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Ohel Shalom Torah Center Newsletter
Parashat Emor 5779

Contact Us

 Ohel Shalom 

 

Check out our new and improved website at

ohelshalomchicago.org 


To determine if the Eruv is operational either click on the phone number link below, or call
 1-773-74-ERUV-2 (743-7882) after 2pm every Friday afternoon or every Erev Yom Tov.

 
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
Office Contact During Construction
This Week at Ohel Shalom
Graduation Kiddush
Project Connection Update
Amazon Smile
Geshem
Eruv Check- In
Kollel Korner
Davening Times
 
Shabbat
Candle lighting 
7:46 pm
Shir HaShirim 6:45 pm
Mincha 7:00 pm
Shabbat starts 8:06  pm
Shacharit 8:15 am
 Mincha 7:21 pm
Shabbat ends
8:57 pm

Regular Weekdays

Shacharit
 
Sunday 
7:45 am
 
Monday, Thursday
6:15 am

 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
6:30 am 
 
Mincha/Arvit

Sunday- Thursday
7:56 pm 
 
Late Arvit following Kollel 
Sunday-Thursday
10:00 pm

Regular Shiurim  

Kollel 
 
 Open Seder  
Sunday-Thursday
 8-10pm 
 
Rabbi Olstein
Parasha Shiur
Wed 8:30pm (Hebrew)
Thurs 8:00pm (English)
 
Rabbi Moshe Miller
Tomer Devorah
Sundays after Mincha/Arvit  
 
Father and Son  
Torah and Chamin
Thursday 8 pm  
~~~~ 
 
Rabbi Yosef Asayag
Monetary Issues in Halacha
 Shabbat Afternoon
45 min. before Mincha (Hebrew) 
Ateret Chaya 
Simcha Hall  
 
~~~~

 Nachat on Shabbat
Kids learning program
1 hour before Mincha  
~~~~
 
Men and Women

Ner Foundation 
Rabbi Raccah   

Topic:
 
Parashat HaShavu'a
Wednesdays at 8:30pm  

 
Personalities in the Bible
Motza'ai Shabbat during the winter
see you next year!

~~~~

Male Member Shiur
Topic:
Pele Yoetz in English
contact Shlomo Mizrahi
 
Yalizu Chasidim in Hebrew
contact David Ben Abu 

MEAL  

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  

Seuda Shlishit

$100

 

Kiddush

$250

 

Breakfast Fund

Day- $15 

Week- $75 

Month- $250 

Year - $2400  

 

Fish Fund

$20 month 

 

Hamin Fund

Monthly contribution 

 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  

Chair Sponsors

(127 sold - 133 left)

$20 each  

 

New Set of Artscroll Talmud Yerushalmi  

$35.00 for Talmud Yerushalmi

ONLY ONE LEFT

FOR NOW

 

Siddurim Shaarim Ba'Tifilla

($15.00 each) 

 

Chumash w/simanim  

($20 each) 


20 New Talitot  

(4 sponsored - 16 left)

$75.00 each 

 

 
Office Contact Info During Construction
 
During office hours, Mrs Sror can be reached directly at
847-562-5744.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE VOICE MESSAGES AT THIS NUMBER!

Office hours are Monday-Friday 9:15 am - 1:15 pm.

Use the regular 773-465-5274 to leave a message for Rabbi Raccah or for Mrs Sror outside of office hours. This number will not be answered during construction and is voicemail only.

This Week at Ohel Shalom
   
Mazal Tov! BiSiman Tov!

Mazal and Biracha to  Chanoch and Rena Raccah on the Birit of their baby boy Netanel Gavriel. Mazal Tov to siblings Chani, Daniel, and Davidi! Mazal Tov to grandparents  Rabbi and Rabbanit Raccah and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Galster!
May he grow to Torah, Chuppah and Ma'asim Tovim.  
 
Mazal Tov also to our friends at Hungarian, Michael and Eva Atias on the Birit of their son, Ariel YehonatanMay he grow to Torah, Chuppah and Ma'asim Tovim. 
 
