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ב"ה

Shul Bulletin

Announcements - Vayakhel

  • 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!!
  • Message from Pesach Betzalel ben Perel: If you've heard a rumor about my health, please listen up for clarification. 
    It's true that there's a diagnosis of acute yana makla of the marrow, but turns out upon further examination it's holding at last testing at, if not minimal, at worst, not life threatening, thank the abishter thank the Rebbe and thank you all for your tefillas and brochas.
    Please keep up the good work and, with help from above, we'll share the bsuras tovas and greet Melech ha Moshiach immediately.  Have a super Shabbos🤝🥂l'chaim 
  • 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.  

Shabbos Schedule - Vayakhel

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:31 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:12 am
  • Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
  • Followed by the Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik.
  • Thillim Club: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Shacharis: 10:15 am
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
  • Mincha: 5:30 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:34 pm
  • Father & Son Learning: 7:30-8:15 pm
  • Molad Chodesh Adar-2: Wednesday, Adar-I 29/March 6, 12:41 pm & 16 chalakim..
  • Rosh Chodesh Adar-2: Thursday & Friday, March 7 & 8.

Kiddush Sponsors - Vayakhel

  • Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s father Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef ob”m and Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s sister Alya bas Reb Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • The Fishman Family for the yahrtzeit of Rab Moshe Boruch ben Reb Yaakov Fishman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Vayakhel

  • Mrs. Bassie Levine in honor of the Sheva Brochos for  her son Mendel and his wife Devorie. May they be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s mother Leah bas Reb Yaakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Vayakhel

4:45 at Zeifman's 421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

Mazal Tov To - Vayakhel

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Lipsker on the engagement of their son Moishe to Yardena Schachna. Mazal tov to the grandparents Dr. & Mrs. Dauer.
  • The Nassy Family on the engagement of their son Avraham Rachel Goldzweig.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Mendel Duchman - 25 Adar I
  • Mr. Ari Kaufman - 25 Adar I
  • Rabbi Velvel Tsikman - 26 Adar I
  • Yitzchak Menashe Stark - 1 Adar II

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Morris - 25 Adar I
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Gurary - 28 Adar I
  • Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Leib Ehrlich - 1 Adar II

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Yosef ben (Mrs. Leah Perl’s father) - 25 Adar I
  • Reb Tzvi ben Reb Naftoli Elimelech (Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s grandfather) - 26 Adar I
  • Reb Aba ben Reb Yoel Halevi (Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine’s father) - 26 Adar I
  • Rab Moshe Boruch ben Reb Yaakov Fishman - 27 Adar
  • Bracha Gittel bas Reb Shaltiel Ze'ev (Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s mother) - 27 Adar I
  • Reb Lipman ben Reb Nochum (Mrs. Rivky Raichik’s grandfather) - 28 Adar I
  • Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef (Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s father) - 28 Adar I
  • Leah bas Reb Yaakov (Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s mother) - 28 Adar I
  • Reb Dovid ben Reb Meir Yechiel Yehuda (Mrs. Rivky Raichik’s grandfather) - 28 Adar I

Devar Torah - Vayakhel

Unity of Klal Yisroel - Vayakhel - Shkolim

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This year, the parshios of Vayakel and Pikudei are read separately. Vayakel and Pikudei were read separately 27 years ago in 5752-1992, also a leap year, the last Shabbos that we merited to hear Sichos from the Rebbe.

The Rebbe explained that the Torah portions of Vayakel and Pikudei represent two different types of service of Hashem. Parshas Vayakel symbolizes the general, all encompassing aspect of Yiddishkeit, the Mishkon in general, while Pikudei enumerates each item individually. In Vayakel, Moshe Rabbenu sums up the total of all the contributions to the building of the Mishkon as a whole while in Pikudei they are broken down into separate units and counted individually.

Reading Vayakel alone, without Pikudei places greater emphasis on the importance of unity in general, and the unity of Hashem and of Israel, that we can and must bring to our lives and into the world. It is only when we gather together in unity that we are then able to build a Mishkon for Hashem.  This is also parshas shkolim every Jew gave a half of a shekel to make him whole he needs another yid.

This is true in our private lives and our life in the home as well. We need to make a Mishkon out of our life by using our mind and heart, our thought speech and action, our hands and feet, all together as one in the service of Hashem.  We also need to gather our families together. On Yud Shevat 5734-1974, the Rebbe spoke about how in today’s families each person has a different school and a different shul, and how important it is that on Shabbos we should gather around the Shabbos table.  By gathering together, Vayakel, as one unit, as one family, each person gets the strength to complete his or her purpose in the days ahead.

This is also true in our yeshivos and community. Sure there are many different levels, like the different parts of the Mashkon in parshas Pikudei, but we are all part of a greater unit that encompasses all of us, so that together we are one Mishkon for Hashem, as explained in parshas Vayakel.

When we are all together, this helps us as individuals to do our part in an even greater measure. Every Jew is a Ben and a Bas Melech, this is reflected in the way that we eat and sleep and dress. In Chabad we are also like the Marines, with a unique mission and responsibility to the world at large. So too within our community, there are many different types of people; there are shluchim, mechanchim, those in charge of mosdos, businessmen and baalei batim. Not everyone is a shliach, a teacher, or is running a mosad. A bachur needs to feel that yeshiva gives him the strength to be a good chassidishe yid and baal habayis if that is what he will be. If he is educated to understand that he plays a crucial role in completing the entire Mishkon, then, when he becomes a baal habayis he will follow through. He will see the tremendous value and importance he has in making this world into a dwelling place for Hashem when he has a full beard, learns chassidus, goes on mivtzoyim and is mikarev his acquaintances. Although he is not officially listed in Merkos, the Rebbe has made all of us shluchim, and when each of us takes the concept of shlichus on our own into our lives we complete the Mishkan, and then there is; V’shachanti b’socham.

This week we watched an incredible outpouring of love: 60 hours, $1.8 million, 20,000 people – all for one Jew they didn't even know.. A campaign this size is usually only undertaken by organizations with massive databases, like schools, yeshivas, and larger non-profits. But in this case, the fundraiser was for a single person. A simple Jew nobody had ever heard of. No organization, no email lists, no social media followers and no infrastructure. But when the campaign started, Am Yisrael responded. Boy, did they respond! 

We have seen that getting into shlichus has become more difficult, some wait for years to find a proper shlichus. It is vital that we stress this in our homes and in our yeshivos that everyone is a shliach, that there are many ways to complete the shlichus, and they are all valid and necessary to complete the Mishkon. Yes, some are going away on shlichus both near and far; but others are building good, strong chassidishe homes that support shluchim.  Shluchim get inspired by what Baali Batim are able to accomplish in inyanei shlichus as well. This is because of the connections and situations Baalei Batim get into because of their parnassa enable them to reach people that a shliach cannot get to. We see that the Rebbe even took childen and made them into Tzivos Hashem and demanded from them to inspire other children, all because they have unique part, that cannot get done without them.

Once we are all one, then we inspire each other. The talmid is inspired by the mashpiah, and the mashpiah is inspired by the talmid, as it says; “U’talmidai yoser m’kulam-I gained the most from my students”. Parents inspire their children, and parents get inspiration from their children, as it says; “Yafe koach haben mikoach a’av- the power of the child can be more beautiful than the father.

When my group of bachurim went on shlichus to Australia in 5731-1971 the Rebbe spoke about our departure on Shabbos parshas Achrei-Kedoshim. The Rebbe said that bachurim are making a halicha b’ain aroch, a journey of incomparable distance. He then spoke about how a Jew is a mahalech, how he never stands still, he is constantly on the move.  The Rebbe then said that seeing this great journey brings the parents nachas from their children. Also, the mashpiim get nachas seeing the bachurim they were michanech come to this stage. It even inspires the mishaleiach, (the Rebbe) the one who sends them. The inspiration comes from seeing this incomparable leap and brings them to do so as well in their own service of Hashem. As a Rav, there are times that I have to speak with families on a personal basis. When they talk, things come out about their lives that express such an emunah peshuta, such a pure faith that I become very moved and inspired.

As Moshe Rabbenu said; “Shesh meos raglei ha’am asher anochi b’kirbo, that the 600,000 of us, the ‘raglei ha’am’ are the feet of Moshe Rabbenu. And just as the feet are able to take the head to places the head cannot go, so too should we merit to bring Moshe Rabbbenu, the first and final redeemer down here into this world, Now!

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.

urgent plea from Rabbi Ben Zion Oster

Dear Anash שיחיו

As many of you are aware it is through huge miracles,  and your many tefillos that my brother  Arele (Ahron Ben Chana) is recovering from Septic Shock that nearly took his life. 

Arele is my youngest brother. He is a special husband and father to two beautiful girls. He is a beloved teacher in the Lubavitcher mesivta in Monsey and gives shiurim in chassidus to the many segments of his community while keeping up privately with numerous students. He is someone who is devoted to the spreading of yiddishkeit and Hafatzas Hamaayanos. He learned here in Los Angeles and connected with the community. It was just a year ago that he surprised us and joined us at my sons barmitzva.  A  few days before Pesach his world and ours turned upside down when he suddenly went into septic shock.

With great gratitude to Hashem he has regained consciousness and is alert and connecting to his family and friends. 

This week, he’ll undergo quadruple amputation, both arms below his elbows and both legs below his knees. With Hashem’s help and with new advanced medical research and development we are hoping to give him the best prosthetics that the medical world has to offer. Bionic prosthetics will allow him to feel and have bionic fingers that will let him hold his precious children again! 

Can you help us reach $1 million to put him on the path to recovery and full mobility?

Starting today, Tuesday, 12pm — for 60 hours — let’s take #OneGiantStep for Arele! 

May hashem bentch all of you for opening your hands and hearts widely, with an overflow of brochos in בניי חיי ומזוני  with true nachas gezunt and only simchas ad bli day. 

Here is my link to the charidy campaign

https://www.charidy.com/arele/TL

Thank you so much

Sincerely
Rabbi Ben Zion Oster

HELP!!!! Local Family of six evicted

thechesedfund.com/cause/family-of-six-evicted

A family with 4 very young children has fallen on extremely hard times and is about to be evicted of their home for not paying rent. They live in a tiny 1 bedroom and cant even afford that. Desperate measures are being taken to help them back on their feet but they can not handle the stress of their pending evictions while raising four children. The father/husband does every and anything he can to make ends meet while the wife stays in their tiny apartment caring for the children. 

We need to give them the help they need so that within the year they will be able to support themselves and not rely on community help. These funds are being overseen by Rabbi Landau, Rabbi Raichik and Rabbi Einhorn and will only go towards getting this family back on their feet. 

The following Rabbonim among many others are asking of everyone to open their hearts and wallets to save this family.  

Rabbi Muskin
Rabbi Fasman
Rabbi Einhorn
Rabbi Dunner
Rabbi Ginsburg
Rabbi Gradon
Rabbi Henig
Rabbi Landau
Rabbi Revach

Bd"e

BDE the levaya of Susan Crouch, Shoshana Bas Reb Aryeh Laib will be on Tuesday at 2:00pm at Mount Olives Cemetery 

7231 Slauson Ave, Commerce, CA 90040

Susan is survived by her brother Reb Dani Kupersmith who has been a staple of Bais Yehuda, and Cong Levi Yitzchok amongst many other local shuls for many many years. Susan is also survived by her mother. The family can not afford the cost of the Kevura and Misaskim has pledged to pay the $5,000 needed to bury the nifteres. 

Please text Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127 an amount you can help with and/or if you can help with the minyan at Kevura. 

Besuros Tovos
Tizku Lmitzvos

 

Announcements - Ki Tisa

  • 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!!
  • Reminder: The shul is in the process of ordering 200 new chairs at $50/each. You can pay online by clicking here and indicating it is for “Chairs” or you can drop off a check at shul or pay via the tablet in the front main entrance vestibule. Thank you for your generosity. 
  • TUESDAY: Hachnasas Kallah Candyland. 7:30 pm at Nessah. Click here for more info.
  • Cheder Menachem Purim Shuttle ordre deadline is fast approaching. Click here for more info. 

Shabbos Schedule - Ki Tisa

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:25 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:17 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
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am 
  • Mincha: 5:25 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:28 pm
  • Father & Son Learning: 7:15-8:00 pm - Click here for more info.

Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Tisa

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel in honor of the marriage of their son Zalmy to Mashie Marcus. May they be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
  • Mr. & Mrs. David Kaufman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. David Kaufman’s father Reb Gedalya Boruch ben Reb Velvel HaLevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Klyne for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s father Reb Betzalel ben Reb Chaim Shneur ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. Also, in honor of Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Reb Yermi Kurkus for the yahrtzeit of his mother Matilda Chaya bas Reb Sholom ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Dr. Mordechai Leaderman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Maggie Leaderman’s mother Golda bas Reb Yoseph ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Ki Tisa

  • Mr. Yosef Goldberger in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yakov Greenbaum for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yakov Greenbaum’s father Reb Shmuel Yosef ben Reb Mordechai Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Mitch Reichman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Mitch Reichman’s grandmother Rochel bas Reb Meir ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Ki Tisa

Mazal Tov To - Ki Tisa

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel on the marriage of their son Zalmy to Mashie Marcus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Lipsker on the engagement of their son Moishe to Yardena Schachna. Mazal tov to the grandparents Dr. & Mrs. Alan Dauer.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yerachmiel Wolowik on the bar mitzvah of their son.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Avrohom Klyne - 22 Adar I
  • Mr. Yosef Goldberger - 24 Adar I

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Mendel-Hilel Ganzburg - 19 Adar I

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Golda bas Reb Yosef (Dr. Margalit Leaderman’s mother) - 18 Adar I
  • Chava Maryasha bas Reb Ber (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s mother) - 19 Adar I
  • Reb Betzalel ben Reb Chaim Shneur Zalmen (Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s father) - 19 Adar II
  • Rochel bas Reb Meir (Mr. Mitch Reichman’s grandmother) - 21 Adar I
  • Matilda Chaya bas Reb Sholom (Yermi Kurkus’s mother) - 21 Adar I
  • Reb Shmuel Yosef ben Reb Mordechai Tzvi (Rabbi Yakov Greenbaum’s father) - 22 Adar I
  • Mindel bas Reb Nachum (Dr. Sholom Fine’s mother) - 23 Adar I
  • Chana bas Reb Yeshaye (Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz’s mother) - 24 Adar I
  • Reb Gedalya Boruch ben Reb Velvel HaLevi (Mr. David Kaufman’s father) - 24 Adar I
  • Reb Avram Shalom ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Marsha Alperin’s husband) - 24 Adar I
  • Reb Gedaliah Chanoch ben Reb Pinchus (Mrs. Malka Stroll’s father) - 24 Adar II

Devar Torah - Ki Tisa

The Struggle of a Chosid is also Our Struggle 
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik 

In the book 'Shadar' that was published about my father, one comes to realize what is the struggles of a chosid,.His struggle was all about making sure that nothing would stand in the way of his neshama fulfilling it’s purpose in this world.

Some people have a mental block when they hear stories about the Rebbe. When they hear a story they sometimes think; the Rebbe is very holy and I am not holy. They think to themselves; I don’t see how hearing the story relates to my life and who I am. As a matter of fact the Rebbe himself told Abba Pliskin to tell stories of Chassidim not the Rabbeim at his fabrengens.

Nowadays people have expanded this mental block to include Chassidim. I have heard responses like; that Chosid had high standards, what does that have to do with me? I know who I am and I’m not even close to him.

Rabbi Rosenbloom from Pittsburgh at a fabrengen in Shul spoke about how the Rebbe in the early 1950’s spoke in Sichos and pushed for removing all English curriculums from the yeshivos. The Rebbe was unambiguous about the need for the yeshivos to have limudei Kodesh for the entire day. Rabbi Rosenbloom went on to tell how one Chosid asked another; are you ready to have no English education for your children? He replied if that’s what the Rebbe said, then yes. The Chosid then berated him; who do you think you are, Reb Zalmen Zezmer, or Reb Binyomin Kletzker? How can you not give your children English? Are you on the level of the Chassidim of the Alter Rebbe? The other Chosid answered; I may not be on their level, I may not share their emotion or ever reach where they did in their avodah, but are you telling me that I shouldn’t even have it in mind? (Meaning: Shouldn’t we at least try to do our best on our level?) 

