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Dear Egyptian Rioters:
Please don't damage the pyramids. We will not rebuild.
Thank you, - The Jews
Cute joke, but not very funny when we consider how tense these moments are for the Middle East and for all peace-loving people around the world.
Indeed, the Egyptians are intent on toppling the regime - not the pyramids. However, when you destroy a house because it's infected, if you don't focus on rebuilding a new home, all you'll be left with is a hole in the ground.
And that's something that the Jews can teach the Egyptians very well - in fact, we acquired experience on this issue right in Egypt itself. When we overthrew the Pharoh, we got Moses instead... Who will they get? Also, Moses' message from G‑d to Pharoah was "Let My People Go!" - but that was only half the sentence; the full message was "Let My People so they may serve Me". Freedom alone is ONLY a means to an end - the real question is what are you going to do with that Freedom. This is the tense question at the heart of the eruptions in Egypt - what are we going to be left with when the dust settles?
It's clear that 3,324 years after we said goodbye to another Egyptian dictator, we're still thriving because we didn't stop at freedom; we continued with building a new home. Literally. We moved from Egypt to Sinai, where we began our service of G‑d and then immediately to (Torah portion of these weeks) building a Sanctuary, an actual edifice that represented the presence of G‑d in this physical world. As well, we built a society based on a moral and just value system as presented to us at Sinai. Hint to Egypt: Revolutions on the streets may remove the old guard but won't change the society. You want to build a truly free, enlightened society? Make a revolution in the schools... teach your children about a just society and the value of human life.
On a personal level, there's a powerful lesson to each of us: We're blessed to live in complete freedom in this blessed republic. Freedom, while it affords us peace of mind from danger and oppressors, also creates a vacuum. We must fill our minds and hearts with wisdom, knowledge, focus, direction, making life meaningful. Otherwise, the vacuum may be filled by undesirables -misguided ideas, confusion, worry, depression, the stuff that make life uninspired (all of which are not in short supply in our own wonderful, free society)...
Speaking of Moses, here's my SHUL plug: This Shabbat we celebrate the birthday of Moses. Need I say more... Come on down! Come late, leave early (or stay for the gourmet lunch catered by Alan Schonfeld for the Amir Bat Mitzvah). For Moses' sake - come!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
P.S. Click here to read a very important article on the situation in the Middle East. Thank you Arnie Herz for bringing this article to my attention.
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Mazal Tov Shmuly
All of us at Chabad wish a hearty Mazel Tov to Shmuly Friedman on his engagement to Rachelie Goldstein from Toronto.
May all of Hashem's wonderful blessings be with you for a long, happy and successful life together!
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Peace Upon the Land
See for yourself the Rebbe's prophetic words during the Gulf War that Israel would be safe. See how the Rebbe, without hesitation, encouraged people not to change their plans to travel to Israel, as he ensured them that G‑d would protect His people. The Rebbe also speaks to the importance of Jews observing Torah and Mitzvot as a guarantee of the security of the land. I share this with you at this time, when worry for the well-being of Israel is on our minds.
Click here to watch.
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150 expected at Annual Chabad Hebrew School Shabbaton Dinner
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Welcome Chabad Hebrew School Staff who are spending Shabbos in our community in honor of the Hebrew School Shabbaton dinner taking place tonight at Chabad.
Congratulations to Rabbi Weinberg and his dedicated staff, led by Yocheved Ekhaus, for this wonderful success in putting together what promises to be a very special evening for our Hebrew School families.
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Feb
6
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New JLI course: Towards a Meaningful Life
A soul-searching journey for every Jew
6 Sundays, Feb 6 - Mar 15 | 10 - 11:30 AM
At Chabad Port Washington | 80 Shore Road
Fee: $99.00 | Couple Fee $149.00
Members: $79.00 | Couple Fee $119.00
Click here for more info and to register.
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Feb
27
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Introducing JLI for Teens: OMG!
The Battle between Faith and Logic.
Sundays, Feb 27 - Apr 10 | 6 - 7:30 PM
At Chabad Port Washington | 80 Shore Road
Fee: $90.00
(no student will be turned away due to lack of funds)
Ages: High School, Grades 9-12
Click here for more info and to register.
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Mar
19-20
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Purim Festivities for the Entire Family
Stay tuned for more details and full program to follow. |
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Apr
7
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Save the Date: 20th Anniversary Dinner
Please save the date for the annual dinner celebrating our 20th anniversary. The dinner will take place on Thursday, April 7th in the brand new ADAM KATZ ATHLETIC CENTER at Chabad of Port Washington.
Formal invitation to follow.
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Can I Quit Being Jewish?
By: Rabbi Aron Moss
Sydney, Australia
Although I was raised in a traditional home, was brissed and barmitzvad (sorry about these spellings) I have never had any faith or "religious" belief. I am now aged 34, and would describe myself as an atheist. I have no wish to be buried in a Jewish cemetery (and my Will has also made this clear) and have married a non-Jew in a civil ceremony.
My question is, can I consider myself officially non-Jewish, by my effective opting-out, or do I need some sort of form or dispensation to be officially no longer Jewish?
Many thanks for your help with what is perhaps an unusual question.
Best wishes,
Edward.
Click here to read full article.
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Board of Directors
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Adam Katz, Esq., President
Frank Arnold
Bert Brodsky
Martin H. Brownstein, M.D.
Howard Fensterman, Esq.
M. Allan Hyman, Esq.
Sara E. Paltiel
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
Alan Rosenzweig
Alan Salzbank
Michael Samuel
Felix Sater
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Daily Thought
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Simple & Earnest
The essential teaching of the Baal Shem Tov:
Be simple, be earnest, and spread that simplicity throughout everything you do.
Simplicity is a receptacle for G‑d's simple Oneness.
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Shabbat Times
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Friday, Feb 11
5:06 pm
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Shabbat, Feb 12
6:07 pm
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BIRTHDAYS
Bilha Spatz 2/11
Fern Weingast 2/11
Carol Brenner 2/14
ANNIVERSARY
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Pinner 2/14
YARTZEITS
Lilyan Hyman, observed by Allan & Susann Hyman, Adar I 8 - 2/12
Florence Brownstein (Faiga), observed by Martin Brownstein, Adar I 10 - 2/14
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* PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS *
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| Standing Tall-The Strength to Be Different |
 Jewish Geography: For Jews Far From Home, Life in Beijing is Never Lonely
For the last eight years the Freundlichs have been working tirelessly to serve the Jewish community in Beijing, which includes 2,000 residents and thousands of tourists every year.
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| Finding Joy and Gratitude |
 Spirituality: 18 Joyous Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov
The stories and teachings of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov breathe with vibrant life, charging everyday deeds with blazing colors and unstoppable energy.
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| A Perspective on Clothing |
 Parshah: The Removable Self
Man is the only truly clothed creature-a creature who attires himself not only for warmth and protection, but to alter, enhance, even transform, his very identity.
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| Just Do It |
 The Shabbat Basics
A basic guide to Shabbat observance: candle-lighting, kiddush, havdalah, and much more...
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Chabad-Lubavitch News from Around the World |
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| PHOTO GALLERY |
 Over 200 Teens Choose Shabbaton Over Super Bowl
The National CTeen Shabbaton brought together over 200 teens from all over the US and Canada in New York City to help them understand the power of youth, said Noach Pawlinger, CTeen creative director.
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| NORTH AMERICA |
 Gulf Coast Jewish Center Relocating to Permanent Property
For the past several years, Jewish life has been on the uptick in the Florida Gulf Coast town of Bradenton, and with the purchase of a new five-acre property to house its Chabad-Lubavitch center, area families will soon have the space to accommodate their growth.
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| AFRICA |
 Jewish Community Portrays Tunisian Synagogue Burning as Isolated Incident
Less than a week after taking office amid Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution, Interior Minister Farhat Rajhi defended the national unity government against what he said were conspirators intent on sowing disorder by setting fire to a synagogue.
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| PHOTO GALLERY |
 Jewish Women Dance Night Away at Brooklyn Banquet
Thousands of Jewish leaders from around the world packed a converted ballroom at the Brooklyn Armory for the gala banquet of the 23rd-annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries.
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Parshat Tetzaveh
G‑d tells Moses to receive from the Children of Israel pure olive oil to feed the " everlasting flame" of the menorah, which Aaron is to kindle each day, "from evening till morning."
The priestly garments, to be worn by the Kohanim (priests) while serving in the Sanctuary are described. All Kohanim wore: 1) the ketonet — a full length linen tunic; 2) michnasayim — linen breeches; 3) mitznefet or migba'at — a linen turban; 4) avnet — a long sash wound above the waist.
In addition, the Kohen Gadol ("high priest") wore: 5) the efod, an apron-like garment made of blue, purple and red-dyed wool, linen and gold thread; 6) the choshen, a breastplate containing twelve precious stones inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; 7) me'il — a cloak of blue wool, with gold bells and decorative pomegranates on its hem; 8) the tzitz — a golden plate worn on the forehead bearing the inscription "Holy to G‑d".
Tetzaveh also includes G‑d's detailed instructions for the seven-day initiation of Aaron and his four sons — Nadav, Avihu, Elazar and Itamar — into the priesthood, and for the making of the Golden Altar on which the ketoret (" incense") was burned. |
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