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ב"ה

Shul Bulletin

Topal Shiva update

Reb Boaz Topal
is sitting shiva on the passing of his mother Yael bas Zecharyah ob"m

Address: 118 N Highland. 

 Minyanim:
Shacharis-7.15am. Mincha/Maariv-5.45pm

NO VISITORS:
12.30-3pm and after 10pm

Email: [email protected]. Phone: 718.510.5842

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

Announcements - Tetzaveh

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

Shabbos Schedule - Tetzaveh

Please seek 'Chabad Chodesh' about Purim on Friday with the Rebbe
In 1981 the Rebbe also said that on this Sunday connect with Yerusholayim
See Chodesh for more details.

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:29 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:12 am
  • Shacharis: 9:00 in tent, 9:30 in the Kollel, 10:00 in shul
  • KYY: 10:00
  • Mincha: 5:30 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:32 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 8:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Kiddush Sponsors - Tetzaveh

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Tetzaveh

4:30 at the home of Mrs. Berta Sandberg
543 N Martel
Speaker: Rabbi Levi Kramer

Mazal Tov To - Tetzaveh

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Levine on the marriage of their grandson Aba Zajac to Chana Aron.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Chaim Yehuda Leib Perl - 15 Adar
  • Dovid Raigorodsky - 15 Adar
  • Rabbi Leib Lerner - 16 Adar
  • Rabbi Schneur Schneerson - 16 Adar
  • Rabbi Meir Rivkin - 16 Adar
  • Aryeh Leib Hoch - 17 Adar
  • Meir Israeli - 17 Adar
  • Mr. Jon Engelson - 18 Adar
  • Mr. Zev Oster - 18 Adar
  • Rabbi Meir Schmukler - 20 Adar
  • Rabbi Yosef Mishulovin - 20 Adar
  • Mendel Wolowik - 20 Adar
  • Immanuel Mordechai Gutierrez - 21 Adar
  • Mr. Reuven Horwitz - 21 Adar
  • Dovid Revere - 21 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik - 15 Adar
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Dovid Kaye - 16 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Yehosuah Goldman - 16 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Ari Brown - 16 Adar
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Boruch Friedman - 16 Adar
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Schmukler - 17 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Mendel-Hilel Ganzburg - 19 Adar
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yisroel Hecht - 19 Adar
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik - 20 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Elozor Plotke - 21 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Berel Wilhelm - 21 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Simcha Kagan - 21 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • 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
  • Reb Avrohom Yitzchok ben Reb Yisroel Bastomski - 16 Adar
  • Reb Shlomo Zalman ben Reb Shmuel Nata (Mr. Moshe Kaszirer’s father) - 17 Adar
  • Golda bas Reb Yosef (Dr. Margalit Leaderman’s mother) - 18 Adar
  • Chava Maryasha bas Reb Ber (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s mother) - 19 Adar
  • Reb Betzalel ben Reb Chaim Shneur Zalmen (Rabbi Avrohom Klyne’s father) - 19 Adar
  • Rochel bas Reb Meir (Mr. Mitch Reichman’s grandmother) - 21 Adar
  • Matilda Chaya bas Reb Sholom (Yermi Kurkus’s mother) - 21 Adar

Devar Torah - Tetzaveh

A Truly Heartfelt Purim l’Chaim Can Reach the Highest of Levels

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Everyone knows that on Purim we make l’chaim until we don’t know the difference between “Baruch Mordecai and Arur Haman, Blessed Be Mordecai and Cursed be Haman”. What does this really mean?  Is it necessary to get so intoxicated?  Some say that the main idea is that we should make a few l’chaims to get relaxed and free to celebrate Purim in the right spirit.

The Rebbe explains the true understanding of the Purim l’chaim in numerous Sichos by explaining the concepts of Baruch Mordecai and Arur Haman in our spiritual service of Hashem. Haman represents all types of negative things. Arur Haman represents observing the negative mitzvos. By observing the negative mitzvos we reject-curse the negativity of Haman. Mordecai represents all types of positivity. Baruch Mordecai represents fulfilling the positive mitzvos and that we are blessed to do a mitzvah.

In the Tikunei Zohar it says that Yom Kippur is like, “K-Purim”. How is it that Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year is only like, not as great as Purim and what does it teach us? We know that on Yom Kippur Hashem forgave the Jewish people for the cheit ha’eigel, the sin of the golden calf. It was also the day that Moshe Rabbenu descended from Har Sinai with the second set of Luchos. Therefore throughout all of history Yom Kippur is a day of forgiveness and a day that we renew our connection to the Torah on a higher level. 

These two aspects of Yom Kippur are also found in Purim. On Purim the Jewish people reached a very high level of teshuva. Purim is also the day that the Jewish people rededicated and fully accepted the giving of the Torah. 

On the special day of Purim the Rebbe’s fabrengens were very deep. The goal is to make l’chaim and to reach the level of not knowing, adei lo yada. Firstly a l’chaim loosens restrictions. To make l’chaim adei lo yada means to go beyond knowledge and information and to touch the essence of the neshama. When we reach a level where running away from an aveira (Arur Haman) or doing a mitzvah (Baruch Mordecai) is not different. They are both the expression of one essence that is happy to do either because both of them reveal that our neshama’s essence is connected to Hashem’s essence.

The Rebbe’s maamarim are very deep and the Rebbe wants us to delve into them. On the other hand the Rebbe wants us to throw ourselves into mivtzoyim and bring it to the farthest reaches of the planet. The Rebbe wants us to reach and to teach the Aleph-Beis to a Jewish child in Timbuktu. Each one of us has our preferences about what to accentuate because no two people are alike. At the same time the Rebbe wants us to be active in all areas and to be fully invested, 100% in everything we do, whether it’s learning a maamar or putting tefillin on with someone in Tanzania on top of Mount Kilimanjaro. We do both with the same intensity because they are both the expression of the same essence. This is the true meaning of adei lo yada and what we strive to reach on Purim and throughout the year.

May Hashem bless all of us to make a Purim l’Chaim with Moshiach this year.

A Good Shabbos and a Freilichen Purim! 

PURIM Schedule

For all the Halachos of Purim. Click here to see 'Chabad Chodesh'

Ta’anis Esther
Thursday, Adar 13/February 25

  • Fast Begins: 5:08 am
  • Shachris: 6:15, 6:45, 8:00 & 9:00 am 
  • Machatzis HaShekel/Minchah: 12:35 & 5:00 pm
  • Grand KYY Event: 5:15 pm
  • Fast Ends/Maariv: 6:15 pm
  • Late Megila at the Bukiet's - 343 N Formosa: 8:00 pm 

Purim Day
Friday, Adar 14/February 26

  • Sunrise: 6:25 am
  • 1st Minyan: 6:00 - in Shul
  • 2nd Minyan: 7:00 - in Kollel
  • 3rd Minyan: 8:00 - in Shul
  • 4th Minyan: 8:30 - in Tent
  • 5th Minyan: 9:00 - in Kollel
  • 6th Minyan: 9:30 - in Shul
  • KYY kids Megila reading: 10:00 in KYY 
  • Late Megila at the Bukiet's - 343 N Formosa: 11:30 am 
  • Mincha: 12:35 & 5:30 pm
  • Candle Lighting: 5:28 pm 

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Do you Need a Megila Reading? Can you Make a Megila Reading?

For people who cannot make it to any Megila Readings including outdoor,
You can fill out these forms
and iyh a bal koreh will come to your house on purim

Form for a private kria purim night:
Bit.ly/megillahn

Form for private Kris purim day:
Bit.ly/megillahd

Bal korehs and megilas are needed for mivtzoim:
If you can lein or lend out your migilah plz fill out this form:
forms.gle/AijSaujrnEpi1nadA

Announcements - Terumah

  • 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!!
  • Message from Yankel Ginsburg: As I have for several years, I intend to bring in a large order of various kinds of matzah from various locations. If you would like to make an order, please private message: call @ 323-595-5895, or email @ [email protected]. Thank you. 

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Shabbos Schedule - Terumah

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:23 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:19 am
  • Shacharis: 9:00 in tent, 9:30 in the Kollel, 10:00 in shul
  • KYY: 10:00
  • Mincha: 5:20 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:26 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 8:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Kiddush Sponsors - Terumah

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Simcha Bart’s mother Feiga bas Reb Yakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Nota Berger for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tova Berger’s mother Yehudis Chava bas Reb Yakov Dov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Yankel Ginsburg for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Yankel Ginsburg’s father Reb Dov Reuven ben Reb Dovid Helevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik Shabbas Chata for Mendel and Chani Raichik. May he be Zoche to build a binyan aday ad.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Ber Levine for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Tova Levine’s mother Hinda Ettel bas Reb Yakov ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel Raigorodsky for a refuah shlaimah to Kailah bas Chaya Mushka Bracha. May he have a complete and speedy recovery and may we all be zoche to the geula shleima NOW!

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Terumah

4:30 at the home of Mrs. Tzirel Frankel
109 S Vista
Speaker: Mrs. Fradel Bukiet

Mazal Tov To - Terumah

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yankee Raichik on the birth of their granddaughter (to Avremi & Rivky Raichik.)

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Menachem Mendel Freeman - 9 Adar
  • Mr. Moshe Fishman ob”m - 9 Adar
  • Rabbi Nochum Labkowsky - 10 Adar
  • Rabbi Mendel Pinson - 12 Adar
  • Rabbi Laizer Labkowsky - 12 Adar
  • Rabbi Chaim Avrahom Mentz - 12 Adar
  • Rabbi Shmuel Novack - 13 Adar
  • Yaakov Moshe Friedman - 13 Adar
  • Mr. Reuven Kasten - 13 Adar
  • Mr. Shimon Benarroch - 13 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

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

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Chaim ben Reb Yehoshua Zelig Halevi (Mr. Joel Yachzel ob”m’s father) - 8 Adar
  • Chaya bas Reb Aharon (Mr. Mottel Polityko’s grandmother) - 8 Adar
  • Reb Mordechai ben Reb Abraham (Mrs. Ester Gutierrez’s grandfather) - 11 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

Devar Torah - Terumah

Parshas Zachor: Remembering to Wipe out the 2021 Version of Amalek

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is parshas Zachor. There is a positive commandment to remember what Amalek did to us on our way out of Mitzrayim. We remember this daily in the 6 remembrances at the end of davening. We also fulfill this positive mitzvah once a year by listening to the reading of the parsha about wiping out Amalek on Shabbos parshas Zachor.

How is it possible today to actually fulfill this mitzvah? Long ago Sancheriv rose up and mixed up all nations to the point that we no longer know precisely who Amalek is or where they live. Also, the Torah says that in order to wipe out Amalek we need a King. At this time, do we have a Jewish King (until Moshiach) with which to do this mitzvah? Since we are not able to practically implement this mitzvah, what then is the purpose of constantly remembering our obligation?

There are two essential aspects in our daily service of Hashem. The spiritual; to learn, daven and do mitzvos, and the physical; to engage the world, do business and make it a dwelling place for Hashem.

The Rebbe explains that just like there is a physical Amalek, so too there is a spiritual Amalek that relates directly to our avodas Hashem. Physically there were two times that Amalek attacked the Jewish people. The first was after leaving Mitzrayim on their way to Matan Torah. The second time was right before the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisroel.  What do these two attacks mean in our spiritual service of Hashem and how are they relevant today in 2021?

To better understand how this works, let’s take the description of the physical attack of Amalek; “Asher karcha b’derech-they surprised you on the road”. Chazal explains that “karcha” doesn’t just mean surprise, or happened upon, but also (most importantly) means “kar-cha-cooled you off”. After yetzias Mitzrayim and Krias Yam Suf all the surrounding nations were trembling in fear and awe of Bnei Yisroel. Chazal likens this to the fear of scalding water. Amalek entered this situation with a very “cool” attitude. To their own detriment Amalek jumped into the ‘scalding waters’ and attacked Bnei Yisroel, getting burnt in the process. Their point was to show that it was “no big deal” to attack Bnei Yisroel. Their goal was to cool off the fear and awe that the nations had for Bnei Yisroel. 

The spiritual attack of Amalek was their complaint about the sincerity and complete commitment to Hashem the Jewish people had, and later expressed by Matan Torah when saying “Na’aseh v’Nishmah”; first, “We will do” and only afterwards “We will understand”. This attribute which the Jewish people received from Yaakov was an anathema to Amalek. Amalek told the Jewish people to be first smart, cold and calculating about whether to accept the Torah and do the mitzvos. Only if they decide it’s in their best interest should they go ahead and act. This approach down the road will undermine our relationship with Hashem and drain out the life and enthusiasm in avodas Hashem.

Each individual needs to use his or her intellect to understand and serve Hashem as best as possible according to their abilities. But that is not enough, we all need to direct our intellect into the heart, to utilize it to impact our daily lives. This is where our personal Amalek gets involved. He tries to separate (Am-malak-a nation that separates) between the intellect and its positive effect on the heart. It’s that voice that tells us not to get excited about the Torah we are learning and our davening. Just as it was originally, when we were on our way to receive the Torah in a way of ‘Na'aseh v’Nishma’ without any conditions. Amalek appeared to thwart that intention. They want us to serve Hashem and receive his Torah only with the intellect and not the heart (with kabbolos ohl). Rather, he works tirelessly to cool us off with the dictates of cold objective logic, and a cynical attitude. 

The Medrash says that for the second attack of Amalek on the Jewish people, Amelek dressed up like a Canaanite merchant. Amelek scolded the Jewish people saying; “If you want to make it in this world you have to act like a Canaanite.  If you are going to follow all the rules of the Torah, be honest about weights and measures, tell the truth, and not take interest etc., how are you going to make money?! If you want to live the good life you have to be a Canaanite!” Even when the Jewish people responded that it is Hashem that provides all of the brachos that bring all the success, Amalek instantly  barked back with cynicism; “Kochi v’oztem yadi!”  all that matters is what you do.

This is the Amalek we face each and every day in one form or another. We need to refresh our avodas Hashem with this remembrance daily and keep our focus on the Torah and mitzvos and in our conduct in the world. In this way we do our part to fulfill the mitzvah of wiping out Amalek.   

There are numerous maamarim that address the many forms that Amalek appears in our avodas Hashem. Some forms are very subtle and refined while others open and blunt. At times this Amalek asks the chosid; “Why are you so mihadar in that mitzvah, is it really necessary? It’s more than enough for you (or, someone of your stature) to follow Shulchan Aruch”. 

In 1957, and 1967 the Rebbe spoke about a 1936 Purim fabrengen of the Previous Rebbe. At That fabrengen the Previous Rebbe quoted a maamar from the Alter Rebbe that Amalek is gematria (numeric value) safek. He explained that the way that Amalek cools off a person in his avodas Hashem is by creating doubt in his or her thinking. The essential doubt that Amalek is attempting to create is to doubt the value and realness of our avodas Hashem. He wants a Yid to doubt and question whether or not his or her avodah is real, purposeful or relevant right now. 

A person should not allow themselves to feel upset or question that fact that his avodah is important. He or she needs to realize that since we are connected to Hashem and to Moshe Rabbenu, we are given the power to overcome and eradicate Amalek in our daily lives.

Remembering the parsha of Amalek is one of the 6 daily and constant remembrances. Parshas Zachor reminds us and gives us the strength throughout the year that every day we can renew the victory over Amalek from yet another angle. Amalek has but one agenda; to destroy the Jewish people. The Jewish people have the agenda of blotting out the name of Amalek forever and usher in the eternal era of Moshiach now and forever.

A Good Shabbos

Adapted from Likutei Sichos v 1 parshas Zachor

Hachanassat Kallah Chinese Auction - February 17th

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Bukiet/Stillman Shiva

Rabbi Yossi Bukiet & Mrs. Ruchi Stillman
are sitting shiva on the passing of their brother
Reb Avrohom Shmuel Bukiet ob"m

Address:
Backyard - 343 N. Formosa Ave.

Davening:
Shachris: 7am. Mincha: 5:25pm

Shiva hours
until 10 pm
Mrs. Ruchi Stillman will be sitting from 12 noon. 

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

Matzah orders

This year Rabbi Raichik is only ordering matzah for MIVTZOIM
see email copied below!

He is putting in his order on Sunday, 9 Adar/February 21. 

If you plan on ordering through the Rabbi, please fill out the form by going to www.chabadofla.com/ordermatzos.

Wishing everyone a guten tomid

*** 

Message From Rabbi Raichik. Re: Matzo

 

To those who would order matzos through Rabbi Raichik: 

My Father would supply  Shmurah Matzah for the Los Angeles community because of the hardship of obtaining Shmurah Matzah.

