Minyan Schedule at Chabad of NCI
A Minyan is the backbone of a Shul and is the collective soul of the community.
| Sundays | 8:15AM |
| Monday - Friday | 7:00AM |
| Shabbat Day | 10:00AM |
Decisions of Fate - Torah Class
Join Chabad of NCI for a fascinating course on Ethical Medical Dilemmas and the Torah's Perspective. Use this LINK to reserve your textbook. Open to men and women.
Class 3 will focus on the Torah's perspective on abortion. We look forward to continuing last week's thought-provoking discussion!
The class will take place on Tuesday, Dec 3 at 7PM. Location upon reservation.
Question of the week
The Jewish people are in mourning. Again.
Just a week ago, Zvi Kogan, Chabad rabbi in the United Arab Emirates, was abducted and murdered by terrorists.
We have sadly seen hundreds of fallen heroes in recent times. Every victim of antisemitic hatred is deemed a Kadosh - a precious and holy soul. No matter how they lived, they died because they were Jews. The Talmud says about them that no one can even approach their level of holiness in heaven.
Each one had a family, dreams and ambitions, a life cut short. The magnitude of loss is staggering.
And yet, this one act of hate has hit a nerve. The response from Jewish communities everywhere of shock and pain, and condemnation of the perpetrators from world leaders, seems unique.
Because amongst all the multiple tragedies of the last year, there is something different about the murder of Rabbi Kogan.
He was personally targeted.
Until now, the attacks have been general and indiscriminate. On October 7, Hamas was out to kill or kidnap anyone they could find - men and women, young and old, Jews and non-Jews, soldiers and civilians. Iran launched missiles at Israel hoping to kill whomever they can, and the Hizbollah booby traps and snipers are aimed at any Israeli soldier they can get.
But in this attack in the UAE, the terrorists were looking for one single man, Rabbi Zvi Kogan. They watched him, followed him, and hunted him down. It wasn't just any Jewish tourist or Israeli businessman they sought. It was the Chabad rabbi of Abu Dhabi.
Why? Who was Zvi Kogan and what made him a target?
He was a good man. He dedicated his life to helping others. He spread light and warmth and love. Zvi represents the best humanity has to offer. And that made him a target of terror. Because the terrorists embody evil, just as Rabbi Kogan embodied goodness.
This proves what we knew all along. The current wave of attacks on Israel and Jews has nothing to do with land or “occupation”. Even if all territorial disputes were solved, the terror would continue. Because at its core, this is an assault of evil against good.
Rabbi Kogan was a soldier on the front lines of that battle. He was openly and proudly spreading Judaism in a Muslim Arab country, with official blessings and support of the rulers of the land. There’s no greater illustration of the power of good than that.
Zvi, we are deeply moved by the way you died, and even more moved by the way you lived. We will continue the battle, do more good, bring more light, and we will win.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
Message from the Rabbi
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Dear Friends, |
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Along with the entire Jewish nation and upright people everywhere, we are pained and saddened by the shocking news of the vicious murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old Chabad rabbi in the United Arab Emirates, by barbaric terrorists. Rabbi Kogan was murdered simply because he was a Jew, a member of the Chosen People, a Jew who cared deeply for his fellow Jews of all walks of life, and for all people. So what can we do to honor his memory? Young Rabbi Kogan dedicated his life to bringing kosher food to the Emirates. He was inspired by the call of the Rebbe, who launched the Kosher Campaign 50 years ago to spread kosher awareness and observance. In a video recorded just a few days before his passing, he proudly shared how he is importing foods from all over the world so people can keep kosher no matter where they are. In the wake of his brutal murder at the hands of terrorists, let’s join Jews all over the world in declaring the coming week a week of kosher—dedicated to increasing awareness of this important mitzvah. Here’s what that means: If you don’t yet keep kosher at home, for the next week (and hopefully you will continue beyond), choose one (or some, or all) of the following:
If you do already keep kosher, perhaps consider upgrading your observance in the areas of pat Yisrael and chalav Yisrael, waiting between meat and milk, or wherever else you believe you have room to improve. You can also sign up for a new three-part video course dedicated to the basics of keeping kosher. With broken hearts but unbreakable spirit, we pray to G-d that our mitzvahs bring nachas to the holy soul of Rabbi Zvi ben Alexander Hakohen, and bring comfort to his devastated widow, grieving family, and shocked community. |
Parsha in a Nutshell
Parshat Toldot
The name of the Parshah, "Toldot," means "Generations" and it is found in Genesis 25:19.
Isaac and Rebecca endure twenty childless years, until their prayers are answered and Rebecca conceives. She experiences a difficult pregnancy as the “children struggle inside her”; G‑d tells her that “there are two nations in your womb,” and that the younger will prevail over the elder.
Esau emerges first; Jacob is born clutching Esau’s heel. Esau grows up to be “a cunning hunter, a man of the field”; Jacob is “a wholesome man,” a dweller in the tents of learning. Isaac favors Esau; Rebecca loves Jacob. Returning exhausted and hungry from the hunt one day, Esau sells his birthright (his rights as the firstborn) to Jacob for a pot of red lentil stew.
In Gerar, in the land of the Philistines, Isaac presents Rebecca as his sister, out of fear that he will be killed by someone coveting her beauty. He farms the land, reopens the wells dug by his father Abraham, and digs a series of his own wells: over the first two there is strife with the Philistines, but the waters of the third well are enjoyed in tranquility.
Esau marries two Hittite women. Isaac grows old and blind, and expresses his desire to bless Esau before he dies. While Esau goes off to hunt for his father’s favorite food, Rebecca dresses Jacob in Esau’s clothes, covers his arms and neck with goatskins to simulate the feel of his hairier brother, prepares a similar dish, and sends Jacob to his father. Jacob receives his father’s blessings for “the dew of the heaven and the fat of the land” and mastery over his brother. When Esau returns and the deception is revealed, all Isaac can do for his weeping son is to predict that he will live by his sword, and that when Jacob falters, the younger brother will forfeit his supremacy over the elder.
Jacob leaves home for Charan to flee Esau’s wrath and to find a wife in the family of his mother’s brother, Laban. Esau marries a third wife—Machalath, the daughter of Ishmael.
Haftorah Commentary
Haftorah Erev Rosh Chodesh Commentary (Shmuel 1, 20:18-42)
This Shabbos is Erev Rosh Chodesh. The parshah begins: “Jonathan said to (David), “Tomorrowis the New Moon…””. Thus, the connection to the weekly parsha.
Shaul, the king of Israel, had the mistaken impression that Dovid was a threat to his reign and viewed him as a rebel who deserved, according to Torah law, to be executed. Yonasan the king’s son, idolized Dovid’s accomplishments to the point of yearning for Dovid to assume the mantle of leadership over Israel. The king publicly denounced his son for his disgraceful attitude.
Yonasan secretly informed Dovid to flee for his life. After an emotional scene of departure
Yonasan sent Dovid away in peace and reinstated their vow that nothing would ever separate
the two families from each other.
The reading of this parsha and the occurrence of its events around Rosh Chodesh suggest a
corollary between the reign of Dovid Hamelech and Rosh Chodesh. It is our tradition to recite a blessing over the new moon each month, Kiddush Levanah. The nature of this Mitzvah is to recognize the orbit of the moon and its progression and regression beginning from a small crescent, extending to a full moon over fifteen days and then decreasing and disappearing over the next fifteen days. In the midst of the recital we say, “David, King over Israel is alive and enduring”. This peculiar practice suggests that the moon and King David’s reign have much in common.
Likened to the moon, the glory of Israel’s reign slowly began to appear in the time of Avrohom Avinu and developed to its fullest maturity fifteen generations later in the era of Shlomo Hamelech, David’s son. The Jewish people had grown spiritually and physically. From that point onwards the monarchy, like the moon, began its gradual descent until its total disappearance fifteen generations later with the destruction of the Temple and the Babylonian exile.
We conclude the prayers over the new moon with a special request that Hashem restore the
moon to its perfect brilliance and then we recite the following passage “And the Jewish People will seek Hashem and their King Dovid”. Again, we discover King David as an integral part of
our Rosh Chodesh service.
We can now appreciate the lesson of this week’s haftorah and its encouraging theme.
As we look towards the moon, we express our total faith in Hashem. We recognize that the
disappearance of the Kingdom of Israel, like the moon, is a guaranteed indication of its
reappearance and we entreat Hashem to restore the Kingdom of David to its original glory and splendor, speedily in our days. 1
1. Haftorah Commentary by Rabbi Dovid Siegel
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!
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
World Cuisine
Israeli Shabbat Menu
chayei sarah
A Real American Shabbat Menu
vayera
Bedouin Tent Style Shabbat Menu