I know that I’m not my father. I don’t have his strengths or struggles. But, at least I know and appreciate what a Chosid is and should be. Even in Los Angeles my father fought for limudei Kodesh. Because that chinuch that was focused on limudei Kodesh being a Chosid is real and it’s not foreign to what we learned and what we heard.

There is a pasuk in the Haftarah for parshas Tzav (Yirmiyahu 7:28) that says: “Avda emunah v’nichrisa m’pihem, Out of their mouth faithfulness has disappeared, yea rooted out!”  By a Chassishe Fabrengen I heard as explanation of this pasuk: (paraphrased) “Do you know how we lost our emunah? It’s because we stopped talking about it.” Once we stopped talking about it, we lost it.

I recall once in the middle of a Sicha (15th of Shevat 5739-1979) the Rebbe made an analogy of our experience in galus to a game of hide and seek. The message was that as long as we continue to search, Hashem is relevant and real in our lives. When the search is given up and we accept the galus and settle in, then we don’t feel that Hashem is with us in our lives. The Rebbe was sobbing and saying how hard it is to search. When we look at the previous generation as a goner, and we don’t look toward them and their struggles for inspiration and guidance then we are lost. It creates a hole in our lives without realistic hope for further progress, inspiration and aspiration to go higher.

Therefore we all need stories of Chassidim to speak about, think about and act upon as a regular staple of our spiritual diet. When we dwell on their lives, what they knew and how they lived, we grow and progress.

This is also why we gain so much by the confluence of the many elements of our Chassidishe culture. Fabrengens, stories, nigunim, davening and hisbonenus all conspire as one in our lives and the lives of our communities to provide the ‘lachluchis’, the warmth, the inspiration and the glue that keeps it all together. When we go in the ways, not just the learning of Chassidim, when we are absorbed in it not just checking it off on a list, even we in our generation will aspire for something higher and achieve something better. Then we too stand a chance to achieve the purpose of our neshamos in this world, not the purpose of a different generation, our purpose, the revelation of Moshiach now!

A Good Shabbos

Mincha today @ Greenman Shiva

Mincha today at 1pm
Help needed with minyan

119 N. Alta Vista Blvd. 

Greenman Shiva

The Greenman Family is sitting shiva until Monday
on the passing of Mrs. Fayga Greenman ob"m

Address: 119 N. Alta Vista Blvd.
Shiva each day until 9:45pm

MINYANIM:
Shacharis Wed. Friday & Sunday 7:00am
Shacharis Thursday and Monday 6:50am
Mincha Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 5:25pm
Mincha Friday TBA
Maariv 5:45pm

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehe besochom!

Bd"e: Mrs. Fayga Greenman ob"m

It is with great sadness that we inform the community of the passing of
Mrs. Fayga Greenman
Simcha Devorah Fayga Leah bas Yitzchok Mordechai ob"m

Beloved wife of Mr. Ziskind Greenman
Beloved mother of Basya Hyams, Yisroel Greenman, Yossel Greenman & Chaya Deutch.

 LEVAYA:
Tuesday, Adar-1 14/Feb 19, 10:30 am 
at Home of Peace Cemetery 4334 Whittier Blvd. East L.A., Ca. 90023

 SHIVA:
To be announced

Announcements - Tezaveh

  • 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!!
  • Reminder: The shul is in the process of ordering 200 new chairs at $50/each. You can pay online by clicking here and indicating it is for “Chairs” or you can drop off a check at shul or pay via the tablet in the front main entrance vestibule. Thank you for your generosity. 

Shabbos Schedule - Tezaveh

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:18 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:22 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
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am 
  • Mincha: 5:20 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:21 pm
  • Father & Son Learning: 7:15-8:00 pm - Click here for more info.

Kiddush Sponsors - Tezaveh

  • Mr. Zalman Abramschik in honor of the Rabbi & Rebbitzen Raichik’s new grandson (to Moshe & Rikky Raichik). May they be zoche to bring him leberiso shel avrohom avinu metoch Simcha vetuv leivav, and may they have much nachas from him and may he grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel in honor of the ufruf of their son Schnuer Zalman. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai Katz for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Katz’s father Reb Nachman ben Reb Asher Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Vcherashansky in honor of the birth of their grandson. May they have much nachas from him and may he grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Wolowik for the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Yitzchok. May he give them much nachas and may he grow up to be a true chossid yirei shomaim and lamdan.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Tezaveh

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Meir Munitz for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Nechama Munitz’s father Reb Nachum Elazar ben Reb Yosef ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Tezaveh

4:45 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

Mazal Tov To - Tezaveh

  • Rabbi & Rebbitzen Shimon Raichik on the birth of their grandson (to Moshe & Riky Raichik.)
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Chitrik on the birth and bris of their son. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai Katz on the birth of their granddaughter (to Mendy & Mushky Katz.)
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Shagalov on the birth of their grandson (to Levi & Chaya Sara Ceitlin.)
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Eli Vcherashansky in honor of the birth of their grandson.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik on the bar mitzvah of their son Yitzchok.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Meir Rivkin - 16 Adar I
  • Aryeh Leib Hoch - 17 Adar I

