LA Aish HaTorah Community

Shabbat Shalom!

 

and…

 

Chag kasher v’sameach!

 

Shabbos Schedule

 

Fri, Apr 18

06:30 pm                  Mincha

07:09 pm                  Candle Lighting

08:07 pm                  Krias Shema                                   (earliest time)

 

Sat, Apr 19 – (No Childcare)

07:00 am                  Shacharis                                        Gabbai S. Gross

08:15 am                  Krias HaTorah                               Nat Eisman

08:45 am                  Musaf

09:34 am                  Krias Shema                                   (latest time)

09:15 am                  Kiddush/Lunch 

10:40 am                  End time for eating Chometz

11:46 am                  End time for Bitul Chometz       

05:30 pm                  Kiruv Kollel                                      Michael Abramson

06:30 pm                  Mincha         

07:00 pm                  Shabbos Hagadol Drosha

                                    “Let my People Grow”         R’ Cohen

08:07 pm                  Candlelighiting

                                    Maariv/Hallel

 

Weekday Schedule

Sun Apr 20 - Fri Apr 25

05:48 am                 Earliest Tallis – Acharei

09:00 am                  Sunday Shacharis (No Childcare)

08:30 am                  Monday Shacharis (No Childcare)

06:30 am                  Tues/Wed/Thurs Shacharis

09:33 am                  Latest Shema

10:45 am                  Latest Shacharis

01:26 pm                  Earliest Mincha

07:20 pm                  Mincha

08:08 pm                  Sunday Maariv/ Candle Lighting

08:10 pm                  Monday Maariv

07:14 pm                  Candle Lighting next week- 7^th Day Passover

 

05:40 pm             Weekday Mincha all summer

06:30 pm             Mincha Erev Shabbos summer schedule

 

 

 

Seder – A Disorderly Seder

R’ Shmuel Koriver, a student of the Chozeh of Lublin, lived in poverty and was always in need of help.  Once, he decided that he wasn't going to ask anyone for help anymore. Pesach was rapidly approaching, and in Reb Shmuel's house there was no matzo, wine, food or money. In spite of these dire circumstances, Reb Shmuel refused to budge from his decision. The Chozeh heard of his plight and dispatched one of his wealthy Chasidim to quietly provide Reb Shmuel with his needs.  

On Erev Pesach, a wagon laden with food and wine and matzos arrived at Reb Shmuel's door. He was overjoyed. That night, Reb Shmuel sat down and conducted his Seder with a joy and a feeling that was unparalleled in all his holy life. He was overjoyed that HaShem had provided for him without having to ask for charity.  

On the second night of the Seder, Reb Shmuel was so tired from the previous night that he decided to rest a little before beginning the second Seder. He lay down on his bed for just a couple of minutes. Several hours later, he awoke with a start. He glanced at the clock and was horrified to see that it was nearly midnight.  In just a short while the last time to eat the Afikomen would pass.  

Reb Shmuel rushed to make Kiddush, read the Hagadah, Hallel, the four cups, eat the matzos, the bitter herbs, the Charoses, the festive meal and finally just seconds before midnight - eating the Afikomen. Reb Shmuel was very depressed. It seemed such a miserable Seder.                         

After Pesach, Reb Shmuel traveled to visit his teacher, the Chozeh and tell him about his experiences, and seek counsel from the Chozeh.

"Well, the first night was disappointing!!” commented the Chozeh

“But you made up for it with the second seder!!”

So if you're sitting at your seder table, and the kids are screaming, and you just got up from the table for the umpteenth time, and the soup boiled over, and you feel  frustrated and sad, remember this might be the best seder ever in HaShem’s eyes!

 

Shabbat Shalom, R’ Moshe Cohen

 

Jewish law tip

On a Shabbos that precedes the Seder, it is forbidden for a Jew or a gentile to make preparations for the Seder, even though they do not involve melacha (e.g. setting the table or arranging the Seder plate).  After sunset, it is permissible for gentiles to set the table etc. as long as it does not involve melacha.

 

Announcements:

 

Early Shacharis for Shabbos hagadol

For Shacharis this week, we will be davening at SEVEN AM.  Please be aware of this schedule change.

 

Shabbos HaGadol Lunch

Lunch is at approximately 8:45 am. Make sure to finish eating all Chometz by 10:40 am.

Chag Sameach!

 

seudah shlishis

-Last week, Seudah Shlishis was sponsored by Menashe Shirazi. Thank you.

-No Seudah Shlishis at Aish this Shabbos.

 

Thank YOu

Thank you to Zeesie, Rena, Basia, Eliana, Yosef Chaim and Tova Dena Markman for driving the Tomchei Shabbos route this past Sunday.

Thank you to Jon Sher for driving the Tomchei Shabbos Route this past Monday.

Thank you to Gregory Ross for driving the Tomchei Shabbos Route this past Tuesday.

A special thank you to Fredy and Yesenia Munoz and their children.  Your dedication and care for our shul is endlessly appreciated.

 

Mazal Tov!

Mazal Tov to Yehuda Kraft and Sarah Kroll on their engagement. 

Mazal Tov to Eliyahou and Esther Tishbi on the birth of Sarah, their baby girl.

Avi and Ariella (Firestone) Gabay are the happy parents of a new baby boy.

Mazal Tov to Marc and Beth Firestone on becoming grandparents.

 

R’ weinberg, rosh yeshiva

From R’ Weinberg’s son, Yehuda, “Baruch Hashem, my Father is doing pretty good and I believe its in the Zechus of all the Tefillos and good things that you guys are doing, so, the more the better!!”

 

The Six Constant Mitvos

Rabbi Denbo will be teaching for six weeks on R’ Weinberg’s Six Constant Mitzvos.  The classes will begin after Pesach and meet in the Seminar Room.  Details to follow after Pesach.

 

Maternity Gemach Needs A Home

If you have space in your home (i.e. a free closet or back house) for the maternity gemach, please contact Karen at ext 305.  It needs a new home. 

 

Updates!!

Please send any new updated info (new home address, email, or phone) so we can update our database and our, soon to be released, Aish Directory. We are working hard to get the new, up to date version of the Aish directory out to the community as soon as we can!

 

Great easy kiruv idea!

Give a Jew close to you (non-observant) a “Pesach Fun Card.” They’ll know you care and it’s a game for their Seder table. See Marc Firestone or call him

(310)613-0006.

 

Learn and Return

Planning a long trip to Israel?  Don’t know what to expect?  Come meet people who have “been there and done that” for some expert advice on how to prep for the trip and return experience.  The first event is happening next Sun, Apr 27th from 3- 5 pm in the backyard of Stacey and Jonah Light, 1612 Canfield Ave. Questions? Call Jonah 310-556-7759.

 

The 48 Ways to Wisdom

Since R’ Weinberg, our Rosh Yeshiva, is still receiving treatment we would like to continue to share and learn some of his teachings and insights from “The 48 Ways to Wisdom”:

 

Way #6: Mastering Fear

Yirah (Fear) -- teaches that the essential choice of life is to open our eyes to available opportunities, and to fear the consequences of avoiding that reality. Fear is like any other emotion. Negative fear is debilitating. Positive fear is exhilarating.

 

BE AFRAID OF MEANINGLESSNESS-- Be afraid of waking up one morning and saying to yourself: "What did I do with my life?" Use this fear to inspire you to figure out what counts most in life.

 

FEAR OF MORTALITY - Realize that each of us can be dead in one minute. These are the facts of life, but we don't like looking at it. As the Sages say: "Put your life on track one day before you die."

 

WIPE OUT PETTINESS - Wipe out irritations, illusions, trivialities. Too often we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. Be motivated by the fear of losing what is precious.

 

FEAR OF GOD – This is one of the primary obligations in Judaism. We fulfill this Mitzvah by paying attention to reality and seeing the consequences of our actions.

Walk with a constant awareness of God. That fear can motivate you to greatness. Unfortunately, human nature is to become distracted. Each of us has a self-doubting inclination, called the Yetzer Hara. We hesitate to act because we're frightened by its threats. Fear of God gives you full freedom. The Yetzer Hara is nothing in comparison to that fear. You just push right ahead. You're free from all other fears. Fear of God is the key to everything we want to accomplish in this world.

 

MYTH #1 - FEAR IS PAINFUL – Yes, fear is uncomfortable, but it delivers great pleasure. Counteract the discomfort of fear by focusing on the positive side -- every moment is lived with awareness and excitement. Use your potential. Life is boring without fear.

 

MYTH #2 - FEAR IS PARALYZING – Thinking this reduces your potential. Facing fear is empowering. It gives you strength you never knew you had. Better to try and fail than to have feared to try. "Shock" debilitates, "fear" motivates.

 

AVOIDING THE CHALLENGE - Too often, we miss an opportunity to excel because we say: "I can't. It's too much effort." Take advantage of the power of fear as a tool to tackle all your "I can'ts." Make a list of these "I can'ts" and put a price tag on them. Having this clarity will turn you into a very effective human being.

 

MYTH #3 - FEAR MEANS LOSS OF FREEDOM - People avoid fear in order to preserve independence. When you fear violating God's word that frees your potential. Why? Because God doesn't want to control you, He only wants what's good for you. If you fear God, you're free from all other fears in the world. Fear of reality -- the possibility of missed opportunities -- is a motivation to get us where we want to be.

 

MYTH #4 - FEAR IS DEMEANING - It seems demeaning to respond based on fear. Ideally, we should all do the right thing simply because it's right, and avoid what's wrong, irrespective of the consequences. But we have to be realistic as well. Love is often insufficient motivation to do good. Hopefully, acting out of fear will eventually lead you to do the right thing out of love.

 

THE PAIN REFLEX - Everyone is born with the ability to sense pain. Pain is essential to our survival. And that's the purpose of fear of God. Fear of punishment is like a pain reflex. It keeps us from doing things that will cause us harm later on. It gets you where you want to be.

 

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER - The single most important goal in life is to have clarity, to live in reality. Reality itself is very thrilling. It wakes us up and puts things into perspective. Just as you are motivated out of personal fear, do the same for your family, your community, and for all humanity. Whenever you see tragedy, learn how to avoid it. Be real with the consequences of life. Carry that fear with you and use it as a positive motivator for greatness.