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Thank You Hashem for Eretz Yisrael! ๐Ÿ’™
We celebrated our special holy land with a day full of heart and fun!
๐Ÿฅค Shoko bโ€™sakit just like in Israel, ๐Ÿช– Made a poster for our IDF heroes & dedicated our davening to them. 
Kotel Coloring! 
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿณ Kids in the Kitchen whipped up pita, falafel & couscous โ€” yum!
๐ŸŽจ Created awesome clay crafts ๐Ÿ’ฆ And cooled off with refreshing swim time!

Toda Hashem for Eretz Yisrael โ€” our land, our pride, our heart! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

Thank You Hashem for Eretz Yisrael! ๐Ÿ’™
We celebrated our special holy land with a day full of heart and fun!
๐Ÿฅค Shoko bโ€™sakit just like in Israel, ๐Ÿช– Made a poster for our IDF heroes & dedicated our davening to them.
Kotel Coloring!
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿณ Kids in the Kitchen whipped up pita, falafel & couscous โ€” yum!
๐ŸŽจ Created awesome clay crafts ๐Ÿ’ฆ And cooled off with refreshing swim time!

Toda Hashem for Eretz Yisrael โ€” our land, our pride, our heart! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
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2 days ago
Thank You Hashem for the Torah! โœก What a Torah-rific day!
๐Ÿ–‹ We became scribes with feather + ink and watched a real sofer in action. Then, we went on a bean hunt & made Torah posters. For a sweet treat๐Ÿฆ we wrapped ice cream in fruit roll-ups!
๐ŸŽจ We also painted Torah-themed masterpieces and ๐Ÿฃ Rolled up Torah sushi in Kids in the Kitchen!!!

#thankyouhashemImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

Thank You Hashem for the Torah! โœก What a Torah-rific day!
๐Ÿ–‹ We became scribes with feather + ink and watched a real sofer in action. Then, we went on a bean hunt & made Torah posters. For a sweet treat๐Ÿฆ we wrapped ice cream in fruit roll-ups!
๐ŸŽจ We also painted Torah-themed masterpieces and ๐Ÿฃ Rolled up Torah sushi in Kids in the Kitchen!!!

#thankyouhashem
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2 days ago
Image attachmentImage attachment

Photos from Clifton Park Chabad's post ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago
I tend to believe that I am a flexible person, and I used to be very proud of it. After all, flexibility is something to be proud of, right?

Its a sign of maturity. Little kids dont know how to be flexible (good luck convincing them theyre not getting that lollipop at the store!), so being open to change sounds like an adult thing to do.

However, I recently realized that my flexibility might also be a problem.

First, often โ€” not always, but often โ€” flexibility comes from weakness. If I have plans and let others influence them, it might be because I dont know how to say no.

When I learned this weeks Parsha, I realized that flexibility and stubbornness are more than just being agreeable or adaptable. It goes much deeper.

Let me explain:

When kids refuse to be flexible, they often use a phrase โ€” said with a red, angry, determined yet cute face โ€” Youre not the boss of me! It sounds like just a defiant statement, but its not. It reveals why kids so often refuse to listen: they dont want to give up control. If I want something, and you want something else, and I go along with your wishes, then Ive allowed you to control me. Children who are naturally blessed with a strong sense of independence refuse to be controlled by others.

So, is flexibility good or bad? On one hand, being too flexible means giving control over our decisions to outside forces. Im letting too many people be the boss of me. Thats clearly not a great thing.

On the other hand, should we be completely rigid and stubborn? Thats not a great recipe either.

This brings us to a profound Chassidic teaching, which talks about different ways of recording text: you can write it with ink on paper, or you can etch it in stone. Writing on paper fades with time. Etched in stone, it remains forever. It can get dusty or dirty, but its still part of the stone.

Our Parsha begins with the phrase, This is the Chukat of the Torah. The word Chukat can be translated as etched on stone. With that, the Torah gives us a foundational secret to Jewish survival: be as strong and as deeply connected as an etched stone. How? By dedicating our lives to G-d.

How have the Jewish people survived for so many years? Where did we get the strength to declare youre not the boss of me to the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and the long list of nations who ruled over us? Where did we get the courage not to be influenced by the ideals and values that came and went?

Because we have a Boss. We know that G-d created the world. We know that He gave us a holy mission and a purpose in this world.

