Newsletter

In this newsletter:

• Important Community Meeting - Wednesday at 8:30pm
  
• Rabbi's Mid-Summer Appeal - Please Read!
• Announcing Shiviti Podcasts: Available Across The Web!
• Another Crime of Kiruv VIDEO
• Expanding Horizons: A Matter of Principle VIDEO
• Shabbat Times and Schedule
• Advanced Registration Information
• Mazal Tov Announcements
• Tefillah Guidelines
• LIVE Havdalah 9:00pm ZOOM LINK and BOOKLET
• Join our Google Classroom to participate in online classes
  All classes resume this week, b'ezrat Hashem

All members and regulars are invited to attend a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, August 19th at 8:30pm to brainstorm and discuss possible steps towards further re-opening our Kehillah. 

Main Discussion Points:

Selichot, Rosh HaShanah, Yom HaKippurim, and Sukkot

We ask that you reply to this email if you plan to attend in order to recieve the meeting code and password.

​​​​​​​If you have already requested the code, it will be sent to you shorly.

This meeting is only open to Kehillah members and regulars.

It has been a long time since I have had to reach out to you for financial assistance. But for the sake of our beautiful community – I am reaching out for your help to make ends meet this summer.

Over the past five years, we have built a glorious Kehillah together, with the help of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Our Kehillah is a source of pride and joy for each and everyone of us, a community which has become our family, and a shining example for so many others who are positively impacted by it around the world.

Our precious Kehillah has been hit especially hard during these past months of being closed due to COVID-19. I know that each and every one of you receiving this message has also suffered the effects of this situation, and I thank you for your patience with me in reaching out to you during mutually challenging times.

The summer months are always difficult, but this summer in particular, I find myself struggling to keep this ship sailing and I am asking you to please partner with me in ensuring that our Kehillah can sail smoothly through the summer and make it to better days when we can all be together!

If you have already answered the Rabbi's appeal, please accept this as a warm "thank you"!

You asked - we listened!

Thanks to the hard work of Shiviti’s volunteer audio/video team, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Shiviti podcast which is officially live across the web, featuring our two most popular playlists!

Search “Shiviti” or “Rabbi Yonatan Halevy” on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify - and subscribe!

Inaugural class series with Rabbi Yonatan Halevy and the Shiviti Bet Midrash of the UK!

Join us as we delve into the personalities, writings, and responsa of the rabbis who form the foundation for the larger “Shiviti” philosophy, utilizing these texts to familiarize ourselves with these spiritual giants, their history, and their alternate views on Judaism in all areas and disciplines which affect our lives.
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To join the Google Classroom, please email your request to info@shiviti.org

Google Classroom registration is open for those who are able to attend the classes live and plan to do so regularly. For all others, class videos will be posted to our official YouTube channel. Please do not join the Classroom out of curiosity as inactive members will be removed.

Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim has begun phase one of re-opening!

SHABBAT UPDATES
Water bottles. Two cases of water bottles were delivered in honor of Shabbat by an anonymous donor. Thank you!

Restrooms. We have rented a portable toilet with a sink for the month which is scheduled to be delivered today, b'ezrat Hashem! If you would like to donate towards this and other re-opening expenses, please donate below!

Erev Shabbat - Friday

Kabbalat Shabbat in person: 6:30pm
For those who registered, please bring your chairs between 6:20-6:30.
 
Candle Lighting: 7:16pm
 
Shekiah (Sunset): 7:34pm

Shabbat - Saturday
 
Netz (ideal time to begin Amidah when praying alone): 5:53am
​​​​​​​
Latest Shema: 8:53am or 9:32am

Latest Shacharit: 10:39am

Mincha in person: 6:45pm

Shabbat Afternoon Shiur in person: 7:15pm
The Shiur will be dedicated in memory of Angel Gonzalez z"l whose first Azkarah (Yahrzeit) was this week. May his Neshamah have an Aliyah in Gan Eden, Amen!
For those who registered, if any handouts are needed for the Shiur, they will be emailed for you to print before Shabbat.

Arvit: 8:12pm
 
Shabbat Ends: 8:12pm

Havdalah via Zoom: 9:00pm

All members and regulars who wish to attend this week's Friday and/or Shabbat meetings at the Rabbai and Rabbanit's home, must have registered in advance via our online form.

Those who did not register will be unable to attend meetings and will be turned away upon arrival.

If you wish to register but forgot to do so, please reply to this email to check availability. 

A few inner-Kehillah guidelines from Rabbi Yonatan Halevy

1. Netz. When praying without a Minyan, it is ideal to pray at Netz. It is the opinion of Mori HaRav Yaakov Peretz shlit"a that even on a regular basis, it is preferable to pray at Netz without a Minyan, than it is to pray with a Minyan after Netz.
2. Time of Tefillah. One should always try to pray when the community is praying, even without a Minyan. For example, on Shabbat morning, if not praying with Netz, pray at the same time the Kehillah usually prays.
3. Torah Reading. The vast majority of the Poskim are of the opinion that the reading of the Torah is not an obligation on the individual, but rather on the community. Therefore, when praying alone, there is no need to read the Torah. Nonetheless, it is proper to read the Torah portion on your own (in Hebrew or English), perhaps choosing a commentary of your choice. You may do the same for the Haftarah.
4. Decorum. It is proper to create an atmosphere that is conducive to Tefillah even when praying alone. Dress as you would to the Bet Knesset, use your Siddur instead of a phone, etc.
5. Sing your heart out! Unlike when praying with a Minyan, there is no pressure to keep up a certain pace. Instead of rushing - try the opposite! Sing and read out loud like you would in Bet Knesset, even adding your own favorite tunes and melodies!
6. Praying as a family. Unlike at the Kehillah where we separate for prayer, this is an opportunity to pray and sing with your spouse, and create a unique Tefillah experience. When was the last time your child was able to sing to you the Tefillot they have learned in school and have you accompany them? The few Shabbatot in my life that I have had to stay home from Bet Knesset, were blessed with the opportunity to pray alongside the Rabbanit and pour out our hearts to HaKadosh Baruch Hu together. Seize the opportunity!

Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov!

Mazal Tov to Elan and Karen Lipson on the birth of a baby daughter, Ariella Adele. May her parents raise her to Torah, Chuppah, Mitzvot, and Ma'asim Tovim, Amen!

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 Tefillah session and class series has its own unique login code.

The two for Tefillah are open to the public and can be shared with anyone interested. 

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

Topic: Virtual Havdalah with Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim
Time: Saturdays 9:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/956626405

Meeting ID: 956 626 405

If you are not part of one of our regular Google Classrooms and wish to join, I ask that you send an email as soon as possible 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 on-line is our official Shiviti channel on YouTube.

Please take a moment and subscribe by following this link and CLICKING "subscribe"!
  www.youtube.com/c/shiviti