Within Our Family: June 2, 2012
May 30, 2012
Mazal Tov to Marcia & Dan Horowitz on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Jacob.
Mazal Tov to Martin Sokol on his upcoming wedding to Shoshana Agus.
Mazal Tov to Harvey Kaylie on being Grand Marshall at the Salute to Israel Parade.
Mazal Tov to Bryan Lipsky for being listed in 36 under 36, the fifth annual list of young educators, thinkers, social justice activists, philanthropists and artists reinventing Jewish life from The Jewish Week.
The City University of New York will bestow an honorary doctorate upon our member Harvey Kaylie at the commencement of the City College of NY Friday, June 1. The Kaylies, wonderful and beloved members and benefactors of our shul, as well as so many great causes are also major benefactors of the City University of New York. Their gifts have provided countless opportunities for engineering students.
Sponsorships: June 2, 2012
May 30, 2012
Kiddush is sponsored by Marilyn & Alan Sarfaty in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Jacob Horowitz.
Bima Flowers in the Main Sanctuary are sponsored by the Sokol, Heisler and Hollander Families in honor of the upcoming marriage of Martin Sokol to Shoshana Agus.
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by the attendees of the Saturday Afternoon Gemorah Shiur in honor of their completing Mesechta Taanis and in honor of our Rabbeyim that taught them.
The Sunday Breakfast is sponsored by Elizabeth Katzwer, Carol Karbowitz and Lynn Steinberg in memory of Jacob Katzwer and by Bracha & Zeev Kron in memory of Shlomo ben Zeev, Rachel bat Dov, Esther bat Avram Yehudah Leib and Yosef ben Zeev.
End Of Year Bash & Grand Raffle: June 16, 2012
May 29, 2012
Saturday, June 16 the Youth department will hold its End of Year Bash and Grand Raffle.
All children are invited to attend.
Sign your tickets before you come and enter them in the Grand Raffle.
Great Prizes.
Great Food.
Great Fun.
Graduation & Congregational Kiddush: May 26, 2012
May 25, 2012
We thank the following for their sponsorship
2012 Graduation Kiddush Sponsors
Alan & Lisa Adler on the graduation of Ava from NSHA Middle School.
Moti & Sharon Ahdut on the graduation of Laura from Yeshiva Har Torah.
Sheila Bachman on the graduation of her granddaughter Brittany Bachman from JFK-Bellmore Merrick HS and going to Towson Univ. in Baltimore.
Chuck & Carol Berlin on the graduations of Alyssa & Nicole from NSHA HS and acceptance of Alyssa to Univ. of Pennsylvania and Nicole to Midreshet Amit and Stern College.
Dov & Ada Berkowitz on the graduations of Yoni from Mt. Sinai Medical School and Ron from NSHA HS.
Steven & Robyn Blumner on the graduations of Sarah & Zachary from NSHA HS and acceptance of Sarah to Pace Univ. and Zachary to FIT Illustration.
Arnold & Viviane Breitbart on the graduations of Morris with honors from Princeton Univ. and Marcelle from NSHA HS.
Hal & Debbie Chadow on the graduation of Aaron from HAFTR HS.
Gary & Lillian Chubak on the graduation of Jennie from Hunter College with a Masters in Education.
Scott & Laura Danoff on the graduations of Katie Danoff Geft from NYU College of Dentistry and acceptance to a residency at NSUH and Nadav Geft from Baruch College Honors MBA program and going to work for Yahoo.
Mark & Meryl Friedman on the graduation of Rayna from NSHA HS.
Mark Gersten on the acceptance of Josh to Pittsburgh Dental School.
Jerome Goodman on the graduation of granddaughter Maya Levy from NSHA HS and acceptance to Barnard College.
Marc & Beth Gottlieb on the graduations of Brian from NSHA HS and Andrew from NSHA Middle School.
Eliot & Erica Heisler on the graduations of Amanda from NSHA Middle School and James from NSHA Lower School.
Marty & Judy Hoffman on the graduation of Esther Ainspan from NY College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Robert, Debbie, Samantha, Brandon and Alex Hollander on the graduations of Amanda Heisler from NSHA Middle School and James Heisler from NSHA Lower School.
Ben & Tammy Jampel on the graduation of Jordanna from NSHA HS and acceptance to SUNY New Paltz.
Michael & Jamie Katz on the graduation of Jason from NSHA HS.
Ken Magida in honor of Jason receiving his PhD. in Biology from Univ. of Colorado.
Avrum & Addy Markowitz on the graduations of Daniel from NYU and Ben from NSHA HS.
Robert & Annie Mendelson on the graduation of Bonnie from NSHA Middle School.
Milt & Ruth Mitzner on the graduation of #1 grandson Max Mitzner from SUNY Albany and Hannah Mitzner from North Shore HS in Glen Head.
Yaacov & Gail Mizrahi on the graduation of Shira Mizrahi Blank from Cardozo Law School.
Carl & Rachel Mosesson on the graduation of Jonathan from NSHA Middle School.
Rabbi Dale & Ellen Polakoff on the graduations of Eitan Hoffman from Queensborough Community College with an A.A.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology, Ephraim Polakoff from Azrielli Graduate School of Jewish Education with an M.A. in Jewish Education and Yehudah Polakoff from Baruch College with an MS. in Business Computer Information Systems.
Arthur & Naeema Pomerantz on the graduation of Joshua from the Robert H Smith School of Business, Univ. of Maryland at College Park.
Issac & Farah Sachmechi on the graduation of Amanda from Queens College with a Masters in Nutrition.
The Steinberg, Ginsburg and Shalmon family on the graduation of Philip Steinberg from Yeshiva University HS for Boys and his acceptance to Yeshivat Ashreinu in Israel and Hofstra Univ.
Lynn Steinberg on the graduation of Sara Steinberg Bienstock from the Univ. of Pennsylvania Dental School.
Howard & Michele Wolf on the graduation of Jamie from Cardozo Law School.
Ed & Karen Wydra on the graduations of Nathaniel from NYU Stern Graduate School and Shawn from NSHA Middle School.
2012 Congregational Kiddush Sponsors
Gary & Lillian Chubak in honor of the engagement of their son Steven to Ellen Shvets.
Stanley & Jacqueline Fischer in honor of the birth of their grandson, Nathaniel Lev Fischer, son of David & Rachel.
Mark Gersten in honor of the latest additions to the clan: Cooper Eidman, Talia Gersten and Akiva Gersten.
Martin & Judy Hoffman on the appointment of Rabbi Evan Hoffman as Rabbi of Congregation Anshe Shalom of New Rochelle.
Robert, Debbie, Samantha, Brandon & Alex Hollander in honor of the upcoming marriage of their father & grandfather Martin Sokol to Shoshana Agus.
Stephen & Carol Karbowitz in honor of the marriage of Rachel & Josh Spindel.
Myles & Rona Mittleman on the birth of their twin grandchildren, Sasha & Cooper.
Jared & Liz Ort in honor of the birthdays of Aviva, Shani and Benny.
Rabbi Dale & Ellen Polakoff in honor of the wedding of Aliza and Lior Tor.
Grant & Galit Reichlin in honor of the birth of their daughter Liora Sara.
Perry & Charlotte Schneider in honor of the upcoming wedding of their daughter Lauren to Sammy Flaks.
In Memory Of
In memory of Barbara Horowitz, z”l.
Lena Laskin in memory of her mother Gladys Etra, z”l.
Glenn & Cindy Ludwig in memory of her father Alvin Gelber, z”l.
Fred & Janet Pomerantz in memory of their parents Nathan Siegel and Mina & David Pomerantz, z”l.
Carl & Rivka Rosenberg in memory of his father Henry Rosenberg, z”l his grandmother Julia Muller, z”l and his aunt Bluma Muller, z”l.
Rafi & Arlette Shaya in memory of their parents David & Victoria Shaya and Vita & Odette Dayan, z”l.
Alex & Lily Weiss in memory of their parents Ignat Weiss & Zeev and Hannah Krendel, z”l.
Michael & Galina Weiss in memory of his father Ignat Weiss, z”l.
Peace of Parsha: Bamidbar: Dr. Laura Danoff
May 24, 2012
The parsha opens with G-d’s commandment to Moshe and Aharon to conduct a counting of the Jewish people. The Children of Israel had already been counted numerous times before; once when they went down to Egypt, a 2nd time upon their exodus and then after the incident of the sin of the golden calf in order to know the number of survivors.
Does G-d who is absolutely omniscient need to count the Jews to determine their actual population if he already knows it? Rashi states that Hashem repeatedly counted the Jewish people because of his love for them. Hashem commands Moshe to count each Jew as “one” so each person is considered significant and equal before Hashem since each one possesses a spark of his neshomah. Ramban says that the Hebrew word for count “pakod” can also mean to be concerned with or remember.
G-d commanded that the Jews be counted to show us that each man rich or poor, learned or ignorant are all equal members of the Jewish nation. Every Jew and at any level has an equal share in the Torah.
The census taken in Bamidbar though was different than those taken prior. Here, Moshe was commanded to “take a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel according to their families of their paternal household.” Rashi says that each person(male from ages 20-60) had to present his genealogical documents and witnesses so that each person could be registered in his tribe and family. The family unit thus constituted the foundation of the Jewish nation and each person registered according to his own Hebrew name.
After being introduced to Moshe & Aharon by name and background Moshe & Aharon gave each one a blessing. According to Rav Alpert this was Hashem’s way of trying to give confidence to a nation of former slaves.
The Torah states ” And with you shall be one from each tribe, each man should be the head of his family.” Rabbi Moshe Chairfetz, author of Meleches Machsheves interprets this to mean that a person should not depend on the stature of his ancestors to determine his own self worth and status in life. You should be elevated to as high a level as possible educationally and morally in your own right. Each person should be the head of his own family’s lineage.
