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ב"ה

Shul Bulletin

Announcements - Korach

  • 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 - Korach

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:51 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:17am
  • Shacharis: 9:00am & 11:00am in the tent, 10:00am in the shul.
  • Mincha: 7:50 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 4
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:54pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:45pm Melava Malka & and hemshech to Thursday night farbrengen online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.  

Mazal Tov To - Korach

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Schmukler on the engagement of their son Memem to Shaina Liberow. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Zalmen Schmukler.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Mr. Rami Tamir - 5 Tammuz
  • Rabbi Dovid Thaler - 7 Tammuz
  • Rabbi Eliyahu Newman - 8 Tammuz
  • Dovber Cherman - 10 Tammuz
  • Yosef Chaim Kaufman - 11 Tammuz

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Fogelman - 5 Tammuz
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yehudah Lerman - 6 Tammuz
  • Mr. & Mrs. Eliezer Yaakov Kahan - 10 Tammuz

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Masi Mindel bas Reb Levi Yitzchok Halevi (Mrs. Debbie Fine’s mother) - 5 Tammuz
  • Reb Itzchav Tzvi ben Reb Chaim Simcha (Mrs. Chaya Kornreich’s father) - 6 Tammuz
  • Chava Rivkah bas Reb Avraham (Mr. Isser Goldstein’s mother) - 7 Tammuz
  • Raizel bas Reb Yakov Hakohen (Rabbi Zalman Raksin’s grandmother) - 8 Tammuz
  • Esther bas Reb Mordechai (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s mother) - 8 Tammuz
  • Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Mordechai Tzvi (Rabbi Zalman Raksin’s grandfather) - 8 Tammuz
  • Reb Moshe ben Reb Sholom (Mr. David Peretz’s father) - 8 Tammuz
  • Baila bas Reb Yitzchok (Rabbi Zalman Raksin’s mother) - 9 Tammuz
  • Rachel bas Reb Aharon (Ms. Ofra Shipman’s mother) - 10 Tammuz

Devar Torah - Korach

Gimmel Tammuz: A time to reflect on our Hiskashrus to our Rebbe
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

The Shliach of S. Cruz, Rabbi Shlomo Chein tells over a story showing the power of Hiskashrus of a Chossid to a Rebbe.

The story starts in the year 1946- 1947 the year after the end of the Second World War in Russia.

In 1939 Eastern Poland was annexed by the Soviet Union, and soon afterward Moscow began a program of mass deportations. Hundreds of thousands of Polish citizens were forced to leave their homes and were transported to Siberia, Kazakhstan, and other parts of the Soviet Union. There were several waves of deportations during which whole families were sent to different parts of the Soviet Union. After the war those holding Polish passports were given permission to leave Russia to return to their native homes. Many Russian Chabad Chassidim made false Polish passports in order to escape Communist Russia. 

The story began with this Russian Chabad Chosid together with his immediate and extended family sitting on the train station platform in the city of Lvov with their false Polish passports waiting to embark on their journey out of the country. Suddenly an army jeep pulled into the station. The Chosid told his family to say Tehillim because they were coming for him. When the soldiers approached they asked to speak with him. The entire family got up and started to walk together. The soldier said; “No no, just him. We just need to speak with him for a minute, he’ll be right back; you stay here.” That minute didn’t end for six months, when the Chosid’s wife finally discovered the location where he was being held. The rest of the family left on the train that night and only the wife and daughter stayed behind in Russia. When he was released from prison, from then on he lived as a fugitive, a Lubavitcher who did the Rebbe’s work hiding in Samarkand in an effort to evade the authorities. Once you are arrested, even after your released they can and often did come to get you. In the meanwhile his son Mordecai had reached New York, and in 1958 was studying in the yeshiva in 770.

At that time legal emigration was in most cases only possible in order to reunite families, especially the elderly. Since this Chosid’s wife had elderly parents in Israel with no one to care for them there was a possibility if they applied for a visa the Soviets would allow the three of them to emigrate, for humanitarian considerations to Israel. The problem with this idea was that it required filling out extensive forms and providing many pictures and details of all of their activities within the last 20 years. For a wanted man living like a fugitive this would be considered tantamount to committing suicide. Then the KGB, having whatever evidence they needed including addresses and details had the discretion to come at anytime and arrest him, a practice that was commonplace. If on the other hand he would lie or forge anything and was caught the punishment was harsh labor camps in Siberia. On the other hand if he didn’t try then he would never be able to leave the Soviet Union. They were in a real quandary, a ‘Catch-22’, about what to do.

Mordecai went into yechidus with the Rebbe and explained the situation. He said that if father will go to the police with all the forms, pictures and details surely the police would investigate. Aside from the police, copies of the package will also be sent to city and state government offices as well as Moscow for investigation and approval. When they see his record they will arrest him but if he doesn’t apply he cannot leave. After he completed his description of their situation the Rebbe waved his hand as if waving it off and said: “Ay, zeh veit nisht chapen- they will overlook it, they won’t catch him.” He asked a second time and got the same response. Mordecai sent a coded message with the Rebbe’s answer to his father Russia.

When his father received the message he spoke with his fellow Chassidim about his next step. His friends were skeptical; they’ll arrest you up they said. But the Rebbe gave his bracha and said they won’t, he insisted. They gave a number of replies. One said that the Rebbe left in 1928 and things are different now, the KGB is much more aggressive. Another said the Rebbe is young. Another said only meant it spiritually. Another said that perhaps he got the message wrong.

In the end he decided that he would listen to the Rebbe and his wife went to the police station and filled out the forms. They waited for an entire year. It was an agonizing year. Having provided their address, they felt as if they could hear a knock on the door at any moment and he would be arrested. Finally they received a message to report to their local KGB station. Once again he went to his fellow Chassidim to talk it through. Again they were pessimistic. They were saying not to go, that certainly he would be arrested. “By going there you are walking straight into the lion’s den, sparing them the trouble of even having to pick you up.” they said.

Nevertheless, being a Chosid he decided to listen to and follow the Rebbe’s guidance. His wife went to the police station and when she arrived the woman clerk began asking questions in a daunting way. She would slowly ask one question after another, staring at her intently, with many pauses in between all intended to intimidate and weaken the resolve of the applicant, a common tactic of the KGB. Finally she interrupted the clerk’s questioning and asked with impatience in her voice; “Why are you asking all these questions, we answered all of them in the forms and you’ve had them for over a year?” The clerk apologized explaining that actually they lost their copy of the package and hadn’t even seen anything. Meanwhile we have received visas for the three of you from Moscow. I’m trying to get at least some understanding of the facts. Soon thereafter she handed her the visas.

After making their arrangements they arrived at the airport to leave. The officer who stamps visas looked at the visas and then at them and said; “ A whole family given visas to leave? We never do that. I’m going to check to see if these are real, I’m going to make sure”. With that he took their visas and left them standing there without their prized tickets to freedom. It was a distressing nervous hour that passed before the officer returned. Finally he did return and said; “Sometimes they are not good, but these are good, I checked with Moscow, you are free to go.”

Finally they boarded the flight. An hour into the flight the pilot made an announcement that there were people on the plane that had illegally boarded and that the plane was turning back and returning to Russia. When they landed the police boarded the plane. The Chosid was sitting with his head in his hands not knowing what would happen next. The police approached his row, and then passed by it going to the back of the plane and removed some other passengers. The police deplaned, the pilot apologized for the inconvenience and they took off again. They arrived in Vienna and from there they went to Eretz Yisroel. The Chosid in the story was my grandfather R. Berke Chein. My father, R. Mordecai Chein, the son who went into the Rebbe, told this story to me many times.

Standing in the week of Gimmel Tammuz we can learn an important lesson from this story. R. Berke Chein was a Chosid of the Previous Rebbe. He never met the Rebbe personally. He didn’t even have a picture, not to mention any Sichos Kodesh or any Mamarim. It was 1958 and he was completely cut off, he had no active physical contact with the new Rebbe. Never the less, he had a simple and profound emunah in the Rebbe and in his guidance. The Rebbe said to apply to the KGB and it wouldn’t be a problem. Even though that under normal circumstances if a fugitive provides the KGB with his name and correct address along with pictures and explanations of his activities over the last two decades he will bring great harm to himself; nevertheless he proceeded with the full belief in the Rebbe’s words beyond even the protests of his fellow Chassidim. He left to Soviet Union, escaping the KGB and arriving in Eretz Yisroel. He settled in Kfar Chabad and merited to be by the Rebbe in New York.

This story is relevant to all of us. The Rebbe said that this is the last generation of Golus. Many may ask, how is it possible? There is an ‘Iron Curtain’ of Golus surrounding us with all it’s naysayers and opinion makers who describe the impossibilities of us getting out of the predicament of Golus. Best to make peace with Galus and not ‘apply’ to leave. Some will say you never even saw the Rebbe, how can you rely on his word? The voices of caution say things like, the Rebbe was speaking on a spiritual level, or that message was meant for another time. Today we are still able to have a strong hiskashrus so many year after Gimmel Tamuz. Remember the Rebbe told us its up to us to end this Golus and demand from Hashem WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!!!

A Good Shabbos

REminder! Farbrengen for men

 Farbrengen for men
TONIGHT after maariv, in shul tent.
(do not enter from Oakwood)
Speaker: Rabbi Mendel Schapiro.

Gimmel Tammuz Local & Global Event

 WhatsApp Image 2020-06-21 at 8.47.33 PM.jpeg

Chabad Chodesh - Tammuz

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

Announcements - Shlach

  • 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!!
  • 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 - Shlach

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:50 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:16 am
  • Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
  • Thillim Club: Any child who says Tehillim for 30 minutes should have their parents send Rabbi Frankel a WhatsApp or text message at 323-678-6115 and as soon as we are out of quarantine they will receive their pizza coupon and a treat! There will also be two raffles for sefarim One for boys and one for girls.
  • It is customary for all men to get an aliya this Shabbos. Minyanim for Kriah will begin at 9:45 am. The Gaboim ask that everyone please come to shul before davening to get an aliya.  
  • Shacharis: 10:15 - Since we expect more people this week and the minyonim are not staggered, we request everyone wear a mask.
  • Mincha: 7:50 pm. Followed - Pirkei Avos Chapter 3
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:53 pm
  • Molad Chodesh Tammuz: Sunday, Sivan/June 21, 12:26am and 14 chalakim.
  • Rosh Chodesh Tammuz: Monday & Tuesday, June 22 & 23.

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:45pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.  

Kiddush Sponsors - Shlach

  • Dr. & Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-Noy in honor of Gimmel Tammuz. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela. Also, in honor of Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart Lizchus Refuah Shleimah umeheiroh for Sima bas Sarah. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Fogelman for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman’s father Reb Yehuda Tzvi ben Reb Moshe Yakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Kramer in honor of the birth of their Zelda. May they have much nachas from her and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Leib Lerner in honor of Gimmel Tammuz. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Plotke in honor of Gimmel Tammuz. May they and the entire community be blessed with kol tuv se’ela.

Mazal Tov To - Shlach

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yehuda Lerman on the engagement of their son Mendy to Hadar Goldberg from Tsfaz.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Nootie Gross - 28 Sivan
  • Levi Weiss - 30 Sivan
  • Shmuel Berkowitz - 1 Tammuz
  • Schnuer Zalmen Raeburn - 2 Tammuz
  • Rabbi Yaakov BenZaquen - 4 Tammuz
  • Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy - 4 Tammuz

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Berel Schusterman - 30 Sivan
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Bukiet - 1 Tammuz
  • Mr. & Mrs. Gary Apfel - 2 Tammuz
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shalom Elharrar - 3 Tammuz
  • Mr. & Mrs. Yankel Ginsburg - 3 Tammuz

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Chayim Eliyahu ben Reb Eliezer (Rabbi Yosef Mishulovin’s father) - 29 Sivan
  • Reb Yehuda Tzvi ben Reb Moshe Yakov (Rabbi Shmuel Fogelman’s father) - 1 Tammuz
  • Reb Yosef Hirsh ben Reb Leib (Rabbi Eli Vcherashansky’s father) - 2 Tammuz
  • Reb Eli ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Robin Hambourger’s father) - 3 Tammuz
  • Reb Meir ben Reb Moshe Efraim (Mr. Mitch Reichman’s father) - 4 Tammuz
  • Reb Avrohom ben Reb Moshe (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s brother) - 4 Tammuz

Devar Torah - Shlach

Letter from Plotkin Family

קטנתי מכל החסדים

I am humbled by all the kindness...

Many of you are aware of the emotional roller coaster that our family has been on, these last 11 weeks. You know, because so many of you have hopped on board. You have shared our worries, our simcha, our pain. When my father was intubated, battling that dreadful virus, you, the community stepped in. I speak specifically to the greater Los Angeles community, but really, our brothers and sisters - fellow Chasidim from across America joined in. Tehilim was said round the clock- completed thousands of times over. Torah learning, and mitzvos were dedicated to my father’s recovery. 

When my brother’s wedding plans needed to be reconfigured, first for Corona, then my father’s illness, then riots, then shiva, the Los Angeles community stepped up to the plate! The wedding was stunning, and was taken over completely by the community. My mother did not worry about a thing! 

From sheva brachos through shiva, the food came nonstop! Every single detail was arranged- from cases of paper goods, to cases of drinks, enough of everything to last a month! 

I speak on behalf of my entire family when I thank from the bottom of my heart, those who showed up in our time of need. I need to mention a few by name, but I know that many, many people cannot be named. Please consider yourself appreciated. 

-Mrs Fradel Bukiet

-The entire extended Raichik family, especially Harav Shimon and his Rebetzin, Levi, Yanky and Rivky, Suri. 

-Mr and Mrs Marty Weiss

-Dr Zev and Varda Rav-Noy

-Rabbi Mendy Spalter 

-Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum

-Mrs Esther Lerner and co

אשרינו מה טוב חלקינו!

It is truly a blessing to be part of this community! (On a smaller scale, the Albany community outdid themselves to take care of my kids!)

May everyone continue to have boundless energy and resources, and ability to utilize their kochos but from now on, only for simchas!

Dini Gordon 
On behalf of the Plotkin Family 

Farbrengen Sponsors

There will iy"h be a farbrengen on shabbos
in honor of 28 Sivan - day the Rebbe came to America
and in preparation for Gimmel Tammuz

If you would like to sponsor this special farbrengen
please let us know ASAP

Announcements - Behaalotecha

  • Click here for this week's KYY newsletter and for All you need for KYY home Edition. 
  • 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 - Behaalotecha

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:48 pm
  • Minyanim for Mincha & Kabolos Shabbos in the tent (masks will be provided)
  • Shachris: 9:00am & 11:00am in the tent, 10:00am in the shul (masks will be provided)
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:15 am
  • Mincha: 7:45 pm in the tent (masks will be provided)
  • After Mincha - Pirkei Avos Chapter 2
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:51 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:45pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join

 Minyanim times for next week:

  • Shachris: 6:30 (Mon & Thur. 6:25), 8:00 & 9:00 am
  • Mincha: 2:00 & 8:00pm
  • Mariv: 8:38pm 

Mazal Tov To - Behaalotecha

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yechezkel Raeburn on the birth of their daughter Rivka.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Spalter on the marriage of their daughter to Genni to Sruly Lerman. Mazal tov to the grandparents Rabbi & Rebbitzen Schochet.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Mr. Reuven Solomon - 22 Sivan
  • Rabbi Yitzchok Tennenbaum - 24 Sivan
  • Mr. Chaim Spiegel - 25 Sivan
  • Rabbi Shmaya Altein - 26 Sivan
  • Mr. Aaron Leib Brenner - 26 Sivan
  • Saadia-Leib Davidoff - 27 Sivan

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Shaul Raigorodsky - 21 Sivan
  • Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Levin - 22 Sivan

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Baila Frummet bas Reb Asher Haleivi (Mrs. Shaindel Glick’s mother) - 21 Sivan
  • Reb Ezer ben Reb Shimon (Rabbi Yaakov BenZaquen’s father) - 21 Sivan
  • Tamar bas Reb Moshe (Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s sister) - 22 Sivan
  • Reb Moshe ben Reb Shmuel (Mr. Jon Engelson’s father) - 24 Sivan

Devar Torah - Behaalotecha

Our mandate for our time:
Illuminate the world with the light of Torah
to prepare for Moshiach! 
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik 

Everything is by Hashgach Protis (Divine Providence) and this week in Parshas Bahaloscha, the Torah talks about the travels of the Yidden through the desert. Living in todays time, we see that the entire world is a desert. Its a crazy time where there is no leadership. We see openly the corrupt education of the world. The government now teaches people that you can rob, steal and burn cause you are upset and you wont be punished. In such a time, we ask. What can we do? We are living in a desert. Here the Rebbes explains us how to live through this dark desert and bring the light of Moshiach.

.Parshas Bah parsha tells us that when the ananei hakavod (clouds) signaled, the Bnei Yisroel travelled. In some places they stayed for a year, or a week, or even just a day or two. What practical knowledge do we gain by knowing the various travels and camping places of Bnei Yisroel in the desert? The answer is to teach us that the Bnei Yisroel camped and traveled according to the word of Hashem.

The Gemorah asks: How do we know that we may not carry between a private domain and a public domain on Shabbos? If we learn this halacha from the desert, we know that a desert is not considered a city, but rather a karmelis (not a public domain)? The Gemorah answers that we learn the halacha out of the fact that the Bnei Yisroel traveled and camped according to Hashem. When the Bnei Yisroel encamped, that place became a permanent establishment. Thus, the laws of a private domain and a public domain applied. This teaches us that even though the Bnei Yisroel might have only stayed briefly in a certain place, because Hashem told them to stop there, their stay, however short, was considered permanent.

The Rebbe explains that a desert has two features: no one can live there and nothing grows there. This shows a level of klipa.  Nothing positive can come from klipa, and klipa wants everything for itself. When the Bnei Yisroel entered the midbar, wherever they settled converted that part of the desert into a city. There were six hundred thousand households and a population of over two million individuals, they were supplied with water from Miriam's well and they erected the Mishkan. The Midrash adds that plants even began to grow. Bnei Yisroel converted the physical desert into a physical city and a spiritual desert into a home for Hashem. This same lesson should be applied to our avodas Hashem in this time of golus. Since Hashem put us here now, in this time and place, we are similar to those who traveled in the desert. It is "Al Pi Hashem". We are living in a spiritual desert without revelation of Hashem. Our job in this desert is to erect a Mishkan, a dwelling place for Hashem. In this sense, every one of us represents the shevet Levi who must establish our dwellings as a Mishkan and do the service of Hashem in our home – where each of us represents the kohanim.

Sometimes we travel away from home.  Even if only for a day or so, we may feel that we are only traveling and what we do is not so important.  One might say to himself, “ich bein nor interveigen - I am neither here nor there.” Why should I be mehadar in kashrus, in tznius, davening with a minyan, etc. while in transit?  I am on the road, don't bother me. This week's parsha teaches us that even when the Jews only encamped for one day, the Levi’im had to erect the Mishkan, disassemble it the next day and load the wagons with much hard labor! The Levi’im did not excuse themselves saying, “we don't need to get so involved, why should we bother for only a day or two?” Instead, they knew their encampment was by the word of Hashem and it was their task to prepare the Mishkan for the Kohanim to bring korbonos.  They therefore treated every temporary place as permanent, and erected the Mishkan and performed avodas Hashem in that place.

The same is true for us. When we travel, we must remember the lesson from the Baal Shem Tov that everything is by Divine Providence.  As the possuk says in Tehillim 37:23, “The steps of man are directed by Hashem.” So if one ends up somewhere, even overnight, it’s because Hashem wants him to be in that specific place.  Our whole life is and wherever we are must be “al pi Hashem”. One must behave as if one is at home, and make that campground, hotel, motel or airport lounge into a Mishkan for Hashem.

Likutei Sichos, Vol 13 and vol 7, p. 351; sicha said to the shluchim going to Australia, 11 Iyar 5731/1971

Plotkin Shiva Info

The Plotkin Family
is sitting shiva at 321 N Detroit St

Phone: 323-394-1303
Email: [email protected] 

Minyan Times:
Shacharis- 8 & 9, Mincha/Maariv- 7:45

Visiting Times:
10:00am-12:30pm, 2-5:30pm & 7-10pm

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

BD"E: Reb Avrohom Plotikin a'h

With deep sorrow we announce the passing of R' Avrohom Plotkin,
longtime member of the Los Angeles community

He is survived by his spouse Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin

Sons:
Moshe Plotkin, New Paltz NY
Yaakov Binyomin, Crown Heights NY
Yosef, S. Jose CA
Chaim, Los Angeles CA
Mendel, Crown Heights NY

Daughters:
Dina Gordon, Albany Ny
Estie Yusewitz, Encino CA

The Levaya
will be TODAY-Sunday, 12:00 noon
at Congregation Levi Yitzchak
followed by burial at Mount Olive Cemetery

All attendees must wear masks
and follow social distancing guidelines

Chevra kadisha and cemetery policy is:
Everyone at the cemetery must stay next to their cars, no exceptions!
Only family may stand near the burial plot

Thank you for your cooperation

Shiva information will be posted separately

May we share only simchos 

Announcements - Naso

  • Click here for this week's KYY newsletter and for All you need for KYY home Edition. 
  • 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!
  • TEHILLIM: Please say tehillim for Mr. Plotkin- Boruch Avrohom Aharon ben Yenta  who needs our teflos more then ever.

Shabbos Schedule - Naso

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 7:44 pm
  • Minyanim for Mincha & Kabolos Shabbos in the tent (masks will be provided)
  • Shachris: 9:00am in the tent, 10:00am in the shul & 11 am in the kollel (masks will be provided)
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:15 am
  • Mincha: 7:40 pm in the tent (masks will be provided)
  • After Mincha - Pirkei Avos Chapter 1
  • Shabbos Ends: 8:47 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 9:30pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join

 Minyanim times for next week:

  • Shachris: 6:30 (Mon & Thur. 6:25), 8:00 & 9:00 am
  • Mincha: 2:00 & 7:55pm
  • Mariv: 8:30pm 

Mazal Tov To - Naso

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Levine on the birth of their grandson. 
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson on the birth of their grandson (to Shlomo & Rivki Nathanson.)
  • Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin on the marriage of their son Mendel to Rochel Baron.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Sanowicz on the marriage of their son Shmuly to Sara Kugel.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Rabbi Chaim Burston - 14 Sivan
  • Menachem Mendel Habibian - 15 Sivan
  • Rabbi Boruch Friedman - 16 Sivan
  • Rabbi Danny Rotenberg - 16 Sivan
  • Mr. Joshua Rosen - 16 Sivan
  • Mr. Yosef Chazanow - 16 Sivan
  • Rabbi Jonathan Glabman - 17 Sivan
  • Alexander Sender Reichman - 18 Sivan
  • Mr. Frank Revere - 18 Sivan
  • Mr. Jon Hambourger - 19 Sivan
  • Mr. Moshe Niasoff - 19 Sivan
  • Aaron Binyomin Revere - 20 Sivan

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Wagshul - 14 Sivan
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shaya Lowenstein - 14 Sivan
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Goldman - 14 Sivan
  • Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Anatian - 14 Sivan
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Chaim Burston - 15 Sivan
  • Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Blauner - 17 Sivan

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

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Devar Torah - Naso

From Kristallnacht in Germany 1938 to Riots in America  2020

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik 

This year on the second day of Shavuos the riots began. Many ask how such a thing is possible here in America today in the year 2020.  This isn’t the Europe of yesteryear. Why should there be so much violence and destruction? Haven’t we learned from the past?

There is no doubt that there are legitimate grievances to the event that allegedly sparked the riots. The event was horrendous. Every citizen in this country deserves equal rights, protection and humane treatment under the law. There are some people who are just not fit to serve as policemen. They lack the moral clarity and ethics necessary to do their jobs. This is not a statement about the police who are overwhelmingly good people who do so much for society. In truth we need some soul searching to straighten this out, but there is no doubt that rioting, looting, stealing and injuring innocent people is wrong and a completely illegitimate response. The event is not a cause for the barbaric behaviors of the masses that we have witnessed. Everyone has a right to protest, not to riot.

On the second day of Shavuos I was aroused by words of the Yom Tov prayer: 

“You have chosen us from all the Nations. You loved us and desired us. You raised us from among all languages and sanctified us with your mitzvos. You brought us closer to you, our King. To serve your great and holy Name you called us.”

The Rebbe mentioned many times that when Hashem gave the Torah and mitzvos to us he also commanded us to influence the nations of the world with the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noach.  The reason that Jewish people have not been actively engaged with spreading the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noach is not because it’s not an obligation. The reason is that it has been an intolerant world that made it dangerous and subject to violent reprisals against the Jewish community. The world wasn't ready to hear about the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noach. But now, the Rebbe said we are in a free society and it’s safe to share the seven mitzvos and therefore an obligation. Not only will it not cause harm, but people will appreciate hearing about them.

The first of the seven mitzvos is to believe in Hashem, the Creator of the world. To appreciate that there's a higher power, an eye that sees and an ear that hears. In 1959 when prayer was abolished in the schools the Rebbe spoke out about the great mistake and danger of removing prayer from schools, removing an awareness of Hashem from the public. This is also the reason that the Rebbe campaigned in the 1980s for a moment of silence in public schools at the start of the school day.  The Rebbe explained that due to separation of church and state it's up to the parents to decide what that child should think about in the moment of silence. Nevertheless by establishing a moment of silence within the school curriculum each child will have a moment to reflect on a higher power, a Creator who wants us to live ethically. It’s not against the constitution, it's what America was founded on, a belief in G-d. The Rebbe said that if we don't educate our children this way the world will become a jungle. 

The Rebbe said that he saw in Germany, a place of culture, science, music and many laws including laws forbidding cruelty to animals, cruelty and violence on a scale unparalleled in history. The reason that an advanced culture could keep their culture active and intact while at the same time creating a cruel holocaust is because their culture was secular and G-dless. This allowed a complete disconnect to develop between an awareness of a higher power and moral behavior and barbarism.

The Rebbe said then that if we don't educate our children to have a belief in a higher power and don't institute a moment of silence in public schools this is G-d forbid where we can end up. This is what we have come to and where we find ourselves today.

On kristallnacht in Germany in 1938 people stood by passively and watched the destruction and the violence. It’s no coincidence that the riots here escalated in Fairfax, the icon of the Jewish community. I saw the Watts and the Rodney King riots. They never touched a synagogue or house of prayer. The graffiti showed blatant anti semitism. It’s kristallnacht all over again. Today during the riots in America people were breaking into stores looting and burning down buildings and the police were just standing idly by. They stood idle by orders of the leadership, the mayor and the governor. These are the same people that forbade public prayer because of the coronavirus. They require many guidelines of distancing, only allowing 10 to 12 people, at the most 1/3 of regular congregants to attend davening. At the very same time they turn a blind eye to the thousands of people that are protesting without any distancing and ignoring the riots and even defending them. 

Where did these ideas come from? How have we gone so far afield from simple logic and basic moral clarity and common sense? This is the product of a corrupt educational system. An educational system that says whatever you feel is what is right. When there is no G-d, no moment of silence, no awareness of a higher power, they don't feel beholden to moral standards. It has become a jungle.

A question is asked about Matan Torah. Why did Hashem have to come down on Har Sinai to teach us about simple common laws such as not to bear false witness, not to steal or murder and to honor our parents? Aren’t these things obvious and common sense? The answer is that it's only going to work if we first follow the first two of the Ten Commandments. Only if we first recognize the first two, the existence of a Creator and not having false gods will the following eight commandments be sustainable. Otherwise, over time our behaviors will devolve into indecent behaviors that defy common decency. The world will devolve into a jungle of stealing murdering mayhem, and a distorted media and propaganda that manipulates the masses. Just like we saw it in Germany so too again are seeing it again today in America.

Good and dedicated working class people are picking up the tab by dutifully paying their taxes to support a corrupt educational system. Yet often it is the professors of the universities, that have no awareness of a higher power, who are paid from taxes that are instigating riots. This is what  taxes are paying for in the year 2020. 

Although it looks like a dark day in America, the Rebbe may have described it differently.  In 5734-1974  when a religious party in Israel agreed to enter the government even though they would not repeal the law of Mihu Yehudi- Who is a Jew, people commented that it was a dark day. The Rebbe said that no, it isn't a dark day, it's a light day. Through the actions of this religious party the matter has been made crystal clear. We now know exactly where they stand and what their intentions are. 

What we have seen in the latest most recent behavior on our streets has made crystal clear how dark the world can be without a belief in a higher power and without the benefit of the Torah and mitzvos. A world with the Torah and mitzvos and the seven mitzvos of Bnei Noach is a good and kind world. Today we can see this difference, this has been made crystal clear. 

The Rebbe said many times that before Moshiach there will be crystal clear clarity between good and evil. We say to Hashem this day that we've gotten the message. We don't need any more examples of how important it is to learn the Torah and do mitzvahs, it's time for Moshiach now.

A Good peaceful healthy and happy Shabbos 

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