s’’xc Shemot of the West Side & Chabad Early Learning Center Tevet 22-23, 5767 January 12-13, 2007

Candle Lighting: 4:31 PM Shabbat Ends: 5:35 PM Weekly Bulletin

V OLUME IFRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007 22 TEVET, 5767 ISSUE XX First Annual Chabad Shul Alumni Reunion Slated for this Sunday It is a unique Former mem- Manhattan bers of Hi-tech, phenome- Chabad from and Chesed non, we meet all over the (January 4) For two Sderot new people, Tri-state area teenagers who nearly lost new families will return for their lives in a Palestinian join the com- a morning of rocket attack, two laptops munity, schmoozing donated by Chabad have friendships and reminisc- develop, ing. People made it possible for them bonds are who left the to communicate from their made, and West Side as respective hospitals during then – more singles will what will be many months of rehabilitation. Giora & Anat Katz-Lichtienstein often than introduce Riverdale not – friends Vlad & Shoshana Shendelman their spouses move on to Riverdale and those that Two rockets scored a other communities in the tri-state area moved away as newlyweds will introduce direct hit on the house the and beyond, where real estate might be their children. Many of the alumni will boys were in December more affordable, and growing families can share words 26. The boys, both 14- have a backyard for the kids and a slice of Torah and year-old ninth graders at of suburbia. talk of their the Netiv Hayeshivati accomplish- school in Sderot, were Recently, the ments in their studying for an exam. The at new commu- two are good friends. Chabad have nities. noted the great Adir Basad sustained criti- number of There will be cal wounds and was wonderful per- a separate rushed into emergency sonalities and children’s surgery. He was said to be families that program led in grave condition at the have graced by the well- time. Matan Cohen was the Chabad known chil- James & Georganne Garfinkel moderately to severely Riverdale Shul with their dren’s enter- injured. Several days later Daniel & Yedida Wolfe presence over tainer, Bobby the boys regained con- the years, but have since moved on. To Crown Heights, Brooklyn Doowah. sciousness and were reconnect and celebrate our extended responsive to friends and Chabad family, an alumni reunion has Make sure to see next week’s Shul bul- family. been slated for this Sunday, January 14. letin for all of the pictures. continued on page 2 Chabad ELC ...... 5 101 WEST 92ND STREET Chabad Shul Section ...... 10 NEW YORK, NY 10025 212-864-5010 Torah Fax: Goal Oriented ...... 9 www.chabadwestside.org Upcoming Events ...... 3 Inside: Happy Birthdays ...... 4 [email protected] Classes ...... 4 CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 2 Hi-tech, Torah and Chesed Continued from page 1

between the hospitals (60 kilometers), it would be a Menachem Kutner, long time before they could meet. director of activities of CTVP, visited the boys in With a special fund to provide victims of terror with two Israeli hospitals, Barzilai material needs, Chabad's Terror Victims Project sur- in Ashkelon and Schneider prised Adir and Matan with two laptop computers. in Petach Tikvah. Adir said Using the internet and cameras attached to the lap- he missed his friend, Matan, tops, the boys were able to see one another and cor- very much, but because of respond, proving that not even a Kassam rocket could the long rehabilitation and come between them. the significant distance

