Mexican Shabbat, Shofar Factory, and Torah Dedication

Hi,

There’s so much going on, I’ll just jump straight in.
But make sure to check out our new pictures at http://www.chabadusc.com/. There’s plenty more that have been added to www.chabadusc.com/august2006, a whole new page of pictures of the Hope for the Hungry event at www.chabadusc.com/hh01, and tons of pictures of Big Bear will be up online by tonight.

Also, let us know you’re joining us for the historic Torah Dedication Celebration at www.chabadusc.com/torah

1) Kabbalah and Kabob – 1st one tonight
2) Mexican Shabbat – Viva!
3) Parkside Discussion over Dinner
4) Weekly Stuff
5) Last Chance for Sinai Scholars
6) Jewish Art Forms – Shofar Factory
7) Save the Date: Bring your Honey Shabbat with special update from 2 Israeli soldiers
8) Save the Date: Torah Dedication Celebration
9) Heeb-brew Reading Course
10)Free Trips to Israel – Birthright
11) Announcements
12)Thought for the Week


1) Kabbalah and Kabob – 1st one tonight
Don’t miss the start of a new tradition. Once a month. On Tuesdays. (Alternating, of course, with the Food for Thought series.) BBQ. Kabobs. And Kabbalah. Free. 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Followed by the weekly Talmud and Tanya class.
First up: Tonight - Tuesday, September 12.
RSVP chabad@usc.edu or just show up!


2) Mexican Shabbat – Viva!
One of the favorite Shabbat menus of the year!Every couple of weeks we offer a special themed Shabbat, just to keep things interesting. This Friday night, please join us as we go south of the border for décor and cuisine (kosher, of course!) for a very special Mexican Shabbat. Chili, tacos, and much much more – in addition to all of the regular Shabbat favorites, like Challah and matzah ball soup!
If you’re of Mexican or South American Jewish heritage – this is your week to shine. Come help Runya prepare your favorite recipe, or just compare our homemade delicacies to your own memories. Viva Shabbat!

And just for the record, our Minyan worked again last week, as the Trojans slaughtered the Hogs (not so kosher, of course!) 50-14. That keep alive the streak of over 6 years running in which the USC Trojans have never lost a game on a Shabbat when we gathered the required quorum for Saturday morning services.
As you know, there’s no game this weekend. But that’s no reason not to come to Shul!

Friday, September 8
Candle Lighting: 6:52 pm
Services: 7:00 pm
Dinner: 8:00 pm

Saturday, September 9
Discussion: Reward and Punishment – 9:30 am (you judge whether the cholent is reward or punishment :-)
Morning Services: 10:15 am
Torah Reading: 11:15 am
Lunch: 12:45 pm

Shabbat ends: 7:47 pm


3) Parkside Discussion over Dinner
Do you have questions you wonder about Judaism but are shy to ask? Are you interested in learning more about Jewish heritage and tradition, but are intimidated by the idea of going to a service? Well, we’ve got just the thing for you…
Every Monday evening at 6:00 pm a couple of Jewish students gather around the dinner table at Parkside Cafeteria and discuss various Jewish topics of interest. Facilitated by Rabbi Dov, this is an open forum where no holds are barred and everything goes. There are no pre-determined topics, there are no texts. Show up with a question, and that’ll be our discussion topic for the evening.
Email Chava at frankiel@usc.edu for more info, or just show up at Parkside this Monday at 6:00. Look for the Jewish-looking people :-)


4) Weekly Stuff
Just a reminder about some of the regular, ongoing weekly events and learning opportunities:

Mondays:
7:00 am – Morning Minyan followed by breakfast @ Chabad House
12:00 pm – Lunch & Learn at the Dental School
6:00 pm – Discussion over Dinner @ Parkside

Tuesdays:
7:30 – 9:00 pm - Talmud and Tanya @ Chabad House

Thursdays:
7:00 am – Morning Minyan & breakfast @ Chabad House
12:15 pm – Pizza and Parsha on Trousdale

Saturdays:
9:30 am – Mystical Insights into the weekly Torah portion
Late afternoon – Study Session on Ethics of Our Fathers

Also, we’re in the process of reviving the lunch and learns at the Medical and Law schools. If you are interested in participating, please contact Rabbi Dov at chabad@usc.edu
Series Fliers:
Food for Thought Series – Jewish LAS one Tuesday each month
Jewish Art Forms one Wednesday each month
Helping Hands – Social Action one Wednesday each month


5) Last Chance for Sinai Scholars
Time and space running out:We are very proud to be one of the pilot campuses nationwide hosting the Sinai Scholars Society. This semester-long series of 8 classes tackles the Ten Commandments in depth, providing a fascinating look at the laws that form the basis of almost every legal system and culture, and contain the core building-blocks of Judaism. Qualified applicants who successfully complete program requirements will receive a stipend from the Rohr National Foundation ($500-). Very limited spots available. Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Full details at http://www.sinaischolars.com/. Inquire by contacting Julie at lindeen@usc.edu or Danya at dburakof@usc.edu


6) Jewish Art Forms – Shofar Factory
“Toot your own horn.” The first in yet another monthly series of events, the Traveling Shofar Factory is a returning favorite. Learn all there is to know about the “shofar” sounded on the High Holidays, and even get to make your own.
Part 1 of “Jewish Art Forms” – one Wednesday each month enjoy getting hands-on with a particular Jewish craft or art form. More info/flier at www.chabadusc.com/art.pdf
Kosher BBQ hot dogs and drinks for sale!

Wednesday, September 13. 12:00 – 1:30 pm. In Founders Park on campus.


7) Save the Date: Bring your Honey Shabbat with special update from 2 Israeli soldiers
It’s the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana and that means its time for “Bring your Honey” Shabbat.
Special extra desserts for anybody who brings someone along!

Friday, September 15.

Special guests: Hear the first-hand accounts of Danny and Shmulik, 2 Israeli soldiers who just returned from battle in Lebanon!
Hear about their close confrontations with Hezbollah, the emotions that they dealt with, the faith that they relied on, the ideals that inspired them and more.
For more information, click on www.mayanotisrael.com/soldiers
RSVP at runya@usc.edu


8) Save the Date: Torah Dedication Celebration
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006
Join the USC Jewish community for this historic event as we lovingly complete this painstakingly restored Torah scroll on USC’s campus, followed by a processional with music and dancing from the center of campus to the Torah’s new home in the Chabad House.
Completion Ceremony: 12:00pm • Processional from Tommy Trojan: 1:00pm
Dancing and catered lunch follow at the Chabad @ USC Jewish Student Center.
Invite your family, friends, and professors!
More info at www.chabadusc.com/torah

RSVP for lunch at usctorah@gmail.com


9) Heeb-brew Reading Course
Always wanted to be able to follow along in the synagogue? Want to be able to study Jewish texts in the Hebrew original? Or just curious what it says on that t-shirt you brought back from Israel?
If you want to learn to read Hebrew—easily, quickly, and accompanied by some delicious flavored coffee—this is the class for you. Runya’s years of experience in teaching translate into a most rewarding reading experience.
6 Wednesdays, 8:00 – 9:00 pm. Starting Wednesday, September 20.
Sign up now by emailing runya@usc.edu

10)Free Trips to Israel – Birthright
Registration opens on September 12 and is expected to be overbooked within days. You can have a most amazing completely free 10-day to Israel, as a gift from Birthright Israel and Mayanot. If you are between the ages of 18 and 26 and have never been on an organized peer trip to Israel before, this trip is for you. Pre-register now at http://www.israelexpress.org/ or contact Chava at frankiel@usc.edu for more details.


11) Announcements
First of all the Mazal Tovs:
Mazal Tov to Ari Wiener and Stella Rybakov on their wedding this Thursday night in New York.
Mazal Tov to Shelly Gabay on her wedding this coming Sunday night.

We’re so excited to be making it to both of them.

For all those of you who know Shelly, we’ll be hosting a “Sheva Brachot” for her and Moshe this Monday night at 6:30 pm at the Chabad House.

The Chabad Telethon will be this coming Sunday on Channel 9. Anybody interested in volunteering to help out (and getting to meet the stars) let me know and we’ll set you up.

High Holidays are around the corner. Info will be up on the website soon with full details of schedule and more.

Looking for some Jewish learning but can’t or don’t want to make it to a class. Learn at your own convenience on the phone – http://www.jnet.org/

If you haven’t yet, definitely sign up to buy a letter in a special Unity Torah being written by college students around the country. Just $1.00. http://www.unitytorah.com/


12)Thought for the Week
The Torah portion, Ki Tavo, begins with a detailed account of the mitzva of bikurim, "first fruits." The Jewish farmer was required to bring the select fruits of his crops to the Holy Temple to show his gratitude to G-d for the blessing of the land.

The Mitzvah of bikurim had various restrictions. It applied only in the Holy Land and only when the Temple was in existence. It was limited to one who owned the land. It was also restricted in its time of application, for the declaration of bikurim could only be made from Shavuot (late Spring) to Sukkot (Fall).

Yet the precept of the "first fruits," despite its seemingly narrow application, contains a broadly applicable lesson: We are to take from the "first of the fruits of the earth" and bring them to the Kohen - priest. We are to dedicate the best of our material matters to sanctity. As Maimonides writes: "When one gives food to the needy, he should give the best and most delectable of his table; with the best of his wardrobe should he clothe the naked, and when he builds a house of worship he should render it more beautiful than his own dwelling, as it is written "all the best...is to the Al-mighty."

The first-fruits were not burned on the altar, where their matter would be consumed and transformed into the spirituality of G-dliness. Rather the fruits were given to the Kohen to eat. In this fashion they were elevated and dedicated to a higher purpose. Similarly, our approach in life is not to "nullify" the material but to imbue it with sanctity while still remaining in its lowly material state.

One further point: the farmer is obligated to bring "...from the first of all the fruits of the earth, etc.," not all the fruits. The idea is not that the person should give away all the fruits of his labor to the sanctuary. Most of the fruits were to remain in his possession, including also some exceedingly good fruits, and only a small portion of them - the best - given to the Kohen. The underlying idea was for the first-fruits to be a representative portion of the whole harvest; the sanctity of the bikurim donation was to affect, to permeate and elevate all the fruits remaining, just as a donation of tzedaka - charity, brings an element of consecration or sanctity into all one's wealth. (Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)

Shabbat Shalom!


Rabbi Dov Wagner
Chabad Jewish Student Center @ USC
2713 Severance St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
http://www.chabadusc.com/
Chabad@usc.edu
213-748-5884
310-801-3142 – cell

“Your next act will change the world. Make it a good one!”