Shabbat Announcements, May 2, 2009

Shabbat Parshat Acharei Mote-Kedoshim

Torah Artscroll, 636 Hertz, 497 Haftorah Artscroll, 1173 Hertz, 509 Times Candle lighting

7:33 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

6:25 pm

Mincha

7:25 pm

Shabbat Ends

8:42 pm

Sunday, April 26,

7:30 am 8:30 am

Mon., & Thurs.,

6:35 am

Tues., Wed., & Fri.,

6:45 am

Second Shacharit Minyan (Daily) Mincha (week of May 2)

7:45 am 7:35 pm

Latest times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei May 2

9:20/10:22 am

May 9

9:17/10:28 am

Next Shabbat - Emor Candle lighting

7:40 pm

Mincha

7:00 pm

May 2, 2009 8 Iyar 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.

continued Anti-Semitic incidents in Europe had there not been a state. We also wish to thank G-d for those who did survive the War of Independence.

Issue # 39 – Hallel on Yom Hallel seems like an appropriate Ha’Atzmaut (Part II) way to do so. The desire to recite Hallel on this special Part of the difficulty in defining the character of the occasion is supported by many day of Yom Ha’Atzmaut is statements of the Gemara and the Achronim that were trying to decide how to mentioned in last week’s issue view the establishment of of the Tefilla Digest. the State as we discussed last week. One of the ways that laws get For Jews with a belief in G- passed in any legal system is through citing precedent. d and a religious disposition, part of the way Jewish law is no different. to view the day of May 14, Rabbis have attempted to find precedent in early sources for 1948 – 5 Iyar 5708 is as a day on which G-d bestowed establishing new holidays or for a great gift upon the Jewish reciting Hallel in response to people. They may even say contemporary miraculous that the establishment of the events. One of the primary models of a post-biblical State occurred through miracle that occurred to the nisim bederech hateva, Jewish people after which they natural miracles. wanted to establish a holiday that we have to look towards is Part of what we wish to Purim. accomplish on Yom Ha’Atzmaut is to thank G-d Purim occurred at some point for this gift as well as to thank G-d for saving many during the period of exile following the destruction of the Jewish lives that would 1st Temple in 586 BCE and the have been destroyed in

return of the Jews to Israel with the permission of King Cyrus (Koresh) of Persia and the rebuilding of the 2nd Temple which did not occur until 516 BCE. Many of the discussions surrounding the topic of Yom Ha’Atzmaut such as whether it is ok to establish this new holiday, whether Hallel should be said as part of the prayers of the day, and whether other festivities are permitted use Purim as a point of comparison. The reason is obvious: Both holidays are nonbiblical and both holidays were established by the Rabbis. While there were still Neviim alive at the time of Purim who could have received prophecy from G-d on the matter, unlike the case with Yom Ha’Atzmaut, it is still a good comparison because they are both holidays not mandated by Gd. Even if the Prophets did have a hand in establishing Purim, it seems like they did so as elders and scholars alongside the rabbis and not as messengers of G-d. If we were to model Yom Ha’Atzmaut exactly on Purim we would not recite Hallel since no Hallel is recited on Purim. However, upon further

