The Family Shul Wishes You a Shabbat Shalom and a Frielichen Chanukah ~ Chag Orim V’Sameach!!

Flamingo E Weekly 669 December 4, 2015 – Kislev 22, 5776 Erev Shabbat Mevarchim Tevet, Parshat Vayeishev Shabbat Candles should be lit by 4:23 pm Shabbat ends 5:28 pm The Family Shul Wishes You a Shabbat Shalom and a Frielichen Chanukah ~ Chag Orim V’Sameach!!

Weekly Schedule Friday, December 4 Shabbat Kodesh, (Saturday) December 5 Sunday, December 6 Light 1 candle at dusk 6:30 am Maamer Moment 7:00 am Tehillim Minyan 8:00 am Early Minyan 6:35 am Early Minyan 8:45 am Chassidic Reader Class – Torah Ohr 8:30 am Tanya Teachings 7:00 am Regular Minyan 9:15 am Main Shacharit Services 8:50 am Yeshiva Minyan 8:50 am Yeshiva Minyan 9:30 am Parents n’ Kids Youth Minyan 9:15 am Regular Minyan 10:30 am All Youth Programs

10:30 am Girls’ Cocoa Club (ages 12+) 4:33 pm Mincha, 4:30 pm Mincha, 1:30 pm Shabbat Mevarchim Farbrengen Sefer HaMitzvot Express Menorah Lighting, with Hakhel Insights, Sefer HaMitzvot then Kabbalat Shabbat 4:00 pm Mincha followed by Tehillim 119 for Eretz Yisrael 5:00 pm Ma’ariv 4:30 pm Seudah Shlisheet: Refreshments for Body, Mind, & Soul 4:30 pm Moshe’s Mishna Hakhel for Kids 5:25 pm Ma’ariv - Living Torah with the Rebbe video follows Kiddush Honours: Farbrengen Sponsor: Seudah Shlisheet: Available Anonymous Available Women’s Mikvah: Women’s Mikvah: Women’s Mikvah: by appt. only 8:00 - 10:00 pm 8:00 - 10:00 pm

Chanukah Day 1 Chanukah Day 2 Chanukah Day 3 Chanukah Day 4 Monday, December 7 Tuesday, December 8 Wednesday, December 9 Thursday, December 10 Light 2 candles at dusk Light 3 candles at dusk Light 4 candles at dusk Light 5 candles at dusk 6:30 am Parsha Perspectives 6:30 am Parsha Perspectives 6:30 am Parsha Perspectives 6:30 am Parsha Perspectives 6:30 am Early Minyan 6:30 am Early Minyan 6:30 am Early Minyan 6:30 am Early Minyan 7:00 am Regular Minyan 7:00 am Regular Minyan 7:00 am Regular Minyan 7:00 am Regular Minyan 8:50 am Yeshiva Minyan 8:50 am Yeshiva Minyan 10:30 am Redemption Songs! 3:30pm Menorah Lighting at 4:30 pm Mincha, Menorah 4:45 pm Mincha, Sefer the City of Vaughan Lighting, Sefer 4:30 pm Mincha, HaMitzvot ~ At the 4:30 pm Mincha, Menorah HaMitzvot Menorah Lighting, Police Station Lighting, Sefer 5:00 pm Ma’ariv Sefer HaMitzvot 5:30 pm Menorah Lighting at HaMitzvot 6:00pm Grand Chanukah 5:00 pm Ma’ariv the YRP HQ’s in 5:00 pm Ma’ariv Event: Woodbine’s Aurora Fantasy-Fair 6:30 pm Ma’ariv Women’s Mikvah Women’s Mikvah Women’s Mikvah Women’s Mikvah 8:00 - 10:00 pm 8:00 - 10:00 pm 8:00 - 10:00 pm 8:00 - 10:00 pm

Let’s Get-it-together in this Jewish Year of Hakhel (Royal Assembly)

Hakhel: Pledge to #UniteTheNation – Baruch Hashem, our community members are increasingly responding to the call and rallying around Shnat Hakhel (our Jewish Year of Assembly). Their many mini-Hakhel gatherings will, b’ezrat Hashem, bring forth divine blessings for all of Am Yisrael, and especially our beloved brethren in Israel during these difficult times. Based on clear and detailed inspired instructions from the Rebbe regarding Shnat Hakhel activities, our Shul office will be helping community members to do their part in Uniting The Nation. At the time, the Rebbe specifically requested that every individual become active in initiating and hosting Hakhel-oriented events. He further suggested that those who participate should sign a Hakhel pledge card with the understanding that the coordinators would then call to monitor progress and encourage increased activity. Sign-up cards are now available at the office; you can also visit our website to print, fill in and fax your card back at your earliest convenience. Our website now also features a special section devoted exclusively to DYI Hakhel Initiatives which will list all of the upcoming events being organized by different members of our community! Chanukah Hakhel Youth Invitation – The young boys of Flamingo have already taken a lead in Hakhel Initiatives. In addition to Moshe’s weekly Mishna-Hakhal’s on Shabbat afternoons, the youth have already organized two events and will soon be gathering for a third time. A big Yasher Koach to Shmuly and Natan Rotman for having hosted the Hakhel this past week. Now, all the young boys @ Flamingo are invited to a special Chanukah Hakhel event hosted by Jacob and Benny Stark on Wednesday, December 9 at 70 Chilmar from 6:15-7:00 pm. Post-Convention Convocations – Hard on the heels of the wonderful women’s retreat, our ladies are now implementing a series of Hakhel gatherings designed to unite, elevate and inspire. Yesterday, Michelle Glass hosted a beautiful Wine, Sweets & Cake Farbrengen, and there’s a lot more in the offing! Sari Bachar and Barbara Orvitz are now collaborating to create and host a very special Hakhel Event which will include innovative programming, inspiration and entertainment. The exact date will be announced later, so stay tuned and be sure to attend! We invite all of our ladies to contact Rebbetzin Faygie to get involved and actively plan to organize and host a Hakhel gathering.

Virtually United – Honouring Shnat Hakhel and celebrating Chanukah are more closely related than you think. In addition to this being a great opportunity to host Chanukah parties and get-togethers for family and friends with a special emphasis on Hakhel, it’s also a good time to go global and unite with millions online. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to increase the potency of your own personal observance of Chanukah by pooling resources and sharing the light together with others from around the world. The Global Online Hakhel Initiative being organized out of Chabad Lubavitch World HQ’s seeks to utilize social media in order to exponentially expand the reach of our Menorah’s message with a “Unite with Light” campaign, at no cost and with virtually no effort. Here’s what you need to do: light your Menorah, take a selfie, upload and tag it to #sharethelights. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat, sharing online is the best way to activate a world-wide Hakhel, using technology to uniquely boost this unique public holiday. Our individual Chanukah snapshots, united with thousands from around the world, will achieve the ultimate, unified Pirsumei Nisa: the intended publicizing of G-d's immanent presence and constant miracles. So please spread the word and encourage friends to participate in #sharethelights this Chanukah. Together, we can all add an enormous amount of light to overcome darkness and illuminate the entire world.

Shabbat Mivarchim Parshat Vayeishev - More United than Ever in Yiddishkeit in the Hakhel Year! A Blessed Shabbat – This Shabbat is Mevarchim; it brings Brachot for the upcoming new Hebrew month of Tevet. You’re invited to celebrate with us! Start the morning off with a spiritual high by joining us at 7:30 am for the traditional Mevarchim early morning Tehillim recitation – it’s designed to help you download blessings for the new month, followed by the Chassidic Reader Class at 8:45 am. In our cherished Chassidic tradition, we will begin an inspiring Mevarchim Farbrengen at approximately 1:30 pm. If past precedent is any indication, it will pleasantly flow into the late afternoon Mincha services. We look forward to sharing the warmth, inspiration and happiness with you! Note: unlike erroneously publicized , winter makes its official Halachik debut on this Motzai Shabbat as we welcome the new season with a “prayerful transition”, replacing v’ten bracha with v’ten tal u’matter l’vracha in the 9th blessing (Bareich Alienu) in the Amida service.

Youth Minyan: Redemption Time! – On Shabbat morning, parents and children join together to nurture their love for Yiddishkeit and their passion for Davening at our always popular weekly Youth Minyan. Hey kids! This Shabbat is your chance to redeem your points for prizes! There will be a special auction before you redeem your points for special prizes. Please be there on time to improve your chances of winning the auction! A big Yasher Koach to Tal Kastoryano for being chosen as the Diamond Davener of the Week this past Shabbat. Anyone can win – maybe this week you’ll be the one! All you need to do is Daven from the bottom of your heart with all your might! Happy Jewish Birthday to You – This week at our weekly Shabbat morning children’s' program, we’ll be tuning into what it means to have a Jewish birthday and how that makes us special. Now some people may think that they’re too old for birthdays, but we say: reconsider, because in truth birthday celebrations are for everyone. Each year on your birthday, Hashem renews your lease on life and signals to you: “I need you to help make my world a better place.” There are so many people in the world, yet G-d chose to create YOU because you have a special mission to accomplish that no one else can! A birthday is a day of celebration and introspection, celebrating one's accomplishments in the world to date and seeing where you can grow further. This week, we’ll have a great time exploring different customs to do on one’s special day to make it all the more special and meaningful! Congratulations to our Diamond Davener of the Week: Eli Barzakay.

Our Shabbat Sponsors – The congregational Kiddush, and the Seuda Shlisheet sponsorships are all still available; it's a perfect opportunity to get into the spirit of Chanukah Gelt and honour the memory of, or add a merit for a loved, please contact Rabbi Yossi. The Farbrengen has been anonymously sponsored to encourage the community to intensify their efforts in the Mivtza of Hakhel.

In the spirit of Hakhel, please participate in our Chanukah Events as often as possible!

Warmest Wishes - As the Jewish Festival of Lights approaches, we wish each and every one of you a very happy, joyous and illuminating Chanukah! Seize the moment by proudly and publicly celebrating your Jewishness at work and home, sharing the light of Yiddishkeit as widely as possible. Make a greater effort to gather family and friends for a Yiddishkeit themed Hakhel celebration. Don’t miss our many holiday events and public Menorah lightings - details follow. Join us and help show the world we really are a “light” unto the nations! Ignite the Light with All Your Might – In keeping with the Rebbe’s call to hold Public Menorah Lighting ceremonies during our cherished Jewish Festival of Lights, we’re proud to be the driving force behind the annual event at the Vaughan Civic Centre (our local City Hall) as well as at York Regional Police HQ’s. Help ignite Jewish pride and show appreciation for the inclusivity being displayed by governmental and public institutions. It’s very important that we get a large crowd! Join us at one or both of these Menorah Lightings:

• Tuesday December 8, 5:30 pm, YRP Regional Headquarters (in Aurora). Please allow yourself at least 30 minutes to get there as it will be rush hour! That is where Mincha services will take place at 4:45 pm followed by the Menorah lighting and Maariv.

• Wednesday, December 9, 3:30 pm, Vaughan City Hall. Celebrate Chanukah proudly and publicly and help “spread the light”!

Participate, celebrate, help spread the message far and wide by utilizing the opportunities afforded by social media, and #sharethelights!

Fantasy Fair: Chanukah Edition – The entire Jewish community is invited to join in for an Epic Hakhel Family Chanukah Event on Thursday night, the 5th Eve of Chanukah (December 10)! Thanks to a generous grant from Richard and Melanie Bogoroch, for the second time ever in the GTA, the famous indoor amusement park Fantasy Fair at the Woodbine Centre will once again be transformed into a marvellous Chanukah Wonderland. It’s a special chance for families to hear joyous and exciting Chanukah music, enjoy kosher food, and have a great time! The entire fairgrounds will be exclusively dedicated to the Jewish community for two full hours from 6 - 8 pm, and there will also be a Grand Menorah Lighting! Special holiday gifts will be distributed to the first 300 children who arrive to participate. Members of our Family Shul have a special price of just one TOONIE per person! For non-members, all rides are included for one low fee of only $5 per person (in advance), or $8 at the door. Special family rates will also be available. Please call our office to book your tickets today!

Upcoming inspirational and educational news, events, scheduling and happenings at your Family Shul!

There But for the Grace of G-d – On Monday, December 7 at 10:30 am, the women at Flamingo are invited to join Rabbi Kaplan for our weekly Redemption Songs study series in the continued study of the mystical Aleph-Beit as it was poetically articulated by the Sweet Singer of Israel, David HaMelech. This week, we move forward into the verses reflecting the next Hebrew Letter: Gimmel. After having expressed gratitude and yearning for Hashem's Torah, King David now begs for G-d's grace and kindness. By understanding the craving rhythm of our deepest soul, we can achieve greater calm, equilibrium, serenity and peace. Everyone attending will also get some Chanukah gelt as well along with the inner peace... so please join us to get your gelt wrapped with serenity! Please visit our website to view last week’s fascinating study which revealed the pathway to true Jewish joy and fulfillment!

Bring Some Joy to Kids in Need – Help some special kids during a difficult time in their lives. The annual Chai Lifeline Toy Drive helps restore hope and happiness to families living with children battling serious illness, R”L. Drop off unwrapped gifts in the huge box located in our South Kehilla Atrium. We thank all those that already donated gifts, and are delighted to report that we have already filled a box that has been picked up by Chai Lifeline and they have now delivered a new box. The second box will be picked up by Chai Lifeline on Wednesday, December 30th, so be sure to drop off your gifts before then.

Classless Celebration – Please note all evening classes for this week have been cancelled due to all the many public Menorah Lightings, Chanukah events and celebrations. We urge every one of you to use these special days to unite as often as possible in the spirit Hakhel with family and friends and celebrate this illuminating holiday and special year when every Yiddishkeit themed get-together is most meaningful!

Mincha: You Move Me – Here's a heads up for NEXT Friday’s special Chanukah schedule so that you can plan the week in advance! On that evening, we’ll kindle the 6th flame on our Chanukah menorahs. Because it needs to be lit both in Shul and at home, on time, we’re moving our Mincha schedule earlier on next Erev Shabbat Friday, December 11. We’ll gather at Shul at 3:25 pm, daven Mincha, light the Grand Shul Menorah after 3:44 pm, and then immediately rush to our own homes to light our family menorahs, just before lighting the Shabbat candles. Everyone is invited back to Shul for Sefer HaMitzvot, a brief holiday D’var Torah followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv at 5 pm. The Family Shul Members Bulletin – Mazal Tov to Arnold and Sharyn Recht upon the birth of a grandson.