s’’xc Shabbat Shemot Chabad 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, Torah 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 rabbis 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 Rabbi 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 mitzvah -- 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: Maimonides 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.