Jewish Students of Los Angeles

TONIGHT! AMAZING CLASS WITH CHACHAM Rabbi Ariel Rav-Noy all about the holiest day of the year - Yom Kippur! At 8 p.m. 1441 S. Doheny Dr. Come get inspired, learn a lot, and meet your fellow Jews from the neighborhood! Light refreshments and Gmar Chatima Tova!

Special Torah class tomorrow night at our home - 1441 S. Doheny Dr. L.A. 90035. Come learn and get all inspired for Yom Kippur!

Today is Fall Equinox. That means that summer has just ended and today was the first day of Autumn. It's interesting that there are two equinoxes and two solstices every year. December 21 is winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere, aka the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. And in the southern hemisphere it's summer solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. And vice versa on June 21st. Summer solstice in the northern hemisphere a...nd winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. Then there is today - Fall equinox in the northern hemisphere and spring equinox in the south. And then we have March 21st - Spring equinox in the north and fall equinox in the south. On both equinoxes the day and night are both basically 12 hours each Everywhere in the world. Many years ago I was contemplating the fact that Rosh Hashana always falls around the Fall equinox. It it reminded me of the first verse of this past weeks Parsha that describes how the amazing Blessing from G-d for a sweet new year comes as a result of unconditional unity between Jews! Well its pretty amazing that this all takes place, where the entire world is united! Everywhere in the world the day and the night are the same length! See more

Several hundred years ago, in the town of Mezhibuzh, in the synagogue of the famous Baal Shem Tov OB"M, it was the eve of Rosh Hashana, and the entire congregation was waiting to recite the first prayer of the year - Ma'ariv. But the Baal Shem Tov showed no interest in praying. He just sat and casually read a book. The students were getting impatient. Some were getting hungry! No one could understand the behavior of the Baal Shem Tov! Finally after A HALF AN HOUR, the Baal Sh...em tov started praying! No one wanted to bother the holy Rebbe ON Rosh Hashana, but when the Holiday was over they begged an explanation for the delay in prayer, and the Baal Shem Tov explained: "There was a man who grew up here in town 50 years ago to a very righteous family. But sadly, as a young adult, he strayed from the religion and committed more sins than you can imagine. This year he decided to visit the town of his childhood and he was surprised to see all the Jews buying fish and apples and honey. So he asked a child what it's all about, to which the child responded - 'Are you serious? You don't know? Tonight is Rosh Hashana!' Suddenly everything came back to him! Yes Rosh Hashana! He decided to come to synagogue, and he actually joined us that night! When he came he realized that he had long forgotten how to pray, but he decided instead he would make one very long confession! And he started to enumerate every single sin he ever committed and asked G-d for forgiveness! "As soon as I sensed that, I realized that we have a problem." Continued the Baal Shem Tov. "The holiness and the angels produced by his confession were so great, that if I would start praying then my prayers would be so dwarfed by his Teshuvah that it would be embbaresing! I resolved not to start praying until he was finished! For the leader of the generation to start the year by looking so dwarfed, it would not be the best thing. Finally when he finished, I started praying, and partially with the inspiration of his prayer and his Teshuva!" Never underestimate the power of wholehearted and sincere Teshuva! See more

Anyone have an idea where we can borrow a Sefer Torah for High Holidays?

Stay tuned for the greatest High-Holiday services for the young crowd of Pico-Robertson! A full interactive service with an EXPERT cantor all the way from the holy land, filled with beautiful Torah insight! And of course Gourmet Holiday meals! What a way to start 5775!

Starting this week, our weekly Wednesday Torah Class, will from now on be taking place at the Rav-Noy residence!

Amazing Torah class tonight (Thursday) at Cpy 9022 W. Pico Blvd. 9 - 9:45 p.m.Come learn about the weekly Torah portion and get inspired!

The longest day of the year is around the corner...

The answer to the famous question about the uniqe experience that took place at the receiving of the Torah is, at it is known - that until then, Spirituality and phisicality never came together. They were completely polarized. By the receiving of the Torah, it says that, that which was above came down below and that which was below went up above. And Hashem said, "I will initiate" as it says, "And G-d went down on Mt. Sinai." The question is then asked, granted that which wa...s above went down below, but where do we see that that which was below ascended above? The Rebbe explaines that in fact, that has not occured yet, but rather the potential for it started by the receiving of the Torah. It is our job to continue that now! Every Mitzvah that we do Now, is bringing that which is below - above. And that is also the case with every thing that we do with the mundane in order to use it as a tool for holiness. Very soon our job will be complete as the prophet Isiah says, "And the glory of G-d will be revealed and all flesh will see for the mouth of G-d has spoken". With the coming of moshiach speedily in our days! See more

Thank you all the Amazing 60 plus Jews who joined us this Holiday! May you and your families be blessed!

Great Torah class tonight 8:30 p.m. at CPY 9022 W. Pico Blvd.