Shabbat Announcements, June 13, 2009

Shabbat Parshat Beha’aloscha

Torah Artscroll, 774 Hertz, 605 Haftorah Artscroll, 1182 Hertz, 620 Times Candle lighting

8:08 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

7:00 pm

Mincha

8:00 pm

Shabbat Ends

9:17 pm

Sunday

7:30 am 8:30 am

Mon., &Thurs.,

6:35 am

Tues., Wed., & Fri.,

6:45 am

Second Shacharit Minyan (Daily) Mincha (week of June 14)

7:45 am 8:10 pm

Latest times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei June 13

9:08/10:24 am

June 20

9:09/10:25 am

Next Shabbat - Shelach Candle lighting

8:11 pm

Mincha

7:00 pm

June 13 2009 21 Sivan 5769 GNS TEFILLA DIGEST: A Weekly Discussion about the Fundamentals of Jewish Prayer By Rabbi Brahm Weinberg – Rabbinic Intern

This inspiring article about tefillah is sponsored by Diane and David Rein in memory of Diane’s mother, Helene M. Fink z”l.

like to pray and what siddur you like to use. You can say parts of the tefilla in English if you feel that it will greatly help you to find meaning in the siddur Issue # 45 – Philosophy of You can add in your own personal thoughts to the Prayer (Part II) preexisting structure of the prayers, add in your own words In last week’s article we began our discussion of the at certain points, or even compose your own prayers to philosophy of prayer by pointing out that one of the be recited throughout the day or even at the conclusion of the most difficult aspects of prayer for people is that it is amidah. so impersonal. We are all All of these steps might be such unique individuals helpful in creating a more with different desires, personal and more meaningful problems, hopes, and prayer experience. However, aspirations and yet, when even from a theoretical we come to shul and pick perspective the Jewish up the siddur we suddenly philosophy of prayer is one that realize that our individual encounter with G-d is being demands a very personal investment in prayer even if on stifled because we are all the surface the prayer reciting the exact same words from the exact same requirements seem to be quite uniform. siddur as everyone else.

Nevertheless, the Torah chooses to repeat the same list of gifts twelve times; the only thing that changes is the name of the person offering them. We know the Torah does not waste words and yet here in parshat Naso (the longest parsha of the year) it repeats the same 6 pesukim 12 times! It could have just said once “This is the korban of Nasi X,Y,Z,A,B...One silver bowl, one silver basin....” Many explanations have been given for this repetition and many lessons about humility and leadership have been drawn from it. In this article I would like to focus on one explanation that is pertinent to our discussion.

The Ramban explains that the key to understanding the Torah’s repetition is the one difference in each set of 6 pesukim: The name. He says that the Torah offers a detailed description of the offerings of each Nasi during the In last week’s parsha, Naso, we dedication ceremony of the Last week we pointed to read about the gifts that the mishkan in order to highlight the some ways in which the practical side of prayer can heads of the tribes of Israel fact that even though the physical donated to the mishkan during donation of each prince was actually be made more personal. Here is a recap of the inauguration ceremony in identical, the Torah listed them all the month of Nisan the year a few of the suggestions: because each prince mentally and after they left Egypt. All emotionally impressed his own twelve of the leaders brought unique seal upon the offering You can make practical the exact same gifts. choices about where you (Ramban, Bamidbar 7:2).

Kiddush is sponsored by Ada & Dov Berkowitz In honor of the Aufruf of their son yoni

Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by

Sheila & Moosa Ebrahimian In memory of their parents

Amin Ebrahimian And

Faizullah Aminoff

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

What was different about each set of gifts was exactly the difference the Torah highlighted: The name, the person, the uniqueness of the individual bringing the gift. Every offering was fundamentally different because of the person that brought it even if the silver content and the number of animals were all the same. The lesson that the Torah is highlighting by repeating the gifts of each Nasi is that even when the method of approaching G-d is the same for every individual, as was the case with the korbanot, the experience can and must be one that is unique to the individual. Since we pray in place of bringing sacrifices (Berachot 26b), the same seal of individuality would be required in prayer; although we all say the same words, G-d expects that we as individuals will autonomously choose how to infuse those words with our own thoughts, feelings, life experiences, and needs. Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook teaches that the individual is called upon by G-d not to serve him in a uniform manner, but according to his very own unique understanding and feelings, based on the root of his individual soul. According to Rabbi Kook, unlike many other mystics, prayer does not force us to negate our autonomous existence or to deny our own human dignity and individuality, but actually assert it by infusing our prayers with the imprint of our unique soul in whatever way we choose. Some of us may still feel like despite our uniqueness the siddur and the experience of prayer has a very homogenizing effect. Some of us may even feel some apprehension about praying because it threatens our autonomy or minimizes our relationship with G-d because it is so impersonal. Because so many of us may feel these emotions I would like to end today’s article by sharing a very deep idea that is explained by Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler in his Michtav M’Eliyahu. The Talmud (Brachot 5b) interprets the word “nafsho,” man’s soul, in a verse from the book of Job as prayer because the essence of man’s soul is prayer. Every desire that a person has is essentially a prayer that begins in the depths of one’s heart and sometimes is verbalized and 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

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Beha’aloscha, 5769

directed towards G-d (or sometimes towards other external forces). It is for this reason that Rashi comments on the verse in the book of Psalms “v’ani tefila,” “I am prayer” (Psalms, 109:4) by saying that a person is prayer because he is constantly engaged in prayer. At some level all people are engaged in prayer on a regular basis voluntarily. The mandated times of prayer are just meant to refine our prayers and make them more organized and efficacious. If thought about in this way, prayer becomes slightly less threatening to one’s personal autonomy because we realize that we willingly choose to pray all the time and only some of the time are we required to structure and order that prayer in to the formal text of the siddur and format of shul worship. Thought to Ponder We have all heard of the famous phrase “There are no atheists in the foxhole.” This phrase, essentially, means that most people feel that in times of extreme stress or fear, such as when participating in warfare, a lot of people even those who are self proclaimed atheists believe in or hope for a higher power. This belief is often translated in to a prayer that a person thinks of whispers to themselves asking to be saved or asking to take care of the family they will leave behind. Could this common phrase which describes the strange reality of faith in “atheists” perhaps be explained by the statement of R. Dessler? Maybe if the real essence of a person is prayer then when everything seems to be taken away from them and they face the most extreme of situations and stresses this one aspect of faith called prayer emerges.

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK With LIPA's upfront cash rebate and the federal and NYS tax credits, now, more than ever, is the most affordable time to go solar! How does the LIPA rebate work?LIPA now offers a rebate of $3,500 per kilowatt of capacity up to$35,000! How do the solar income tax credits work? As part of the Stimulus Bill, congress recently voted a true 30% tax credit on solar panels. Furthermore, NY State taxpayers can claim anadditional state income tax credit of 25% of the net costs or $5,000,whichever is less, for a PV system on their primary residence. So, really, what's the price tag? Let's take an average 5200 Watt PV system, for example: Installed Cost (assumes $7.40/ watt) $38,480LIPA Rebate (at $3.50/watt) ($18,200) Cost after Rebate $20,280 Less 30% Federal Tax Credit ($6,084)NYS Tax Credit (lower of 25% or $5,000) ($5,000)Final Customer Investment $9,196 How can I find out more information? Log on to www.SunshineIsFree.org to calculate the costs, rebates, and tax credits of going solar.

MEN’S CLUB BLOOD DRIVE AS OF AUGUST 1, 2008 NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH MAGEN DAVID ADOM TO BE A SUPPLIER OF BLOOD DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. WE NEED YOUR HELP! LONG ISLAND BLOOD SERVICES IS URGING RESIDENTS TO DONATE BLOOD NOW TO INSURE CONTINUED CAPABILITY TO SERVE AREA HOSPITALS BLOOD SUPPLIES HAVE DROPPED TO BELOW A FIVE DAY SAFETY LEVEL THROUGH THE GENEROCITY OF: MAZURS MARKET AND BATAMPTE PICKLES ALL DONORS WILL GET A COUPON ENTITLING THEM TO A GIFT OF EITHER A QUART OF SOUP OR SOUR PICKLES. Please come to the Great Neck Synagogue, on Sunday, June 21, between the hours of 8:15-1:15pm. WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH PHLOBOTOMISTS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE MINIMUM WAITING TIME.

Great Neck Synagogue Annual Family Luncheon In Memory of Sharon Sokol Heisler z’l Saturday, June 20, 2009 Guest Speaker: Gary Rosenblatt Editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York

“ Problems Facing Yeshiva Education: Now and in the Future”

Beautiful Catered Lunch by Prestige $50 per person $20 per child (No charge for children under 4) Youth Program Luncheon taking place same time for first through eighth grade. For reservations please call or e-mail Mark Twersky at 487-6100 or email to: [email protected] NAME____________________________________ No. of reservations_________________ Seating Requests: 1 ________________________________________

Please eat and drink plenty of fluids on the day that you donate. Please remember that to make a blood donation you need to be in good health, have I.D., know your Social Security number, and weigh at least 110 lbs.

2 ________________________________________ 3 ________________________________________ 4 ________________________________________ Amount enclosed__________________ For more information please call: Debbie Hollander 829-2013

GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE GRADUATION & CONGREGATIONAL KIDDUSH SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009 CELEBRATE ALL OF YOUR SMACHOT WITH US BIRTHS, BAR & BAT MITZVAH, GRADUATIONS, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARIES BIRTHDAYS, OR COMMEMORATE A LOVED ONES YAHRZEIT TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE CALL THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE OR SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO [email protected]