The Myth of Charity Continued from page 12 a) That these are the rightful possession of those how important it was to give those 200 rubles, I who earned or inherited them. If they choose to would have carried out your instructions to the let- share even a small a part of their possessions with ter!" others, this is a noble act, worthy of praise and acclaim. "But you haven't been punished in any way," replied the Rebbe. b) That the unequal distribution of the earth's resources among its inhabitants is a travesty. "What do you mean? All my wealth has been taken Owning more than one's share is an injustice, even from me!" a crime. Giving to the needy is not a "good deed" but the rectification of a "Nothing that was yours wrong. was taken from you," said the Rebbe. "You see, Jewish tradition rejects both when my soul came down these views. According to to earth, a certain amount Torah law, giving to the of material resources were needy is a -- a allotted to me for use in commandment and a good my work. However, my deed. This means that, on days and nights are taken the one hand, it is not an up with prayer, the study arbitrary act, but a duty and and teaching of Torah, an obligation. On the other and counseling those who hand, it is a good deed -- a come to me for guidance; leaving no time for the credit to the one who recognizes his duty and car- task of managing all that money. So these ries out his obligation. resources were placed in the trust of a number of "bankers" -- people who would recognize their duty The Jew believes that material wealth is not a to support my work. When you failed to carry out crime, but a blessing from G-d. One who has so your role, my account with you was transferred to been blessed should regard himself as G-d's another banker." "banker" -- one who is privileged to have been entrusted by the Creator with the role of dispensing In our world, so flagrantly -- and oftimes violently -- the resources of His creation to others. dichotomized by prosperity and poverty, there exist two general perspectives on wealth and property: G-d could have allotted equal portions of His world continued on page 4 CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 3

Achieving Balance in our Lives: Viewpoint Rabbi Meir Ossey, Chabad of the West Side

Fashion an Attractive, Trendy Handbag Aviva Sitruk, Talented Artisan

Hosted by Lara Slager 43 West 64th St. #12B z Between Broadway and CPW

Tues., January 16, 2007 z 8:15pm 9:45pm z $5.00 couvert R.S.V.P. z [email protected] z 212-864-5010 x10 Esther Miriam Fried z Rivka Kugel z Sarah Ossey

Sunday, January 21 The 1st Annual Chabad Baking Matza Reunion For Westside in Crown Heights Expatriates

Have the experience of a lifetime! Bake your Sunday Morning, own Shmurah Matzah for Passover in the Crown Heights Matzah Bakery. January 14 Minyan at 9 AM Participate in every step of the process, from mixing the flour and water, to rolling the dough, Followed by Breakfast with to putting the matzah in the oven. all the trimmings RSVP: [email protected] or 212-864-5010 x 14 at Chabad 101 W92nd St. CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 4

The Myth of Charity Continued from page 2 ence. Before us stands a human being less fortu- nate than ourselves. We know that G-d could have to all its inhabitants. But then the world would have just as easily provided him with everything he been nothing more than a showpiece of G-d's cre- requires, instead of sending him to us for his needs. ative powers, predictable as a computer game and Here is a person who is suffering poverty in order to static as a museum display. G-d wanted a dynamic provide us with the opportunity to do a G-dly deed! world -- a world in which man, too, is a creator and provider. A world in which the controls By the same token, if divine providence have, to a certain extent, been handed places us on the receiving end of a over to beings who have the power to charitable act, we need not be demor- choose between fulfilling or reneging on alized by the experience. For we know their role. that G-d could have just as easily pro- vided us with all that we need Himself, Thus Jewish law requires every individual and that our need for human aid is merely to give tzedakah, even one who is himself in order to grant another person the abili- sustained by the tzedakah of others. If the ty to do a G-dly deed. Our "benefactor" purpose of tzedakah were merely to rec- is giving us money or some other tify the unequal distribution of wealth resource; we are giving him something between rich and poor, this law would far greater the opportunity to become a make no sense. Tzedakah, however, is partner with G-d in creation. much more than that: it is the opportunity granted to every person to become a "partner with G-d in cre- In the words of our sages: "More than the rich man ation." does for the pauper, the pauper does for the rich man." Giving tzedakah is, above all, a humbling experi-

Happy Birthday! ONGOING CLASSES

MONDAY EVENINGS 8:15 pm WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 8:30 pm PRACTICAL HALACHA Name Hebrew Date Occurs On IN-DEPTH TANYA with Rabbi Yisroel Fried with Rabbi Meir Ossey Dahlia Bernstein 22 Teves January 12 AT THE CHABAD SHUL AT THE HOME OF NAAVA & DANNY ECKSTIEN Annette Cutler 27 Teves January 17 20 WEST 87TH ST. APT. #1B WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 10:45–11:30 Thomas Grant 26 Teves January 16 SHABBAT PATHWAYS TO THE SOUL 9:00 am a Class for Women Naomi Kessler 28 Teves January 18 THE CHASSIDIC PARSHA with Rabbi Shlomo Kugel with Rabbi Yisroel Fried Tomer Mandelbaum 25 Teves January 15 Coffee & Discussion 1hour before Mincha AT THE HOME OF RAMBAM SHIUR Esther Pearl Shapira-Stern 25 Teves January 15 DEBORAH & DAVID SHIMKO with Rabbi Yisroel Fried 500 WEST END AVE. APT. #8C at the Chabad Shul

Havdalah PJ Party! Saturday Night, January 20 6:00 pm 166 West 97th Street

PJs at Chabad? You got it! Right after Shabbat, join us for a havdala service, kumzitz (singalong) and movie.

Light dinner served just before the lights go out! BYOB – bring your own beverage (sippy cups et al)

Admission - $5 per child (no charge for adults)

NO SCHOOL REMINDER! MONDAY, JANUARY 15 Next Week at CELC Monday, January 15 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Dentist Visit 97 Tuesday, January 16 Music 92 Chabad ELC Morah Torah Plus Chabad ELC 101 West 92nd Street PN3 Walking Trip to Petco 166 West 97th Street Wednesday, January 17 Mezuzah Matters - Discussion & Workshop

Phone: 212-864-5010 Kinderdance 97 Fax: 212-932-8987 Thursday, January 18 Kinderdance 92 www.chabadwestside.org [email protected] Saturday, January 20 Havdalah PJ Party! From the Desk of the PA Havdala PJ Party wanting to eat them though! Spend a day in Come to school in your PJs the lives of these three piggies as they learn that and enjoy an entertaining their differences make them special, and how evening with your Chabad through working together they can overcome friends! After the Havdalah anything." ceremony, we will have Join other Chabad families for this musical singing, dinner and a movie. comedy, appropriate for all ages, at the Saturday, January 20, 6 PM Manhattan Children's Theater in Tribeca! We 166 West 97th Street have a block of tickets available at $18 each.

$5 per child (siblings welcome) To purchase your family's tickets, contact Eta Pajama wear not required for attendance :) Kliger, mom of Daniella Schreiber (N2) (212) 706-2572 (home) or (917) 734-0250

(cell). Evenings are the best time to call. A Night with Our Morahs’ Mom,

Mrs. Miriam Zukerman You’ve read the books and spoken to the Mabel’s Labels for Chabad pros. Now bring your questions about Don't lose another pair of mittens! discipline, child development, balancing With a wide selection of iron- work and family, or any other parenting ons, stick-ons, allergy alerts and concerns to Mrs. Z - mother of 16 including even kosher labels, Mabel's Morahs Pearl, Esther and Leba and director Labels are tough, cute and of Yeshivat Mikdash Melech Preschool. You easy to use. You can don’t want to miss it! personalize labels with names, initials and even

Thursday, January 25th, 8 PM fun icons for non-readers. Graciously hosted by Hilla and Adam Help support the PA while getting your family Steinberg, mom of Sammy (T2) organized! Log on to www.chabadelc.mabel.ca 800 West End Avenue #6D to ensure that 15-20% of your order goes directly to the the Chabad ELC PA. To see samples of Mabel's products, stop by our table

Theater Outing “Three Little Pigs” in the school hallway during drop-off: Sunday, February 25th, 2 PM 97th Street: Wednesday, January 17 - 9:30 am "Pat, Patterson and Patty are piglets in every 92nd Street: Thursday, January 18 - 9:30 am sense of the word, except that they are If you have any questions or would like more skinny rather than fat! That doesn’t stop information about this program, contact Bad, the big bad singing wolf, from still Chaviva Kaplan (Einav, PN1) at 212-724-3430.

CHABAD ELC Ornithology in Pre-K On Tuesday morning an Urban Park Ranger visited the Pre-K class. While rangers are usually at Central Park, they visit classrooms for special programs like this one. Birds live all around us, but how much do you know about them? The children bundled up and got outdoors to use their eyes and ears to identify birds and interpret their behavior. Then, they came back indoors and documented their findings in a journal. This session is one of a two-part series. In the spring, the Pre-K will visit Belvedere Castle to continue their ornithological studies. Sensory Corner Mummies & We’ve set up our first classroom cozy corner!

PN3 is the first lucky classroom to host this Masterpieces

tent full of sensory delights such as textured balls of all sizes, pillows, blankets and The Nursery and Pre-K classes enjoyed a sparkly weighted lizards. winter art workshop with Elana on Thursday. The corner is open during free play and if a The children looked at winter works of art child needs to relax during a more structured from all over the world, including Claude activity, the space is available then, too. Monet’s Haystacks (France), William Glackens’ Central Park in the Winter (America) and Many thanks to the anonymous donor for various Japanese screens and woodblock sponsoring prints. The children then experimented with these materials. woodblock printing. If you are interested in Many thanks to the PA and Judy Federbush the full or (Jacob Greenwald, PK) for their continued partial sponsorship of our art enrichment program. sponsorship of a 97th Street Corner, please Mazal Tov! contact Pearl Morah Naomi Isaac-Saul (PN1) upon her or Rivky. engagement to Boruch Greenberg! Best wishes Amirit and Shoshana to the Isaac-Saul and Greenberg families.

CHABAD ELC Mezuzah Matters

Gain deeper insight into the inner workings of the mezuzah in a discussion with Rabbi Kugel and then get to work creating an artistic mezuzah case with Morah Esther (N2).

Wednesday, January 17 1:00 - 2:15 pm 101 West 92nd Street

Childcare provided with advance notice, only. RSVP by Friday, January 12.

A Sofer (Jewish scribe) will be checking mezuzot and tefillin at Chabad’s Mitzvah Day - Sunday, January 28. N1 & PN97 Trip The N1 and PN97 classes visited the Jewish Home for the Aged this week. The children prepared cards for the residents and sang their favorite songs on each floor. Many of the children felt comfortable enough to approach the seniors and exchanged names, handshakes and lots of smiles. It was a wonderful experience on both ends and the children were asked to come again very soon! Yishai, Yvee and Maya (N1) Save the Date! Visitor’s Day - Friday, February 2 Friends and family members (one adult or couple) who are generally unable to spend time with your child at school are invited to join your child’s class for a Tu B’Shevat / Visitor’s Day Celebration on Friday, February 2. Visitors will join your child’s class at 12:00 noon for a special activity. This time is intended to be a relaxed and comfortable experience for your child and his/her guest. If you feel that a disruption in your child’s schedule would not be beneficial for your child, there is no need to send in a visitor. CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 9 TORAH FAX Goal Oriented When Moses was asked by G-d at the burning bush to serve as Moses, the paragon of truth, could not countenance the idea that the liberator of the Jewish people, he demurred. Moses in his his actions would be a "temporary fix." It was contrary to his humility "argued" with G-d that he should not be the one to nature. Therefore, Moses asked G-d to let a more consistent assume this responsibility. Among Moses' arguments against his leader begin the process that will end in permanent success. being the leader, he told G-d that he was not worthy to be their leader; that he would not know what to say to them; that they There is yet another approach to Moses' hesitancy. Moses, by would not listen to him and that he stuttered and would not be a making this argument that there was no point in him beginning good communicator. G-d refuted all Moses' arguments and the process if he would not be able to complete it, actually rep- promised him success in his mission. But, even after all of this, resented the qualities of a true leader. Moses came up with a new argument: "Shlach Na BeYad The difference between a leader and a follower is that the latter Tishlach, Please my Master, send the one that you will send." cares about the success of the task at hand without regard to all Rashi, the principal commentator, explains that Moses of the other steps and ramifications of that task. meant to say to G-d, why send me; send my much more articu- late brother Aaron to be Your official spokesman. The story is told of a delegation of some of the greatest rabbis in Russia who traveled to Petersburg to help change a harsh decree Alternatively, Rashi explains that Moses' argument was, why against the Jewish community but failed. When one the mem- send him; send the one that you will eventually send, i.e., bers of the delegation, the famed Rabbi Chaim Solveitchik of Moshiach, the final leader and redeemer of the Jewish people. Brisk, later visited Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneerson (the fifth Moses argued, "why send me, who is not destined to take them Rebbe of Chabad) in his hotel room, he found him crying. "Why into the Promised Land and be their redeemer in the future." are you crying," he asked, "we did everything in our power to In other words, Moses argued that there was no point in having change the decree?" To this the Rabbi Sholom Dovber replied: him do a half-baked job of liberating them from Egypt, when, in "But the goal wasn't met." the end, someone else will have to complete the task. Why not Both rabbis worked tirelessly for the needs of the Jewish com- send someone who can do everything from a to z? munity; yet only one of them could not be consoled, even with Moses' argument raises an obvious question. True, Moses had a the knowledge that they had given theri all. How do we explain prophetic premonition that he was not destined to be their final their different reactions to failure? leader, but what is wrong with him doing the first crucial half of The answer lies in the difference between the way a dedicated the liberating process? Why was he against sharing the redemp- person looks at his mission and the way the leader views it. The tion process with Moshiach? Certainly, Moses, the most humble former sees the task at hand, and does everything humanly pos- person that ever lived, could not have been offended by the fact sible to succeed. The hallmark of a true leader, however, is one that he would not complete the job. who cannot rest and find comfort until he brings the process to There are two intertwined ways of answering this question. The fruition. His focus is not on his power or capabilities, but on the first is to focus on Moses' character. Among his other qualities, goal. His devotion and love to his people is so intense and emet Moses personified the attribute of truth. Our Sages tell us that that he cannot imagine the goal not being fulfilled. This is the the refrain "Moses is true and his teachings are true," was uttered embodiment of emet, not just truth, but a devotion to enduring, by his greatest critics in the aftermath of the Korach rebellion. eternal success. And if it happens that he does not succeed, it evokes the most profound feelings of sadness. What is the definition of truth? Truth is much more than stating the facts honestly, accurately and unembellished. According to Living on the threshold of the Messianic Age, we are all present- the Talmudic definition of truth, it involves consistency. The ly charged with the role of leadership. Our task now is not to Hebrew word for truth, emet, contains the first, middle and last achieve some preliminary positive result, no matter how impor- letters of the Hebrew alphabet, suggesting that in order for tant and commendable, but to bring about the end of the exile. something to be emet it must be consistent from the beginning This we can accomplish even by one Mitzvah that "pushes us through the middle to the end. over the top," and we cannot rest until we succeed to bring about the final Redemption. Moshiach Matters... According to one opinion in the (Yevamot 62a), the reason for the mitzva of procreation is to hasten the coming of Moshiach: "The son of David will not come until all the souls in heaven have been born." Every time another child is born to the Jewish people, the coming of Moshiach is thereby hastened. Thus, every Jewish wedding is considered, in a sense, the beginning of the Redemption, for the couple will soon have children, and will thus hasten the coming of Moshiach. (The Journal of Halacha Vol. 4 by Rabbi H. Schachter) Moshiach - It’s a Jewish issue. For more info, visit www.moshiach.com CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 10 Halachic Times NEXT WEEK AT A GLANCE

Week of January 11 - 17 Shabbat Parshat Vaera...... JANUARY 19 - 20 Earliest Tefillin (latest of the week) ...... 6:26 AM Friday, January 19 Latest Shma (earliest of the week) ...... 9:41 AM Candle Lighting ...... 4:39 PM

Torah Reading: ...... Shemot (Exodus 1:1 -6:1) Saturday, January 20 Haftorah ...... 27:6 - 28:13, 29:22-23* Shabbat ends...... 5:43 PM

Molad for the New MoonThurs., 1/18, 10:33 & 10/18 PM Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Shevat

