ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
SHABBOS (T) SHUVA/ HA-AZEENU/ YOM KIPPUR
It’s time to come home where there is serenity, comfort, warmth and family.
There is a well-known story of a young child from a modern Jewish secular home who is left with his loving Jewish traditional Grandparents while his parents go for a month long vacation. Zaidy and Bubby dote on their beloved grandchild and inculcate him with their observant lifestyle. He says Modeh Anee with them every morning, washes his hands in the prescribed manner, says blessings before he eats and grace after his meals, kisses the Mezuzah, wears a Yamulkah and says the Shema before going to sleep. He loves his Zaidy and Bubby and loves his religion. After the month quickly passes, he is picked up by his Parents. Turning to his Grandparents he emotionally hugs and kisses them "Goodbye Zaidy, Goodbye Bubby", and then with the same emotion touches and kisses the Mezuzah as he walks through the door and says, "Goodbye G-d”.
G-d does not live in exclusive places. He is not bound to the culture and tradition of a past, nor is His domain in the Synagogue or Cheder. His realm is not limited to formal spaces of sanctity nor in spaces of our Grandparents or Rabbis. G-d is everywhere but is only evident where you acknowledge Him.
As our brothers and sisters (and each of us may be among them) wander through life searching for meaning and purpose, questioning, doubting and latching on to the latest fad promising contentment, joy and fulfillment, there is always an emptiness at the end of the rainbow.
It is during this season when our spiritual antennae are most activated that we sense another dimension of life. During the entire month of Elul, when G-d is in the field (in our proximity), during Rosh Hashonah, Ten days of Teshuva and Yom Kippur we actually identify and recognize our Father in Heaven.
We read in this week’s Torah Portion that we are like the “pupil of G-d’s eye” and “He carries us like the eagle who carries his young” (Ch.32, v10-11) protecting us with love and gentleness.
In the Haftorah the Prophet concludes - “Grant truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham as you promised our ancestors from days of yore”.
Hashem truly loves each of us with a passionate, unconditional, deep love that is eternal and keeps on growing.
Teshuva means return not repent. Of course, we ask for forgiveness with remorse and resolve to achieve true repentance. The essence of Teshuva however, is to come back, return to your inner self – to your essential G-dly soul, to your Jewish roots, to your millennial Jewish Home.
When you kiss the Mezuzah, it is not to say Goodbye as you leave the formal environment where you feel your Jewishness, but to gain the G-dly energy and strength that will accompany you wherever you go.
When we return, G-d waits for us with open arms to embrace us and make us feel happy and protected. We will have found the peace of mind and soul and the fulfillment of our lives that we were looking for.
May we all be sealed for a good and sweet year with health and peacefulness.
Have a great Shabbos, a meaningful Yom Kippur and great 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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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
