Chabad of Port Washington
Chabad of Port Washington
� Email: rabbi@chabadpw.org � Voice: 516-767-8672 www.ChabadPW.org
Ariel Sharon
A Word from the Rabbi
Rabbi Paltiel Greetings!

Yesterday, we celebrated the holiday of Tu B'Shevat - The New Year for the Trees. As kids, many of us saved our pennies and bought trees to be planted in Israel in honor of Tu B'Shevat.

The Torah tells us that a person is similar to a tree.

A tree has roots, a trunk and branches, and fruit or seed.

The root is our faith which links the Jew with his origin, and which constantly obtains for him his spiritual nourishment.

The trunk and branches are the Torah and mitzvot. These must grow even as the age of a tree increases its stem and branches.

But the fruit, which more than anything else justifies the existence of the tree, is the good deeds of man, those mitzvot which benefit others as well as self, and which have within them the seed that produces similar good deeds.

The roots of the Jew and his very link with the origin of this life lie in his true faith in G-d and in all the fundamental principles of our religion. Unless the roots are firm, and firmly embodied in the soil, the tree, despite its trunk and branches and leaves, will not withstand the strong wind. The development and advancement--and, in fact, the entire stature--of the Jew can be seen through his good deeds, in the practice of the Torah and the performance of mitzvot. Finally, his perfection comes through the fruit, by benefiting others, and helping to perpetuate our great heritage.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel

Calendar of Events

Jan
21

Mommy & Me

Mommy & Me | Tuesdays, 9:30 -10:15 am

Join Jaime Lewis, of Kids Can Music together with Sara Paltiel, Director of Florence Brownstein Preschool for music and movement in Chabad's spectacular new Israel-themed immersive indoor playground.

Click here for more info and register.

Feb
1

Sisterhood

Comedy Night | Saturday Night, 7:30 PM

The Chabad Sisterhood invites you to our First Annual Comedy Night featuring comedian, Maya Klausner & guests.

Light refreshments will be served | $10.00 per person

Rsvp: sisterhood@chabadpw.org

Feb
2

JLI

NEW JLI: To Be a Jew in the Free World
6 Sundays, Begins February 2 | 10:00 AM


What was it like for our ancestors to say goodbye to the shtetl, to set out to discover new lives for themselves, along with all of the liberties the free world had to offer? At the dawn of the enlightenment, how did our parents adapt their Judaism to the developments of a modern age? And what can we learn from their struggles to connect deeply with our own Jewish identities?

Click here for more info and to register.

Mar
15

Purim Ball

Save the Date: Purim Ball
Saturday Night, March 15 | 8:30 - 11:30 PM


Start planning your costumes and book your babysitters... Join us to celebrate Purim in Costume!

Evening festivities are for adults only. Sponsors and volunteers are welcome.
Contact: sisterhood@chabadpw.org.


June
2

Save the Date

Save the Date | Gala Dinner
Monday, June 2, 2014

Please save the date for Chabad of Port Washington's annual dinner celebrating our 23rd anniversary.

Formal invitation to follow.
Question of the Week
Question of the week
Why Eat Carob?
By: Baruch S. Davidson

Question: Why do many have the custom of eating carob on Tu B'Shevat - The New Year for Trees?

Answer: The custom of eating carob on Tu B'shvat, the New Year for Trees, is not cited in the Talmud or in the Code of Jewish Law, yet it is common in many communities. Our sages teach that the customs of the Jewish people are also Torah and have profound reasons congruent with Torah teachings and laws.

As it turns out, eating carob has an intrinsic connection both to Tu B'Shevat and to customs in general. But first, a word about the halachic significance of Tu B'Shevat, and what makes it the New Year for Trees: Let's say you are a farmer in the Land of Israel and you have an orchard. Once a year, you must give a certain amount of fruit as tithes—for the Kohanim, for the poor, or for eating in Jerusalem (depending on the year in a seven year cycle). The question arises: When is the cut-off date that divides between one year's crop and the next? The answer is fairly simple: It is the day when most of the rainy season in the Land of Israel has passed. That is the 15th day of Shevat, known commonly as Tu B'Shevat ("Tu" is one way of saying fifteen).

Now another problem arises: There are certain trees—such as the carob tree—that can begin to bud before Tu B'Shevat, but will not be harvested until much later, well after Tu B'Shevat. Would their tithing follow the rules of the tree-year in which they bud, or the tree-year in which they are harvested? This question is addressed in the Talmud:

The rabbis taught: A tree whose fruits were in bud before the fifteenth of Shevat must be tithed as the produce of the past year, but if they bud after that, they are tithed during the coming year. Said Rabbi Nechemia: This applies to trees whose fruit ripen and are harvested over an extended period of time. But in the case of a tree whose crop is harvested all at once—such as the date-palm, olive tree, or carob tree—although their fruits may begun to bud before the fifteenth of Shevat, they are tithed with the produce of the coming year...

CONTINUE>>

B"H
Shabbat Times
Candle Lighting Times for
Port Washington, NY
[Based on Zip Code 11050]:
Shabbat Candle Lighting:
Friday, Jan 17
4:35 pm
Shabbat Ends:
Shabbat, Jan 18
5:39 pm
Torah Portion: Yitro

Kiddush Calendar


The kiddush this week is sponsored by Julia Reyes in honor of the date of passing of her father Elias, on February 2nd.

Click here to let us know if you can sponsor a kiddush.