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik - 15 Adar I

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Mordechai ben Reb Abraham (Mrs. Ester Gutierrez’s grandfather) - 11 Adar
  • Reb Nachum Elazar ben Reb Yosef (Mrs. Nechama Munitz’s father) - 12 Adar
  • Reb Yitzchok Dovber ben Reb Shlomo (Rabbi Zalman Schmukler’s stepfather) - 12 Adar
  • Hinda Ettel bas Reb Yakov (Mrs. Tova Levine’s mother) - 12 Adar
  • Reb Dov Reuven ben Reb Dovid Helevi (Mr. Yankel Ginsburg’s father) - 14 Adar
  • Rochel bas Reb Moshe (Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s mother) - 15 Adar
  • Reb Nachman ben Reb Asher Hakohen (Rabbi Mordechai Katz’s father) - 15 Adar
  • Reb Zalmen Leib ben Reb Yaakov Yitzchok (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s father) - 15 Adar
  • Reb Zev ben Reb Ezriel (Mr. Gary Apfel’s father) - 16 Adar

Devar Torah - Tezaveh

The Portrait of a Chosid

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Once, after one of his stays in Mezrich, as the Alter Rebbe was leaving the Maggid of Mezrich, Reb Avraham the son of the Mezricher Maggid was accompanying him and he said to the wagon driver to “whip the horses.”  There are two versions of what he said.  Either to whip the horse so the horse knows he is a horse or that the horse becomes “ois ferd”! (The horse should stop being a horse.)  When the Alter Rebbe heard this he turned back saying that he needs to go back to the Maggid to learn this avodah.

Another story…

One time the Rebbe Rashab was going away from Lubavitch and in the same carriage was another Jew who asked the question;  how do we know that Malachim exist if we have never seen them nor has our fathers ever seen one?  The Rebbe answered by explaining the fact that right now we are traveling for a certain purpose.  There are three thoughts involved: 1- Our thoughts - We know the purpose of our trip is to reach our destination and we will accomplish what we need to; 2- The wagon driver’s thoughts – His concern is about bringing parnassa to his family through this trip; 3- The horses thoughts –There will probably be more hay to eat in the new destination.  Just because the horse considers that this is the purpose of his trip, this does not mean the entire purpose of the trip is actually for the horse’s food!  So too, there is a neshama that came to this destination in a wagon (the body) and an animal soul that we need to feed.  If the animal soul only thinks about food this does not mean the neshama has no other purpose. The reason why we don’t feel the spiritual purpose is because all day we are thinking about hay (our physicality).

Nowadays many people say that they don’t feel that Chassidus penetrates them.  They can’t tap into it.  They feel it doesn’t speak to them.  One of the reasons is because we do not change our behavior.  As mentioned before; we are born with an animal soul, a wild horse that needs to be saddled by bending ourselves. As chassidus explains, we should not give in to everything our body wants.  When the body wants something, even if it has the best hechsher, we need to control ourselves so that everything should be for the purpose of serving Hashem. 

As the story goes; once there was a farbrengen and there was no farbeisin to be found.  The chossid, the  Rashbatz , had a goat.  They shechted the goat and prepared it for farbeisin.  In the morning, his wife came running in a panic that someone stole their goat.  He calmed her and exclaimed “Yesterday the goat said meh, meh, today the goat is saying Shema Yisroel”  This illustrates what Chassidus explains; that we need to elevate the food by using it to serve Hashem and thus elevating everything around us, so the food becomes like a Korban on  the Mizbeach. To do this we need to be in control and change our habits, to bend ourselves and not have everything we see and want.  If we don’t use control we become addicts to our desires and become like horses!  Just as people use diets so that they shouldn’t lose control, so too, our  animal soul needs a spiritual diet – iskafya- bending ourselves – whipping our horses – not to give in to our desires.

As a bochur I heard Reb Nissan Nemanov express himself about the concept of Iskafya.  He said, if we let ourselves loose b’gashmius (with physicality) it ruins what we gain in the spiritual levels that we are striving for.  He once went to his grandsons bar mitzvah and couldn’t understand why after a whole meal they still need to serve ice cream to satisfy the animal soul! The point is to whip the horse to help the G-dly soul serve Hashem.

That is the point of the Rebbe Rashab’s story when focus is on hay then we may lose sight of what purpose  the neshama has here in this world.

So when someone says chassidus doesn’t talk to me, I don’t feel it affects me, and then like, it’s because we are so lost in our world of gashmius.  The focus is on what I need. Like the story of the Alter Rebbe when a chassid came and expressed to the Alter Rebbe how he needs this and that.  The Alter Rebbe said “What you need I hear but the purpose of what you are needed for, I do not hear!

We need to ask ourselves; what is our purpose?!  To fulfill our purpose we must control our animal soul and its desires!

Many years ago, I was by a cousins wedding and was speaking to a distant relative about what Shabbos was like by the Rebbe. I described how the Farbrengens would start at 1:30 and would go till 20 minutes after shkia, when we would daven Mincha with the Rebbe. After 25 minutes we would daven Maariv with the Rebbe and only then would we go home and eat our Seudas Shabbos for Melave Malke (We would be yoitze Kiddush before the farbrengen with Mezonos or wash on something.).   My cousin replied; “What about Shalosh Seudos?”  Why doesn’t the Rebbe start davening earlier on Shabbos so that the Farbrengen can start earlier and there will be time to eat Shalos Seudos?  I didn’t want to tell him that many people were yoizte seudas Shabbos with a few kichelach and a coffee, if they were lucky. Yes, Seudas Shabbos is very important – but the focus of Shabbos is not only the food. We focus on the Kedusha, the learning and the davening.  Yes, the importance of Shabbos is also expressed by eating special foods; but that is not the main thing! When I grew up I saw my father coming home at two, three, or even four o’clock on Shabbos afternoon.  He made sure to have some fish and chicken but he was eating it because it was a mitzvah not because he enjoyed it so much.

