Rabbi Ephraim Wolf Yahrzeit Page
February 24, 2010
Please follow the link on the home page to visit the special Yahrzeit page commemorating the sixth yahrzeit of our beloved Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf.
Update on Assistant/Associate Rabbinic Search Process
February 23, 2010
Update on Assistant/Associate Rabbinic Search Process.
Over the past month, the Search Committee has received approximately 25 resumes for this position. Many of the resumes have come through the placement committee of the Center for the Jewish Future of Yeshiva University, which coordinates the placements of candidates from Yeshiva University, the Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union. We have also received resumes forwarded to us by members, as well as unsolicited resumes that have been sent in by mail. The candidates range in age, experience and educational background. Most are married and some of them have children as well. They have previously served as rabbinic interns, assistant rabbis, associate rabbis and even a few rabbis. They come from small communities and large synagogues comparable to our own.
After several multi hour meetings, the Search Committee has narrowed the choices down to eight candidates. In the most general of terms, the committee focused on younger candidates with a strong secular educational background and with solid rabbinic experience. The committee also looked for candidates who would be a good match for our community and who shared the philosophical ideology of a modern orthodox community, a strong commitment to Israel and an openness and tolerance for all Jews, regardless of where they might be on the spectrum of religious growth. The committee was also interested in those candidates who have developed a significant depth of Jewish learning and who have solid reputations as speakers and teachers.
These candidates will be meeting the search committee over the next four weeks for intensive interviews. The committee will be looking for how closely the candidate matches his resume and how he interacts and handles himself in a group of people. They will also be asking a number of probing questions to gain a deeper understanding of the candidate’s views and personality. At the end of the interview process the search committee will invite three or four candidates to visit our community on Shabbat (the weekends following Pesach) and every member of the community will have an opportunity to meet, hear and get to know the candidates. After each visit the input of the synagogue membership will be requested to aid the search committee in its determination. Some time after the final visit the Search Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees and to the membership.
As always, please feel free to submit any thoughts you may have to assistantrabbisearch@gns.org, or speak directly to any member of the search committee.
Men’s Club & Sisterhood Event: Sunday,March 7
February 23, 2010
Dr. Melniker
Dr. Melniker
Great Neck Synagogue
Men’s Club & Sisterhood
On Sunday morning, March 7th at 10:00am, the Sisterhood and Men’s Club presents Dr. Lawrence Melniker, Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine at New York Methodist Hospital, who will talk about “How to Handle Collapse and True Emergencies for the Lay Person.” Rabbi Polakoff will also speak about how to handle medical emergencies on Shabbat. Thank you very much to Farla Frumkin for organizing this important event. Refreshments will be served.
Am Hasefer: Thursday, March 4
February 23, 2010
Rescheduled for Thursday,March 4, at 7:45 pm.
Dara Horn author of “All other Nights” will be here to discuss her book.
Tuesday, March, 9, 2010 7:45 p.m.Book Review:
Levittown: Two Families, One Tycoon, and the Fight for Civil Rights in America’s Legendary Suburb (Hardcover)
by David Kushner . Presented by the author.
Within Our Family: Feb. 27, 2010
February 23, 2010
Mazal Tov to Anita & Hal Beretz and Rachel & Michael Singer on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Elliot Harrison Beretz son of Suzanne & Stuart Beretz.
Mazal Tov to Zahava & Alf Slonim on the birth of a granddaughter, sister to Sophie, born to their children Rifki Zable & Yoni Slonim.
Mazal Tov to Elaine Wolf on the Bar Mitzvah of her great- grandson Yaakov Moshe Schmidman, son of Rabbi Abie & Adina Shmidman.
Mazal Tov to Sally Olshin on the birth of a granddaughter, born to her children Erica & Joshua Olshin.
Sponsorships: Feb 27, 2010
February 23, 2010
Kiddush is sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Roya & ben Shavolian
In memory of his Mother Hoori Shavolian, z”l
Laws of Purim 2010
February 23, 2010
THE FAST OF ESTHER
Each year on the day before Purim we observe the Fast of Esther. In a year when Purim falls out on Sunday, we observe the fast on the previous Thursday. The fast commemorates the fact that it was the 13th day of Adar, the day before the battles against Haman and his supporters, and that the Jews fasted and prayed for success. This year the fast falls on Thursday, February 25th. The fast begins at 5:14 am and concludes at 6:16 pm.
THE HALF SHEKEL
Beginning with mincha on Taanit Esther (and through Purim morning) it is customary to give charitable contributions as a symbolic remembrance of the money that was collected from each Jew for the Beit HaMikdash. That money is given in the form of a half dollar in commemoration of the half shekel collected during Temple times. Since the word “terumah” is mentioned three times in connection with this donation, our minhag is to give three half dollars. These coins will be available for you, to be exchanged for a contribution of an amount that you feel appropriate. The money which we will collect will be distributed to worthy causes.
THE MITZVOT OF PURIM
1. The Reading of the Megilah
The Megilah, which describes the Purim story, is read twice on Purim. The first reading occurs at night after the stars are visible and the second reading during the day. It is obligatory upon all men and women above Bar and Bat Mitzvah age to hear the reading of the Megilah both of these times. Accordingly, there are several readings in order to accommodate everyone. It is our custom that one person serves as the reader of the Megilah and all others in the congregation fulfill their obligation through him. Therefore it is essential for each and every word of the Megilah to be properly heard by those listening to the reading. It is for that reason that idle conversation is not permitted during the reading of the Megilah and an atmosphere of quiet attentiveness is encouraged. The reading of the Megilah at night is preceded by three blessings. Both the reader and the congregation stand for the recitation of those blessings. However, the congregation is seated for the actual reading of the Megilah. These same blessings are recited before the reading of the Megilah during the day. When listening to the third blessing during the day, the blessing of shehechiyanu, we keep in mind that the blessing should apply to the other commandments appropriate for the day of Purim as well. Although the custom is to bang and make noise during the time when Haman’s name is read, the commotion should be restrained so that everyone has a chance to hear every word of the Megilah.
