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ב"ה

Shul Bulletin

Chai Elul Farbrengen

Farbrengen for Men in Shul

Tuesday night
immediately after maariv (8:00 pm)

 in honor of Chai Elul

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Guest Speaker:
Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz
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Sandberg Shiva

Mrs. Berta Sandberg
is sitting shiva until Friday for the passing of her farther
Alter Shabse Dov ben Eliyahu Shneur Zalman ob"m

Address: 543 N Martel Ave
Times: 10-12 in the morning and 7-9 at night.

Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!  

Bikur Cholim: Mr‎. Zev Oster

Mr‎. Zev (William) Oster 
is in Brotman Medical Center in Century City
3828 Delmas Terrace, Culver City, CA 90232,
and is in need of daily visitors to give him chizuk
as well as help putting on Teffilin.
If you can help with this chesed
please contact Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127.

Thanks 

Chai Elul Farbrengen

Farbrengen for Men in Shul

Tuesday night
immediately after maariv (8:00 pm)

 in honor of Chai Elul

The Alter Rebbe543.gif

Guest Speaker:
Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz
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Bd"e: Levaya TODAY!!

With sadness we announce the passing of 
Alter Shabse Dov ben Eliyahu Shneur Zalman ob"m 
Father of Mrs. Berta Sandberg 

The levaya will be
Sunday, Elul 15/August 30, 3pm 
at Home of Peace Memorial Park
4334 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023

Shiva: 543 N Martel Ave 

Announcements - Ki Teitzei

  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!
  • Click here for information regarding this years membership and high holiday seats.
  • Mr. Mordechai Leaderman is sitting shiva until Thursday morning for the passing of his father Mr. Avrohom  Leaderman ob"m. Shacharis: 9 am. Mincha/Maariv: 7:05 pm. (Mincha Friday 4:30 pm) Address: 178 S Formosa Ave. Phone:(323) 868-0649. Email: [email protected].  Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom! 

Shabbos Schedule - Ki Teitzei

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:06
  • Chassidus, Starbucks and babysitting: 8:40-9:30 sharp @ 118 S Orange Dr.
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:38 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • NO Kol Yakov Yehuda for the summer :(
  • Shiur in the Halachos of Tishrei with Rabbi Raichik: 6:05 
  • Mincha: 7:05 pm
  • Pirkei Avos - Chapters 1-2
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:09 pm
  • Weekday minyonim for Mincha this coming week will start at 7pm

Sholom Zochor

Daniel and Michal Levin
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
9 pm at 719 S Highland Ave.

Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Teitzei

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Burston for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Chaim Burston’s mother Chaya Baila bas Reb Yaacov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s mother Chaya Leah bas Reb Yom Tov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shalom Ber Levine for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine’s mother Chaya Stera bas Reb Yisroel Boruch ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Zalman Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Zalman Roth’s mother Chaya Braina bas Reb Shlomo Mordechai ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Stroll in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Teitzei

  • Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Yisroel Feiner’s father Reb Moshe Menachem Mendel ben Reb Smaryahu ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Ki Teitzei

6:00 pm - At the home of Mrs. Ruchama Thaler
418 N Martel Ave.
Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman 

Mazal Tov To - Ki Teitzei

  • Mr. & Mrs.  Daniel Levin on the birth of their son.
  • Rabbi & Rebbetzen Shimon Raichik on the birth of their granddaughter (to Moshe and Riky Raichik.)

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Shloima Glabman - 16 Elul
  • Rabbi Shmuel Gurary - 16 Elul
  • Mendel Raichik - 17 Elul
  • Ben Tzion Yaakov Dovid Yachzel - 17 Elul
  • Rabbi Shmuel Stroll - 19 Elul
  • Yisroel Pinson - 19 Elul
  • Moshe Yaakov Berkowitz - 20 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Wolf - 15 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Naftoli Estulin - 15 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Langsam - 16 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin - 17 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Feiner - 17 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Pesach Kornreich - 18 Elul
  • Dr. & Mrs. Binyomin Kaplan - 19 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Elozor Fisch - 20 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Chaya Baila bas Reb Yaacov (Rabbi Chaim Burston’s mother) - 14 Elul
  • Chaya Stera bas Reb Yisroel Boruch (Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine’s mother) - 15 Elul
  • Reb Yosef ben Reb Efraim Nachman (Mrs. Sima Bart’s father) - 15 Elul
  • Chaya Leah bas Reb Yom Tov (Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s mother) - 16 Elul
  • Reb Moshe Menachem Mendel ben Reb Smaryahu (Mr. Yisroel Feiner’s father) - 19 Elul
  • Leah bas Reb Shimon (Dr. Penina Rivka Watstein’s mother) - 19 Elul
  • Reb Yechezkel ben Reb Nochum Yitzchok (Rabbi Nochum Pinson’s father) - 20 Elul
  • Reb Yisroel ben Reb Zalmen (Mr. Milton Goodman’s father) - 20 Elul
  • Chaya Braina bas Reb Shlomo Mordechai (Mr. Zalman Roth’s mother) - 20 Elul

Devar Torah - Ki Teitzei

Elul: A Truly Golden Opportunity 
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

An entire two weeks of the month of Elul has almost passed. Everyone is busy with the avodah according to themes of the month as explained in Chassidus. We are aware of ‘Melech b’sadeh’, that the King is in the field and that it’s a time for a cheshban hanefesh; it’s a time for a personal accounting in preparation for the new year. 

There are three common obstacles that we often confront at this time of the year. 

First, when we learn the Maamorim of Elul, we do not necessarily feel how the Maamor relates directly to us and the impact that it will have in our particular lives and circumstances. 

Secondly, we often ask ourselves whether or not we really have the necessary strength to overcome the challenges of our ingrained natures and habits. Can we really dislodge the inherent coarseness of our yetzer hara? 

Thirdly, after a week into the month of Elul, there are times that we feel that we have made a substantial effort to change and nonetheless have come face to face, once again, as we do in most years, with our own intransience. We feel that we just won’t change. We have become set in our ways. 

These are three common obstacles that we face in the month of Elul. 

With regard to the first obstacle; why the Maamorim do not seem to speak to us and address our particular situation, we need to ask ourselves the following question; are we really paying attention? Do we accept that the Maamorim really do speak to us but we need to shake off all of our preoccupations long enough to absorb the message that Chassidus is sending? 

Consider the following example. Before the revolution in Russia there was a highly defined class system. In transportation for example there were different well defined classes. First class was for the wealthy, the aristocrats and those in power, while the lower class was for the peasants. After the revolution everyone became equals and the peasant had a right to travel in first class. On one occasion a peasant entered a first class cabin and sat next to a wealthy aristocrat, a very civilized man. Once they embarked on their journey the peasant began to make good use of his time ‘organizing’ his personal belongings. While rummaging through his suitcase he began to air out his personal unclean laundry items, which created an intolerable aroma much to the horror of the wealthy aristocrat. Faced with this most pleasant turn of events, the man turned to the peasant with a soft kind voice and said; “Comrade, perhaps this is not the best place for these items”. The peasant did not even respond! The man tried again and again, always addressing him respectfully as “Sir,” and “My Friend”, still to no avail. The peasant did not even give the courtesy to acknowledge his very presence. With no other option the man called the train’s conductor for help. The conductor directly approached the peasant and with no hesitation began screaming at the peasant without any titles or courtesy at all. He said; “Animal!” The peasant immediately turned around and said; “Do you mean me?” The conductor responded; “Of course I meant you! Look at this disgusting mess you have created! Put your dirty laundry away immediately! Do you know that you are you are in first class, you cannot behave this way here. I’ll throw you out!” The peasant responded; “I did not know!” The conductor said; “What do you mean you didn’t know, can’t you see this man is trying to talk to you? Can’t you hear?” The peasant responded that he didn’t realize the civilized man was even talking to him. He really did not notice. He had never been spoken to in such a manner, it was not just like a foreign language to him, it wasn’t even language at all. So too it is with our neshama. The neshama journeys down into this world for a purpose. It is a yerida letzorich aliya- for the purpose of a greater ascent. The neshama goes into first class. At this point, the animal soul joins the neshama and sits together in the same cabin- the body. The animal soul doesn’t see, feel or sense Elokus- G-dliness. When the neshama sees the uncivilized nature of his animal soul, he begins to talk about Elokus to the animal soul, and explain how special Hashem is. The neshama doesn’t get through to the animal soul. So the neshama goes to the Rebbe, the conductor. The Alter Rebbe explains in Perek Chof Tes of Tanya that there are times that we need to scream at our animal soul, to wake him up. Then the animal soul realizes that the neshama is talking to him. We need to speak strong to the animal soul and then he will listen. 

A Chassid once asked the Rebbe Rashab for permission to translate certain parts of the Siddur into Yiddish during davening. This was in order for the Chassid to realize that the words mean him. 

