So often, education is viewed as studying a subject for the purpose of mastering it. To gain a skill. To get a degree. To further a career.
In Judaism, education goes far beyond study for the purpose of making a better living. It’s to make a better life. For yourself. For your community. For society as a whole.
This happens when you view each experience in your life as a teaching moment for yourself. How can this make me a better person? How can this better the people around me?
The Rebbe dedicated endless amounts of time and energy to promoting the value of education. The Rebbe felt that education in the school system needs to put a greater focus on promoting fundamental human rights and the obligation of justice and morality that we owe the world.
In recognition of the Rebbe’s efforts on promoting education, every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter in 1978, has dedicated the Rebbe’s birthday as Education Day USA - a day dedicated to honoring the value and importance that education plays in our world.
That's the true meaning of Chinuch and has been the focus this week for our CONNECT10N campaign, 10 ways to own your Judaism. Couple that with today being Rosh Chodesh Elul it is surely a time to consider the introspection this would take to think about what I am doing about the true meaning of education.
Here is this week's class by Rabbi Chaim about Chinuch = Education = WATCH
Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul and starts the countdown o the Jewish New Year.
Thursday, September 10, 7:30 PM: Ladies Virtual Honey Cake Bake - RSVP to get an ingredient kit!
High Holiday Services - Registration required
Rosh Hashanah: September 18-20
Yom Kippur: September 27-28
Sukkot: October 2-9
Simchat Torah: October 9-11
Elul Observances: As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionally a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness, it is a most opportune time for teshuvah, prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzahs checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use. Links: More on Elul
Good Year Greetings: From the beginning of Elul and throughout the High Holiday season, we include the blessing "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year" (Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim) in letters and greetings to one another. Links: Bless You!
Great progress has been made in the construction of the Uptown Plaza! Can you help the progress to help pay for it? www.chabaduptown.org/pavetheway
We had a great blood drive yesterday! With 22 successful donors, 25 units collected... That means 75 lives have been saved!
We express our sincere condolences to the Lipski family on the untimely passing of their brother, husband and father, Aharon ben Zev Halevi, a"h, Lipski.
SHABBOS PARSHAS SHOFTIM
Friday, Elul 1 - August 21
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:30 pm
Candle Lighting at 7:38 pm
Evening Shema after 8:21 pm
Shabbos, Elul 2 - August 22
Shacharis at 10:00 am
Latest Morning Shema at 10:07 am
Mincha at 7:35 pm
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 6
Maariv, Havdalla & Shabbos Ends at 8:31 pm
Living Torah #30 at www.70years.com
Sunday, Elul 3 - August 23
8:30 am Shacharis, followed by Elul Shofar sounding
VIRTUAL CLASSES
www.chabaduptown.org/liveclass
Tuesday
12:00 pm - Parsha Class
Wednesday
8 PM YJP CLASS
Thursday
12:00 pm - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Jewish Law
8:00 pm - Chassidus - Derech Mitzvosecha