ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly devar torah
Boruch HaShem
Parshas Re’eh - Shabbos Mevorchim
In this week's Torah portion our beloved defender/leader/Rebbe/Prophet of incomparable quality, Moses, continues to aggressively encourage the Jewish people to live as G-d intended for them when He chose them to fulfill their unique mission in history, and consequently will be blessed continuously even by the Nations of the world.
If we compromise our values and assimilate our lifestyle into the mainstream of humanity we will lose that powerful Jewish essence that is our truest inner identity.
What is this unique Jewish identity? How does it manifest itself? From where did it come? Who made it? The Designer of the Jewish people and their formation had great insight as His system of living produced the most incredible nation.
Why do they hate us so much and so virulently throughout history? It is a different type of hatred than that expressed to other groups or minorities. The evil haters do not call for death to anyone with a different epidermal pigmentation or faith style. Their immoral demands are to isolate or enslave and afford them a lesser level status in the social structure of society etc. For Jews, they call for murder, annihilation, violent killing apparatuses. It is very different.
There is no rational response to this question as anti-Jewishness is an irrational hate that emanates from the deep, in-born hatred that is embedded from the earliest childhood. There is no logic or rational, historical facts or reasons for that hate. It is based on irrational foundations- something like faith- but evil. It is like the epigene that controls all genetic functions of these evil, hateful creatures.
It might be comforting to know that we, the Jewish people, did not appoint ourselves as G-d’s chosen and so the real issue has nothing to do with you and me as people walking on this earth. It is an issue that they have with G-d Himself. Because we are G-d's chosen, the only way they manifest any direct negative impact or displeasure to Almighty G-d, the Creator of the Universe, is to (G-d forbid) hurt His beloved children.
You know their hate is irrational as they themselves have adopted a person born into this Jewish nation to give them their foundations of faith and religion, and most of them still believe that the Bible (Old Testament) is Holy Scripture.
You can never really change these people. They would have to be born again with a new, normal world outlook that vehemently contradicts the thought process that has permeated their lives for so many years, and in some instances violently. Charlotteville’s Nazis were not born yesterday or 10/15 years ago. They were always there in their dark holes, harboring and nurturing hatred, violence, evil and cold insensitivity in the bowels of their dark minds and hearts.
That is why one of the conditions of Moshiach is to eradicate that evil represented by the biblical Amalek who will be completely annihilated. Amalek is the nation that represents evil, darkness, ego, self-centeredness, insensitivity etc.
These evil haters are truly a minority of minorities but with today's pervasive communication mechanisms, news outlets and individual social media, these extremists have been given much more presence than they deserve. The most effective way to conquer them would be to ignore them publicly and to work diligently with government and Justice to block their objectives through legislation and imposition of basic moral, ethical standards. In the same way that free-speech does not allow someone to yell fire in the public theater, so too does no one have the right to yell for the murder of another people, no matter who. It is, vile, disgusting and inhumane.
It's about time that our foolish public relations methodology smartens up and realizes that, with these radical, demented, evil humans, public recognition is their modus operandi. We, the Jewish people, are an invincible nation and our defense against these seekers of evil is the great “Heavenly Dome”, our Protector in the heavens Who casts His shield of safety and peace over us and all of Israel, and hopefully all of the world.
Wishing you a great Shabbos, a good week and a Chodesh Tov.
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.
Connect With The Shul
