ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Vayeilech – Yom Kippur
Why is our life so often confronted with formidable challenges, severe tests and difficult hurdles? Whether in material/physical matters including health, wealth, and security, or in spiritual/behavioral matters including peace of mind and soul, ethics and fulfilling G-d’s dictates, we frequently face issues that are hard to overcome.
The recent security challenges that caused untold pain and stress to so many who were caught in the maelstrom of the crisis that was entirely beyond their control. Israel is increasingly isolated in its necessary vigilance of enemy nations who vow to destroy her. We all know some friends and Family who are afflicted with health problems that require serious intervention. The Talmud states that regarding spiritual matters if G-d wouldn’t assist us we could not overcome the negative/evil urges/inclinations.
Why?
This Shabbos, called Shabbos (T) Shuvah in the middle of the ten days of Teshuvah, gives us some insight in understanding these dilemmas. Achievement is more appreciated when it is the result of effort. To overcome a challenge is greater than never experiencing one.
“If you persevere and do not accomplish - Do not believe
If you accomplish without perseverance - Do not believe
When you persevere and accomplish - Believe”
(Talmud Megilah 6B)
“According to the pain is the reward”
Ethics of The Fathers Ch 5: 21)
“G-d does not give anyone a burden that is impossible to fulfill”
(Talmud Avodah Zorah 3A)
“According to the camel is the weight placed on it”
(Talmud Kesubot 67A)
“In the place where a repentant person stands even the most righteous cannot stand”
(Talmud Berachot 34B)
The purpose of G-d’s creation is for us to harness the multiple energies and objects of this physical world and implement them to serve G-d. Every force in G-d’s creation can be utilized for beneficial reasons. Every challenge touches a deeper level of our beings that can and should evoke a potential of our inner strength that would not be realized without the challenge.
Though the journey through the straits of life’s experiences can be pressured and confined, the end result can bring meaning even to the toughest situations.
Still, during this auspicious time we ask Hashem to diminish the hard times and give us the best results without pain and darkness. It is time for Hashem to grant that our past challenges should suffice and our future should be filled with only revealed and easily accessible good.
May you all be conclusively sealed for all good.
Have a great Shabbos, a wonderful week and an uplifting, cleansing and blessed Yom Kippur.
Sholom D. Lipskar
The Shul Pushka Campaign
It's the little things in life that count. G-d fills the world every moment with His divine energy. Tzedakah is one of the special and significant ways to create an all-encompassing Mitzvah, and in today's world, we need more Mitzvot than ever. It doesn't matter where or how much you give, just make Tzedakah part of your day.
The Shul provides beautiful Pushkas (Charity Boxes)* to the community and to all those that would like to participate in the important Mitzvah of Tzedakah. To request a ShulPushka please call: The ShulShul Office: 305-868-1411 or fill out this form below.
To Learn More About The Meaning of Tzedakah Click Here
Jewish Holidays
All Jewish holidays begin the evening before the date specified on most calendars. This is because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. If you read the story of creation in Genesis Ch. 1, you will notice that it says, "And there was evening, and there was morning, one day."
From this, we infer that a day begins with evening, that is, sunset. Holidays end at nightfall of the date specified on most calendars; that is, at the time when it becomes dark out, about an hour after sunset.
UPCOMING JEWISH HOLIDAY
Rosh Hashanah Begins sunset of Monday, September 6, 2021 Ends nightfall of Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Yom Kippur Begins sunset of Wednesday, September 15, 2021 Ends nightfall of Thursday, September 16, 2021
Sukkot Begins sunset of Monday, September 20, 2021 Ends nightfall of Monday, September 27, 2021
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Begins sunset of Monday, September 27, 2021 Ends nightfall of Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Chanukah Begins sunset of Sunday, November 28, 2021 Ends nightfall of Monday, December 6, 2021
Fast of Tevet 10 Begins sunrise of Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Ends nightfall of Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Purim Begins sunset of Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Ends nightfall of Thursday, March 17, 2022
Passover Begins sunset of Friday, April 15, 2022 Ends nightfall of Saturday, April 23, 2022
Second Passover Sunday, May 15, 2022
Lag B'Omer Thursday, May 19, 2022
Shavuot Begins sunset of Saturday, June 4, 2022 Ends nightfall of Monday, June 6, 2022
For more information Click here
Project 33154
Project 33154 is a community wide program to create a neighbor to neighbor Jewish experience. The initial case study started Chanuka 2002 where 10 young Yeshiva boys visited every home in Bay Harbor to identify which ones were Jewish and give them the necessary items (Menorah, Candles, Guides etc.) for the Holiday of Chanuka.
Over 250 Jewish Homes were identified together with a color coded map or Members, Non-Members and Unaffiliated Jews. Over the next Purim and Passover the same idea was used in the Surfside and Bal Harbour area and over 800 new Jewish homes were contacted and had a taste of The Shul.
Block Shluchim
Together with color coded map each neighborhood was split up into different areas that include a lay leader from The Shul.
Before each Yom Tov The Shul prepares a special food package which promotes holiday awareness.
Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach andShavout
Every newly identified Jewish household in the Bal Harbor, Bay Harbor Islands and Surfside areas has been contacted with thousands of Apples and Honey packages, Chanukah kits and Purim Mishloach Manos and food packages distributed this year.
Over 350 pounds of hand-made Shemurah Matzo (that’s about 2,450 pieces of matzah) has been distributed throughout 33154. If you are new on the 33154 area, please let us know so you can be included on this amazing and inspiring Jewish Program.
Send a letter to the Rebbe זי"ע
Throughout his lifetime, the Rebbe received hundreds of letters every day, from people of every conceivable background, occupation and faith. Today people continue to send letters to be placed at the Ohel for the Rebbe's guidance and intervention On High, in the age-old tradition of written prayer petitions at our holiest sites
Whether referring to one's own self or mentioning someone else's name in a letter, one should always include the name and mother's name (e.g. Isaac the son of Sarah) of both the one(s) who are in need of blessing and the signer.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/761128/jewish/Why-Use-the-Mothers-Name-When-Praying-for-Someone.html
http://www.ohelchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/78445It is preferable to use one's Jewish name. (Customarily gentiles use their father's name.) Letters can be written in any language. You can fax directly to the Ohel at: (718) 723-4444 Or you can use the form below to have the rabbis at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch http://www.ohelchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/78445personally bring your prayers to the Rebbe’s resting place.
The Rebbe
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory, the seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, is considered to have been the most phenomenal Jewish personality of modern times. To hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of sympathizers and admirers around the world, he was -- and still is, despite his passing -- "the Rebbe."
Whether referring to one's own self or mentioning someone else's name in a letter, one should always include the name and mother's name (e.g. Isaac the son of Sarah) of both the one(s) who are in need of blessing and the signer.
Click Here to Know More Click Here.
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