Rabbi's Blog - The Shul of Bellaire

Why I'm excited for tonight

Thursday, January 30, 2014 - 11:03 PM

Why I'm excited for tonight

Last year we hosted a community wide Shabbaton that turned out to be quite fabulous. In fact, the feedback was so remarkable, that we said to ourselves: ‘Let’s do this every year!’

So tonight, we look forward to hosting the 2nd annual Community Shabbaton dinner with over 120 guests! Our guest speaker Yaakov Parisi will be sharing his intriguing life story, of how he went from being a Pastor to becoming an observant Jew!

Personally, what I'm looking forward to most is celebrating Shabbat with fellow Jews from a variety of backgrounds, yet, as brothers and sisters. To coming together around one common Shabbat table without any ‘labels’, but with the shared goal of strengthening ourselves and our families to live a more informed, proud and inspired Jewish life.

I love that.

Shabbat Shalom and see you tonight,

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

A Typical Week

Friday, January 17, 2014 - 2:17 PM

A Typical Week

I was feeling very grateful this week as I signed and mailed out over 150 thank you letters to all our friends and supporters who made an end-of-year donation to The Shul.

Here’s a peek at what your support produced this week, a typical week, at The Shul:

Sunday:
9:30am - Children stream in to Hebrew School at the Bellaire Rec Center.
9:30am - Adults stop in at The Shul for Tefillin, bagel breakfast and lots of schmoozing.
2:30pm - Children filled The Shul for a Tu Bshvat Discovery Zone (pictures here).

Monday:
7:00pm - A great group of Teens joined a ‘CTeen’ session, enjoying dinner, an intriguing discussion on utilizing our G-d given talents and designing Kippas to send to orphans in Israel.

Tuesday:
7:00pm - A Rosh Chodesh Society session, brought a fabulous group of women together for socializing, refreshments and a class by Esty on the topic of Tu B’Shevat.

Wednesday:
4:30pm – Wednesday Hebrew Club.
7:30pm - Wednesday night class, always a thought provoking session with a take home lesson.

Plus many more individualized learning sessions every single day starting at 6:30am.

We look forward to culminating this busy week at Shabbat services tomorrow morning, beginning at 9:30am, followed by Kiddush lunch.

These meaningful Jewish experiences for every age and segment of our community would not happen without your generous support, volunteerism and leadership!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

Leadership of Light

Friday, January 10, 2014 - 4:34 PM

Leadership of Light

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of the day my teacher and mentor the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, assumed leadership of the Chabad movement in 1950.

For a glimpse into the Rebbe's extraordinary leadership, I share the following short story:

Rabbi Moshe Hecht had been the Chabad rabbi in New Haven, Connecticut, since 1941. The demands on him grew year by year, with a synagogue, a school, a yeshiva and many other responsibilities that required a staff several times that which he could afford.

In 1974, he wrote a letter to the Rebbe complaining that in 33 years of work he felt he was back at the same place as when he started and that he simply could not continue.

He signed off the letter with a heart-rending plea that “the Rebbe should please help and do all he can.”

The Rebbe responded—not with counsel, but with light:

I’ve already followed your advice [to help you].

I’ve sent Rabbi Moshe Hecht to New Haven in 1941. But it appears from your letter and from those preceding it that you still are not familiar with him and with the capabilities with which this person is endowed.

Whatever the case, you should get to know him now.

If you do, immediately, everything will change—your mood, your trust in G‑d, everyday happiness, etc.

The Rebbe empowered every individual to live up to their fullest potential, guiding them to get in touch with their true self, the ‘self’ one may have not yet come in contact with before.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky