Malkie and I were delighted by the friendship of so many people in the community that came to celebrate our son’s Upshernish with us this past Sunday. It is truly a joy to be surrounded by so many good people. On Monday we brought him to “cheder” – initiated him into his formal Jewish education, by bringing him to school wrapped in a talis where he read the Aleph-bet and verses from the Torah after licking honey off of them.
In 1984 the Rebbe instituted the practice of daily Rambam study. Today marks the conclusion of the 30th cycle of daily Rambam study. This morning we had a mini-Siyum (conclusion celebration) at Chabad House. On Sunday night there will be a Global Siyum HaRambam Celebration featuring renowned teachers and lecturers including Rabbi Manis Friedman and Rabbi Joshua Gordon. To participate go to www.chanadneworleans.com/siyum at 7 PM on Sunday night for a live broadcast. It promises to be a very enlightening event. Join us also on Sunday morning for our monthly Breakfast with Maimonides at 8:45 AM.
Purim is nearly upon us. Preparations for the Purim in the Wild Wild West are reaching frenzied proportions. The event, which features Sam Glaser in concert, will be held this Thursday, March 8 @ 5:30 PM at Chabad Metairie. For info or to register go to www.jewishlouisiana.com/1771645.
In other Purim news, Chabad Uptown, Chabad Metairie and Chabad Student Center will all be holding Megillah readings and Purim events throughout the night and day of Purim. Chabad Uptown’s Megillah Reading & Purim Bash kicks off at 6:30 PM on Wednesday. After the Megillah reading a party highlighted by a hi-tech interactive SMS based game will take place. Similar events will be held at the other centers as well. Here is a full Megillah reading schedule.
Wednesday, March 7
Chabad Uptown: 6:30 PM
Chabad Metairie: 6:30 PM
Chabad Student Center: 7:15 PM
Chabad Metairie 9:15 PM
Thursday, March 8
Chabad Uptown: 7:30 AM
Chabad Metairie: 8:00 AM
Chabad Student Center: 12:30 PM
Downtown @ NY Camera: 12:30 PM
Lambeth House: 3:00 PM
Chabad Metairie: 5:00 PM
Chabad Student Center: 5 PM
We wish a hearty Mazel Tov to Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Nemes upon their daughter Bracha’s engagement to Avremi Slaveticki.
Mazel Tov to Barry and Alyona Katz upon Simon’s Upshernish this Sunday.
Congratulations to Chabad @ Tulane for pulling off Shabbat 1000 – taking place tonight at the Riley Center on Tulane’s campus. For more info www.tulanechabad.org/487882.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin