Sharing from the ever profound Rabbi Eli Block Chabad Young Professionals LW Plano:

“If the Jewish people during the time of Purim would have just renounced their Judaism,” wrote the first Chabad Rebbe, “then they would have been spared from Haman's decree of destruction. Yet not one Jew throughout the entire ordeal even entertained the thought of abandoning their identity.”

Our newsfeeds alternate between horror and heroism. In the past few days we have heard how Yarden Bibas was informed by his captors that if he converted to Islam, he would receive better treatment. He responded, “I was born a Jew, and I will die a Jew.” They refused to feed him for two days.

We read of former hostages who began reciting blessings over food, saying the Shema in the morning, singing Shalom Aleichem in Arabic. 

Jewish law says: “Whoever reads the Megillah out of sequence, has not fulfilled their obligation." The Baal Shem Tov said, if you read the Megillah as if it is only speaking of events that happened far away and long ago, and not that the story has meaning for you, right now, then you are reading it “out of sequence.”

True, in every generation there are those who seek to destroy the Jewish people. But it is also true that in every generation there are Jews who refuse to denounce their Jewishness, who rediscover their faith and heritage. Which is why we aren't going anywhere. 

Wishing you an uplifting weekend,

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.

YJP 10 Year GALA - March 30th

Celebrate the first decade, honoring Danielle Thompson, the Newmans and the Kulick

- Benefitting the Building Campaign -

• delicious dinner
• awards ceremony
• open bar
• live music
• celebration
• exciting announcements to come!

  Upcoming Events: 

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

Weekly Shabbat Services

• Shabbat morning services 10:15 am
• Torah discussion and reading 11:00 am
• Followed by Kiddush and Cholent

March 7 - YJP First Friday + Open Shabbat at SXSW we will be hosting!

rsvp here - more details to come

Purim March 13 in the evening; 14 afternoon - get yourself ready!

🌱 Chai Society: 

Special thanks to the Chai Society members who donate monthly (starting at $36 a month) to support this beautiful community.

You can join them and have your name listed below.

Andrew Abony • Yankee Andrusierׁ • Hannah & Oli Black • Carolina Bueno • Duncan Bryer • Carrie Chess • Marc Cooper • Allan Farkash • Alex & Nellie Freiman • Marc & Andrea Freiman • Paulina Flasch • Matt Ford • Dora & Josh Frank • Gabe Gang • Sarah Guccione • Max Goldberg • Jeremy Goren • Toba Hellerstein • Ari & Sandra Hoffman • Noah Kagan • Levi Kalmenson • Daniel Kaufman • Mikey Korn • Rachel Kulter • Moriel Levy & Jon Jov • Rabbi Mendi & Cheli Marasov • Ben Marchiony • Blake Margolis • Dan Melnick • Lior Milshtein • Enrique Mustieles Arellano • Michael Nadel • Yoni Oettinger • Dafnee Orduz • Sam Rabinowitz • Ben Rosen • Barbara & Norman Ross • Itamar Shapira MD • Kylie & Noah Sinai • Ian Spechler • Joel Sumner • Tara Sylvane • Will Tcath • Cindy & Mark Sichel • Dustin Tropp • Danielle Thompson • Chaim & Amanda Pollak • Ben Ward • Avremi Zippel • David Zakariaie • Idan Zur

Join Here

YJP is entirely community-funded - join the monthly donors listed above and support the community you love!

Together, we’re High Energy!

Shabbat, Terumah

Light your candles at 6:12 pm

in Austin, TX

Shabbat Shalom, friend!

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