Rabbi Chaim "Got a little bit of Moses" baking Pesach Matzah with Mendel and friends... Check out the video
and our Pesach service schedule at www.chabaduptown.org/pesachschedule
Education and Sharing Day Houston
Mayor Sylvester Turner has proclaimed today, April 7, 2017, to be Education and Sharing Day in Houston. This follows an American tradition of proclaiming the Rebbe’s birthday, 11 Nissan, as a day of reflection and commitment to the values of education and good deeds in the United States. Every US President since 1978 has made this annual proclamation for Education and Sharing Day, USA.
This is a tribute to the Rebbe's life long efforts and advocacy for the betterment of education for American youth. The Rebbe emphasized that education should not be limited to the acquisition of wisdom and pursuit of a career, but rather, the education system must focus primarily on building good character and ethics.
Why is it that the Rebbe’s life and vision is summed up by the virtue of education? His contributions to Jewish life were vast, larger than life. So, why the emphasis on education?
On Monday evening we will all sit down by the Seder table to celebrate Pesach - the Festival of Freedom. The Seder was designed with the intention of quipping the child’s curiosity, bringing about the realization that this night is different from all other nights. After the child unabashedly expresses puzzlement with the goings on by asking the Ma Nishtana, the parent is obligated to respond by explaining the dynamics of that historic event in our history.
Even if there are no children at the table – the genre of the story remains the same: Educational. Geared to engage the innocence of youth and a sensory experience throughout. At the Seder we are all teachers and students.
The message of education pulses through the theme of the entire festival. The freedom granted to us over three millennia ago was the opportunity to educate. I am not referring to literacy and mathematics, of which the Jews had a thriving educational system during the two centuries of Egyptian slavery.
However, it was an education devoid of meaning and purpose, steeped in the local cultural swamp of idolatry and the promotion of self.
The Exodus was not merely a correction of a terrible wrong, rather an urgent call to allow a nation to realize their full potential. The opportunity to transcend the self and connect with the divine. We were not granted a vacation from harsh labor, rather we were empowered to accomplish a loftier mission.
In our generation the Rebbe emphasized that we are all teachers. To bring the awareness of G-d to every corner of the globe and to empower all of humanity to achieve their full potential in bringing more goodness and kindness to our world.
Please join us in observing Education and Sharing Day by reflecting on the fact that educating others is not only for professional teachers. The Rebbe often quoted the Chassidic saying, “If you know Aleph, teach Aleph!” Today, reach deep inside and find the “Aleph” that will be meaningful to someone else.
Register today for the Friday, April 28 Community Shabbaton with David Nesenoff at www.chabaduptown.org/shabbaton
Mazal tov Chen & Tali Bublil on the birth of a baby boy!
Shabbos Hagadol, Parshas Tzav
Friday, April 7
Services at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:26 pm
Shabbos, April 8
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by light pre-Pesach Shabbos Kiddush
Mincha at 7:25 pm
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:21 pm
Living Torah
Sunday, April 9
Shacharis at 8:30 am
(No BLT breakfast, in preparation for Pesach)
Chometz Removal
(see Chametz Wizard, laws or Pesach A-Z)
Sunday, April 9
- Sell Your Chometz, now! Do not wait for the last minute!
Click here to sell online.
- After 8:10 pm Formal Search for Chometz
Monday, April 10 (see laws or Pesach A-Z)
- 5:43 am Firstborn Fast Begins
- 6:45 am Shacharis
- 7:30 am Siyum Ceremony for Firstborns
- Before 11:14 am Finish eating Chametz
- Before 12:18 pm Finish burning Chametz
Passover I & II Services & Candle Lighting
(see The Seder, laws or Pesach A-Z)
Monday, April 10, 2017
- Before 7:28 pm Light Shabbos & Yom Tov Candles ( Blessings 2 & 4)
- 7:30 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
Followed by our signature Uptown Pesach Seder - RSVP required
Tuesday, April 11
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 7:30 pm Mincha & Maariv Services (Begin to Count Omer)
Followed by our signature Uptown Pesach Seder - RSVP required
- After 8:23 pm Light Yom Tov Candles (Blessings 2 & 4)
Wednesday, April 12
- 10:00 am Morning Services (Shacharit)
- 7:30 pm Mincha & Maariv Services
- 8:23 pm Yom Tov Ends
April 13-16 Intermediate days - No Teffilin Required
Have a good Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie