Shul Bulletin

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 6:53 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:50 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
• Rabbi Raichik's Hilchos Pesach Shiur: 6:00 pm  
• Mincha: 6:55 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 7:56 pm
• Molad Chodesh Nisan: Friday, Adar-2, 29/April 5, 1:25 am and 17 chalakim..
• Rosh Chodesh Nisan: Shabbos, April 6.

• Dr. & Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-Noy for the yahrtzeit of Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s mother Bracha Gittel bas Reb Shaltiel Ze'ev ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart for the Siyum of shiva of Rabbi Simcha Bart’s mother Faiga bas Reb Yakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
• Rabbi & Mrs. Fischel Grossman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Fischel Grossman’s grandfather Reb Tzvi ben Reb Naftoli Elimelech ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• The Nassy Family - Sheva brochos for the marriage of their son Ephraim & Ellie Epstein. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
• Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka on honor of the marriage of their son Nathan. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.

• Rabbi & Mrs. Alon Asefovitz in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• Yosef Bart in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson in honor the birth of their new granddaughter to Rabbi and Mrs. Yossi Nathanson. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yankee Raichik in honor of the birth of their son. 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. Also, for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Rivky Raichik’s grandfather Reb Dovid ben Reb Meir Yechiel Yehuda ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

• Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch on the marriage of their grandson.
• Yermi Kurkus on his engagement to Liam Pohlman.
• The Nassy Family on the marriage of their son Ephraim to Ellie Epstein.
• Mr. & Mrs. Yossi Nathanson on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yankee Raichik on the birth of their grandson (to Avermi & Rivky Raichik.)
• Rabbi & Mrs. Zalman Schmukler on the marriage of their granddaughter.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman on the marriage of their granddaughter.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Yakov Chaim Goldman - 24 Adar II
• Levi Tsikman - 24 Adar II
• Rabbi Ezra Schochet - 24 Adar II
• Gedaliah Stroll - 24 Adar II
• Yaakov Yehoshuah Klein - 25 Adar II
• Rabbi Yossi Pinson - 27 Adar II
• Mr. Yaakov Mark - 28 Adar II
• Mr. Yitzchok Wiener - 29 Adar II
• DovBer Burston - 29 Adar II

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Rabbi & Mrs. Munish Weiss - 23 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Noteh Berger - 23 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Tennenbaum - 24 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Arnold - 25 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Gurary - 25 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Alon Asefovitz - 25 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Bastomski - 26 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Leibel Lipsker - 26 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Eliyahu Newman - 28 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Danny Rotenberg - 28 Adar II

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb Gedaliah Chanoch ben Reb Pinchus (Mrs. Malka Stroll’s father) - 24 Adar II
• Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Avrohom (Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s brother) - 29 Adar II 

Nissan: 
Preparing for Dramatic Instantaneous Change 
that will bring the World from Galus to Geula!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha of Shemini begins on the eighth day of the inauguration of the Mishkon with Aaron and his sons beginning their service. A fire came from Hashem to consume their offerings and the Shechina, the divine presence came to dwell in the Mishkon. How does this parsha relate to each one of us today?

As we prepare for Pesach and the month of Nissan, a month of geula and miracles we have in mind that everything can change in a second. One second we can be in Mitzrayim and the next on our way out. In one moment a person can be a Levi and in the next a Kohen Gadol. In one moment we can have a heart of stone and in the next a heart of flesh as it says in the haftarah: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). On the eighth day an everlasting Kedusha came to the Mishkon, a kedusha that we had experienced at Matan Torah but had lost at the sin of the golden calf. In just one moment we got it back.

We should not be surprised by the idea of instantaneous change. We just look around and see a world transforming around us. Old world orders and old governments topple and new one’s arise overnight. Information travels in an instant and as a result the global attitude changes in an instant. Stock exchanges and market shares rise and fall in minutes. New technologies appear and change the way we live forever. We see from this week’s parsha that this is even more so when it comes to our relationship with Hashem. We can change everything in dramatic ways, but for that to happen we have to do our part. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that a neshama comes down into this world for a purpose. It may be just to do one favor for someone else. We all have a shlichus and we have been given all that we need to get there. With Yud Aleph Nissan approaching we are reminded that we have the koach hamishaleiach, the Rebbe’s influence to constantly draw upon. The question is do we realize what we have? Do we realize what the possibilities are? Do we accept that what we do DOES make a big difference?

