Friday, July 18, 2025

Fwd: Cheder Lubavitch Weekly Message


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf <rabbiwolf@clhds.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 10:13 AM
Subject: Cheder Lubavitch Weekly Message
To: agentemes4@gmail.com <agentemes4@gmail.com>


ב"ה

Seymour J. Abrams

Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School

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Candle Lighting Times for
Skokie:
Friday, Jul. 18
8:03 pm

Message from the Dean

We're now in a period on the Jewish calendar called the Three Weeks, marking the time between two ancient tragedies—the breaching of Jerusalem's walls and the destruction of the Holy Temple. But these weeks aren't just about remembering history. They're about asking why it happened and what we can do today to bring healing.

The rabbis taught that the second Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred among Jews. And so, the way to rebuild is through baseless love—choosing kindness, unity, and mutual respect even when we disagree.

This week's Torah portion tells of a man, Pinchas, who stood up when others were silent, and the Torah emphasizes that as reward he received "a covenant of peace." The message is clear: real courage leads to healing, not division.

In today's world, standing up for each other, caring for fellow Jews across the spectrum—religious or secular, left or right—is how we rebuild what was lost. Every act of compassion brings us one step closer to a better world.

We're also taught to use this time to pray for Moshiach; not just a figure, but a vision of a time when there's peace, unity, and purpose for all humanity. That future isn't a fantasy, it begins with us.

Let's make these Three Weeks not just a time of sadness, but a time of change, healing, and hope.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf


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Parshah in a Nutshell


Parshat Pinchas

The name of the Parshah, "Pinchas," refers to Phineas, who zealously avenged G-d's name, and it is found in Numbers 25:11.

Aaron's grandson Pinchas is rewarded for his act of zealotry in killing the Simeonite prince Zimri and the Midianite princess who was his paramour: G‑d grants him a covenant of peace and the priesthood.

A census of the people counts 601,730 men between the ages of twenty and sixty. Moses is instructed on how the Land is to be divided by lottery among the tribes and families of Israel. The five daughters of Tzelafchad petition Moses that they be granted the portion of the land belonging to their father, who died without sons; G‑d accepts their claim and incorporates it into the Torah's laws of inheritance.

Moses empowers Joshua to succeed him and lead the people into the Land of Israel.

The Parshah concludes with a detailed list of the daily offerings, and the additional offerings brought on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh (first of the month), and the festivals of Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret.

Learn: Pinchas in Depth
Browse: Pinchas Parshah Columnists
Prep: Devar Torah Q&A for Pinchas
Read: Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play: Pinchas Parshah Quiz

 

 

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