Icicles on Fire

South Austin right now. picture by the Hertzes, Chabad South Austin

 Think: 

"The Baal Shem Tov loved light. So his disciples always made sure to light many candles whenever they expected their master.

Once, they had only a single candle. Knowing how much their master loved light, they were bitterly disappointed by their inability to provide the illumination he desired.

When the Baal Shem Tov entered the room and heard about the candle shortage, he said: “Ober lichtig darf doch zayn… Mein avodah iz lichtik machen ba idden.” "Nevertheless, there must be light…“My task is to beget light by

Jews.” 

He told his disciples to go outside and collect the icicles that hung from the roof. He then instructed them to arrange the 'ice candles' about the room and light them. The ice burned like wax, flooding the room with light."

The third Chabad Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, shared this story and fell silent. Then, with a note of yearning in his voice, he said: “For the Baal Shem Tov's chassidim, ice burned and yielded light…”

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom, have an uplifting week! Looking forward to celebrating together!

Rabbi Mendy & Mussy

p.s. As always, we would love to chat with you over coffee or drinks, about Judaism, or just life - simply reply to this email.

📖 Read:

⚖️ When Justice Breyer was called to the Torah 

Fittingly, the justice shares a Hebrew name with the renowned commentator Rashi

📈 The moral calculations of a billionaire

How the Science of Racism Led to the Holocaust. The war against the divine image in man. Highly recommended long read for Shabbat.

A powerful message from proud Jewish NHL player Zach Hyman

“Jerusalem, we have a problem”.

This week marked 19 years since the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. In this NASA-produced tribute video, Rabbi Zvi Konikov recounts the unique Jewish-law challenges the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon A"H, faced while in space. May his memory, and the memory of his fellow crewmates, be for a blessing.

🎶 Listen:

Ivri Anochi by Benny Freidman --- high high energy

Ufaratzta --- chassidic high energy

🙌 Upcoming at YJP:

Shabbat: Shabbat morning services 10:30 am

Torah discussion and reading 11:00 am

Followed by Kiddush and Cholent

First Friday New York Shabbat is postponed to next week - Fri, Feb. 11

Celebrate Shabbat with all your new and old friends, the best way to reset from the week and a high-value tradition.

7:00 Soulful Shabbat Services

7:30 Shabbat Dinner

RSVP here or at yjpaustin.org/events

JLI Class: Meditation from Sinai

Mindful awareness and divine spirituality to help you think, feel, and live more deeply.

6 Wednesdays from Feb 9th to March 16th 2022

6 Sundays from Feb 13th to March 20th 2022

YJP Members Join Free - with code YJP

RSVP here or at yjpaustin.org/events

  Jewish word of the week: Tzu gezunt (n)

to health

While many use the German gesundheit (“health”) in the place of “bless you” after they hear someone sneeze, in Yiddish we say tzu gezunt, which means “to health.” 

1. Fun fact: Wishing someone good health following a sneeze is an old, old, Jewish custom. In the Talmudic era, people would say “asuta,” which is Aramaic for “health.”

Shabbat Terumah

Light your candles at 5:53 pm

in Austin, TX

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