22 Years in Skokie!

THE BETH HAMEDROSH HAGODOL

KESSER MAARIV ANSHE LUKNIK NEWSLETTER
SHEVAT / ADAR I-II 5776
JANUARY / FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016
www.KesserMaariv.org
UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES TO REMEMBER

to the shul office or e-mail to bhhkmal@yahoo.com.

Annual Banquet & Ad Journal
Our Annual Banquet and Ad Journal will take place on
Happy Day Cards & Standings
Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 5:00 pm at the shul,
Join the Kesser Maariv Cards standing list! For only $50
honoring Jeff Greenspan.
Ad Blanks (for the
a year, your name will automatically be included
whenever a card is sent from our shul to fellow members
supplement) are online at www.KesserMaariv.org/Ads .
for a refua shlayma, condolence or mazal tov. To join
If you would like to attend the dinner, please call the
the standings, please contact the office at (847) 679-9800
office as soon as possible to make your reservation.
or bhhkmal@yahoo.com. Also, cards are available for
Etty Rubinow Tree of Life Sale
purchase from the office for $1.50 each or 13 cards for
During Shevat, save 10% on all Etty Rubinow Tree of
$18. If you would like us to send a card for you for $2,
Life plaques. Leaves arre $90, Acorns are $450 and
please contact the office at (847) 679-9800.
Foundation Stones are $900. Hurry, Shevat ends on
Parsha Podcasts
Tuesday, February 9, 2016!
Rabbi Louis Lazovsky's morning Vorts on the Parsha are
Contact the office at (847) 679-9800, email
available as podcasts online at KMvort.podomatic.com
bhhkmal@yahoo.com or use the online order form at
(a link is on our homepage, www.KesserMaariv.org). On
http://kessermaariv.org/tree%20of%20life.html
the Podomatic page you can subscribe via iTunes.
ARK Food and Toiletry Drive
Rabbi Meyer Juzint Books
Our annual ARK Food and Toiletry Drive is now
The Chain of Miracles, an amazing Holocaust memoir
underway. Non-Perishable Kosher Food Items Needed:
written by a teacher of Rabbi Louis Lazovsky and a
Canned vegetables & fruits, canned and boxed meals
friend of Kesser Maariv is available for purchase from
(i.e., soup, macaroni & cheese), canned or dried beans
the office and our website for $20.
and peas, pasta, rice, Low sugar cereals, peanut butter,
Puskhas
jelly/jam; condiments (i.e., ketchup, mustard); baby
Kesser Maariv Pushkas (Tzedaka Boxes) are available.
formula & baby foods; cake, cookie, pastry mixes;
Call the Office to pick one up.
instant mixes like potatoes, gravies and sauces; canned
Gemara Brachos Shiur
tuna, salmon ; Toiletries Needed: Shampoo, conditioner,
Rabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky's Gemara Brachos Shiur (open
body wash, hand soap, deodorant, plastic bags, diapers,
to all) is studying the third chapter. Class meets
baby products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss.
Wednesdays at 7:15, immediately following Maariv.
Please drop off food donations in the blue bin
Weekday Minyanim
located in the shul lobby. Questions or for a pick-up call
Please
join
us
for
daily minyanim. Shacharit is at 6:00
Larry Weinger at (847) 677-2198. We will be collecting
am Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am on Sunday.
donations through January 31.
Mincha-Maariv on Sunday is 10 minutes before sunset.
Purim
During winter, weekday Maariv only is at 7:00 pm.
The Fast of Esther will take place on Wednesday, March
E-mail List
23. The fast begins at 5:24 am, and ends after we hear
If you would like to be added to our email list, please
Megillah , after 7:37 pm.
send an email to bhhkmal@yahoo.com. We will gladly
On Wednesday night March 23, we will daven
send to multiple email addresses per family.
Mincha at 6:50 pm (we have a custom to give $1.50 as
Rent the Shul for Your Simcha
the Half-Shekel) and Maariv at about 7:15 with Megilla
For information regarding renting the Social Hall for
starting at 7:25 pm (dont be late!)
your event, please call Ben Zion Lazovsky at the Shul
On Thursday March 24th, Shacharit begins at
office at (847) 679-9800. Also, book you childs Bar/Bat
5:40 am and Megilla at about 6:05 am. Last Chance
Mitzvah in the Shul calendar! Please call Judy Whisler
Megillah reading will be at 5:50 pm, and enjoy a Purim
at (847) 677-2281 or j5awhisler@aol.com
Seudah (reservations required to the office) at 6:30 pm
PAST EVENTS
with entertainment to be announced.
Movie Night - we thoroughly enjoyed The Prime
Misheberach List
Ministers - Part I, based on the memoir of Ambassador
If you have names for a misheberach, please send them

