Thursday^September 13,1990 — THE BULLETIN — 7
NITZAVIM — VAYELECH
By the Grace of G-d
2nd Day of Weekly Portion:
"You are standing firmly this
day;
all ofyou"(Deut. 29:9)
To the Sons and Daughters of bur People Israel, Everywhere — G-d blessyouall!
The Month of Elul, as is well known, is the month of honest self-assessment for the outgoing year, and, at the same time, the month of preparation for the new year — which is, clearly, also a purpose of the honest assessment: Not only to try to make good the deficiencies, but also to know, and to resolve with proper determination, what should be the daily conduct henceforth, which will make the coming year a good and sweet year spiritually, hence also a good and sweet year materially.
In the month of Elul itself, the 18th ("Chai") Elul comes as a special reminder, with encouragement and exhortation, in the said two aspects, self-assessment and preparation.
Its message is: With this day begin the last 12 days of the year; hence the self-searching must now be more intensive and embrace the months of the year — each day corresponding to the month, the start being Chai.Elul
Moreover, according to our Rebbes — Nessiim, the day of Chai EM must infuse vitality ("chai" - life) into all details of the Divine service in the entire month of Elul and in its two general aspects of assess-mejit and preparation. _
One may wonder what has "vitality" to do with such a thing as an honest assessment which deals with "hard" facts? But it has, and it is as follows:
There is the well known instruction that, just as one
must not torgei one's"Thurt=^ comings, in order to rectify them fully, so must one not forget one's good qualities, in order to utilize them in the fullest measure.
In order that this should be accomplished as behooves one —and in the greatest possible degree — the assessment must be done with real vitality.
An honest assessment of one's shortcomings might sometimes induce discouragement, or worse, despair. An honest evaluation of one's achievements might lead to complacency and to the conclusion that one has already attained a state of perfection.
However, the sign and effectiveness of vitality is in grow'th.and
Not the growth of a vegetable, which remains in the: same place (and situation), but of a living creature -moving from place to better place.
.^nd not only changing places, but also growing through personal change, changing one's nature, habits and entire being - from good to better and still better.
This is the true vitality of a Jew, who has been commanded to refine and change his character attribute.s.
The capacity to attain all
the above has been given to every Jew, or, using the quotation in the dateline above, to "all of you," from "/Ire heads of your tribes" to "the hewer of your wood and the drawer of your water."
For, the vitality of every Jew derives from, and is bound up with, the Source of Life, as is written. And you who are attached to G-d, your G-d, are all of you living this day —• hy virtue of your attach-ment to G-dliness, the Source of Life and vitality, through the Torah, Joras-Chayim, (Torahof Life) arid the Mitz-vos whereby Jews live.
Moreover, it is a matter of common experience tha't everything done with vivacity
REBBE —PagelS
Sellchot in Community
Local synagogues will observe the pre-RoshHashana period with^Selichot services and special activities beginning the night of Saturday Sept. 15. Phone congregations for times not submitted.
Beth Hamidrash Selichot begins Thurs., Sept. 13, 6:15 a.m., coiitinues all week.
Befh Israel services: Saturday, Sept. 15, 10:30 p.m., havdalah, followed by a summary of USY summer and refreshments.
Beth Tikvah services scheduled for Saturday Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
Eltz Chaim jserviceT^ar I a.m. Saturday, continuing 6:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.
Congregation Emanuel (Victoria) Sept. 15, study, socializing and a service beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Or Shalom Saturday, Sept. 15, 10:30 p.m.
SELICHOT - ^age 8
Beth Hamidrash Wed. Sept. 19, 6:15 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20, 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m._ XTashlich Q.E. Park, 5:30 p.m.); Fri. Sept. 21,8:30 a.m.
Beth Israel Wed. Sept 19, 6:30 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20, 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Tfls/i-iichQ.E. Park,4:30p.m.); Fri. Sept. 21, 8:30a.m.
^ : ♦ ■ ♦ - . Beth Tikvah Wed. Sept. 19,6:30 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20, 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Tashiich Minoru Park lake); Fri. Sept. 21,9 a.m.
♦■■*-■■* ■ ^ . Chabad-Lubavitch Wed. Sept. 19, 7 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Tfls/i-lich); FrL Sept. 21, 10 a.m.
♦ ♦ *■ ■ EitzChalm Wed. Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20, 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. {Tashiich^ Minoru Park 6 p.m.) Fri. Sept. 21, 8:30 a.m.
Emanuel Wed. Sept. 19, 8 p.m., Thurs. Sept. 20, 9 a.m. and 7:55 p.m. (Tashiich at beach along Dallas Rd. at steps near Cooke St. 5 p.m.) Fri. 9 a.m. and 6:53 p.m.
HarEI Wed. Sept. 19,6:30 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 20, 9:30 a.m. (Tashiich before services), Fri. Sept. 21, 9:30 a.m.
* -■♦..•«
Louis Brier Home Wed. Sept, 19, 6:35 p.m.; Thurs. and Fri. Sept. 20 and 21, 8:45 a.m.
Lubavitch of Surrey Wed. Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.; Thurs.
Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. {Tashiich S p.m. location . TEA) Fri. Sept. 21,10 a.m.
Or Shalom Services held at Talmud Torah auditorium. Wed. Sept. 19, 6:45 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20,9:30 a.m. and 7 njm. { Tashiich Q.E. 5 p.m.); FitrSept:21,9:30a.m.
Schara Tzedeck Wed. Sept. 19, 7 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20,8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Tashiich Q.E. Park 5:30). Fri., Sept. 21,8 a.m.
* ♦ ♦
Temple Sholom Wed. Sept. 19, 8 p.m.; Thurs. Sept. 20, 10 a.m., Fri. Sept. 21, 10 a.m.
PROPERTIES