Shabbat Announcements, April 18, 2009

Shabbat Parshat Shemini

April 18, 2009 24 Nisan, 5769

Torah Artscroll, 588 Hertz, 443

Haftorah Artscroll, 1168 Hertz, 454

See Page 2 For Pesach VII & VIII times Times Candle lighting

7:18 pm

Mincha

7:00 pm

Hashkama Minyan

8:00 am

Parsha Shiur

8:30 am

Youth

8:30 am

Main Minyan

9:00 am

Beit Midrash

9:15 am

Gemorah Shiur

6:10 pm

Mincha

7:10 pm

Shabbat Ends

8:27 pm

Sunday, April 19,

7:30 am 8:30 am

Mon., & Thurs.,

6:35 am

Tues., Wed., & Fri.,

6:45 am

Second Shacharit Minyan (Daily) Mincha (week of April 19)

7:45 am 7:25 pm

Latest times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei April 18

9:32/10:40 am

April 25

9:27/10:35 am

Next Shabbat - Tazria-Metzora Candle lighting

7:26 pm

Mincha

7:00 pm

Rabbi Yehuda Prero Sefiras Ha'Omer: What's an Omer? Before we explore the topic of the Counting of the Omer, a little background information on the Omer itself is helpful. On the second day of Pesach, there were two special sacrificial offerings brought by the Kohen, the priest, in the Bais HaMikdash, the Holy Temple. The first is the Mussaf - the sacrifice that is brought in honor of Pesach, a sacrifice which is in addition to the daily sacrifices. The second is the Omer HaTenufah, the "Omer which is waived." The Torah tells us about this offering in Vayikra, 23:9, where the verse tells us " ...you are to bring an Omer of the first of your reaping to the Kohen. And he shall waive the Omer before Hashem to your satisfaction...." Prior to the time that the Omer was brought, it was forbidden to use any of the new grain crop that

was in the fields. Once the Omer was brought, the use of all grain that had taken root beforehand was permitted. The Omer was harvested amidst much fanfare. The Mishnayot in the tenth chapter of Menachot describes the procedure. Here is a brief sketch: The Omer was to be from barley, and no other grain. The Omer should be harvested from a field close to Jerusalem, as we have a tradition to do a mitzvah as soon as we have the opportunity, "ain ma'avirin al ha'mitzvos." Therefore, as the harvesters of the Omer leave from Jerusalem, they should harvest from the field closest to Jerusalem, which provides the earliest opportunity to perform the mitzvah. However, a field in any place will do, in the event no ripe barley is found near Jerusalem. On the day before Pesach, agents of the court would go out to the barley field and tie together fistfuls of barley stalks at their tips. This made the Omer easier to reap on the second day of Pesach. As the end of the first day of Pesach neared, inhabitants of all

nearby towns would come and assemble near the harvest site. Three men were designated to do the reaping. As soon as it became dark outside, the three appointees began to ask questions of all those assembled: Did the sun set? Is this the sickle I am supposed to use? Is this the basket I am supposed to use? Is this the Sabbath I am to do it on? Should I reap? Each question was asked by each of the appointees, and for each question, the crowd answered yes. What was the reason for all this fanfare and questioning? At the time of the Mishna, there were a group of Jews who followed the teachings of a man named Baytus, Boethus. The Baytusim, as this group was known, followed what the Written Torah said literally, and rejected the Oral Torah, the Mishna, Torah SheB'al Peh. In the Torah, it says the Omer is to be brought "me'macharas ha'shabbos," the day after the Sabbath. According to the Oral Law, we know that the Sabbath being referred to is the first day of Pesach.

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The term Sabbath is used because of the obligation to cease performing labor on the day. However, the Baytusim interpreted the term Sabbath literally, and therefore they held that the Omer was to brought on a Sunday, the day after the Sabbath. In order to demonstrate that the interpretation of the Baytusim was erroneous, the Sages set down that the reaping of the Omer be done with great fanfare, with great crowds, in a way which would clearly demonstrate that they were not acting in accordance with the opinion of the Baytusim. Once the Omer was reaped, it was placed in baskets and brought to the courtyard of the Temple, the Bais HaMikdash. It was then roasted. After being roasted, the kernels were spread out, to assure that they would be dry. The barley was coarsely ground. A measure called an Issaron was taken from the ground barley, and it was sifted with thirteen sieves. The Issaron of flour was taken, and oil and frankincense were added to it. These ingredients were poured and mixed by a Kohen (although a non-Kohen could do this as well). It was waved and brought near the Altar. The Kohen then performed a process called Kemitzah ( of which in part entailed of gathering a certain amount of flour with his hand ), and then the part which had Kemitzah done on it, the Kometz, was burnt on the Altar.

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Shemini, 5769

writes that this offering allows us an opportunity for reflection. We are to understand that it is only because of the kindness of Hashem that all of the Earth's creatures are sustained, ourselves included. Each year, Hashem provides for us by causing the grains and vegetation to grow. It is fitting that we acknowledge that the grain which has just ripened, that we are about to benefit from, is there only by the grace and kindness of Hashem. We therefore bring an offering of thanks to Hashem from the first of that which we are about to consume, from the first of the grain we are about to harvest, with the hope that Hashem will continue to shower us with blessings, and provide us with further sustenance.

PESACH VII Tuesday night, April 14th Candle lighting Services Wednesday, April 15th Main Shul Beit Midrash Mincha

7:15 pm 7:20 pm 9:00 am 9:15 am 7:20 pm

Why do we have the Mitzvah of bringing the PESACH VIII Omer? (Although we know that we cannot truly explain the reasons behind Mitzvos, the Sefer HaChinuch explains underlying reasons and ideas about mitzvoth that we should recognize and Wednesday night, April 15th motivate ourselves with.) In regards to the Candle lighting after 8:24 pm bringing of the Omer, the Sefer HaChinuch Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

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

Thursday, April 16th Main Shul 9:00 am Beit Midrash 9:15 am Yizkor is part of this service Mincha 7:20 pm Yom Tov ends 8:26 pm Your Chometz can be eaten after 8:55 pm

YOM HASHOAH Holocaust Remembrance Day Monday, April 20, 2009, 7:45 pm Great Neck Synagogue

Invites you to attend an evening with special guest speaker

fanya gottesfeld heller a leading educator at the museum of jewish heritage in new york city will share her experiences of

“surviving in the Ukraine with the help of two Christian rescuers” Program: • Candle lighting ceremony for Holocaust survivors, their children, and grandchildren. • Fanya Gottesfeld Heller will give her personal testimony followed by questions and answers Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Fanya Gottesfeld Heller is Holocaust survivor, author, and philanthropist whose life story offers hope to all who have suffered through discrimination or the horrors of war. Born into a traditional Jewish family in a small Ukrainian village in 1924, Mrs. Heller and her family hid from the Nazi death squads with the help of two Christian rescuers. Beset by hunger, marked for death by her neighbors, and faced with the constant threat of discovery and execution, she miraculously survived to share her message of life and hope. Mrs. Heller recently reissued her book under a new title, Love in a World of Sorrow (Devora Publishing, 2005). The new edition features an updated preface and epilogue which describe Mrs. Heller’s emotional reunion with the daughter of her rescuer, as well as some of the thousands of responses she has received from those touched by her story. Originally called Strange and Unexpected Love: A Teenage Girl’s Holocaust Memoirs (KTAV, 1993), the book, a candid portrait of her family’s struggle for survival and her relationship with her Christian rescuers, is part of the curriculum of courses at Princeton University, Yale University, the University of Connecticut and Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, Mrs. Heller’s writings have also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and Jewish newspapers worldwide. Since the original publication of her book, Mrs. Heller has dedicated her life to sharing her message of tolerance and hope with audiences young and old: Jews and non-Jews, college and high school students, CEOs of major corporations, service organizations, and church and synagogue groups. In 1998 the New York State Board of Regents awarded Mrs. Heller the Louis E. Yavner Citizen Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to teaching about the Holocaust and other assaults on humanity. To give other educators the tools to effectively teach the lessons of the Holocaust, Mrs. Heller also commissions an annual conference on Holocaust education at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York city. Mrs. Heller obtained a B.A. and an M.A. in psychology from the New School for Social Research and honorary degrees from Yeshiva University and Bar-Ilan University. She has also studied art history at Columbia University, philosophy and literature at the New School and family therapy at the Ackerman Institute. In 1998 she established the Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Center for the Study of Women in Judaism at Bar-Ilan University, a unique academic initiative that employs an interdisciplinary approach to an examination of the female Jewish identity within the context of the social, cultural and religious history of the Jewish people. Mrs. Heller serves on the boards of the Jewish Museum, Yeshiva University, Stern College for Women, Board of Judaic Studies at Princeton University, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Miklat—Shelter from Abuse, the Aleph Society, the American Society for Yad Vashem, and the Museum of Jewish Heritage. She is a benefactor of the United Jewish Agency’s “Project Renewal” in Lod, Israel, the Benjamin and Charlotte Gottesfeld Chair in Talmud at Yeshiva University and the Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Floor at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Mrs. Heller lives in New York City. She has three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

ANNOUNCEMENTS RABBI REISMAN SATURDAY NIGHT TELECAST Weinstein Torah & Technology Center Saturday, 10:15 pm www.gnstorah.org SAVE THE DATE GREAT NECK LADIES NIGHT OUT The 57th Annual Combined Sisterhoods will be held at Temple Beth El, Thursday April 30th at 6pm. With award winning author Beth J. Harpaz, as our guest speaker, delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts by Lederman Caterers, a boutique, and raffle prizes! We are proud to participate in this event, and encourage you to become an event sponsor for $36. Reservations are required! RSVP at 487-6100 or email [email protected]. We’re collecting toiletry items to donate to victims of domestic violence in conjunction with the UJA. Drop off donations in the synagogue office by April 24th. MEN’S CLUB EVENT May 6th, Wednesday 8pm: Michael Tuchfeld, commentator and correspondent on Israel TV2 News- The Knesset Channel 99, will be here to talk on the latest Israeli election results, Natanyahu and Obama, and Israel in general. This event is co-sponsored by the JPEF, publisher of the Jewish Political Chronicle. BLOOD DRIVE Semi-annual Men’s Club blood drive will be on June 7th, Sunday morning. TALMUD CLASS SIYUM Rabbi Singer’s Talmud class invites the congregation to a Siyum to celebrate the completion of Masechet Shabbat, to be held in conjunction with the midrash breakfast, promptly after morning minyan on Sunday, May 17th. All are invited!