Mazal Tov as well to Or and Meira Gera on the birth of a baby boy! Mazal Tov to big brother, Noam Yisrael!  Mazal Tov to grandparents, Helena Gera and Yehuda and Sara Shemer.  May he merit to enter the Birit of Avraham Avinu in its appropriate time and hour.   
 
Mazal Tov to our dear friends Yair and Dina Zuckerman on the bar Mitzvah of their son Coby (Mordechai Yaakov) this Shabbat. Mazal Tov to grandparents Avraham and Elana Moalem and to Lavie and Rachel Zuckerman. May Coby continue to grow in Torah and Mitzvot and continue as well to be a source of great Nachat to his family and Kahal Yisrael. 
 
Kiddush Sponsorship

This week's Kiddush is sponsored by Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Asayag in honor of the birth of their son, David. The Kehillah thanks the Asayags for their generosity.

With Sorrow   
 
With sorrow we relay the passing of  Rachel Sarah Seidman a"h, sister of Mrs. Devorah Ben Abu.

A graveside service was held Friday, May 10th, at Waldheim Cemetery and Shiva concluded this morning, Thursday May 16th. 

מִן הַשַׁמָיִם תְנוּחָמוּ, וְלֹא תֵדְעוּ לְדַאֲבָה עוֺד

May the family be comforted by Heaven and know of no more sorrow.  

With sorrow we relay the passing of  Avraham Arusi a"h, brother of Aharon (Roni) Arusi.

Aharon concluded Shiva in Israel this morning, Thursday May 16th.

Aharon can be reached at:  
011-972-54-683-9597 (Aharon) or 011-972-54-683-8825 (Odelia)

Calls can be made from 8am-11am and 12pm-4pm Chicago time.
Please note that Israel is 8 hours ahead of Chicago time.

מִן הַשַׁמָיִם תְנוּחָמוּ, וְלֹא תֵדְעוּ לְדַאֲבָה עוֺד
 
May the family be comforted by Heaven and know of no more sorrow. 

Rabbi Worch Shiur

The Illinois Center for Jewish Studies and the Sephardic Community Kollel are happy to announce the next class in the new "Legends and Legacies" series of monthly classes for men, with Rabbi Kalman Worch. The Shiur will focus on The Rashash (Rav Shalom Sharabi).

Please join us Tuesday night, May 21st, at   8:00 pm. BE"H special refreshments will be served.
 
Early Shabbat Minyan   
   
Once again, BE"H Ohel Shalom will hold Early Shabbat Minyanim during the summer months. Last year there was no later Minyan on Fridays. As of last week, the early Minyan begins at 7 PM.
Please inform  Chanoch Raccah or Yosef Zayan if you are interested in a regular later Minyan so we can determine if both are necessary.
 
Nachat on Shabbat Program

The Nachat on Shabbat Kids Learning Program will NOT be meeting this Shabbat. The program will BE"H resume the next week, Parashat Behar.
 
Birkat HaIlanot

The Kehilla finally was able to say Birkat HaIlanot this past Sunday afternoon.

   Rabbi Raccah's Wednesday Night Parasha Shiur

On Wednesday, May 22, Lag BaOmer, Rabbi Raccah's Parashat HaShavua Shiur will NOT be taking place. The Shiur will BE"H resume the following week, May 29th at 8.30 pm.
 
Learning Group with Rabbi Raccah on Pele Yoetz

Please join us for a weekly learning group with Rabbi Raccah on the Pele Yoetz. This group meets weekly, and is only open to male members of the Kehillah. For more information text Shlomo Mizrahi at 323-274-8178.    
 
Yalizu Chasidim Learning Group with 
Rabbi Raccah  in Hebrew

Due to the success of the Pele Yoetz Learning Group, Rabbi Raccah has B"H started a   similar group in Hebrew, Yalizu Chasidim. The group has B"H already met a few times. Interested? Contact David Ben Abu for more information. 

Graduation Kiddush
 
We are reserving the week of June 15th for the graduation kiddush. If you would like to sponsor the kiddush and/or lunch in honor of a graduate please contact the office. Graduate names must be submitted by June 6th.
 


For a printable version of this flyer click here


Project Conne ction UPDATE
(new info below)

As the construction B"H has significantly advanced, you may want to dedicate an item. As you can see, B"H many items have already been taken. The Rabbi and Committee still have not begun fundraising efforts, so this is your chance.

Two things to keep in mind:
1) Items have been set at all price points from as little as $180 and up. This was done intentionally to allow all our members to BE"H participate and be a part of reaching this vital milestone in our history.
2) The pledges for this campaign are payable over the next year and a half (till Rosh HaShana 5781 - 2020) and are separate to all other pledges and charges. The opportunities are on a "first come first served basis" so don't delay!!
 
UPDATE: B"H the Sacramento Entrance has been dedicated.



For a printable version of this flyer click here

Construction Updates

This week the primary effort has been on the electrical work. B"H the initial electrical work is largely done.

After a considerable delay waiting for certain confirmations, BE"H work has commenced in earnest on the new Sacramento Avenue entrance. As well, new doors have been delivered. Next week we hope BE"H to be back in full gear.

Special steel supports for the new Sacramento Avenue entrance being ready for installation.


Amazon Smile

Do you purchase items from Amazon? If so, you are in a perfect position to provide the Kehilla with much needed financial support with zero cost or additional effort from you, beyond following a few easy steps just one time.

Amazon has a philanthropic branch called Amazon Smile. All you need to do is sign up (no cost) and select our Kehilla as your charity of choice and Amazon will give the Kehilla 0.5% of all your eligible purchases! There are millions of eligible items.



Please take advantage of this opportunity
and sign up immediately.

Click here to select Sephardic Community Shaare Mizrah as your charity.

The Geshem Fund

It has been very busy for the Geshem Fund. Significant sums of money have been distributed to dozens of people to help with rent, utilities, food and many other purposes. This has depleted the fund. Please help us help those in need.

Please open your hearts and your wallets and make checks out to the order of GESHEM FUND and give to Rabbi Raccah or put in the mailbox of the office or the shul and Ayelet will give it to Rabbi Raccah.  As you thank Hashem for all that He has blessed you with, remember the less fortunate who are struggling and in desperate need of assistance. Thank you.
Eruv Check-In
 
Is the Chicago Eruv up and operational for Shabbat? If you utilize the Eruv, it is your responsibility to check each week before Shabbat if it is up. There are now some new and easy ways to do this.

The Chicago Eruv has set up a website with this information, as well as other pertinent halachot and information about the eruv. The web address is http://chicagoeruv.tripod.com/

You can call the hotline on Erev Shabbat after 2pm and listen to the recorded message or sign up to receive a weekly e-mail update on the status of the eruv.

Click here to sign up to have the eruv weekly email update sent directly to you! 
 
To Determine if the Eruv is Operational either click on the phone number link here, or call 1-773-74-ERUV-2 (743-7882) after 2pm every Friday afternoon or every Erev Yom Tov.

 
Kollel Korner of the Sephardic Community Kollel
 
Sephardic Community Kollel
 
Come learn with the Sephardic Community Kollel from 8:00pm to 10:00pm, Sunday through Thursday. Please contact the Kollel Coordinator, Rabbi Yosef Olstein to arrange a learning partner or to receive information about the Kollel and its programs. Rabbi Olstein can be reached at 773-338-8046 or by email at Sephardic Community Kollel.   
 
 
Donations to the Kollel
  
Donations to the Kollel can also be made via credit card. Please call the shul at 773-465-5274 or email the Kollel for details.
 
Sponsor Learning in the Kollel
 
Our Rabbis tell us the great power and merit associated with supporting Torah learning. To that end, consider sponsoring a week or a month of learning in the Kollel.