Regarding the second challenge, how will we have the strength to overcome the yetzer hara, David Hamelech said; “Achas Sha’alti m’es Hashem”. In this time of Elul, the time of the revelation of the Yud Gimmel Middos Harachamim, the neshama calls out from the depths of his heart to Hashem. The neshama says; “I want to be with You Hashem in truth, with You, and only You”. From this calling out, all our taivos fall away. It is similar to the time that we call out the Shma and Hashem Hu Elokim at Neila. When we call to Hashem from this place, the Yetzer Hara cannot do anything. The Yetzer Hara has nothing to hold onto because our prayers are directed just to Hashem, not for any reward. Only then when have accomplished this do we follow through with all the details. “Shivti b’vais Hashem- to merit to dwell in Hashem’s house all of our life and to gaze on the pleasantness of Hashem” etc. This is how we overcome all obstacles, when Hashem is our only goal. 

In the third challenge, the yetzer hara tries to push us down and tell us that we will never be a success. As we learn in the beginning of this week’s parsha “Ki Tzesei”, that when go out to confront the enemy, we have the power; we are ‘al oyvecha’, we stand above our enemy. Everything that happens in the world is b’hashgacha pratis, and is a lesson in avodas Hashem. It is now at the end of the baseball season. There is a universal sportsmanlike attitude held by all professional athletes. When you're at the bottom of the ninth inning, it doesn’t matter if you are ahead by five runs or behind by seven you never give up. You maintain your focus on the game and take all possibilities seriously until the very last moment. Even in the last few minutes of the game the teams remains united and create a strategy to win. There isn’t player or team in baseball that says; “Last year we lost so this year will be the same.” Every year they are always striving for the pennant and to win the world series. Just like this is in gashmius in baseball, so too, this is in ruchnius, in our service of Hashem. In Elul Hashem is giving us an injection, which gives us the possibility that we can overcome our obstacles and be successful, regardless of the past. Although last year I may not have been successful, it doesn’t matter because this is a new year and there is a new possibility. The game is not over until it’s over. In Elul we have the ability to change and turn everything around. We just need to strategize and make a plan. The next move is ours. Hashem is giving us the opportunity.

Bd"e: Mr. Avrohom Leaderman

With sadness we announce the passing of 
Mr. Avrohom  Leaderman ob"m 
(Avrohom ben Mordechai Halevi)
Father of Mr. Mordechai Leaderman 

The levaya will be
Friday, Elul 13/August 28, 2pm 
at Hillside Memorial 6001 W Centinela Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90045

Shiva info will be posted soon

Nichum Aveilim - Haratz

Mr. Ariel Haratz
is sitting shiva in Venezuela until Thursday morning
for the passing of his father
Eliezer ben Yosef Haratz ob"m

Email [email protected]

Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!

Hachnosas Sefer Torah in memory of Chaya Spalter

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Announcements - Shoftim

  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!
  • Bikur Cholim: Mr‎. Zev Oster is in Brotman Medical Center in Century City - 3828 Delmas Terrace, Culver City, CA 90232, and is in need of daily visitors to give him chizuk as well as help putting on Teffilin. If you can help with this chesed please contact Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127. 
  • SUNDAY: Hachnosas Sefer Torah in memory of Chaya Spalter. Click here for more info.

Shabbos Schedule - Shoftim

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:14
  • Chassidus, Starbucks and babysitting: 8:40-9:30 sharp @ 118 S Orange Dr.
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:37 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • NO Kol Yakov Yehuda for the summer :(
  • Mesibas Shabbos For Girls: 4:30 pm
  • Pirkei Avos Shiur with Rabbi Raichik: 6:15 
  • Mincha: 7:15 pm
  • Pirkei Avos - Chapter 6
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:17 pm

Kiddush Sponsors - Shoftim

  • Mr. & Mrs. Yudi Schmukler in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. 
  • Mr. & Mrs. George (Asher Zelig) Weiss for the yahrtzeit of Mr. George Weiss' mother Yenta bas Elimelech ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Shoftim

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovi Gorelik for the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Nochum Zalman. May he give them much nachas and may he grow up to be a true chossid yirei shomaim and lamdan.

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Shoftim

6:15 pm - At the home of Mrs. Etty Bastomski
418 N Fuller Ave.
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

Mazal Tov To - Shoftim

  • Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner on the marriage of their daughter Bracha to Meir Cohen.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovi Gorelik on the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Nochum Zalman. Mazal tov to the grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner. 
  • Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky on the marriage of their daughter Aidle to Sholom Wilansky.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Shalom Rubashkin - 8 Elul
  • Moshe Dov Ber Stark - 8 Elul
  • Sholom Dov Ber Polityko - 8 Elul
  • Levi Gurary - 9 Elul
  • Rabbi Levi Zirkind - 9 Elul
  • Ezra Refoel Kaplan - 12 Elul
  • Mr. Aviv Topps - 13 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler - 7 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Tsikman - 8 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yehudah Schmukler - 9 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson - 10 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman - 10 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel - 11 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Yenta bas Elimelech (Mr. Meilach Weiss's grandmother) - 7 Elul
  • Amiram ben Avraham (Mrs. Ilanit Gluckowsky’s father) - 8 Elul

