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Hi Friends and Family, this week's Parsha is Noach. During Noachs lifetime the entire world acted in a corrupt manner. Where stealing, robbing, kidnapping, was ...normal and accepted. Society was so corrupted, that G-d brought a flood to cleanse and restart the world. Yet the Torah tells us that Noach was a righteous man. The Torah testifies that Noach was not only a good person, but a righteous one. He was a role model in a society that did not appreciate or emulate him. However, although his society did not follow him, we can learn that regardless of where we happen to be, and of the circumstances we may be thrust into, whether easy or tough, we could and therefore should emulate him and serve as a role model. We should not bow to peer pressure, rather, we should try like Noach did, to influence the world to make it a better place. The question arises, where did Noach obtain the fortitude and strength, alone in his beliefs in G-d, with no support system, stand on his convictions? How can we assure ourselves in similar circumstances, to be influencers and role models and not the one being influenced? Noach prepared his Ark to protect his family from the oncoming torrential rains and flood. As every detail in Torah is relevant, what are these flood waters currently? According to Kabbalah, these strong waters represent problems. The flood waters from heaven represent spiritual problems, or the waters rising from the depths of the earth represent physical and material problems and pressures. Dealing with and withstanding life’s daily grind. G-d instructed Noach to enter the Teivah, the Ark, when the waters begin to rain from heaven and surge from the earth. The word Teivah in Hebrew also means The Word. G-d instructed us, the antidote to ones problems, the protection a person requires, is by entering into the world and words of Torah and Prayer. For when one studies Torah, he or she connects to G-d and His infinite powers. This will help one withstand the challenges and obstacles in life. For when one is connected with G-d, one connects with infinity. And these infinite powers are greater than any finite obstacle. Even during a pandemic, when things are not going as expected, upon entering the Teiva, the words of G-d, it gives one a new perspective of life. It helps us appreciate what we have, and not what we don't have. As my friend Dan has mentioned on numerous occasions, Rabbi Mendy do you know the job of a Rabbi? When you come to my office to wrap Tefillin, be sure that is at the most inconvenient and inopportune time. I am either in a meeting, or in a big rush to go somewhere. However, because I love it, I never refuse. For putting on Tefillin, doing a Mitzvah, helps me prioritize what is primary in life, and the rest is secondary. It helps me retain focus and keep perspective that Judaism, G-d, and family are the most important things in our life, and I should not let my daily grind consume and distract me. It also shows my family, what our priorities should be. We need to appreciate what we have, and not take anything for granted. As we have learned from the era of the flood, the world was there one day, and not there the next day. Interestingly enough, the dimension of the ark was 300 X 50 X 30 cubit feet. Which in Hebrew is the numerical letters of , which are the letters for the word Lashon, speech. G-d is hinting to us, to save ourselves from negative actions and influences, be careful how we speak. We should speak words of Torah and prayer, and you should find and speak about the positivity (or the potential positivity) of the people around us. As the Kabbala says, The way people act towards others, G-d acts to them. So if we focus on the positivity in others, G-d will look only for the positivity in us. And as we unite with G-d in Torah and Prayer, may he give us the strength to withstand the turbulence within us and around us. May G-d continue to grant us health, life, wealth, in abundance, and may we all together merit to see a world at true peace, with the coming of Moshiach. Shabbat Shalom Mendy

