The Chai Times #41 // Look Up at the Stars

Jul 15, 2022 9:24 pm

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Sharing a thought by my colleague Rabbi Eli Block of Chabad Legacy West near Dallas:


This past Tuesday, NASA released five images from the early work of the James Webb Space Telescope. The most striking image was of the Carina nebula, a vast, swirling cloud of dust located 7,600 lightyears from the earth that is both a star nursery and home to some of the most luminous and explosive stars in the Milky Way.

 

In this week's Torah reading, the sinister prophet and sorcerer Balaam blesses the Jewish people against his will and declares: “A star goes forth from Jacob," referring to each and every Jewish soul.

 

Why stars?

 

Stars possess tremendous light and energy, but because they are thousands of lightyears away, they appear faint. 

 

Balaam the prophet, an outsider who can see things that those who are too close cannot, reminds us and admits to us that every Jew is like a star. 

 

Every one of us, even one who seems darkened and distant, is, in reality, full of light. Never forget how powerful you are, never underestimate your own light. 


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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✨ Mazel Tov:

Mazel tov to Josh and Ettie Newman on their wedding!

May your home forever be filled with light, happiness, Torah, and mitzvot!


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📅  Upcoming: 

The White Party - presented by Loewy Law Firm - August 25th - first batch almost sold out

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9/18: Mega Challah Bake

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challahatx.com


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📖 Read:

🏫 Centralized Standards, Local Control. New School Network Seeks to Offer Jewish Families Greater Choice. (And yes we have one in Austin!

 

👨‍🍳 Xerta, a Barcelona restaurant that earned a coveted star from the Michelin Guide, has become a hotspot for Barcelona's small number of kosher-keeping Jews. That's because Xerta will prepare Kosher food in a separate kitchen, under the supervision of a local Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi, making it the only Michelin-starred kosher restaurant in the world.


🖼️ The Secret Picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe That Fueled the Soviet Jewish Underground.


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🌱 Chai Society: 

Special thanks to our Chai Society members:


Yankee Andrusierׁ • Carolina Bueno Marc Cooper Nate Firebaugh Paulina Flasch Matt Ford Sara Guccione Ari & Sandra Hoffman Michael Nadel Chaim & Amanda Pollak Daniel Speiss


Together, we’re High Energy!


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Shabbat Balak
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in Austin, TX


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