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Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Shabbos – Shevii shel Pesach – Acharon shel Pesach
During the first days of Pesach, we commemorated, celebrated and re-experienced our initial exodus from Egyptian exile and bondage. We traced our historical origins from our father Abraham through our enslavement period and on to our emancipation. We acknowledged and praised Hashem for the miracles and wonders that He showed us in the administration of the plagues and His personal intervention in saving, redeeming, extracting and taking us out from slavery.
During the last two days of Pesach, we commemorate G-d’s miracle of splitting the Sea of Reeds and our millennial hope and yearning for the final redemption with our righteous Moshiach.
Though we reached an unprecedented level of freedom at the outset of Pesach, we reach new heights with less constraints during these final days.
Contrary to general misconceptions that the Jewish People crossed the sea, they actually came out on the same side of the sea they had entered, having made a large U-turn. The obvious purpose was not to cross over to some place, nor necessarily to drown the Egyptian army (for G-d could have accomplished this in many other ways), but to experience the splitting of the sea. Everything that exists on land also exists in the sea, except that in the sea it is covered and concealed. When G-d caused the waters to flow upwards and rise like a giant wall, exposing the seabed, all that was heretofore hidden was now revealed.
On a spiritual plane, that concept relates to bringing into a revealed state that which inherently is there but in a subconscious condition. Such is our holy soul and G-dly connection that is ofttimes deeply hidden under may cloaks of materialism and physicality. At times the soul is not only concealed but really dormant. The event of G-d splitting the sea brings our inner holy beings, the G-dly spark that is our spiritual self, into the open where it becomes dominant in our lives.
From there we move “over the top” to the Messianic epoch when the “Spirit of G-d” will cover the earth and all its inhabitants will see the Hand of the Creator in His full glory, as all hate will dissipate, and all anger will obliterate and wild animals including terrorists will be banished from the earth.
When our soul’s needs and yearning will be heard and respected, our bodies will be healthier, and the world will be safer as peace and tranquility will reign.
Have great last days of Pesach, a good Shabbos and a wonderful week.
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 Shul Pushka please call The Shul Office at 305-868-1411 or fill out the 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
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 of 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 Harbour, 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 in 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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