Hi Friends and Family, This week, again we begin reading the Torah from its beginning. This week's Parsha is called Breishis (in the beginning), we learn about ...the creation of the world ex nihilo, about the first family, Adam and Eve We learn about their children, Cain (and his twin sister) and Abel (and his two sisters born with him). One spring day (On the 14 of Nissan, which years later would be the Eve of Passover), Adam tells his two sons, our descendents (the Jewish Nation) will celebrate this day and bring The Paschal sacrifice to G-d. To honor that, Adam suggested that his children do something similar. Cain being a Farmer brought inferior flaxseed, and Abel being the Shepherd, brought his best sheep. G-d was pleased with Abel's sacrifice, but not with Cain's. This offended Cain terribly and it led him to murder his brother. Upon reflection, it is understandable why G-d accepted Abel's offering, and ignored Cain's. Abel offered his best, while Cain offered something inferior. Firstly, even from his produce he did not offer the most superior grain, wheat, secondly, his quality of flaxseed was inferior. As such, why was Cain jealous and upset that G-d ignored his offering, and accepted his brother's? Our (chasidic) Rabbi's teach us that the source of Cain’s soul was from an incredibly high and lofty level, infinitely higher than Abel’s. Consequently, he did not perceive the physical world as having any value. In Cain’s worldview, there was Gdliness and nothing else, The physical world and its particulars were irrelevant. Therefore, when he brought an offering to Gd, he purposely chose flax, because flax represents oneness. As the Gemara explains, only one stalk grows from each flaxseed. (That is why on Yom Kippur the Kohen Gadol wore clothing made out of (flax) linen). Since in Cain worldview, the world as we know it was irrelevant, it followed that there is no differentiation between good and bad flax. In his understanding all things physical are equal, there is no better or worse. Everything was simply G-dliness. In G-dliness, there exists only one G-d, there is no first and second, the concept of better and worse, does not exist. Therefore he did not understand the importance of bringing the best quality of flax. Conversely, Abel offered a sacrifice of sheep. Although the most superior animal sacrifice is from cattle, Abel's sheep sacrifice was fully accepted by G-d. For, Abel's intent was, G-d does not measure what species are sacrificed to Him, however, whatever a person brings should be of the best quality. G-d understands that in a physical world there is better and worse, And we must bring the best we can. Everyone relates to Him in different ways and levels. Some may be qualitative and some may be quantitative. Some people are more affluent and could do more, while others are more limited. Abel was teaching us, G-d cares about what we bring, we should bring our best, with our best effort. This was the offering that G-d accepted. This also explains why Cain killed Abel. When a person does not live in reality, and does not attempt to improve and elevate oneself. Consequently, when a character issue arises, rather than accepting that his chosen path may have been wrong, and his brother's path may have been right. His jealousy can arise and lead him astray, until eventually he may kill his brother. He has lost control of his emotions, and he may act in a totally irrational manner. Later in life, Cain learned from his mistakes, by not allowing his past mistakes define him for eternity. Cain decided to rededicate himself to humanity. He had children and built cities, which he called Chanoch. Chanoch in hebrew means education, he decided to give life, teach, and help the next generation. (I recently heard a story, after a terrorist killed five people in Israel, a fertility doctor went to his rabbi and told him that he (the dr) would sponsor five children. I will cover the cost and help parents that can't have children, to have children. A new life for a murdered life). Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Mendy

Simchat Torah 2020

Join us tonight! RSVP Here https://www.chabadofmarinadelrey.com//Movie-Night-in-the-S https://youtu.be/AO9r_FjYhfY Movie Night in our Sukkah or in your own (thru Zoom link sent via email).... on Hoshana Rabbah. Tonight Thursday night 10.8.2020 7:00 pm Please RSVP for In Person or Zoom. Social distanced seating and masks are required. See more

Movie Night in the Sukkah (or anywhere you want via Zoom) RSVP for Link https://www.chabadofmarinadelrey.com//Movie-Night-in-the-S

Sukkot Schedule at Chabad Friday Oct. 2 Light Candles 6:18pm... Evening Services 6:30pm Followed By Kiddush & Refreshments In The Sukkah Saturday Oct. 3 Morning Services 10:00am Followed By Kiddush & Refreshments In The Sukkah Light Candles After 7:11pm Evening Services 7:15 pm Followed By Kiddush & Refreshments In The Sukkah Sunday Oct. 4 Morning Services and Shaking Lulav & Etrog 10:00am Join us for shaking Lulav and Etrog anytime between 10:00am to 1:00pm. Followed By Kiddush & Refreshments In The Sukkah Holiday Ends 7:10pm All services and Sukkah are in the backyard of Chabad and will follow Covid-19 protocols

First day to shake Lulav & Etrog this year is Sunday. See you!

Hi Friends and Family, Beginning Friday night and for the next seven days we celebrate the holiday of Sukkos. Commemorating when G-d took the Jews out of Egypt,... led them into the desert, and protected them from the desert elements, the sun, the heat and the snakes and scorpions, by surrounding them with clouds. On Sukkos we are given two special Mitzvot, the Mitzvah of Sukkah and the Mitzvah of Lulov. The Mitzvah Of Sukkah, is that we eat and spend time in the Sukkah. The other special mitzvah associated with Sukkos (except on Shabbos, as this year is the first day of Sukkos), is the Lulav and Esrog. We gather together Four Species, an Esrog, a Date palm branch, a myrtle and a willow, we bind them together, we make a special blessing and we shake them. Everything in the Torah is precise and includes a learning experience. So too, the four species that the Torah chose has a special lesson. Each entails within them a concept of unity. The Esrog. It has a good taste and a good smell. Taste represents learning Torah. Just as a person enjoys good tasting food, so too they can receive overall and intellectual enjoyment when learning Torah. But to truly enjoy fine food one needs to actually taste it, similarly only by actually studying Torah, can one truly enjoy it. Smell represents doing Mitzvos. Just as a fine smell can bring benefit to others, so too doing Mitzvahs can be beneficial to others. As the Esrog contains nice taste and smell, allegorically it represents a complete person. A person devoted to learning Torah and doing Mitzvahs. Additionally, the Esrog grows for an entire year, through all four seasons. It shows the ability to maintain itself under all circumstances. The Lulav (date palm branch). Dates have taste but not smell. This represents a person who applies himself primarily to studying Torah, and placing less emphasis on the performance of Mitzvahs. Additionally, each leave is folded whereas two leaves are truly united as one, and the top of the leaves can not be separated. The Myrtle. It has a fine fragrance but no taste. This represents a person whose primary focus is on Mitzvot and helping others, with less emphasis on learning Torah. Additionally, all three leaves on each level of the branch, grow from the same point, in unison. The Willow. Lack both smell and taste. It represents a person who is not dedicated to learning Torah or performing Mitzvot and good deeds. Additionally, it also has a characteristic of unity, as it grows in bunches in the water. The Torah teaches us, after Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur which expressed unity on their own, that on the Holiday of Sukkos, we again must gather all the various categories of Jews together and unite them. If any category or even an individual is excluded, we are not able to fulfill the mitzvah of Lulov and Esrog. We must be totally inclusive. Shake it. As we shake all four species bound together, we are reminded to also create an internal shake. That this coming together is not just symbolic, but an action defined by true unity. We realize that only when we are truly united are we truly complete. The Sukkah. It is preferable to make the blessing on the Lulov and Esrog in the Sukkah. We enter the Sukkah with our entire body, and we bring into the Sukkah the Lulov, Esrog, Myrtle and Willow, representing all Jews and we make the blessing there. This Mitzvah is unique as we perform it with our entire self. Unlike prayers which are said with our lips, or lighting shabbos candles which are performed with our hands, The Mitzvah of Sukkah requires and is done by the entire person. Complete Unity, joined by the unity resembled by the Four Species. May we merit to the time referenced in the Talmud, when all Jews will sit together unified in a single Unifying Sukkah. May G-d should speedily bring Moshiach and usher in the era of the final redemption, with the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Shabbat shalom and Happy Sukkos. Rabbi Mendy

Yom Kippur Schedule Sunday September 27th, 2020 Pre-Yom Kippur Yizkor Program 9:00 am ... Candle lighting 6:25 pm Fast begins 6:25 pm Evening Services 6:30 pm Monday September 28th, 2020 Morning Prayers 9:00 am Yizkor 12:00pm Mincha afternoon prayers 4:45 pm Neilah closing prayers 5:45 pm Fast Ends 7:18 pm Please RSVP Here https://www.chabadofmarinadelrey.com//Participation-in-ser Services will be held outdoors at the Chabad Jewish Community Center 2929 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292

Hi Friends and Family, This week's Parsha is Ha'azinu, which is normally read the Shabbos before Yom Kippur. We begin the Yom Kippur prayers with Kol Nidrei. I ...saw a very interesting lecture (by R' Benyomin Bitton from Vacouver), about the history of the Kol Nidrei prayer, which I will share with you. A common myth and misconception is that Kol Nidrei was composed during the Inquisition by or for the Marrano's in Spain. They would begin Yom Kippur services, that all the promises that we made to the Inquisition and the Church, that we are no longer practicing Judaism, all those promises are null and void. Now. on Yom Kippur we are starting with a clean slate. Our previous vows are null and void, and the only promises and vows that we have currently are to G-d. Hence the prayer of Kol Nidrei, a prayer annulling promises and vows. This may resonate to many, but it happens not to be true. The Marrano's and their plight may have given the context of Kol Nidrei more fervor and meaning, however the Kol Nidrei prayer was written centuries earlier than the 1400's. Its earliest mention is in the Zohar, which was written in the latter years of the Second Temple. It says that Yom Kippur corresponds to the world to come, and when one enters this new world on Yom Kippur, they say Kol Nidrei. The original text of Kol Nidrei was written, composed by the Men of the Great Assembly, around the year 350 BCE. This assembly included sages such as Daniel the prophet, Mordechai (from the story of Purim), and Ezra. around the year 350 BCE. As were most of the prayers that we say. According to tradition they composed the Kol Nidrei in Babylonia (Northern Iraq), hence it was written in Aramaic and not in Hebrew. The current text of Kol Nidrei was written by the Geonim between the years 589-1038. They debated, the vows that were being annulled, were they vows from the past or for vows in the future, from this Yom Kippur to the next Yom Kippur. Based on the differences, the wording and grammar of the prayer will be different, either in the past tense or future tense. As per the wording, it relates to our future promises. There were many Geonim, Sages who argued against saying this prayer on Yom Kippur. Primarily, as this is not the accepted procedure of annulling vows. Additionally, they argued that, annulling future vows, resolutions and commitments at the beginning of prayer, would make a mockery of the concept of commitment. However it was decided to say the Kol Nidrei, and to repeat it three times, to give it more meaning and emphasis. For in Judaism things that are repeated three times, have a sense of permanence, as per the concept of Chazakah. The number of Torah Scrolls taken out of the Holy Ark varies per custom and/or community. Some take out 1, 3 or 7, and some remove all the Torah Scrolls during Kol Nidrei. We say the Kol Nidrei holding the Torah Scrolls, for we are asking for G-d's assistance, and to partner with us when annulling our vows. Additionally, we begin Yom Kippur by asking for forgiveness from the Torah, in case we did not show it proper decorum and respect or live up to its values throughout the year. In the year 1240 the apostate and anti-semite Nicholas Donin complained to King Louis IX of France, that the Jews were rebelling against him and the government. As proof, he cited their saying Kol Nidrei, so all their vows to the government and to non-jews are null and void.This led to a great public debate, where R' Yechiel of Paris, along with three other prominent sages answered Donin charges. They explained that Kol Nidrei only annuls vows between the person and G-d. Such as, if one vowed to give more charity or do other special good deeds. It does not relate to vows and agreements between two people. Importance of Kol Nidrei According to the Talmud, when one does teshuvah (repentance) on Yom Kippur, it atones for all sins, except for the sin of one who obligated himself to do something positive and didn’t do it. For example, if one promised to give charity, Yom Kippur does not absolve and atone until the person fulfills his vow and actually gives the charity. However, there are or may be many promises and vows that we don't remember making. Therefore, as we enter Yom Kippur, a day on which we ask and are forgiven for all of our other sins, it is appropriate to first annul our vows and ask forgiveness for them, which Yom Kippur itself doesn’t do. On a deeper level, It says in Kabbalah, G-d's behavior mirrors and reciprocates the behavior of the Jewish people. And, just as we are annulling our vows, G-d annuls His bad vows as well. So at the beginning of Yom Kippur we implore G-d, if He vowed that Moshiach should not come this year, or that we will not have a good and healthy year please annul that. For your promises for good you have to keep, but your promises that are not good, could and should be annulled. May we all be written and inscribed in the book of Life, and may will all have an easy and healthy fast (Sunday night and Monday). Shabbat Shalom Mendy

Hi Friends and Family, First and foremost I want to wish you a Kesiva V'chasima Tova L'Shana Tova Umetuka, may you be written and inscribed for a healthy and h...appy sweet new year. The name of a person, place or thing not only describes it, it defines it. The name represents its essence. As such, one may ask, why is our new year called Rosh Hashana, which means the Head of the year, perhaps it should be called Techilas Hashana, which translates to the beginning of the year? In addition, when the Torah refers to Rosh Hashana, it says "In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there will be a Sabbath for you, (when you will recite verses that) recall (the binding of our Patriarch Yitzchok-Isaac, and that mention the) blowing (of the Shofar), a holy celebration. If Rosh Hashana is the beginning of the year, why is it in the seventh month, and not in the first month of the Jewish year? As compared to a secular calendar, The New Year, which is the first day of the year, is always in the first month, January. We call our new year Rosh Hashana, for a head has three special qualities 1) The head is far superior and higher than the rest of the body. Similarly the day of Rosh Hashana is greater than the other days of the year. It emanates from the energy created when we blow the Shofar and say the prayers as part of the Mussaf (this year we suffice with the prayers only on the first day - being on Shabat) to accept G-d as our King, and to be in total unification with Him. this is a level that we normally cannot attain. 2) The head contains and encompasses the life force that animates the rest of the body. So too, our Teshuva (repentance) on Rosh Hashana vitalizes all our good deeds for the past and upcoming year. 3) The head constantly monitors and directs the entire body. This is a higher level, where the head is actively involved and directs. How we behave on Rosh Hashana, our good resolutions we make, affects all that we do throughout the year. Rosh Hashana is the blueprint to having a good year. When building a house, one makes sure that the blueprints are perfect. For any flaw in the blueprints will create problems in the building. As such, by assuring on Rosh Hashanah our behavior, attitude, and commitment to do good on Rosh Hashana, we expect a year of the same positive behavior, attitude and commitment. The reason we celebrate Rosh Hashana during the seventh month, and we use a Shofar (an animal horn) (except when Rosh Hashanah is on Shabbot) to pronounce that G-d is our King. For seven represents nature, corresponding to the seven days of creation. G-d hints to us, to come closer and unify with him, praying in Shul is not enough, you have to bring G-dliness into everything you relate to. Into nature and into our daily life activities as well. We must conduct our business based on Torah principles and Ethics, by treating everyone fairly, honestly, with dignity and respect. The Shofar comes from an animal horn. This teaches us that we can and therefore should elevate our hardened animalistic instincts. We must channel the life force within us for positive and good. And where possible for eternal good, not for instant gratification and even more so, not for anything bad or evil. This may explain why the name Shofar , in Hebrew shares the same root as the word Shipur , which means improvement. We need to constantly endeavor to improve ourselves. G-d willing, by commitmenting to improve ourselves physically and spiritually on Rosh Hashana, we will become better people, and in turn, together we will make the world a better place. Likewise, may G-d reciprocate our commitment and efforts, and bless all us, with a year of Health, Wealth and Sustenance to us, our loved one, and the world at large. Ksiva V'chasima Tova L'Shana Tova Umetuka. May we all be written and inscribed for a Happy and healthy new year. Shabbat Shalom Mendy