Shul front


Ohel Shalom Torah Center Newsletter
Parashat Mishpatim-Mivarchim Adar I 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
This Week at Ohel Shalom
Shabbat with Rabbi A. Raccah
Tzur Sheva Birachot
Moalem Engagement
Annual Melaveh Malka 2019
Project Connection Update
Personalities in the Bible Shiur Schedule
Amazon Smile
Geshem
Eruv Check- In
Kollel Korner
Davening Times
 
Shabbat
Candle lighting 
4:45 pm
Shir HaShirim 4:40pm
Mincha 4:55 pm
Shabbat starts 5:05  pm
Shacharit 8:15 am
 Mincha 4:20 pm
Shabbat ends
5:57 pm

Regular Weekdays

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

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

Sunday- Thursday
4:55 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
Boy's learning program
45 min. before Mincha  
~~~~
 
Men and Women

Ner Foundation 
Rabbi Raccah   

Topic:
 
Parashat HaShavu'a
Wednesdays at 8:30pm  
Next Shiur 
January 30th
 
Personalities in the Bible
Motza'ai Shabbat during the winter
Final Shiur
February 2
at 7:45 PM

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 

 


This Week at Ohel Shalom
  

Exciting Shabbat with Our Assistant Rabbi Prospect

The Kehillah welcomes Rabbi Aharon Raccah and his wife, Bracha Esther, to Chicago, as a prospect for the position of Assistant Rabbi in our Kehilla. See below for the schedule of Shiurim and events over this exciting weekend.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Mazal Tov! BiSiman Tov! 
 
Mazal Tov to Yehuda and Aviva Tzur on the wedding of their son Yinon Ezra to Racheli Adler from Lakewood, NJ this week. Mazal Tov to the Kallah's parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Yossi Adler. 
The Kehillah is invited to Sheva Birachot on Monday, February 4th. See below for more details.
 
The Kehillah would like to wish a Mazal Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Avraham Moalem on the engagement of their daughter Naomi to Maier Arye Kushner of Monsey! Mazal Tov to Maier Arye's parents Mr. Mitch Kushner and Mrs. Yocheved Kushner. We wish the entire Moalem family much happiness on this occasion!
The Kehillah is invited to the engagement party on Monday, Feb. 4th. See below for more details.

Please note that both the Tzur Sheva Birachot and the Moalem Engagement Celebration overlap somewhat. BE"H they are timed to allow you to dance at both celebrations!

Mazal Tov to Netanel and Rikki Siman Tov upon the birth of their daughter Maya, who was named last Shabbat. May they merit to raise her to Torah, Mitzvot, Chupah and Ma'asim Tovim.

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Yosef Assayag and his wife Miriam Chana on the birth of a baby boy! May they merit to have him enter the Birit of Avraham Avinu  and may he grow to Torah, Chuppah and Ma'asim Tovim.

Seudah Shilisheet Sponsorship

This week's Seudah Shilisheet is sponsored by  Ben and Batsheva Pomerantz  in memory of his mother,  Michla bat Ben Zion and Rivka. May her Neshama merit an Aliyah. The Kehillah thanks the Pomerantzs for their generosity.


Rabbi Raccah Wednesday Night Shiur Cancelled

Rabbi Raccah's Wednesday Night Parashat HaShavua Shiur is cancelled  today due to the forecasted freezing weather. The shiur will BE"H resume next Wednesday, February 6th at 8.30 PM.


FINAL Personalities in the Bible Shiur
THIS Motza'ai Shabbat

Rabbi Raccah's FINAL Personalities in the Bible lecture of the season will BE"H be this  Motza'ai Shabbat, February 2nd.  The title of the shiur is: "Mothers and Tribes: The Influence of Names - Part 2" Please note that this Shiur will begin at 7:45 PM ( please note time change). Please join us for the exciting closing Shiur.

   
Rosh Chodesh Adar I
 
Rosh Chodesh Adar I will begin on  Monday evening, February 4th for two days, ending on Wednesday evening, February 6th. Chodesh Tov! 

New Shiur Series with Rabbi Kalman Worch Continues

The Illinois Center for Jewish Studies and the Sephardic Community Kollel are happy to announce the next class in the new series of monthly classes for men with Rabbi Kalman Worch. The Shiur will take place BE"H on  Tuesday February 12th (and not on February 5th as previously advertised). The t opic is The Rashash (Rav Shalom Sharabi).  More details to come.
   

Shabbat with  Our Assistant Rabbi Prospect
Rabbi Aharon Raccah



BE"H our Kehillah has reached an important milestone. The Kehillah is B"H 32 years old and has reached a stage where an additional Rabbinic presence is important.

With an eye to the future and with the agreement of the Rav and unanimous support of the board, this week we will host our prospect for Assistant Rabbi - Rabbi Aharon Raccah.

Rabbi Aharon is well known to our Kehillah since, as the Rav and Rabanit's son, he grew up here. However, he has matured and grown into a scholar in his own right, who truly is a wonderful fit for us and our future.

Rabbi Aharon received Simicha from the renowned Jerusalem Kollel, headed by Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz. He also serves as a Sho'el U'Mashiv at Yeshiva Torat Chaim, led by Rav Chaim Kreiswirth. Additionally, he is an accomplished Chazan having studied under Chazan Moshe Chabusha and Chazan Shimon Cohen. He has also learned Shechita.

Bracha Esther, Rabbi Aharon's wife is the daughter of Rav Shmuel and Rabanit Aliza Beyda of Flatbush NY. Rav Beyda is a Magid Shiur at Magen David Yeshiva and the Rav at Congregation Ohel Yeshua V'Sara, "Avenue O Shul". As such, she is very familiar with the Rabbinic life.

During his visit, Rabbi Aharon will BE"H attend all the Tifilot and be present during Kollel hours for people to meet him. As well, he will be giving Shiurim on a range of topics

Here is the schedule of Shiurim for the visit:

Wednesday night - January 30 at 9pm in the Bet Midrash
Pilpul Shiur in Halacha (for men)
"Late for Tefila : Skip or Not"

Thursday night - January 31st - Hebrew Shiur (for men and women) in the Sha'arei Ezra Main Sanctuary at 8pm
"Mishpatim and Har Sinai: Escaping Slavery"

Shabbat Morning BE"H there will be an Expanded Kiddush Luncheon with Divrei Torah

Motza'ai Shabbat - February 2nd - approximately 9pm (following the Rav's final Personalities in the Bible Shiur for the season)
Kumzitz & Stories with the Two Rabbi Raccahs
Melave Malka with singing and stories

Sunday Morning - after Shacharit with breakfast
English Shiur
"How Tefila Transforms You and the World"


Please join us!


Tzur Sheva Birachot


Mazal Tov! BiSiman Tov!

Please join us BE"H  on Monday, February 4th at 6 pm  in celebrating Sheva Birachot for Yinon and Rachel Tzur at KINS (2800 W. Northshore), happily hosted by the Ohel Shalom family. 

Mazal Tov to the parents,  Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Tzur and Mr. and Mrs. Yossi Adler, and to all of their families.

This event is for adults only!


Moalem Engagement


 



Upcoming Melaveh Malkah Shabbaton
 
We are happy to announce that BE"H our annual Melaveh Malkah Shabbaton weekend will be over the  February 23rd Shabbat. Our guest speaker will be the renowned  Rabbi Paysach Krohn. Rabbi Krohn was our speaker five years ago and his lectures drew the largest audiences. This was part of the calculation in choosing him as the first repeat speaker since we started the Annual Shabbaton Program over a decade ago. Please look for more information about this exciting event. 
 



For a printable version of this flyer click here


Project Connection UPDATE
(new info below)

It has been almost a decade since our Kehillah's last major remodel - the Ateret Chaya Simcha Hall. We have known for some time that our growing Kehillah's programming and planned future projects require additional and more specific space. With tremendous thanks to HKB"H, we are pleased to announce that after concerted effort by the Rabbi and the Committee, we are posed to commence a complete remodel of our present office building to allow better usage of the space. The new Learning Center building will contain office suites, a new Beit HaMidrash/Shiur room and a large space for the Kehillah's children. Additionally, there will be a walk-through connection between the Beit HaMidrash building and the multipurpose building. This will permit fluid movement through all three buildings without going outside. To meet the extensive costs of this vital project we are commencing a new Building Campaign. Please find here a page presenting many different dedication categories. The Committee desired that all our members feel that they can participate so there are dedication opportunities that are very affordable. The pledges for this campaign are payable over the next two years (till Rosh HaShana 5781 - 2020). It goes without saying that the pledges towards this campaign are separate to all other pledges and charges. The opportunities are on a "first come first served basis" so don't delay!!

UPDATE: 95% of the first floor is gone!







At this time, 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.

UPDATE: B"H the Washing Station - Lower Level has now been generously sponsored.




For a printable version of this flyer click here


Personalities in the Bible Shiur Schedule
 
 
During the winter, in conjunction with the Ner Foundation, Rabbi Raccah delivers a series of Shiurim on Personalities in the Bible. BA"H this winter is the 21st season. The Shiurim are thought provoking. 

The final shiur will BE"H take place BE"H , Motza'ai Shabbat, February 2nd beginning at 7:45 PM. The title for the Shiur is "Mothers and Tribes: The Influence of Names - Part 2."
 
1. October 27 וירא       Beginning at 8 PM
2. November 17 ויצא    Beginning at 7:30 PM
3. November 24 וישלח
4. December 1 וישב
5. December 22 ויחי
6. January 5 וארא
7. January 19 בשלח     Beginning at 7:45 PM
8. January 26 יתרו       Beginning at 7;45 PM
9. February 2 משפטים   Beginning at 7:45 PM


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 month of learning has been sponsored by Mrs. Elana Moalem for January 7-February 7 for the Zechut of a Refuah Shelemah for Chana bat Elka. May she merit a full recovery. 
  
A week of learning has been sponsored by Mrs. Miriam Lobl for January 27-February 3 in memory of her father, Shmuel ben Miriam and Yosef. May his Neshama merit an Aliyah.

A week of learning has been sponsored by Mr. Shabtay Cohen for February 4-11 in memory of his mother, Sonia bat Miriam. May her Neshama merit an Aliyah.

A month of learning has been sponsored anonymously for the month of January. The Kollel thanks the patrons for their generosity.
 
 
 
    Halacha of the Week       
 


Demanding Parents

In the previous Halacha, we have quoted the words of the Rambam and Maran Ha'Shulchan Aruch that one may not over-burden one children and be excessively demanding of honor from them so as not to cause one's children to transgress certain prohibitions. Rather, one should forgive them and ignore the lack of honor, for a father may, in fact, absolve his children from honoring him.

We should make mention of what Hagaon Harav Chaim Palagi writes in his Sefer Tochachat Chaim: "I have heard from some empty and reckless people who do not fulfill the Mitzvah of honoring their parents hide behind the nonsensical that this Mitzvah was said only regarding parents who are flexible and show love to their children but not regarding parents who are exacting, meddling, quarrelsome, and over-burdening. All these claims are baseless, for if so, the Torah would never have had to warn us about the Mitzvah of honoring one's parents, for since they brought him into the world, fed him, and clothed him until he grew up, one must be grateful and honor them all one's life, even if they seem like foreign people because of the goodness that they bestowed upon him in his youth. Our Sages have already taught that if one is ungrateful to one's fellow, it is tantamount to being ungrateful to Hashem. Perforce, the Torah meant to teach us that even if one's parents are difficult and demanding people with bad character traits, even so, one must honor and revere them and one may certainly not aggravate or distress them."

This means that were the Mitzvah of honoring one's parents to be applicable only to good and loving parents, the Torah's commandment to honor one's parents would be almost superfluous since we are, in any case, obligated to behave with gratitude to anyone that has done good to us. Certainly then, the Torah's warning to honor one's parents is primarily directed towards parents who do not treat their children properly and in spite of this, their children must still treat their parents with honor and reverence.

In the laws of Yom Kippur, we have mentioned the words of great Sephardic Poskim, among them Maran zt"l, that anyone who is G-d-fearing must approach his parents on Erev Yom Kippur, kiss their hands, and beg their forgiveness for showing them a lack of respect throughout the year. Rabbeinu Yosef Haim writes that every person is obligated to do this and anyone who does not do so is considered a sinner and one who treats the honor of his parents disparagingly, for if regarding regular sins between man and his fellow one is obligated to ask his friend for forgiveness before Yom Kippur, how much more so is this true regarding one's parents since it is almost impossible not to transgress this sin every day of the year.

Maran zt"l writes that it is appropriate for any son who is intelligent to capitalize on these precious Mitzvot of honoring one's parents to the best of his ability, to gladden their hearts, and to do whatever they wish and request. Hashem shall reward him, measure for measure, in that he will also merit having worthy children who will gladden him with their wisdom and their Torah. Even if they absolve the son from honoring them, the Sefer Chassidim writes that even if a father absolves his son from honoring him, the son is absolved from doing so only according the laws of man; according to Heavenly law, however, the son is still obligated. Similarly, the Radbaz writes that even when a father absolves his son from honoring him, if the son nevertheless honors the father, he still fulfills a Torah commandment.

We have seen several elderly people, who, in their youth, excelled in the Mitzvah of honoring their parents and even allowed their elderly parents to live in their homes and in the merit of this tremendous Mitzvah, they merited longevity for themselves. Even their children led long and healthy lives and they too were able to honor their parents every single day. This issue of taking care of one's elderly parents is a great merit for anyone as it incorporates a priceless Torah commandment, the opportunity to refine one's character traits, and exposing one's children to several invaluable Mitzvot, all at once. This also constitutes the Mitzvot of Tzedakah and performing acts of loving-kindness. There is certainly boundless reward in store for those who avail themselves of this precious Mitzvah.

Indeed, our Sages taught in Masechet Yoma (86a): "When one studies the written and oral Torah, serves Torah scholars, and conducts himself pleasantly with people, what do people say about him? Fortunate is his father who has taught him Torah! Fortunate is his rabbi who has taught him Torah! See how worthy are the deeds of so-and-so who has learned Torah! About him does the verse say, 'Israel, through whom I am glorified.'" All this serves to add to the honor and spiritual gratification of the parents.


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.  

February 1-3 - Shabbat with Rabbi Aharon Raccah 
February 2nd - FINAL  Personalities in the Bible Shiur
February 12th - Rabbi Kalman Worch Series
February 22-23 - Annual Melaveh Malkah Weekend
Community Section

 
ATT Asher Essay and Judaica Artwork Contest 
 
Tanielle Miller Foundation Lecture 
For a printable version of this flyer click here

 
Life Unexpected 5th Annual Women's Symposium  
 
 
Maot Chitim is proud to tell you about another Volunteer Opportunity

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 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... 
 
All food served is Kosher and prepared in a supervised kitchen.

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