As we enter this coming month with anticipation and an expectation be part of the miracles and a witness to the possibility of an instant change we create that possibility with our participation. Though everyone’s participation and all of the preparations for Pesach may we merit the full and complete revelation of Moshiach now!

A Good Shabbos A Good Chodesh

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.

Rabbi Raichik is finalizing his order for matzah on Wednesday night. 
If you plan on ordering through the Rabbi,  please email him your order immediately at [email protected], please specify whole wheat, regular, spelt, Borough Park or kefar chabad etc

Remember it takes time to get the matzah from NY to LA

Wishing everyone a kosher and happy pesach 

• 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!!
• Nichum Aveilim: Rabbi Simcha Bart is sitting shiva in NY until Thursday on the passing of his mother. Email: [email protected] Phone: 323 428-8381. Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehe besochom!

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 6:48 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:57 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:
• Mincha: 6:45 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 7:51 pm

Yossi & Menucha Klein
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
7259 Willoughby #8

The Bris
will iy"h be Sunday, 17 Adar-2/March 24 at YOEC 
Shachris 8:30, Bris 9:30

• The Bastomski family for the yahrtzeit of their father Reb Avrohom Yitzchok ben Reb Yisroel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz in honor of Mr. Reuven Horwitz’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Klyne for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s father Reb Betzalel ben Reb Chaim Shneur Zalmen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

6:00 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

• Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Klein on the birth of their son.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Leib Lerner - 16 Adar II
• Rabbi Schneur Schneerson - 16 Adar II
• Mr. Jon Engelson - 18 Adar II
• Mr. Zev Oster - 18 Adar II
• Rabbi Meir Schmukler - 20 Adar II
• Rabbi Yosef Mishulovin - 20 Adar II
• Mendel Wolowik - 20 Adar II
• Immanuel Mordechai Gutierrez - 21 Adar II
• Mr. Reuven Horwitz - 21 Adar II
• Dovid Revere - 21 Adar II
• Mr. Mottel Polityko - 22 Adar II

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Kaye - 16 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Yehosuah Goldman - 16 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Ari Brown - 16 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Friedman - 16 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Schmukler - 17 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Hecht - 19 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik - 20 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Elozor Plotke - 21 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Berel Wilhelm - 21 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Simcha Kagan - 21 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Klyne - 22 Adar II
• Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Ashkenazi - 22 Adar II

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

Reb Avrohom Yitzchok ben Reb Yisroel Bastomski - 16 Adar II

• Reb Betzalel ben Reb Chaim Shneur Zalmen (Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s father) - 19 Adar II

My People
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

In one of the sichos on Purim 5729/1969 the Rebbe asked the question, why doesn't Rashi explain the difficulty in the Megillah that when Queen Esther was begging Achashverosh to rescind the decree she said, I am asking for /ani/ – my nation – /vnafshi/ –and for my soul.

Haman’s accusation against the Jewish people was that they were spread out, they don’t keep the law of the land, and therefore, it is not worthy of the king to have them. Where do we find in Esther’s request a rebuttal to Haman’s accusations? She should have tried to explain that the Jewish people are not different! The only thing she was saying was /ami/ – my people. So the Rebbe said that it is obvious that in her words are the rebuttal.

Esther said to Achashverosh, “Yes, we are different, I am different!: I don’t drink the wine you touch, I have seven maids so I remember when Shabbos is. Even though I am different, from among all the young women of your kingdom, you chose me. The decision that Haman made that because we are different we are not worthy of existence is false because you alone, King Achashverosh, proved it. I am your queen and I am different, /ami/, I am Jewish and this is my people.”

The Rebbe continued that in America today, there is a feeling that if someone wants to impress the non-Jewish world he must show how he are equal to them. When a person in Wall Street wants to show off his heritage, he tells his broker or banker, “Michael, do you think I come from the moon?” He brings the non-Jew into the office and shows him a picture of his grandfather, a Yid with a big yarmulka and a long white beard, and a grandmother who covered her hair and dressed very modestly. The grandson is proud of his grandparents. But when he is asked, what about you? He says, now we are living in a different time. The way of my grandparents was in the alte shtetel – America is different.

The grandson is doing to his grandparents what Haman wanted to do to Mordechai – put him on a pole 50 cubits high for all to see – and he's proud of his grandparents, but they are above him and he has no connection to them! When the granddaughter wants to daven to Hashem she goes to her grandmother, asking grandmother to pray for her. Why shouldn't the granddaughter be dressed as modestly as the grandmother, why is she dressed in a mini-mini?! It is up to you to educate your son to go in the way of his grandfather, with a full beard; and your daughter should dress as refined as her grandmother, she should bentsch licht every Friday and daven like her grandmother did. The only way to live is the way Esther said - /ami/ – my nation – I am living like a Jewish person. That is how Esther prevailed upon the king and changed the decree.

I am reminded of a farbrengen among chassidim in Australia on Purim night in 1973 when I was on Shlichus in Melbourne. At one table was Rabbi Mordechai Perlow and Rabbi Betzalel Wilshansky. They learned in Lubavitch by the Rebbe Rashab between 1913 and 1916. At a second table was Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner, who learned in 770 during the 1940s, in the time of the Previous Rebbe. At another table there were younger chassidim, who learned by the Rebbe in 770 in the 1960s. Whether they learned in the time of the Rebbe Rashab, the Previous Rebbe or our Rebbe, they all lived with the feelings and experiences of their Yeshiva years and it penetrated into every aspect of their lives. Rabbi Perlow and Rabbi Wilshansky learned in Lubavitch before World War I and suffered through the revolution, the rise of Communism and World War II. Even sixty years later, when they lived openly as chassidim in Melbourne it was /ami/ – my nation – I am a chossid. That was the common denominator that entire night. Wherever they learned, whatever generation, their Yiddishekeit and Chassidishkeit was not only a picture on the wall. Instead each generation was permeated with the Chassidishe warmth they had internalized in their formative yeshiva years. 

Rabbi Simcha Bart
is sitting shiva in NY until Thursday
on the passing of his motherMrs. Faiga Bart ob"m.

Address: 478 Empire Blvd
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 323 428-8381.

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

Ta’anis Esther
Wednesday, Adar 13/March 20

• Fast Begins: 5:43 am
• Shachris: 6:15, 7:00, 7:15 & 8:15 am 
• Machatzis HaShekel/Minchah: 2:00 & 6:15 pm
• Fast Ends: 7:35 pm
• Maariv 7:30 pm
• Megillah: 7:40 pm.
• Grand KYY Event - in Moshe Ganz Hall: 8:15 pm
  Click Here for an important update: re kyy's tonight's  (wed)  purim extravaganza
  
• Late Megilla Reading: 9:30 pm at 343 N Formosa Ave.

Purim Day
Thursday, Adar 14/March 21

• Sunrise: 6:56 am
• 1st Minyan: 6:40 (in Shul)- Megillah: 7:00
• 2nd Minyan: 7:00 (in Kollel) - Megillah: 7:30
• 3rd Minyan: 8:00 (in Shul) - Megillah: 8:30
• 4th Minyan: 8:30 (in Kollel)- Megillah: 9:00
• 5th Minyan: 9:00 (in KYY)- Megillah: 9:30
• 6th Minyan: 9:30 (in Shul) - Megillah: 10:00
• Late Megilla Reading: 2:00 pm at 343 N Formosa Ave. 
• Mincha: 2:00 & 5:00 pm
• Sunset: 7:06 pm
• Maariv: 9:00 pm

• 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!!
• MOTZEI SHABBOS: Davidoff Lechaim. Click here for more info.
• SUNDAY: Siyum & Hachnosas Sefer Torah. Click here for more info.

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 6:42 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 10:02 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: 6:40 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 7:45 pm

• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
• 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.

5:45 at the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia
Speaker: Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz

• Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Davidoff on the engagement of their daughter Tzippy to Laivy Mochkin.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Leib Lerner on the birth of their first grandson (to Mendel & Miriam Lerner.) Mazal tov to the grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Lerner. 
• Mrs. Suzy Nassy on the birth of her grandson (to Yossi & Chaya Nassy).

Upcoming Birthdays

• Rabbi Nochum Labkowsky - 10 Adar II
• Rabbi Mendel Pinson - 12 Adar II
• Rabbi Laizer Labkowsky - 12 Adar II
• Yaakov Moshe Friedman - 13 Adar II
• Mr. Reuven Kasten - 13 Adar II
• Mr. Shimon Benarroch - 13 Adar II
• Chaim Yehuda Leib Perl - 15 Adar II
• Dovid Raigorodsky - 15 Adar II

Upcoming Anniversaries

• Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz - 9 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Yosef Yitzchok Mishulovin - 11 Adar II
• Mr. & Mrs. Zechariah Davidson - 12 Adar II

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Reb Mordechai ben Reb Abraham (Mrs. Ester Gutierrez’s grandfather) - 11 Adar II 

Chill out, or Wipe out Amalek; Remember, it’s Our Choice 
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is parshas Zachor. In parsahas Zachor we review the mitzvah to remember Amalek and to wipe out Amalek. The reason we read it this week, the week leading into Purim is because Haman came from Amalek. Why is this practice of remembering and wiping out reserved for Amalek and no other nation?

The only time that we actually carry out the mitzvah of physically wiping out Amalek is when there is a King.

Since right now we cannot carry out the mitzvah to wipe him out, why today do we need to know who he is by remembering, and what are we accomplishing?

As we know, this all began on our way out of Mitzrayim. Amalek was the first to start up with the Jewish nation. All the other nations were too petrified to get in our way after hearing of all the miracles of our exodus and of Krias Yam Suf. Although we didn’t do anything to harm Amalek and Amalek was not at risk, Amalek was the only one to brazenly, and at great personal risk jump in just to slow our momentum, even if a little bit, just to cool us off. Rashi brings the example of a burning hot tub of water that no one would enter. One person jumped in, got burned but cooled off the tub and then made it cooler for others to enter. So too, the actions of Amalek led other nations to attack us as well.

In our lives Amalek represents an irrational motivation to cool us off and cover over our excitement and inspiration for G-dliness. This then has a pervasive effect on our ability and power to act, and creates new adversaries in revealing G-dliness in this world.  In general, our good inclination wants to use our love and fear in the service of Hashem. Our bad inclination tries to trick us into subverting our love and fear into worldly and petty pursuits. When we fall and make mistakes, we have a voice that calms us down and tells us that we are ok, and that we are good Jews even if we do things that are wrong. We quietly compare ourselves to others, and take solace thinking; “I’m better than you”. 

Other times we convince our selves that no one will know. It’s not true! The next day it shows up in our behavior in the way that we walk, talk and act. We can’t really cover up 100 percent. People pick it up in the nuances of our behavior. When it reaches a certain point, a person realizes and regrets, then he wants to do teshuva. It becomes an auspicious time to come closer to Hashem and make changes for the good.

Amalek had a very different mindset and therefore went about in a different way. He knew he couldn’t get away with it but he still tried. Any calculation or consideration was irrelevant to him. It says that Amalek knew his master and intended to rebel. The spiritual Amalek knows what to do, he learned and understands and just flat out refuses to comply. It’s just as it was on the way out of Mitzrayim.

This attitude can show up in many different ways. Someone can see a miracle; something where the hashgacha is so clear and overwhelming that saying that it’s just by chance is silly. Nevertheless he will through a wrench in, just because. If the miracle is in health, he’ll give the doctor credit. If it’s in business he’ll say it’s the accountant.

There is another who will not deny the miracle at all but will nevertheless infuse the event with coolness. It can be the exodus or the splitting of the sea or a person that was saved. He will say; “Who did it? Hashem! For Hashem that’s not a big deal, He is capable of doing anything”

The point is, is that no matter what, Amalek has no scruples! He doesn’t care what it is. That’s immaterial; what matters to him is only to cool down the situation and to minimize anything and everything.

Who is the most vulnerable to fall prey to this attitude? It’s the one who went through the system without internalizing what he learned; it was just information. The greatest way to prevent Amalek from entering comes from internalizing and living what we learn into the way that we do mitzvos daven and act. (See last weeks article). 

We become amazed and inspired by stories of tzaddikim and the wonders that they bring about. These fellows say: Sure, that’s what tzaddikim are, why are you so excited. They have the same attitude for a hidur mitzvah or mivtzoyim or etc.

If we fall prey to regular desires there is room for discussion. We can convince ourselves as well as others to abandon them for something better. For Amalek, there’s no one to talk to and there’s nothing to talk about. Just remember. Remember that it’s there, and it needs to be irradiated, and that’s it. That’s the mitzvah of parshas Zachor for each person in his or her way.

The essential point here is that Amalek is against G-dliness. The Medresh says that if we remember Amalek and if we deal with it then we are from the children of Avraham Avinu. What is the connection between wiping out Amalek and being children of Avraham?  Because wiping out Amalek requires humility. Avraham had humility, he said, “I am ashes and dust" To wipe out Amalek requires acknowledging miracles, not just in the past, but nowadays as well. It also requires admitting that I have this attitude within. When we remember and confront the Amalek within, we can then set out to do our job, the purpose for our being in this world, to do the work of Avraham Avinu to reveal G-dliness in everything. By eradicating the Haman/Amalek of 5774-2014, we will merit the immediate revelation of Moshiach Now!

Everyone is cordially invited to a L’Chaim
to celebrate Tzippy Davidoff and Laivy Mochkin’s engagement

Motzei Shabbos, March 16th, 9:30 PM
at the Davidoff residence, 126 S Orange

May we only share in simchos 

• 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 Rabbi Yitzi: Dear Brothers, This Shabbos will be my birthday. I would love to celebrate with you-my family and the ones who keep me afloat. Please join us in a Melave Malka at 8:30. With love and gratitude, Yitzi. 

• Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:37 pm
• Last Time To Read Shema: 9:07 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: 5:35 pm
• Shabbos Ends: 6:40 pm
• Motzei Shabbos: Move clocks one hour ahead!!!

• The Gaboim of the Shul in honor of Shabbos Chazak. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Zev Haller in honor of the birth of their daughter Simcha Devora. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim. 
• Mr. David Milner for the shloshim of his father Reb Ariel Leib ben Reb Chaim Halevi 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. 

• The Gaboim of the Shul in honor of Shabbos Chazak. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
• Friends of Rabbi Yitzy Hurwitz in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlacha bgu"r may he blessed with a refuah shleima and may we merit to celebrate his birthday with all of klal yisroel with moshiach now
• Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stark in honor of Mr. Allan Stark’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

5 pm at the home of Mrs. Varda Rav-Noy
428 N Martel
Speaker: Mrs. Chani Pinson

• Rabbi & Mrs. Shlomo Arnold on the marriage of their son Moishe to Chana Friedman. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Arnold.
• Rabbi & Mrs. Yoske Mishulovin on the engagement of their son Aron Leizer Mishulovin to Chaya Simon.

Upcoming Birthdays

• Mr. Chaim Lerner - 2 Adar II
• Mr. Shimon Zeifman - 2 Adar II
• Rabbi Sruly Yusevitch - 3 Adar II
• Rabbi Baruch Kreiman - 3 Adar II
• Mr. Danny Weiss - 4 Adar II
• Moshe Simacha Burston - 5 Adar II
• Yoav Antian - 5 Adar II
• Mr. Allan Stark - 7 Adar II
• Mr. Jack Soussana - 7 Adar II

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

• Chaya bas Aharon (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s grandmother) - 8 Adar II
• Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi (Mr. Joel Yachzel's father) - 9 Adar 

Whether you play the Violin, the Cello, or the Drums,
you're a part of the Orchestra

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is parshas Pikudei, the final parsha in Sefer Shemos (Shabbos Chazak). During the last Farbrengen in 5752/1992, the Rebbe explained that Vayakel and Pikudei represent two different types of service of Hashem. Parshas Vayakel symbolizes the general, all encompassing purpose of the Mishkon, while parshas Pikudei highlights the importance of each individual component and enumerates them separately. Moshe Rabbenu made a detailed accounting of the money contributed, the structure, the vessels, and the vestments.

In our spiritual service, parshas Vayakel speaks to us as one community, while parshas Pekudei emphasizes the significance of the individual and how we are accountable for every thought, word and action.

In order to have a Mishkon, one place set aside as Hashem’s home, we need to build each and every vessel according to its unique specifications. So too, in order to complete the entire Jewish people, that we should be one and unified, we need everyone to have their part which is unique and special. Only then are we all complete. This is the message of parshas Pekudei.

We saw this so clearly by the Rebbe. The Rebbe is representative of all of Klal Yisroel; “HaNasi hu hakol- The Leader is the entire Jewish People”. He spoke to all of us as one, and at the same time he viewed each and every one of us, whether man, woman or child as special.  The Rebbe gave his time and effort to help each person according to his or her circumstances. We saw this in the way the Rebbe spoke to individuals by dollars, the personal messages found in Igros Kodesh as well as from the innumerable stories that we have heard.

At home with our families focusing on each family member in their special way is of utmost importance. Every child needs special time and has special needs and talents that should be addressed. In our yeshivos, high schools and seminaries we need to insure that no student gets lost in the crowd or missed in the shuffle. Each student should have a personal relationship with his or her mashpia and teacher. He or she should feel assured that they know him or her, care about his or her challenges and know that he or she has something special to offer. I was amazed while visiting our Cheder to see how the Principal said good morning to each child, by name. So too in our yeshivos, high schools and seminaries where there are hundreds of students the mashpia needs to know each one by name and have a personal relationship. It’s an absolute necessity to see to it that no student ever feels like an unknown.

When we have this approach, we build a strong foundation that allows us to successfully mandate higher standards. Then our children will grow up with what they need, to be able to best fulfill their special purpose, like each part of the Mishkon enumerated in parshas Pekudei.

Some say; whom do we think we are to think that we can do what the Rebbe wants to bring Moshiach. The yetzer hara is a shrewd lawyer with a crafty memory. When we think of fulfilling the Rebbe’s instructions, the yetzer hara chimes in with yesterday’s mistakes, or if necessary from things long forgotten, even decades ago just to undo and cool off our enthusiasm.

There is a story of someone who came to the Baal Shem Tov for help (Sefer HaSichos 5701-1941). The Baal Shem Tov was not able to help him, for whatever reason. Instead he went to the sefarim shelf and took sefer at random. It was a Gemara Bava Basra, and he just opened it, and it opened to daf 11. It says there that anyone Iyov would give money to would be blessed. The Baal Shem Tov thought that since everything is by hashgacha protis, what is the significance of us turning to this gemara? He then thought of a Jew named Shabsi Meir from Brode who has been distributing a lot of tzedaka. As his wealth grew so too did his tzedaka.  Shabsi Meir was asking Hashem to grant that there should be a real bracha for those whom he gave tzedaka. The Baal Shem Tov knew that his request had been accepted by Beis Din shel Maalah, and whomever he gave tzedaka would be helped. The Baal Shem Tov told this Jew to go to Shabsi Meir for Shabbos and on Sunday to ask for him for tzedaka and a bracha,when he would customarily distribute tzedaka to all the guests, and in this way he would be helped. He went and enjoyed a beautiful Shabbos with 20 other people at Shabsi Meir’s Shabbos table. After Shabbos he went for tzedaka and he was helped.  

Although the Baal Shem Tov would usually help everyone himself, this time he needed to send this person to Shabsi Meir for whatever reason. We see that here, he needed Reb Shabsi. So too the Rebbe needs each of to do what we can, to utilize our special abilities to continue and fulfill the Rebbe’s directives to bring Moshiach.

The Rebbe’s table was full with people’s troubles to such an extent that we cannot even imagine. In a JEM video, we saw how someone thanked the Rebbe for a bracha he had given him, and that, Baruch Hashem, it was fulfilled. The Rebbe thanked him and said that not everyone will get back to him and tell him about the happy ending. Once the Rebbe got a letter from a child who wrote that from now on he was going to read birkas hashachar from a siddur. The Rebbe responded that this news was; “k’mayim karim al nefesh ayeifa- like cool waters on a tired soul”. With this note this is what the young child gave to the Rebbe. So too with all of us, the Rebbe, the Moshe Rebbenu of our generation needs each and every one of us to do what we can for Hashem, we are all important.

Together we will build the Mishkon for Hashem and then we will have the revelation of the Shechina in this physical world and achieve the objective of bringing Moshiach Now.