Parshat Vayeitzei

TORAH Artscroll 144 Hertz 106 HAFTORAH Artscroll 1139 Hertz 118 Shabbat Chattan Bradley Sheena The Twelve Stones Become One: Inverted Symbolism? In Parshas Vayetzei, Yaakov took "from the rocks of the place". Rav Yehuda teaches in the Medrash that Yaakov took 12 stones, symbolic of the Almighty's decree that the Jewish people would be founded based on a family consisting of 12 Tribes. Yaakov said to himself, "My grandfather Avraham was not able to fulfill this decree; my father Yitzchak was not able to fulfill this decree. If these 12 stones that I am placing under my head will merge into a single stone, I will take it as a Divine Sign that I will be able to fulfill this decree." In the morning, when Yaakov saw that the 12 stones had indeed merged into one, he knew that he would be the progenitor of

November 24, 2012 10 Kislev, 5773

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Vayeitzei

a single nation emerging from a family of 12 sons. Rav Simcha Schepps, z"l, asks a question on this incident. It would have been more logical to request a symbolic sign that he would be the father of a 12 tribe nation by taking a single stone and having it turn into 12 stones by the next morning. Yaakov's symbolism seems counter-intuitive. Twelve stones joining to form one stone appears to symbolize just the reverse of the sign he was looking for. Rav Simcha Schepps answers his question by citing a second Medrash. When G-d told Avraham "I will make you into a great nation" [Bereshis 12:2] Avraham asked Him (according to the Medrash) "but you already have 70 nations who are descended from Noach, what will be so special about another nation?" The Almighty answered Avraham -- "The nation that will descend from you is the nation about whom it will be said "For which is such a great nation?" (ki mi goy gadol) [Devorim 4:7] that is the nation that will emerge from you." What is the meaning of "goy gadol" (literally, big nation)? The biggest "goy gadol" in the world today is the Chinese. There are more Chinese in the world than any other people. The second largest nationality is the Indians. There are approximately 12 million Jews in the world. Never have we ever been the "goy gadol". So what is the interpretation of the aforementioned Medrash? What is the nature of this peculiar dialog between Avraham and the Almighty? The answer is that there is a special connotation to the world "gadol". "Gadol" does not mean 'big'as in numerically large. Rav Dessler points out that the interpretation

Times

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Kiddush is sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue.

Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Susan & Ezra Sheena in honor of the marriage of Nicole Finkelstein and Bradley Sheena, Melissa and Sam Toledano in memory of his father Avraham ben Yosef.

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

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Vayeitzei 5773

of "gadol" is revealed to us by its first appearance in the Torah [Bereshis 1:16] "es haMaor haGadol" (the great light, referring to the sun). "Gadol" means the ability to give to others. The sun is not called "gadol" because it is so big. The sun is called "gadol" because it provides light and heat for the entire universe. Likewise, when Moshe Rabbeinu tells G-d "You have begun to show "Gadlecha" to your servant" [Devorim 3:24] what does "Gadlecha" mean? Rashi explains in Parshas V'Etchanan "this refers to the Attribute of your Goodness" (zu midas Tuvecha). The Almighty is the ultimate Giver.

Avraham that he would make him into a nation that is "gadol", meaning a nation of people that care about others and have the capacity to give. So too Yaakov Avinu says, "If I take 12 stones and they become one, this symbolizes a nation that has unity amongst themselves." If there is unity between people (achdus), the members of this nation are not just concerned about themselves but they are concerned about others as well. When people are only into themselves, there is disunity. There is no achdus.

Yaakov knew that the appropriate sign that he would be the progenitor of the "Goy Gadol" promised to Avraham is for him to take 12 stones Similarly, when we praise G-d in Shmoneh Esrei that would turn into one, demonstrating this in the expression "haKel haGadol" the word property of unity and the capacity for caring for one Gadol does not mean "big", it means He is the another. Master of Kindness and Goodness. Another similarity is the meaning of "and Moshe became a Gadol and went out to see his brethren's suffering" [Shmos 2:11]. Since Moshe was a "gadol" he wanted to become aware first hand of how his brethren were suffering and see how he might be able to help them. The technical definition of "gadol" is the capacity to do for others, to help others, to be concerned about others. When we talk about an "Adam Gadol" (a person who is a gadol), we are not speaking merely about erudition. It is not merely defining someone who knows the entire Torah. Every Gadol who we can think of was a person that was always concerned about the community. That is the definition of a Gadol. Now we understand the dialog between Avraham and G-d. There are plenty of nations in the world. There are 2 billion Chinese and a billion Indians. However, G-d promised
Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