Baruch Hashem for the last 20 years I had the Zchus to continue my father's work in this regard.

As our community has grown tremendously in Los Angeles, Shmurah Matzah is available now in all of the local stores.

Starting this year I will be selling Mivtzoim Matzah only (Kfar Chabad). Personal orders can be made through the local stores. 

Wishing you and your family A Freilichen Purim, and a Kosher and Freilichen Pesach with good health and  Moshiach Now!

 

 

Message From Rabbi Raichik. Re: Matzo

To those who would order matzos through Rabbi Raichik: 

My Father would supply  Shmurah Matzah for the Los Angeles community because of the hardship of obtaining Shmurah Matzah.

Baruch Hashem for the last 20 years I had the Zchus to continue my father's work in this regard.

As our community has grown tremendously in Los Angeles, Shmurah Matzah is available now in all of the local stores.

Starting this year I will be selling Mivtzoim Matzah only (Kfar Chabad). Personal orders can be made through the local stores. 

An email will follow on out how to order the Mivtzoim Matzahs.

Wishing you and your family A Freilichen Purim, and a Kosher and Freilichen Pesach with good health and  Moshiach Now!

Chabad Chodesh - Adar

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

Announcements - Mishpatim

  • 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!! 

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Shabbos Schedule - Mishpatim

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:17 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:21 am
  • Shacharis: 9:00 in tent, 9:30 in the Kollel, 10:00 in shul
  • KYY: 10:00
  • Mincha: 5:15 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:20 pm

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 8:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Kiddush Sponsors - Mishpatim

  • Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Hayman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Daniel Hayman’s father Reb Yeshayahu ben Reb Avraham Nissan ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Zalmen 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.

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Mishpatim

4:30 at the home of Mrs. Henny Wolowik
412 N Alta Vista
Speaker: Mrs. Chani Pinson

Mazal Tov To - Mishpatim

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik on the marriage of their son Mendel to Chanie Lieberman.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Cunin on the engagement of their son Tzemach to Sheina Ossowiecki.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Yitzchak Menashe Stark - 1 Adar
  • Chaim Asher Andrusier - 2 Adar
  • Mr. Chaim Lerner - 2 Adar
  • Mr. Shimon Zeifman - 2 Adar
  • Rabbi Sruly Yusevitch - 3 Adar
  • Rabbi Baruch Kreiman - 3 Adar
  • Schneur Zalman Wagshul - 3 Adar
  • Sholom Dovber Winograd - 3 Adar
  • Mr. Danny Weiss - 4 Adar
  • Moshe Simacha Burston - 5 Adar
  • Yoav Antian - 5 Adar
  • Mr. Allan Stark - 7 Adar
  • Mr. Jack Soussana - 7 Adar
  • Mendy Chazanow - 7 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Leib Ehrlich - 1 Adar
  • Mr. & Mrs. Nachum Cherman - 7 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Charna bas Reb Avrohom (Mrs. Esther Davidoff’s grandmother) - 1 Adar
  • Yehudis bas Reb Kasriel Hakohen (Mr. Efraim Lezak’s mother) - 3 Adar
  • Reb Leib ben Reb Shmuel (Mr. Betzalel Fleischman’s father) - 4 Adar
  • Reb Meshulam Zalman ben Reb Volf Hersh Hakohen (Mrs. Esther Roth’s father) - 5 Adar
  • Reb Moshe ben Reb Nachum Dov (Mr. Zechariah Davidson’s father) - 6 Adar
  • Reb Yeshayahu ben Reb Avraham Nissan (Mr. Daniel Hayman’s father) - 6 Adar

Devar Torah - Mishpatim

There is nothing so Complete as a Half

By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week is Shabbos parshas Shekalim. The parsha speaks about bringing a Machatzis HaShekel a half shekel to the Bais Hamikdosh. On Rosh Chodesh Adar it was announced that everyone should bring their Machatzis HaShekel and on the fifteenth of Adar the collection began. By the time Rosh Chodesh Nisan arrived the funds would be amassed for the purchase of the communal sacrifice. On Rosh Chodesh Nissan they would bring the community sacrifices which had been acquired with the recently collected shekolim contributed by Bnei Yisrael. For this reason on Shabbos Mevorchim Adar or Rosh Chodesh Adar as it falls this year, we read the parsha which speaks about Machatzis HaShekel.

A question is asked, why is only a half shekel given? Why not a complete shekel? Additionally,

the Torah says that twenty gerah is a shekel, give half; since ten is a complete number. Why not say instead to give ten gerah? 

The Talmud Yerushalmi states that Moshe Rabbenu didn't know what Machatzis HaShekel is - so Hashem took out a fiery half shekel from under His Kisei Hakavod (Throne of Glory) and said “This is what you are going to give.” How is it that Moshe Rabbenu couldn't figure this out?

The explanation is that the Machatzis HaShekel was an atonement for the Cheit Ha'eigel (sin of

the Golden Calf). Moshe Rabbenu's question was how could a half shekel forgive the Cheit

Ha'eigel? Hashem showed Moshe Rabbenu that in the coin that a Jew gives there is fire – the

essence of the neshoma of a Jew which is carved out from under the Kisei Hakovod. 

On a superficial level it appears as if we are forcing a Jew to give a half shekel but deep down he is doing it because his neshoma, which has a burning love for Hashem, wants to do that mitzvah.

This is why it is a half shekel. When a Jew knows that he is only half and his other half is Hashem and he unites himself with Hashem, the Jew's ten powers of the neshoma unite with the ten sefiros of Hashem and become one shekel - one being. The Jew removes himself from the sin of the avodah zarah of the eigel and he reveals his essence - the Yechidah - the part of

the neshoma that is one with Hashem. In the Yechidah of the neshama a sin never touched and from there forgiveness comes.  This is hinted in the words ‘Machatzis HaShekel’. The word half reminds us that we are no more than a half, and we need the other half  to become whole (a Shekel HaKodesh). When we realize we are only a half we are protected from avodah zarah.

The Maggid of Mezritch refers to this very union in the explanation of  the word chatzosros, the trumpets, in the pasuk (Bamidbar 10:2) “Make for yourself two chatzosros”. The Rav HaMaggid derives two words, ‘chetzi tzuros, half forms’ from the word chatzosros. When the pasuk says that there are two it refers to Hashem and Knesses Yisroel. Both together comprise a complete tzurah-form.

This can be better understood by the statement in the Tanya (perek 2) that every Jewish person is an actual part of Hashem above. The neshama is not a separate entity from Hashem that connects and forms a union, rather it is inextricably one, an actual part of Hashem. This is the true meaning of Machatzis HaShekel. When the neshama of a Jew is awakened and revealed, the neshama feels incomplete, a half being, with an essential need to unify with his other half, with Hashem in a revealed way. Even if a Jew is forced to do a mitzvah and it appears to be a superficial act, the neshoma is burning with love for Hashem. 

This is also true between one  Jew and another. A Jew feels that he is only half and by connecting to another Jew he completes the shekel; this is the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel. The lesson for us is that even if a person is rich, whether spiritually or physically, he needs to know that he is only half, and even if one is poor, he should not feel that he is nothing; because the contribution of the rich cannot be complete without the contribution of the poor.

The lesson from Machtzis HaShekel is to feel in everything that we do that we are only a half. No matter how well we use our energies, even if it’s with all ten of our soul powers, it will always only add up to half at best. If not for HaKadosh Baruch Hu we are incapable (See Tanya perek 13). By realizing this we become complete in the service of Hashem. 

This is also true in our connection to the Rebbe. There is a saying told in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek that the word מחצית shows that a person has to be connected to a Tzadik. There are five letters in the word מחצית. The צ is in the middle of the word and near it, on either side, are ח and י  spelling חי (life) and on the outside of the word, are מ and ת, meaning the opposite of life. Hence, to be truly alive (and whole) one must be connected to the Tzadik.

By revealing our essential oneness with Hashem with the realization that through learning the Torah and doing mitzvos our ‘half’ is complete. The same is true for our connection to the Rebbe and so too with ahavas Yisroel. By being ‘kulanu k’echod’ may we merit immediately to the Barcheinu Avinu with the coming of Moshiach today.