Community News

BIRTHDAYS

Aliza Cohen 1/18

Vanessa Grace Levi 1/18


Ralph Cenname 1/19

Dr. Lipa Kaufman 1/22
Aaron Lee 1/22
Michael Brooks Shenfeld 1/22
Eric Swenson 1/22
David Tellkamp 1/22
Lee Kalinsky 1/23

ANNIVERSARY

Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Kramer 1/23


YARTZEITS

Shirley Gischner,
1/17/2014 | Shevat 16, 5774
observed by Edith Schneider

Alfred Kurz, (Joseph ben Yitzchak) 1/17/2014 | Shevat 16, 5774
observed by
Nathan & Pearl Freedman

Jeanette Newman,
(Shaine bas Reb Moshe Mordechai)
1/17/2014 | Shevat 16, 5774
observed by

Barbara Newman and

Lenny & Ellen Schaier

Pearl Rochelson, (Penina bat Moshe) 1/21/2014 | Shevat 20, 5774
observed by Burton Rochelson

Ronny Wach, (Raizel bas Tzvi) 1/21/2014 | Shevat 20, 5774
observed by

Michael Wach

Adle E. Chase, (Alte Yitta bat Moshe) 1/22/2014 | Shevat 21, 5774
observed by Sylvia Chase

Jules Levine,
(Yosef Eliyahu ben Yisroel)
1/22/2014 | Shevat 21, 5774
observed by Joan Levine and
David & Keli Levine

Arthur Newman,
(Aharon ben Binyomin)
1/22/2014 | Shevat 21, 5774
observed by Barbara Newman and Lenny & Ellen Schaier

Lillian Hubsher, (Lifsha bas Miriam) 1/23/2014 | Shevat 22, 5774
observed by

Marshall J. & Randye Hubsher

Yitzchak ben Nasan Rothschild,
1/23/2014 | Shevat 22, 5774
observed by Alex & Edith Rothschild

*CLICK HERE to convert any regular calendar date, birthday or Yahrtzeit to its corresponding Jewish-calendar date!

Schedule of Services

Sunday Morning

Services: 9:00 AM

Monday - Friday
Services: 7:00 AM

Shabbos
Friday Evening: Candle lighting time

Saturday Morning: 9:30 AM
Followed by Kiddush Luncheon at 12
Mincha: Following Lunch


Schedule of Classes

Video & Torah Class
Sunday | 9:45 - 11:00 AM

Coffee & Parsha Class

Monday - Friday | 7:45 - 8:15 AM

Tanya Class
with Rabbi Paltiel
Saturdays | 8:45-9:30 AM

Quick Links

The Rebbe

Parsha


This Week @ ChabadPW.org
Parshah
Is There Anything Wrong with Arguing?
We are a nation that argues. A lot.
Essay
Am I Permitted to Reveal Private Conversations?
The controversy surrounding former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates's new memoir
Video
Sensitivity in Code
When Mrs. Shulamis Saxon wrote a letter to the Rebbe just days before her bat mitzvah, instead of simply asking for a blessing, she decided that she would bless the Rebbe as well.
Tu B'Shevat
Tu B'Shevat Site
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar, is the day that marks the beginning of a "new year" for trees. Stories, essays, and much more here.
Chabad-Lubavitch News from Around the World
Europe
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Obituary
Ariel Sharon: Proud Jew and Military Strategist, 85
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North America
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North America
New Mikvah in Boca Serves South Florida's Growing Needs
The Jewish Calendar
Friday Shevat 16 | January 17
Today in Jewish HistoryThe "Shaarei Teshuvah" (c.1823)
Shabbat Shevat 17 | January 18
Today in Jewish HistoryPurim Saragossa (1421)
Sunday Shevat 18 | January 19
Today in Jewish HistoryAuto De Fe in Peru (1639)
Monday Shevat 19 | January 20
Today in Jewish HistoryJews of Basel Burned Alive (1349)
Tuesday Shevat 20 | January 21
Today in Jewish HistoryAsher born (1562 BCE)
Daily Thought
American Money

Do you know why American money is so successful?
Because it has written on it, "In G-d We Trust."
Not just "Believe."
"Trust."

Furthermore, the money even tells you its purpose:
Upon it is written, "E Pluribus Unum."
The purpose of all your money dealings is to bring the plurality of this world to a Oneness.

And if that is truly your purpose, then you will rely on the One Creator to provide your needs.

The Parshah In A Nutshell
Parshat Yitro

Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, hears of the great miracles which G-d performed for the people of Israel, and comes from Midian to the Israelite camp, bringing with him Moses' wife and two sons. Jethro advises Moses to appoint a hierarchy of magistrates and judges to assist him in the task of governing and administering justice to the people.

The children of Israel camp opposite Mount Sinai, where they are told that G-d has chosen them to be His "kingdom of priests" and "holy nation." The people respond by proclaiming, "All that G-d has spoken, we shall do."

On the sixth day of the third month (Sivan), seven weeks after the Exodus, the entire nation of Israel assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai. G-d descends on the mountain amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of the shofar, and summons Moses to ascend.

G-d proclaims the Ten Commandments, commanding the people of Israel to believe in G-d, not to worship idols or take G-d's name in vain, to keep the Shabbat, honor their parents, not to murder, not to commit adultery, not to steal, and not to bear false witness or covet another's property. The people cry out to Moses that the revelation is too intense for them to bear, begging him to receive the Torah from G-d and convey it to them.