Once we lose control, we get involved in things and we don’t even realize that there is anything wrong with them.  We ask, where in halacha does it say that it’s wrong?  This past Sunday was the Super Bowl.  The whole world goes crazy.  A Jew that realizes that his mission in life is to serve Hashem and make this world a place for Hashem, should realize that it’s not his place to go with his family and kids to a Super Bowl party where there is a big screen playing and lots of kosher wings and beer!  Does this fit in the realm of Torah and Mitzvos?  Are we letting our wild horse run around?  Reb Nissan has told us that what we gain in the Torah we can lose in our excitement for these gashmiusdike things.  The kids see that the Super Bowl is our excitement and what we are interested in. Then all the energy that the teachers put in to teach the children excitement for yiddishikeit gets hampered.  After that we wonder why doesn’t Chassidus penetrate.

Milner Shiva

Tonight is Mr. David Milner's last night of shiva
7-9 pm at 430 N Poinsettia.

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'soch Sheor Avalei Tzion V'yerushalayim. 
Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom! 

Announcements - Terumah

  • 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!!
  • Reminder: The shul is in the process of ordering 200 new chairs at $50/each. You can pay online by clicking here and indicating it is for “Chairs” or you can drop off a check at shul or pay via the tablet in the front main entrance vestibule. Thank you for your generosity. 

Shabbos Schedule - Terumah

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:12 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:30 am
  • Chassidus for Early Minyan: 8:45 am 
  • Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:26 am
  • Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:00 am 
  • Mincha: 4:55 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:15 pm
  • Father & Son Learning: 7:00-7:45 pm - Click here for more info.

Kiddush Sponsors - Terumah

  • Mr. & Mrs. Zalman Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Esther Roth’s father Reb Meshulam Zalman ben Reb Volf Hersh Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Joel Yachzel for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Joel Yachzel’s father Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Terumah

  • Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark in honor of Mr. Allan Stark’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen - Terumah

4:30 at the Frankel's
109 S Vista
Speaker: Mrs. Chani Pinson

Mazal Tov To - Terumah

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Duchman on the marriage of their granddaughter Rikel Greenbaum to Naftali Junik.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Nachman Kreiman on the engagement of their daughter Bracha Leah to Eli Pollack.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Thaler on the engagement of their daughter Sara to Mendy Weinberg.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Mr. Allan Stark - 7 Adar 

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Nachum Cherman

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Leib ben Reb Shmuel (Mr. Betzalel Fleischman’s father) - 4 Adar I
  • Reb Meshulam Zalman ben Reb Volf Hersh Hakohen (Mrs. Esther Roth’s father) - 5 Adar I
  • Reb Moshe ben Reb Nachum Dov (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s father) - 6 Adar I
  • Reb Yeshayahu ben Reb Avraham Nissan (Mr. Daniel Hayman’s father) - 6 Adar I
  • Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi (Mr. Joel Yachzel’s father) - 8 Adar I

Devar Torah - Terumah

Coming together is the beginning; 
Staying together is progress; 
Enduring together is success. 
All of these are inseparable aspects 
of Bringing Moshiach Now!
Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is parshas Terumah. In the first three pasukim the word teruma is mentioned three times. Rashi explains that these three times refer to three different donations that were given for the Mishkon: one for the sockets, the adonim, which served as the foundation of the Mishkon; one for 13 different materials used for building the Mishkon; and one to provide funds for community sacrifices, for example the korbon tamid.

Based on a sicha from the Rebbe (5724 Shabbos parshas Mishpatim) we learn that these three donations teach a significant lesson today in how we treat others one-on-one, in the community at-large and in our institutions.

There’s a saying that as we begin so it goes. Great projects often begin with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm excitement and energy. The approach of setting down new foundations for something good is reflected in the donation of the sockets. There are those amongst us that excel in this area. Once they begin the project however they leave it to others to build.

There are others who are neither trailblazer’s nor revolutionaries but enjoy jumping in once an important project has begun. They may lack the vision to create or found something new but make it up in heartfelt giving. This is reflected in the second donation of the 13 different materials. These materials were not the foundation or the starting point but they do made up the bulk what is necessary for the building of the Mishkon. After their donation they feel that their part is complete and leave it to others to maintain.

There are others who will neither start a worthy project nor participate in the labors of building once it has begun. When it’s all been completed however they will show up to secure the fulfillment of its purpose. This is similar to a person who sees a beautiful synagogue in their community and they want to be a part of it. These are the people that work late into the night after everyone is gone home to insure that the doors stay open and everything keeps functioning. This is reflected in the third donation of the communal sacrifice, the ultimate purpose for which the Mishkon was built. 

The Rebbe explains that although most usually excel in one area more than another, we learn from parshas Terumah that if we want to accomplish our mission of v’shechanti b’socham, bringing Hashem’s presence into this world, we all have all three and they are all necessary for the success of our mission. It isn’t sufficient to suffice with one or two of the three. The parsha is teaching us this by mentioning all three at the beginning of the construction of the Mishkon to teach that each and every one of us has the ability to participate all three.

