A week of intense Pesach preparation is behind us.... Marred, however, with the horrible news coming from Toulouse France where a father, his two children and another child were murdered in cold blood - just for being Jews. Posted on our website, Mrs. Eva Sandler has sent out a "Call from the Heart" to kiss your children, learn Torah, light Shabbos candles and invite one more person to your seder. As we enter the month of Nisan this Shabbos, the "month of redemption" we hope and pray to be siting at our first seder, this year in Jerusalem, in a peaceful world with the ultimate redemption, through the coming of Moshiach, now! (Articles, reflections, news and more in our online magazine: www.chabaduptown.org/magazine).
The RSVP deadline for the seders is tomorrow, this Friday. Please let us know if you will be joining us for the seder - we would love to have you! Complete schedule, RSVP links and links to everything you need to know about Pesach are at www.chabaduptown.org/seder.
This Shabbos we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Alyssa Karchmer with a special service in her honor on Friday night. Mazel tov to Jeff and Deborah and the entire Karchmer family on this special milestone! Chabad of Uptown will be hosting the Shabbos dinner for her family and Chabad Hebrew School classmates.
Mazel tov goes as well to Chanie on last night's engagement of her sister, Mushkie Galperin to Rabbi Yossi Bendet of Minnesota! Many of you have met Mushkie who was in Houston numerous times to help the operations at Chabad of Uptown for holidays and the Torah celebration. May we only share simchas!
This Shabbos we read from three Torah portions, (alas, we only have two Torahs - much better then only one :)) with readings in Parshas Vayikra, Hachodesh and Rosh Chodesh. Triple wammo, home run! You don't want to miss this! :)
On the Shabbat that falls on or before the 1st of Nissan, a special reading called "Hachodesh" (Exodus 12:1-20) is added to the regular Shabbat Torah reading. Hachodesh recounts G-d's historic communication to Moses in Egypt on the 1st of Nissan (2 weeks before the Exodus) regarding theJewish calendar, the month of Nissan and the Passover offering.vLinks: The Reading for Hachodesh; From the teachings of the Chassidic masters on Hachodesh; About the Jewish calendar; Haftorah in a Nutshell.
Today is Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") for the month of Nissan. Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavoprayer is added to the Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said (when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted. Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar. Links: The 29th Day; The Lunar Files
A special mitzvah, which can be fulfilled only once a year, is to recite the berachah("blessing" or prayer) made upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom: Blessed are you G-d our G-d, king of the universe, who left nothing lacking in His world, and created within it good creatures and good trees with which He gives pleasure to people. Today is the first opportunity to make this blessing, but it can be done anytime during the month of Nissan (referred to by the Torah as "the month of spring" ). Many visit botanical gardens during this time, so as to avail themselves of an opportunity to observe this beautiful mitzvah. Link: Trees
Beginning today, and continuing through Nissan 13, we recite the verses (from Numbers ch. 7) describing the offerings made by the "princes" (nesi'im) of the 12 tribes of Israel (see " Mishkan inaugurated"). Today we read of the gift bought by Nachshon ben Aminadav, the nasi of the tribe of Judah, on this date. Tomorrow we read of Issachar's gift, and so on for the 12 tribes. On the 13th of Nissan we read G-d's instructions to Aaron regarding the kindling of the menorah, which represents the participation of the priestly tribe of Levi. Following the verses of the day's "Nasi," we recite a short prayer in which we say, "...if I, Your servant, am from the tribe of ___ whose section of the Nasi I have read today in Your Torah, may all the holy sparks and holy illuminations that are included within the holiness of this tribe shine upon me, to grant me understanding and intelligence in Your Torah and my awe of You, to do Your will all the days of my life...." Text of today's Nasi in Hebrew and English. Links: Tribes.
Shabbos Parshas Vayikra, Hachodesh and Rosh Chodesh
Friday, March 23
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:17 pm
Shabbos, March 24
Chassidus Study at 9: 00 am
Shacharis at 10 am
Readings of Vayikra, Hachodesh, Rosh Chodesh
Followed by celebratory Kiddush and Farbrengen
Mincha at 7:20 pm
Laws of Pesach
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos Ends at 8:11 pm
Living Torah
Sunday, March 25
BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9:30 am
See ya on Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim, Chanie & Clan
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