Shabbat Chazak
Shabbat Schedule
Friday, December 28
- 04:00 pm – Mincha
- 04:01 pm – Candle lighting
- 08:00 pm – Men’s Derech Hashem class at the home of Rabbi & Rebbetzin Rabinowitz, 265 Fellsway East
Saturday, December 29
- 07:45 am – Shacharit at Salem Towers
- 08:45 am – Shacharit
- 09:30 am – Latest time for Kriat Shema
- Cancelled – Jr. Congregation
- 11:30 am – Shabbat Chazak Luncheon
- 03:30 pm – B’nos
- 03:35 pm – Mincha and Se’udah Shlishit
- 05:00 pm – Ma’ariv
- 05:10 pm – Shabbat Ends
Weekday Schedule
December 30 – January 4
Shacharit
- 08:00 am – Sunday and Tuesday (federal holiday)
- 06:40 am – Monday and Thursday
- 06:50 am – Wednesday and Friday
Mincha/Ma’ariv
- 04:05 pm/04:35 pm – Sunday and Tuesday
Late Ma’ariv
- 09:00 pm – Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. To confirm for any given day, please contact the shul.
To print this schedule, click here to go directly to the post, and then press ctrl-P (Windows) or cmd-P (Mac) to print it.
Weekly Words of Torah
Ya’akov Avinu’s Recitation of the Shema
Insights into Parshat Vayechi of ram emeritus Rav Moshe Ganz of Yeshivat Sha’alvim, published in the Pnei Shabbat, by Rav Re’uven Ungar of Yeshivat Sha’alvim.
Rabi Yochanan said ‘Yaakov Avinu’ did not die. Rabi Abahu, objected- did the embalmers, eulogizers and members of the Chevra Kadisha work for naught? Rabi Yochanan responded that he derived his statement from a verse that compares Yaakov Avinu to his descendants- The Jewish People-Klal Yisrael. Just as Klal Yisrael is alive, similarly Yaakov Avinu is alive (Masechet Ta’anit 5b).
Normally we view the present as disconnected from the past. The past generations are from a different world, primitive and not relevant to the here and now. At times lip service of respect is offered to the past- as a form of paying off a debt, but not more than that.
The passage above conveys that this is not the case. Yaakov Avinu was the “best of the forefathers” as all his children remained in the framework of Klal Yisrael (mitato shelama). He represents the spirit and innate quality (segula) of The Jewish People. As long as his descendants exist, so does he. Even if this is not apparent in a tangible sense, his profound influence remains.
The meaning of walking in the footsteps of our forefathers is not imitating the day to day activity of the past generations. Rather, it is the coordination of our lifestyle to the internal spirit that resonates within us; for Yaakov Avinu has not died, he lives within his descendants.
It is correct that there is substantial progress in science, technology and the like. But inherently, essentially, there is a great thirst to cling to Hashem. This is our essence. Now as well, after thousands of years, Yaakov Avinu lives amongst us.