Chof Beis Shevat Farbrengen

There will be a farbrengen in honor of כ"ב שבט on Monday night, February 1st, at Tzemach Tzedek, after 8:30 Maariv.

Davening Times for the week of Parshas Mishpatim for Tzemach Tzedek

Shacharis - Sunday                                                                                     8:00, 9:00am

Shacharis - Monday thru Friday                                                         6:50, 7:00, 8:00am

Mincha - Sunday thru Thursday                                                                           5:00pm

Maariv - Sunday thru Thursday                                                          5:50, 8:30, 9:30pm

Parshas Yisro Schedule for Tzemach Tzedek

The following is the Tzemach Tzedek schedule for Shabbos Parshas Yisro:

Friday - ערב ש"ק

Licht Bentchen                                                                                                4:50pm

Mincha                                                                                                             5:06pm

Kabbolas Shabbos                                                                            approx. 5:35pm

Kiddush not after 6:00/6:10 and not before 7:00/7:10pm

שבת קודש

Rov's Chassidus Shiur                                                                                     8:45am

Sof Zman Krias Shma                                                                                     9:39am

Shacharis                                                                                                           9:30am

Minchah Gedolah                                                                                          12:35pm

  

Rov's Halochoh Shiur                                                                                      4:05pm

Minchah                                                                                                            4:50pm

Motzoei Shabbos/Maariv                                                                               5:54pm

Avos U'bonim                                                                                                   6:45pm 

!א גוטען שבת

הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף ... לְמַעַן יִשְׁמְעוּ וּלְמַעַן יִלְמְדוּ וְיָרְאוּ אֶת־ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם

Avos U'bonim

This Motzoei Shabbos the Avos U'bonim will be at  6:45 pm at the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, 2 Langeries Drive, Monsey.

This weeks program is sponsored by Rabbi and Mrs Pesach Burston in honor of heir son Kovy's birthday this past week. May they enjoy much Chassidishe Nachlas in good health and prosperity! 

The program will end approx 7:45 pm.

Come with your father or older brothers and spend valuable time learning together!

Followed by exciting raffles - great prizes, stories and treats!

Remember - boys seen learning nicely will receive raffle tickets for our bi-weekly grand prize. This week's grand raffle  - a remote car!

Also - as always - special raffle for boys coming within the first 10 minutes (6:45-6:55 pm).

If anyone would like the Z'chus of sponsoring or co-sponsoring an upcoming Avos U'bonim - please call or speak to Rabbi Shusterman 917 282 3505.

Parsha Perspective

By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman

This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM

The locomotive was making its first appearance in a little town of old. No one had ever seen a horseless carriage before. Every one of the townspeople gathered at the new station to witness history in the making. The gun was fired and with a flourish of huffing and puffing the locomotive roared out of the station. Well… the engine that is. Unfortunately, the shlemiel whose job it was to hitch the other cars to the engine had forgotten to do so, and the long train of carriages were left behind in a trail of smoke.

Sometimes, the most meticulously laid plans - a business strategy, a football game plan, or even (perish the thought), a synagogue resolution made on Yom Kippur - fail to come to fruition - all because we neglected to hitch the engine to the train...

The introduction to the Ten Commandments we will read in this week’s Torah reading, Yisro (Shmos [Exodus] 18:1–20:23), is, “And G‑d spoke all these words, to say…” (in Hebrew, leimor). Now, when the Torah uses the word leimor, "to say," it is usually because G‑d is telling Moses something important which Moses in turn should pass on and tell the Children of Israel. So the word leimor makes perfect sense. He said it to him to say it to them. But here we have a problem. You see, every Jew was present at Sinai, and according to the mystics, that includes even the unborn souls of future generations. So there was no need for Moses to pass on anything to anyone. All the Jews heard the Ten Commandments directly from G‑d. So why the word leimor? To say to whom?

Rabbi DovBer, the great Maggid of Mezeritch, explained that here the word leimor means to speak to you. That these words should not remain mere words, but should resonate and say something meaningful to you personally. They should be said and heard so that they continue to reverberate forever after in your minds, heart and deeds. The Ten Commandments must not remain an abstract idea, an unhitched engine, a nice philosophy or an interesting cultural practice - something of no more significance to you than the rituals of the ancient Incas of Peru. The Ten Commandments must be relevant enough to make a difference in our lives; otherwise, whom did G‑d say them to and whatever for?

The Talmud describes a thief who prays to G‑d for success before breaking in to commit a burglary. The epitome of hypocrisy - G‑d told you, "You shall not steal," and you have the audacity to ask Him to help you succeed in defying His wishes? This has got to be the ultimate chutzpah! How do we get a handle on this Talmudic thief's hypocrisy? The answer is that this thief, too, is a believer, but his faith is superficial and doesn't permeate his being sufficiently to influence his behavior. Deep down he has faith but he remains a religious goniff (thief)!

We all believe and we all want to do mitzvahs, big and small. The trick is to translate our inner piety into outer practice. What does my faith do for me? Does it speak to me? How does it transform my behavior, my life? Does it make any tangible difference in my everyday behavior? The Torah must not remain a theory on the drawing board. The Torah and the Ten Commandments do indeed speak to us. The question is, are we listening?

(Excerpts from Chabad.org - by Rabbi Yossy Goldman)

May you have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!

MBCM Matching Campaign

At the gala dinner celebrating 10 years of Monsey Beis Chaya Mushka, a matching campaign, one in which every dollar donated is quadrupled was launched. Our goal is $100,000 which is the first step in a multi-year capital campaign.

Furthermore, withכ"ב שבט  quickly approaching we are reminded of the Rebbe’s request to give tzedakah in units of 470, (470 cents, $47, $470) to a moisad named for the Rebbetzin ע"ה.  Monsey Beis Chaya Mushka is the only such moisad in town.

MBCM's campaign will extend until Rosh Chodesh Adar 1.

Simply go to www.monseybcm.com and follow the signs, or go to www.glitzpad.com/mbcm to donate. 

Tu B'Shevat Farbrengen

There will be a farbrengen in honor of ט"ו בשבט tonight, January 25th, at Tzemach Tzedek, after 8:30 Maariv.

Davening Times for the week of Parshas Yisro for Tzemach Tzedek

Shacharis - Sunday                                                                                     8:00, 9:00am

Shacharis - Monday thru Friday                                                         6:50, 7:00, 8:00am

Mincha - Sunday thru Thursday                                                                           4:50pm

Maariv - Sunday thru Thursday                                                          5:40, 8:30, 9:30pm

Mr. Denny Flegmann Sitting Shiva

Boruch Dayan HaEmes - With sadness we regretfully inform you of the recent Petirah of Mr. Robi Flegmann A"H, brother of Mr. Denny Flegmann.

Denny will be sitting Shiva in Lawrence until Friday, when he will be coming home. Here are the details for the Shiva in New Hempstead:

The Flegmann Home - 29 Brockton Road, New Hempstead, NY

Friday, Jan. 22

Mincha: 1:00 pm - Denny will sit Shiva until before Shabbos.

Motzoei Shabbos, Jan. 23

Maariv: 5:45 pm - Denny will sit Shiva until 12:00 midnight and will then return to Lawrence.

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Avos U'bonim Reminder

Reminder: This Motzoei Shabbos the Avos U'bonim starting time will be changing to the new starting time of 6:45 pm at the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, 2 Langeries Drive, Monsey.

IYH the program will be happening whether or not there is a snow storm over Shabbos! If there is a snow storm and you are able to get out and brave the storm - we will be here to greet you!! 

This week's program is sponsored by Mr Tzvi Webb לע"נ his father ר' יוסף בן ר' שמואל ע"ה

Come with your father or older brothers and spend valuable time learning together!

Followed by exciting raffles - great prizes, stories and treats!

Remember - boys seen learning nicely will receive raffle tickets for our bi-weekly grand prize. This week's grand raffle  - a remote car!

Also - as always - special raffle for boys coming within the first 10 minutes (6:45-6:55 pm).

If anyone would like the Z'chus of sponsoring or co-sponsoring an upcoming Avos U'bonim - please call or speak to Rabbi Shusterman 917 282 3505.

Parsha Perspective

By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman

This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM

The story is told of the cantor who was approached after the synagogue services by an indignant member of the congregation.

"That was the most awful rendition I ever heard in my life!"

The president of the synagogue turned to the cantor to console him: "Oh don't worry about him, he just repeats what everyone else says!"

This week's Torah reading speaks of the song which Moses and the Israelites sang after the redemption from Egypt and the miraculous splitting of the sea: The verse states that "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to G‑d..."

Like everything Jewish, there are several opinions about how the song was sung:

The Talmud tells us that according to Rabbi Akiva, Moses said the first few words of the verse, "For He has triumphed gloriously" and everybody responded, "I will sing to G‑d". They continued to respond with this refrain "I will sing to G‑d" after each verse that Moses sang.

According to Rabbi Eliezer, however, Moses sang "I will sing to G‑d," and everybody responded, repeating "I will sing to G‑d". They continued, with the entire congregation repeating each verse after their leader.

