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Minyan Schedule at Chabad of NCI

Sundays 8:15AM
Monday - Friday 7:00AM
Friday Night 6:00PM
Shabbat Day  10:00AM

                                                   

B'H  Chabad of North County Inland has now become the only Shul in our area that has Minyanim everyday.  I want to thank everyone for their commitment to making the Minyanim at Chabad of NCI so strong. A Minyan is the Backbone of a Shul and is the Collective Soul of the Community.

 

Message from the Rabbi

Dear Friends,

 

We have reached the final part of this holiday season, Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah!

As we approach this holiday, a time of joy, unity, and celebration of the Torah, our hearts are filled with both deep joy and solemn remembrance. Last year, during this sacred time, tragedy struck our people, and we mourn the loss of those holy souls who were taken from us. Their memory continues to inspire us to stand strong, united in our Judaism, and to carry their light forward.

This year, we invite you to come dance with the Torah not only for the joy of the holiday but also in honor of those who can no longer dance with us. Let us lift our spirits together in their memory, celebrating for them and with them in our hearts.

Join us for  services throughout the holiday, and the *Grand Hakafot* on Thursday night, where we will circle the Torah with boundless joy, followed by a delicious dinner buffet. Let's gather as one community, celebrating the Torah's eternal light and strength, and to honor the memory of those holy souls through our joy and connection.

We look forward to sharing this special time with you.

With love and blessings,
Rabbi Dr. Trestman

Rabbi Moss Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

 

How can we dance on Simchat Torah, the anniversary of a massacre? How can we even call this a festival of joy? Has this happy day not been permanently scarred by the pain of October 7? Or are we expected to switch off the pain and make ourselves happy?

Answer

There is a powerful chassidic proverb: 

“Nothing is as complete as a broken heart.” 

A heart that has been broken can experience love at its fullest. And if you know how to cry then you know how to dance.

Grief expands our capacity to feel. When we experience pain, we stretch our hearts and open new emotional pathways. After hurting, we can feel joy deeper. 

Just as the earth needs to be ploughed before it can sprout forth a new seedling, so our heart is softened by sorrow and brokenness, allowing the light of happiness to sprout.

But this takes work. We need consciously choose what to do with the void in our heart that pain leaves. Either we fall into its darkness, or we invite a new light to fill the void. It’s up to us. If we plant a seed of faith and hope in the ploughed soil of our broken heart, we can dance.

The past year, our hearts have been stretched. We have felt the pain, and we have felt the joy. The pain of so many souls lost, and the joy of being a part of this incredible Jewish family. We have cried in sadness, seeing the beautiful faces of those whose lives were cut short. And we have cried with joy seeing those who have been set free, who have recovered from injury, and who have survived to embrace life again.

We owe it to all of those dear souls to live on with hope and joy. We will cry when we recite memorial prayers for those who were lost. And then we will dance for them. 

Our world is built on darkness becoming light. This is how G-d described the very first day of creation: “And it was evening, and it was morning, one day.” This is the mystery of life. The darkness brings the light. Only then is the day complete. As complete as a broken heart dancing away the darkness.

Good Yomtov,
Rabbi Moss

Sources:
See Hayom Yom 20 Tishrei
Tanya Chapter 26

Simchat Torah Message 

LIFTING OUR FOOT EVEN THIS YEAR

Tonight begins Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, the final days of a journey that began on Rosh Hashanah.

It is a time to celebrate our relationship with G-d that has been strengthened, renewed and solidified during this special time.

But tonight also marks (in the Jewish Calendar) the 1st anniversary of the brutal attack of October 7th and the Yahrzeit of over 1200 Jews that were massacred on that sad day. This year it might be difficult to reconcile celebration and dancing while remembering this tragedy.

So let us consider a few things:

a) We cannot let the enemy win by allowing them to not only hurt us but to take away our spirit and a celebration of our Jewishness.

b) This year, despite a year of heartbreak and pain, the Jewish people have done remarkably well. We are stronger, more united and have been awakened with a deep resolve to connect more deeply with our Jewishness. Dancing on Simchat Torah is not just a party. It is an expression of love for each other, our Torah and our G-d. It is the best way to honour those who died only because they were Jewish. It is our way of showing that we will not let them down by becoming weaker but rather we will mark this day by expressing our Neshama (soul) with great passion, pride and strength.

c) Dancing is not just a method of celebration - it carries a deep message and creates a strong energy of blessing. (See below an explanation of the power of dancing – written a few years ago).

So, in addition to feeling the loss through Yizkor and other memorial services that will take place in the next two days, we will also continue to dance and celebrate our Jewishness even stronger than before. We will create a holy and powerful flow of blessings going into the future.

Chag Sameiach!

From a Previous Article:

The human body is divided into three parts - the head, the body and the feet. Each part represents another aspect of the human experience. The head represents our intellect and

the power of cognition. Our body contains the heart, which symbolizes feeling and emotion. The feet stand for action. 

Dancing happens when we lift our feet off the ground. When we do that our heads are also lifted higher. Symbolically this means that when we practice what we learn our minds are elevated to a higher level. Implementing the values and principles that we study gives the knowledge and the academic concepts more depth and meaning. 

On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the completion of the Torah and express our Jewishness with great intensity and happiness. But we do so by declaring our commitment to bring the values of the Torah down to the world of action. When we lift our feet and dance with the scroll, the Torah itself is elevated. When we lift our feet, committing ourselves to one more good deed, our minds and the Torah that we are holding are also able to dance. 

Not everyone is a huge scholar, and we might not understand everything written in the Torah. But we can all do something. So, on this Simchat Torah make sure to go to shul and lift your feet higher and higher. While you dance think of one mitzvah you can do this coming year. The Torah will dance with you and shower upon you all of its blessings.

~Rabbi Gourarie

Haftorah Commentary

Bereishis Haftorah Commentary

(Isaiah 42:5-43:10)

The haftarah begins with Isaiah speaking in the name of G‑d as the creator of heaven and earth and the giver of life. (This opening verse is the obvious reason why this is read as the Haftarah for Bereishit, the account of creation.) 1

The Sages question the Torah’s need to begin with the historical account of over two thousand years of world existence. They reason since the Torah is essentially a book of Mitzvos, it should most appropriately begin with Hashem’s first Mitzva to His people. They answer that Hashem wished to substantiate our claim to Eretz Yisroel. He therefore began the Torah with the unequivocal fact that He created the world and apportioned His land to whomever He deemed worthy of residing therein.2

The reason why G‑d created this world is because He has a divine desire to dwell openly in this world. This is only possible through our efforts in learning Torah and doing mitzvot. This is what the Jewish mission is all about. We were not just chosen because of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Rather, we are part of G‑d's plan from the very beginning.

G‑d created an unfinished world, and made us His partners in creation, to complete it of our own free will. He gave us special souls that are actually a part of Him. These souls are what enables us to bring out the potential hidden in creation.

When our work is done, the purpose of creation will be realized, the world will be an open dwelling for G‑d and by definition, Moshiach will be here.

We read this on shabbat Bereishit, because as we start the Torah from the beginning, its purpose must be made clear.

May we soon see the prophecies in this haftarah come true. May we witness the culmination of our transformative work, G‑d's open revelation with the coming of Moshiach. May it happen soon.3

 

  1. Bereishis Haftarah Companion by Rabbi Mendel Dubov
  2. Haftorah Commentary by Rabbi Dovid Siegel
  3. On the Haftara: The Purpose of Creation by Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz

 

Chai Club

"Chai Partnership" is a unique way to support the work at Bais Betzalel Chabad of NCI.  It's a form of collaboration and together, we protect, perpetuate and build the essential identity that has been bequeathed to us by our parents, grandparents, and ancestors.  Chai Partnerships are available for anyone that contributes monthly.  

Together, we ensure a vibrant and joyful Jewish future!

Picture of Chai Club sign
 

THANK YOU TO THE CHAI CLUB PARTNERS THAT HELP MAKE PROGRAMMING AT CHABAD OF NCI POSSIBLE.
                                      

Michael Palais                                           Oscar and Lynda Stewart

Andrew Kwittken                                     Dr. Rob and Jill Reichman

Michael and Svetlana Kritzer                Jonathan and Esther Rosenberg

Ben Bebashkin                                           Moe and Sarah Shemirani

Sol and Ellen Pinczewski                        Scott and Sarit Reich

Jay Hecht                                                     Dr. Roger Acheatel

Jeff Eisman                                                 Josh and Rebecca Jacobs

Todd Frank                                                  Allen and Carole Lax 

Jordan and Debbie Alpert                       Dr. Gil and Erica Furman

Dr. Paul Neustein                                      Dr. Roneet Lev and Dr Steve Lee

Fred and Mitra Nasseri                           Norman and Ruth Berger                     

Michael and Larisa Sosis                       Dr. Ron Levin                                              

Dr. Phil Wrotslavsky.                              Danny and Hila Almog 

Hannah Kaye in Loving Memory of her Father Dr Howard Kaye OBM

Sam and Joyce Hoffman.                      Dimitry Tsimberg      

 Joseph and Minoo Anvari.                  George and Robyn White

Dr Ori and Amy Raz

                    

 

 

Kosher Recipes

 

Ultimate Shabbat Guide Eat The Rainbow This Shabbat By: Tamar Genger MA, RD Shabbat Menus In The Beginning We Plan Menus For Shabbat By: Tamar Genger MA, RD Sukkot A Vegetarian Sukkot Fall Shabbat Menu By: Tamar Genger MA, RD Content Sponsored by

 

Tue, October 29 2024 27 Tishrei 5785