Perek On The Lawn: July 4th, 2009

PEREK ON THE LAWN

This Shabbat, Perek on the Lawn will be hosted by Dina & Natan Hamerman, 53 Wooleys Lane, at 6 pm.

Within Our Family: July 4th, 2009

Mazal Tov to Jolanta & Frank Rosenstein and Marilyn Druker on Rabbi Dan & Audrey Rosenstein, Dasi, Moshe, Shani and Tani on making aliyah to Israel.

Mazal Tov  to Joan & Ron Braun on the birth of a great granddaughter, Violet Rita, born to their grandchildren Ariel & Louis Silverman.

Mazal Tov to Lisa & Avner Malloul on the birth of their son Jayden.

Mazal Tov to Mojdan & Kamran Rastegar on the birth of their daughter.

Mazal Tov to Zara & Eli Moradi on the wedding of their daughter Bianca to Edwin Shirazian

Sponsorships: July 4th, 2009

Kiddush is sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue

Peace of Parsha:Chukas by Dr. Mark Gersten

for REFUAH SHELAMAH  HENYA BAS TOBAH

Many of us have learned years ago that the Red Heifer is the quid essential example of a statute (law given without reasonable explanation) in the Torah. This is because of the paradox that the same ashes which purify an impure person make a pure person impure. There are those however, who feel, that all of the Torah is a paradox. The Torah makes the impure pure and the pure impure! How so?  If a righteous man uses his knowledge of the Torah to cheat others “legally” or for self aggrandizement and KOVOD he becomes impure. However if a BAAL TSHUVA learns Torah and uses his learning to be able to perform the MITZVOT and become closer to HASHEM, the Torah transforms this sinner into a righteous person.

One need not look only at the Torah. Hashem has provided us with a myriad of conduits to come close to him which can act in the same paradoxical way as the Torah.

The gifts of intellect and of speech distinguish us from the beasts.

We can use our intellect to study Torah or prepare for our profession which will support a Torah way of life for our family, or we can use it to memorize and investigate nonsense (NORRISHKEIT). With words we can comfort others in pain or make others suffer psychologically from our unkind words. Our words of prayer can ascend to Hashem’s holy throne. If not said with proper reverence and respect, however, they can change from our advocate to our prosecutor.

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts HASHEM has given us, but it is misused an misunderstood by the majority, This is because we don’t really believe in the power of prayer, If we did we wouldn’t have the audacity to interrupt our personal conversation  with the King of kings to chat or gossip with our neighbor in Shul.

Lack of understanding is a key but other factors also play a role. The biggest failure of the Day School movement is that young men and women graduate but still talk during dovening without showing proper respect or reverence. This is only partially the failing of the school. When a child sees his parent talk during dovening he feels he too has every right. People also don’t have the proper priorities when they dovin. They know that if they went to the opera they would get there on time and not interrupt the opera with talking. The opera is the priority. When they get to Shul  they feel that discussing  Israel’s options, the financial problems of the School or Shul, or how someone is feeling is more important. then dovening without interruption. True these things are important. Hashem wants to hear. Discuss them with him. He is MUCH, MUCH more likely to be able to do something about the problems that your neighbor.

We live in difficult and unsafe times. We see financial turmoil, political unrest and many recent natural disasters. We see the blood of our fellow Jews flow in the streets at the hands of terrorists. Can’t you get the picture? OUR LESS THAN REVERENT PRAYERS may be responsible. Do you want this responsibility on your head?

Above all stupidity is someone who comes early to dovin, does not say a word  extraneous to the prayers for hours and then starts to talk during the last Kaddish.

This is someone who created something beautiful and worthwhile, but like the proverbial  cow kicks over the bucket of milk.

In the MISEBARAICH we say every Shabat we wish a blessing among others for people who come to Shul to pray. This is a subtle message that you don’t get a blessing if you come to talk, to socialize or go to kiddish, only if you come to pray. May all of Israel be blessed on the merits of those who know why they come to Shul …TO PRAY

Summer Learning : July 1

July 1, 2009 (following Maariv)

Rabbi Dovid Hirsch

“Whistleblowing in the Jewish Tradition”

Rabbi Hirsch is a 1990 graduate of Yeshiva College, where he majored in computer science. Upon graduation from YC, Rabbi Hirsch received the Rothman Award for Excellence in Talmud. He earned his M.S. degree in Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration in 1993. That same year, he was ordained at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). After Rabbi Hirsch was granted semikhah (rabbinic ordination) from RIETS, he was named a fellow of the Gruss Kollel Elyon.

Rabbi Hirsch has taught Talmud and halakhah (Jewish law) and Jewish Thought in the Stone Beit Midrash Program at YU and was appointed Rosh Yeshiva on June 7,2000.

A native of Peoria, Illinois, he is married to Miriam Hirsch. The couple has three children, Esther, Rochel, and Rivka.

Kol Ditzrich

THANKS
Kudos to all who donated items last week for our Kol Ditzrich drive.  Two boxes of eyeglasses were sent out to New Eyes for the Needy and are distributed at clinics around the world.  Cell phones were sent to Cell Phones for Soldiers  and to Hopeline (to help victims of domestic violence).  Four bags of children’s books will put to great use in the south Bronx, where Ariela Perlman is teaching, and four more boxes will be sent to children of US military personnel in grade school on the army base at Camp LeJeune.   If you missed the deadline, and STILL WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE, you can still drop off eyeglasses, hearing aids, cell phones, and children’s books (in good condition) at the GNS office, until July 10th.   Any questions, call Nechama 516-773-3572.

Dear Friends at Great Neck Synagogue:

How wonderful to think of us! Our children are aged PreK-2 which is about ages 3-8.

Most of our children have a deployed parent and new stories always help to ease the stress of their lives.

Anything you would like to send would be appreciated by the children.

They can be sent in care of me:

Karla Peters

Johnson Primary School Media Center

Perek on the Lawn: June 27th

Perek on the Lawn

Mindy & Michael Leventhal will host Perek on the Lawn and are sponsoring it in honor of Mindy’s parents of Blessed Memory, Edward and Charlotte Scheinkman.

The Perek will begin at 6pm at the Leventhal home: 18 Brook Lane.

Senior Kollel

The Senior Kollel will be on hiatus until Monday August 3rd.

Please watch for the upcoming schedule.

Recipe Corner

Kids home from school?

Try this recipe to keep them busy.

Peanut Butter And Banana Muffins (dairy)

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup banana (about 1 banana), mashed with a fork
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• nonstick spray

Preheat oven to 350. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and then add the milk, mashed banana, peanut butter, oil, apple juice, dry milk. Mix until combined and creamy. Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix again. Line a muffin tine with paper liners or lightly spray with nonstick spray. Spoon in the muffin mix. Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 of the way up. Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from muffin tin and cool them on the wire rack. Makes 12.

Next week June 28th

NEXT WEEK (June 28th - July 2nd )

• Sunday June 28th, 7:30 am and 8:30 am
• Monday, Thursday, 6:35 am
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 6:45 am
• Second Shacharit Minyan (daily) 7:45 am
• Mincha (week of June 28th) 8:10 pm

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