B”H The Chabad Weekly · Chabad of Beverly Hills9 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Chabadofbeverlyhills.com Rabbi Yosef Shusterman 310-271-9063 The Chabad Weekly THE COUNTDOWN TO ROSH HASHANA

Candlelighting (Los Angeles)

6:36 PM Friday Mincha:

6:50 PM

LATEST SHEMA: 9:43 AM

Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech

Friday, 24 Elul 5774 / September 19, 2014

For This week we read two

Torah portions, Nitzavim and

VaYeilech. The Torah portion

of Nitzavim is always read on

the Shabbat before Rosh Ha-

shana. Indeed, its very first verse reveals its appropriate-

ness: "You are standing this

day, all of you, before the L-rd

your G-d." "This day" refers to

the Day of Judgment, Rosh Ha-

shana. On Rosh Hashana every

soul, great and small alike,

stands before G-d, as it states,

"Your heads, your tribes, your

elders and your officers...your

little ones, your wives...from the

hewer of wood to the drawer of

water."

Why do we stand before G-d?

"So that you may enter the cove-

nant of the L-rd your G-d." When

all Jews stand before Him as a

complete and unified entity, we

become worthy of entering into

His covenant on Rosh Hashana.

A covenant is designed to pre-

serve the feeling of love that

exists between two people. They

establish a covenant at a time

when their love is strongest, so

that it will never weaken. This

bond connects them to each

other and ensures that their love

will last forever.

So too is it with G-d's love for

the Jewish people. His love for

us is strongest on Rosh Ha-

shana, as the previous month

was devoted to removing our

sins.

But how do we arouse G-d's

desire to establish a covenant

with us? By being united with

one another. How are we to ac-

complish this, given the

differences between indi-

viduals? This can be

understood by the follow-

ing analogy:

The human body is com-

posed of many different limbs

and organs. Some are more

important, like the head; others

are simpler, like the foot. But

the head, no matter how impor-

tant, needs the feet in order to

move. The body achieves per-

fection only when all its limbs

act in harmony.

In the same way, even the

most important Jews ("your

heads") require the simplest

ones ("the drawer of water") in

order to comprise a complete

entity. And it is this unity that

arouses G-d's desire to make a

covenant with His people.

Our job is to achieve this unity

between "head" and "foot."

Every Jew must work on him-

self until he can recognize his

fellow's unique qualities. It is

beyond our capacity to judge a

person's true worth. Even if one

considers himself a "head" and

the other fellow a "foot" (as it is

human nature to inflate our own

self-worth), the "head" still

needs the "foot" in order to

comprise a complete being.

Let us concern ourselves with

correcting our own flaws and

not heed the perceived flaws of

others. Doing so will ensure

that there is no time to look at

others' imperfections!

In this manner we will achieve

both self-perfection and perfec-

tion as a nation, and G-d will

grant the entire Jewish people

a good and sweet year. (Adapted from Likutei Sichot of the

Rebbe, vol. 2, From: L’Chaim #986) -

lchaimweekly.org

Chabad of Beverly Hills 409 Foothill Rd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Chabadofbeverlyhills.com

Rabbi Yosef Shusterman

310-271-9063

The Chabad Weekly

THE COUNTDOWN TO ROSH HASHANA

Less than a week remains until Rosh Hashana, which is called "the birthday of the world." In fact, Rosh Hashana is the birthday of the first humans—Adam and Eve—who came into being on the sixth day of creation. This means that the first day of creation coincides with the 25th of Elul.

It is the day in the Hebrew calendar which carries with it nothing less than the energy of the creation of existence—time, space, matter, darkness, and light. We begin preparing the world for its rendezvous with G-d on Rosh Hashana.

If thus far you have not taken full of advantage of the opportunities inherent in Elul to prepare for the High Holidays, the time to start is now. Preparation is essential for success in anything in life—be it material or spiritual, be it an audit of your taxes, or an audit of your soul.

Imagine yourself arriving in the recep-tion room of a big corporation.

"Can I help you?" says the receptionist.

"Oh, I guess so," you answer yawning and surveying the ceiling.

The receptionist looks quizzically at you. "Well... why are you here?"

"I'm not exactly sure."

"Are you here to apply for a job, per-haps?"

"Yes I think that's it."

"Okay, did you bring a resume?"

You look at her feeling a little stupid. "No, I didn't bring anything."

"Well, then perhaps you can come back when you've prepared for this."

