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Rabbi Lipskar's weekly devar torah
Boruch HaShem
Parshas Noach
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
Approximately 1,000 years after Almighty G-d creates the Universe in a dazzling plethora of light and a deafening crescendo of sound, every creature adapts to the natural environment and erroneously concludes that they arrived without a Creator – they are the owners of the world and can do whatever they want to fulfill their needs and desires.
“There is no ultimate owner to this world”.
At times these human weaknesses seem to affect only the person themselves without impacting larger parameters. “I own myself and can therefore conduct myself in any manner that I choose”. Though that may be the obvious reality it is not the true reality. As Maimonides rules, “A person must always see the entire world as equally balanced between good and bad, hence a single positive act can weight the entire world to the positive side and a single negative act can weight the entire world to the negative side”. We can and do affect the entire universe.
The power of “free choice” is a gift from Almighty G-d that enables us to make free determination for ourselves and our world. It is an awesome responsibility with very serious consequences.
In this Torah portion we are introduced to a world social structure that lost its focus and direction being influenced solely by its animalistic drive and pleasures.
The human/animal instinct is to satisfy the physical nature of our crass corporeal being. Without the acceptance of an ultimate objective Authority, we fall prey to the lowly instinctive attributes of our flesh desires. This malfunction does not only hurt ourselves but can derail the entire world. The consequence of such behavior can be destruction and desolation which brings an end to such a debilitating pattern.
The culmination of such an end, however, begins a new world order. Every conclusion has another beginning resembling the circular sphere of our world where the end and beginning are connected. In the time of Noah G-d brought a flood that actually represents the cleansing and purification of a Mikvah. No matter how lowly one can fall we are granted the opportunity to cleanse our past and start again.
The foundation of this renaissance must be an unadulterated faith in Hashem’s sovereignty and authority as demonstrated by Noah. It was Noah’s unequivocal faith against all logic and odds that gave him the merit to be the remaining link for the world’s continuity. G-d made a covenant never to destroy the world again.
We can learn from the Torah story how to elevate the world and never to succumb to our base animal nature. Rectification after transgression brings us to an even higher level than before. It is only after the great flood that Abraham is born and brings the concept of Monotheism to the entire world.
The rise after the fall is much higher and more permanent than the condition at the beginning. The first Tablets took 40 days but were destroyed, the second set of Tablets which rectified the first took 80 days but were twice as contentful and remained forever.
Have a good Chodesh, great Shabbos and a good week.
Rabbi 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.
List of All Holiday Dates
Below is a list of all major holiday dates for the next four years. All holidays begin at sundown on the day before the date specified here.
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5775 |
5776 |
5777 |
5778 |
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9/25/2014 |
9/14/2015 |
10/3/2016 |
9/21/2017 |
9/10/2018 |
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10/4/2014 |
9/23/2015 |
10/12/2016 |
9/30/2017 |
9/19/2018 |
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10/9/2014 |
9/28/2015 |
10/17/2016 |
10/5/2017 |
9/24/2018 |
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10/16/2014 |
10/5/2015 |
10/24/2016 |
10/12/2017 |
10/1/2018 |
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10/17/2014 |
10/6/2015 |
10/25/2016 |
10/13/2017 |
10/2/2018 |
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12/17/2014 |
12/7/2015 |
12/25/2016 |
12/13/2017 |
12/3/2018 |
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2/4/2015 |
1/25/2016 |
2/11/2017 |
1/31/2018 |
1/21/2019 |
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3/5/2015 |
3/24/2016 |
3/12/2017 |
3/1/2018 |
3/21/2019 |
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4/4/2015 |
4/23/2016 |
4/11/2017 |
3/31/2018 |
4/20/2019 |
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5/7/2015 |
5/26/2016 |
5/14/2017 |
5/3/2018 |
5/23/2019 |
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5/24/2015 |
6/12/2016 |
5/31/2017 |
5/20/2018 |
6/9/2019 |
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7/26/2015 |
8/14/2016 |
8/1/2017 |
7/22/2018 |
8/11/2019 |
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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