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ב"ה

Shul Bulletin

Announcements - Ki Tavo

  • Click here for the KYY newsletter. 
  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!
  • SUNDAY:  Masbia Program. The shul kitchen will be open from 7am till 12pm. All foods are fine, including Milchig, Fleishig, Pareve, fruits, vegetables, frozen, canned and packed foods. All except foods cooked at home. Please note: If you can send proteins such as- chicken, meat, fish, and cheeses, it would be tremendously beneficial to these families. For your convenience, if you prefer having the food picked up from your front porch, please text 323-710-9954. Pick up time will be between 10am and 11:30am.  
  • Message from Rabbi Raichik: As was my father’s yearly custom to bring the Panim of the Los Angeles community to the Rebbe, I will be leaving to the Ohel Wednesday morning (25 Elul/Sep 5), bringing along the Panim of our community. If you would like to send a pan with me, please give it to me or put it in my mailbox by Tuesday night. I will not be reading your panim, I will bl"n try to tear each one as the custom is. Wishing you and your family a good and healthy year!  

Shabbos Schedule - Ki Tavo

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:01 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:38 am
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:39 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • NO Kol Yaakov Yehuda during the summer :(((
  • Mincha: 6:30 pm - Followed by Avos - Perokim 3-4
    Followed by GRAND SIYUM HARAMBAM - Sholosh Seudos
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:04 pm
  • Slichos: 1:am 

Sholom Zochor - Ki Tavo

Dovi & Chani Goldman
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 231 S Orange Dr.

Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Tavo

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Noteh Berger for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Noteh Berger’s father Reb Mordechai Yosef Shimon ben Reb Yerachmiel Menachem ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi Tzvi Burston in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Dubinsky for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Mendel Dubinsky’s son Reb Dovid Yonah ben Reb Menachem Mendel Hokohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • The Raichik & Klyne Families for the 10th yahrtzeit of Reb Yosef Yitzchok ben Harav Menachem Shmuel Dovid Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. Also, for the yahrtzeit of their grandmother Liba Devora bas Harav Chaim Shmaya Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Stroll for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s father Reb Yehuda ben Reb Tzvi Hirsch ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. Also, in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Tavo

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Alon Asefovitz in honor of the birth of their daughter Bryna Luba. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim. Also, in honor of Chai Elul. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Goldman in honor of Rabbi Levi Goldman’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tzirel Goldman’s father Reb Yisroel Issar ben Reb Dovber ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp in honor of the birthdays of Mrs. Barbara Zipp and Mr. Josh Zipp. May they have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Shabbos Kalla - Ki Tavo

Chaya Mushka Cunin
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla
5:30 at 128 N Mansfield. 

Mazal Tov To - Ki Tavo

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovi Goldman on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Tzvi Burston - 21 Elul
  • Rabbi Moshe Hackner - 21 Elul
  • Dovid Moshe Klein - 23 Elul
  • Yosef Yitzchok Raeburn - 26 Elul
  • Mr. Josh Zipp - 26 Elul
  • Mendel Rav~Noy - 26 Elul
  • Mr. Richard Rosenbloom - 27 Elul
  • Rabbi Levi Goldman - 27 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Ben Tzion Novack - 21 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Leib Lerner - 21 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Pollard - 21 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Yeshaya Ratner - 23 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Mottel Polityko - 24 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yankee Raichik - 26 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Ita bas Reb Aharon (Dr. Bassya Pinson’s mother) - 21 Elul
  • Reb Yosef Yitzchok ben Harav Menachem Shmuel Dovid Halevi Raichik - 21 Elul
  • Reb Dovid Yonah ben Reb Menachem Mendel Hokohen (Rabbi Mendel Dubinsky’s son) - 22 Elul
  • Reb Avraham Zelig ben Reb Tzvi Hersh (Mr. Isser Goldstein’s brother) - 24 Elul
  • Reb Yisroel Issar ben Reb Dovber (Mrs. Tzirel Goldman’s father) - 24 Elul
  • Reb Mordechai Leib ben Reb Avrohom (Rabbi Yoel Edelson’s father) - 26 Elul
  • Reb Meir Eliezer ben Reb Chaim Yehuda (Rabbi Zalman Schmukler’s father) - 27 Elul
  • Reb Mordechai Yosef Shimon ben Reb Yerachmiel Menachem (Rabbi Noteh Berger’s father) - 27 Elul
  • Reb Yehuda ben Reb Tzvi Hirsch (Rabbi Shmuel Stroll’s father) - 27 Elul

Devar Torah - Ki Tavo

We have committed Ahavas Yisroel to memory;
in Elul let’s commit it to Life!

