Weekday Shiur on
Likutei Moharan
presented by
Reb Yedidyah Blanton
|
Our own Reb Yedidyah Blanton teaches lessons from Likutei Moharan,
the teachings of
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
Every Sunday night
8:00pm - 9:30pm
at Reb Shalom Yakov /
Jeff Mann's home:
1037 South Sherbourne Dr.
LA 90035
(between Olympic & Whitworth)
(There's no charge for this class!)
|
|
Reb Shlomo Torah For Shavuos | |
|
|
Awesome Phone Shiur |
Listen to the deepest Torahs and stories from the teachings of Reb Shlomo Carlebach and the Izshbitzer, from the book "Lev HaShamayim" - given over by Rabbi Nossen and Rebbetzin Channah Schafer in Boston
Live:
Sunday Night
9:00 - 10:00 pm EST
Call (641) 715-3300
Conf code: 818022#.
Recorded:
Listen anytime! Each class is recorded and available until the next shiur, which will replace it.
Playback Number: (641) 715-3412
Access Code: 818022#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Happy Minyan Newsletter - Kol Sasson
Parshas Bamidbar | May 2010 |
Greetings!
This coming Tuesday Night-Thursday is the holiday of Shavuot, the time of the receiving of the Torah. Here's is "Shavuot 101" - Enjoy!  The holiday of Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah on Har Sinai over 3,300 years ago. Shavuot is observed like other Torah holidays, which is basically the same way Shabbat is observed except that cooking for the holiday and carrying in public (without an eiruv) areas are both permitted on holidays, whereas that is forbidden on Shabbat.
 The main mitvot are candle-lighting, special prayer services which include Hallel during the day, and meals with Kiddush. If the Beit HaMikdash were standing - may it be speedily rebuilt! - we would also be able to bring bikkurim, our first fruits, as well as holiday offerings.
Along with the mitzvot we observe for the holiday of Shavuot, there are several customs we have for this holiday as well - here's a brief overview of the main ones:
People fill their homes and shuls with flowers and greenery to recall Har Sinai as it was on the original Shavuot day - which the Midrash says was beautifully flower-filled.
Many people eat milk products like cheesecakes and blintzes, for various reason. One practical point being that prior to receiving the Torah, we had not been instructed in the laws of kosher slaughtering of animals, nor the separation of milk and meat. To avoid making mistakes, it is said that our ancestors ate dairy at first until they learned how to properly observe the laws of kashrut. And metaphorically, we are called HaShem's children at the time of giving of the Torah, and just as children need milk to grow and thrive so we need Torah to grow and thrive.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot - the Night-time "Fixing" of Shavuot - is done by many people by staying up all night studying Torah. This is because we want to show that we are indeed anxiously awaiting the morning wherein we receive the Torah, although on the original Shavuot at Har Sinai, we woke up a little late. (Hence the idea of "fixing" or repairing the past.)
On Shavuot day, before Torah reading (but after Hallel) there is a special prayer of praise that is read, Akdamus Millin. We then read the portion of the Torah that includes the narrative of the Revelation at Mount Sinai and the Ten Commandments, and then we read Megillat Rut - the Book of Ruth (outside of Israel, this is read on the 2nd Day of the holiday).
 There are a few reasons why we read the story of Ruth on Shavuot, which includes the fact that hers is the first fully recorded conversion story in the Bible. Since we were all like converts at Har Sinai when we accepted the Torah, we relate to Ruth's love and acceptance of the Torah. Also, she is the great-grandmother of King David, whose yahrtzeit is on Shavuot. And of course, the story of Ruth took place during the harvest season, which is this time of year and part of what we are celebrating on Shavuot.
Lastly, dear friend, as we again enjoy another holiday with our friends and family, please keep in mind our heroes, the captive Israeli soldiers who still are not free to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot with their family and friends.
Please daven for the immediate safe return of Gilad (ben Aviva) Shalit; Zachary (ben Miriam) Baumel; Tzvi (ben Penina) Feldman; Yehuda (ben Sarah) Katz; Ron (ben Batya) Arad and Guy (ben Rina) Hever; as well as for the safety and success of all of Israel's soldiers, and the immediate release of Yehonatan (ben Malka) Pollard.
May we all merit this Shavuot to accept the Torah in our hearts as we did at Har Sinai with awe and love, with unity and joy!
Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov, and
Chag Sameyach!
Rachel |
|
Happy Minyan News & Upcoming Events
*New Summer Schedule for Friday nights!
Baruch HaShem! We are the only Carlebach minyan in the world that has two minyanim for Friday Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat in the summer. Both minyanim are at our regular davening location at the Karate Academy.
The early minyan will start at approximately 6:00pm and, the later minyan(after candle-lighting) will start at approximately 7:15pm.
The times will change every week or two according to candle-lighting times. Early minyan'ers should please be sure to be on time so that the second minyan is not delayed.
* Shavuot - Tuesday night 5/18 - Thursday night 5/20
Stay tuned for details of our annual all night learning Shavuot (first night) and our special holiday davening times.
*Become a Member of the Happy Minyan!:
It's not too late to pay
for Happy Minyan Membership (In fact, it's NEVER too late to make a contribution and support our minyan! Be sure to pay for membership if you haven't yet! And please also be sure to send in your pledges from Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah. You can also make arrangements to pay in installments if that will help you give back to the minyan that is so happy to give to you!)
 To pay via Paypal, click here:
Or mail your checks to: P.O. Box 16002, Beverly Hills, CA 90209
* Happy Birthday Rabbi Yehoshua Gabbai, Aaron Deutsch
* Refuah Shelaimah Shalom ben Elisheva (Sacha Shalom Louza), Yedidya ben Chana (Yedidya Blanton), Shaindel Feiga bat Baila Eeta (Sharon Asher) |
The Shabbos Before Shavuot
- Rav Sholom Brodt, Rosh Yeshiva of Simchas Shlomo
לוּלֵי תוֹרָתְך שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי אָז, אָבַדְתִּי בְעָנְיִי
Were it not for Your Torah, which is my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (Tehillim Psalm 119:92)
Reb Shlomo zt"l was a master at opening our hearts to the words and depths of the Torah. One of his earliest songs was "Lulei Toratcha..." which expresses the deep yearning and thirst of the Jewish soul to delight in the holy words of Hashem's Torah. When we learn Torah and are deeply aware that every letter is filled with Hashem's transcendent light, our souls experience true delight.
According to the Jewish calendar it always works that we read parshat Bamidbar on the Shabbos before Shavuot, the holiday of the giving of the Torah. Shabbos is the headquarters of all that is holy and the holiness of the upcoming holiday begins to descend on the preceding Shabbos. The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches that this Shabbos is similar to the Shabbos before a wedding, when the 'chattan' is called up to the Torah in spiritual preparation for the wedding. Shavuot is the great wedding between Hashem and B'nai Yisrael, and hence this Shabbos we prepare for our wedding.
The Slonimer Rebbe teaches that the Shabbos before Shavuot provides us with the spiritual nourishment that we need, in order to be ready to stand once again at Har Sinai- together with each other in unity, to receive the holy Torah.
Further, the Rebbe explains that the fact that the Torah was given to us in Midbar Sinai, in the wilderness or desert of Sinai teaches us that we are to make a home for Hashem even in the wilderness, even in the desert. Hashem commands us and gives us the strength to build His sanctuary, a true and joyous Torah home and community even in a spiritual desert. Wherever we are we can and must connect to Hashem.
 Dear Friends,
This Shabbos we will bless the new moon of the month of Sivan. Rosh Chodesh Sivan (which begins this Motzei Shabbos - Sat. night) is when we first arrived at Mt. Sinai. We have learned many times that on that day "we were as one person with one heart." The Rabbis have taught us that to truly receive the Torah we must be united. The Torah is the Infinite Light of the Ein Sof blessed is He, which will not dwell in a place of fragmentation and disunity.
That is why in our prayers we say, "Bless us our Father all as one with the light of Your Countenance"
May we be blessed with true unity and may we always strive to do our best to achieve it. Have a wonderful Shabbos, and Rosh Chodesh Sivan!
B'ahavah ubivracha,
Sholom
|
Tikkun Rachel" - Divrei Torah by Rachel Espana
 Making Mistakes in Bamidbar
When you look around large groups, especially political and religious groups, it's hard to imagine anyone purposefully publicizing even their smallest mistakes. When it comes to bigger issues, generally the effort to cover-up is extraordinary. In fact we find that many major issues only come to light a generation after the offense occurred.
Then there are the Jews.
We of course publicize our most grievous mistakes immediately, and still talk about them 3, 300 years later! No cover-ups here. Reb Shlomo Carlebach said that the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar, is the holy Book of Mistakes: the repercussions of the Sin of the Golden Calf, the Spies, Korach's rebellion, the Midianite women.... We have an entire book of our mistakes! And don't forget that the book is also set during the time of wandering in the desert for 40 years. It's a pretty rough journey.
But imagine that - we include all our worst mistakes in the Torah, our Holiest Book. We are so honest, so responsible, so yearning to grow and improve, that we preserve our entire history, mistakes and all, in order to learn from it. "Mi K'Amcha Yisrael" - "Who is like Your People Israel?"
Finding Your Place in Bamidbar The first thing we read in this week's parsha is that every Jew is counted (again) in a census. A census was taken immediately after the Sin of the Golden Calf to asses the "damage" done to our people, and then this one took place seven months later. According to the commentaries, G-d commands Moshe to take the census as a way to reassure us that each of us is precious, no matter what mistakes we've made. Every Jew counts. Next, we get into specifics - not just that we are important, but we each have a mission. The tribe of Levi is designated for holy service in the Mishkan, and so their camp is immediately around the Mishkan. The other tribes are encamped around the Leviim and Mishkan, each according to their tribe. Every tribe has its own flag - its own identity - and every tribe has its own place in the camp. Some are at the head, leading the way. Some "got your back covered" from behind. Everyone has their place, their special job, their unique ability and contribution. What is striking is that in the center of it all is the Mishkan, the holy place wherein G-d dwells - each of us has our own place around G-d. Our individuality is respected in the service of G-d. And our unique mission in life is based on our closeness to the center, to G-d. May we all have the courage to face our mistakes, and make them holy through our repentance. May we all know deep in our souls how very precious we are to each other and to G-d. And may we all discover and fulfill our individual holy missions in life. Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom,
Rachel |
 David Sacks
teaches every Shabbos morning
at 8:30am at the Happy Minyan,
and every Sunday morning
at 10:30 am at Cong. Mogen David,
9717 W. Pico Blvd.
You can also listen to David Sacks online anytime by down- loading his Torah on iTunes, or you can read some of his best articles - check out his fantastic site Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.
The Ishbitzer Rebbe on "How To Shine"
 Dear Friends,
The world needs more deep Torah. I feel privileged to present Reb Shlomo Carlebach giving over the Ishbitzer Rebbe on the first three words of Parshas Bechukosai. The standard translation is "If you walk in My ways.." Hashem promises all sorts of blessings. But it's so much deeper than that. What the Ishbitzer reveals here is the secret to how to shine. This means not just how to emanate a holy glow, but how to ensure that after you complete an action that it continues to reverberate through the world with positive consequences.
|
About Happy Minyan - Los Angeles
Please join us for davening every Shabbat!
Friday night: Mincha begins around 10 minutes after candle-lighting time, followed by Kabballat Shabbat and Maariv.
Saturday morning: David Sacks' class begins at 8:30am, followed by Shacharit at 9am, then Torah reading and Musaf. There is a Kiddush after davening at around 12pm.
Saturday afternoon:
Mincha and Seudah Shlishit are usually around 20 minutes before candle-lighting time and followed by Maariv and Havdallah at the conclusion of
Shabbat.
We also meet for davening on all major Jewish holidays.
The Happy Minyan is located at
the Karate Academy
9218 West Pico Blvd (at Glenville)
Los Angeles, California90035
Good Shabbos! Good Shabbos!
The Happy Minyan
|
|
|
|
|
