Blood has been spilled, rockets are flying over Tel Aviv, 40,000 reservists have been called up.... the situation seems helpless and hopeless. What can we do? What can we do HERE in Houston? A mitzvah, a G-dly deed, has the power to reach deep into the core of our being—where we are all one, and the physical distance between us is of no consequence. At this core, a positive deed on our part will help bring salvation to a brother and sister in distress. Click herefor practical suggestions for mitzvahs that you can do.
In family news...
- On Sunday, we had a great family day outing to Franklin, Texas to feed the animals at a very cute safari... Click here for the video clip...
- Mendel is at overnight camp! Send him a message, and make his day! To send an email to Mendel, go towww.cgidetroit.com, click on "register now", user name: mendellazaroff, password: guest
Today is the 12th of Tammuz. On this date in 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. Tammuz 12-13 is celebrated as a "festival of liberation" by the Chabad-Lubavitch community. Tammuz 12 is also Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's birthday.
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.
This Tuesday, July 15, is the Tammuz 17 fast day, devoted to mourning the breaching of Jerusalem's walls and the other tragic events that occurred on this day and repenting and rectifying their causes. We refrain from all food and drink from "daybreak" at 5:09 am (in Houston) until nightfall, 8:51 pm (in Houston). Special prayers and Torah readings are added to the day's services.
The 17th of Tammuz also marks the beginning of The Three Weeks period of mourning which culminates on the 9th of Av, commemorating the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people. Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or prescribed. The Lubavitcher Rebbe urged that the Three Weeks should be a time of increased giving of charity and Torah study (in keeping with the verse (Isaiah 1:27), "Zion shall be redeemed by law, and her returnees by charity"), particularly the study of those portions of Torah that deal with the laws and the deeper significance of the Holy Temple. Links: TheThreeWeeks.com,Some Laws and Customs of the Three Weeks, About Holy Temple
July 4th was Rabbi Chaim's birthDATE. But. this coming Wednesday night and Thursday, July 17, is 19 Tammuz, Rabbi Chaim's Jewish, his real birthday.
- It is customary to get an aliya on the Shabbos before one's birthday. As summer travels has many absent, please let us know if we can count on you for a minyan.
- The Wed. night dinner, class & social for (men & women) young professionals will cover the topic of birthdays. Event on Facebook.
- As is customary among Chabad Chasidim, I will be making a birthday "farbrengen" (FOR MEN) in honor of my birthday on Thursday evening, 19 Tammuz, at my home at 4311 Bettis beginning at about 9 p.m, (after the Thursday evening Tanya class at 8). I fully understand if your schedule does not allow you to attend. Please let me know if you can make it. (For more about celebrating birthdays read: What is a Jewish Birthday?
and related articles there on the right).
Five Sisters: The Story of Tzelafchad’s Daughters
“Why should our father’s name be eliminated from his family because he had no sons? Give us a landholding among our father’s brothers!” more...
Shabbos Parshas Pinchas
Friday, July 11
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 8:07 pm
Shabbos, July 12
Chassidus study at 9 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush
Mincha at 8:10 pm
Ethics of our Fathers Ch. 6
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 9:05 pm
Living Torah
Have a good Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie