GNS to host Member of Kenesset Yaakov “Katzela” Katz

Great Neck Synagogue is privileged to host Member of Kenesset Yaakov “Katzela” Katz, who will address the congregation following 4:45pm Mincha. He will share with us a unique perspective on the issues facing the government of Israel during these days.

Born in 1951, MK Katz is a 5^th generation Israeli who graduated a Bnei Akiva High School and studied at the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. He served as a member of an elite commando unit and was almost killed in a battle with Egyptian commandoes during the 1973 Yom Kippur war. He was one of the first 10 families to live in Beit El and established the Arutz Sheva radio station. He currently serves as Chairman of the National Union Alliance.

Parsha Vayetzei by Dr. Laura Danoff

The message of this parsha Vayetzei “and he went out” is immediately

apparent. Ya’acov goes out “to the world.” Esav, his brother is

chasing him with the intent of killing him so Ya’acov leaves the

comfort of his parent’s home in the land of Israel and begins his

journey to Padan Aram, to the home of Laban. He has no choice but to leave.

Then the passage continues “Vayifga bamakon”- He encountered “the

place.” Rashi says that this place was Mt. Moriah, the site of the

binding of his father Yitzhak. It is said that Ya’acov passed by the

Temple Mount, almost in Charan, and after realizing his mistake,

immediately turned around to return to the site of the future Beis

Hamikdash. Miraculously, G-d shortened Ya’acovs journey and the Temple

Mount appeared before him. We learn from this that Hashem will help

those who make an effort to take the first step. The ability to

recognize one’s mistakes is what elevates a person and makes him

stronger. Ya’acov is known for his emes (truth). It is this ability to

admit the emes, recognize his mistake, and do teshuvah that makes us

appreciate the strength of Ya’acovs character.

It is at this place that Ya’acov has his famous dream of a giant

ladder reaching the heavens, with angels ascending and descending. Why

were the angels not first descending from heaven where they originated

from and only then ascend? Rashi says that the angels who accompanied

Ya’acov in Eretz Yisrael could not leave the land, so they ascended

first and departed. The angels of the Diaspora then descended and

continued to protect Ya’acov from harm. Perhaps, Hashem showed Ya’acov

both sets of angels so he would know that G-d would always be with him

in galut just as he had felt his presence in Eretz Yisrael. May we

also always be blessed to see Hashem in all areas of our lives!

The lesson of the ladder teaches us that if we are to achieve our

spiritual potential, we must keep growing. On a ladder, we can never

stand still; either we go up or we go down. In Judaism, we cannot stay

in one place. We must think of the angle that the mezuzah in our home

is placed and continue to grow, learn Torah and do mitzvot. If one is

not growing closer to Hashem, then we are slipping.

The ladder in Ya’acovs dream “was wedged in the ground and its top

reached to heaven” (Bereishit 28:12). Similarly, we also must stick to

our beliefs but always strive to include Hashem in each aspect of our

lives.

The rung of the ladder we happen to be on temporarily is not as

important as which direction we are heading. Rabbi Nachman said, “One

can always change course and come close to the eternal one.” Most

interesting is that the word “sulam” (ladder) and Sinai have the same

gematria of 130. Sulam, though, can also be spelled with a vav which

would give it the same numerical value of Kol (voice,prayer), Tzom

(fasting, repentance), and mammon (money,charity)- which are all

methods to build our ladder. As we say on Rosh Hashanah, repentance,

prayer, and charity can cancel the evil decree. We therefore may use

our money for tzedaka as a means to climb the ladder. The Zohar tells

us that the ladder in Ya’acov’s dream represents prayer. Like the

ladder, our prayers reach from earth to heaven. It is our means for

each individual person to connect to G-d.

In his dream, Ya’acov saw Hashem at the top of the ladder, teaching us

that G-d is in charge of the world. We should feel stronger knowing

that things don’t just happen randomly in our lives, but that G-d is

there to protect us. He will help us climb the ladder one rung at a

time, going “from one mitzvah to another mitzvah.”

Shabbat Shalom! This d’var torah is in honor of the birthday of our

son, Eitan Chaim. May you always continue to aim for the next rung of

the ladder and may Hashem give you and Danielle the strength to keep

climbing in excellent health and complete joy!

December 3, 2011

December 3 Shabbat Announcements

November 26, 2011

November 26 Shabbat Announcements

Midrash, Sunday, November 27, 2011

60 Second Daily Halacha, November 28, 2011

60 Second Daily Halacha, November 25, 2011

60 Second Daily Halacha, November 24, 2011

60 Second Daily Halacha, November 23, 2011

60 Second Daily Halacha, November 22, 2011

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