Shabbat Announcements, August 8, 2009

Parsha Ekev

August 8, 2009 18 Av, 5769

Rabbi Frand on Eikev Torah Artscroll, 980 Hertz, 780 Haftorah Artscroll, 1197 Hertz, 794

Bar Mitzvah

Adam Gerber Times Candle lighting

7:45 pm

Mincha

7:00 pm

Hashkama

8:00 am

Youth

8:30 am

Main Minyan

9:00 am

Beit Midrash

9:15 am

Gemorah Shiur

6:35 pm

Mincha

7:35 pm

Shabbat Ends

8:52 pm

Sunday, 8/9

7:30 /8:30am

Mon., Thurs.,

6:35 am

Tues., Wed. Fri.

6:45 am

Second Shacharit Minyan (Daily)

7:45 am

Mincha (week of August 3rd)

7:40 pm

Latest times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei August 8

9:29/10:39 am

August 15

9:32/10:41 am

Next Shabbat –Re-eh Candle lighting

7:36 pm

Mincha

7:00 pm

Manna From Heaven The One Who feeds you manna in the desert...in order to test you. (Devarim 8:16) Everyone knows that life is a test. We struggle to make a living, to raise our children, to build up our communities. Nothing comes easy, and our test is to deal with the hardships and frustrations in the best way possible.

16:3), "If only we had died by the hand of God in the land of Egypt when we were sitting beside the fleshpots, when we ate our fill of bread; now you have brought us out into the desert to let the entire congregation starve to death."

This test is also mentioned in Parashas Eikev, "The One Who feeds you manna in the desert...in order to test you." Sforno explains that the test is to see if the Jews would still follow the Torah when they do not have to worry about their livelihood.

Yes, there is a great test in "bread raining down from heaven." Affluence without effort is a dangerous thing. It comes with a great amount of leisure time and freedom of action. What do we do with that leisure time and that freedom of action? Do we use But what if our livelihood our leisure time and freedom were served up to us on of action to taste the a silver platter? How forbidden? This is the great wonderful that would be! test of the manna. We are all No more worries about aware of the test of poverty. how to pay for the We are all aware of the trials children's tuition or the and tribulations of being poor. new roof. What if Rashi explains that Hashem However, says Sforno, everything we needed was referring to the laws that affluence also comes with came to us like manna great temptations. It puts a from heaven? Would we govern the manna. One tremendous responsibility on a could not store away any consider this a test? manna for the next day. One person. This is the test of the Hardly. We would manna, and it is the test for had to collect a double consider it a blessing. many Jews in these affluent portion on Friday. And so The Torah, however, times. seems to say otherwise. forth. This was the test. Would the Jewish people No sooner had the The Chovos Halevavos writes Jewish people come forth observe the laws of the in Shaar Habitachon that one manna scrupulously? from Egypt that they of the reasons people, unlike complained (Shemos

Kiddush is sponsored by Rachel Bayme And Ronald Gerber In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Adam Gerber

"Behold, I will rain down bread from the heavens on you," Hashem replied (ibid. 16:4). "The people shall go out to collect their daily portion every day, in order to test whether or not they will follow My Torah." The commentators wonder what kind of test this is. What could be better than having everything you need delivered to your doorstep every day? This is a test? This is a blessing!

Bima Flowers are sponsored by Helene & Lloyd Bayme In honor of The Bar Mitzvah Of their grandson Adam Gerber

Seudah Shlishit Is sponsored by Rachel Bayme In honor of The Bar Mitzvah Of her son Adam Gerber

26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100

birds and animals, must make a great effort to earn their livelihood is to control the yetzer hara. If we had too much time on our hands, we would be unable to resist the temptations he puts before us. As it is, we are either too busy or too tired most of the time. And even then it is a struggle to resist temptation.

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Ekev, 5769

the birth of ideologies and their demise.

In the last century alone, our hypothetical mezuzah would have seen humanism, capitalism, materialism, existentialism, each embraced as life philosophies and then discredited. It would have seen the rise of the Soviet Union and Communism and their ignominious collapse. It would have seen the creation of the Third Reich, the The Maggid of Mezritch once said that when people Thousand-Year Reich, its perpetration of the Holocaust face troubles, sickness or mortal danger, Heaven forbid, they all become religious. They all come to shul. against the Jewish people and its ultimate defeat and destruction. It would have seen the birth of Israel and it They pray fervently. They say Tehillim with tears growth to maturity. streaming down their cheeks. They give charity generously. But when things are going well, when they are going wonderfully, do they give much thought to When the railroads were introduced in the 19th century, the Almighty? This is the test of the manna. people thought the new technology was so perfect that it would never change. The railroad companies sold The Silent Witness corporate bonds for centuries in advance. And where are they all today? On the scrap heap, along with their rusting trains. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your homes and your gates. (Devarim 11:20) Human beings are always seeking immortality. This invention, this idea, this building, this book, this one will The Mezuzah stands like a sentinel at the door, we pass it whenever we enter or leave the room. What are capture that elusive immortality, this one will stand the test of time, this is one for the ages, this one will make me we to think as we look upon the mezuzah? What are immortal. But it doesn't work. we to contemplate when we see the letter shin on the case and are reminded of the holy scrolls within? The Torah tells us (Bamidbar 32:42), "And Novach went and captured Kenas and its suburbs, and he named it (lah) The Rambam, at the end of his presentation of the Novach in his name." According to the rules of Hebrew laws of mezuzah, tells us to think about the eternal grammar, the word lah should end with a mappik heh, a nature of the Almighty. This will inspire us to awaken mark of emphasis, but it doesn't. It ends with a weak heh. from our slumber and come to the realization that The Midrash tells us that the weak heh lets us know that nothing in this world is permanent other than the the city did not last. It was eventually destroyed. Almighty, His Torah. Why does the Torah consider it important to let us know this information? It is meant to teach us the futility of immortalization. Novach wanted to immortalize himself by Perhaps it is because the mezuzah is a silent witness to the ebb and flow of history and human events. Think creating something permanent - an entire city, no less! and crowning it with his own name. But he failed. The city about the mezuzah of an old shul or some other was destroyed, and his name would be forgotten if it were venerable edifice. It has been hanging there for not mentioned in the Torah. decades if not centuries. It has seen infants brought into the shul to be circumcised, and it has seen these Everything constantly changes. Nothing is permanent. same people grown old brought into the shul to be Only the Almighty and His Torah are permanent. The eulogized and buried. It has seen generations come mezuzah can bear witness. and go. It has seen empires rise and fall. It has seen Why does the mezuzah remind us of these concepts?

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Shalom Axelrod, Assistant Rabbi 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

GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE TALMUD TORAH TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2009-2010 Tuesday 4:30-5:30 5:30-6:30 6:30-7:30 7:30-8:30

2-3rd grade 4-5th grade 6-8th grade High school Thursday

4:30-5:30 5:30-6:30

2-3rd grade 4-5th grade Sunday

10:30-11:30

5-8th grade

Monthly lecture series on Jewish Philosophy for High School students given by Rabbi Steve Moskowitz. The class will be geared toward Yeshiva and public school students alike. 2-5th grade classes taught by Joseph Shore 6-8th grade classes taught by Rabbi Steve Moskowitz 9-12th grade class taught by Rabbi Steve Moskowitz Please call the Synagogue office to register your child. Parents must be members in good standing. Fees to be determined.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FEEDING THE HUNGRY To help feed those who have no food for Shabbat, a cooler will be set up on Fridays only, between 11 am and 1 pm outside the front door of the home of Morris & Cindy Hodkin, 18 Birchwood Lane, Great Neck, 11024. Please put your well wrapped food in the cooler between these hours ONLY. This food will be picked up and delivered to those areas where it will be needed. HUNGER INITIATIVE MEETING The kick off meeting for the Pass it Forward program (providing Rosh Hashonah meals to the hungry) which is part of the Hunger Initiative program will be held at the home of Cindy and Morris Hodkin 18 Birchwood Lane on Tuesday August 4 from 7pm until 8 pm. New members are more than welcome!! Meetings last just an hour, please mark your calendars to attend. GREAT NECK SCHOLARS KOLLEL The second year of the Scholars Kollel will begin again on Monday August 10th. Davening at 7:45 am followed by classes that begin at 8:30 am. To enroll please see Steve Zuckerman. SAT TRAINING August, 6-7:30pm at GNS given by David Rabinowitz. Mondays: Math, Tuesdays: Verbal, Wednesdays: Writing, Thursdays: Misc. review of material from the previous three days. For more info call 998-6621. DOS YIDDISH VORT Enjoy a cool summer afternoon with stories, conversation, songs, and a glayzele tay at Dos Yiddish Vort on Wednesday, August 12th at 1:30pm. All are welcome. For more information call Roz Wagner 487-9795 Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv vs New York Knicks at MSG Sun. Oct 18th, at 1pm. All proceeds are donated to Migdal Ohr. Mid-court tickets at $105 each. Tickets are now available on a first come basis. For tickets call Steve Blumner 487-3859, Hilly Milun 504-0320, or Paul Brody 466-5412 NEW YEAR CARDS 5770 Sisterhood now has a new line of Rosh Hashanah cards available. 15% discount on all orders placed before August 21st. The sample book is now in the shul office and available online at gns.org. For more info contact Vivan Kron 498-9191 or [email protected]. IMPORTANT SISTERHOOD ELECTIONS MEETING On Tuesday evening, October 13th at 8:00pm in the Braun Youth Center the Sisterhood will be having its bi-annual election of officers and trustees. We strongly encourage everyone to attend this meeting and nominate yourself or someone else for a position. Also please join us and help plan the activities for the upcoming year.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY Mazal Tov to Rachel Bayme and Ronald Gerber on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Adam. Mazal Tov also to grandparents Helene & Lloyd Bayme. Mazal Tov to Linda & Rabbi Stuart Grant on the birth of a granddaughter, born to their children Deena & Chaim Davis. Mazal Tov to Erica & Eliot Heisler on the birth of their daughter. Mazal Tov to Wendy & Sidney Ingber on the birth of a grandson born to their children Arielle & Rabbi David Ingber. Mazal Tov to Pia & Michael Shlomo on the upsherin of their son. Mazal Tov to Bracha & Cantor Ze’ev Kron on the birth of their grandson, born to their children Ruchi & Yoni Torgow in Detroit. Mazal Tov to Joan & Henry Katz on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Ethan, son of Dina & Daniel Katz. FYI The Noted “Zoo Rabbi” Rabbi Natan Slifkin will be speaking at the Young Israel of Great Neck on Thursday Evening, August 13th at 8pm, and for Shabbat August 15th. SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN The Siyum will take place on Sun., Nov. 22nd, the Yarhzeit weekend of Sam Aharonoff z”l. All proceeds will support the Sam Aharonoff Memorial Scholarship Fund to help offset tuition costs for dozens of needy students. To participate in the campaign or for more info: www.shivteitorah.org, or call Arnie Flatow 487-8687 ext 2.