Rabbi Nechemiah’s opinion is that Moses began by singing the opening words of the song, following which each person sang the rest of the song on their own.

These three opinions represent three different degrees of leadership and ability to inspire.

Rabbi Akiva is showing us a scenario where the people are totally given over to their leader. He alone sings the song of gratitude to G‑d, with the people simply affirming everything that he is expressing.

Although it may appear to be the ultimate unity, with everybody united behind one cause, Rabbi Eliezer takes this is unity even further. According to him, they did not merely affirm what Moses was singing by repeating the same refrain, but they actually repeated the words themselves. It was more personalized. Each individual was able to internalize the words, thus becoming a reflection of that person's own deep feelings and comprehension. The very same words, expressed by hundreds of thousands of different people, were able to take on many different nuances, depending on the individual person.

Rabbi Nechemiah takes leadership to the ultimate level. If it is really coming from their own deepest, essential being, why should they need to repeat it after somebody? According to Rabbi Nechemiah's view, Moses merely started them off with a few words of the song, thereby inspiring them to reach deep within and experience the miracle, with the result that each of them sang the entire song on their own.

True leadership is about empowering others to tune in, to be in harmony with the leader and the ideals being expressed and lived, thereby becoming leaders in their own right.

This past Wednesday (January 20, 2016) in the Jewish calendar, was 10 Shvat, marking the 66th anniversary of the passing of the Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson, the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM (in 1950) and the ascent to leadership of Rabbi Menachem M Schneerson, OBM. To quote former Chief Rabbi of the UK, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, after having had audience with the Rebbe, “The world was wrong. When they thought that the most important fact about the Rebbe was that here was a man with thousands of followers, they missed the most important fact: That a good leader creates followers, but a great leader creates leaders”!

The Rebbe was indeed a great leader!

(Excerpts from Chabad.org - by Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg)

May you have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos

Yud Shevat Community Farbrengen

Grand Yud Shevat Farbrengen Tuesday Evening with Rabbi YY Jacobson

Get your soul on fire!

Please join us for a grand Yud Shevat Farbrengen/Kumzitz with Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday evening, January 19, 2016, at 18 Forshay Road, at 7:45 PM

For men, women, and children of all ages. 

Hot food will be served.

Monsey Job Fair

Davening Times for the week of Parshas Beshalach for Tzemach Tzedek

Shacharis - Sunday                                                                                    8:00, 9:00am

Shacharis - Monday thru Friday                                                         6:50, 7:00, 8:00am

Mincha - Sunday thru Thursday                                                                           4:45pm

Maariv - Sunday thru Thursday                                                          5:35, 8:30, 9:30pm

Parshas Bo Schedule for Tzemach Tzedek

The following is the Tzemach Tzedek schedule for Shabbos Parshas Bo:

Friday - ערב ש"ק

Licht Bentchen                                                                                                4:33pm

Mincha                                                                                                             4:49pm

Kabbolas Shabbos                                                                            approx. 5:20pm

Kiddush not after 6:00/6:06 and not before 7:00/7:06pm

שבת קודש

Minyanim for Krias haTorah  (Shabbos before Yud Shvat)                      8:30am

Sof Zman Krias Shma                                                                                     9:42am

Shacharis                                                                                                           9:30am

Kiddush/Farbrengen after Davening

Minchah Gedolah                                                                                          12:30pm

  

Rov's Halochoh Shiur                                                                                      3:50pm

Minchah                                                                                                            4:35pm

Motzoei Shabbos/Maariv                                                                               5:38pm

Avos U'bonim                                                   6:45pm followed by Melave Malka

!א גוטען שבת

הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף ... לְמַעַן יִשְׁמְעוּ וּלְמַעַן יִלְמְדוּ וְיָרְאוּ אֶת־ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם

Avos U'bonim Annual Melave Malka

Reminder: This Motzoei Shabbos the Avos U'bonim starting time will be changing to the new starting time of 6:45 pm at the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, 2 Langeries Dr, Monsey.

Being the Shabbos before Yud Shvat, we will be celebrating this Shabbos with the special annual Avos U’bonim Melave Malka (a washing Melave Malka). However, due to the Melave Malka (pareve) and to allow for a bit of father-son learning, the Melave Malka will end at approx. 8:00 pm.

Come with your father or older brothers and spend valuable time learning together!

Followed by exciting raffles - great prizes, stories and treats - and Melave Malka!

Remember - boys seen learning nicely will receive raffle tickets for our bi-weekly grand prize. This week's grand raffle - a remote car!

Also - as always - special raffle for boys coming within the first 10 minutes (6:45-6:55 pm).

If anyone would like the Z'chus of sponsoring or co-sponsoring this special Melave Malka - please call or speak to Rabbi Shusterman 917 282 3505.

Parsha Perspective

By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman

This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM

The words ring out again and again in the biblical account of the Exodus story, as Moses repeatedly demands of the unrelenting Pharaoh that he grant the Jewish people their freedom, in the Torah portion this week Bo (Shmos [Exodus] 10:1-13:16).

Actually, the precise words that Moses conveys to the stubborn monarch in the name of G‑d are, “Shalach ami v’yaavduni,”“Let My people go so that they may serve Me.” (Exodus 10:3)

It is interesting to see how some expressions and phrases become memorable and popular, while others just don’t seem to catch on. “Let My People Go” became the theme song for the story of Egypt and the Exodus way beyond the Jewish community. It has been used as a catchphrase for a variety of political causes. Unfortunately, the last Hebrew word of the phrase somehow got lost in the shuffle: v’yaavduni - “that they may serve Me” - never quite made it to the top of the charts. The drama of the Exodus captures our imagination, while the fact that that the purpose of leaving Egypt was to go to Sinai, receive G‑d’s Torah and fulfill Jewish destiny is less emphasized. The call to freedom excites the human spirit; the challenge of service and commitment, by contrast, doesn’t seem to elicit as much enthusiasm.

One might remember back in the early ’70s, when Jews the world over were demonstrating for their oppressed brethren in the then Soviet Union, demanding of the Russian government that they allow Jews the freedom to leave if they wanted to. Their rallying cry was, “Let My People Go!” Sadly, they left out the v’yaavduni. We were so concerned about political liberties that we forgot a primary purpose of being free: to enjoy religious freedom and live fulfilled Jewish lives.

Indeed, for so many of our Russian brethren, obtaining their exit visas and acquiring freedom of movement did little to help them reclaim their spiritual heritage and identity. Seventy years of organized atheism behind the Iron Curtain left their toll. We are delighted that they can live in Israel (or Brighton Beach), but the fact remains that far too many remain outside of the Jewish community and its spiritual orbit.

It is clear that political freedom minus spiritual purpose equals disillusionment. Leaving Egypt without the vision of Sinai would be getting all dressed up with nowhere to go. It is not enough to let our people go. We have to take them somewhere. “That they may serve Me” means that we need to use our political freedom to experience the freedom and fulfillment of faith, and a life of spiritual purpose dedicated to G‑d’s service; to realize our destiny, achieve our goal and indeed be a “light unto the nations”.

(Excerpts from Chabad.org - by Rabbi Yossy Goldman)

May you have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!

Fifth Basi L'Gani Shiur with Rabbi YY Jacobson

The 5th shiur in Basi L'Gani (year 5766/1956) with Rabbi YY Jacobson will take place Monday night, 8th Shevat / Jan 18th at his home, 7 Fieldcrest Drive in Wesley Hills, from 8:30 to 10:00pm sharp.

Sushi will be served! Sponsored by Gavriel Siklos.

Monsey Anash Directory

Cheder Chabad of Monsey is updating its database in anticipation of a second edition of its "Monsey Anash Directory" for our ever expanding (B"H) community!

Anash who would like to add cell phone and email to their existing listing should contact directory@chedermonsey.org. 

Fourth Basi L'Gani Shiur with Rabbi YY Jacobson

The 4th shiur in Basi L'Gani (year 5766/1956) with Rabbi YY Jacobson will take place Wednesday at his home, 7 Fieldcrest Drive in Wesley Hills, from 8:30 to 10:00pm sharp.

Sushi will be served! Sponsored by Hersh Batkin of Lampe-Batkin Insurance.

Rosh Chodesh Shevat Farbrengen

There will be a farbrengen in honor of ראש חודש שבט on Monday night, January 11th, at Tzemach Tzedek, after 8:30 Maariv.

Davening Times for the week of Parshas Bo for Tzemach Tzedek

Shacharis - Sunday                                                                                     8:00, 9:00am

Shacharis - Monday (Rosh Chodesh)                                                6:45, 7:00, 8:00am

Shacharis - Tuesday thru Friday                                                        6:50, 7:00, 8:00am

Mincha - Sunday thru Thursday                                                                           4:35pm

Maariv - Sunday thru Thursday                                                          5:25, 8:30, 9:30pm

Parshas Vaeira Schedule for Tzemach Tzedek

The following is the Tzemach Tzedek schedule for Shabbos Mevarchim Parshas Vaeira:

Friday - ערב ש"ק

Licht Bentchen                                                                                                4:26pm

Mincha                                                                                                             4:42pm

Kabbolas Shabbos                                                                            approx. 5:10pm

Kiddush not after 6:00/6:03 and not before 7:00/7:03pm

שבת קודש

Tehillim - Shabbos Mevorchim                                                                     8:30am

Sof Zman Krias Shma                                                                                      9:42am

Shacharis                                                                                          approx. 10:00am

Kiddush/Farbrengen following Davening

Minchah Gedolah                                                                                          12:27pm

  

Rov's Halochoh Shiur                                                                                      3:45pm

Minchah                                                                                                            4:25pm

Motzoei Shabbos/Maariv                                                                               5:31pm

Avos U'bonim                                                                                                   6:30pm 

!א גוטען שבת

הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף ... לְמַעַן יִשְׁמְעוּ וּלְמַעַן יִלְמְדוּ וְיָרְאוּ אֶת־ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם

Parsha Perspective

By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman

This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM

Miracles, miracles, and more miracles. That is the story in the Torah portion of this week of Va’aira (Shmos 6:2 - 9:35). Sticks transforming into serpents; water turning into blood; hail pellets with a core of fire; dreadful plagues of frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence and boils.

“Fairy tales,” declares the skeptic. “Isn’t it so convenient that all these miracles happened more than three thousand years ago? I’ll believe it when I see it with my own eyes! Why didn’t G‑d send ten plagues upon the Nazis? What’s with all the terrorists who blow up men, women and children? Did G‑d perhaps forget how to make miracles?!”

The believing Jew, too, asks the same questions - albeit in a more respectful tone. Yes, he understands that G‑d controls nature as well as the supernatural; but why did G‑d choose to flip the switch, deciding to abandon the course of miracles and to run the world entirely through the laws of nature?

The book of Shmos (Exodus) introduces us to the era of open nature-defying miracles, an era which lasted roughly a millennium. The Scriptures are filled with stories of prophets and miracles; in fact, it seems that the laws of nature were temporarily defunct. This era ended with the destruction of the first Holy Temple. Afterward, there were a few brief glimpses of the supernatural - such as the miracle of Chanukah - but after a few centuries these too vanished. For the past two thousand years we live in a double exile: physically, we were banished from our homeland; spiritually, we cannot perceive the G‑dly hand which creates and directs all of creation.

The reason for the emergence and subsequent disappearance of miracles is linked to the purpose of our very existence. Life in the Garden of Eden was idyllic, because evil was not yet part of the human character. The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge imbued Adam and Eve with an intimate knowledge of physical and material desire. The moment they were expelled from the Garden is the moment when the story of the perpetual human struggle began: the struggle of choosing between the G‑dly (good) or the opposite (egotism, hedonism, etc.).

And actually, this is what G‑d really wanted from the moment He considered the idea of creation: a free-choosing human being who would struggle with the evil and self-centeredness which are natural parts of his personality, and would triumph.

Miracles are comparable to training wheels. In the early years of our nationhood, G‑d assisted us in our struggle by frequently and very openly interfering in the happenings of this world. A miracle opens the eyes to a higher truth, and motivates a person to want to connect to this higher reality through Torah and mitzvot. Ultimately, however, we need to mature. We need to be able to ride the bike with our own two wheels; we need to face life’s struggle with our own strengths. The messianic era is the consummation of our relationship with G‑d, and to earn this privilege we have to prove that the relationship is real to us, so real that we maintain this relationship even in the absence of any revealed reciprocation from G‑d.

We are greatest miracle of all: our ability to steadfastly remain loyal to G‑d throughout two thousand years of temptation, despite the spiritual blackness which surrounds us.

(Excerpts from Chabad.org - by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg)

May you have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!

Third Basi L'Gani Shiur with Rabbi YY Jacobson

The 3rd shiur in Basi L'Gani (year 5766/1956) with Rabbi YY Jacobson will take place tonight at his home, 7 Fieldcrest Drive in Wesley Hills, from 8:30 to 10:00pm sharp.

Sushi bagels and dips will be served!

Sushi and spread sponsored by Sima Abenson of BHG Rand Realty.

Chof Daled Teves Farbrengen

There will be a farbrengen in honor of כ"ד טבת on Monday night, January 4th, at Tzemach Tzedek, after 8:30 Maariv.

MBCM Gala Dinner - Celebrating 10 years

Davening Times for the week of Parshas Vaeira for Tzemach Tzedek

Shacharis - Sunday                                                                                     8:00, 9:00am

Shacharis - Monday thru Friday                                                         6:50, 7:00, 8:00am

Mincha - Sunday thru Thursday                                                                           4:30pm

Maariv - Sunday thru Thursday                                                          5:20, 8:30, 9:30pm