*note that Chabad follows the Ashkenazic custom with this Haftorah, though we usually follow the Sephardic custom. The 24th of Tevet (January 14) The 24th of Tevet, Sunday, January 14, is the Yahrzeit of Shabbat Parshat Shemot - Shabbat Mevarchim the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, known We bless the New Month of Shevat as the Alter Rebbe. He passed away in the remote village of Rosh Chodesh is next Shabbat, 1/20 Piena in 1813 and is buried in nearby Haditch. Rabbi Schneur Zalman passed away while in flight from the FRIDAY, January 12 advancing armies of Napoleon. While some Chassidic Candle Lighting ...... 4:31 pm Rebbes welcomed Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and viewed him as an emancipator of Russian Jewry from Mincha ...... 4:50 pm Czarist tyranny, the Alter Rebbe sided with the Czar, prefer- Dvar Torah ...... Rabbi Kugel ring being subjected to Czarist rule than exposing Russian Kabbalat Shabbat ...... 5:20 pm Jewry to the enlightened culture of the West that Napoleon represented. For his loyalty to the Crown, the Alter Rebbe SHABBAT, January 13 was provided special protection by the Russian government as he, his family and a group of chassidim fled the Tehillim (Psalms) for Shabbat Mevarchim . . . . .8:15 am approaching French army - but, due to his failing health, he Shacharit ...... 9:45 am never made it to the safer areas of Russia’s interior. The Dvar Torah ...... Rabbi Fried Alter Rebbe passed away Saturday night, Motzaei Shabbat ***Kids Shul & Junior Minyan ...... 11:00 - 12:15*** of Parshat Shemot. Kiddush is sponsored by Avi & Gail Friedman ...... It is noteworthy, that this year, the Yahrzeit falls out on the same day of the week as in 1813, Motzaei Shabbat and : ...... approx. 12:30 PM Sunday and on the same Parshah, Shemot.

Rambam ...... 3:35 pm Mincha ...... 4:35 pm Wanted: Ma’ariv & Havdallah ...... 5:36 pm Torah Readers Each week, a Video of the Rebbe is shown after Havdallah. Chabad is looking for volunteer Ba’al Korehs. If you or someone you know can layn a Parshah - we would love to Daily Minyan: have you layn at Chabad. Whether you want to refresh your Bar Mitzvah Parshah and want to prepare a new one, Sunday & legal holidays: ...... 9 AM please call our office. Monday & Thursday: ...... 7:15 AM The following Parshahs are already reserved: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: ...... 7:30 AM Shemot, January 13 Rosh Chodesh: ...... 7 AM Avi Friedman Learn Rambam everyday at Mishpatim, February 17 www.chabadwestside.org/dailystudy/rambam.asp Jeremy Sanders CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 11 He also wrote a commentary on the Mishnah which made KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: the Mishnah accessible to generations of for whom this work would have otherwise been a closed book. His Sponsoring a Kiddush is a great way to share you introduction to the Mishnah, along with his introduction Simchah or special family event with the community! to Pirkei Avot known as Shemoneh Perakim and his intro- Kiddushim can be sponsored to celebrate a birthday, duction to the last chapter of tractate Sanhedrin known as graduation or to commemorate the Yahrzeit of a loved Chelek, are each deep philosophical treatises in their own one. Kiddush sponsors are encouraged to share some rite. The Rambam also wrote in order to address the words of Torah at their Kiddush. Kiddushim cost $300, needs and concerns of his generation, The greatest exam- $400 or $500. ple of this is his work, Guide to the Perplexed. Many Jews at his time were discovering new wisdoms, sciences To sponsor a kiddush, please email Rabbi Fried at and schools of thought and felt that belief in Judaism [email protected], or call at 212-864-5010 x 14. were contrary to these “new ways” of thinking. He wrote the Guide to show how Torah was in no way contrary to Kiddush Schedule: many of these wisdoms and in fact was often quite com- patible. With his Guide, he rekindled a love for Torah and Shabbat Vaera, January 20,...... G-d in the hearts of tens of thousands of Jews in his time, Kiddush is sponsored by Jason and Mary Shela in honor as well as in subsequent generations. Interestingly, his of the Yahrzeit of her father, Bernard Laipdes. commentary on the Mishnah of tractate Brachot was Shabbat Bo, January 27, ...... printed in the back of one of the first volumes of Talmud Kiddush is sponsored by Anonymous to be printed, on his 279th yahrzeit in the year 1483, in Soncino, Italy. His magnum opus is the , in which he Shabbat Beshalach, Tu Bishevat, February 3, ...... gives the halachic rulings for each of the Mitzvot of the Kiddush is sponsored by Dr. Stephen and Bella Brenner Torah, including the laws that will apply when Moshiach in honor of his birthday will come. These include, laws of building the Temple, laws of purity and impurity, laws of sacrifices, agricultur- Shabbat Yitro, February 10, ...... al laws and many others. This is unlike virtually all other Kiddush is sponsored by Mayo Simon in honor of the halachic publications, including the Shulchan Aruch, the Yahrzeit of his father, Emanuel I. Simon, 26 Shevat Code of Jewish Law, where only halachas that are rele- vant in the time of exile are discussed. The Mishnah Torah was the only one of his works that he wrote in Shabbat Mishpatim, February 17,...... Hebrew, with all of his other works being written in Kiddush is sponsored by Schneur Bistritzky in honor of Arabic. The easy to read style of the Rambam’s Hebrew his birthday, 28 Shevat can be understood by any Hebrew speaking person today, some 850 years after it was written. Shabbat Terumah, February 24, ...... Kiddush is available The Rebbe stressed the importance of learning Rambam every day. He suggested three different tracks, depending on a person’s time and learning ability. The basic track is to learn a Mitzvah every day in the Rambam’s Sefer Some thoughts on the Rambam’s works Hamitzvot, completing this book in about 1 year. The - in honor of the 20th of Tevet, (this year, next two tracks give one the opportunity of completing the entire Mishneh Torah. If one learns 1 chapter a day, January 10) the entire Mishneh Torah can be studied over the course of 3 years, and if one studies 3 chapters a day, one can The 20th of Tevet, Jan 10, was the Yahrzeit of the finish the Mishneh Torah in a single year. The schedule Rambam who passed away in the year 1204. He is buried for all of these options of Rambam study, along with the in . He is the author of a number of fundamental text of the daily lessons, can be viewed online on our books. These include the Sefer Hamitzvot, which lists and website at gives a summary of each of the 613 Mitzvot of the Torah. www.chabadwestside.org/dailystudy/rambam.asp CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN PAGE 12 The Myth of Charity contributes his money, time and resources to the By Yanki Tauber needy, he is not being benevolent, generous or "charitable." He is doing what is right and just. Jews don't believe in charity. The story is told of a wealthy chassid who once received a letter from his rebbe, Rabbi Abraham Don't be misled by their legendary Yehoshua Heshel of Apt, requesting him to give 200 philanthropy, by their saturation of rubles to save a fellow chassid from financial ruin. social and humanitarian movements, The wealthy chassid regularly contributed to his by their invention of the pushkah, the rebbe's charitable activities, but this particular letter and the UJA. Jews do arrived at a financially inconvenient time and con- not practice charity, and the concept is tained a request for an exceptionally large sum; after virtually non-existent in Jewish tradition. some deliberation, the chassid decided not to respond to the Rebbe's request. Instead of charity, the Jew gives tzedakah, which means "righteousness" and "justice." When the Jew Shortly thereafter, the chassid's fortunes began to fall. One business venture failed badly, and then another; before long he had lost everything. ADVERTISING RATES FOR THE CHABAD WEEKLY BULLETIN "Rebbe," he cried, when he had gained admittance Size of Ads and Rates to Rabbi Abraham Yehoshua's room, "I know why Full Page $1,000 (min 4 weeks @ $250 per week) this has happened to me. But was my sin so terrible Half Page $520 (min 4 weeks @ $130 per week) 1/4 Page $910 (min 13 weeks @ $70 per week) or to deserve so severe a punishment? And is it right to $325 (min 4 weeks @ $81.25 per week) punish without warning? If you would have told me Bus. Card $325 (min 13 weeks @ $25 per week) continued on page 2