If you arrived at a big corporation that ill prepared, you'd expect nothing to happen. Similarly, if you arrive at a synagogue on Rosh Hashana without preparation, without knowing what you are there for, or what this is all about, what can you truly expect?

Moses was on the mountain for 80 days. You don't have to physically go to the mountain, but you have to climb. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur will be only the sum total of what you do today.

Excerpt from 60 Days: A Spiritual Guide to the High Holidays, by Simon Jacobson.

©Copyright The Meaningful Life Center, 2010. All rights reserved.

Shabbat Schedule

Announcements:

Kiddush is sponsored by the

Brok family in memory of Sol

Brok.

Yartzhiet: Friedrich Blumen-

stein – Elul 25, Pesa Turner –

Elul 25, Rochel Ruja Feinberg –

Tishrei 2.

Happy Birthday to Jonathan

Spira and Shlomo Hezghian.

Happy Anniversary to Jeff

and Laurie Meisel.

Mazel Tov to Meir and Lida

Davidpour on the birth of a

baby boy.

Mazel Tov to Eliyahu and

Tehilla Gross on the birth of a

baby boy and Mazel Tov to the

new grandparents, Shlomo and

Ester Hezghian.

Tehillim 8:00 AM

Shacharit 9:30AM

followed by

Kiddush,

Cholent &

Farbrengen

Pirkei Avos 5:40 PM

Mincha 6:25 PM

followed by

Seuda

Shlishit

Shabbat ends

7:36 PM

Vol. 17 Is

sue 49

B”H

GOOD SHABBOS!

SELICHOS

Sat. night: 1:00AM

Mon.-Wed.: 5:30 AM & 7:00 AM

There will be no classes next week.

Daily Minyonim Weekday Shacharis: 6:00 AM & 7:30 AM

Sunday Shacharis: 7:00 AM & 9:00 AM

Mincha/Maariv: 6:50 PM

Story of the Week: Calling G-d in the Labor

Camps by Rabbi Eli Hecht

I remember being at my grandfa-ther's for the holiday of Rosh Ha-shana. The shul where he prayed was full of old timers from the old country. The average age was over 60. Some had numbers tat-tooed on their arms. Many of the people were survivors. Each had a tale to tell. Many were broken, humble people who had lost all their wealth, family and health. In almost every case they had not lost their faith. There was one elderly man, tall and noble looking, who spoke a little English. During the long holi-day he told me the following story: In late 1944 he and the town Jews were rounded up and taken to a "Jewish Labor Camp." When en-tering such a camp, one would feel death. Rarely did one ever leave alive. However, this particular "Julag" was built as a model work camp to show the outside world that the Germans and Nazi storm troopers were civilized. All the Jews needed to do was to work and earn their rations. In truth, the non-stop slave labor equaled a death camp without the gas chambers. Very few of the original group that came to the camp remained alive. Those who did held a coveted secret. They had a tiny Torah scroll in their possession. This scroll, written in the smallest letters, was saved by an old holy rabbi from an aristocratic family. The scroll was written during the Spanish Inquisition and was in his family's possession for over 400 years. The rabbi carried the tiny scroll with him into the death camp and soon perished. Moshe, who had been a sexton at one of the old synagogues, was brought to the camp one day. He was a stack of walking bones. However, he was a singer and always kept a happy tune on his lips. Being a sexton for many years he was able to keep track of all the holidays and reminded everyone to observe the holidays as they came and went. One day he approached his fellow suffering companions and said, "Jews, Rosh Hashana is this week. We must make a quorum of men and hold a service. We can take the old Torah and read from it. Imagine, our bodies are in this living Hell, but our souls and spirit can be free. Yes, free." He began to sing. The people shook their head thinking that the poor man had lost his mind. "You know, we need a shofar. There can't be a New Year's ser-vice without the shofar being heard. I have a shofar." Incredibly, he took out a six-inch shofar that he miraculously brought into the

