Shabbat Highlights

For the safety of our community, RSVP is required for all Shabbat meals.   Text Shabbat to 607-797-0015 to RSVP. 

New: Cozy Shabbat dinner option!  A smaller, more intimate Shabbat dinner in the Shul.

* 4:44pm ~ Light Shabbat candles in the Chabad social hall
* 5:30pm ~ Spirited Kabbalat Shabbat services 
* 6:30pm ~ Delicious, full course, home cooked dinner 
* Dessert buffet 
* Ladies' Farbrengen -  join us for songs, stories, soulful bonding, plus tea and nosh, of course!

* 8:45am ~ Java, Cheesecake and Parsha in the Slonim home
* 9:30am ~ Shabbat morning services and Kiddush
* 12:00pm ~ Shabbat lunch
* 1:40pm ~ Mincha services 
* 4:45pm ~ Seudah Shelishit 
* 5:45pm ~ Maariv and Havdalah
* 7:30pm ~ Chabad Cafe opens

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Live downtown? Join Chabad at 60 Henry Street
Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 7:00pm
Dinner at 7:30pm
Text SHABBAT DOWNTOWN to RSVP

The Sinai Scholars Society offers a fresh and exciting context for Jewish life and learning, with thought-provoking classes, social activities, and national networking opportunities, offered to Jewish  students with limited formal Judaic schooling. Sinai Scholars  invites students to engage in an open community of study and self-discovery. The program includes eight classes, an exciting trip and Shabbaton, and a $350 stipend upon completion.

Classes will meet on Wednesday evenings, 8:00 PM, at Chabad, or Monday evenings, 8:00 PM, at Chabad Downtown.

For more information, visit  www.MySinaiScholars.com. 

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Week of January 21

Sunday: Shacharit at 9:00 AM, Mincha/Maariv at 4:50 PM
Monday and Tuesday: Shacharit at 7:30 AM, Mincha/Maariv at 4:50 PM
Wednesday and Thursday: Shacharit at 7:30 AM, Mincha/Maariv at 4:55 PM
Friday: Shacharit at 7:30 AM

There are 105 Pesukim (verses) in this week’s Parsha. This number corresponds to the mnemonic of Yud, Mem, Nun, Hey, which translates to “He will count.” Rabbi Dovid Feinstein writes that this alludes to the law that every Jew must count himself as part of a group that brings the sacrifice for Pesach. We can take this message today by remembering that we are here today and have the State of Israel today because of the miracles that Hashem performed to take our ancestors out of Egypt. 
-Jack Margolius

How to Adjust to the Spring Semester

Welcome back everyone! As the weather so quintessentially indicates, you are all back in the Binghamton tundra to begin the inappropriately named “Spring Semester”. 
While this return may seem like an unwelcome end to what was hopefully a 
serene, relaxing, and tranquil Winter break, have no fear because I have 3 crucial tips to help you adjust to being back at Binghamton. 

1. Fight the cold - I would hope you all remembered to bring adequate Winter wear, but in case you didn’t Chabad has you covered! Warm chicken soup is always available from the kitchen, and the official Chabad (XB△) merch is available for purchase. On top of that, Chabad g-boarders have been previously given customized umbrellas and scarves, so join g-board for potential future Winter swag.

2. Stay on top of deadlines - This one seems self explanatory, but we’ve all had situations where we spent so much time learning, volunteering, or hanging out at Chabad that we forgot we had an essay due in 20 minutes. My recommendation is to keep an active planner or Google Calendar (GCal as the SOM kids like to say) from day #1 of the semester to make sure you’re never blindsided with assignments.

3. Read your syllabi - A syllabus is arguably the most important document a teacher assigns, but approximately 41% of each class never reads their syllabi in its entirety*. Most syllabi contain important assignment dates, grade breakdowns, relevant course material, and office hours information that clarify the class objectives and help students stay organized. I strongly advise everyone to not only read their syllabi in its entirety, but to take brief notes on them as well to have all the important class information easily accessible.

I think that does it for our first issue of Plotsker’s Perspective. Thank you all for reading, good luck with the coming semester, and don’t fail out of school!

*all stats were made up by Matthew Plotsker for dramatic effect
 

Thank you to Matthew Bitterman, Peretz Botvinnikov, Tzvi Berman, Nethaniel Darvishzadeh, Rachel Gorky, Ruthie Isler, Ariela Hope, Jack Margolius, DJ Mevorah, Matthew Plotsker, and Shira Rosencrantz, as well as our committee heads Michal Levine and Nora Monasheri