And interestingly enough, once our core mission is clear and strong, it actually allows us to be much more flexible in areas that dont impact that mission. When were anchored in what truly matters, we can bend in everything else โ€” without losing ourselves. 
--

Today, the United States begins its 250th year of independence!

Yes, I know โ€” the big celebration is next year, July 4th, 2026. But just like a Bar Mitzvah boy has already lived 13 full years when he turns 13, today โ€” as our country turns 249 โ€” we begin the 250th year of โ€œliberty and freedom for all.โ€

So on this Fourth of July, letโ€™s take a moment to show gratitude for all our freedoms--- and especially the freedom to be proud Jews! 

Shabbat Shalom! 
Light candles at 8:19 pm
Shabbat ends at 9:29 pmImage attachment

I tend to believe that I am a flexible person, and I used to be very proud of it. After all, flexibility is something to be proud of, right?

It's a sign of maturity. Little kids don't know how to be flexible (good luck convincing them they're not getting that lollipop at the store!), so being open to change sounds like an adult thing to do.

However, I recently realized that my flexibility might also be a problem.

First, often โ€” not always, but often โ€” flexibility comes from weakness. If I have plans and let others influence them, it might be because I don't know how to say "no."

When I learned this week's Parsha, I realized that flexibility and stubbornness are more than just being agreeable or adaptable. It goes much deeper.

Let me explain:

When kids refuse to be flexible, they often use a phrase โ€” said with a red, angry, determined yet cute face โ€” "You're not the boss of me!" It sounds like just a defiant statement, but it's not. It reveals why kids so often refuse to listen: they don't want to give up control. If I want something, and you want something else, and I go along with your wishes, then I've allowed you to control me. Children who are naturally blessed with a strong sense of independence refuse to be controlled by others.

So, is flexibility good or bad? On one hand, being too flexible means giving control over our decisions to outside forces. I'm letting too many people be the boss of me. That's clearly not a great thing.

On the other hand, should we be completely rigid and stubborn? That's not a great recipe either.

This brings us to a profound Chassidic teaching, which talks about different ways of recording text: you can write it with ink on paper, or you can etch it in stone. Writing on paper fades with time. Etched in stone, it remains forever. It can get dusty or dirty, but it's still part of the stone.

Our Parsha begins with the phrase, "This is the Chukat of the Torah." The word Chukat can be translated as "etched on stone." With that, the Torah gives us a foundational secret to Jewish survival: be as strong and as deeply connected as an etched stone. How? By dedicating our lives to G-d.

How have the Jewish people survived for so many years? Where did we get the strength to declare "you're not the boss of me" to the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and the long list of nations who ruled over us? Where did we get the courage not to be influenced by the ideals and values that came and went?

Because we have a Boss. We know that G-d created the world. We know that He gave us a holy mission and a purpose in this world.

And interestingly enough, once our core mission is clear and strong, it actually allows us to be much more flexible in areas that don't impact that mission. When we're anchored in what truly matters, we can bend in everything else โ€” without losing ourselves.
--

Today, the United States begins its 250th year of independence!

Yes, I know โ€” the big celebration is next year, July 4th, 2026. But just like a Bar Mitzvah boy has already lived 13 full years when he turns 13, today โ€” as our country turns 249 โ€” we begin the 250th year of โ€œliberty and freedom for all.โ€

So on this Fourth of July, letโ€™s take a moment to show gratitude for all our freedoms--- and especially the freedom to be proud Jews!

Shabbat Shalom!
Light candles at 8:19 pm
Shabbat ends at 9:29 pm
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6 days ago
Thank You, Hashem, for Shabbat โ€” what a treasure! โœจ๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿท

We baked challah, decorated Shabbat bags, played fruity Pictionary ๐Ÿ‡, and went on a Shabbos kosher scavenger hunt at Trader Joeโ€™s ๐Ÿ›’! From guessing Shabbat treats to splashing in water play and celebrating with a joyful Shabbat party โ€” what a beautiful week it was! 

#ThankYouHashemImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

Thank You, Hashem, for Shabbat โ€” what a treasure! โœจ๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿท

We baked challah, decorated Shabbat bags, played fruity Pictionary ๐Ÿ‡, and went on a Shabbos kosher scavenger hunt at Trader Joeโ€™s ๐Ÿ›’! From guessing Shabbat treats to splashing in water play and celebrating with a joyful Shabbat party โ€” what a beautiful week it was!

#ThankYouHashem
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6 days ago
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