This year for Thanksgiving You can really give thanks and be giving! Buy a Thanksgiving Dinner for a resident at Arrandale Senior Housing and make your parents proud of you. $18 can sponsor a dinner in honor of/in memory of your parents

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

Name:__________________________________________ Phone #_________________________________________ Email:__________________________________________ Meals purchased in memory/ in honor of:______________ ________________________________________________ Amount enclosed:______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ We are also looking for a limited number of volunteers (ALL AGES) to help serve the dinner, clean up, play music, sing & talk to the residents I would like to volunteer on Thursday, Nov 22nd 11:30 -2 pm Food Server:_______________ Other Talent:__________ Volunteer Names & Kids Ages:

_________________________________
Co-Sponsored by: GNS Hunger Initiative, Sisterhood & Womens Tefila For more info: call Nechama at 516-773-3572 or email lisslev@verizon.net Please return to: GNS, 26 Old Mill Road ,Great Neck, NY 11023

Great Neck Synagogue 61st Anniversary Dinner Sunday, December 16, 2012
2012 JOURNAL CONTRACT YES! Please place my message in the GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUES 61st DINNER JOURNAL. Enclosed is my check in the amount of $________________ for the space indicated. Name____________________________ Address__________________________ City_________ State___________Zip___

Gold Page $10,000* Silver Page 7,500* Bronze page 5,000* Twice Chai 3,600* Parchment 2,500* Chai 1,800* Full Page 1,000* Half Page 550* Quarter Page 250 Listing 100 *Includes two reservations to dinner Cost of Dinner $550 per couple Please make check payable to: Great Neck Synagogue 26 Old Mill Road Great Neck, NY 11023

Reservation for_____________________ Seating requests_____________

Aharon
Great Neck Synagogue Youth Chanukah Luncheon and Grand Raffle will take place on Saturday, December 8, 2012. Bring all your tickets (with your name on them) and get ready for a great day. No reservations required. 1st-8th grades, boys and girls.

Chadow

Milun

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
HASHKAMA KIDDUSH is sponsored by Judy & Richard Lillian in memory of Bette Lillien and in honor of Dr. Martin Hoffman and Dr. Robert Mendelson. SPECIAL KOLLEL BREAKFAST Learning and Breakfast on Thursday morning November 22, at 9:30 am. All are welcome. GNS MENS CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS: On Mon., Nov. 26, 2012 at 7:30 PM, Barry Fox, a College Financial Aid Consultant, will be speaking on "Financial Aid and Grants available to College Students". Co sponsored by Sisterhood. Wed., Dec. 5 at 7:30 PM: Dr. Mildred Pollner, president of Cinema Verite International, will present a 30 minute documentary which she directed, Brave Children of Israel, and will speak on Global Jihad. Dr. Pollner is an accomplished filmmaker, former professor at Columbia University and has lectured worldwide. The documentary has been acclaimed at film festivals in Europe and Israel. SISTERHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS Our Chanukah bazaar is on track for Wednesday night, Nov 28th from 5-9 PM. Many interesting vendors lined up - Furs, jewelry, women's and children's clothing, tablecloths, handbags, wine tasting. Men are welcome. Our gift card program is up and running. You can purchase many different gift cards for national retailers through Gift Cards for Good and support the Sisterhood efforts to help those in need. These gift cards can be used by yourself, or given as gifts to co-workers, etc. Please contact Sharon Noy at Sharon@bids4good.com . Pies for Prevention is a wonderful project to donate pies for ovarian cancer survivors. You can donate a pie, purchase a pie, or donate money to give a pie to a survivor. Please Contact Tovah Werber at twerber@gmail.com for further information Please continue to donate to our Sisterhood/Shul funds for the Sandy/ nor'easter relief efforts. You can mail in your checks to the shul. There are many among us who are sitting in the cold and dark. You can show your THANKS and be GIVING by buying a Thanksgiving dinner for a resident of Arrandale Senior Housing on Thursday, Nov. 22, from 11:30 2:00 pm. $18 buys a dinner and you can sponsor it in honor or in memory of someone you love. Contact Mark to sponsor a dinner. We now have enough volunteers. We CANT accept any more volunteers. Still accepting people buying dinners. Our Sisterhood Dinner has been postponed, and we are currently looking into future dates. It may be easier for us to hold on to the checks that have been sent in already. If anyone wants their check back, or torn up, please contact me at Farlafrumkin@gmail.com or call the shul office. CHIEF RABBI LORD SACKS The dinner with Rabbi Sacks has been changed from Friday, Nov. 23 to Friday, Nov. 30. If you already made reservations, please reconfirm that the new date is good. Sponsors welcome. Please send in your reservations ASAP. Deadline this Tuesday Nov 20. RAFFLE PRIZES WANTED We are now collecting raffle prizes for the GNS Annual Dinner scheduled for Sun., Dec. 16. 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. Please submit donations to Mark Twersky at mtwersky@gns.org. TWO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO CLEAN TORAH SILVER Ira Lubin would like the opportunity to teach two volunteer members how to polish and clean the Torah silver. The Torah silver needs to be cleaned twice a year before Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. If you would like to volunteer for this special mitzvah, please contact Mark at mtwersky@gns.org. WITHIN OUR FAMILY Mazal Tov to Susan & Ezra Sheena on the upcoming marriage of their son Bradley to Nicole Finkelstein daughter of David & Shana Finkelstein. Mazal Tov to Dina & Jon Ohebshalom on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Valerie. Mazal Tov to Paul Marcus on his new book,"In Search of the Spiritual. Gabriel Marcel, Psychoanalysis and the Sacred. (Karnac Publishers). COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS RAISING MONEY FOR ALYN HOSPITAL Team GN will once again cycle in Israel to help raise money for the Alyn Hospital, which specializes in rehabilitating children who are the victims of terrorist attacks, congenital diseases, developmental defects and other debilitating disorders. This year a group of 11 from GN, including Milt Mitzner and Drs. Laura and Scott Danoff from GNS, will either volunteer to help or ride over 300 miles in the Negev to show their support for this most worthy cause. If you would like to help by making a contribution, please send a check made out to Friends of Alyn Hospital to Dr. Scott Danoff at 49-33 Little Neck Pkwy, Little Neck, NY 11362." YESHIVA HAR TORAH OPEN HOUSE Due to the recent weather related issues, Yeshiva Har Torah's Open House has now been rescheduled for Tues., Nov. 20 at 7:30 pm. For further information, please call Mrs.Yael Greenberger, Director of Admissions, at (718) 343-2533 or email YGreenberger@hartorah.org