Examples of sponsorship purposes include: in memory of a deceased loved one for their Azkarah, to merit a Rifuah Shilamah, or to honor a loved one or friend. In addition to the great merit of supporting Torah in our community, your sponsorship will be marked with printed pages noting the intent of your support that are placed in stands on the tables in the Beit HaMidrash for the duration of your sponsorship period. 
 
Here are the costs for the various sponsorships:
 
A night of learning -  $52
A week of learning -  $100
A month of learning - $400
 
 
The Kollel appreciates the following sponsors of learning: 
 
A week of learning has been sponsored by Yigal Zino for May 13-20 in memory of his father, Shimon ben Aziza. May his Neshama merit an Aliyah.
 
Two weeks of learning have been sponsored by Julien Partouche for May 15-29 in memory of his father, Nissim ben Avraham and Gamara Levana. May his Neshama merit an Aliyah.
 
A week of learning has been sponsored by Mrs. Roslyn Kohanchi for May 16-23 in memory of her husband, Chaim ben Sion and Mahin HaCohen. May his Neshama merit an Aliyah.
 
A week of learning has been sponsored by Arvin Scott for May 16-23 in memory of his brother, Reuven ben Netah. May his Neshama merit an Aliyah.
 
A month of learning has been sponsored anonymously for the month of May. The Kollel thanks the patrons for their generosity.
 
 
 
    Halacha of the Week  
    

Inserting Personal Requests in the Amida Prayer on a Constant Basis

Question: You have written in the Halacha Yomit that one may insert personal requests into the blessings of the Amida. Is this permitted even on a constant basis, i.e. adding personal requests in one's Amida prayer every day?
 
Answer: Indeed, it is permissible to add personal requests into the middle blessings (blessings in between the first three and last three blessings of the Amida) of the Amida prayer based on the context of that specific blessing. Within the "Shema Kolenu" blessing, one may insert a request for anything one needs, as we have explained. Most Sephardic Siddurim nowadays have a text for Viduy (confessional prayer) and a prayer for one's livelihood printed within the "Shema Kolenu" blessing. This idea is based on the words of our Sages who allowed personal prayers to be added within the Amida prayer.
 
The Turei Zahav writes (Chapter 122) that when our Sages permitted adding personal requests into the Amida, they only allowed doing this occasionally; however, one should not add personal requests on a daily basis, for this will seem like one is changing the standard prayer text that out Sages instituted since one is adopting a new text for himself with this new prayer.
 
Nevertheless, Maran Ha'Chida writes in his Birkei Yosef that the Turei Zahav's opinion is halachically incorrect. The Kaf Ha'Chaim writes that even according to the Turei Zahav's opinion, one may add the text of the Viduy and prayer for one's livelihood into the "Shema Kolenu" blessing, for this text has already been mentioned by the holy Zohar and the Ari z"l and may therefore be added on a constant basis.
 
Indeed, the Yalkut Yosef (Tefillah, Volume 2, Chapter 119, Section 2) quotes the holy Zohar from which we can infer that every time one prays, one should confess one's sins during the "Shema Kolenu" blessing. He proceeds to quote the Mekubalim who write that one should likewise pray for one's livelihood during this blessing on a daily basis.
 
Thus, halachically speaking, regarding the texts of Viduy and prayer for one's livelihood, one may rely on the words of the Poskim who allow this to be added even on a constant, daily basis. On the other hand, regarding other personal prayers, there is room for stringency and one should not add them on a constant basis; rather, one should change the wording of one's personal prayers from time to time.
 
It is recounted that although Hagaon Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l had many constant personal requests while praying, such as praying for the ill and the like, he would nevertheless change the wording of his prayers from time to time or not insert his personal requests for a while so that it would not seem like he was instituting a new standard text into his prayer, in accordance with the opinion of the Turei Zahav.
 

EVENTS CALENDAR


If you have a Simcha occurring within the next few months that you would like to have added to the calendar, please call the off ice at 773-465-5274 or email the office with the link provided in the sidebar at the top of the email.  

May 23 - Lag BaOmer
June 2 - Yom Yerushalayim
June 9-10 - Shavuot
June 15 - Graduation Kiddush
 
Community Section
 
 
 
Challah Bake at Mikor
 
TONIGHT, Thursday, May 16th, we will have a challah bake for women at Mikor for a complete recovery for Shimona Bat Daniella. At 8:30 pm, Chanie Chase will give a short inspirational speech about the ingredients of challah and what they represent. Following Hafrashat Challah, we will have Tehilim.

Please prepare your dough close to the time you leave your house so you can take challah soon after it is formed. Just as woman are blessed with this beautiful mitzvah, may Shimona Bat Daniella be blessed with a Refuah Shelamah. Please text Valerie Kanter at 773-517-3801 if you are able to join this event so we can prepare the room accordingly.
 


Simon Weisenthal Center
 
The Simon Wiesenthal Center and Congregation Or Torah invite the community to "Confronting the Old/New Anti- Semitism" - A panel conversation.
A panel discussion on Modern Anti-Semitism, moderated by Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Panelists include Gunther Jikeli and Patrick John; both with differing expertise in the field. 
May 16th, 2019, at 7:00 PM.
Location: Congregation Or Torah, 3800 Dempster Street, Skokie. Event is free. Registration required: swcregister.eventbrite.com
 
Yom Yerushalayim Art Contest
 
Deadline is May 20th. Open to grades 3 - 12.  
 
Calling All Students - Elementary through High School: Enter the Mizrachi - Religious Zionists of Chicago Yom Yerushalayim 5779 Art Contest, sponsored in memory of Howard D. Geller z"l and Sheldon Robinson z"l. Three divisions: Grades 3-5; 6-8; 9-12. First place prizes range from $100 to $400. Deadline is Monday, May 20, 2019. Awards presented at RZC Yom Yerushalayim Celebration, Sunday morning, June 2, at Or Torah in Skokie. For full contest rules and entry form, visit: artcontest.rzc .us
 
 
 
Bike the Drive
 
Bike the Drive for Chai Lifeline, Sunday, May 26th, 2019. For more information go to  chailifeline.org/bikethedrive Bike the Drive with Chai Lifeline Midwest is back for the 11th year! On May 26, you can bike, enjoying the gorgeous lakefront and downtown views, while raising money for families here in Chicago.
Register with Chai Lifeline at www.chailifeline.org/bikethedrive and receive a complimentary T-shirt, delicious breakfast for after the ride, and lots of fun activities at Grant Park.  
For any questions, please email kbider@chailifeline.org.
 
 
Yom Yerushalayim
 
Celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, Sunday, June 2nd with Mizrachi - Religious Zionists of Chicago at Cong. Or Torah in Skokie.
  • 8:45 am: Tefillat Shacharit Chagigit
  • Guest Speaker Rabbi Zev Shandalov
            Teacher and Rav in Ma'ale Adumim; Former Rav of KJBS
  • Concurrent Children's Program
  • Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
  • Youth Art Contest Winners Announced
No admission fee. 
For sponsorship opportunities, please visit ym.rzc.us; email office@rzc.us;or call 847-674-9733 x 2.
 
 
 
Momma Chef's Soup Kitchen

Momma Chef's Soup Kitchen at Congregation K.I.N.S. has opened their doors to feed meals to those in need.

Once a week on Tuesday evenings they will provide a kosher four-course homemade hot dinner, as well as bagged lunches to-go, at no costs to their guests.
 
Please help to spread the word.. whether it be to volunteer or to invite someone who may be in need of food and a friendly face...  
 
   
 
Tuesday Evenings 6:00 PM
 
For more info email soupkitchen@congkins.org or call 773-761-4000.  
     
(Volunteer shifts run from 4:30 pm - 7:15 pm)
To sign up for a shift click here.  
To donate click here.
 
All food served is Kosher and prepared in a supervised kitchen.

Click Here to volunteer or email karen@mommachef.com for more information.