The Chai Times #77 // It's Crunch Time

Mar 31, 2023 7:00 pm

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Think:


Sunday, the 11th of Nissan, marks the 121st birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe of blessed memory. Born and raised in Ukraine, and after escaping Nazi-occupied for America in 1941, the Rebbe went on to transform American Jewry in the generation after the Holocaust. While much of the Jewish community was in a defensive posture, the Rebbe urged his followers and Jews everywhere to adopt a bold, positive, optimistic spirit.

 

This spirit is beautifully captured in a Passover message written by the Rebbe in 1957. We all know about the four children at the Seder, the wise, wicked, simple, and the one who does not even question. But, the Rebbe, said, there is a fifth son that we need to be thinking about:

 

“Unfortunately, there is, in our time of confusion and obscurity, another kind of a Jewish child: the child who is conspicuous by his absence from the Seder service…. who is not even aware of the Seder, of the Exodus from Egypt and the subsequent Revelation at Sinai.”

 

“This presents a grave challenge, which should command our attention long before Passover and the Seder night. For no Jewish child should be forgotten and given up. We must make every effort to save also that “lost” child, and bring the absentee to the Seder table. Determined to do so, and driven by a deep sense of compassion and responsibility, we need have no fear of failure.”

 

This was the Rebbe's call to our generation: to seek out the fifth child, the one who does not know that a Seder is taking place next Wednesday and Thursday, and to bring them to the table of vibrant and living Judaism. 

 

If you know a "fifth child" – at work or at home – invite them to your Seder or to the Chabad YJP Seders. As the Rebbe wrote: "Driven by a deep sense of compassion and responsibility, we need have no fear of failure.”


Wishing you an uplifting Shabbat,


Rabbi Mendy & Mussy


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


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4/5: Passover Seder RSVP NOW if you plan on coming

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Passover is just around the corner and we're excited to spread the joy by gifting you a box of delicious Shemurah Matzah!


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Shemurah Matzah is a special handmade Matzah baked with love, care, and a whole lotta tradition. You can practically hear the Israelites marching out of Egypt with every bite.


Reserve your gift here


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Mazel Tov! Ava and Chaim Schlesinger on the birth of a beautiful Baby girl! May you have a lot of nachas and joy from her!


Mazel Tov! Matt Strebe and Jess Rothberg on your engagement! May you build a Jewish home on the foundations of Torah and Yiddishkeit!


Congrats to Alex Ball and Alex Vayner for an incredible first Third Thursday Happy Hour. See you all next month April 20th!

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Of interest:


🎬  Back to the Passover Basics:


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🆘 How Moses saved Egyptian civilization.


🍷 Still looking for that perfect Seder wine? Move over Manischewitz, kosher wine is gourmet now.


SUNDAY IS TEXAS EDUCATION AND SHARING DAY IN HONOR OF THE REBBE


This past Tuesday, March 28 a delegation of rabbis representing the 122 Chabad Lubavitch leaders serving the Texas Jewish community throughout the state, visited the Texas Capitol as a bi-partisan group of state leaders recognized Education and Sharing Day to be observed this year on April 2, 2023.

 

👉 Some photos, taken by our very own and very talented Liz Moskowitz! https://www.facebook.com/chabadhouston/posts/pfbid0Q2f3o5b25DACHqJXgop1jDLHmAPcWNgwdYuno98d4ccwUzrbgbY4hh9wnePpRV9Sl

 

👉 Read the report in the Jewish Herald Voice


👉 Video replay for Education and Sharing Day in the Texas State House HR623


👉 Video replay for Education and Sharing Day in the Texas State Senate SR348

 

👉 Signed Resolution by Governor Greg Abbott


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📅  Upcoming Events: 

Make your life easy! Subscribe to the YJP Public Google Calendar and never miss an event.


Weekly Shabbat Services: 



  • Shabbat morning services 10:20 am
  • Torah discussion and reading 11:00 am (sharp)
  • Followed by Kiddush and Cholent


4/2: One Dor Over: Trivia

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4/20: Third Thursday Happy Hour

Chaired by Alex and Alex this happy hour is designed to be the open door into the community.

No charge, no maximum capacity, no rsvp.

Yes drinks, yes new people, yes fun.

See you there!

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🌱 Chai Society: 

Special thanks to the Chai Society Monthly giving members who donate monthly to support YJP events and activities. (New members are highlighted so we can thank them for joining!)


Yankee Andrusierׁ • Ronit Baum Carolina Bueno Marc Cooper Nate Firebaugh • Aviva Frank Paulina Flasch Matt Ford • Pavel Gitnik • Sarah Guccione • Max Goldberg Ari & Sandra Hoffman Ben Marchiony Michael Nadel • Yoni Oettinger Chaim & Amanda Pollak Daniel Speiss • Cindy & Mark Sichel • Noah Kagan • Avremi Zippel


Join the Chai Society here - make a monthly donation and support the programs and events you love.


Together, we’re High Energy!

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Shabbat Tzav
Light your candles at 7:31 pm
in Austin, TX
Shabbat Shalom, friend!

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