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week the Torah portion of Ki Tavo begins with the mitzvah of bikkurim. This past week we also observed Chai Elul, the birthdays of the Baal Shem Tov (born in the year ‘Nachas’ 5458-1698) and the Alter Rebbe (born in the year ‘Kehos’ 5505-1748).

Chassidus places Ahavas Yisroel as it’s primary focus as explained in detail in the 32nd Chapter (known as the lev which equals 32, the heart of the Tanya) of the Tanya. What does having true Ahavas Yisroel mean and how do we best live and act with true Ahavas Yisroel according to Chassidus? After all we all have such different personalities and perspectives. Feeling unified and bonded as true brethren in thought speech and deed can seem a challenge, especially in the tumultuous times we live today. The Tanya explains how this is possible by highlighting the difference between the soul and the body. If we care about another person because of their outward appearance or their greatness in learning etc.,  then we have not achieved true Ahavas Yisroel. True Ahavas Yisroel is when we love our fellow Jew simply because he's a Jew who is a chelek Elokai m’ma’al, a G-dly spark, and for no other reason. This is what the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe revealed, that the essence of the Jew is his or her neshama.

The mitzvah of bikkurim  was performed in a very elaborate and public manner. The mitzvah is an opportunity to express our simcha and gratitude to Hashem for providing us with the first fruits. We only began performing this mitzvah in it's very elaborate and public form after 14 years after entering the land of Israel (after the seven years of conquering and the seven years of settling the land). Why did we wait so long? Some of the Jews received their property before that time and surely they were required to thank Hashem for their first fruits. So why didn't someone bring his first fruits and express his simcha and his gratitude before Hashem in the 8th or 9th year if they had first fruits? The answer is that a Jew cannot be completely happy with all of the fanfare, ceremony and publicity when there is even one Jew that is without his portion and not settled in the land. Even Though the mitzvah is a personal obligation, and was probably carried out in some fashion of thanking Hashem, nevertheless it was not done it it’s full and elaborate celebration until after the 14th year. Although the mitzvah was after the period between Shavuos and Sukkos the time of simcha when all the fruits were gathered, so that we should rejoice with all the goodness that we received, nevertheless the simcha is not complete, and had to wait until after  everyone had their portion, and then there could be full and complete rejoicing. This is what true Ahavas Yisroel requires.

The Rebbe required us to focus on Ahavas and Achdus Yisroel as a prerequisite to bringing the geula. The Tanya came out in two editions. What we have today is the second edition. In the first edition there was no chapter 32 (which as mentioned above the Rebbe calls the lev of the Tanya), only in the second edition. The Rebbe once mentioned that the Maamar Lecha Dodi in Likutei Torah, commonly learned in the month of Elul is found on page 32 of Likutei Torah, hinting to us that the lev, the heart of Likutei Torah (as well as a connection with the 32nd Chapter of the Tanya) is to be found within this Maamar. We learn this Maamar and do the teshuva of Elul with a heart full of Ahavas Yisroel in preparation for Rosh Hashana, then our preparations are successful.

The Hayom Yom for the 16th of Elul states: “The Alter Rebbe interpreted the statement, "Whoever saves a single person of (the people) Israel is as though he saved an entire world": One must perceive a Jew as he stands in the primordial thought of Adam Kadmon. There, each soul stands with all the generations destined to descend from it until the coming of Moshiach, the righteous Redeemer. When one does a favor to an individual, it is a favor to all those souls until the end of all generations.

By doing our preparations for Rosh Hashana in the month of Elul with a heart of Ahavas Yisroel may we immediately merit the revelation of Moshiach and merit to hear the shofar of Moshiach this Rosh Hashana.

A Good Shabbos

Farbrengen for men tonight

Farbrengen for men tonight after maariv - in honor of Chai Elul

Guest Speaker: Rabbi Eli Freedman - Shliach in Calabasas 

Announcements - Ki Teitzei

  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!

Shabbos Schedule - Ki Teitzei

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:10 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:38 am
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • NO Kol Yaakov Yehuda during the summer :(((
  • Rabbi Raichik's Shiur in Pirkei Avos: 6:10 pm
  • Mincha: 7:10 pm - Followed by Avos - Perokim 1-2
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:13 pm

Sholom Zochor - Ki Teitzei

Yosef and Chaya Avtzon
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
9:30 in shul

Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Teitzei

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Sima Bart’s father Reb Yosef ben Reb Efraim Nachman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • 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.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together. Also, for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Simcha Frankel’s grandmother Chana bas Reb Meir 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.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Teitzei

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmaya Altein in honor of the birth of their daughter Raizel. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Liberow in honor of Rabbi Levi Liberow’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. 

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Ki Teitzei

6:15 at the home of Mrs. Etty Bastomski
418 N Fuller
Speaker: Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz 

Mazal Tov To - Ki Teitzei

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Avtzon on the birth of their son. Mazal tov to the great-grandfather the Rosh Yeshiva and to the entire family.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart o the birth of their granddaughter (to Shmaya & Chayale Altein.)

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Shmuel Gurary - 16 Elul
  • Shloima Glabman - 16 Elul
  • Ben Tzion Yaakov Dovid Yachzel - 17 Elul
  • Mendel Raichik - 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
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Feiner - 17 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin - 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
  • Reb Yosef ben Reb Efraim Nachman (Mrs. Sima Bart’s father) - 15 Elul
  • Chaya Stera bas Reb Yisroel Boruch (Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine’s mother) - 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 Yisroel ben Reb Zalmen (Mr. Milton Goodman’s father) - 20 Elul
  • Chaya Braina bas Reb Shlomo Mordechai (Mr. Zalman Roth’s mother) - 20 Elul
  • Reb Yechezkel ben Reb Nochum Yitzchok (Rabbi Nochum Pinson’s father) - 20 Elul

Devar Torah - Ki Teitzei

Go forth a Conqueror and Win great Victories!

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

In this week’s parsha of Ki Teitzei the Torah speaks about two types of war; obligatory war and optional war. What is the difference between the two? Obligatory wars refer to wars required to conquer Eretz Yisroel of to fight against Amalek. Optional wars are conducted to expand the boundaries of Eretz Yisroel. We are told in this week’s parsha that when we venture out on an optional war that we will be successful. We will be “al oyveicha” meaning victorious, above our enemies. Hashem will place the enemy in our hands and we will take them as captives.

What does this Torah portion teach us today in our daily service of Hashem?  An obligatory war refers to keeping the basics of Judaism. It refers to our obligation to fulfill the mitzvos. It also includes the obligations of conduct in the world as we go about making a living and raising our families. We are obligated to be involved for the sake of Heaven and to know Hashem in all of our ways.

An optional war refers to going out of our personal and insular boundaries, meaning our religious environment, and going out into the world to lift up others and bring the world closer to Hashem. Why would we or why should we do such a thing? The world is such a lowly place and seemingly so distant from having a receptive aptitude towards Hashem, the Torah and Judaism. Why bother? The answer is because the entire world belongs to Hashem and Hashem wants a dwelling place down here, specifically in the most lowly places, not only within the frum community. His glory is over the entire world. When we go out and help in the world on many levels; by creating educational and religious institutions for everyone, by doing mivtzoyim and teaching the Torah and by doing deeds of goodness and kindness we accomplish this mission. Conducting an optional war is not a job reserved for Shluchim alone. The Rebbe said that we are all Shluchim! We are all partners in completing the purpose of creation by waging optional wars and being successful.

The obvious question that many ask is; how can we possibly get involved directly and intimately with the lowliness of this world without getting swallowed up into the swamp of worldly pleasures and interests. We need humility to realize that it's not us rather it is Hashem that gives us the necessary power to succeed in our mission.

Ashreinu, how fortunate we are that we have a Rebbe that feels that Hashem really wants Moshiach and to have a dwelling place in this world.

Through our connection to the Rebbe and by the following of the Rebbe’s guidance we have the ability to exercise our option to bring Moshiach now.

A Good Shabbos

Announcements - Shoftim

  • KYY NEWSLETTER IS BACK. Click here for this week's KYY newsletter. 
  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!