Yehuda Avner.
Chanukah at Skokie Hospital - Thanks to Rebbetzin
Saretta for arranging, and for her and Natalie Meerovich,
Gilda Allswang, Brenda Kahn, Eleanor & Jeff
Greenspan, Judy & Larry Weinger, Mila Zaretsky, and
Ben & Steven Keren for visiting patients.
Oneg Shabbat -Thanks to Rebbetzin Channah & Rabbi
Benzie Lazovsky for hosting and for all who braved the
snow.
Send-A-Kid-to-Israel We had another good
enrollment in SKIP, which allows parents to contribute
money annually in partnership with the synagogue and
the Jewish Federation for an Israel experience for their
children.
High Holidays - Yasher Koach to Rabbi Louis Lazovsky
as well as Chazzanim Dr. Ed Kaplan, Rabbi Ben Zion
Lazovsky (who also blew Shofar) and Rabbi Dr. Pinchas
Eisenbach, and Rabbi Eli Lazovsky for reading the Torah
during the High Holidays. We also thank you all for
your generous response to our appeals, and to the
anonymous donor who matched the Rosh Hashana Aliya
auction. We also thank the anonymous sponsor of the
Simchat Torah luncheon.

Congregation B.H.H. Kesser Maariv A.L.

4341 W. Golf
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 679-9800
fax (847) 679-5041
e-mail: bhhkmal@yahoo.com
www.KesserMaariv.org
Rabbi Louis A. Lazovsky
Steven D. Goldrich, President
Rabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky,
Associate Rabbi & Executive Director
Sandy Miretzky, Nasrin Kheradyar & Saretta Lazovsky,
Co-Presidents, Adele Goldblum Womens Council
Committee Contact Information:

Saretta Lazovsky
Happy Day Cards
Bricks (847) 676-0556 or lazovsky@juno.com
Chesed Fund Anne Elovic (847) 673-2904
Donate Books & Siddurim Office
(847) 679-9800 or bhhkmal@yahoo.com
Endowment Rabbi Louis Lazovsky
Kiddush & Seudat Shlisheet Judy Whisler
Membership 8/677-2281 j5awhisler@aol.com
Office
Social Hall Rental
Tree of Life
bhhkmal@yahoo.com
Yahrzeit Plaques (847) 679-9800

Adele Goldblum Womens Council

Past Events - An exciting Membership event took
place at the home of Nasrin Kheradyar with singer Hasha
Musha. Eleanor Greenspan and Nasrin chaired the
event....Many Womens Council members attended the
Mega Challah Bake...Thanks to those who served
dinner at Caf ARK: Cookie Goldrich, Carmella Bega,
Brenda Kahn, Judy & Larry Weinger and Larry
Rosen....Tehilla Lazovsky Ben-Ari gave a shiur on
Sukkot in memory of Wendy Hartz...Classes ended with
Sarah Kramer and began with Alise Gold. The
Women currently learn Shmuel Aleph most Monday
evenings, and enjoyed a special Chanukah shiur with
Alise...Sandy Miretzky arranged a Chanukah Party at
Brookdale., Sandy, Nasrin Kheradyar, Sharon Friedman,
Beth Gottesman and Julie Rosenheim helped spread
Chanukah joy.
Upcoming Events - We will feature speaker Yvette Alt
Miller on an evening to be announced in February. Stay
tuned for details...The next Shmuel Aleph class (selfcontained) will meet on Monday January 25 at 7:00 pm
at the Shul.
GOOD & WELFARE
Mazel Tov to Ellen & Arkady Kats on the birth of a
granddaughter, Hadassah, to Daniel & Michal
Gordon...Edmond & Miriam Namordi on the Bat
Mitzvah of their granddaughter...Howard & Barbara
Pomper on the birth of a great-grandson, Zecharya Yosef
Pomper...Shelley & Sanford Schwartz on the marriage of
their granddaughter Aviva Weiser to Avi Forman, and on
the birth of a great-granddaughter, Tikva Yehudit, in
Israel...Lynn & Loren Stein on the marriage of ther son
Daniel to Matty Behar...Leonard & Marlyn Fensterheim
on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Nathan, and to
grandparents Dr. Alvin Fensterheim and Isabel
Goldberg...Dan & Faith Harris and Rabbi Moshe &
Debra Soloveichik on the birth of a granddaughter,
Hadassah, born to Rachel & Shmuli Soloveichik, and on
the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Chaim
Soloveichik...Dan & Faith Harris on the marriage of their
daughter Talia to Chen Meiri...Iris & Joe Fagan on the
birth of twin grandsons, Barrett & Maxwell, to Francie
& Jeff Fagan...Joel & Gail Scher on the birth of a
granddaughter...Cookie Goldrich on the marriage of her
granddaughter Shoshana Orloff, and on the birth of a
great-granddaughter, Shaindel Zeesel Halperin...Bob &
Sheryl Greenstein on the birth of a granddaughter, Jamie
Hannah, born to David & Liz Greenstein...Sandy &
Marty Miretzky on the marriage of their son Eitan to
Chaya Sarah Israel...Jeff & Judy Whisler on the birth of
a granddaughter, Shoshana Rose, to Jordy & Rena
Whisler, and to great-grandparents Sally Aaron and
Myron Whisler...Gilda Allswang on the marriage of her
granddaughter Michaela to Fima Maltzav, and on the

birth of a great-granddaughter, Naomi Bracha, in

Israel...Alan & Ann Herbach on the birth of a
granddaughter, Devorah Bracha, to Jacob & Danielle
Herbach...David Makowsky on his engagement to Sara
Damelin of Savannah, GA.....Evelyne Sternfeld on the
Bat Mitzvah of her great-granddaughter, Hadassa Liora
Sternfeld.
Refua Shleima to: Tammy Kaplan, Adeline Katz, Alan Slodki.
Condolences to: The family of Gene Baruch Frayman...
Mila Zaretsky on the passing of her father, Fima
Lapushin...Eleanor Greenspan on the passing of her father,
David Goldman...Cookie, Steve and Howard Goldrich on
the passing of their husband and father Art
Goldrich...Bonnie Hernandez on the passing of her uncle
Cantor Dale Lind...Rabbi Dr. Pinchas Eisenbach on the
passing of his sister Miriam Weingarten in Jerusalem.
Thank you to our recent Kiddush & Seudat Shlisheet Sponsors.