camp with him. The people stared in utter disbe-lief. Many started to cry. They hadn't seen a shofar for three years. Now the problem was how, when and where would they blow the shofar? Moshe came up with an answer. During the late afternoon the Nazi guards would go to the kitchen to stuff themselves with food and strong drink. At that time Moshe would blow the shofar. Slowly but surely a rumor ran through the camp. There was a shofar in the camp. A secret ser-vice was held. The holy scroll was read and quickly hidden. Then came the time for blowing the sho-far. The entire camp turned quiet. Not a man moved. Even the breathing was hushed. They wanted, no, they needed, to hear the call of the shofar. Moshe picked up the shofar and, taking a deep breath, blew it. The shofar blasted through the camp. Each blast of the shofar brought renewed hope in the men. Many tears poured out of their saddened faces. The dike of tears broke and soon all the men were crying and praying. Suddenly the camp commander stormed furiously into the area where Moshe was blowing the shofar. "Halt. Stop blowing this strange alarm," he shouted. "You dirty Jews. I know you are signal-ing our Russian enemies with this secret instrument. This is why our beloved country is being hurt from the air raids. The situation on the front is very grave! The enemy bombs hit our most vital roads with deadly accuracy. It's the fault of you Jews with your secret instru-ments!" One brave man called out, "Herr Kommandant, we are praying. It's our New Year, Rosh Hashana. The sound you heard is our shofar, something we use during the ser-vice." This only increased the anger of the commandant and proceeded to wave his gun at the man. "Prayer at my camp! You want a new Jew-ish year?! I'll show you!" Moshe now jumped up and said, "Yes, yes commander. With this shofar we signal for help, but not from the Russian soldiers or from the airplane bombers. We signal our G-d who created heaven and earth. We ask the heavenly Father to forgive us for our sins and to punish you. We are busy blowing the shofar alerting our merciful but vengeful G-d. The bombing of your Fatherland is only the beginning of the suffering you German mon-sters will receive." Immediately the commandant attacked the Moshe. Moshe did not beg for mercy nor did he say he was sorry. On the contrary, he began to recite one of the prayers of the day, chanting in the ancient Hebrew, "The righteous shall see

and rejoice, and wickedness will vanish like the smoke, for You will have removed the evil king-dom from earth." Moshe was shot and the shofar disappeared. "Ten months later we were freed. I lived in a dis-placed persons camp for almost five years. My family all perished in the Holocaust," the old man completed his story. "When I come to shul and hear the rabbi read the service I feel very moved. However, when they blow the shofar I run out of the shul. The memory of what happened that day is just too intense for me. I listen outside the shul windows and break out in tears." He then asked me, "Do you think I am a good Jew though I listen to the shofar from outside the shul?"(From: L’Chaim #836) - lchaimweekly.org

HaYom Yom Elul 25 The Alter Rebbe related:

When I was in Mezritch I

heard from my Rebbe, the

Maggid, in the name of the

Baal Shem Tov: The sev-

enth month (Tishrei), first

of the months of the year,

is blessed by G-d Himself,

on Shabbat mevarchim -

last Shabbat in the month

of Elul. With this power

Israel blesses the other

months eleven times a year.

It is written, Atem nit-

zavim hayom, "You stand

this day." This day refers

to Rosh Hashana which is

the day of Judgment (as it

is written, "The day came,"

which Targum renders, the

day of the great judgment

came). Yet you remain

standing firmly upright

(nitzavim), meaning - you

will be vindicated in judg-

ment.

On the Shabbat preceding

Rosh Hashana, the last

Shabbat in Elul, we read

the parsha of Atem nit-

zavim, which is G-d's bless-

ing on the Shabbat-of-

blessing the seventh month

(Shabbat mevarchim). That

seventh month (Tishrei) is

itself sated8 - and in turn

satiates all Israel - with an

abundance of good for the

duration of the (coming)

year.".

ROSH HASHANA 5775

Wednesday evening, September 24

Candlelighting………….6:29 PM

Mincha……………………6:45 PM

Maariv……………...........7:15 PM

Thursday, September 25

Shacharis……………….. 8:30 AM

Torah Reading…………,10:15 AM

Shofar Blowing…………,11:00 AM

Chevra Tehillim………….5:15 PM

Mincha…………………....5:45 PM

Tashlich…………………After Mincha

Maariv……………………..7:15 PM

Candlelighting…………after 7:29 PM

Friday, September 26

Shacharis…………………8:30 AM

Torah Reading………….10:15 AM

Shofar Blowing………….11:00 AM

Chevra Tehillim…………. 5:45 PM

Candlelighting…………… 6:26 PM

Mincha………………….. ,.6:15 PM

Maariv………………….. ..7:00 PM

Reciprocal Tolerance At every moment, your Creator must decide, “Should I put up once again

with this little creature’s imperfections and blunders, or is it time to measure

things by the scale?” Then He looks at the scale you use to measure others. And with that same

measure, He measures you. From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous

memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman.