddush & Ice Cream Party
- The Torah reading for the 1st day of Shavuot is from Exodus 19-20, which recounts the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and includes the "Ten Commandments" proclaimed at Sinai that encapsulate the entire Torah. Links: The Shavuot Torah Readings; About the Ten Commandments.
- CHILDREN IN SHUL: The Lubavitcher Rebbe urged that all children -- including infants --should be brought to the synagogue on the 1st day of Shavuot to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments in re-enactment of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai. Our sages relate that when G-d came to give the Torah to the people of Israel, He asked for a guarantee that that they will not forsake it. "The heaven and the earth shall be our guarantors," said the Jews, but G-d replied that "they will not last forever." "Our fathers will guarantee it," said the people, but G-d said that "they are busy." It was only when we promised that "our children will guarantee it" that G-d agreed, "These are excellent guarantors." Link: Our Children, Our Selves
- It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot. Traditional Shavuot dairy foods include cheesecake and blintzes. Links Why we eat dairy foods on Shavuot; Shavuot recipes
- 8:00 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
- After 9:01 pm* Light Yom Tov Candles (Blessings)
* From a pre-existing flame.
Thursday, June 9 - Shavuos Day 2
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 11:30 am Yizkor Memorial Service
- Yizkor, the remembrance prayer for departed parents, is recited today after the morning reading of the Torah. Links: The Yizkor Prayer; Honor Due to Parents; On Breavement and Mourning
- 8:00 pm Mincha & Maariv Services | Weather permitting Kiddush Levana
- 9:02 pm Yom Tov Ends
- Once a month, as the moon waxes in the sky, we recite a special blessing called Kiddush Levanah, "the sanctification of the moon," praising the Creator for His wondrous work we call astronomy. Kiddush Levanah is recited after nightfall, usually on Saturday night. The blessing is concluded with songs and dancing, because our nation is likened to the moon—as it waxes and wanes, so have we throughout history. When we bless the moon, we renew our trust that very soon, the light of G‑d's presence will fill all the earth and our people will be redeemed from exile. Though Kiddush Levanah can be recited as early as three days after the moon's rebirth, the kabbalah tells us it is best to wait a full week, till the seventh of the month. Once 15 days have passed, the moon begins to wane once more and the season for saying the blessing has passed. Links: Brief Guide to Kiddush Levanah: Thank G‑d for the Moon! More articles on Kiddush Levanah from our knowledgebase.
See you on Shabbos and Shavuos!
Rabbi Chaim and Chanie