We are Open for Services Tomorrow!!
Services are INSIDE This Week! HURRAY!!!
Due to the updated guidelines issued by the Governor’s office and with the agreement from Rabbinic authorities we will be offering services this Shabbos INSIDE of the sanctuary AND outside in the breezeway. We will be keeping our occupancy at 25% of capacity inside – so please, if you wish to join us, respond to this email. Those who wish to sit in the breezeway for services are welcome to do so.
Please note that we have invested heavily so as to be able to open up safely and comfortably. In fact, we are exceeding the protocols called for by the governmental agencies. You might say that, “We answer to a Higher Authority.”
We are in the midst of installing shade ‘sails’ over our patios enabling us to offer more covered seating outside. The sails will hopefully be up before Shabbos. A sincere thank you to Jon and Julie Rozansky for sponsoring the sails!
We have purchased partitions so that the Torah reader is divided from the person called to the Torah for an Aliyah and HEPA filter air purifiers have also been bought. We also have masks available for those attending services, which must be worn at all times while on campus, as well as gloves for those who wish to wear them.
All of these measures taken together with the procedures already established, which include the use of hand sanitizer and handwashing regularly, sanitized prayers books, sanitized restrooms and surfaces etc., will produce a safe experience. With that being said we remind everyone that those who have been exposed to anyone with the virus within the last 14 days, those with symptoms, or those whose doctors advise them not to participate, should not, under any circumstances, come to shul. But rather should pray at home.
If you plan on joining us on Shabbos please let us know by responding to this message.
Working Car (still) Needed
We are currently seeking a car in good mechanical condition. If you, or someone you know, has a car that you can donate please respond to this message. This request is time sensitive. Thank you in advance!
Weekly Sermon Friday @ 5pm on Facebook Live
Join Rabbi Eilfort this afternoon at 5pm as he gives his weekly sermon as a Facebook Live event. If you have not already done so, please send Rabbi Eilfort (Yeruchem Eilfort) a Friend Request on Facebook!
Chabad Telethon on THIS Sunday 5-11pm
Our own Rabbi Eilfort will be appearing on the Chabad Telethon (exact time not known) this Sunday. The Telethon can be viewed via livestream by logging onto www.ToLife.com. For local stations please follow this link: http://www.chabad.com/telethon/where.php. All proceeds from the Telethon go to benefit the outstanding work of West Coast Chabad Headquarters. They sponsor programs that bring blessings to Jewish communities throughout California and Nevada. Your generous support is encouraged and appreciated!
Tuition Free Hebrew School
Due to the economic hardships created by the pandemic we will be offering Tuition Free Hebrew School this year. Families are struggling to make ends meet, but we cannot allow the children to suffer. We are offering two options – In-person learning (outdoor and indoor classes, socially distant, masks on), and virtual learning. Please respond to this message for further information. We are the only synagogue in the county making such an offer! Morah Chaya has worked diligently to create an amazing curriculum that will educate and inspire our students. Our teachers will always offer lots of positive reinforcement to the students so that they will not only learn, but they will ENJOY the EXPERIENCE! Please get back to us and let your friends know.
Membership – Will You Commit?
Dear Friends,
So far the year 2020 has been filled with opportunities. We have been presented with the opportunity to test ourselves as our country and our world has faced the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic. I know that I never thought that I would live in such times, and bet many of you feel the same. The health and wellbeing of each and every one of us has been severely threatened, the economy has undergone a tremendous shock, and a massive strain has been placed on our relationships and this community.
I learned in Yeshiva that tests are indeed opportunities, strange as that may sound. In Hebrew the same word for test, “Nisayon” is the root of the word for miracle, “Nes.” A Nes/miracle is when G-d suspends the rules of nature so as to reveal Himself in a supernatural way. Its root is to raise up. Therefore a test is an opportunity to raise ourselves up to a level otherwise inaccessible to us.
Our community, our beloved Chabad at La Costa, has not been immune to these opportunities. We have striven to rise to the occasion, and because of YOU we have risen to the occasion!
G-d bless all of you who have been instrumental in keeping us going. G-d bless those of you who despite (or perhaps because of) the coronavirus have stepped forward, dug deep, and made meaningful and ongoing contributions to our community.
What have your donations accomplished?
Your donations have fed many people spiritually and physically. Our lights are still on, spiritually and physically. We continue to be here for our community spiritually and physically. Our expenses have not decreased because of the pause in services. In fact, they have increased. Not only have many of our streams of income ceased (like catering and our barbecues, and Aliyah donations, and Hebrew school tuitions) but our expenses have increased as we continue to help people who face financial and spiritual crises. We are teaching more Torah, making more phone calls, counseling more people, and touching the lives of people in meaningful ways.
We therefore turn to you with the following requests: if you need help, let us know! We will do our utmost to help. If you can help others, let us know! If you can find your way to make a monthly contribution to our joint endeavor please demonstrate your commitment by becoming a member now.
We are asking all of those who can – please make a monthly financial commitment to us, to the Jewish community of this area, so that we can continue to serve the Jewish community of this area. We have always been and must always be self-supportive. That means we need you to step forward at this time of great opportunity!
Despite our increased budget we are not increasing our membership rates. Please note that our membership rates are lower than other communities’. It is not that we offer less. In fact, we offer more than we ever have. Those who can afford it and want to give more than the minimum are our heroes!
Please get back to me at your earliest convenience. This year’s membership form can be found HERE. You can also securely donate immediately by following the link found HERE. You can choose to make your gift monthly, which is deeply appreciated!
G-d bless you and thank you so much for your friendship and support!
Rabbi Eilfort
Jewish Art Calendar – LAST CALL
It is calendar season! Yes, we are running a bit late thanks to our ubiquitous friend the coronavirus. But never fear; we will again offer our gorgeous Jewish Art Calendar! Those who wish to sponsor the calendar, or run an ad/s, or dedicate a date are encouraged to reach out to our Rebbetzin Nechama via email at [email protected], or simply reply to this message for the calendar form.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
In-person High Holidays Services Planned
Our High Holiday plans have been formulated. We will be sending out a form and brochure with all of the details in the near future. Please make sure to save the dates. As of now our plan is to hold services indoors and outdoors as per current governmental mandates.
Be prepared for a different looking High Holiday experience. We know that masks are not fun. We also understand that up-tempo services are not what we are used to, especially on the High Holidays. But we also know that Judaism teaches us that the sanctity of life takes precedence over all other considerations.
We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation. We remain steadfastly committed to serving our community and doing so in a safe and secure manner.
If there is a program or if there is something that you need please do not hesitate to contact us!
Article of the Week
Living with the Times
Parshat Ki Tavo – When You Will Come
By: Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
This week we read the portion titled ‘Ki Tavo’, which means ‘When you will come (into the Holy Land). The beginning of the portion details the laws of the Bikurim – the First Fruits. The Jewish people were commanded to bring a yearly first fruit offering in the Holy Temple.
In fact, the Jewish people are called the first fruit of the Almighty. Why?
The Mitzvah of offering the first fruit shows us something very important. Fruit is a result of hard work. It is quite different than the Mannah – the heavenly bread that sustained the Jews during their 40-year sojourn in the desert following the exodus from Egypt. The Mannah was miraculous as each day each person’s portion fell from the sky. It was not a result of hard work – it was served up to the Children of Israel on a ‘silver platter,’ so to speak.
The Bikurim, on the other hand, only came into existence with the considerable effort of picking a viable crop and planting the seeds in an appropriate location. As the young seedling would grow it had to be nurtured and protected. Only after years of care would edible and permissible fruit come forth. And THAT fruit, the result of all that work, would be brought to the Holy Temple as an offering.
While the Mannah fed the faith of the Jews the Bikurim trained our people to perceive G-dliness wherever we looked and taught us the value of appreciation. The fact is that grateful people are happier people. It is instructional that we are taught the value of thankfulness via crops that we worked diligently to produce. One may mistakenly think, “The power of my hand created this.” The first fruits remind us that at especially such a time we need to remain mindful of the blessings showered upon us by the Creator.
The Rebbe points out an additional thought that is profoundly important. When the basket of fruit was brought to the Temple a special prayer was recited. It mentions that an Aramean (Laban, father in law of Jacob our father) tried to destroy us, but that G-d protected us. Isn’t it interesting that G-d’s loving protection of His people was extended before the giving of the Torah? We have always been taught that the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai was like our wedding, so to speak, with the Almighty. This would mean that the love between us and our Creator started at that time.
Bikurim tells us something else entirely. G-d had a love for us even before we accepted the Torah. Consequently we see that the loving connection between G-d and His children is even greater than the love generated through Torah observance. There is an intrinsic, unbreakable connection, which the bringing of the first fruit and its attendant prayer proves!
When is this incredible connection most in evidence? On the coming holiday of Yom Kippur – the essence of our connection becomes revealed, which is why it is the Day of Atonement, the level of our soul that is one with G-d is revealed. That level negates any chasm created by our sins. Perhaps we can venture to say that living our lives with the ethic of eternal gratefulness directed towards the Eternal Greatness, is likewise a revelation of the deepest, most G-dly aspect of our souls.
The bottom line is that we should all feel most grateful due to our oneness with the True One!
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shabbos!
Chicken Soup & Challah
We are extraordinarily proud of the fact that we have provided chicken soup and challah from the beginning of the pandemic. During this time we have distributed thousands of challahs and servings of soup, at no cost, to our community and those in need. We have been able to do this due to the generosity of our sponsors (best in the world!) and our outstanding volunteers. Let’s face it; we are blessed to have such a beautiful community!
Chicken Soup, Challah Available THIS Week
Those who live near Chabad at La Costa are welcome to let us know if you want some delicious Challah and/or Chicken Soup delivered to you on Friday to help you celebrate Shabbat in the most delicious way possible.
Please note that all food is prepared and delivered using recommended safeguards.
Sponsors Appreciated (And Needed)
These are extraordinary times. Many people are reaching out for help and, Baruch Hashem / thank G-d, we are HERE to help! ‘We’ means YOU and US, TOGETHER. It is an amazing partnership that we have!
We are extremely grateful to those who have reached out to help fund us, enabling us to serve others.
We would like to specifically acknowledge at this time:
Channah Hale for her generous sponsorship of the Challahs. Channah has been absolutely phenomenal in her generous sponsorships! We thank her for her kindness and love.
This week’s chicken soup and challahs are also sponsored by the Mintz and Bartholomew families. THANK YOU!
We are seeking additional sponsors for the following dedications:
Next week’s Loaves of Love.
Next week’s Chicken soup.
Next week’s Torah classes.
Note About Sponsorships
You may have noticed that we seek multiple sponsors for the Challah, Soup, and Torah classes. We do this because we need to find ways to cover our budgetary shortfall that has been caused by the coronavirus. The donations coming to the shul have been dramatically reduced. We greatly appreciate those of you who are still supporting us! G-d bless you! We greatly appreciate your understanding as we seek ways of propping up the income necessary to keep things afloat. Your ideas about additional income streams are likewise greatly appreciated!
Ways to Give
We would be nowhere without the generous support of our community. Please know that your support is profoundly appreciated!
There are many ways to donate besides for checks and cash. Following please find a list of the various other ‘platforms’ that are available for secure donations that go directly and entirely into the synagogue account.
1. PayPal [email protected] or PayPal.me/Neilfort
2. Venmo @Nechama-Eilfort
3. Cashapp $nechamae
4. Zelle (Bank of America) [email protected]
5. Personal credit card chabadatlacosta.com/donate
Easy Fundraising Opportunity
First, let us take this opportunity to thank all of those who have had Facebook Birthday Fundraisers for Chabad at La Costa! I cannot tell you how much Nechama & I appreciate it! The money we have received through these fundraisers has helped our shul continue with programming, delivering soup and challah as well as other activities.
Do you have a birthday coming up? We would be honored if you would consider making our shul the recipient of your birthday fundraiser. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to celebrate your birthday and do a wonderful Mitzvah at the same time? Thank you for your consideration and Happy Birthday!
Havdala Live with Rabbi Yossi
Join Rabbi Yossi Rodal on Facebook Live on Saturday night at 8:30pm for a meaningful Havdalah service. Following Havdalah Rabbi Yossi will share an uplifting Chasidic story as is traditional on Saturday night.
Haftarah Thought From: Chabad.org
Isaiah 60:1-22
This week's haftorah is the sixth of a series of seven "Haftarot of Consolation." These seven haftarot commence on the Shabbat following Tisha b'Av and continue until Rosh Hashanah.
In glowing terms the prophet recounts descriptions of what will unfold during the Redemption. Beginning with the resurrection of the dead and the ingathering of the exiles, continuing with the joy and abundance the Jewish people will then experience, as well as the gifts that will be brought to G‑d from all of the nations of the world.
Finally, the Jewish nation will no longer be despised and derided, there will no longer be violence nor mourning, and G‑d will shine His everlasting light on His people.