A Good Shabbos

(Adapted from Likutei Sichos v. 3 p. 926 and v. 31 p. 132)

Announcements - Yisro

  • 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!!
  • TEHILLIM CLUB: We will be having the Tehillim club in person in the tent. We will be starting at 9:15 (new time) until 10 o’clock for girls and boys. Children who are not able to attend but send in a note or text message that they said TEHILLIM for 30 minutes or eligible for pizza coupons and a treat. 
  • 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 - Yisro

  • Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:10 pm
  • Last Time To Read Shema: 9:25 am
  • Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
  • Shacharis: 9:45 in the tent, 10 am in shul and Kollel. 
  • Mincha: 5:10 pm
  • Shabbos Ends: 6:13 pm
  • Molad Chodesh Adar: Friday, Adar 1/February 12, 6:19 am and 4 chalakim .
  • Rosh Chodesh Adar: Friday & Shabbos, February 12 & 13.

MOTZEI SHABBOS:

  • 8:00pm Melava Malka online with Rabbi Raichik on Zoom - Meeting ID: 435 263 4589 Password: 770. Click here to Join.

Sholom Zochor

Alon & Sarah Asefovitz
invite the community to a sholom zochor
at 613 N Citrus Ave

Mendel & Esty Dinerman
invite the community to a sholom zochor
at YOEC 7215 Waring Ave

Kiddush Sponsors - Yisro

  • Dr. & Mrs. Avrohom Benarroch in honor of Dr. Avrohom Benarroch’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • The Fishman Family for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman ob”m and stepmother Ruth Gittel bas Reb Meir ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Greenbaum in honor of Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
  • Mrs. Baila Greenbaum for the yahrtzeit of her father Harav Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Binyomin Kaplan for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Gittel Kaplan’s father Reb Ezra Refoel ben Reb Dovber ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. 
  • Mr. David Milner for the yahrtzeit of his father Reb Ariel ben Reb Chaim Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin for the yahrtzeit of her father Reb Yitzchak Aharon ben Reb Aharon ob"m and father-in-law Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Nochum Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Miriam Raichik’s father Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka in honor of Mr. Berl Sroka’s 60th birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
    Also, in honor of the engagement of their son Chaim Dovid.

Women's Shabbos Shiur - Yisro

4:30 at the home of Mrs. Chana Weiss
411 N Martel
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht

Mazal Tov To - Yisro

  • Rabbi & Mrs. Alon Asefovitz on the birth of their son.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Mendel Dinerman on the birth of their son.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka on the engagement of their son Chaim Dovid.
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik on the engagement of their daughter Chaya Mushka to Chaim Teitlibaum.

Upcoming Birthdays

  • Mr. Beryl Kaufman - 24 Shevat
  • Zalmy Gurary - 24 Shevat
  • Rabbi Pinchas Winograd - 25 Shevat
  • Levi Yitzchok Berger - 26 Shevat
  • Aharon Yechezkel Gross - 26 Shevat
  • Avrohom Benarroch - 26 Shevat
  • Menachem Mendel Halevi Ginsburg - 27 Shevat
  • Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum - 29 Shevat
  • Mr. Berl Sroka - 30 Shevat
  • Yitzchak Menashe Stark - 1 Adar

Upcoming Anniversaries

  • Mr. & Mrs. Efraim Lezak - 30 Shevat
  • Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy - 30 Shevat
  • Mr. & Mrs. Aryeh Leib Ehrlich - 1 Adar

Upcoming Yahrtzeits

  • Reb Efrayim ben Reb Avrohom (Rabbi Benyomin Hoffman’s father) - 24 Shevat
  • Reb Ezra Refoel ben Reb Dovber (Mrs. Gittel Kaplan’s father) - 24 Shevat
  • Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef (Mrs. Miriam Raichik’s father) - 24 Shevat
  • Dina Reizel bas Reb Yitzchok Aaron (Rabbi Velvel Tsikman’s mother) - 25 Shevat
  • Eyde bas Reb Nochum (Mr. Maayan Kerbel’s grandmother) - 25 Shevat
  • Raizel bas Reb Chaim Binyomin Halevi (Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s mother) - 26 Shevat
  • Ruth Gittel bas Reb Meir (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s stepmother) - 26 Shevat
  • Ariel ben Chaim Halevi (Mr. David Milner’s father) - 27 Shevat 
  • Reb Lin ben Reb Avrohom Halevi (Mr. Pinchas Hirsch’s brother) - 28 Shevat
  • Reb Yitzchak Aharon ben Reb Aharon (Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin’s father) - 28 Shevat
  • Malka Leah bas Reb Efraim Zalman (Mr. Moshe Fishman’s mother) - 29 Shevat
  • Reb Yosef ben Reb Dovid (Mr. Steve Zipp’s brother) - 29 Shevat
  • Harav Yisroel Shimon ben Reb Shneur Zalman (Mrs. Baila Greenbaum’s father) - 30 Shevat
  • Charna bas Reb Avrohom (Mrs. Esther Davidoff’s grandmother) - 1 Adar

Devar Torah - Yisro

Moshiach is Ready to Come All Day Long
The Ten-Ten Principle Applied
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Whenever the Torah follows the words “And Hashem spoke” with the word “leimor-to say (or respond)” the Torah is telling us to relate the parsha to others.

At the moment of Matan Torah  by the giving of the Ten Commandments the Torah  begins with the words; “And Hashem spoke all these words, to say”.

If the purpose of the word leimor  teaches that we should relate this to others the question arises, whom? Everyone was present by Matan Torah. The Medrash teaches that even the souls of later generations were  present by Matan Torah. The Maggid of Mezritch answers this question by stating that there are Ten Commandments given by Hashem and 10 Utterances by which Hashem created the world. The word ‘leimor’ at the  beginning of the Ten Commandments teaches us that we need to integrate the 10 Commandments into the 10 Utterances thereby incorporating the Torah into all aspects of the world. This teaching shows us that the Ten Commandments and the 10 Utterances are not two separate things rather part of one greater whole and one greater purpose. 

Many of us live dichotomized lives. We feel Jewish while davening in shul, learning the Torah and doing mitzvos  but feel different when we do our business or walk in the street. While engaged in the mundane we don't feel the difference between a Jew and the rest of the world. When we eat food we make sure that it's kosher and make a bracha before and after. What about the eating itself? When we are eating our favorite foods do we also feel a connection to Hashem? The Rambam says that a wise person is recognizable not only while they are learning but also by how he or she eats, dresses, walks, talks, and does business. 

The Rebbe once told a professor that there are many Jewish intellectuals that carry two briefcases. In one they place Sifrei Kodesh; Chumash, Gemara etc., and in the other they carry their secular works of mathematics, science and literature. They keep the holy and the mundane separate. The Rebbe told this professor that they are making a big mistake in thinking that they are separate. Actually they need to integrate the two. The world was created for the Torah and for a Jew to serve Hashem in every aspect and to teach about Hashem’s existence in this world. Only though this do we fulfill the purpose of creation.

The Rebbe once quoted the following pasuk from Tehillim (42:4):

הָֽיְתָה־לִּ֬י דִמְעָתִ֣י לֶ֭חֶם יוֹמָ֣ם וָלָ֑יְלָה בֶּאֱמֹ֥ר אֵלַ֥י כָּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם אַיֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

My tears have been my food day and night; all of the day I am taunted with, “Where is your G-d?”

The Rebbe said that while we learn the Torah and do mitzvos we feel the connection to Hashem, but “kol hayom, all of the day” the rest of the day while we are preoccupied with our daily activities, “Where is your G-d”?

This is the message that the Maggid of Mezritch teaches to each one of us. By infusing the world which is created with the 10 Utterances with the Ten Commandments we instill kedusha into the mundane aspects of our lives. When we apply this teaching and we know Hashem in  all of our ways, our mundane activities are permeated with a feeling and connection to Hashem just like we feel when we daven  and learn. 

This Shabbos when we read the Ten Commandments and relive the experience of Matan Torah  may we merit to live lives  connected to Hashem not only when we daven, learn and do mitzvos  but also in everything we do.  With this may we all merit that the knowledge of Hashem fill the earth like the waters cover the sea with the coming of Moshiach today.

A Good Shabbos, A Good Chodesh 

Levy Shiva

Reb Efraim Levy is sitting shiva
on the passing of his mother Mrs. Helen Levy ob"m

Due to Covid, Shiva will be in the backyard and back house.
Please enter through side of house.
612 N Highland Ave

Shiva Times
Shachris 8:45
Mincha 5:10

Visiting Hours
10am-1pm & 4-9pm

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

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