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The daily AMIDA prayer consists of 19 "blessings" - or prayers. These blessings contain requests for all that is important to us individually and as a people. These include prayers for wisdom, spiritual & physical healing, prosperity, peace & peace of mind, protection from enemies, and redemption.
While the importance of each of these prayers was always obvious to me, I could not understand the importance of one of them - the prayer asking for the world to be restored to a place of justice and righteousness where truth and honest judgment prevails. "Why is this so important to be included in the daily AMIDA?" I often wondered.
That is until recently. Recent events have made it abundantly clear to me: without honest judgment, goodness isn't possible. In fact, hate and evil will prosper - all in the name of "goodness".
Case in point: Israel is under attack by the international community. The fact that it is the only democracy in a gigantic region dominated by terrorism and religious fanaticism doesn't seem to matter. A country that is a beacon of humanity, offering equal rights to any minority living in its midst, and is a major contributor to the world in terms of medicine, computer sciences, etc. is being demonized as the "BAD GUY" in a region where terrorism is the MO and equal rights to minorities and women virtually doesn't exist.
True, our people have had our share of enemies since the beginning of our history. However, something is different this time around. Rather than enemies attacking us, it's friends. This time we're being pressured, isolated and coerced into make dangerous decisions, all in the name of "humanity" and "equal rights". When in truth, ours is the only beacon of these ideals in a region where they aren't part of the discourse - except when they come in handy to scapegoat Israel.
I'm not bothered by the fact that we have enemies. That's the way it's always been, and will likely remain so until the coming of Moshiach, may it be speedily. For some reason, it's part of our destiny... (We even sing it in the Hagaddah in the Vehi She'omdo). What bothers me deeply is the fact that our friends, the good, decent people around us are being misled by these blatant lies.
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it..." Dear friends, it's time we stand up and tell the truth.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
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Watch this piece by Glen Beck on Israel |
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Friends, while I'm not particularly a fan of Glen Beck, I thought he was right on in this video about Israel, brought to my attention by a few of you. During these times when Israel continues to be locked into a corner more and more each day, it's refreshing to see someone on a major network show have the courage to tell the truth without watering it down or politicizing it. We need more friends like this. We also need, in my view, to appreciate these precious friends, whether or not we agree with them on all other issues.
Click here to watch.
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Rebbe's Message for Lag B'Omer.
The Talmud tells us that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died because "they did not treat one another with respect." But the plague ended on Lag BaOmer, which means they had remedied their actions and began to treat each other with the appropriate level of esteem.
Click here to watch a 7 minute clip.
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May
22
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JLI course: Oasis in Time
The Gift of Shabbat in a 24/7 World
6 Sundays, Begins Sunday, May 15 | 10 -11:30 AM
At Chabad of Port Washington, 80 Shore Road
Instructor: Rabbi Shalom Paltiel
Fee: - includes textbooks and bagel brunch
Chabad Members: $79 Person | $119 Couple
Non Members: $99 Person | $149 Couple
Click here for more info and to RSVP.
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Jun
7-9
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Shavuot | Tuesday - Thursday, June 7-9
Shavuot marks the day the Torah was given by G‑d to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai over 3,300 years ago. Every year on this day when the Torah is read in synagogue, it is as if G‑d is giving the Torah anew and we once again accept G‑d's gift to us. Therefore every Jewish person, especially children, should be present when the Ten Commandments are read from the Torah in Shul.
Click here for more info.
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The Makings of a Man
By: Rabbi Aron Moss
Sydney, Australia
It is my bar mitzvah this week. I was told this means I am becoming a man. My mother doesn't think so. So who's right?
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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Shabbat Times
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| Shabbat Candle Lighting: |
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Friday, May 20
7:51 pm
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| Shabbat Ends: |
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Shabbat, May 21
8:58 pm
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Daily Thought
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Getting Ahead with Failure
There is only one thing that can put you further ahead than success, and that is surviving failure.
When you are successful, you are whole and complete. That is wonderful, but you cannot break out beyond your own universe.
When you fail, you are broken. You look at the pieces of yourself lying on the ground and say, "This is worthless."
Now you can escape. The shell is broken, the shell of a created being. Now you can grow to join the Infinite.
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In the News
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Chabad PW on state senate website.
Click here to read article.
Thank you Liz Gentry for bringing this to my attention (notice Hannah in the picture)
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CONDOLENCES
I am saddened to notify you of the passing of Rosemary Klim (Shoshana bat Avraham), mother of Barbara Rosenzweig. We send our condolences to Board Member Alan and to his beloved wife Barbara. May Hashem give them comfort from the loss of this amazing woman, who lived a full life to the age of 96 years old.
Alan & Barbara Rosenzweig
BIRTHDAYS
Mark Lebovitch 5/21
Harrison Firestone 5/22
Laura Kobrinsky 5/22
Dr. Robin Ehrenpreis 5/23
Samuel Litvak 5/23
Sara Salzbank 5/24
Alexandra Karul 5/25
Anna Orlov 5/25
Leibel Paltiel 5/25
Charlotte Rosen 5/25
YARTZEITS
Andrew Hyman, observed by Allan & Susann Hyman, Iyar 19 - 5/23
Board Member Allan Hyman
Sheindl Bernstein (Sheindl bas Meir), observed by Annette Chana Buchman,
Iyar 20 - 5/24
Gordon Alt (Gershon), observed by
Lucille Rabinowitz, Iyar 21 - 5/25
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Fly in Style
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Chabad Prez, Adam Katz's Talon Air unveiling its New Executive Helicopter with WIFI at Americana Manhasset Shopping Center 5/19-5/22.
Click here for invite.
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* PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS *
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| Marriage |
 Is It Racist to Want a Jewish Spouse?
If insisting that you will only date Jews makes you racist, does insisting that you will only date men make you sexist?
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| Info Please! |
 What is "Yashan"?
I've noticed that next to the kosher certification on certain baked goods, it says "Yashan." What does this mean?
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| Women's Lives |
 The Double-Edged Sword of Pain
I wanted my father to cocoon me, like he did when I was ten years old. Isn't that what fathers are supposed to do? Shield their little girls and keep them away from fear?
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| Lag BaOmer |
 Waiting for G‑d(ot)
Beneath all those longings and fears, beneath even the anticipation of honeyed blessings, lies - I sense - a deeper waiting . . .
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Chabad-Lubavitch News from Around the World |
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| NORTH AMERICA |
 Injured Israeli Soldiers Take a Breather in New York
Kfir Levi looked out the bus windows onto Manhattan's traffic-filled streets. "I want to tell you that I love the cars here," he revealed. "You have cars here that you don't have in Israel."
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| OBITUARY |
 Longtime Lubavitch Youth Leader Passes Away
Rabbi Dovid Raskin, an immigrant from the Soviet Union who, as chairman of the Lubavitch Youth Organization, spearheaded many educational campaigns instituted by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, passed away Tuesday at the age of 84.
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| PHOTO GALLERY |
 Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat Visits Rebbe's Resting Place
Concluding a tour of New York, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat visited the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, on Sunday before heading back to Israel.
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| HOLIDAY WATCH |
 Bonfires, Parades and Carnivals: Lag B'Omer Arriving Soon
Jewish communities across the country are gearing up for Lag B'Omer, the festival that marks the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd century mystic who authored the Kabbalistic source text known as the Zohar.
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ParshatBechukotai
G‑d promises that if the people of Israel will keep His commandments, they will enjoy material prosperity and dwell securely in their homeland. But He also delivers a harsh " rebuke," warning of the exile, persecution and other evils that will befall them if they abandon their covenant with Him.
Nevertheless, "Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away; nor will I ever abhor them, to destroy them and to break My covenant with them; for I am the L-rd their G‑d."
The Parshah concludes with the rules on how to calculate the values of different types of pledges made to G‑d, and the mitzvah of tithing produce and livestock.
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