I just got a dollar from the Rebbe

Last Friday, I got my dollar from the Rebbe. 

Moshe Raichman was in town from Israel for the funeral and shiva of his 100 year old grandmother. Jet-lagged, he rummaged through his bedroom dressers of his youth and chanced upon a dollar that somehow got to his possession that the Rebbe gave me on Sunday, 26 Shevat, 5751 (1991). I vividly remember making those trips to NY with my Yeshivah from Detroit, especially the first trip I joined marking 40 years of the Rebbe's leadership in 1990. 

This year, I made a quick trip to NY with Levi, marking #70years of leadership of #TheRebbe. The energy of the chassidim young and old were just like I recall in the 40 years celebratory year. Among it all, a friend sent me a picture I have not seen in a very long time of the gathering of Maariv of that year in 1990. I remember how suddenly the room quieted as the Rebbe was about to speak. From where I was in the huge room, I could not see. I quickly scaled the pole and held on for the entire talk, while the Rebbe opened up the sicha with the words that has forever been etched in my mind ..ויהי בארבעים שנה, Vayehi Barbaim Shana, "When reaching forty years"...

Levi and I visited the Ohel, Crown Heights and happened upon various Farbrengens until 3 am.... The next morning we went for Shacharis, morning services, at 770 joined one of the hundred of minyanim that happens every couple minutes. Levi was honored to read from the Torah as hundred leaned in to hear. This is just a few feet away from where the Rebbe assumed leadership 70 years ago with a handful of excited chassidim and made his famous mission statement of loving every Jew unconditionally. Just a few feet away from the very pole I scaled 30 years ago that has energized me with the Rebbe's message every day. In the very same shul with thousands of Chassidim as vibrant as ever in 2020 as they were in 1950.

Among the many locals and visitors were not only a myriad of ages, also a myriad of people with disabilities. That California guy with an extreme stutter, that takes him 45 seconds to be able to tell you his name, is dancing in the circle and hanging with the rest of the guys; that French guy has been paralyzed since birth has a bench moved over for him so he can sit with his wheelchair by the table of the farbrengen; the Israeli fellow wrapping his tefillin with the help of a friend, has a cluster of cognitive and motor disabilities; that grandson in NY from Yeshivah is taking time away from his friends to help his grandfather walk to a seat so he can write his letter to visit the Ohel; that NY teenager has unfortunately had a mental health crisis and talks to himself while mindlessly wandering the shul, a friend and a total stranger offers him a snack from the farbrengen. All are accommodated by their peers. Everyone is embraced. All under one roof. All one family of chassidim. Everyone is included. #70years of leadership, 70 years of love for one's fellow.

This weekend is "ShabbaTTogether," an international Shabbat of inclusion. Every Jew is part of the Jewish community, and every Jew belongs in Shul. At Chabad of Uptown we will be hosting and partnering with local agencies for two important events! It's not too late to register!

➠ ShabbatTTogether FCYA First Fridays - YJP Houston with Friendship Circle of Houston
➠ Mental Health First Aid - Uptown with Jewish Family Service of Houston!
➠ You may also want to check out our newest section of our website on Mental Health & Wellness - www.chabaduptown.org/mentalhealth

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS:

• Fri., Feb. 7, 6:30 pm - ShabbaTTogether FCYA First Fridays: Celebrate a special edition of "First Fridays" - Shabbat Dinner - together with Young Adults with disabilities for an evening of fun, camaraderie and integration as part of a Global Shabbat of Disability Inclusion.
• Sun., Feb. 9, 9:30 am - Mental Health First Aid - Obtain skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use. Includes and a user manual to take home. FREE FOR YOU - a $100 value! Qualifies for 8 CEU credits for social work (LMSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT).
• Mon., Feb. 10, 7 pm LADIES - JWC Tu B'Shvat Floral Workshop & Social - Join the Jewish Women's Circle for a Tu B'Shevat celebration to create your own floral arrangement under the professional guidance of Mitra from River Oaks Plant House, Gain insight into the relevance of the "New Year for the Trees" and Enjoy drinks and Tu B'Shevat themed refreshments $18 per person RSVP required A joint project of Chabad of Montrose and Chabad of Uptown

SAVE THE DATES!:

• Mon. March 9, 8 pm - Purim Eve and Roaring 20s with YJP Houston
• Tues. March 10, 6:30 pm - Purim in the Wild West community party

Shabbos Shira Parshas Beshalach

Friday, February 7
Candle Lighting and Mincha at 5:46 pm
Torah Study
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:30 pm
RSVP for FCYA First Fridays Shabbat Dinner www.yjphouston.org/shabbattogether

Shabbos, February 8
Chassidus at 9:00 am
Services at 10 am
Followed by Shabbos Lunch Kiddush
Mincha at 5:45 pm
Torah Study
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 6:41 pm
Living Torah Video Program (15 min.)

Sunday, February 9 - Shacharis at 8:30 am followed the real BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin

Have a good Shabbos!

Rabbi Chaim & Chanie