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Chabad of Port Washington Email: [email protected] Voice: 516-767-8672 www.ChabadPW.org
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We've just begun the Book of Exodus, the story of the enslavement of our people in Egypt.
"The Levites were never enslaved in Egypt," says the Talmud. They were deeply engrossed in Torah study and spiritual pursuit, and never allowed the Egyptians to bring them into the "labor force". This teaches that "one who embraces the "yoke" of Heaven will not be burdened with the yoke of materialism" (Ethics of our Fathers).
The take away in real, relevant terms:
Life's "yoke", the challenges of day to day living, only present a real burden to us so long as we haven't embraced the "yoke of Heaven." Once we've developed a real relationship with Hashem (through regular prayer, Torah study and mitzvah observances) no challenge can truly bog us down. Our life is now imbued with meaning and purpose, setting us on a solid foundation such that no matter of materialism is of such paramount importance to be able to break our spirit.
A story: In 19th Century Russia, in a small village, lived a pious, G‑d fearing Jew named Reb Shmuel. One day, a fire broke out in the village and burned down an entire row of homes, including Reb Shmuel's. When his friends rushed to see how he made out in the fire, they noticed all of the gentile neighbors crying bitterly, tearing the hair from their heads, mourning their devastating losses (this is pre insurance days...). Reb Shmuel - he was singing and dancing with great joy. "Why are you dancing?" they asked him. "Have you lost your mind from the loss you've suffered?"
"To tell you the truth, I'm not happy about losing my home and all of my possessions. I'm actually quite upset about it. But when I looked around and saw that people were completely devastated and in actual mourning over "stuff", I couldn't understand. It's only "stuff". Why the utter dismay.
The I figured it out: Their "god" went up in the flames; a good reason to lose all hope. My G‑d is alive and well. I'm a lucky man. The thought filled my heart with such joy that I started to dance.".
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
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Rebbe Video of the Week
Chanukah in July 1979
During the first summer of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Chief Rabbi of Mexico Abraham Hershberg was selected by the United Nations to visit the Jewish hostages. Before leaving, the Rebbe gave him an important instruction: "Be sure to light the Chanukah menorah with them."
Click here to watch.
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Join us for Coffee & Parsha class every morning in Chabad's Library.
Sunday: 10-11 AM | Monday - Friday: 7:45-8:15 AM
All are welcome!
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DONATE YOUR CAR TO HELP CHABAD'S CHILDREN!
Your automobile donation will help us do our work of educating the young generation of Jews!
DONATE YOUR CAR AND RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTION!
Email [email protected] or call 516-767-8672 to donate.
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New Session: Mommy & Me with Yoga!
Mondays, Begins January 7 | 9:45 - 10:45
Join Michelle Lublin, of Om Sweet Om together with Sara Paltiel, director of Chabad of Port Washington for Mommy and Me with Yoga, Music & Movement in a Preschool setting.
Click here for more info and to register online. |
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NEW JLI Course - Living with Integrity:
Navigating Everyday Ethical Dilemmas
There comes a time when we're forced to choose between conflicting responsibilities or to make ethical compromises for good reasons. How do we decide what is right, and more importantly, what is right for us in our unique situation?
Packed with real-life scenarios, Living with Integrity challenges you to voice your opinion while providing practical Talmudic wisdom to help you navigate skillfully through life's inevitable ethical challenges. This course will not only provide you with tools to make the right decisions, it will also enhance your interaction with family and friends.
Click here for more info and to register. |
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Sneeze, Schmeeze as long as you're healthy By: Rabbi Aron Moss | Sydney, Australia
Question: I have a question for you... it's a little trivial but here goes anyway...
A non-Jewish colleague refuses to say 'Bless-you' after I sneeze. He says it's because I am Jewish. Where did the 'bless you' ritual originate from and is it purely a Christian thing? What is the Jewish equivalent?
ANSWER>>
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B"H
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Shabbat Times
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| Shabbat Candle Lighting: |
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Friday, Jan 4
4:22 pm
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| Shabbat Ends: |
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Shabbat, Jan 5
5:26 pm
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Community News
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CONDOLENCES
Our condolences to Bari and Ralph Cename on the passing of Bari's father Paul Feuer. Shiva at the Cename home, 121 Soundview Drive, Sunday 1-9pm. Shiva services Sunday 4pm.
Bari and Ralph Cename
MAZAL TOV
Mazel tov Larry and Millie Magid on the birth of a new grandson!
Larry and Millie Magid
BIRTHDAYS
Peggy Klat 1/4
Mendel Paltiel 1/4
Spencer Kagan 1/5
Sydney Ruben 1/6
Scott Firestone 1/8
Joseph Kaplan 1/9
Robert Resnick 1/10
Alexandra Zahn 1/10
YARTZEITS
Gerard Pion,
(Yaakov Meir ben Mordechai Tzvi)
1/5/2013 | Tevet 23, 5773
observed by
Donald & Arlene Markowitz
Ted Ostrowitz, (Tevye Ben Alter) 1/6/2013 | Tevet 24, 5773
observed by
Michael & Robin Ehrenpreis
Hubert Kornhaber,
(Tzvi ben Avraham)
1/9/2013 | Tevet 27, 5773
observed by
Steven & Diane Kornhaber
Samuel Kalinsky, (Shmuel Aaron) 1/10/2013 | Tevet 28, 5773
observed by
George Kalinsky & June Azoulay
*CLICK HERE to convert any regular calendar date, birthday or Yahrtzeit to its corresponding Jewish-calendar date!
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| Parshah |
 Of Hippies and Sheep
G‑d was looking for someone to lead His people. We know he chose Moses. The question is, why?
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| Voices |
 Why I Changed My Name
There is one time in our lives when we are definitively granted prophecy. And that is when we name our child . . .
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| 24 Tevet |
 Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi Mini-Site
The life, teachings and works of the founder of Chabad.
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| Questions & Answers |
 Is There Life Without TV?
I think it behooves a Jew to be abreast of world events, and what better source than the television? Can we really remove ourselves from the reality of the rest of the world?
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Parshat Shemot
The Children of Israel multiply in Egypt. Threatened by their growing numbers, Pharaoh enslaves them and orders the Hebrew midwives, Shifrah and Puah, to kill all male babies at birth. When they do not comply, he commands his people to cast the Hebrew babies into the Nile.
A child is born to Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, and her husband, Amram, and placed in a basket on the river, while the baby's sister, Miriam, stands watch from afar. Pharaoh's daughter discovers the boy, raises him as her son and names him Moses.
As a young man, Moses leaves the palace and discovers the hardship of his brethren. He sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and kills the Egyptian. The next day he sees two Jews fighting; when he admonishes them, they reveal his deed of the previous day, and Moses is forced to flee to Midian. There he rescues Jethro's daughters, marries one of them ( Zipporah), and becomes a shepherd of his father-in-law's flocks.
G‑d appears to Moses in a burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, and instructs him to go to Pharaoh and demand: "Let My people go, so that they may serve Me." Moses' brother, Aaron, is appointed to serve as his spokesman. In Egypt, Moses and Aaron assemble the elders of Israel to tell them that the time of their redemption has come. The people believe; but Pharaoh refuses to let them go, and even intensifies the suffering of Israel.
Moses returns to G‑d to protest: "Why have You done evil to this people?" G‑d promises that the redemption is close at hand. |
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