Many have asked if we will be opening Chabad of Uptown today as part of Phase 1 of the reopening of State of Texas. You may have seen the letter of Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff on behalf of all Chabad facilities across the state. Briefly, no, we are not opening at this time. At the next phase we will assess and consider the reality then and determine at that time what to do. I have included the letter below the schedule in case you missed it. For now, please join our virtual programs, stay home, safe and healthy!
We have daily Shacharis and four classes every week to join, as listed below, as well as a fun Lag B'omer program planned for Monday, May 11 at 8:30 pm - Lag B'omer Stories, Songs & S'mores. chabaduptown.org/liveclass.
Thank you to all of our YJP volunteers showing compassion and delivering First Fridays Shabbat-to-go sponsored by Yocheved Shwarzman in memory and marking the 5 Iyar fourth yartzeit of her husband, Yitzchak ben Asher Zelig, a"h. Thank you to all of our Shabbat-to-Go sponsors! Shmuel & Michelle Amber, Jose & Viviane Cohen, Marissa Finkelman, Jason Fischer, Andrew & Elyse Goldstein, Amanda Gross, Maria Itkin, Yosef Kerzner, Elina Shtreyzman & John Weinberg.
It is wonderful to see so many of you as you stop by my new front porch office to chat. JHV actually did a front page feature of the "Porch Rabbi". Cute dog! :)
Many have fallen ill and many have died during this time period of coronavirus. Whether from the virus or otherwise, it has placed a strain on the families as they try to observe shiva mourning in this time of social distancing. The Shluchim & Shluchos Chabad emissaries of Texas now mourn the loss of a fifth parent in the matter a few weeks. We mourn the loss of my grandmother Guta Schapiro, mother to Rebbetzin Chiena Lazaroff; Rabbi Asher Zelig Gottlieb, father of Mrs. Malky Schmukler of League City; Rochel Yehudis Charytan, mother of Mrs. Leah Blecher of The Woodlands; Rabbi Chaim Osher Kahanov, father Mrs. Rivkie Block of S. Antonio and this week Rabbi Moshe Zaklikofsky, father Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky of Bellaire. Yes, I knew each of these people (and many more) personally in various ways. It makes this time so surreal and painful to absorb.
I want to share a note about Rabbi Moshe Zaklikofsky for whom shiva is now being observed. For seven years, I was in Yeshivah in Oak Park, Michigan seeing Rabbi Z, (as we so affectionately called him), almost every day. I have spent considerable time looking through thousands of pictures in my albums. Almost every Rabbi appears in the center of the scenes in these pictures. Yet, I could not find the beloved Rabbi Z. It then dawned on me that Rabbi Z. was so humble he was always in the background, never pushing himself to the front, nor allowing anyone to honor him with front row status. However, the discerning eye of communal affairs can see his fingerprints on everything that was going on. How appropriate his shiva is observed during sefiras haomer, when we examine our own character traits of compassion with humility. Rabbi Z. was a complete personification of this. Yehi zichro baruch, may his memory be for a blessing.
As we complete a complete first week of Iyar, may the acronym for healing it represents of Ani Hashem Rofecha, I am Hashem your healer, come to fruition to heal and keep healthy one and all. We look forward to a time when we can all gather together again and celebrate!
Have a good Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
Mazel tov Flavio & Leila Nisenbaum on the birth of their first granddaughter!
PARSHA: Who Was Itamar?
We first read of Itamar’s role when we are told of sums of gold, silver and other supplies that were used to build and furnish the Mishkan more…
SHABBOS PARSHAS ACHAREI KEDOSHIM
FRIDAY, IYAR 7 - MAY 1
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at home at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:41 pm
Shema and Count Omer 23 after 8:25 pm
SHABBOS, IYAR 8 - MAY 2
Shacharis at home at 10:00 am
Latest Morning Shema at 9:56 am
Latest Shacharis at 11:04 am
Read Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim
Mincha at 7:40 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 3
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:38 pm
Count Omer 24
Kiddush Levana
Living Torah #14 at www.70years.com
WEEKDAY VIRTUAL CHABAD
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass
DAILY
Shacharis at 8:15 am
TUESDAY
12:00 pm - Parsha Class
WEDNESDAY
8 PM YJP CLASS - May 6: The Sacred Hair of the Jewish Woman
- Origins of the Mitzvah and Kabbala of hair in Judaism, especially related to the sanctity of the hair of Jewish women.
THURSDAY
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law (Moral & Ethical Rules a Person Should Adopt)
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha (The Mitzvah to Appoint a King)
STATEMENT REGARDING REOPENING CHABAD OF TEXAS FACILITIES
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Iyar 6, 5780
Dear Texas Jewish Community and Friends,
Many weeks have passed since we began sheltering in place. Although we are physically isolated from one another, we remain spiritually and virtually connected.
Although everyone is eager to resume a normal shul routine, we must take careful steps and weigh any move towards reopening against the safek pikuach nefesh (possible danger to life) that these decisions represent.
Therefore, during the first phase of Gov. Abbott’s Strike Force to Open Texas that begins Friday, May 1, the 30 facilities of the Chabad centers of Texas will remain closed for on-site services, classes, and programs. As each county begins to assess the numbers during the phases of reopening, which according to the governor’s plan will not be before May 18, we will be in a better position to determine when and how services can resume.
Meanwhile, there are many online and virtual programs, including special programming marking Lag B’omer, being offered by Chabad centers throughout Texas. We encourage you to take advantage of your community leaders' creative activities and join virtually as we connect to each other and celebrate together.
We look forward to the day when we can once again gather in asking G-d A-lmighty to heal and protect all mankind and to express our gratitude for all those who have been healed and those who are healthy. Indeed, the current month of Iyar is referred to as the month of healing, as reflected in its name whose letters form an acronym for the phrase “Ani Hashem Rofecha (I am G-d, your Healer.)”
On behalf of the 102 Shluchim and Shluchos leading the Jewish communities and Chabad Centers of the great State of Texas, we extend blessings for only good news and continued health, wealth and time to enjoy it,
Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff
Chabad-Lubavitch Texas Regional Director