Devar Torah - Shoftim

Elul:
Reviewing and Renewing Our Marriage Contract with Hashem
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha of Shoftim begins with the mitzvah of setting up judges and law enforcement in all the gates of our cities. Chassidus explains that also in our service of Hashem these are the 7 gates of the body. Everyone has 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils and a mouth. We need the knowledge to best judge what to yes to and on what to say no. These are the judges that we place over our gates. Still, we may know a lot, and realize what is best but when it comes to implementation we lack resolve. We are reminded to have inner law enforcement; to arouse a strong will to follow through on our best decisions according to the Torah. Uniting this divide between what we know and how we act and getting the judges and law enforcement to work together as one is an essential lesson of the first pasuk of this week’s parsha.

This message is most timely because this week’s parsha falls in the month of Elul, a month of review and reconsideration of our knowledge and opinions that have (or have not) influenced our decisions and behavior in the past year. As we review, we make new resolutions to expand our knowledge base and add in all areas of Torah, avodah and gemilus chasadim. We also resolve to oversee the entire process and make sure that both the knowledge and the action come together and work well as one. This is how this first pasuk ends; “And they shall judge the people (with) Mishpat Tzedek, (righteous judgment)”. So too every one of us knows that our lives are respectable and honorable when we implement and integrate the Torah that we learn into our behavior throughout the year.

When it comes to each individual thought speech and action the Torah teaches us that every detail counts. So when the opportunity arises to hear a juicy piece of gossip, at that moment we are presented with an opportunity to realize that how we react right now makes all the difference. Hashem is waiting for a Jew to use his mouth for words of the Torah, davening and supporting each other with ahavas Yisroel. It’s a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week test. The yetzer hara tries it’s best to intervene. Its way of putting us down and getting us to be insensitive is familiar. It says; “You think everything you hear, see and speak makes a big difference? C’mon!”

I was amazed as a child when my father stood in shul davening late one Friday night after minyan with his fingers in his ears as the shul erupted in discussing a big fresh piece of lashon hara. Two people had an argument and one had hurt the other. My father didn’t go home but instead stayed in his place to complete the davening. That’s when I learned this lesson that every thought word and deed counts. Father went over to the accused person and implored him for his own well being to go back home. By doing this he most likely prevented a difficult confrontation. This lesson is fitting for Elul.

There is a story told about the Rebbe Rashab, that on one Simchas Torah night he was very late in joining hakafos. At one point he called over a certain businessman and asked him how he conducts his business. The man explained that he takes a loan and goes to the markets and buys product. He does business with the product throughout the year. Toward the end of the year he needs to buy new product but doesn’t have the capital. In order to build credit he begins to pay off his loan. When the bank sees that he’s paying his loan they extend his credit and he becomes eligible for a new loan. That’s what he does every year. After hearing the businessman’s description the Rebbe commented. This is the same way that we all prepare for Rosh Hashana. We are looking for a loan of brachos for the coming year of children, life and parnasah. When Elul arrives we realize that the end of the year is coming and we begin to “build up credit” by saying extra Tehillim, blowing shofar, increasing good deeds, giving tzedaka and reciting slichos. We continue this way, building credit, throughout Rosh Hashana, Eseres Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur right through Sukkos and Hoshana Rabba. On Simchas Torah we reach the sealing of the loan (the translation of the word loan in Hebrew is hakafa) at hakafos.   

The coming year is Shmita when all loans are cancelled. Just as we cancel loans below, so too Hashem cancels all of our debts. One might ask that down here we have a pruzbol, which allows Beis Din to hold the loan to be collected at a later date. So too on high perhaps our debts can be held over and not cancelled? The answer is that nevertheless we can go directly to the lender, not to the Beis Din! We can go above and beyond directly to Hashem by being unlimited in our own behavior.  We can daven, learn and give tzedaka without limit. By reaching out to Hashem without limits, Hashem too goes beyond the Beis Din and cancels our debts and gives us new credit.

Some say that it sounds difficult to do, to be unlimited. That’s because we don’t start with everything, we begin with one small turn, one small change or improvement. From there we begin to make a cheshbon, an accounting of all the 7 gates; our eyes, our ears, our nose and our mouth. We take practical and concrete steps in the right direction. By reviewing and renewing on our end, symbolized in the words in the Elul acronym; Ani L’Dodi, we merit the renewal of the marriage contract with Hashem, and merit to have Hashem be with us “V’Dodi Li” throughout the year.

May we merit that this year be the final cancellation of all debts and may we merit the consummation of everlasting marriage contract we have with Hashem with the geula ha’amitis v’hashleima.

A Good Shabbos

Devar Torah - Re’eh

Closing Down the Rumor Factory
in Preparation for Rosh Hashana
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week's parsha, Re'eh begins with advice of Biblical proportion. Hashem tells us to see that He has placed before us both a blessing and a curse. We have a choice to bring the blessing when we listen to and follow the mitzvos. This parsha always falls near the beginning of the month of Elul, a month when we evaluate our personal service of Hashem. The theme of parsha’s Re’eh is a message to each one of us to ask ourselves as we make our personal accounting if we use the energy that Hashem provides for a blessing.

Of all of Hashem's creations man's unique feature is the power of speech. Man has an ability to build or to destroy with the way he speaks as it says; "Life and death is in the power of speech”. We have the essential encouragement from this week's parsha not to misuse the precious resource of speech, to choose life by using speech only for the good, and not the opposite.

Today we live within a world dominated by social media; Facebook, twitter, messaging a myriad of ways to communicate and publicize our thoughts and feelings. At times we may not even realize the ripple effect that one comment can make. We might innocently make a comment to a friend and not think anyone else paid attention. Aside from the inherent power of any word spoken in this world, we can actually see how a single utterance can travel from one end of the world to the other instantaneously on social media.

The Torah is very specific setting clear guidelines as to what constitutes the standard of proof for what can be considered a fact. The Torah states that judges should seek and investigate, VERY WELL, before establishing what the facts are and reaching judgments. The bar is set high because the stakes are so high. One inaccuracy could have tragic and irreversible results that could last generations! Slander and gossip are the exact opposite. They are based on innuendo and rumor; there is no burden of proof. One careless rumor or misplaced comment can destroy someone’s life or career, whether the individual is innocent or guilty. Not just that, often there is collateral damage be it innocent families, colleagues or associates, all from a single comment coming from and unsubstantiated source. Misuse of speech is even more severe than the stone-throwers of Mea Shaarim on Shabbos!

In a sicha from this week’s parsha on the signs of what makes an animal kosher, the Rebbe explains the sign of "chewing the cud" and it's spiritual lesson. Through this kosher sign we are being taught to emulate this characteristic in our lives by re-examining and rethinking things that we think we already know. This sign serves as a warning not to simply digest everything that enters through the mouth as true. Instead we can and should mull it over, perhaps again and again before drawing a conclusion. A 'kosher' person doesn't spontaneously act and speak before thoughtful consideration of the facts if they are the facts at all. Even when we are certain, we don't act impulsively. We consider all the possible effects and repercussions that our actions will bring. We ask ourselves first if perhaps we are acting out of frustration or outrage. Maybe we mean very well to help right an injustice, or bring healing to victim. Still, even if the injustice is clear and irrefutable, we could nevertheless be furthering the harm, not the good by the approach we take. So we ask yet again; will my reaction fix the situation or actually add fuel to the fire? The litmus test for this process is found in the beginning of this week’s parsha; the outcome must be a blessing, and that is my responsibility as a kosher person. We cannot nor will ever be able to control or undo the choices of others and the damage caused, but we are all responsible to react in a way that makes the best of what can be done from this point forward. Lost for now are the days of the Great Sanhedrin and the Urim vTumim (may we witness it's return immediately!). We do not have the cities of refuge and the social structures in place to properly adjudicate many of the difficulties and challenges we face in our communities. Many are convinced that social activism is the way forward. I respect the care they have for the unfortunate victims and agree with the dire need for their protection. At the same time we must be vigilant that the choices made to help the innocent don’t cause irreversible collateral damage.

Every one of us can be influential. In Pirkei Avos we are taught to judge every single person favorably and to be to patient in judgment. One must have a favorable opinion about everyone long before we even think about judging him. In a sharp Sicha for Elul the Rebbe spoke clearly about the importance of having ahavas Yisroel and only speaking positive of others during the month of Elul. The month of Elul is a month of preparation for Rosh Hashana. Therefore Elul is a time to support each other and build each other up with positive thoughts and kind words, as it says in Shmona Esrei; "Barcheinu Avinu kulanu k'echod, Bless us our Father all as one" which can be read as; the blessing of Hashem our Father comes when we are all one. And then we will have; "V'yehi b'Yeshurun Melech, Hashem our King will dwell in our midst" on Rosh Hashana.

When we take the time to look at everyone as a member of our own family we view the entire picture from all sides. When we look at the afflicted and the innocent along with the others as if he or she was our own brother or sister, we will try to do all that we can, thinking and re-thinking through the best response to pursue justice with patience together to find a better way to address all that are involved.  

Yes, it’s painful but we picture ourselves standing in front of the Rebbe when we write our words and spread our message. Is what we are doing fit with what Chassidus teaches us; that we are all one family?

As the parshas begins with both the blessing and the opposite, nevertheless our service of Hashem is to focus solely on; “Es Habracha, asher tishmau”, to separate the bracha from the opposite. This means that our entire goal, our entire intention is that everything that we do and say is only to hear the word of Hashem and to uphold the Word of Hashem. Through taking the time and having the patience to treat others as our own brethren may we merit going forth together as one to greet Moshiach Now.

A Good Shabbos and a Good Chodesh

Announcements - Re’eh

  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!
  • SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, 8 Elul/August 23, Hachnosas Sefer Torah in memory of Chaya Spalter. Click here for more info.

Shabbos Schedule - Re’eh

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:23
  • Chassidus, Starbucks and babysitting: 8:40-9:30 sharp @ 118 S Orange Dr.
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:35 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
    Start saying L’Dovid Hashem Ori by Shacharis
  • NO Kol Yakov Yehuda for the summer :(
  • Mesibas Shabbos For Girls: 4:30 pm
  • Pirkei Avos Shiur with Rabbi Raichik: 6:20 
  • Mincha: 7:20 pm
  • Pirkei Avos - Chapter 5
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:26 pm

Kiddush Sponsors - Re’eh

  • The Bastomski Family in honor of their mother Mrs. Freida Bastomski’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Aron Grunfeld for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Avrohom Aron Grunfeld’s father Reb Moshe Yaakov ben Reb Aron ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Sender Munitz’s father Reb Yisroel Meir ben Reb Alexsender Sender ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Stroll for all the kindness Hashem has shown their family. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
  • The Wilansky & Raigorodsky Families in honor of the ufruf of Sholom Wilansky. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Re’eh

  • Mr. & Mrs. Yossi Wachtel for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Yossi Wachtel’s brother Reb Pinchas Eliyahu ben Reb Grshon ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

TWO Shabbos Kalla's

Bracha Feiner & Aidle Raigorodsky
Invite all women to their Shabbos Kalla 
5:30 pm at 305 S McCadden Pl.
Speaker: Mrs. Devorah Kreiman

Mazal Tov To - Re’eh

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Binyomin Kaplan on the marriage of their daughter Mushka to Mendy Drihem.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Meilach Weiss on the marriage of their daughter Rachel to Yehuda Netkin.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Wolf on the marriage of their daughter Zisi to Mandel Zirkind.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Zakkai Hanania Shusterman - 1 Elul
  • Mr. Yossi Palace - 1 Elul
  • Rabbi Chaim Drizin - 1 Elul
  • Menachem Mendel Davidson - 1 Elul
  • Yisrael Shusterman - 1 Elul
  • Yona Israeli - 3 Elul
  • Yechiel Dovid Yonah Friedman - 5 Elul
  • Rabbi Benyomin Hoffman - 6 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yoel Edelson - 30 Av
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Benyomin Hoffman - 3 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Richard Rosenbloom - 4 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff - 5 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Asher Bastomski - 5 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Raigorodsky - 6 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Yaakov ben Reb Chaim (Mr. Chaim Lerner’s father) - 30 Av
  • Musa bas Reb Yehoshua Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Tibor’s mother) - 30 Av
  • Mrs. Ruchama Spiegel - 30 Av
  • Reb Refoel ben Reb Yitzchok (Mr. Avrohom Plotkin’s brother) - 1 Elul
  • Reb Moshe Yaakov ben Reb Aron (Mr. Avrohom Aron Grunfeld’s father) - 1 Elul
  • Sima Baila bas Reb Avrohom (Rabbi Yoel Edelson’s mother) - 3 Elul
  • Reb Yisroel Meir ben Reb Alexsender Sender (Rabbi Sender Munitz’s father) - 4 Elul

Community Hafrashas Challah

Tomorrow, Friday, rosh chodesh Elul, a very auspicious day, 
there will be a hafrashas challah at 10:00 am 
at the Schmukler home - 601 N Citrus. 

Come daven for anything
and may our powerful collective "אמן" open up the gates of revealed brochos! 

