Newsletter

In this newsletter:

• Shabbat Registration: Please Read
• Hate Crime: Media Coverage and Event Notices
• NEW: Our Kehillah's Security Fund
• Special Class on Sunday: Reply to email for link!
• Special Event on Shabbat: Neighbors show support
• Rabbi's Mid-Summer Appeal - Please Read!
• Shabbat Times and Schedule
• Advanced Registration Information
• Mazal Tov Announcements
• Tefillah Guidelines
• LIVE Havdalah 8:45pm ZOOM LINK and BOOKLET
• Join our Google Classroom to participate in online classes
  All classes resume TBA

We will continue to hold all Tefillot in our new (temporary) location in the UC Marketplace center.

B'ezrat Hashem we will have in-person Kabbalat Shabbat, Arvit, Shacharit, Light Kiddush Refreshments, Mincha, Bring-your-own-Seudah-Shelishit, and Arvit!

Registration for Shabbatot will begin next Shabbat as our community will return to members-only scheduling.

For this Shabbat, if you have a reserved seat left from the High Holidays, you are welcome to attend without prior reservation.

As a courtesy, we would appreciate a response by email so we know you will be attending - but it is not required.

Please stay tuned to the webpage below as we post the latest information regarding the assault of Rabbi Yonatan Halevy on October 10th in University City. We will also use this page to post community events related to this incident.

Thanks to a generous donor who has kicked it off, we have opened a Shiviti security fund to take of ongoing security expenses. 

In the last 48 hours we have installed internet services and WiFi, as well as purchased security cameras for the Bet Knesset. In addition, we have been reviewed by an independent security firm to better enhance our awareness and response. 

Kindly consider contributing to our security fund by following the link below and writing "security" in the notes.

RSVP for the Zoom link by replying to this email!

The Rabbi and Rabbanit plan to go outdoors with the Kehillah to address the community at the end of Shabbat morning services.

Please join us in thanking our neighbors for their care and support!

(This event is arranged by our neighbors and not by Shiviti)

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"!

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

SHABBAT UPDATES

Location. We will hold all Tefillot in our new (temporary) location in the UC Marketplace center.

Police Presence. We expect heightened police presence this Shabbat while we are praying and studying. This is no reason for alarm, and is there for our safety and wellbeing. 

Erev Shabbat - Friday

Kabbalat Shabbat: 5:50pm
 
Candle Lighting: 5:55pm
 
Shekiah (Sunset): 6:13pm

Shabbat - Saturday
 
Shacharit: 9:00am
​​​​​​​
Latest Shema: 9:07am or 9:44am

Latest Shacharit: 10:40am

Mincha: 5:30pm

Seudah Shelishit and Q&A Learning Session with Rabbi Yonatan. 
Please pack and bring your own Seudah Shelishit - food will not be provided by the Kehillah.

Arvit: 6:50pm
 
Shabbat Ends: 6:50pm

Havdalah via Zoom: N/A

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 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, 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