Newsletter

Shalom!

We are making history in San Diego once again! Soft Matzah is coming back to town!

The History
Every year we reach the famous words in the "Korech" section of the Haggadah:

"In memory of the Temple according to Hillel. This is what Hillel would do when the Temple existed: He would wrap the Matzah and Marror and eat them together, in order to fulfill what is stated, (Exodus 12:15): "You should eat it upon Matzot and Marrorim."

How do you wrap a thin, crunchy cracker? You can't!

So how did Hillel do it? He ate soft Matzah, which is the original form of unleavened bread that our forefathers and mothers ate. The best part is that this Matzah is Kasher for Pesach for both Sepharadim and Ashkenazim!

The News
We have once again secured a shipment of special Shemurah Matzah flour, and are setting up a Matzah bakery on Sunday, March 31st - and are asking you for help to make it happen!

A number of families have already joined us in donating $100 or $180 to the Matzah effort, and - aside from the tremendous Mitzvah of sponsoring this effort - will receive fresh Matzot for their Seder!

Want To Join?
We are reaching out to offer you this tremendous opportunity - do you want to sponsor $100 or $180 and make history?

Please let me know as soon as you can by responding to this email and/or clicking the link above!

Also, please respond to this email or use the form in the link above to let me know if you will be able to help us volunteer at the bakery on baking day!

Wishing you a holiday of true freedom - and soft Matzah!

Rabbi Yonatan Y. Halevy

PS At this point in time, we will not be selling Matzah - it will be reserved for our sponsors only for pickup, and for use at Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim communal meals.

PPS  If you wish to join in the baking process at our Matzah bakery, you are asked to please attend a mandatory seminar at Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim on Thursday night, March 28th at 7:00pm to study all the relevant laws and customs of this fascinating process. 

Shalom!

We are making history in San Diego once again! Soft Matzah is coming back to town!

The History
Every year we reach the famous words in the "Korech" section of the Haggadah:

"In memory of the Temple according to Hillel. This is what Hillel would do when the Temple existed: He would wrap the Matzah and Marror and eat them together, in order to fulfill what is stated, (Exodus 12:15): "You should eat it upon Matzot and Marrorim."

How do you wrap a thin, crunchy cracker? You can't!

So how did Hillel do it? He ate soft Matzah, which is the original form of unleavened bread that our forefathers and mothers ate. The best part is that this Matzah is Kasher for Pesach for both Sepharadim and Ashkenazim!

The News
We have once again secured a shipment of special Shemurah Matzah flour, and are setting up a Matzah bakery on Sunday, March 31st - and are asking you for help to make it happen!

A number of families have already joined us in donating $100 or $180 to the Matzah effort, and - aside from the tremendous Mitzvah of sponsoring this effort - will receive fresh Matzot for their Seder!

Want To Join?
We are reaching out to offer you this tremendous opportunity - do you want to sponsor $100 or $180 and make history?

Please let me know as soon as you can by responding to this email and/or clicking the link above!

Also, please respond to this email or use the form in the link above to let me know if you will be able to help us volunteer at the bakery on baking day!

Wishing you a holiday of true freedom - and soft Matzah!

Rabbi Yonatan Y. Halevy

PS At this point in time, we will not be selling Matzah - it will be reserved for our sponsors only for pickup, and for use at Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim communal meals.

PPS  If you wish to join in the baking process at our Matzah bakery, you are asked to please attend a mandatory seminar at Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim on Thursday night, March 28th at 7:00pm to study all the relevant laws and customs of this fascinating process. 

Watch the Shiviti Night Kollel's Purim preparation classes.

7:00am - Shacharit with Torah reading (with Tefillin)
At Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim - Open to Members and Regulars ONLY
 
6:30pm - Mincha with Torah reading (without Tefillin)
At Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim - Open to Members and Regulars ONLY
 
(This Year: NOT Followed by Arvit and Megillah Reading)
 
NOTE: If you are interested in sponsoring break-the-fast refreshments at the Bet Knesset for $126, kindly respond to this email. Tizku L'Mitzvot! 

Fast Begins
 
5:37am dawn degrees
or at:
5:38am dawn fixed minutes
Eating of a settled character may not be started during the half hour immediately preceding dawn. Please consult the Rabbi for details. 
 
Fast Ends
           
Rabbi Tukaccinsky
The fast ends no later than the emergence of three average stars at: 
7:29pm
           
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
One who finds fasting difficult may eat at:
7:32pm
One who does not find fasting difficult should wait until the time for Motzaei Shabbat at:
7:39pm

Saturday, March 23rd

7:40pm - Shabbat Ends
8:15pm - Arvit
8:30pm - Megillah Reading 
Come in your holiday clothing (or costumes) and hear the Megillah read for the first time this year!
We will begin promptly!

9:00pm - Break-The-Fast Celebration
(if you wish to sponsor this break-the-fast Purim celebration for $126, kindly reply to this email)

10:00pm - Late Megillah Reading
with Rabbi Dr. Shalom Halevy
Please reply to this email to let us know if you plan to attend the late reading
 
Sunday, March 24th
 
8:00am - Shacharit
 
9:00am (approx.) - Regular Megillah Reading
Please come early - we will read as soon as we reach the reading and not wait for the time above

10:00am - Purim Breakfast and Celebration

 5:00pm - Late Megillah Reading
with Rabbi Dr. Shalom Halevy
Please reply to this email to let us know if you plan to attend the late reading

Welcome to Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim's Virtual Purim Corner!
 
There are three Mitzvot and one Minhag (custom) we must fulfill for Purim!
 
For your convenience, you can perform two of them online via our convenient website!

The Megillah must be read from an actual hand-written scroll on Kosher parchment.
 
Please see our Purim schedule for Megillah reading times.
 
The Megillah recordings in the links on our page are meant for educational purposes only - not to fulfill the Mitzvah with them.

We must give two gifts of food to at least one friend on Purim. This can easily be done on your own.

We are obligated to perform the Mitzvah of “Matanot La’Evyonim” on Purim day which is the distribution of two monetary gifts, one to each needy person.
 
If you would like to appoint Rabbi Yonatan as your messenger, you can use the convenient form at this link to perform this holy Mitzvah.

It is customary to donate money before Purim as “a commemoration of the Half-Shekel” which was donated by the entire Jewish nation when the Bet Hamikdash stood.
 
If you would like to perform this Minhag with actual silver coins, you are welcome to come to Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim any day before Purim, or before Megillah reading. We have three silver coins (generously donated by the Savin family) for this purpose.
 
If you will be unable to do so, you can use the convenient form at this link to perform this precious custom.

Shabbat programming is open to members and regulars only.
No advanced registration required.

In this newsletter:

• Brief Update From The Rabbi
• Shabbat Times and Schedule - Special Torah Reading This Week!
• Purim at Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim!
• Shiviti Soft Matzah Bakery! Sunday, March 31st
• Kids learning with the Rabbi resumes!
• Join The Shiviti WhatsApp Group!
• The Personality Of A Posek (Part 1) - Rabbi Yonatan Halevy’s class at The Ḥabura
• Nevi'im: New Course With Rabbanit Dr. Devorah Halevy!
  
• Shiviti Bet Midrash of New York: In-person class this week! Register here
  
• Shiviti Bet Midrash of New York: Classes Resume!
• Shiviti Bet Midrash of the United Kingdom:
  Classes scheduled to resume in early 2024!
• Shiviti Podcast Update! 153+ episodes
• New Shulchan Aruch Playlist! VIDEO
  
• Shiviti Bet Midrash - Classes Resume! New Schedule!
• Shiviti Bet Midrash - Updated Zoom Guidelines
• Join us for Kiddush Lunch THIS Shabbat
• Seudah Shelishit with Q&A! Please plan to join us!
• Mazal Tov Announcements Lopez and Kamshad families
• Join our Google Classroom to participate in online classes
  Some classes resume this week

Shalom!

I have returned from a whirlwind trip to Israel, Baruch Hashem. Rabbanit Devorah and I are headed out to Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York this Sunday for two days, before returning on Tuesday, b'ezrat Hashem.

SHABBAT SCHEDULE

We will meet in our regular Bet Knesset location for Shabbat. All members and regulars are invited to attend. 

Friday night Tefillot will stay at a regular time, regardless of candle-lighting changing week-by-week. This Friday we will meet at 6:30pm.​​​​​​​

Join us for Shabbat Tefillah with Torah reading followed by a Kiddush Lunch! Kiddush Lunch is generously sponsored and catered by Mijael and Hana Lopez in honor of Naftali's birthday. Mazal Tov!

Kids learning resumes 15 minutes before Mincha!

Join us for Mincha followed by Seudah Shelishit. Seudah Shelishit is missing a sponsor. Kindly considering sponsoring this meal!

Thank you to our generous sponsors from last week!

AZKARAH

A reminder that the Azkarah for my uncle, Daniel Schwartz z"l, will be observed on Tuesday, March 19th with the Kehillah. More details to follow.

PURIM

Please see Purim schedule attached below. Registration links will be sent out next week.

MATZAH BAKERY

Please see flier attached below. Matzah Baking is set for March 31. 

CLASSES

Class schedule will be announced in the Google Classroom. A reminder that all San Diego classes which formerly began at 8:30pm, now begin at 7:30pm. All other class times remain the same.

Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom when it arrives,
Rabbi Yonatan Halevy

Erev Shabbat - Friday

Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Arvit: 6:30pm
 
Candle Lighting: 6:39pm
 
Shekiah (Sunset): 6:57pm

Shabbat - Saturday
 
Shacharit: 9:00am

Latest Shema: 9:20am or 9:57am

Latest Shacharit: 10:57am

Kiddush Lunch following Tefillah

Kids Learning with the Rabbi: 5:45pm

Shiur/Class: 
N/A

Mincha: 6:00pm

Seudah Shelishit 6:30pm
 
Shabbat Ends: 7:35pm

Arvit

Join The Shiviti WhatsApp Group!

Want to receive the latest videos and content from Shiviti directly to your phone?

Please use the link below to join the Shiviti WhatsApp group (silent):

Join us as we delve into some of the most sensitive and profound details of Jewish national law, and explore how our lawmakers approached the most controversial and relevant social justice issues of our time. Text-based and ongoing, this course will offer an inside view of the legal system that provides the basis for our national vision of a just and truly free society.

This course will largely be based on the Rambam’s Laws of Sanhedrin, with a special focus on the commentary of Rabbi Chaim David Halevy, former Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

44 Aggadeta episodes
+
38 Expanding Horizons episodes
+
71 Rambam’s Mishneh Torah episodes
=
153 total podcast episodes available to listen to!

It has been more than a year since we announced the launch of our Shiviti podcast which is officially live across the web, featuring our most popular playlists!
Search “Shiviti” or “Rabbi Yonatan Halevy” on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify - and subscribe!

Thanks to the hard work of Shiviti’s volunteer audio/video team!

Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov!

Mazal Tov to Mikhael Kamshad for winning 1) the Lemesson Early inventor prize, 2) the coding with commitment (for solving a problem in the community) prize, and 3) the RED award which honors creativity, originality and true science. Mikhael fell into the top 30 projects out of 700 projects, which awarded him first place in his category with three other kids. Mazal Tov!

Mazal Tov to Naftali Lopez on his birthday this week!

To have your joyous occasion mentioned here, kindly email info@kshsd.org the week before. Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim does not have a record of occasions and announces only what we are provided by our members each week!

We are utilizing state-of-the-art technology to continue our Torah classes.

Each class series has its own unique login code.

For classes, see the information below on joining our Google Classroom.

If you are not part of one of our regular Google Classrooms and wish to join, send an email to info@shiviti.org, requesting to join our "Special Shiviti" Google Classroom. Or just reply to this email!

For those who plan to only use this temporarily during this period, you can join our special Google Classroom setup just for the current situation. You will receive all live updates about any relevant classes being offered online without having to subscribe to one of the dedicated classrooms.

A tremendous tool in bringing our Shiviti Bet Midrash online is our official Shiviti channel on YouTube.

Please take a moment and subscribe by following this link and clicking "subscribe"!

Shabbat programming is open to members and regulars only.
No advanced registration required.

In this newsletter:

• Brief Update From The Rabbi
• Shabbat Times and Schedule
• Kids learning with the Rabbi resumes!
• Join The Shiviti WhatsApp Group!
• The Personality Of A Posek (Part 1) - Rabbi Yonatan Halevy’s class at The Ḥabura
• Nevi'im: New Course With Rabbanit Dr. Devorah Halevy!
• Shiviti Bet Midrash of New York: Classes Resume!
• Shiviti Bet Midrash of the United Kingdom:
  Classes scheduled to resume in early 2024!
• Shiviti Podcast Update! 153+ episodes
• New Shulchan Aruch Playlist! VIDEO
  
• Shiviti Bet Midrash - Classes Resume! 
• Shiviti Bet Midrash - Updated Zoom Guidelines
• Join us for Kiddush Lunch THIS Shabbat
• Seudah Shelishit with Q&A! Please plan to join us!
• Mazal Tov Announcements Leila and Meira
• Join our Google Classroom to participate in online classes
  Some classes resume this week

Shalom!

SHABBAT SCHEDULE

We will meet in our regular Bet Knesset location for Shabbat. All members and regulars are invited to attend. 

Friday night Tefillot will shift based on candle-lighting, changing week-by-week. This Friday we will meet at 5:25pm. 

Join us for Shabbat Tefillah with Torah reading followed by a Kiddush Lunch!
Kiddush Lunch is generously sponsored by Dr. Roneet Lev in honor of the birthday of her granddaughter, Meira. Mazal Tov!

Kids learning resumes 15 minutes before Mincha!

Join us for Mincha followed by Seudah Shelishit. Seudah Shelishit is missing a sponsor. Kindly considering sponsoring this meal!

Thank you to our generous sponsors from last week!

AZKARAH

A reminder that the Azkarah for my uncle, Daniel Schwartz z"l, will be observed on Tuesday, March 19th with the Kehillah. More details to follow.

CLASSES

Class schedule will be announced in the Google Classroom. A reminder that all San Diego classes which formerly began at 8:30pm, now begin at 7:30pm. All other class times remain the same.

Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom when it arrives,
Rabbi Yonatan Halevy

Erev Shabbat - Friday

Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Arvit: 5:25pm
 
Candle Lighting: 5:28pm
 
Shekiah (Sunset): 5:46pm

Shabbat - Saturday
 
Shacharit: 9:00am

Latest Shema: 8:31am or 9:07am

Latest Shacharit: 10:05am

Kiddush Lunch following Tefillah

Kids Learning with the Rabbi: 4:45pm

Shiur/Class: 
N/A

Mincha: 5:00pm

Seudah Shelishit 5:30pm
 
Shabbat Ends: 6:25pm

Arvit

Join The Shiviti WhatsApp Group!

Want to receive the latest videos and content from Shiviti directly to your phone?

Please use the link below to join the Shiviti WhatsApp group (silent):

Join us as we delve into some of the most sensitive and profound details of Jewish national law, and explore how our lawmakers approached the most controversial and relevant social justice issues of our time. Text-based and ongoing, this course will offer an inside view of the legal system that provides the basis for our national vision of a just and truly free society.

This course will largely be based on the Rambam’s Laws of Sanhedrin, with a special focus on the commentary of Rabbi Chaim David Halevy, former Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

44 Aggadeta episodes
+
38 Expanding Horizons episodes
+
71 Rambam’s Mishneh Torah episodes
=
153 total podcast episodes available to listen to!

It has been more than a year since we announced the launch of our Shiviti podcast which is officially live across the web, featuring our most popular playlists!
Search “Shiviti” or “Rabbi Yonatan Halevy” on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify - and subscribe!

Thanks to the hard work of Shiviti’s volunteer audio/video team!

Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov!

Mazal Tov to Leila Farajzadeh on her birthday. Mazal Tov!

Mazal Tov to Meira Lee on her birthday. Mazal Tov!

To have your joyous occasion mentioned here, kindly email info@kshsd.org the week before. Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim does not have a record of occasions and announces only what we are provided by our members each week!

We are utilizing state-of-the-art technology to continue our Torah classes.

Each class series has its own unique login code.

For classes, see the information below on joining our Google Classroom.

If you are not part of one of our regular Google Classrooms and wish to join, send an email to info@shiviti.org, requesting to join our "Special Shiviti" Google Classroom. Or just reply to this email!

For those who plan to only use this temporarily during this period, you can join our special Google Classroom setup just for the current situation. You will receive all live updates about any relevant classes being offered online without having to subscribe to one of the dedicated classrooms.

A tremendous tool in bringing our Shiviti Bet Midrash online is our official Shiviti channel on YouTube.

Please take a moment and subscribe by following this link and clicking "subscribe"!