NORTH SHORE HEBREW ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE

Due to the storm the NSHA Open House was postponed. Please join us on Nov. 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. You will have the opportunity to tour various classrooms and hear from our administration along with our Rosh Ha Yeshiva and other faculty members, see what makes the NSHA such a special place. The Open House will take place at our lower school campus, located at 16 Cherry Lane. Please RSVP: (516) 487-8687 x128. CHAI LIFELINE GNS member Donny Steinberg, will be running in the ING Miami half Marathon on Jan., 27, 2013, to raise money for Chai Lifeline. CL is an international organization that provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children with cancer and their families every year. Donny will be raising money and dedicating his run in memory of his grandfather, Philip Steinberg, who died of cancer. Donations can be made online a Donny4TeamLifeline.tk or by sending a check made payable to Chai Lifeline and sent to Donny Steinberg, 2 Sands Court, Great Neck, N.Y. 11023.

The Mittleman family would like to thank Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Lichter, Cantor Kron and the entire community for their outpouring sympathy and support during the loss of his mother Blanche Mittleman.
Saturday, 10 Kislev Lloyd Bayme for Leib Bayme Pearl Ginsburg for Yetta Helfman Howard Lorber for Hannah Lorber Ronald Silverman for Gail Silverman Samuel Toledano for Avraham ben Yosef Jack Wachstock for David Wachstock Sunday, 11 Kislev Irving Forman for William Forman Susanne Hedaya for Harold Hedaya Trudy Jettelson for Sarah Levisch Gerald Nathel for Gertrude Deustcher Judith Soleimani for Bela Hajdu Joyce Swartz for Norma Gelfond Monday, 12 Kislev Madeline Belonsky for Dora Wine Richard Lillien for Bette Lillien Eliezer Noy for Mashala bat Soltana Tuesday, 13 Kislev Susan Castle for Bronia Kalt Samuel Friedman for Ezra Friedman Robert Glaser for Jack Glazer George Zobel for Georgina Zobel Wednesday, 14 Kislev Martin H. Sokol for Sadie Sokol Lili Weiss for Hanah Krendel Thursday, 15 Kislev Lev Dynkin for Aryeh Leib Shifman Semyon Dynkin for Aryeh Leib Shifman Marvin Greenwald for Emanuel Greenwald David Lax for Zeev Rosenberg Barry Maher for Faizollah Maher-Afarin Friday, 16 Kislev Lillian Chubak for Malvina Graf Margery Libin for Florence Mandell

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