We express this in our daily living this not only by giving physical donations of tzedaka but it also by making donations spiritually in all three areas. If we look around and see someone that is down and needs our help we begin by reaching out; we create a foundation (the first donation).  This week’s parsha teaches us that we don’t view this help as a one-time shot in the dark occurrence.  We tend to it with ongoing involvement and care maybe in a number of areas (the second donation). Even when we provided a lot to others our care concern and involvement doesn’t end there. We need to stay in touch and make sure that what we’ve done lasts (the third donation).

The same applies in our relationships with our children. There are three distinct stages of growth. When a child is young and at home we see to all of their needs and provide a proper foundation (the first donation). As they grow older and go away to yeshivas and seminaries we may think it’s time to take a break and go on autopilot assuming that they’re taken care of. Our care and concern continues and is very necessary even during this stage. We continue to be involved by calling our children, being aware of their surroundings, providing their needs and speaking with their teachers (the second donation). When our children are finally grown and out on their own, we may feel our job is done and it’s time for retirement. The truth is that now is when they may need our support most!  Been involved with care and concern at this stage of life is an essential part of our lifelong relationship with our children.

Just as described with regard to parenting and helping others the same applies for Rabbonim, Mashpiim, and Teachers. Someone once asked a Rosh Yeshiva if he knows how his talmidim are faring after they leave his yeshiva. He was asked: “Do you call them?”

A healthy family is a family that is involved from beginning to end in all aspects both physical and spiritual. A healthy community is the same.

Through building our own Mishkon and by helping others to build theirs, may we merit the third Beis HaMikdash with the full and complete “v’shechanti b’socham” with the arrival of Moshiach immediately.

A Good Shabbos

5th Shiur of the Taharas Hamishpacha refresher course for MEN

Dear friend,

We will be having the 5th shiur of the Taharas Hamishpacha refresher course tonight - Thursday night at 8pm with Rabbi Ami Meyers. It will take place in the main shul. For Men only

Chabad Chodesh - Adar-1

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

Bd"e: Mr. Ariel Leib Milner ob"m

With sadness we inform you of the passing of
Ariel Leib ben Chaim Halevi ob"m
father of Mr. David Milner - Member of our shul

The Levaya will tomorrow (Tuesday)
12 pm at Home of Peace
4334 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023

Shiva
Tues-Thurs: 7-9 pm at 430 N Poinsettia
Motzei Shabbos: 8-10 pm at 430 N Poinsettia
Sunday: After maariv at shul

May we share only good news!!!

Announcements - Mishpatim

  • 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.  

Shabbos Schedule - Mishpatim

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:05 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:26 am
  • Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
  • Followed by a Shiur Chassidus.
  • Thillim Club: 9:00 am
  • Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
  • Shacharis: 10:15 am
  • Kol Yaakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
  • Mincha: 5:05 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:08 pm
  • Father & Son Learning: 7:00-7:45 pm
  • Molad Chodesh Adar-1: Monday, Shevat 29, 11:57 pm and 15 chalakim.
  • Rosh Chodesh Adar-1: Tuesday & Wednesday, February 5 & 6.

Kiddush Sponsors - Mishpatim

  • Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Benarroch in honor of Mr. Avrohom Benarroch’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Mrs. Miriam Fishman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Moshe ob”m Fishman’s mother Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka in honor of Mr. Berl Sroka’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Steve Zipp for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Steve Zipp’s brother Reb Yosef ben Reb Dovid ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Early Minyan Kiddush Sponsors - Mishpatim

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Noteh Berger for the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Levi Yitzchok. May he give them much nachas and may he grow up to be a true chossid yirei shomaim and lamdan.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Greenbaum in honor of Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yakov Greenbaum for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Baila Greenbaum’s father Reb Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Lesches in honor of the birth of their daughter Emuna Devora Chaya. 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 - Mishpatim

4:45 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

Mazal Tov To - Mishpatim

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Noteh Berger on the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Levi Yitzchok.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Zevi Haller on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Elharrar.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Leibel Lipsker  on the Bar-Mitzvah of their son Moshe. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Perl.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmy Shemtov on the birth of their daughter.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Menachem Mendel Halevi Ginsburg - 27 Shevat
  • Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum - 29 Shevat
  • Mr. Berl Sroka - 30 Shevat

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Efraim Lezak - 30 Shevat
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy - 30 Shevat

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Lin ben Reb Avrohom Halevi (Mr. Pinchas Hirsch’s brother) - 28 Shevat
  • Reb Yitzchak Aharon Reb ben Aharon (Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin’s father) - 28 Shevat
  • Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother) - 29 Shevat
  • Reb Shlomo Zalman ben  (Mrs. Henny Wolowik’s father) - 29 Shevat
  • Reb Yosef ben Reb Dovid (Mr. Steve Zipp’s brother) - 29 Shevat
  • Reb Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman (Mrs. Baila Greenbaum’s father) - 30 Shevat
  • Charna bas Reb Avrohom (Mrs. Esther Davidoff’s grandmother) - 1 Adar I
  • Yehudis bas Reb Kasriel Hakohen (Mr. Efraim Lezak’s mother) - 3 Adar I
  • Tzivya bas Reb Moshe Hersh (Mrs. Frances Goodman’s mother) - 3 Adar I

Devar Torah - Mishpatim

The Rebbe’s Request for Us is 
to stay Anchored in a World of Turmoil 
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Today we live in a rapidly changing and chaotic world. Especially in Eretz Yisroel but now everywhere the events are unfolding on a global scale quickly with important and long term consequences. In general never in the history of the world has there been so much information and so many distractions available to so many and so many ways to communicate. This brings great opportunities but it seams at times that the world has a giant case of global ADHD! One day it’s Global warming the next day it’s Iran. One day it’s ISIS the next day it’s the oil pipeline and the budget. One day we are going to have sanctions on Iran the next day Netanyahu’s visit to Congress is controversial.

This entire dizzying array of distractions challenges us more today than ever before to bring life back into focus and act upon what’s really important. Unless we make an effort to through break the effects of the 24-hour news cycle we too will be affected, and what’s at stake is profound and long lasting. We cannot let our ability to focus on what’s really important fade into the background. The truth is that yesterday’s news is quickly forgotten and always replaced with something else. Aside from the excitement of being up to date, we know today that tomorrow the only thing the newspaper will be good for is for wrapping dishes. Still we know that the constant changes preoccupy many people.

How often do we take the time to stop everything, close our phones and our computers and ask ourselves why we here in this world? How often do we refresh our feeling about our purpose? How often do we change our daily schedule and priorities to reflect a better consideration of how to get done what it is that we are here to accomplish? Out of the six days of the week how many of them do we allow ourselves to join the legions of the distracted that mindlessly pull our iPhones out of our pockets to check the news texts and emails every 5, 15 and 25 minutes? How often do we put aside all of our personal concerns and truly listen to what our children are saying to us? Do we make the time to then act upon what we hear from them and help them plan their futures, and how they are going to make it as Chasidim in the coming years? 

During a yechidus on Yud Kislev 5732-1972 the Rebbe encouraged a yeshiva bachor that next time he enters yechidus he should have good things to write about (not just his challenges). The Rebbe went on to say that he has simcha and tanug nafshi u’pnimi, deep inner soul pleasure when he hears that a bachor from Tomchei Tmimim is learning, davening and acting appropriately. It’s self understood what the opposite brings. Therefore the Rebbe requested that since this is a matter of ahavas Yisroel (from a chosid to a Rebbe) perhaps he and his friends would make an effort to improve and add in these areas.

When this bachor asked for a bracha for hiskashrus the Rebbe spoke to him directly about what hiskashrus really is. He said that a person cannot just wander about with and empty mind and be connected. If a bachor doesn’t keep the sedarim or learn properly or act properly he (the Rebbe) won’t be bribed by his occasional learning of Likutei Sichos or that sometimes he does me the great favor of doing some Ufarutzta.  Later the Rebbe gave him a beracha that Hashem Yisborach should help him to be a true tomim and a true mekushar, which begins with “Tamim t’hiyeh eim Hashem Elokecha”, being completed, simple and honest with Hashem. By doing all of this with simcha and a good heart eventually we will be able to look upon your accomplishments with pride and say; “Rau gedulim sh’gidalti”.

It’s self understood that this applies to all of us.

The Hayom Yom for the 11th of Shevat the day that the Rebbe’s leadership began (unofficially. Officially it began a year later on Yud Shevat 5711) says the following.

   “The routine of the day begins with saying the prayer of Modeh Ani. This is said before the morning washing of the hands, even while the hands are "impure." The reason is that all the impurities in the world do not defile a Jew's "Modeh Ani" He might lack one thing or another, but his Modeh Ani remains intact.”

The prayer of Modeh Ani is our focus and our anchor. Modeh Ani is our mission statement of who we are and why we are here. It expresses the essence of a Jew and cannot be contaminated by anyone or anything. That’s why it is said even before negel vaser. There is an important lesson for us as Chassidim from the fact that this Hayom Yom by hashgacha protis should be the first Hayom Yom of the Rebbe’s nesius on the 11th of Shevat. What does this Hayom Yom teach us about being his Chassidim?

There was a great Rav, one of the Torah giants of the 20th Century HaRav Ha Gaon Rav Yechezkel Avramsky who was close with the Rabbeim. At one point he was arrested and was kept in prison in Russia without his Tefillin and without any Sefarim. After his release he recounted an experience he had while in prison to the chassidim of the Previous Rebbe. One morning he woke up and looked around at all the other prisoners and asked himself; how am I different than them as a Jew? (This was very upsetting to him) I don’t have anything that distinguishes me. I don’t have Tallis and Tefillin; I don’t have any Sefarim to learn Torah etc.  Then he realized, he told the chassidim, that the difference is that he is a Jew, and a Jew has emunah in Hashem This the difference that he lives for and this is what brought him simcha and lifted his spirits. When the Previous Rebbe heard about this, he asked to pass on to him that his entire imprisonment was worthy to have reached this understanding and feeling.

This is what the Rebbe wants from each and every one of us. The Modeh Ani should be our entire focus. This helps us to define ourselves as well as others.  Just as the Rebbe requested of the bachor in yechidus that since this is a matter of ahavas Yisroel from a chosid to a Rebbe perhaps he and his friends would make an effort to improve and add in these areas, so too we can and should make this effort as well. By doing all of this with simcha and a good heart, beginning with Modeh Ani by being completed, simple and honest with Hashem, eventually we will be able to look upon our accomplishments and bring nachas to Hashem and to the Rebbe.

To be able to bring out this feeling of what a Jew is and to focus on our purpose and mission to make this world a dwelling place for Hashem can only be accomplished by learning Chassidus.  Learning Chassidus keeps us focused and energized that the fools and follies of the world should not distract our determination to fulfill the will of Hashem with the revelation of Moshiach and bringing the geula Now!

A Good Shabbos!

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