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investigation it seems like even though Hallel is not recited on Purim, it still might be appropriate for Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The Gemara Megilla 14aexplains that Hallel is not recited on Purim for a number of possible reasons: 1) Land of Israel: The miracle of Purim occurred outside the Land of Israel and Hallel can only be recited on miracles that occurred in the Land of Israel [You might wonder, therefore, how we recite Hallel during Pesach whose miracles occurred outside the Land of Israel! The Gemara discusses this and says that before the entry of the Jews to Israel one could say Hallel on a miracle that occurred even outside the Land. However, once they entered, only miracles occurring in the Land warranted the recitation of Hallel. What happened after the exile of the Jews after the destruction of the 2nd Temple is an interesting question that the Gemara deals with but is beyond the scope of this article.] 2) Independence: Even after the miracle of Purim on which the Jews were saved from the death sentence placed upon them by Haman, the Jews were still “enslaved” to a foreign ruler – “akati avdei d’achashverosh anan.” They achieved no independence, they achieved no greater a status than they had before, they still lived in exile under King Achashverosh who ruled the entire area “mehodu v’ad kush.” 3) Megilla: No Hallel is necessary because the celebration of Purim includes the reading of the Megilla which takes the place of Hallel. (It is unclear exactly how the reading of Megillat Esther takes the place of Hallel because Hallel praises G-d and His many qualities including the miraculous saving of the Jewish people and yet the Megilla doesn’t even mention G-d’s name! It could be that part of the purpose of Hallel is not only to thank and praise G-d, but also to publicize the miracles that G-d performed for us. The Megilla accomplishes this very well because it tells the story of what occurred to the Jews and how they were saved even if it doesn’t mention G-d by name. In fact, the reading of the Megilla takes precedence over other mitzvot, even Biblically ordained ones, because according to the Gemara it is a form of pirsumey nisa – publicization of Gd’s miracles). Unlike Purim, the celebration of the holiday of Channuka does include the recitation of Hallel because it doesn’t fit 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 Acharei Mote-Kedoshim, 5769

any of these criteria. The miracles of Channuka (both the military victory as well as the miracle of the oil) all occurred in the Land of Israel. Furthermore, the miraculous success of the war of “meatim neged rabim” of “the few versus the many” led to a period of Jewish independence in the Land of Israel. The Jews were no longer ruled by the Syrian Greek’s but by their very own Chashmonaim. Lastly, Channuka has no megilla or no book of Tanach that tells its story and so Chazal mandated the recitation of Hallel. Channuka is not used as a comparison to Yom Ha’Atzmaut in the same way as Purim because it had a revealed miracle of the oil which gives the holiday an entirely different status (as you will see in next week’s article). Yom Ha’Atzmaut seems to have all the qualities that the Gemara says are necessary for the recitation of Hallel. It is, again, a miracle that certainly occurred in the Land of Israel and it has no official story or document that could be read in place of Hallel like Purim does. Finally, it led to the independent Jewish rule of the Land of Israel as the British Mandate had ended and the Arabs lost the war. From this week and last week’s issues, one would conclude that Hallel is certainly appropriate for Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Next week we will discuss some potential reasons not to recite Hallel and whether to recite it with a bracha. Question to Ponder How free from the rule of foreigners are we even after the independence of the State of Israel?

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK Americans spend more than 38 billion dollars a year on herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides to grow and protect their lawn. There is a much more cost effective way to both fertilize your lawn good for the environment as well. Home composting is one of the most environmentally beneficial activities of modern society. Yard and food wastes make up approximately 30% of the waste stream in the US. If every household participated in composting, it would divert a significant portion of the waste stream from our landfills. Instead of throwing out your kitchen food scraps, you can put it into the composter along with eggshells, coffee grounds and tea leaves along with grass clippings, and fallen leaves. Keep the composter in your backyard for year round use and within no time, you will have your very own compost to sprinkle on your shrubs and grass for a greener lawn. You can purchase a composter at: http://www.composters.com/compost-bins.php

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 Beautiful Catered Lunch by Prestige Caterers

$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 487-6100 email to: [email protected] NAME_________________________________ Amount of People_________ Amount enclosed____________ Seating Requests: 1-__________________________ 2-___________________________ 3-___________________________ 4-___________________________

For more information please call: Debbie Hollander 829-2013

ANNOUNCEMENTS RABBI REISMAN SATURDAY NIGHT TELECAST Weinstein Torah & Technology Center Sat., 10:30pm www.gnstorah.org PIRKEI AVOT Starting this Shabbat afternoon, through Shavuot, there will be a class on Pirkei Avot, that will take place at the same time as the Saturday afternoon Gemorah Shiur.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

Mazal Tov to Carolyn Reinach Wolf, mental health attorney and Senior Partner, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP, for being invited as a Keynote Speaker and Honoree by the Mental Health Association of Suffolk County. Her address is titled “Emerging Mental Health Issues on the College Campus.” Mazal Tov to Donna & Leon Schwechter on the birth of a granddaughter born to their children Yael & Daniel Schwechter.

