Click on image to hear Rabbi Weinstock's Shiur from this week.

LINK'S NEW ANNEX DEDICATED TO MARTY KATZ AND HIS "CHEVRA"

On Monday evening, March 31st, the LINK Kollel in Los Angeles dedicated its beautiful new Annex/Lounge in honor of a long -time friend and supporter, Mr. Marty Katz and his "Chevra." The Annex, which has a separate outside entrance/stairway, extends from the second floor of the building and contains a large multipurpose room. It houses LINK's women’s programming, which includes LINK Seminary for young women who are Yeshiva high school graduates ages 18-25, TLC which is an outreach learning program for not-yet-observant women ages 18-30, monthly women’s Mussar Vaadim led by Rabbi Geiger and Rebbetzin Brander's Navi Shiurim for adults. It is also a cozy space for YPLA (yeshiva program for  young men working or in college part-time) to host Thursday night Mishmar dinners and guest speakers, as well as a special ambiance to host event dinners/Sheva Brachos.  Its distinctive lighting and comfortable couches lend an informal aura to the space - hence, the title "lounge."

Mr. Katz or Marty, as he is universally known, is a successful businessman and long-time friend and supporter of the Kollel, dating back to 2005. Besides his own very generous philanthropy, he has facilitated the gifts of many of his friends who have become major benefactors of LINK. One of them in particular is Mr. Stephen Samuel, whose name is prominently displayed on the outside of LINK's new building, who not only oversaw parts of the construction, but donated much of its costs.

Marty is a true profile in courage, confined to a wheelchair for over 20 years, and battling an assortment of serious illnesses - including at this very moment. Marty has remained steadfast in his Emunah and in his Limud HaTorah. Indeed, his "Chevra" consist of those who come weekly to learn with him whether in his home, assisted living facility, or in the hospital and then take him out to dinner whenever feasible. His friends have been loyal in upholding his tremendous desire to learn Torah.

Many of the "Chevra" spoke at the dinner that officially named the new lounge in Marty's honor. There was one consistent theme in all of the talks:  Everyone who visits and/or learns with Marty comes away strengthened. As more than one speaker commented: We thought we were coming to give Chizuz, but we came away the main beneficiary of our encounter. Amongst the speakers was LINK's own Rabbi Daniel Weinstock, presently the Mashgiach Ruchani, who has been learning weekly with Marty for 20 years. Rabbi Asher Brander, Founder and Dean of LINK, officially unveiled the plaque renaming the annex as the "Chevra Lounge" and delineating the many ways in which Marty has given Chizuk to the Kollel as well as to the whole frum community. 

The dinner climaxed with Marty speaking very emotionally from his wheelchair. He thanked the community for all its Chesed to him, downplayed his role as a prime supporter of LINK and offered a fervent Tefillah to Hashem for recovery from the serious illness he is currently valiantly battling. The moving tribute ended with heartfelt singing and dancing as the "Chevra" danced around Marty and gave him hugs of affection and Brachos for Refuah Shleimah. The spirit of camaraderie that was manifested in that evening is mirrored by the Chevrashaft that takes place every day in the lounge as young men, and, separately, and young women, grow together to serve Hashem.

Nissan 1 / March 30, 2025

Sunday

Learning dedicated by

Russell and Nancy Cowan

In Yahrzeit Memory of Russell’s father –

Bernard Cowan, Beinish ben Shlomo HaCohen, A”H

&

In Yahrzeit Memory of Nancy’s cousin,

Naomi (Berger) Davidson – Naomi bas Max, A”H

1 Nissan / March 30-31, 2025

Saturday night-Sunday

Learning dedicated by

Dr. Ronnie and Cheryl Nagel

In Yahrzeit Memory of Ronnie’s grandfather

Avraham Abba ben Mordechai, A"H

3 Nissan / April 1, 2025

Tuesday

Learning dedicated by

Craig Taslitt

In Yahrzeit Memory of his mother

Dina bas Yehudah, A"H

4 Nissan / April 1-2, 2025

Tuesday Night-Wednesday

Learning dedicated by

Howard Reichman

In Yahrzeit Memory of his mother

Raizel Shoshana bas Aharon Yosef, A"H

6 Nissan / April 4, 2025

Friday

Learning dedicated by

Ben and Niva Taylor

In Yahrzeit Memory of Ben’s father

Dr. Sol Taylor

Zalmen ben David HaLevi, A”H

SHABBOS HAGADOL DRASHA

Although technically next Shabbos (Erev Pesach) is Shabbos HaGadol, the custom is that the Rav’s Shabbos HaGadol Drasha is given this Shabbos when Pesach begins on a Motzei Shabbos. The topic of the Drasah this year is “Dessert for Life?” and will be delivered by Rabbi Brander at 5:35pm this Shabbos afternoon following Mincha at 5:15pm (note earlier time). There will be childcare.

MAZEL TOV

Mazel Tov to the Oraysa Chevra who are making a Siyum on Maseches Megilah this Shabbos. Please join us for a beautiful Seudah Shlishis. A big Yasher Koach to the participants.

Max Friedman       Yaakov Fraser

Noam Gershov       Steven Golditch

Amir Goldstein      Joshua Horowitz

Simcha Pesach       R. Eli Woznica

BEIN HAZMANIM

The Kollel will be off for the Pesach Bein HaZmanim break beginning this Sunday. Classes will resume after Pesach on Wednesday night, April 23rd. The Daf Yomi and Amud Yomi classes will continue to meet during the break.

KIDDUSH LEVANA

We will perform Kiddush Levana for the month of Nissan this Motzei Shabbos. The latest time to do Kiddush Levana for this month will be this coming Thursday night.

RUSSEL COWAN IS SITTING SHIVA

Russel Cowan is sitting Shiva for his mother A”H. the last Shiva Minyan will be at 8:30am Sunday morning at his house, 1530 S Sherbourne, #6. He will be sitting on Friday until 4pm and again Motzei Shabbos until 10pm for those who have still not yet paid a Shiva visit.

COMMUNITY PESACH NOTES

There will be Kashering available this Sunday at YICC, 9317 W. Pico Blvd, from 12 to 2pm and at Bais Yehudah, 360 N. La Brea Ave, Sunday to Tuesday April 6-8 from 10am to 4pm (in the alley in the back). Also, there will be a communal Biyur (burning) Chametz this coming Friday morning in the parking lot of YULA girl’s school (Robertson and Key St) from 7 to 11am. Please only bring a K’Zayis worth of Chametz in a paper bag, not plastic.

PESACH TIMES/HALACHIC INSTRUCTIONS

All the special Pesach times and instructions (especially for the rare occurrence of Erev Pesach falling on a Shabbos) will be sent via email and WhatsApp in the next few days.

MECHIRAS CHAMETZ FORMS

The forms to sell ones Chametz to the non-Jew (trough the agency of the Rav) are available in the front lobby as well as online. It is also available electronically on the LINK website. It can be given to either Rabbis Brander, Lebhar, or Stern, but no later than 6pm, Thursday April 10th.

CHAMETZ-FREE ZONE

Beginning Wednesday morning at 9am, absolutely no Chametz should be brought into the building or eaten in the backyard. The shul will be completely cleaned for Pesach on Wednesday and only Kosher for Pesach items may be brought in to consume.

ARE YOU MISSING SEFARIM?

We have been cleaning up the Beis Medrash and the closet in the front lobby. If you are missing any sefari, please go upstairs and check on the table in the hallway to see if any of those Sefarim belong to you. In general, please do not leave any Sefarim that you are not currently using in the Beis Medrash or in any of the closets of the Shul. 

Friendly Reminders for Shabbos Morning Children’s Groups

1. Parent(s) MUST remain in the LINK building for the entire duration of the time that they leave their children at Shabbos Groups. 

2. For everyone's safety as well as for our congregants’ ability to be to daven with kavanah, please make sure that your child is either in their designated group or in the shul sanctuary supervised by you. We cannot have children roaming the hallways, or running in and out of the sanctuary, kitchen or classrooms.

3. As soon as davening ends, please go to your child's group and pick them up from the designated room.

The above rules will be strictly enforced

YOUTH SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Partner with the Youth Department to help make our exciting programs even more special by dedicating them in honor/memory of someone:

 Torah Tuesday & Thursday Learning program

 Shabbos Teen minyan

 Shabbos Groups

For more information on sponsoring any of these events email

office@linkla.org