As the holiday month comes to an end, we must say that we still have the holiday buzz. The energy that charged JLA this month is beyond words, but we feel we must try and recap some of it. But first, thank you all for making these Holy Days the best yet.

Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur were packed, organized, and inspiring. Every chair was taken(and we ordered 50 more folding chairs. That means 150 total) and we were still short! A big thank you to the Cohanzad family for installing those much needed fans. We would not survive the heat without it.

The "HUGE!" thank you goes to Rabbi Yehudah Zavdi, our awesome Chazzan, for doing such a great job keeping the service entertaining, fun, and yes, short.

Sukkot began with a bang. Our Open Sukka Party at home attracted over 100 people.
And Simchat Torah - those who missed it, here is some advice for next year: DON'T!
We celebrated two nights of Hakafot. First night was a special kids' Hakafah, with a kids meal and great prizes and an abundance of little smiles. Second night was insane. We had a few hundred people dance until 1am. If you were not there...Words cannot describe it. We ran out of food, drinks, but never out of energy!

Thank you to Jacques and Jody Stambouli for donating all the wonderful prizes for the kids.

Thank you to Ester Atri for all the wonderful food. And thank you to the JLA staff for making it possible. Melissa Blatt, Yehudit Borbely, Jenny Hahn, Sara Crighton, Leah Shamouni, Shaina Shamaouni, Erin, David Rokah and Arnofo!

Thank you to Rabbi Michy Rav-Noy & his wife Miriam from the Friendship Circle who joined us for Simchat Torah. They added much life to the party, the singing, and the dancing. Thank you to Nathan Halevy for all the Torah readings. Even when his voice was gone, he still sounded great.

And a Thank you to our kids Avremy, Shiffy, Chana & Gitty, for being such troopers and partnering with us this amazing month..

May we all take the positive energy from this month to the rest of the year, and may we all know only goodness and peace.

Sincerely,

Eyal & Tzippy Rav-Noy
JLA

The Rebbe, Binjamin Netanyahu & the UN

The 9th of Av

Jews love the holidays, but every once in a while we commemorate a tragedy. This coming week is the 9th of Av, Tisha Be'Av, marking the worst day in the Jewish calendar. Lot's of bad stuff seems to happen to us on this day. But, as the Rabbis point out, Mashiach was born on that day as well. Out of the depth of despair, hope can emerge.
May we only know happy and good times.

My Week With the Girls

Tzippy has been out of town this whole week. The girls (Shiffi, Chana, Gitty) and I chilled out this week. To be honest, nothing memorable happened save one. During breakfast, Gitty reminded us all:

"Tatty, we really DO miss mommy. But we don't cry because we are not babies anymore."

Pretty good for a four year old.

Come this Shabbos and let's hear the stories and lessons 8 of our women have learnt in Minn. I can't wait myself to hear them.

A big Yasher Koach (more power to you) to:

Tzippy Rav-Noy
Melissa Blatt
Brigitte Rossi
Lisa Ansell
Diana Cohanzad
Antonia Bennett
Gishe Chodorow
Samantha Barnett

Things Happening

2 quick thoughts. Avremy, went to camp for a month in Montreal. Wow. Hope he comes back in one piece. But this is good ... build some character.

On the other hand, Tzippy is leaving to Minnesota for a few days with 8 JLA women. They will be learning full time in a great program. We at JLA believe that women must study Torah just as much as men do. I hope they all have a great experience and a good time. If you are interested in joining a future trip, let us know. Here is a link to the details. Click Here.

The Hebrew Reading Crash Course

For over 10 years I have been teaching people how to read Hebrew. It is one of the easiest language in the world to read, and learn. Over the years I have researched and dug up interesting information about the Hebrew alphabet. Did you know that the first nine letters describe things in or around the home:

Alef –– Ox (Phoenician) General, Teach (Hebrew)

Bet –– House

Gimel –– Camel

Dalet –– Door

Heh –– Window

Vav –– Hook

Zayin –– Weapon

Chet –– Wall (Phoenician)

Tet –– Mortar

I have discovered interesting things about the rest of the letters as well.

I usually teach Hebrew three times a year (Fall, Winter, Spring).

But many have asked us to run a summer Hebrew course so they will be able to pray this coming High Holidays from the original. So starting next Wednesday we begin the five-week course.

To register, click here.

The Rebbe

I try to keep this blog postings short and simple (but never
simplistic). This week is no different, although the subject is heavy
and serious.

This week we commemorate the Rebbe's 15th yartzait (the Lubavitcher
Rebbe's passing). People were worried what would be with Chabad, but
after 15 years the answer is in: Chabad is growing faster than ever,
sending out more Shluchim and Shluchot (young Chabad couples) to more
places and farther locations. These Chabad organizations are fueled
and motivated by the Rebbe's unique teachings. I would like to
summarize them for you, you will immediately recognize them (because
they are practiced in JLA on a regular basis):

1. Every Mitzvah is Important: The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the
Chassidic movement, once said that a soul can come down here for 70-80
years just to do one favor to another. In other words, every action
counts. That is why Chabad rabbis don't try to change people and make
them into clones that look like us. That is not the point. The point
is to get someone to do just one more Mitzvah.

2. Every Jew is Precious: A Jew is Jew, and we can't lose a single
one. No matter who they think they are, how little they know, what
they look like, and how they dress, every Jew is welcomed at Chabad.

3. Never Bend the Rules: The Torah is truth, the mind of G-d, and
therefore should not be bent, changed, or dropped depending on the
circumstance. It is our job to encourage people to get closer to the
Torah, not to water the Torah down so people will accept it on their
own term.

It is these three simple secrets that explain the phenomenal success
of Chabad. The message is clear: Every Mitzvah counts, every Jew is
important, and the Torah is true, alive, and real.

May we continue to grow and expand until every Jew finds a way to
connect to G-d and Judaism.

--
Eyal Rav-Noy
JLA (Chabad)
(310) 282-8286
9581 W. Pico Blvd.
www.JLAonline.org
www.jlaonline.blogspot.com/
www.KreativeKidsLA.org