Chabad Chodesh - Elul

The New issue of the "Chabad Chodesh"   
is now available online by clicking here

Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Announcements - Eikev

  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!
  • Summer camp for Boys and Girls Ages 3-5. Wednesday, July 22- Wednesday, August 12. Click here for more info.
  • SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, 8 Elul/August 23, Hachnosas Sefer Torah in memory of Chaya Spalter. Click here for more info.

Shabbos Schedule - Eikev

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:30 pm
  • Shabbos Mevorchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
  • Followed by a Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik
  • Thillim Club: 9:00 am 
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:33 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Shacharis: 10:15 am
  • NO Kol Yakov Yehuda in the Summer :(
  • Mesibas Shabbos For Girls (in KYY) 4:30 pm
  • Pirei Avos Shiur with Rabbi Raichik: 6:30 pm
  • Mincha: 7:30 pm
  • Pirkei Avos - Chapter 4
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:33 pm
  • Molad for Chodesh Elul: Friday, Av 29/August 17, 1:13 pm and 7 Chalokim.
  • Rosh Chodesh Elul: Shabbos & Sunday, August 14 & 15.

Sholom Zochor & Bris

Yisroel & Nechama Munitz
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 321 N Alta Vista Blvd.

The Bris will iy"h take place Shabbos afternoon
1:00 pm at Shaarei tefila - 7269 Beverly Blvd.
Followed by a kiddush upstairs at Glazer Lounge  

Kiddush Sponsors - Eikev

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s mother Ratza Liba bas Reb Chaim and grandfather Reb Mannis ben Reb Yitzchak Leib Halevi ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Klyne for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s mother Esther Leah bas Reb Shmuel Tuvia ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. Also for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Suri Klyne’s mother Rebbitzen Leah bas Reb Avrohom Abele Hachohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • The Raichik Family for the yahrtzeit of their mother Rebbitzen Leah bas Reb Avrohom Abele Hachohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Zalmen Roth in honor of Mrs. Esther Roth’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yudi Schmukler for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown their family. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Joel Yachzel in honor of Mr. Joel Yachzel’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Eikev

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Levi Raichik's mother Rebbitzen Leah bas Reb Avrohom Abele Hachohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Menachem Rubinstein in honor of Mrs. Chavi Rubinstein’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 

THREE Shabbos Kalla's

Zisi Wolf
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla 
12:30 to 2 pm at Maayan Yisroel 140 N La Brea Ave.

Mushka Kaplan
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla
5:30 pm at home of Mrs. Fruma Schapiro - 829 N Detroit St.

Rochel Weiss
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla 
6:00 pm at her home - 411 N Martel Ave.
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht 

Mazal Tov To - Eikev

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Munitz on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Yerachmiel Soto on the marriage.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Tzvi Boyarsky - 24 Av
  • Rabbi David Diamand - 24 Av
  • Meir Rubashkin - 25 Av
  • Menachem Mendel Perl - 26 Av
  • Mr. Joel Yachzel - 26 Av
  • Rabbi Mendel Dubinsky - 27 Av
  • Eliezer Meir Tzvi Winograd - 29 Av
  • Mr. Pinchas Hirsch - 29 Av
  • Menachem Mendel Thaler - 29 Av
  • Menachem Mendel Rubashkin - 29 Av
  • Yitzchok Meyer Davidson - 22 Av

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmy Fogelman - 24 Av
  • Mr. & Mrs. Levi Nagel - 29 Av

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Rebbitzen Leah bas Reb Avrohom Abele Hachohen Raichik- 24 Av
  • Chana Priva bas Reb Alter Yehoshua (Mrs. Leah Perl’s mother) - 24 Av
  • Reb Mannis ben Reb Yitzchak Leib Halevi (Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s grandfather) - 26 Av
  • Ratza Liba bas Reb Chaim (Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s mother) - 28 Av
  • Esther Leah bas Reb Shmuel Tuvia (Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s mother) - 29 Av

Devar Torah - Eikev

We are Bound Together by Our Goal
to Win Without Compromise
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is parshas Eikev. The parsha’s first words, “V’haya Eikev Tishma’un- Because you hearken to these laws” refers (according to Rashi) to doing mitzvos that people often trample under their eikev, their heels. If we keep even these mitzvos, Hashem promises that he will keep the covenant and the kindness that he promised the Avos.

The Torah is telling us to be equally diligent with all of Hashem’s mitzvos. We cannot do less with the mitzvos that seem less significant to our finite minds. Sometimes we can have a cavalier attitude about what we consider minor mitzvos. We dichotomize between mitzvos that the Torah says carry a severe punishment to those that don’t. We are careful not to violate the Shabbos or eat on Yom Kippur but we are inconsistent on the fine details of minor mitzvos. We might tell ourselves that if we do it fine, if not it’s also ok. The truth is we need to view every mitzvah just like chametz on Pesach. Mitzvos are the will of Hashem and connect us with Hashem and in this all mitzvos are the same. 

There were two Chassidim of Kotzk that learned together day and night. Once on an Erev Pesach one of them said to the other: “We cannot learn today, we have to prepare for supper”.  Another time on an Erev Yom Kippur one of them said to the other: “We have to stop learning now, we need to prepare for Maariv”. His friends asked him why was he calling the Pesach Seder supper. After all it’s Pesach, its not just any day. And calling Kol Nidrei, achas b’shana Maariv? How could he speak in such a way about such lofty moments of the year? He answered that in Kotzk a Wednesday night Maariv is like Kol Nidrei and every meal is like a Pesach Seder. That’s the lesson of parshas Eikev, every detail, every day and every aspect shares an essential part. They all connect us to the one and only Hashem with an eternal bond.

This past Wednesday was the 20th of Av the Yartzeit of the Rebbe’s father, HaRav Levi Yitzchok, OBM. For Rav Levik small things were big, often giant, and he did not bend. He went against a major regime and did not compromise even on small details. Nowadays we live in an era of compromise. Some think about compromising by wearing a small size yarmulke instead of a regular size yarmulke or by wearing tzitzis on the inside instead of the outside of their garments. Others think about trimming their beard or whether they really have to show up every day to Mincha-Maariv. Some think about how strict they need to be about tznius. They tell themselves that it’s not such a big deal. It’s not Yom Kippur and it’s not  the Pesach Seder. For Rav Levik OBM every day was Pesach and every day was Yom Kippur. All the details mattered.

We see this same approach by the Rebbe whether it was the amendment to the law of return that requires conversion according to Halacha known as Mihu Yehudi, not trading land for peace or the mivtza of Geula and Moshiach. According to the Rebbe there is no compromise and every person and every detail plays an essential role in the fulfillment of these goals. The entire argument the Rebbe made on not trading land for peace was based on one simple Halacha. Others complained about being too outspoken about the Camp David accords. The Rebbe was unwavering and said that we cannot sell the land because we are afraid to loose funding for building Yeshivos. When the Rebbe was outspoken about a Chief Rabbinic appointment in Israel he was threatened that if he continued to speak out Chabad would loose their Tefillin booth at the Kosel. The Rebbe continued to speak out unabated and unwavering. The same holds true for the issue of Mihu Yehudi and Inyaonei Geula and Moshiach.

Today we stand at a perilous crossroads with regard to the deal with Iran and once again the Jewish people are placed in the middle and once again we are divided. The choice seems to be between fear and strength. Some fear that the Jewish people in general and Israel in particular will be blamed if the deal doesn’t work out. They fear becoming isolated and ostracized even more by the international community. They fear that our relationship with the United States will be weakened. Even the President of Israel voiced these concerns and called them “deeply troubling”.  In a world already awash with instability and with radical Islam and terrorism on the march, this only adds fuel to the fear and concern. The stakes are very high indeed and people become weakened by the magnitude of the problem and veer toward compromise. We know that weakness breeds weakness and one compromise inevitably leads to yet another.

Let’s be clear about this. During the Holocaust 300-500 Rabbis made a protest and a march on Washington on behalf of their brothers and sisters in Nazi controlled Europe. There were those who said not to pay attention to them and to focus instead on the war effort. They were against diverting warplanes (even though they were in the general vicinity) to bomb the train tracks leading into Treblinka and Auschwitz. They said this because they were afraid of appearing as having dual loyalties.

In 1965 I was by a fabrengen when the Rebbe spoke about Sandy Koufax choosing not to pitch at the World Series when it fell out on Yom Kippur.  There was a lot of pressure placed on him to play, at least part of the day. The Rebbe spoke about how Sandy Koufax refused to play for the entire day. The Rebbe focused on that one action and it’s greatness. Sandy Koufax made a statement that “I am a Jew”, even at the cost of power, money and prestige. No pressure was able to sway him from identifying as a Jew, and a Jew doesn’t play on Yom Kippur. So too with each and every mitzvah that we do, every mitzvah comes from Hashem, do we have the courage to stand up and be counted?

There is a quote about baseball from Sandy Koufax that also applies to our situation today and about being dedicated the goal of bringing Moshiach without compromise. The quote reads as follows. “There is among us a far closer relationship that the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we are bound together not only by a single interest but by a common goal. To win. Nothing else matters, and nothing else will do.” By being united and by staying the course we will reach the goal of bringing Moshiach. A Good Shabbos. A Good Chodesh.

Friday: Hachnosas Sefer Torah

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