We are Planning to Open Next Week!
No Services this Week, We are Planning to Open Next Week!
The numbers are, thank G-d, going in the right direction. We are therefore planning on opening up for services next Shabbos (one week from tomorrow).
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.” No services will take place indoors for the time being. We are going to install shade ‘sails’ over our patios enabling us to offer more seating outside. We have also bought Plexiglas partitions so that the Torah reader is divided from the person called to the Torah for an Aliyah. Air purifiers have also been bought.
All of these measures taken together with the procedures already established, which include wearing masks at all times, 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 next Shabbos please let us know by responding to this message.
Working Car 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!
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. I will send you this year’s membership form. You can also securely donate immediately by following the link found below. 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
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!
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!
Chicken Soup, Challah Available
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.
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
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.
A Word of Torah Living with the Times
Parshat Re’ay – Behold!
By: Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
This week’s Torah portion begins by Moshe telling the Jewish people to (open your eyes) and to ‘See’ that G-d has placed before us blessings and curses. We are given the choice which path we will take; the path of blessings or the opposite.
It is interesting that last week in Parshat Eikev the Torah emphasized the need to ‘Hearken’ and this week we are exhorted to ‘Behold’. This demonstrates that experiencing the Almighty is a sensory endeavor.
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Righteous Memory, compares and contrasts these two methods of experiencing the Creator.
We all know the saying, “Seeing is believing!” This means that there is nothing like witnessing something with one’s own eyes to make a dramatic impression. If I see something happen, I know it happened, and no one and nothing can convince me otherwise. I know what I saw. This would seem to be a greater level of internalizing outside stimuli than any other method.
The Rebbe shares a remarkable explanation regarding hearing. When we hear something, meaning when a sound penetrates our minds to be analyzed and ultimately understood / grasped by our intellect, it can be a more profound experience than merely seeing something. At the end of the day seeing can fairly be described as a superficial experience whereas hearing is more internalized.
In our portion we are presented with the idea that we have the ability to see the blessings of G-d as well as understanding their presence through hearing about it. This creates a one-two process, the best of the best.
Is it possible to grasp G-dliness in such a holistic manner spanning our senses of sight and sound? Actually, not only can we grasp the divine using our powers of sight and sound, we can add to that experiencing the Almighty through touch, taste and even smell! Those with a familiarity with the Torah and her metaphors find numerous descriptions of interactions with the Creator using each of the senses.
That may be well and good for a truly righteous individual, but how are those of us, who have not yet perfected ourselves to that degree, supposed to appreciate this level of connection? The answer is that we should imagine ourselves entering into the Holy Temple. The service of each person who participated included all of the senses, as they experienced the sight of revealed G-dliness, the sounds of the Levites singing, the smell and taste of the sacrifices, and the touch, as in being touched by the awesomeness of the encounter – not to mention that use of their hands in the process.
It is with this in mind that we yearn, each and every one of us, for the time when the Temple will be rebuilt with the coming of Moshiach. May it be speedily in our days!
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shabbos!
Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at [email protected].
Haftarah Thought From: Chabad.org
Isaiah 54:11-55:5
This week's haftorah is the third of a series of seven "haftarot of Consolation." These seven haftarot commence on the Shabbat following Tisha b'Av and continue until Rosh Hashanah.
G‑d addresses the "afflicted and storm-tossed" Jerusalem "who has not been comforted," assuring her that she, and her people, will be restored to full glory. The foundation, walls and ground of Jerusalem will be laid with precious stones. Her children will be "disciples of the L-rd," and will enjoy abundant peace. Any weapon engineered against her will fail.
The prophet then invites the thirsty to acquire "water," namely those who are thirsty for spirituality should study the quenching words of Torah. He promises the nation an everlasting covenant similar to that made with King David. This is also an allusion to the Messiah, David's descendant, who will be revered by all of the nations of the world.
