ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Shavuos
It is with profound gratitude to Hashem that we are so fortunate to inaugurate our reentry into our holy common community home, The Shul, on this auspicious day of Shavuos. For the hundreds of our community family men, women and children who will gather to express deepest feelings of prayer to our Father in Heaven, and collectively re-experience Revelation with G-d giving us the holy Torah by listening to the reading of the 10 Commandments, is truly momentous.
Shavuos is the actual center-point of our identity as the Nation of Israel and G-d‘s Chosen People. It is at Sinai when the entire community of Israel formally and legally became the Jewish people and received the document that serves as the abstract to our origins, who we are and our historic multi millennial mission, partnering with Almighty G-d to bring our world to its ultimate fulfillment.
Notably, this fundamental holiday is different than all others as in the Torah it is only a single day, as celebrated in Israel (in exilic lands we celebrate two days until the coming of Moshiach) and has no specific symbols or cultural elements. On Passover we eat matzo, don’t eat bread and celebrate a special Seder night with all kinds of customs, on Sukkos we eat in the Sukkah, the temporary hut that we construct outside and say the blessing over the Esrog and Lulav, on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar, on Yom Kippur we fast, on Hanukkah we kindle the Menorah and on Purim we read the Megilah, send gifts to friends etc. Shavuos is celebrated almost like a regular Sabbath, with some variations in the prayers and even a shorter Torah reading than an entire weekly portion.
The holiday is celebrated only for the event that took place on this day, our marriage with Almighty G-d and our becoming His People. There are no symbols, cultural elements, accoutrements or any unique celebration. It is a singular day that concentrates on the simplicity of the essence of our being in our bonding and dynamic connection and relationship with the Creator of the universe.
Symbolically, it is the most appropriate holiday to celebrate as we exit from our quarantine and isolationist preparation to re-enter the world on a higher, more pristine and thoughtful level. We do not need special celebrations or fireworks to emphasize the essence of our purpose to make our world a dwelling place for Almighty G-d. It is our genetic fiber and essential being that represents and portrays our critical role in this world.
Armed with G-d‘s wisdom in the Torah, we have the absolute strategic plan and method. How to navigate a world with its ups and downs, happiness and sadness and also treacherous travails in the most successful and positive manner.
The Rebbe would always bless the Jewish world on this holiday by wishing them to “Receive the Torah with joy and internalization.”
Joy is represented by recognizing that the Torah’s objective is not to isolate ourselves in a spiritual cocoon and distance ourselves from all worldly matters but, on the contrary, to infuse worldliness, including all of G-d‘s intended pleasures for us with a spiritual meaning and purpose. It is why on Shavuos we enjoy delicacies of ice cream, cheesecake and the best foods and drinks.
Internalization directs us to know the seriousness of our purpose and commitment and to realize our monumental responsibility that we carry to be G-d’s representation to the entire world.
Let us hope and pray that this reentry into the world in a more open fashion will herald our collective entry into the ultimate positive world that will be filled with health, peace, tranquility, kindness, happiness and holiness, with the coming of Moshiach now.
Have a wonderful holiday, beautiful Shabbos and great year.
Rabbi Sholom 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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5779 |
5780 |
5777 |
5778 |
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sunset of Sunday, September 29, 2019 |
10/3/2016 |
9/21/2017 |
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Begins sunset of Tuesday, October 8, 2019 |
10/12/2016 |
9/30/2017 |
9/19/2018 |
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Begins sunset of Sunday, October 13, 2019 |
10/17/2016 |
10/5/2017 |
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Begins sunset of Sunday, October 20, 2019 |
10/24/2016 |
10/12/2017 |
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Tuesday, October 22, 2019 |
10/25/2016 |
10/13/2017 |
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Begins sunset of Sunday, December 22, 2019 |
12/13/2017 |
12/3/2018 |
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Monday, February 10, 2020 |
2/11/2017 |
1/31/2018 |
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Begins sunset of Monday, March 9, 2020 |
3/12/2017 |
3/1/2018 |
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Friday, April 19, 2019 |
Begins sunset of Wednesday, April 8, 2020 |
4/11/2017 |
3/31/2018 |
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May 23, 2019 |
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 |
5/14/2017 |
5/3/2018 |
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Saturday, June 8, 2019 |
Begins sunset of Thursday, May 28, 2020 |
5/31/2017 |
5/20/2018 |
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8/1/2017 |
7/22/2018 |
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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
