November 14, 2009

Parshat Chayei Sara

November 14, 2009 27 Cheshvan, 5770

Rabbi Frand Thoughts on the Parsha Torah Artscroll, 106 Hertz, 80

From Where Did Avraham that it was not important to Come? indicate any geographic point of departure. Rather, the intent is to indicate that Avraham A famous Medrash Haftorah reached a certain level of Rabbah on this week's Artscroll, 1136 inspiration in eulogizing his Hertz, 90 parsha (58:5) cites the wife. When a person is inspired pasuk [verse] "And Mevorchim Chodesh to d o something, the Torah Avraham came to mourn Kislev uses the expression "he is for Sarah and to cry for Tues., November 17 12:15:09 pm coming to it". "And Avraham her" [Bereshis 23:3]. The came to mourn for Sarah" Medrash asks "From Times where did he come?" Rav indicates that he was motivated Candle lighting 4:21 pm Levi answers that he came to eulogize her for some specific reason. from the burial of Terach Mincha 4:25 pm his father. Rav Yossi Hashkama 8:00 am questions this explanation Rabbeinu Bechaya explains by virtue of the fact that Youth 8:30 am that in order to address this Terach died two years question, the Medrash quotes Parsha Shiur 8:30 am before Sarah and offers the difference of opinion Main Minyan 9:00 am the alternate explanation between Rav Levi and Rav that Avraham came from Yossi. Rav Levi and Rav Yossi Beit Midrash 9:15 am (the Akeidah on) Mt. are not answering the question: Gemorah Shiur 3:30 pm Moriah. "Where did Avraham come from?" Rather, they are Mincha 4:10 pm answering the question "What Rabbeinu Bechaya deals Shabbat Ends 5:28 pm with this same issue, and was the inspiration that brought Sunday, 7:30 /8:30am sheds new light for us on him to eulogize his wife Sarah?" November 15th the dispute quoted by the Rav Levi says the inspiration came from the funeral of Medrash. Had scripture Mon., & Thurs., 6:35 am Terach. Rav Yossi insisted that wished to tell us that Tuesday 6:30 am any such inspiration would have Avraham came from a worn off after two years; rather certain place, it would Wed., & Fri., 6:45 am it must have come from Mt. have named the place. Second Moriah where he had recently The fact that the pasuk Shacharit 7:45 am experienced the Akeida. states simply "Avraham Minyan (Daily) came" without specifying a Mincha (week of 4:20 pm place of origin indicates What was the inspiration that

Avraham received at the Akeida that moved him to eulogize his wife? As much as one knows one's wife, Avraham sensed greatness in Sarah at the Akeida that he had never before sensed. If one has a 37year-old son and tells him "G-d told me to slaughter you" and the son is prepared to listen and willingly be slaughtered, that speaks volumes about the son, but it also speaks volumes about the mother that raised such a son. For a person who is told by his father that it is time for him to be killed on the altar – even though it flies in the face of everything he knows – to comply with his father's order is not a natural phenomenon, to put it mildly. Yitzchak was only able to withstand this great test because of the attribute of Emunas Chachomim [belief in the words of the Sages] that his mother inculcated in him from his earliest youth.

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Using similar logic, we can now understand the viewpoint of Rav Levi who

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interpreted "When Avraham came" to mean he came from the funeral of Terach. Of course Rav Levi realized that the eulogy of Terach was two years prior to Sarah's passing. But Rav Levi was saying that the greatness of Sarah was even more astounding to Avraham be cause of the eulogy of Terach. Avraham Avinu knew where he came from. He knew that his father was an idolater. Avraham reasoned that he himself had the fortune to see the light of truth in his life. But it by no means would obviously follow that his children would likewise come to the same conclusion. Given who his father was and who he came from, it was not a simple matter that his son turned out the way he did. Considering what his spiritual DNA was all about, the fact that he had a son like Yitzchak who was willing to be offered upon on Altar of G-d was not something he took for granted. This speaks even more volumes about Sarah's greatness as a mother and role model.

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Chayei Sara 5770

Gan Eden during this period until he recovered from those wounds. Furthermore, it is based on thi s experience that Yitzchak later was able to identify the aroma of the coat of his son Eisav as being equivalent to the aroma of the Garden of Eden [Bereshis 27:27]: "See, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which Hashem has blessed".