Shabbos Schedule - Shoftim

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:19 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:36 am
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • NO Kol Yaakov Yehuda during the summer :(((
  • Rabbi Raichik's Shiur in Pirkei Avos: 6:20 pm
  • Mincha: 7:20 pm - Followed by Avos - Perek 6
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:22 pm

Kiddush Sponsors - Shoftim

  • Rabbi & Dr. Mordechai Leaderman for the yahrtzeit Rabbi Mordechai Leaderman's father Reb Avrohom Volf ben Reb Yona Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yudi Schmukler in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Tsikman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Shoftim

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Sender Munitz’s father Reb Yisroel Meir ben Reb Alexsender Sende ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Shabbos Kalla - Shoftim

Yitty Wolf
Invites all women to her Shabbos Kalla
12 pm at Maayon Yisroel

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Shoftim

6:30 at the home of Mrs. Ruchama Thaler
126 N Sycamore
Speaker: Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman

Mazal Tov To - Shoftim

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Notte Gross on the marriage of their son Mendel to Avigayil Deveroli. 
  • The Nassy Family on the engagement Ephraim to Ellie Epstein.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik on the marriage of their daughter Sara to Moshe Dov Hershberg. 

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Sholom DovBer Polityko - 8 Elul
  • Moshe Stark - 8 Elul
  • Ezra Kaplan - 12 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler - 7 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Velvel Tsikman - 8 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yudi Schmukler - 9 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson - 10 Elul
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman - 10 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel - 11 Elul
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Schneerson - 13 Elul

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Avrohom Volf ben Reb Yona Halevi (Rabbi Mordechai Leaderman's father) - 12 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.   

Some say that it sounds difficult to do, 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 the consummation of everlasting marriage contract we have with Hashem with the geula ha’amitis v’hashleima.

A Good Shabbos

TODAY: SIYUM SEFER TORAH

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Announcements - Re'eh

  • Click here for this week's Lmaan Yishmeu publication.
  • Click here for this week’s JEM “Here’s My Story”. 
  • Click here for a list of our ongoing shiurim. 
  • Click here to pay up all your building fund, kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!
  • SUNDAY: Hachnasas Sefer Torah to YOEC by the Raigorodsky Family. Click Here for more info

Shabbos Schedule - Re'eh

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:27 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:34 am
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • NO Kol Yaakov Yehuda during the summer :(((
  • Rabbi Raichik's Shiur in Pirkei Avos: 6:25 pm
  • Mincha: 7:25 pm - Followed by Avos - Perek 5
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:30 pm

Kiddush Sponsors - Re'eh

  • 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.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Asher Bastomski in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Ariel Haratz for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Ariel Haratz’s father Reb Eliezer ben Reb Yosef ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
    Also, in honor of Mrs. Marci Kaufman’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
    Also, in honor of the birth of their granddaughter Rosa Bracha. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Re'eh

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Raigorodsky in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Ari Kaufman in honor of the birth of their daughter Rosa Bracha. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Re'eh

6:30 at the home of Mrs. Chani Pinson
453 N Martel
Speaker: Mrs. Devora Kreiman

Mazal Tov To - Re'eh

  • Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Feiner on the birth of their granddaughter (to Meir & Bracha Cohen.)
  • Mr. & Mrs. Ari Kaufman on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Hertzie Richler on the marriage of their daughter Dassie to Chagai Meffi.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on the birth of their grandson (to Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Sosover.)

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Menachem Mendel Davidson - 1 Elul
  • Levi Bart - 1 Elul
  • Rabbi Chaim Drizin - 1 Elul
  • Rabbi Benyomin Hoffman - 6 Elul

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yoel Edelson - 30 Av
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Avrahom Mentz - 1 Elul
  • 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

  • Musa bas Reb Yehoshua Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Tibor’s mother) - 30 Av
  • Reb Yaakov ben Reb Chaim (Mr. Chaim Lerner’s father) - 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
  • Reb Eliezer ben Reb Yosef (Mr. Ariel Haratz’s father) - 5 Elul  
  • Yehudis bas Reb Shalom (Mr. Moshe Kaszirer’s mother) - 6 Elul

Devar Torah - Re'eh

Stop Sleepwalking through Life 
by Joining in on the Avodah of Elul!

