News

Rabbi Shalom Hammer, a Chaplain for the Israeli Defense Forces, will the scholar-in-residence this Shabbat, January 28, at Congregation Young Israel of Tucson.

Originally from Monsey, NY, Shalom and his wife, Gabi, made Aliyah to Israel in 1990 where he served under the Israeli Rabbinate branch of the IDF.

Hammer received his Smicha rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University as well as a BA in Speech and Communications and a MA in Education from Azrieli Graduate School.

He served as the Rabbi of Temple Beth Jacob in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently a motivational speaker for the IDF Rabbinate. Among the books he authored are "The Family Parsha Book," "The Eybeshitz Haggadah: Experiencing Redemption," and "The Family Rashi Book."

His visit is co-sponsored by Chabad of Tucson as part of the 2012 Guest Lecture Series.

Services on January 28 will begin at 9:30am. Rabbi Hammer will be giving the sermon after Torah reading.

The Junior Minyan and children's program will begin at 10:45pm.

The weekly "special kiddush" in the Amster Auditorium will be expended for a full sit down meal donated by Willie and Marta Kats in honor of the birth of their grandson.

At the meal, Rabbi Hammer will deliver a talk titled "Where Are We Fighting For." He will share inspiring ideas which he imparts to motivate combat troops and speak on how promoting communal values secures the future of the land of Israel.

Photo by Motorrad-67 

By all accounts, author and Jewish mysticism scholar Rabbi Shais Taub's lecture in Tucson was penetrating and far reaching - so much so that it ended up influencing a court order.

Titled "Take Control of Your Life," Taub argued on Sunday, January 15, at the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, that accomplishing life's goals is interconnected with believing that "your life is like your movie produced by G-d."

"It is often difficult for us to distinguish between what we need and what we want," he said. "However, we can distinguish between what we need and what we are needed for and then go towards where our goal lays."

Taub, who blogs at the Huffington Post, said: "There are three things that you cannot change in life - the past, the truth and the other person."

Those words echoed in the mind of attorney Harriette P. Levitt when she was in court on Monday on behalf of a client who had been sentenced to 7 years in prison.

"The court had agreed to resentence him," says Levitt who has over 35 years of experience bankruptcy litigation and is a member of the Board of Directors of Congregation Young Israel of Tucson.

"As I discussed how my client had made monumental efforts to rehabilitate himself, I told the judge, "He can't change the past, he can't change the truth, but he can change himself, and he has."

The judge ordered her client released from prison, and placed him on probation.

"Turns out Rabbi Taub's speech was not only inspirational, but also practical," Levitt concluded, noting she will be looking out for more talks as part of Chabad of Tucson's 2012 Lecture Series.

Anna Greenberg, Community Relationship Manager at American Cancer Society who has been involved with Chabad of Tucson, has reported some sad news this week. We decided to hold a prayer in her merit. 

A few months ago, Rabbi Yossie Shemtov has shared the news about the brave fight Anna was putting up against a malignant tumor in her thigh and about the community's hopes and prayers ahead of her surgery.

In that email, he pointed out how he and Mrs. Chanie Shemtov have known Anna from when she was a baby hanging on her mother's back at Chabad of Tucson's first Model Matzah Bakery. As a child, she attended many of the children's programs, including the Gan Izzy Day Camp, and stood out for her cheerfulness.

This week, the community was deeply saddened to read Anna's Facebook post on Tuesday, January 10 at 5:06 PM: "Life changes in the second of a phone call. My cancer has spread to my lungs."

After speaking with her father Bruce Greenberg, Rabbi Shemtov decided to dedicate the first lecture of Chabad of Tucson's 2012 series to her merit for a speedy and full recovery.

A special prayer for Anna will be made on Sunday, January 15, 7:00 PM at the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort in Tucson. Chapters from the Book of Psalms (Tehillim) will be recited and the rabbi will be making a Mi Sheberach.

"Anna's birthday is on the joyous holiday of Purim, a celebration of bad turned into good, and so may her birthday this year indeed be a positive conclusion to the challenges she is facing," said Rabbi Shemtov, Regional Director of Chabad of Tucson.

Anna's resolve and aspiring drive will be reflected in the talk of the guest speaker, Rabbi Shais Taub, a scholar and author known in the recovery community for his innovative approach. He will be focusing on "spiritual tools for better living" and how to overcome challenges in life.

Proceeds from contributions will be given to Anna Greenberg's cause.

EVENT INFO

DATE: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road, Tucson, AZ 85718 (map) Tel. 520-299-1501

CONTACT: 520-881-7956 or email [email protected]

Did you ever wish you had a helping hand while preparing the Shabbat meal? Chabad of Tucson Women's Circle is offering that opportunity with Dinner's Done.

Led by Mrs. Chanie Shemtov and Mrs. Feigie Ceitlin, participants will get to prepare a delicious Shabbat meal for four people or more.

Challah, gefilte fish, salad dressing, a side dish and even dessert will be made together, with step-by-step instructions. The food will then be brought home to be baked, fried, cooked and presented.

Participants of this innovating cooking event will receive a shopping list, activities for the kitchen and a to-do list to make your Shabbat preparation seamless, enjoyable, tasty and easy.

EVENT INFO

DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719

COST: $45 (includes a meal for 4). Advance payment: $36. Additional purchase: 1 quart chicken soup + 4 matza balls - $8. 4 portions and kosher chicken bottoms $8.

RSVP: Email [email protected]

Chabad of Tucson is launching its 2012 Lecture Series with Rabbi Shais Taub, a scholar, author and blogger of Jewish mysticism, on Sunday, January 15, 7:00 PM at the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort.

Taub was dubbed "an expert in Jewish mysticism and the 12 Steps" by National Public Radio for his innovative approch to addiction recovery. Publishers Weekly praised his bestseller "God of Our Understanding" as a "singular resource for those in need."

He is the author of several important works on Tanya, the basic text of Chassidic philosophy, including the Map of Tanya and the Soul Maps course of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.

After the death of British singer Amy Winehouse, Taub urged addicts and their families to "let Amy's example not be in vain" and spoke about the inevitability of addiction leading to death barring some form of spiritual help.

Taub's lecture in Tucson is titled "Emotional Sobriety - Spiritual Tools for Living Better."

But the The Huffington Post blogger points out that not all addicts are hooked on drugs or alcohol.

"Did you know that it's possible to become addicted to our own emotions?" he says. "My talk will be based on Kabbalah and my work with addicts around the country on how to detoxify from negative feelings and relationships."

Taub currently directs Conscious Contact, a program providing meetings for Jewish prayer, meditation and study at the Aleph Institute NE in Pittsburgh where he now lives with his wife and children.

EVENT INFO

DATE: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012

TIME: 7:00 PM

LOCATION: 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road, Tucson, AZ 85718 (map) Tel. 520-299-1501

ADMISSION: $18 at the door (or $15 in advance) 

CONTACT: 520-881-7956 or email [email protected]