FYI To learn more about Jewish geneaology the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and the Jewish geanological Society of Great Philadelphia (JGSGP) are proud to co-sponsor the 2009 conference. For more info: www.philly2009.org EIRUV EMERGENCY Once a year, we ask each family in the community for a suggested donation of $100 to help us continue to maintain the Eiruv. It is necessary for all of the families living within the Eiruv to send in this taxdeductible contribution for the continued upkeep of our Eiruv. You can either send your check made out to the “Eiruv Association of Great Neck” to our synagogue office or to the following address: Eiruv Association of Great Neck, c/o Ronald Malen, 24 Old Pond Road, Great Neck, NY 11023. GREAT NECK BUSINESS AND JOB NETWORKING BREAKFAST Sunday, August 9th, 9:30-11:30am at the Young Mashadi Jewish Center, 130 Steamboat Road. Bring resumes, business cards and a positive attitude! All are welcome, casual business attire suggested. We urge those who have employment opportunities to offer to contact Lisa Stein [email protected] or Cheryl Eisberg Moin [email protected] in advance.

GIVE OLD MAGAZINES A NEW LIFE Please drop off your current used magazines to the Synagogue office to be donated to NSUH. Please cut off labels, do not tear.

Great Neck Synagogue Summer Learning Program Jewish Professional Lecture Series August 12, 2009 at 8:15 pm (following Mincha at 7:45 pm) Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman “When Man Creates Man: Medical Halacha Update 5769” August 19, 2009 at 8:00 pm (following Mincha at 7:35 pm) Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine “Preventing the Next Great Depression: A Jewish Law Perspective”

To sponsor please call the Synagogue office

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 18 Av Murray Honig for Joseph Honig Barry Libin for Joseph Libin Ephraim Slonim for Mordechai Slonim Sunday, 19 Av Murray Frank for Dorothy Efron Susan Mindick for Rose Schwartz Judith Traub for Rebecca Hechtkopf Monday, 20 Av Harriet Frederick for Ida Sillen Paul Weinberg for Ise Klein Tuesday, 21 Av Jeffrey Bilfeld for Florence Bilfeld Esther Verbit for Gila Lantz Wednesday, 22 Av Carl Rosenberg for Bluma Muller Thursday, 23 Av Eva Bachrach for Gertrud Grunfarb Anne Gold for Morris Feinstein Ilana Kessler for Victoria Hercz Robert Knepper for Maxwell Knepper Morris Nasser for Victoria Hercz Carl Rosenberg for Julia Miller Friday, 24 Av Mahin Aryeh for Yahya Aryeh Steven Mayer for Max Mayer