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This Shabbos is the first day of Elul. Elul, being the month last month of the year, is a time for making an accounting for the entire past year. The Rebbe explains the process of taking stock with an example in the Hayom Yom for the 27th of Menachem Av: “The month of Elul is the month of reckoning. In the material world, if a businessman is to conduct his affairs properly and with great profit, he must periodically take an accounting and correct any deficiencies. This is also true in the spiritual avoda of serving Hashem. Throughout the year all of Israel are occupied with Torah, mitzvos and (developing and expressing) good character traits. The month of Elul is the month of reckoning. It’s a time when every Jew, each commensurate with his abilities, whether scholar or businessman, needs to make an accurate accounting in his soul including everything that occurred in the course of the year. Through this he comes to know the good qualities in his service of Hashem so that he can strengthen them. He also becomes aware of the deficiencies in himself and in his service, and is able to correct them. Through this good preparation, one merits a good and sweet year, materially and spiritually.”

Elul is a month of teshuva. In order to awaken us to engage in a process of teshuva the custom is to blow the shofar every day throughout the month. The goal of the shofar is to awaken us from our state of spiritual slumber. Most people define the word teshuva to mean repentance. Chassidus explains that teshuva means to return, go back to where we belong and to reveal who we really are. This is the truest and deepest meaning of teshuva. To do this we need to hear the call of the shofar. The shofar reminds us to wake up because we have forgotten who we really are and what we can be either completely or to some extent. We wake up to the need to make an accounting for this. When we do we can change and return to our true nature. But we can only begin once we have awoken. We cannot do it sleepwalking! Just as every morning we first wake up and the say Modei Ani, we cannot say it while we are still sleeping! This is also true with our service in the month of Elul. We first need to wake up and then we can get back on track.

Last week we spoke about the concept of personal responsibility and accepting the sovereignty of Hashem (kabolas ol). This does not mean that we are some kind of separate being that accepts Hashem as an authority outside and infinitely removed. We also feel that we are a portion of Hashem (Chelek Hashem Amo), and through that connection we achieve our purpose, our truest selves. Just as anyone who suffers from addiction and eventually goes into recovery and returns to his or her original health, so too we recover when we do teshuva and we return to our true state and our true potential. Re-cover means to ‘remove the cover’. From the beginning of Elul until the day of Yom Kippur is a 40-day recovery program. The gates are open and the King is waiting with open arms to welcome us back.

There's a story told about Reb Mendel from the years that he was in the Gulag. One day he noticed a follow prisoner didn’t look well. Another prisoner approached the man and asked him what was bothering him. He responded by saying that once he was a great doctor. He wasn’t just any doctor; he was the director of a very large hospital, which had many departments. He said; “People were constantly coming to me for all kinds of advice and guidance. Then they arrested me and threw me into this prison. Now look at me, and what has become of me; my life has no value.” Another one of the prisoners overheard the conversation and approached with his story. He said; I was the lead attorney of a large law firm. I was responsible for litigating some of the most famous and important cases in recent history. He then sighed and said “Look at me today and where I am.” Another man approached to say that high ranked Natchalnik who wielded a lot of authority and of whom everyone was afraid. One day the NKVD arrested him and now he is the prisoner, in the place he put so many of his victims. “Now look at me” he said. They then all turned to Reb Mendel to see what he would say. Reb Mendel said: “I never lost anything. Before I came I was a servant of G-d, 24 hours a day seven days a week. It is different now because before it was easier and now it's harder, but I never lost anything. I’ll still the exact same servant who still needs to serve 24 hours a day seven days a week.”

Hashem waits for us to begin our recovery. He’s waiting for us to return to him and to give us good sweet year materially and spiritually.

A Good Shabbos A Good Chodesh

Meal schedule for the Kaufman family

Mazal Tov Kaufman family upon your new baby girl ! Congratulations to the whole extended family.

A meal schedule has been created using TakeThemAMeal.com
If you would like to sign up, you can access the meal schedule by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please let me know! Thanks,
Inna Goldshtein-Michal Levin
3107380092
[email protected]

Chabad Chodesh - Elul

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

Reminder: Masbia Program

Dear shul member

We'd like to remind everyone that this Sunday is the Masbia Program.

The shul kitchen will be open from 7am till 12pm. 

All foods are fine, including Milchig, Fleishig, Pareve, fruits, vegetables, frozen, canned and packed foods. All except foods cooked at home.

Please note: If you can send proteins such as- chicken, meat, fish, and cheeses, it would be tremendously beneficial to these families.

For your convenience, if you prefer having the food picked up from your front porch, please text 323-710-9954. Pick up time will be between 10am and 11:30am. 

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