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Video Study for Parsha Pinchas : The Zealot / The Kohen

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muman613:

--- Quote from: mord on June 27, 2013, 08:50:10 AM ---Muman in Northern California isn't not common to see orthodox Jews and is it hard to be orthodox there.I occasionally read the northern California Jewish news  and it seems to be very far from anything orthodox

--- End quote ---

Chabad is everywhere around here. Chabad is Orthodox and there are Modern Orthodox Shuls even in Berkeley. Chabad is great for a community to ensure keeping Kosher and providing a shul to daven, don tefillin, and observe Shabbat.

I know three Chabad Rabbis pretty personally (and their families) and they bring Rabbis from around the world to study with us. Tonight and next week I will be studying with a Chabad yeshiva bachur.

Is it hard to keep commandments in Northern California? Aside from Kosher (very few Kosher food sources) it is not hard (except keeping Shabbat exactly due to my long commute to and from work). My Rabbi just had my tefillin checked to make sure they are still kosher, I have mezuzzahs and tzit-tzit and Shabbat candles, virtually everything I need. We also have a regular minyan (group of 10 men to pray) so I am happy. Is it hard? Maybe harder than living in New York where virtually everyone in a community may be Jewish (Orthodox). But I love my community and as I have said before, I believe I have influenced them to be more loyal to Israel and more nationalistic (I even discuss Rabbi Kahane with them pretty regularly)...

Sure NorCal is liberal... But there are pockets of very good people if you know where to look..

PS: I still keep contact with my 'progressive' shul (which I found when I first did Teshuva/Returned almost 10 years ago). They recently held a pro-Israel rally at the synagogue (I did not attend, but my Chabad Rabbi was there). The Rabbi knows me and gives me honor (last time I was there, Parsha Yitro, I was called to the Torah for the portion of the giving of the 10 commandments). I am a bit of a personality in my community.

muman613:
The Chabad Rabbi I associate most closely with just moved to NorCal 3 years ago. He was sent as an emissary from New York to bring Judaism to my county. Before that I was involved with the Napa Valley Chabad organization and their Rabbi, and also the Walnut Creek Chabad which I had been involved with for almost six years.

When the Chabad which I currently attend was first being established the community was not sure whether a Rabbi who was bringing up a young family (he has four kids now, and more are coming) would want them brought up in the 'Midbar'/desert of Jewish learning. But Chabad is bold in this area and does not fear spreading Judaism far and wide. This is why I am so proud of Chabad and what they are doing...

muman613:
Arutz Sheva has recently been hosting a different rabbi each week who gives a short shuir on the portion...

muman613:
Rabbi Weisblum gives a 54minute dvar Torah on Pinchas:

muman613:
Now for a short 10 minute talk by Rabbi Chaim Miller of TorahInTen and Kol Menachem...

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