Parshat Eikev

Torah Artscroll, 980 Hertz, 780 Haftorah Artscroll, 1197 Hertz, 794
Mevorchim Chodesh Elul Rosh Chodesh Sat. Aug.18 and Sun. Aug.19 Molad Friday Aug. 17 1:17:07 pm A sequence of verses in this weeks sedra gave rise to a beautiful Talmudic passage one that has found a place in the siddur. It is among the readings we say after the Evening Service on Saturday night as Shabbat comes to an end. Here is the text on which it is based:

August 11, 2012 23 Av, 5772

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshas Eikev

at the margins: the orphan, the widow, the stranger, the poor, the outcast, the neglected. On this idea, the third century teacher Rabbi Yochanan built the following homily (Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 31a): name, extol Him who rides the clouds G-d is His name and exult before Him. Immediately afterwards it is written: Father of the fatherless and judge of widows, is Gd in His holy habitation. It is this passage that found its way into the (Ashkenazi) service at the end of Shabbat. Its presence there is to remind that that, as the day of rest ends and we return to our weekday concerns, we should not be so caught up in our own interests that we forget others less favorably situated. To care only for ourselves and those immediately dependant on us is not the way of G-d. One of the more unusual aspects of being a Chief Rabbi is that one comes to know people one otherwise might not. These were three moments that made a deep impression on me. From time to time Elaine and I give dinner parties for people within, and also outside, the Jewish community. Usually, at

Rabbi Jochanan said, Wherever you find the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He, there you find His humility. This is written Times For the Lord your G-d in the Torah, repeated in the is G-d of gods and Lord Prophets, and stated a third time in the Writings. It is Candle Lighting 7:41 pm of lords, the great, mighty and awewritten in the Torah: For the Friday Mincha 7:00 pm inspiring G-d, who Lord your G-d is G-d of gods shows no favoritism and Lord of lords, the great, Hashkama 8:00 am and accepts no bribe. mighty and awe-inspiring GHe upholds the cause d, who shows no favoritism Main Minyan 9:00 am of the orphan and and accepts no bribe. widow, and loves the Immediately afterwards it is Beit Midrash 9:15 am stranger, giving him written, He upholds the food and clothing. cause of the orphan and Teen Minyan 9:30 am (Deut. 10: 17-18) widow, and loves the Gemorah Shiur 6:35 pm The juxtaposition of the stranger, giving him food and clothing. It is repeated in the Prophets, as it says: So Mincha 7:35 pm two verses the first about G-ds supremacy, says the High and Exalted Shabbat Ends 8:42 pm the second about His One, who lives for ever and care for the low and whose name is Holy: I live in Sunday August 12 7:30/8:30 am lonely could not be a high and holy place, but more striking. The also with the contrite and Mon., Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am Power of powers cares lowly in spirit, to revive the for the powerless. The spirit of the lowly, and to Tues., Wed,. Fri. 6:45/7:45 am infinitely great shows revive the heart of the concern for the small. contrite. It is stated a third Mincha 7:35 pm The Being at the heart time in the Writings: Sing to of being listens to those G-d, make music for His Latest Times for Shema/ Shmoneh Esrei August 11 August 18 9:31/10:41 am 9:34/10:42 am Next Shabbat Reeh Candle Lighting Mincha 7:32 pm 7:00 pm

Kiddush is sponsored by Sherry & Joseph Sedgh for the Refuah Shlaima of their son Justin and a Herring Table sponsored by the Aryeh Family in memory of Rebi Chiya Aryeh

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

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Eikev 5772

the end, the guests thank the hosts. Only once, though, did a guest not only thank us but also asked to be allowed to go into the kitchen to thank those who had made and served the meal. It was a fine act of sensitivity. No less interesting was who it was who did so. It was John Major, a British Prime Minister. Greatness is humility. The oldest synagogue in Britain is Bevis Marks, in the heart of the City of London. Built in 1701, it was the first purpose-built synagogue in London, created by the Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were the first to return to England (or practice their Judaism in public: some had been marranos) after Oliver Cromwell gave permission in 1656 for Jews to return after their expulsion by Edward I in 1290. Modeled on the Great Synagogue in Amsterdam, it has stayed almost unchanged ever since. Only the addition of electric lights has marked the passing of time and even so, on special occasions, services are candle-lit as they were in those early days. For the tercentenary service in 2001, Prince Charles came to the synagogue. There he met members of the community as well as leaders of Anglo-Jewry. What was impressive is that he spent as much time talking to the young men and women who were doing security duty as he did to the great and good of British Jewry. For security reasons, people volunteer to stand guard at communal events part of the work of one of our finest organizations, the Community Security Trust. Often, people walk past them, hardly noticing their presence. But Prince Charles did notice them, and made them feel as important as anyone else on that glittering occasion. Greatness is humility. Sarah Levene (not her real name) died tragically young. She and her husband had been blessed by Gd with great success. They were wealthy; but they did not spend their money on themselves. They gave tzedakah on a massive scale within and beyond the Jewish community, in Britain, Israel and elsewhere. They were among the greatest philanthropists of our

time. When she died, among those who felt most bereaved were the waiters and waitresses of a well-known hotel in Israel where they often stayed. It transpired that she had come to know all of them where they came from, what their family situation was, the difficulties they were going through, the problems they faced. She remembered not only their names but also the names of their spouses and children. Whenever any of them needed help, she made sure it came, quietly, unobtrusively. It was a habit she had wherever she went. After her death I discovered how she and her husband came to be married. He was older than she was, a friend of her parents. She had some weeks free in the summer before the start of the academic year, and Mr. Levene (not his real name) gave her a holiday job. One evening after work they were about to join her parents for a meal. In the street they passed a beggar. Mr. Levene, punctilious about the mitzvah of tzedakah, reached into his pocket and gave the man a coin. As they were walking on, Sarah asked him to lend her some money a fairly large sum, which she promised she would repay at the end of the week when he paid her wages. He did so. She then ran back to the beggar and gave him the money. Why did you do that? he asked, I had already given him some money. What you gave him, she said, was enough to help him for today but not enough to make a difference to his life. At the end of the week, Mr. Levene gave her her wages. She handed him back most of the money, to repay him for the sum he had lent her. I will accept the money, he told her, because I do not want to rob you of your mitzvah. But as he himself told me after her death, It was then that I decided to ask her to marry me because her heart was bigger than mine. Throughout their marriage they spent as much time and energy on giving their money to charitable causes as they did on earning it. They were responsible for many of the most outstanding educational, medical and environmental projects of our time. I have had the privilege of knowing other philanthropists but none who knew the names of the children of the waiters at the hotel where they stayed; none who cared more for those others hardly noticed or who gave help more quietly, more effectively, more humanly. Greatness is humility. This idea counter-intuitive, unexpected, life-changing is one of the great contributions of the Torah to Western civilization and it is set out in the words of our sedra, when Moses told the people about the G-d of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awe-inspiring G-d whose greatness lay not just in the fact that He was Creator of the universe and shaper of history, but that He upholds the cause of the orphan and widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Those who do this are the true men and women of G-d.

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Intern Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Mark Twersky, Executive Director Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Dr. Scott Danoff, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

YoucametohearCongressmanSteveIsrael Nowcomeandhearhisopponent OnWednesday,August8,at8:00pm TheGreatNeckSynagogueMensClub WearepleasedtohostLt.Col.StephenLabate(R),the candidateopposingCongressmanSteveIsraelinthe3rddistrict (whichincludesGreatNeck)onAugust8,at8pm.Hewill speakonIsrael,theMidEastandforeign/defensepolicy. StephenLabateattendedSt.JohnsUniversitywherehe receivedhisB.A.inPoliticalScienceandwascommissioneda SecondLieutenantintheU.S.Army.Stepheniscurrentlyan activememberoftheArmyReserve.Havingaccomplishedhis missionasanofficerintheUnitedStatesArmyandArmy Reserve,Stephenhasnowsethissightsonservinghiscountry asamemberofCongress,representingNewYorksThird CongressionalDistrict. StephenservedasaForceProtectionOfficerinoneofthemost heavilyattackedinstallationsinNorthernIraq.Insupportof OperationNobleEagleII,Stephenhadthedistincthonorto commandthesoldiersofthe306thMilitaryPoliceBattalionfor ayearlongmission. AsamemberoftheArmyReserve,Stephenhasbeencalledto ActiveDutythreetimessincetheattacksof911.Hismostre centservicewastwelvemonthsatthePentagonasamember oftheArmy'sCrisisActionTeam,regularlyparticipatinginthe creationofhighlevelbriefingstotheSecretaryoftheArmyand theViceChiefofStaffoftheArmy. Stephenscivilianexperienceisinthefinancialservicessector whereheholdsaCertifiedRetirementCounselordesignation fromtheInternationalFoundationofRetirementEducation. Stephenandhiswife,Leticia,resideinSuffolkCountywiththeir youngtwins. Refreshmentswillbeserved.

SALLY & SEYMOUR OLSHIN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM GreatNeckSynagogue 2012SummerLearningProgram JewishProfessionalLectureSeries
Reservationsrequiredfordinner. CallSynagogueoffice4876100

Tuesday, August 7
Dinner 7:15pm | Mincha 7:45pm Maariv following lecture

Rabbi Dovid Hirsch

Eva, Morris, and Jack K. Rubin Memorial Chair in Rabbinics, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Yeshiva University

The Procedure of Chalitzah: The Lessons of Emotionally Fraught Halakhot

Tuesday, August 21
Dinner 7:00pm | Mincha 7:25pm Maariv following lecture

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff

Judaic Studies Faculty, Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University New York Educational Director, Birthright Israel

How To Have A Really Good Time: Exploring Five Levels of Pleasure in Jewish Thought

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
HASHKAMA KIDDUSH Is sponsored by Ralene & Andrew Adler in memory of his father Bernard Adler, zl. SALLY & SEYMOUR OLSHIN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM Our Annual Summer Learning Program is enabled only through the generosity of our sponsors. It is to their credit that the voice of Torah is strengthened each summer in our community. Sponsorship is one hundred eighty dollars ($180). Please call the Synagogue office at (516) 487-6100 to be included in this noble effort. We will recognize and honor all of our sponsors in a special Shabbat Announcements listing. (See page 2 for information about this weeks lecture). To sponsor a Day of Learning at an additional cost in honor or in memory of a loved one, please contact Mark Twersky. Summer Learning Sponsors: Erika & Josh Olshin Gil Aronowitz In memory of Danit Esther bat Binyamin Avraham. Israel & Sydelle Slochowsky Sharon & Mark Twersky In memory of Danit Esther bat Binyamin Avraham Ruth & Milton Mitzner In fond memory of our distinguished Mechutan, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine A'H. He was a much-admired and eagerly -awaited lecturer at our Roshei Yeshiva summer programs of recent years. A renowned and leading authority on the interface between economics and Jewish law, Dr. Levine was also a prolific writer, whose books were published all over the world. Alisa & Michael Hoenig Lillian & Gary Chubak Lorraine & Harold Domnitch Karen & Robert Spitalnick In memory of her father Jonas Steigman,zl. Jolanta & Frank Rosenstein In honor of their parents, zl Carol Buckmann In memory of Mayer Siegel, zl Pam & Baruch Toledano In memory of Harold Kovar, zl Brenda & Ed Parver Rita Gordonson In memory of Lewis Gordonson, Leon & Dora Gershkowitz, zl. CHESED CHAIR PEOPLE REMINDER Do a Mitzvah!!-GNS- Monthly Chesed Collections-Chair people needed. Please volunteer and contact, Sharon Goldwyn 917 287 7334 or email sgdesignermom@aol.com for the following months. August- School Supplies and Childrens books October- Baby items November- Winter Clothing December- Games and Toys GNS MENS CLUB Wednesday, August 8 at 8 pm: We are pleased to host Lt. Col. Stephen Labate, [R] the candidate opposing Congressman Steve Israel in the 3rd district (which includes GN) on August 8, at 8 pm. He will speak on Israel, the Mid-East and foreign/ defense Policy. Refreshments will be served. All welcome. RAFFLE PRIZES WANTED We are now collecting raffle prizes for the GNS Annual Dinner scheduled for Saturday evening, December 15, 2012. We strongly encourage you to donate credit card points for prizes that can include airline tickets and hotel accommodations. We are also looking for prizes such as timeshare vacation places, beautiful jewelry, fur, electronics, judaica, gift certificates, internship opportunities, theatre and sports tickets, camp discounts, as well as other prize donations that you might have that will make our dinner extra special! Please submit your raffle prize donations to Mark Twersky at mtwersky@gns.org. Thank you very much! GNS TALMUD TORAH Registration is now open for next years Talmud Torah program. Please contact Rabbi Lichter at ilichter@gns.org for more information.

COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS

NORTH SHORE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NEEDS MUSIC CDS AND TOILETRIES North Shore University Hospital is about to launch a program that offers music (of all varieties) to patients. Kindly drop off donations of music CDs in the synagogue office. Also, the hospital hosts over 250 guests/ year in their Shabbat accommodations. Please drop off unused sample size toiletries (e.g. shampoo, soap, toothbrush, mouthwash etc.) in the synagogue office. Please contact Rabbi Daniel Coleman for further Information at (516) 562-4011 or at dcoleman@nshs.edu.

SAVE THE DATE: NSHA will hold its annual golf, tennis, mahjong & charity Texas Holdem Classic- Monday, August 13th. Golf (11:30 am shotgun), tennis (ladies at 9:30am followed by lunch & men's at 2:30pm), card games/mahjong lessons (for those who don't play golf or tennis from 10:30 am to 5pm), brunch, BBQs ,sunset cocktail party, million dollar Jet Blue Challenge, buffet dinner with prizes, raffles and auctions, Charity Texas Holdem Tournament, open bar, all night BBQ and a chance to win amazing prizes. For additional information re: sponsorships/participation, please email Arnie Flatow at aflatow@nsha.org or call 487-8687 ext 133.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 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 Muller Sunday, 24 Av Andrew Adler for Bernard Adler Mahin Aryeh for Yahya Aryeh Jason Mayer for Max Mayer Monday, 25 Av Cindy Ludwig for Mary Gelber Henry Schwartz for Ruth Schwartz Tuesday, 26 Av Meryl Friedman for Lloyd Karten Wednesday, 27 Av Lev Dynkin for David Dynkin Semyon Dynkin for David Dynkin Vicki Maher for Pola Brzezinski Thursday, 28 Av Joseph Farajian for Mr Farajian Sylvia Fisher for Saul Hirsh Mel Fox for Bernard Fox Jerrald Weinstein for Isaac Jacob Weinstein Friday, 29 Av Judy Weinstein for Bernhard Kloogman