Within Our Family: May 2, 2009

Mazal Tov to Carolyn Reinach Wolf, mental health attorney and Senior Partner, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP, for being invited as a Keynote Speaker and Honoree by the Mental Health Association of Suffolk County. Her address is titled “Emerging Mental Health Issues on the College Campus.”

Mazal Tov to Donna & Leon Schwechter on the birth of a granddaughter born to their children Yael & Daniel Schwechter.

Mazal Tov to Lynda Ossip Mandelbaum, and to Julia Wolf on their being honored by UJA Federation for their participation in the development  of a quilt to grace the walls of the Woman to Woman Domestic violence shelter in Jerusalem.  The square for Lynda was donated in her honor by members of Women’s Tefila of GNS, and Julia donated money from her Bat Mitzvah (which was celebrated at Women’s Tefila) to help out the shelter for women and children..

Peace of Parsha - Acharei Mot/Kedoshim by Jeroen Reuven Bours

We are approaching the middle of the Torah and one could read both these Parshiyot as an advanced second beginning of the Torah.

Let’s look at Acharei Mot as the end of part One and Kedoshim as the beginning of part Two. Now we know that the Torah isn’t written with exclamation points, or commas nor any other markings. But we can say from similar observations and commentaries, made by almost all Sages and Rabbis, that Kedoshim especially, holds the most important lesson within the Torah.

Starting with the details of the Yom Kippur service in Acharei Mot, the Torah is perfectly arranged keeping the part of the service that is performed in linen - divided from the part written about the service to be performed in golden garments.

The Torah states: And Aaron shall present the bullocks of the sin-offering, which is for himself and make atonement for himself and his house.

Rashi states: “He confesses over it his sins and the sins of his household.”

Confession, is at the center of the Yom Kippur service and prayers. And if we continue the thought to split the Torah in two, then we consider this a most important ending to the first part, namely that HaShem has gives us the power and the chance to judge ourselves. As if to say that we’ve learned part One of the Torah and it should give us the wisdom to judge ourselves. In other words, being able to perform atonement requires us to carefully learn the Torah up to this part. We have graduated to a level that allows us atonement.

Not only in the psychological sense, but in practical sense as well; having to choose between two animals, of which the bullock shall be slaughtered and the goat shall escape. Basically and symbolically giving man the chance to choose over life and death.

Kedoshim, being part One of the second half of the Torah, begins appropriately with Moses calling in all of Bnei Israel at the same time. This time not spreading the Oral Law first to Aaron, then Aaron and his sons, then Aaron, his sons and the elders, followed by Aaron, his sons, the elders and the people. No, this time the Torah states: Speak to the congregations of the children of Israel and say to them…

What Moses was about to say next is in Rabbi Hillel’s opinion the absolute most crucial lesson to be learned in all of the Torah.

The first words being “Kedoshim tiheyu, ki kedosh ani HaShem Eloheichem - You shall be holy, for I the Lord your G’d am holy.

If we hold on to the notion that this is in fact the first part of the second half of the Torah, then let’s look at Bereshit, the first part of the first half of the Torah for a moment and remember that mankind was born out of the likeness of HaShem. Equality to a certain amount at least in physical appearance with HaShem.

Here, in Kedoshim mankind is now said to be equal in stature as well. He’s thought to be as holy as HaShem is.

Provided, we keep to the rules and regulations.

Why call all of Bnei Israel together to teach them this lesson? Says Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrahi: “They had to attend together so that if doubts should arise over a ruling, they could enlighten one another by reference to the primary source. If they had, however, received these laws in separate groups, this would not be possible since each group could deny hearing Moses say such a thing.”

Moses continues:  “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people… But you shall love your neighbour as yourself.

It is said that Rabbi Hillel was challenged by a man who said that if Hillel could explain the Torah during the time in which the man would stand on one leg, he’d convert to Judaism. Hillel waited for the man to do as he said and answered: “You shall love your neighbour as you do yourself. Now go practice that.”

Thereby, years later, proving that the 1968 Hippies were right for saying: “All you need is Love.”

The term “holy” refers to a new set of understandings. A “next lesson to be learned.” This is part Two after all, and part One ended with a complex learning of sexual do’s and don’t’s.

Rashi and Nachmonides have spent the most time arguing the meanings of why Acharei Mot ended with the laws of chastity. For, to be pure and holy, one must obstain from certain lusts. Rashi points out that there’s a loophole in the Torah. That man can still lust for his wife or even wives, thereby being less holy. Nachmanides believes that the purity these laws describe so carefully, pertain to many more circumstances and must lead to abstaining from excess in sexual as well as drinking behaviour.

Making the argument that Kedoshim is a new beginning in the Torah even stronger, is the repetition of the phrases “I am the Lord your G’d or I am the Lord”, as if HaShem wanted to reintroduce himself all over again.

Another argument is the repeat of the Laws of Mount Sinai. As if Bnei Israel had never heard these laws before, the Torah repeats them carefully and deliberately.

The most profound promise that Moses makes in Parashat Kedoshim; is that man is holy. The most profound revelation that G’d makes in Parashat Bereshit; is that man is made in the likeness of HaShem himself.

Kedoshim blesses mankind to be holy as a reward for learning the first part of the Torah and holy as a promise for learning the next part of the Torah. As if being a teacher; seeing the potential in his students and promising an A+ at the beginning of the second semester.

Shabbat Shalom.

SCOPE-Passover Edition 2009

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Shabbat Announcements, May 2, 2009

Shabbat Announcements, May 2, 2009

Sponsorships:May 2, 2009

Kiddush is sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue.

Shabbat Announcements, April 25, 2009

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Mincha

Week of June 6: 8:10 pm

Candle lighting 8:08 pm Friday, June 12, 2009

Yom Haatzmaut: April 28, 2009

Join us on Tuesday evening

April 28, 7:30 pm

to celebrate

Israel’s Independence Day.

Join us for special program for

Yom Hazikaron and  t’fillot for the

day.

Show your support for Israel.

To be a sponsor of this event

please call the Synagogue

office or speak to  Rabbi

Moskowitz.

Sponsorship levels:

$50 Friend

$100 Patron

$250 Supporter

$360 Benefactor

$500 Patron

Our featured speaker:

Tuvia Book was born in London in 1968 and raised in both the UK and South Africa. After making Aliya at the age of 17 and studying in a Yeshiva he volunteered for the IDF where he served in an elite infantry combat unit. Upon his discharge he completed his BA at Bar-Ilan University, as well as certification in graphic design. He then served as the Information Officer at the Israeli Consulate of Philadelphia, while earning a graduate degree in Jewish Studies. Upon his return to Israel, Mr. Book graduated from a course of study with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and is a licensed tour guide.

Tuvia has been working in the field of Jewish Education, both formal and informal, for many years. He has guided and taught Jewish students and educators from around the English-speaking world for some of Israel’s premier educational institutions.  Tuvia has lectured throughout North America, Australia, Europe and South Africa.

Tuvia served as a Shaliach (emissary) for the Jewish Agency for Israel as the Director of Israel and Zionist Education at the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York. He was a lecturer/educational guide at the Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education (AMIIE) in Israel for ten years.  Tuvia has lectured at both Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University.

He is the author (and illustrator) of the internationally acclaimed Israel education curriculum; “For the Sake of Zion; Pride and Strength through Knowledge” (second edition, JAFI 2006), and is at present working on his next book, a history of the Jewish people.  Currently Tuvia is a doctoral candidate in Jewish education at JTS/Columbia based in New York.

Tuvia is married to Shira, a physician, and they have three children; Ayelet, Aaron and Aden

Peace of Parsha - Tazria/Metzorah by Dr. Mark Gersten

With the end of last weeks parsha we begin learning about TUMAH/ritual impurity that can be transmitted by contact, carrying or even air space and impure animals that can not be eaten. These laws seem to be statutes (CHUKIM). Why fins and scales should impart purity to fish, and why part of a corpse in a tent can impart impurity to the contents of a tent seem to be beyond man’s immediate comprehension or scope.

What we can readily understand is that ritual impurity (TUMAH) is really the absence of (TAHARAH) ritual purity. For example in this week’s sedrah a woman becomes a NIDAH and ritually impure only because her menstrual blood means that for a while she is unable to be a creator (create and nurture a new life within her). The temporary fall from potential creator causes an absence or vacuum of spiritual purity which is replaced with temporary impurity.

An analysis of the controversy of Rambam in his Principles of Faith and Medrash Raba as set down in Rabbi Munk’s “Call of the Torah” help us better understand TUMAH, TAHARAH, and our ultimate responsibility in this venue. Rambam feels that the laws of the Torah are eternal, constant, and never to be changed. Medrash Raba learns from the words “ZOT HACHAYAH ASHER TOCHLU” (This is the life form that you will eat) that at a time in the future all animals will be able to be eaten. The Medrash Socher Tov on TEHILIM 146 said that HASHEM will eventually declare all forbidden animals Kosher. Many feel that this is based on Zechariah 13:1,2 who predicts that Hashem will bring a reign of purity, so strong, to the world that it will abolish the spirit of contamination in the world, thereby the commentators feel abrogating any need for prohibiting animals or even for continuing the impurity of a NIDDAH !

I believe if one looks closely, he can see a hint of this directly in the TORAH.

The law of MELIKA teaches us that in the Holy Temple or Tabernacle a Cohen had to prepare a bird for sacrifice by snapping the nape of its neck (unlike SCHETA where one cuts the windpipe and esophagus with a knife) The dove prepared in the Temple with MELIKA was placed on the alter and later its meat was eaten by the Cohen. Should the same Cohen prepare a (non sanctified) dove outside of the Temple for his food by MELIKA rather than standard SCHETA it would be prohibited for him to eat and would be considered a NEVAYLAH (a dead carcass) which carries ritual impurity.

I believe that MELIKA is allowed in the Temple and doesn’t cause the impurity of a NEVALAH because HASHEM’S presence and influence of holiness and purity is paramount there. He resides there. This influence is able to abolish the spirit of contamination at least from MELIKA.

This then highlights our role and responsibility. We are by MITZVOT, CHESED, PRAYER and TORAH STUDY to bring HASHEM’S influence to this world. We are, as it says in the ALAYNU prayer, to correct the world with the Kingship of HASHEM thereby causing all mankind to recognize and accept him as the Almighty. This will herald a reign of purity which will void contamination and impurity forever.

REFUAH SHELAMAH for HENYA BAT TOBAH

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