You know about Kabbalah, yes. But do you know about the mystic who wrote the primary book, the Zohar?

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai lived about 2000 years ago during the time of Roman occupation of the Land of Israel. It was a time of persecution for the Jews. He once spoke up agaisnt the ruling Romans and was forced to go into hiding in fear of his life. He hid in a cave in the hills of Northern Israel for 13 years until conditions imporved and he was able to come out of hiding.

It was during and after his time in the cave that he wrote the Zohar and revlealed the teaching of Kabbalah.

While his time in the cave is a facinating topic worthy of its own conversation, I want to focus on what happened immediatly after he regained his freedom.

One of the first things he set out to do was to ask, “Is there anything that needs to be rectified?” He was told of a ritual impurity question that plagued the main marketplace of Tiberias (Tverya) making the Kohanim (the priests) take a long way around town because they had to avoid the marketplace.

Upon learning of the situation, he immediately set out to fix it, though it only meant saving some people the trouble of making a round about way. Yet, since it was a matter of concern to Jews, it deeply touched him, and he spared no effort or time until he solved the situation.

Consider: After spending thirteen years in a cave, with only sand to cover his body, and finally emerging painfully scarred by his ordeal—how does he begin his free life? He doesnt offer "let me enlighten you with the inner light of Torah, the light that has been hidden since the six days of creation.”

Instead, he asks, “What is there in your town that I can fix?”And—true to the principle that “action is the essential thing”—he throws himself into the task and does not rest until it is accomplished.

This is is the lesson for us: while we study are reach spiritual enlightenment, our purpose is to help another person and make the world a better place.

And if to do a Jew a favor materially— maybe only to shortening a path for him to reach his destination—is such a great thing, how much more so is it to be able to show the spiritual way and shorten the learning gap, to help that person understand Torah and grow in their Judaism and follow in the ways of G-d.

For it is the sacred duty of every Jew to walk in the way of G‑d and to do all he or she can to spread Yiddishkeit, Torah and Mitzvos, elevating everything.

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.

Highlight:

Lag Baomer and soft launch of the Newman Courtyard at the YJP Chai House.



  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

5/16 - One Dor Over Lag Baomer + Shabbat Dinner

5/27 - Bake Like Bubby: Olive Oil Cake

🌱 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, Emor

Light your candles at 8:01 pm

in Austin, TX

Shabbat Shalom, friend!

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Facebook| Instagram

Support Chabad YJP's mission to build community for young Jews in Austin!

Share this email, invite friends, join a committee, or donate at yjpaustin.org/donate