Page 2 - Announcements Mon. Feb. 21

26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Vayakhel 5782
groups. Initially neither group knew of the existence of the I suggest that the passage is not a joke but a precisely
other. They were staying in cabins far apart. The first week calibrated truth. To understand it we must read the
was dedicated to team-building. The boys hiked and swam continuation: “Scholars increase peace in the world as it is
together. Each group chose a name for itself – they became said, ‘All your children shall be learned of the Lord and
The Eagles and the Rattlers. They stenciled the names on great will be the peace of your children’ (Isaiah 54:13).
their shirts and flags. Then, for four days they were Read not ‘your children’ but ‘your builders.’” When scholars
introduced to one another through a series of competitions. become builders they create peace. If you seek to create a
There were trophies, medals and prizes for the winners, and community out of strongly individualistic people, you have
nothing for the losers. Almost immediately there was to turn them into builders. That is what Moses did in
tension between them: name-calling, teasing, and Vayakhel.
derogatory songs. It got worse. Each burned the other’s
flag and raided their cabins. They objected to eating Team-building, even after a disaster like the golden calf, is
together with the others in the same dining hall. neither a mystery nor a miracle. It is done by setting the
group a task, one that speaks to their passions and one no
Stage 3 was called the ‘integration phase’. Meetings were subsection of the group can achieve alone. It must be
arranged. The two groups watched films together. They lit constructive. Every member of the group must be able to
Fourth-of-July firecrackers together. The hope was that make a unique contribution and then feel that it has been
these face-to-face encounters would lessen tensions and valued. Each must be able to say, with pride: I helped
lead to reconciliation. They didn’t. Several broke up with make this. That is what Moses understood and did. He
the children throwing food at one another. knew that if you want to build a team, create a team that
builds.
In stage 4, the researchers arranged situations in which a
problem arose that threatened both groups simultaneously.
The first was a blockage in the supply of drinking water to
the camp. The two groups identified the problem separately
and gathered at the point where the blockage had occurred.
They worked together to remove it and celebrated together
when they succeeded. In another, both groups voted to
watch some films. The researchers explained that the films
would cost money to hire, and there was not enough in
camp funds to do so. Both groups agreed to contribute an
equal share to the cost. In a third, the coach on which they
were travelling stalled, and the boys had to work together
to push it. By the time the trials were over, the boys had
stopped having negative images of the other side. On the
final bus ride home, the members of one team used their GNS Class Schedule
prize money to buy drinks for everyone. Sunday
Similar outcomes have emerged from other studies. The 9:15 am: Midrash Class - Rabbi Polakoff
conclusion is revolutionary. You can turn even hostile
factions into a single cohesive group so long as they are Monday
faced with a shared challenge that all can achieve together 8:30 am: Scholars’ Kollel - Rabbi Froimowitz
but none can do alone. Rabbi Norman Lamm, former 8:30 pm: Gemara Sota - Rabbi Polakoff
President of Yeshiva University, once remarked that he
knew of only one joke in the Mishnah, the statement that Tuesday
“Scholars increase peace in the world” (Brachot 64a). 8:30 am: Scholars’ Kollel - Rabbi Polakoff
Rabbis are known for their disagreements. How then can
they be said to increase peace in the world? Wednesday
8:30 am: Scholars’ Kollel - Dr. Alan Mazurek
Great Neck Synagogue 9:00 pm: WNL Chabura - Rabbi Lichter
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023
516-487-6100 Thursday
8:30 am: Scholars’ Kollel - Rabbi Lichter
Rabbi Dale Polakoff, Rabbi 9:15 am: Women’s Chumash - Rabbi Polakoff
Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi
Rabbi Yehoshua Lefkowitz, Intern Rabbi Friday
Dr. Ephraim Wolf, z”l, Rabbi Emeritus 8:30 am: Scholars’ Kollel - Rabbi Froimowitz
Yitzy Spinner, Cantor
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus Shabbat
Rabbi Dr. Michael & Zehava Atlas, Youth Rabbi & Youth Director 8:30 am: Parsha Shiur
Mark Twersky, Executive Director before Mincha: Gemara Moed Katan
Dr. James Frisch, Assistant Director Rabbis Polakoff & Lichter
Jordan Wolf, President
Dov Sassoon, Chairman of the Board