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Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Vayelech - Yom Kippur
This week’s Torah portion is moving towards the closing chapter of the 37-day monologue that Moses spoke to the Jewish people prior to his passing on the mantle of leadership to the next generation via Joshua.
After forty years of selfless, dedicated stewarding the Jewish people in good and difficult times, through positive and negative experiences, facing inconceivable dangers, rebellions, setbacks, with frequent arguments, complaints and ingratitude, Moses expresses love, commitment and a deep sensitivity and caring for the present and future of his people. A true example and representation of a Rebbe, leader and King of the Jewish people.
In his closing remarks, he teaches the 612th and 613th Mitzvot concluding the entire body of Mitzvot. The end of the Torah is its most emphatic, summarizing and bringing a completeness to the entire Torah. These two final Mitzvot underscore and emphasize a critical element in sustaining and maintaining Jewishness via the Torah as an eternal way of life.
The 612th Mitzvah is an obligation to commemorate the Year of Hakhel, requiring every man, woman and child, including all those who would join the Jewish people, to come to Jerusalem together as a singular unified community and listen to the King read the Torah and inspire and charge them with living a holy and proper life. It was an obligation of every single individual to integrate as a singular unified Community. The last 613th Mitzvah to write a Torah which includes 600,000 letters represents the entire Jewish people. A kosher complete Torah is a composite that makes up a singular text representing the Jewish nation.
In “quantity” as represented by the unification of the multitudes of people in the Mitzvah of Hakhel, and “quality” as represented by the unifying of the entire Jewish People in the Torah as one, togetherness and unity are emphasized as paramount for our presence and influence.
After we refine our own beings and perfect our personal lives to the extent that we can, we need to make sure that we connect with each other. That is the Strength of the Jewish people.
Let’s join together as one, particularly just before Yom Kippur which represents the ultimate unity as all Jews come together, praying as one and removing our egos that separate us and connect on the most loving, sublime level when Hashem loves us in the most revealed manner.
Have a wonderful Shabbos, great week and meaningful Yom Kippur.
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
Rosh Hashanah Begins sunset of Monday, September 6, 2021 Ends nightfall of Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Yom Kippur Begins sunset of Wednesday, September 15, 2021 Ends nightfall of Thursday, September 16, 2021
Sukkot Begins sunset of Monday, September 20, 2021 Ends nightfall of Monday, September 27, 2021
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Begins sunset of Monday, September 27, 2021 Ends nightfall of Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Chanukah Begins sunset of Sunday, November 28, 2021 Ends nightfall of Monday, December 6, 2021
Fast of Tevet 10 Begins sunrise of Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Ends nightfall of Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Purim Begins sunset of Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Ends nightfall of Thursday, March 17, 2022
Passover Begins sunset of Friday, April 15, 2022 Ends nightfall of Saturday, April 23, 2022
Second Passover Sunday, May 15, 2022
Lag B'Omer Thursday, May 19, 2022
Shavuot Begins sunset of Saturday, June 4, 2022 Ends nightfall of Monday, June 6, 2022
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.
Connect With The Shul
