Dear {{first_name}}, This year marks the 74th anniversary of the passing in 1950 of the Sixth Rebbe—Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, and the day leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement passed on to his illustrious son-in-law, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. In the decades that followed, the Rebbe revolutionized, inspired, and guided the post-Holocaust transformation of the Jewish people that continues to this day.
Commonly referred to as 10 Shevat, or “Yud Shevat” (the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat)—and corresponding this year to Friday night, Jan. 19, and Shabbat, Jan. 20—the day has become a time of introspection and inspiration for Jewish people everywhere. They will focus on learning the Rebbes’ teachings; reflecting on the Rebbes’ love for every Jew; and rededicating themselves to the Rebbes’ directives of personal and communal growth through Torah study and observing Mitzvahs.
Please join us this Saturday Jan 20 for services and Kiddush celebration of this special day.
Sincerely, Rabbi Mendel & Elke Zaltzman
Shabbos Times
Friday, January 19
Candle Lighting: 4:39pm Evening Service: 4:40pm
Fridays for Families: 7pm
Saturday, January 20 Tanya Class 9:15am Morning Service: 10:00am Kiddush: 12:15pm Evening Service: 4:30pm Shabbat Ends: 5:43pm
Kiddush in honor of The Lubavitcher Rebbe
Celebrating 74 years of the Rebbes leadership.
FAIR LAWN JEWISH DAY CAMP
A BISSELE HUMOR
Maurice has a business appointment, and he arrives a little early. The receptionist points to a comfortable easy chair and asks him to be seated for a while. Maurice settles down, picks up a magazine and tries to read. However, he finds that he cannot concentrate because he is distracted due to a ruckus coming from behind one of the doors leading off the reception area. Maurice goes over to the receptionist and asks, "What's going on in there?" She replies, "It's a partners' meeting." "But why are they shouting at each other?" Maurice asks. "It's a high stakes battle of wits," she replies.
Maurice asks: "Between who?", and she answers, "Horowits, Lebowits, Rabinowits and Abramowits."
WEEKLY eTORAH
This is the week when we read of the great Exodus. Let my people go that they may serve Me was the Divine call transmitted by Moses to Pharaoh. Now, if the purpose of leaving Egypt and Pharaoh's whip was to be able to serve G‑d, so where is the freedom? We are still slaves, only now we are servants of the Almighty! Indeed, countless individuals continue to question the merits of religion in general. Who wants to submit to the rigors of religion when we can be free spirits? Religion, they argue, stifles the imagination, stunts our creative style, forever shouts instructions and lays down the law. Thou Shalt do this and Thou Shalt better not do that, or else! Do's and don'ts, rules and regulations are the hallmark of every belief system; but why conform to any system at all? Why not just be "me"? Many Jews argue similarly. Mitzvahs cramp my style. Keeping kosher is a serious inconvenience. Shabbat really gets in the way of my weekend. And Passover has got to be the biggest headache of the year. Long ago, the sages of the Talmud said it was actually the other way around. There is no one as free as he who is occupied with the study of Torah. But how can this possibly be true? Torah is filled with rules of law, ethics and even expectations and exhortations that we take the high road and behave beyond the call of duty. How could they say that Torah makes us free? Surely it is inhibiting rather than liberating? The Torah is the compass of life. It provides our navigational fix so we know where to go and how to get there. Without the Torah's guidance and direction we would be lost in the often stormy seas of confusion. Without a spiritual guidance system we flounder about, wandering aimlessly through life. Just look at our kids when they're on vacation from school and are "free" from the disciplines of the educational system. Unless they have a program of some kind to keep them busy – like a summer camp – they become very frustrated in their "freedom." Within the Torah lifestyle there is still ample room for spontaneity and freedom of expression. We can be committed to the compass and still be free spirits. Indeed, there are none as free as they who are occupied with Torah.