To sponsor a Kiddush or Seudat Shlisheet, please contact

the office, or Judy Whisler at j5awhisler@aol.com.
DVAR TORAH
Tu BShevat - Monday January 25th. The Jewish New
Year of Trees has Halachik significance in the Land of
Israel, where the Year determines which tithes are
separated. Outside Israel, we emphasize our bonds to Israel
on Tu BShevat. Tu BShevat is nowadays also celebrated
as Jewish Arbor Day with large-scale plantings in Israel.
Shmitta - Last year was the Sabbatical year in Israel. The
land was not worked normally, and the fruit and produce
have special sanctity. Because of this, do not buy any
Israeli produce that you might find in local stores unless it
is an entirely Kosher certified store.
Leap Year - The Jewish calendar consists of lunar months
and solar years. To keep the calendar in order, which
guarantees Passover falls out in the springtime, we
occasionally add an extra month, the first Adar. In a leap
year, Purim is celebrated in the second Adar. Yahrzeits
from a standard Adar year are commemorated (according
to Ashkenzic custom) in the first Adar. Children born in a
standard Adar celebrate their Bar- and Bat-Mitzvahs in the
second Adar. Rosh Chodesh Adar I is Wednesday Feb. 10,
and Rosh Chodesh Adar II is Friday March 11.
The Four Parshiot - Before Rosh Chodesh Adar II we
begin a series of four special Torah readings and haftarot.
Parshat Shekalim is on Shabbat, March 5. It
commemorates the annual required donation of a one-half
shekel coin that every Jew made to maintain the Temple, to
purchase the daily sacrifices and to conduct a census of the
Jewish people.
Parshat Zachor, Shabbat, March 18, is always read on the
Shabbat before Purim. All of us, even children, are
obligated to hear every word of the special maftir of
Parshat Zachor. In the special reading, we learn about our
obligation to destroy Amalek, which is also one of the
major themes in the Book of Esther. Haman is associated
with Amalek, the grandson of Esav, who was even worse
than Haman in that he represented total and absolute evil.
The Jewish people have been commanded to wage a
never-ending battle against evil. This special Shabbat

reminds us how and why.

Parshat Parah - Shabbat, April 2. In the time of the
Temple, everyone had to eat from the Paschal Lamb
(korban Pesach) on Passover. We read about the parah
adumah to remind everyone to ritually purify themselves
with the ashes of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah) to be able
to eat the sacrifice. This reading, like that of Parshat
Zachor, should be heard by everyone, even children.
Shabbat, April 9 is Parshat Hachodesh. The additional
reading discusses laws pertaining to the Passover sacrifice
and the importance of time, which is the defining
characteristic of the Jewish people. The Almighty
promised that the Jewish empire will be one over time, as
our sages expressed: The nations of the world are like the
sun and the Jewish nation is like the moon; despite
waning, always regenerating.
Fast of Esther (Wednesday March 23) The day before
Purim is a fast day, commemorating the gathering of the
Jewish people for prayer before they defended themselves
against their attackers
Purim (Wednesday night March 23 & Thursday March 24)
- As Megillat Esther teaches, Jews were hated in every one
of the 127 countries known in the ancient world. Haman,
a former stable worker who was originally a slave to
Mordechai, became the richest man in the world. He
bribed Achashverosh, King of Persia and emperor of the
ancient world, for permission to annihilate the Jews.
Unlike our enemies during the time of Chanukah, who
would have permitted our survival had we converted,
Haman desired the extermination of every Jew. Once
permission was granted, Haman drew lots, or Purim, to
select the day to implement the final solution. Queen
Esther prayed and fasted for three days prior to her request
of King Achashverosh that the Jews should not be killed.
The original fast began the night of the first Passover seder.
Esther was only partially successful in that three-day fast;
it led the King to issue a proclamation permitting the Jews
to protect themselves, but the Kings original order for the
extermination of the Jews was not rescinded. As a result,
we prepared for a defensive war on Purim. As during all
times of danger, we did teshuva, prayed and fasted for
Hashems help. This second fast, a communal fast, was
held the day before Purim and eventually became known as
Taanit Esther to commemorate Hashems answering the
prayers of Esther and Am Yisrael.
Four Mitzvot were ordained especially for Purim.
They are: 1) Reading or listening to the reading of the
Megillah at night and on the day of Purim to remind
ourselves of the hidden but ever-present hand of the
Almighty; 2) Mishloach Manot, or giving at least two gifts
of food to at least one person; 3) Matanot Le'evyonim
giving two gifts of charity to at least two poor people; and
finally, 4) Purim Seuda, or eating the festive Purim feast
where we break bread together with family, friends and
strangers on Purim day. These mitzvot help promote
fellowship and love among Jews and are as valid now as
they were then.
Pesach & The First Seder begin
on Friday night, April 22, 2016!

SHABBAT SCHEDULE
Date

Candle Lighting

Friday Mincha

Shacharit

Shiur

Mincha

Beshalach

1/22-1/23

4:33 pm

4:35 pm

8:45 am

3:25 pm

4:25 pm

Yitro

1/29-1/30

4:41 pm

4:45 pm

8:45 am

3:35 pm

4:35 pm

Mishpatim

2/5-2/6

4:50 pm

4:55 pm

8:45 am

3:40 pm

4:40 pm

Terumah

2/12-2/13

4:59 pm

5:05 pm

8:45 am

3:50 pm

4:50 pm

Tetzaveh

2/19-2/20

5:08 pm

5:10 pm

8:45 am

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

Ki Tisa

2/26-2/27

5:17 pm

5:20 pm

8:45 am

4:10 pm

5:10 pm

Vayakhel - Shekalim

3/4-3/5

5:25 pm

5:30 pm

8:45 am

4:15 pm

5:15 pm

Pikudei

3/11-3/12

5:34 pm

5:40 pm

8:45 am

4:25 pm

5:25 pm

Vayikra - Zachor

3/18-3/19

6:42 pm

6:45 pm

8:45 am

5:35 pm

6:35 pm

Tzav

3/25-3/26

6:49 pm

6:55 pm

8:45 am

5:40 pm

6:40 pm

Shmini - Parah

4/1-4/2

6:57 pm

7:00 pm

8:45 am

5:50 pm

6:50 pm

Tazria - Hachodesh

4/8-4/9

7:05 pm

7:10 pm

8:45 am

5:55 pm

6:55 pm

Metzora - Hagadol

4/15-4/16

7:13 pm

7:15 pm

8:45 am

6:05 pm

7:05 pm

If you have a chiyuv - obligation to daven or require an Aliya, please inform Rabbi Lazovsky before Shabbat.
To sponsor a Kiddush or Seudat Shlisheet, please contact the office, or Judy Whisler at j5awhisler@aol.com
WEEKDAY SCHEDULE
Minyan Times
Minyanim meet in the Kaufman Bais Midrash

Classes
Sunday Morning at 9:15 am: Parsha Class in the
We e kl y Sedra.
Given by Rabbi Moshe
Soloveichik

Shacharit
Sunday: 8:00 am,
Monday-Friday: 6:00 am

Wednesday ni ght at 7 : 1 5
Brachos. Now in 3rd chapter.
Ben Zion Lazovsky.

Mincha-Maariv
Sunday: 10 minutes before sundown
Monday Thursday Maariv only at 7:00 pm.

Shabbat afternoon one hour before Mincha - Parsha Shiur

Given by Rabbi Louis Lazovsky.

pm: Gemara
Given by Rabbi

For more learning opportunities, contact Rabbis Ben Zion or Eli

Lazovsky
Malamud Reference Library Come and Learn from any of the hundreds of titles in our library.
Lending Library Members may borrow books from our Lending Library, located on the south side of the Social Hall.
Tape Lending Library We have tapes and digital audio files on many topics including Chumash, Talmud and Mussar.

TREEMENDOUS SAVINGS
ON OUR TREE OF LIFE
* Honor a relative or friend * Mark a special occasion * Memorialize a loved one *
During the month of Shevat (January 10 - February 9, 2016) you will save 10% on all leaves, acorns and foundation
stones on our Tree of Life (ordered and paid for). Wording can be in English, Hebrew or a combination of both.
ORDER FORM

Name:_________________________________
TEXT OF PLAQUE

Phone Number: (_____)______________

_________________________________

Amount Enclosed: $________

_________________________________

Please check one:

[ ] Leaf
[ ] Acorn

$100 $90 During Shevat

$500 $450 During Shevat

[ ] Foundation Stone

Shevat

$1000 $900 During

_________________________________
_________________________________
_______________
(Please limit each Leaf to 4 lines plus the date)