Basically, Rav Levi and Rav Yossi are conveying the same idea. Avraham was inspired to eulogize Sarah because of the great son who she raised. After having just experienced the Akeida and being reminded of Yitzchak's idolatrous ancestry, Avraham recognized the great role Sarah played in making Yitzcha k who he was. Where Was Yitzchak? In the same passage, Rabbeinu Bechaya raises the following issue: Where was Yitzchak when this eulogy and burial took place? Rabbeinu Bechaya suggests that Yitzchak was not immediately aware of the death of his mother. Sarah's death (according to the Medrash) was due to the shock at hearing of Yitzchak's near death experience at the Akeida. Having thus been indirectly responsible for her passing, the news of this tragedy was hidden from him for the time being. Rabbeinu Bechaya further suggests that during the entire 3 year gap from the time of the Akeida (when he was 37) until the time that he married Rivka (at age 40), Yitzchak remained at Mt. Moriah. Others quote an alternate suggestion as to Yitzchak's whereabouts during this period, in the name of the Zohar. The Zohar records that Yitzchak was actually injured during the Akeida, and the Angels took him to Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Shalom Axelrod, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus Michael Bleicher, Rabbinic Intern Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus Mark Twersky, Executive Director Howard Silberstein, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

SAVE THE DATE

Great Neck Synagogue 58th Annual Dinner Honoring

Gary & Lillian Chubak Glenn & Heidi Zuckerman Boneh Habayit

Gilbert Aronowitz Saturday evening December 5, 2009 Gala Buffet Dinner will be served.

ROSH CHODESH LECTURE SERIES Come join the Great Neck Scholars Kollel for an evening of inspiration. The Shiur will take place at the Great Neck Synagogue on Tuesday, November 17 at 8 pm Refreshments will be served Men and Women are welcome.

Brrrr…. It’s Cold outside

GNS KOL DITZRICH COAT DRIVE Thursday November 19th 6:00-8:00 PM Coatroom Lobby Bring gently used coats & warm clothes in excellent condition

This year for Thanksgiving You can really give thanks and be giving! Buy a Thanksgiving Dinner for a resident at Arrandale Senior Housing and make your parents proud of you.

$18 can sponsor a dinner in honor of/in memory of your parents Name:__________________________________________ Phone #_________________________________________ Email:__________________________________________ Meals purchased in memory/ in honor of:______________ ________________________________________________ Amount enclosed:______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ We are also looking for a limited number of volunteers (ALL AGES) to help serve the dinner, clean up, play music, sing & talk to the residents I would like to volunteer on Thursday, Nov 26th 11:30 -2 pm Food Server:_______________ Other Talent:____________________ Volunteer Names & Kids’ Ages: _________________________________ Co-Sponsored by: GNS Hunger Initiative, Sisterhood & Women’s Tefila

For more info: call Nechama at 516516-773773-3572 or email [email protected] Please return to: GNS 26 Old Mill Road

Gt Neck, NY 110

ANNOUNCEMENTS RABBI REISMAN SATURDAY NIGHT TELECAST Join us in the Weinstein Torah & Technology Center at 7:30pm SUNDAY BREAKFAST Sunday Breakfast is sponsored by Ellen & Andrew Allen in memory of his mother, Harriet Allen, z”l. GUEST SPEAKER This Seudah Shlishit, Andrew Parver will be speaking on behalf of the Hebrew Free Burial Society.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

Mazal Tov to Michal & Jonathan Talit on the birth of their son. Mazal Tov to Mark Gersten on the birth of his granddaughter, born to his children Tamara & Avigdor Gersten in Baltimore, Maryland. SAVE THE DATE The Iranian American Jewish Federation will be holding their Annual Dinner, Tues., Nov 10, at Leonard’s of Great Neck. For info call 466-8947. Ambassador Michael Oren will be the guest speaker.

LATE MAARIV The late minyan will take place Mon-Thurs. at 8:15 pm. Please make every effort to support this minyan.

SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN The NSHA and the NSHA High School, in conjunction with the greater Great Neck Jewish Community, is holding a unique and unprecedented campaign that involves the commissioning and dedication of 12 new Sifrei Torah. The Siyum will take place on Sun., Nov. 22, the Yahrzeit weekend AM HASEFER of Sam Aharonoff z”l. All proceeds will support the Sam Aharonoff Tues., Nov. 10th, at 7:45 pm Barry Serota will be here to Memorial Scholarship Fund to help offset tuition costs for dozens of needy discuss “From Bible To Broadway-3,000 Years of Jewish Music” students. To participate in the campaign or for info: www.shivteitorah.org, or call Arnie Flatow 487-8687 ext 2.