In parsha Bamidbar it states “Each man of the children of Israel shall encamp alongside his banner according to the insignia of their father’s house.” The names of Avraham, Yitzhak & Ya’acov were written on the banners. The gematria of our forefathers names is 13 which in Hebrew is ehad,which means one one. This reminds us that the children of Israel must live in unity and it is this unity that will give us strength.
There were 603,550 men available for military service. The tribe of Levi which numbered 22,300 was exempt from military service because of their special responsibilities as religious leaders and were commanded to serve in the sanctuary and guard its vessels. Originally, this honor belonged to the firstborn males of the Children of Israel who were spared by Hashem during the plague of the firstborn in Egypt. This privilege was taken away from them because of their participation in the sin of the golden calf and thus this distinctionwas given to the Levites. All Levite males were counted from the age of one month and older. This explains why the pidyon ha- ben is done at 30 days for the firstborn males who are not of Levite descent.
The Torah portion of Bamidbar is usually read the Shabbat before the holiday of Shavuot, when G-d gave us the Torah. Shavuot is the only holiday for which the Torah did not establish a specific day of the month. It is celebrated on the 50th day, after counting the Omer for a period of seven weeks. We prepare for Shavuot by counting numbers.
We should all be “counting” our blessings that we were given the Torah. Each of us must recognize our important role in committing ourselves to the Torah to follow its laws, and study its endless wisdom bringing its application into our daily lives. Our boundaries and rewards are endless just like the desert where the Torah was given.
This Peace of Parsha is in honor of my husband Scott on becoming President of Great Neck Synagogue. May you go from strength to strength and continue to always make each day count! Shabbat Shalom!
May 26, 2012
May 21, 2012
Tikun Leil Shavout & Shavout Activities 2012
May 21, 2012
Celebrating Shavuot, 5772
Saturday Night, May 26
TIKUN LEIL SHAVUOT @ YIGN
11:30 pm - 12:20 am - Shul : Rabbi Yaacov Lerner
“Lo Tisa - Do Not Take the Name of Hashem in Vain: What’s in a name?”
12:20 am - 1:10 am - Shul : Rabbi Dale Polakoff
“Memorial Day Barbecues or Bechukoteihem Lo Telechu? Following non-Jewish customs.”
1:10 am- 1:30 am - Downstairs Break and Refreshments
1:30 am - 3:00 am Rabbis Acobas, Ismach, Jensen, Lichter and Slomnicki - Shul
The Modern Orthodox Chinuch Roundtable. This exciting panel will deal with many of the controversial issues relating to educating both children and adults including:
Parent/Teacher Partnerships - mixed messages in our community?
Unique Makeup of a Great Neck Classroom: Respect for Various Cultures
How do I as an educator maintain a connection with my students outside of the classroom?
Half Shabbos: What’s the real problem?
Translating the Classroom into the Synagogue - Lessons Adults (even Rabbis) Can Learn from Kids
A part of the session will be dedicated to questions from the audience.
3:15 am-4:00 am - Shul: Dr. Efraim Weinblatt
“Rus Merits the Malchus But Why Dovid? Musings on the Yahrzeit of Dovid Hamelech”
4:00 am-4:45 am - Shul: Rabbi Daniel Schwechter
“Rebbe Akiva and Moshe Rabbeinu: The Grand Rabbis of Torah She Baal Peh and Bichtav”
Chevruta learning throughout the night in Beit Midrash
4:55 am- Shacharit
5:28 am - Netz (Sunrise)
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Monday Afternoon, May 28 2nd Annual
SHAVUOT BARBECUE & LEARNING @ GNS
6:00 - 6:50 pm
Barbecue Dinner in the Gym
7:00 - 7:45 pm
Child care and special programming for children in Braun Youth Center
7:00 - 7:45 pm
Men’s class with Rabbi Polakoff: Main Sanctuary
“It’s A Man’s World? Support, Tuition,Vacation, Camp, Clothing - How Much Does Halacha Expect From Us?”
Women’s class with Rabbi Lichter: Beit Midrash
“Naomi, Ruth, & Boaz:Seduction on the Threshing Floor”
7:50 pm Mincha
8:10 - 9:00pm NEILAT HACHAG
Learning with Rabbi Bronstein: Gym (Mender Auditorium)
“Celebratory Commemorations:From Lag B’Omer to Memorial Day”
9:00 pm Maariv
Sunscreen For Soldiers
May 21, 2012
MEMORIAL DAY PROJECT
In lieu of participating in the annual Memorial Day Parade, which falls on Shavuot this year, NSHA and GNS will be collecting sunscreen to be sent to U.S. soldiers, and NSHA students will be sending postcards to the soldiers. A letter will be sent to parade organizers describing these efforts. Please drop off new plastic sunscreen containers at the shul during the week of May 21st. Thank you
Sponsorships: May 26, 2012
May 21, 2012
SHABBAT CONGREGATIONAL & GRADUATION KIDDUSH
BOTH DAYS SHAVUOT KIDDUSH ARE SPONSORED BY GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE
Bima Flowers for Shavout are sponsored by Rita Gordonson and Family in memory of Dr. Lewis Gordonson, z”l
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Within Our Family: May 26, 2012
May 21, 2012
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