2. The sending of Gifts - Mishloach Manot
During the day of Purim, each and every Jew is obligated to send to at least one friend two varieties of food needing no further preparation. There are many who practice this custom through the use of a messenger who delivers their packages and thus meticulously fulfill the mitzvah of “sending” rather than just giving. The sending of such packages is a wonderful way in which to celebrate the happiness and joy of Purim together with others in the community. Although a mourner is obligated to send these packages in fulfillment of the mitzvah, it is inappropriate to send to a mourner. The package may be sent to other members of the mourner’s family though.
3. Gifts to the Poor - Matanot La Evyonim
On Purim day each and every Jew is obligated to give a charitable contribution to at least two poor people. Such contributions should be in accordance with our ability to give. If there are no poor people available on Purim day, the money should be set aside and specifically designated to be given to poor people as soon as possible. Our Synagogue participates in a campaign on Purim Day with several organizations that distribute money to the poor in Israel. You can fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot LaEvyonim through the Jack Hershkowitz Emergency Fund on Purim day.
4. The Purim Meal - Seudat Purim
Customarily begun before sundown and continuing into the night following Purim there is an obligation to partake in a festive meal. Perhaps the best known component of this obligation is to celebrate the holiday until the point is reached when one can no longer distinguish between “Blessed is Mordechai” and “Cursed is Haman”. If however this state of slight intoxication will lead to a neglecting of commandments and inappropriate behavior than one should certainly restrain oneself in that manner of celebration. It goes without saying that the obligation of personal safety overrides all else and therefore it is prohibited to drink in honor of Purim if one will be driving afterwards.
Purim Extravaganza
February 22, 2010
PURIM EXTRAVAGANZA
Black Eyed Peas!!!!
“I Gotta Feelin….”
Flash Mob!
Next rehearsal @ 6:15 pm Tuesday
in Youth Center
All ages can participate.
Boys & Girls!
_____________________
Review of steps learned in last rehearsal.
You can still join the group.
Starting point:
(When man in video has his back to you)
Bounce-8x ,Bounce -8x
Turn around with right hand in air & jump - 8x
Bow & Arrow 2x, swim right, swim left-Macarena
Monkey 4x then 2x
Boogie 3x and clap 2x
Lean 4x
Slide /Down/up/clap
Down and up/clap
Repeat the whole sequence
Parshat Tizaveh by Mark Gersten
February 22, 2010
THE VALUE OF EVERY JEW, THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY JEW.
The end of our sedrah,Ex 30:7,8 describes twice each day how the Cohen Gadol would offer the incense on the alter. The incense was made of eleven spices one of which had a foul odor itself but became nullified when mixed with the rest. If this “helbona” was omitted the entire mixture was invalid and the compounder of the mixture was worthy of death. These facts highlight a very special message to us by HASHEM. The Jewish People are looked at by HASHEM like a mixture of incense, even the most evil (represented by the ill smelling helbona) are important to HASHEM. The Jewish people are lacking and incomplete without them. Each and every Jew is important to HASHEM.
No Jew has the right to minimize or degrade the value of any Jew or group of Jews.
On Succot this becomes perfectly clear. If any of the four species is missing the Mitzvah is null and void. Even the absence of the “aravot”, the willow, with neither smell or taste (neither Torah learning or mitzvoth) renders the Mitzvah invalid. Just as the four species must be held together for the Mitzvah, the unity of the Jewish people is paramount before any final redemption can take place.
When we finish the book of Exodus , Moses calculation of all the silver used falls short of the amount donated. ,HASHEM tells him to look up at the silver hooks for the pillars, that is where the 1775 shekels of silver went that Moses couldn’t account for. One might consider that there was a reason Moses overlooked the hooks. Betzalel who designed the tabernacle had RUACH HAKODESH. He assigned a use to each donation based on the intention of the donor. Hence the silver that was donated with tainted intention was relegated for less holy use such as for the hooks. Moshe overlooked this silver in the count because it represented less than pure motivation of the donor. When HASHEM told Moses to look up at the hooks he was reiterating that where Jews interface with HASHEM the contribution of even the most unsavory person is still necessary. The tabernacle would not be erected correctly without the silver hooks. Both the hooks and their donors are important in HASHEM’s eyes.
Not only does every Jew have value but he also possesses potential, even if not for himself, certainly at least through future generations. The olive oil for lighting the Menorah we read about in this weeks sedrah was also used for the grain sacrifices, wine was used for the libations, It is interesting that the wood and stubble of the grape vine and the olive tree could not be used as wood to stoke the fire of the alter, This is because the offspring of these vegetations the oil and wine are worth much more than wood as they are directly used in the service of HASHEM .Therefore their tree and vine must be saved and protected for the sake of the offspring
We are meant to imply from this that the potential of a simple Jew to have his son become a great sage is not only plausible but has occurred many times in our history.
Never discount the potential of any Jew.
Women’s Tefilah Purim
February 22, 2010
BE HAPPY IT’S ADAR!!!
Women’s Tefila of Great Neck Synagogue
invites you to join them on
Purim morning for Megila Reading & Fun
Sunday, February 28, 2010
in the Beit Midrash
9:00 am Davening 9:30 am Megila Reading
The ages of the women reading will span from
Bat Mitzvah to Septuagenarians
Mini Seudah to follow Megila Reading
_________________________________________
The next Women’s Tefila March 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Program: Discussion of the Highlights of the
JOFA Conference March 13-14 at Columbia University
Sign up at www.jofa.org
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