SISTERHOOD ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP (FREE) DINNER We are excited to announce that the Sisterhood Annual PaidUp Membership Dinner will be held on Rosh Chodesh Kislev, Wed. Nov. 18th at 6pm at Chatanooga Restaurant. We’re grateful to Ilana & Jonathan Kroll for sponsoring our special guest speaker Rabbanit Malke Bina in gratitude to Hashem. This year's dinner and lecture will be dedicated to our beloved Sisterhood President Emerita, Helene Gersten z"l. Rabbanit Bina is the founder of Matan, the first Women's Institute for Torah Studies in Israel and abroad. In 2006, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University for her work in teaching Torah to women and in 2008, she was Emunah's Women of the Year. We look forward to seeing all of you there! Our reservation's list is filling up very quickly this year. For information, contact the dinner co-chairs Judy Lillien 487-6845 or Anne Sandler 829-8839. Please consider being an event sponsor - bronze $18, silver $36 or gold $72.

CHESED North Shore Hospital needs your help with their winter mincha minyan (Mon. -Thurs. at 2pm). Contact Rabbi Coleman to arrange for free convenient parking 562-4011 or [email protected]

The Knepper & Marin families would like to thank Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Axelrod, Cantor Kron, Great Neck Synagogue, and the entire community for their outpouring of sympathy, kind thoughts, and deeds following the passing of Rosalie Pearl Marin. The Eckstein family would like to thank Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Axelrod, Cantor Kron and the Great Neck Synagogue community for their outpouring of sympathy, kind thoughts, and deeds following the passing of Herbert Eckstein.

DOS YIDDISH VORT MEETING On Wed., Nov. 18th, Dos Yiddish Vort will present a video (with English subtitles) of the history and present status of Yiddish in Israel. Join us at 1:30 pm in the Weinstein Torah & Technology Center. For info, contact Roz Wagner 487-9795. FEEDING THE HUNGRY Friday food deliveries to the Hodkin residence at 18 Birchwood Lane have been temporarily suspended. We expect to resume in approx 3-4 weeks. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated. THANKSGIVING FOR SENIORS Hunger Initiative, Sisterhood and Womens Tefila are once again sponsoring Thanksgiving Dinner at the Arrandale Senior Housing complex. Sponsors are needed to provide meals and donations can be made in memory or in honor of someone. $18 can sponsor one dinner. For info contact, Nechama Liss-Levinson at 773-3572 or [email protected]. COAT DRIVE Thurs., Nov. 19th, between 6 and 8pm in the Coatroom Lobby we will be collecting gently worn coats and warm clothes. CONTACT INFORMATION WANTED We are once again collecting the contact information of our college students both here and in Israel. Please email [email protected] or call the GNS office and provide us with the appropriate information so that we can maintain the connection developed over the years. DANCE CLASS Join us for free dance class every Wednesday at 9:30 am.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 27 Cheshvan Stanley Lupkin for Sylvia Lupkin Paul Marcus for Sylvia Marcus Leon Miller for Symma Miller Sam Movsas for Israel Movsas Paul Weinberg for Jerry Weinberg Millie Werber for Jacob Werber David Werber for Jacob Werber Martin Werber for Jacob Werber Sunday, 28 Cheshvan Elana Flax for Janie Matzkin Shulamid Gavronsky for Bertha Kopelowitz Cheryl Sneag for Janie Matzkin Monday, 29 Cheshvan Gilbert Aronowitz for Betty Luchansky Melvin Breite for David Block Belle Brotleit for Henry Brotleit Evelyn Henis for Fannie Noah Jeffrey Kaufman for David Lawson Kaufman Gerald Nathel for Fannie Nathel Tuesday, 30 Cheshvan Judy Hoffman for Benjamin Karbowitz Stephen Karbowitz for Benjamin Karbowitz Marvin Rotman for Edith Solomon Rotman Wednesday, 1 Kislev Jeffrey Bilfeld for Murray Bilfeld Joseph Hecht for Pinchas Hecht Thursday, 2 Kislev Irving Forman for Joseph Forman Elizabeth Katzwer for Leopold Schwartz Cindy Ludwig for Florence Gelber Friday, 3 Kislev Anthony Berkowitz for Barney Berkowitz Evelyn Henis for Richard Henis Cindy Ludwig for Frank Gelber