ANNOUNCEMENTS Perek on the Lawn The opening Perek of the season will be held this coming Shabbat at the home of Rabbi Dale and Ellen Polakoff, 25 Wooleys Lane, at 6:00 pm. We’re hoping for a beautiful Shabbat afternoon and looking forward to seeing you there. HIGH SCHOOL PIRKEI AVOS CLASS There will be a Pirkei Avos shiur for High School students every shabbos afternoon approx. 40 minutes before mincha given by Cary Schwechter in the GNS Youth Center. PARSHA & PIZZA Wednesday night June 10th, is the last Parsha & Pizza and the Grand Raffle will take place. All children and parents who have participated over the year are invited. UPCOMING SISTERHOOD EVENTS Tues., June 9th, 7:30pm at GNS we are presenting the documentary "Always Remember Where You Came From: The Life of Samuel Hersch Wang" Thank you very much to his daughter Debbie Wang Etzion for organizing this special evening. *Please Note that our Sisterhood event for Wednesday, August 5th at 8pm, Ladies Night Out to see “Menopause the Musical” at the Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington has been cancelled. MEN’S CLUB EVENTS Sun. June 14th, 9:30am A special breakfast reception to hear the latest updates on the situation in Israel, by Rabbi Yaakov “Ketzeleh Katz, member of Knesset and Chairman of the National Union Party, and to show your support for the brave families of Hebron. A light breakfast at GNS, co-sponsored by the GNS Men’s Club the Jewish Political Education Foundation and the YIGN, will be served with a special video presentation. Special guests: Noam Arnon, Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum, Yoni Blechard, and Yossi Baumol. For more info see Karen & Alan Mazurek and Linda & Mark Bunim. Sun. Oct 18th, 1pm Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv vs New York Knicks at MSG. All proceeds are donated to Migdal Ohr. Mid-court tickets at $105 each. For tickets call Steve Blumner 4873859, Hilly Milun 504-0320, or Paul Brody 466-5412 Sun., July 26th 10am Bus Trip to the NYC Eldridge Synagogue and Center for Jewish History. Cost including lunch is $60 per person. Call Dave Wagner 487-9795, Hilly Milun 597-0320, or Al Leiderman at 482-0628. KOL DITZRICH Cleaning up for the summer? We can re-use your old stuff! Please bring: Eyeglasses, Hearing Aids, Cell Phones (with chargers), Children’s Books (jewish & Secular), DVDs and Videos, Drop all items at the shul office or bring to the coat lobby on Monday June 15th, 6-8pm. These items will be donated to people who can use them, including: New Eyes for the Needy, Domestic Violence Shelters, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Hospitals, and other worthy organizations. For further info, call Ellie Werber 487-4745. DOS YIDDISH VORT Dos Yiddish Vort will be sharing letters in Yiddish from ‘yener tseiten’ on Wednesday, June 17th at 1:30 pm in the chalfin Room. If you have any old letters you would like to share, bring them along. For more info call Roz Wagner 487-9795. BLOOD DRIVE Semi-annual Men’s Club blood drive will be on Sunday morning, June 21st HUNGER INITIATIVE There will be a meeting of the GNS Hunger Initiative Tuesday, June 16th at 8pm at the home of Nechama Liss-Levinson on 13 Church Street. Please join us and find out what’s been happening this past year! Be part of the change you want to see in the world! CHAI LIFELINE SHABBATON This weekend together with YIGN we will welcome children from Chai Lifeline who will be in Great Neck for a Shabbaton. They will be at Great Neck Synagogue Saturday afternoon for Seudah Shlishit and Mincha. For more info please see Arthur Kirsh. 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.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY Mazal Tov to Ada & Mitchell Benerofe on the birth of a granddaughter, Alexandra born to Samantha & Pete Giberga. Mazal Tov to Brandon Gold, Eli Mendelson, Jordan Rosman and Joseph Toledano from the NSHA Torah Bowl team. They placed second in the NY Metropolitan Torah Bowl Finals. Mazal Tov to Marcy & Dan Aharon on the birth of their daughter. Mazal Tov to Vivian & Nik Kron on the birth of their son. Mazal Tov to Ada & Dov Berkowitz on the upcoming marriage of their son Yoni to Ariel Anhalt. Mazal Tov to Rene & Abe Krieger on the upcoming marriage of their daughter Anna to Dan Klein. Mazal Tov to Sharon & Marcos Benzaquen on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Daniella. Mazal Tov to Susan & Irwin Lieberman on the birth of their first grandchild, a son, born to their children Tzippy & Yoni Calm. Mazal Tov to Solomon Birnbaum who won second place in the Newsday Spring Stock Market Competition. GNS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS Great Neck Synagogue warmly welcomes our new members: Michael & Iris Wiener MISSING TALLIS If anyone finds a multi-colored tallis, or has taken it by mistake, please return it to the Synagogue office ASAP! SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN On Nov. 22nd, 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 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. NETWORKING EVENT Sunday, June 28th, 9:30-11:30am the second networking event will take place at Temple Israel. Please tell your friends and colleagues about this event. People who are looking to hire from a very talented pool of people should take advantage of this opportunity. REFLECTIVE GNS VESTS A limited supply of reflective vests with GNS logo on them are available in the synagogue office for $5.

The Spira family would like to thank Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Axelrod, Cantor Kron and the entire community for their outpouring of sympathy and support following the passing of his mother Lily Spira, z”l.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 21 Sivan Sheila Ebrahimian for Faizullah Aminoff Pearl Ginsburg for Hyman Ginsburg Evelyn Henis for Anita Greenberg Sunday, 22 Sivan Eddy Barth for Mazal Barth Dov Berkowitz for Meilech Berkowitz Louise Kahn for Samuel Tuch Monday, 23 Sivan Moshe Apelbaum for Shai Apelbaum Martin Ehrenberg for Frank Ehrenberg Erein Justin for Moshe Tweg Phyllis Katz for William Kushner Alan Prawer for Genia Prawer Tuesday, 24 Sivan Jill Haft for Helen Strulovic William Helmreich for Mark Helmreich Manny Strolovic for Helen Strulovic Wednesday, 25 Sivan Jack Lipsky for David Lipsky Thursday, 26 Sivan Barry Maher for Javaher Maher-Afarin Friday, 27 Sivan Moosa Ebrahimian for Amin Ebrahimian Mindy Leventhal for Charlotte Scheinnkman Mahim Mardkha for Amin Ebrahimian Mali Meisel for Annie Maultasch Gerald Traub for Mollie Traub