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 WALK FOR SHAARE ZEDEK Join the NSHA Middle School Walk-a-thon on Sun., May 3rd 10-12pm to [email protected]. support Shaare Zedek’s New Glaubach Pediatric Emergency Room. Please sponsor or lend your support for an Emergency Care Area to help save BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE thousands of children. The Walk-a-thon will begin and end at 26 Old Mill Please send in your Book of Remembrance forms ASAP. The new Road and is sponsored by the 6th Grade Chesed Club. Sponsorships: $100, edition will be ready for Shavuot. $180, $360 and $500. For info contact: Shani Jensen 516-662-3912 or Sharon Goldwyn 917-287-7334. WOMENS TEFILA Women’s Tefila is proud to announce that Rabbi Brahm Weinberg will be speaking before Mincha on Shabbat May 9th. Please note the SAVE THE DATE date change, and will NOT be meeting this Shabbat. We are looking 2nd Annual “Koby Memorial Day Baseball Game,” for the benefit of Camp forward to seeing you there! Koby and the victims of terrorism: Monday May 25, 3 games: ages: 6-12; 13-18; and 19 and up! See Barry Libin CLASS IN MEGILLA READING Dr. Paul Brody will be giving a class to learn how to lain “Megillat MEMBER DIRECTORY Ruth” for Shavout between Mincha & Maariv on Shabbat afternoon. If you haven’t sent in a picture for the new directory there is still time. Please email your photos to [email protected], or bring them into the YIDDISH VORT Synagogue office. Concert with the Klezorim of “Shoresh”: Wed., May 13th at 7:45pm. Enjoy a spring evening of Klezmer, Israeli, Yidish, Ladino, and Sephardic melodies. Free admission. Stories of the Legendary Prankster, Hershel of Ostropol: Wed., May 6th at 1:30pm. All are welcome. For more info call Roz Wagner 487-9795 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! 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.

Sharon and Joe Janovic wish to thank Rabbi Polakoff and the entire community for their outpouring of support and friendship during Joe’s illness. Edwin Rosmin and Family would like to thank Rabbi and Rebbitzen Polakoff and the entire community for their outpouring of support, sympathy and kindness following the sudden death of his mother, Flora Rosman z”l. in California.

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. BLOOD DRIVE Semi-annual Men’s Club blood drive will be on June 7th, Sun. morning. SAVE THE DATE Saturday June 20th, the Annual Sharon Sokol Heisler Family Luncheon will take place. Gary Rosenblatt of the Jewish Week will be the featured speaker. More details to follow. The Youth Luncheon will also take place that day. 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 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. 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.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 8 Iyar Joan Hope for Heymann Hoffmann Fay Smith for Lester Smith Sunday, 9 Iyar Tammy Jampel for Amnon Abramov Monday, 10 Iyar Mitchell Wolfson for Rabbi Wilfred Wolfson Tuesday, 11 Iyar Mark Bunim for Louis Bunim Helene Peyser for Paula Stadtmauer Arlette Shaya for Odette Dayan Osnass Shein for Isaac Shein Judy Sokol for Rabbi Joseph Warren Wednesday, 12 Iyar Jerry Gil for Akiva Gil Joseph Gil for Akiva Gil Sidney Halitzer for Sarah Halitzer Thursday, 13 Iyar Abigail Epstein for Ruth Ostrin Janet Greenhut for William Lipson Sonia Herman for Joseph Okun Mildred Shinnar for Aaron Green Friday, 14 Iyar Mildred Shinnar for Morris Rosenbach