IN THE COMMUNITY

WALK-A-THON FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH Sunday, May 3rd, the Great Neck Hadassahs will host their Third Annual walk-a-thon for stem cell research. Registration and snacks are at 9am. Starting time is at 9:30am, from Steppingstone Park (rain or shine) For more info call 829-0413. SAVE THE DATE 2nd Annual “Koby Memorial Day Baseball Game,” for the benefit of Camp Koby and the victims of terrorism: Monday May 25, 3 games: ages: 6-12; 13-18; and 19 and up! See Barry Libin CHESED OPPORTUNITY Please join Hebrew Free Burial Association’s Day of Chesed to help maintain the Silver Lake Cemetery in Staten Island on April 26th 12-2pm (weather permitting). Call 212-239-1662 or contact Nechama 516-773-3572 for info. SAVE THE DATE Sunday May 17th 9:30-11:30am there will be a networking breakfast for those seeking jobs, and those that have jobs or advice to offer. This event is the first in a series that chazakchazak.org is organizing. SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN The NSHA and the NSHA High School, in conjunction with the greater Great Neck Jewish Community, will hold a historic campaign that will involve the dedication and commissioning of 12 new Sifrei Torah. All proceeds from the campaign will support the Sam Aharonoff Memorial Scholarship Fund to help offset tuition costs for dozens of needy students. For more info: www.shivteitorah.org, or Arnie Flatow 487-8687 ext 2.

SHOP DELIGHT DISCOUNT CARDS The Sisterhood of GNS is selling VIP Shop Delight Cards for $10. VIP cards give you 5% off every $100 you spend at Shop Delight, no expiration date. Contact Diane Rein [email protected] DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE GNS Men’s Club is holding an AAA Driver’s Education course on Wednesday and Thursday June 3rd, and 4th from 7-10pm each night at GNS. $25 per person over 55, $30 for under 55. Checks made payable to AAA, call the Synagogue office for reservations 487-6100. Attendance is limited. GMACH Due to space limitations, we are now only accepting donations of Wedding Gowns in excellent condition, vintage or new, so we can help others less fortunate to make this special time in their life easier and even more joyful! For more info please contact Cindy Gold at 482-9064 or [email protected]. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR COOKBOOK FOR SALE The Sisterhood Gift Shop is now selling the Holocaust Survivor Cookbook for $30. It includes 250 kosher family recipes, and 129 amazing and miraculous stories of courage, survival, and hope. DRIVERS NEEDED Drivers are needed to deliver food for Tomchei Shabbos on Wed. evenings. A once a month commitment is needed. Call Jeff Bilfeld at 509-0396. Earn chesed hours for school. E-MAIL INFORMATION To be put on the shul’s e-mail list please send your e-mail address to [email protected]. There are many important notices and reminders that are sent only this way.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 24 Nisan Rochelle Dicker for Dorothy Stitskin Iraj Kashani for David Kashani Joan Katz for Anne Rezak Pauline Loewenstein for Henny Loewenstein Sunday, 25 Nisan Scott Danoff for Stuart Danoff Susan Mindick for Rubin Korn Ezra Sheena for Nissim Sheena Monday, 26 Nisan Ellen Allen for Sheldon Schaffer Rose Baim for Ida Pollen Asher Davoudpour for Mahjabin Davoudpour Eileen Debbie for Milton Steinberg Sadie Frank for Henny Ekstein Barry Libin for Margery Serkin Sidney Mauthner for Herbert Mauthner Tuesday, 27 Nisan Lev Dynkin for Berl Dynkin Stanley Fischer for Hedwig Fischer Halina Greenwald for Yechiel Geller Sidney Halitzer for Carl Halitzer Wednesday, 28 Nisan Gilbert Aronowitz for Martin Luchansky Howard Berger for Morton Berger Nina Gourdji for Nadji Gourdji Myrna Horowitz for Leah Templeman Jacqueline Hott for Miriam Friedlan Hedva Kessler for Mike Majus Anne Lupkin for Sol Fischler Aaron Seligson for Sylvia Seligson Thursday, 29 Nisan Madeline Belonsky for Solly Wine Aaron Eliach for David Eliach Friday, 30 Nisan Alan Levy for Charlotte Levy David Smooha for Eliahu Smooha