Parshat Tetzaveh February 12, 2011 8 Adar I, 5771

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Tetzaveh

TORAH every teacher and indeed learning.
ARTSCROLL, 464 Rabbi Frand on
HERTZ, 339 Parshat Tetzaveh affects every parent,
because ultimately, every There is an aspect in
HAFTORAH
ARTSCROLL, 1159 Our parsha begins with parent is a teacher of his many relationships
HERTZ, 350 the pasuk: "And you own children. It is well where the parties
shall command the known that the lights of the involved in that
Children of Israel that Menorah are symbolic of relationship want to feel
they shall take for you Torah ("the candle is a needed. Ultimately, the
Times
clear olive oil, crushed mitzvah and the Torah is role of the teacher and
Candle Lighting 5:07 pm light" [Mishlei 6:23]). This of the parent is to train
for illumination, to
Friday Mincha 5:10 pm light a lamp continually symbolism is expressed in the child so well that
(l'ha-alos ner many ways. The Gemara they will no longer be
Hashkama 8:00 am
tamid)" [Shmos 27:20]. states that if a person desires dependent upon their
Youth 8:30 am The Gemara [Shabbas wisdom, he should face teacher or parent. True
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am 21a] infers from the (slightly) to the south when success for a mentor is
expression "l'ha-alos praying, because the not achieved by having
Main Minyan 9:00 am
ner tamid" that the Menorah was positioned at the child perpetually
Beit Midrash 9:15 am Kohen would kindle the the southern side of the dependent. Rather, true
Gemorah Shiur 4:00 pm fire of the Menorah Mishkan [Tabernacle]. success is achieved
until the flame would when the child becomes
Mincha 5:00 pm Using this general Talmudic independent and is able
rise on its own. (In
Shabbat Ends 6:19 pm other words, he would equation between Torah "to rise on his or her
not remove his hand wisdom and the Menorah, own". This "stepping
Sunday Feb. 13 7:30/8:30 am
from the wick he was Rav Hirsch explains the back" is sometimes a
Mon. Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am lighting until the flame specific symbolism of psychologically hard
of that candle was an having the flame arise on its thing for a parent to do.
Tues.Wed.Fri. 6:45/7:45 am independently firm own: The job of every The child won't need
Late Maariv 8:15 pm flame). teacher is to make oneself them as much. Some
superfluous. The job of parents need to be
Mincha Sun/Fri. 5:15 pm Rav Samson Raphael every teacher is to inspire needed. But ultimately,
Hirsch sees a and teach the student so that the goal of teachers and
Latest times for symbolism in this the student should become parents is to render
Shema/Shmoneh Esrei halacha that affects self-sufficient in their themselves obsolete.
February 12 9:31/10:23 am

February 19 9:26/10:20 am Kiddush Is

Next Shabbat
Ki Tissa Sponsored by
Candle lighting 5:15 pm Great Neck Synagogue
Mincha 5:15 pm
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Parshat Tetzaveh 5771

who empty the garbage cans into the back of the

garbage truck. The driver has the comfort of driving
Parshas Tezaveh is the only parsha in the last 4 books around in an air-conditioned truck. He does not
of Chumash the birth of in which Moshe's name is need to smell or handle the garbage. It is a
not mentioned. Chazal say this was a fulfillment of relatively decent job. The guys in the back need to
Moshe's plea to be "wiped out of the Book that You jump on and off the truck, and handle and smell the
wrote" [Shmos 32:32], which he uttered when garbage, etc. Ra v Chaim Shmuelevitz commented
pleading for forgiveness on behalf of the Jewish that he was once walking in Yerushalayim and he
people for the sin of the Golden Calf. The curse of a saw a garbage truck. After one of the fellows on the
righteous person comes true, even if it was only back of the truck did his job with the garbage cans,
uttered conditionally. Thus, Moshe's words, although he noticed Rav Shmuelevitz. The man went over to
uttered conditionally (if You do not forgive the the Rav and told him in Yiddish, "I could have been
people), did not go totally unfulfilled, even though the driver, but I'm not looking for honor."
the Jewish people were in fact forgiven. In this small
way, Moshe's name WAS erased from G-d's Book, in This precious story tells us much. We learn that
that his name does not appear in Parshas Tezaveh. there are hierarchies of honor in all aspects of life.
It also demonstrates this need for people who were
Rav Ovadya Yosef asks: Why of all Parshios in the passed over or who even voluntarily passed over a
Torah, did the fulfillment of this "Curse" come to certain privileged position to let other people know
fruition in Parshas Tezaveh? Rav Ovadya Yosef "I could have done that".
answers that the statement "Erase me from YOUR
BOOK (Sifrecha)" can be broken down to read Chazal say that Moshe Rabbeinu was offered to be
"Erase me from Sefer Chaf" [Book #20]. Since the Kohen Gadol [High Priest]. However, Moshe
Parshas Tezaveh is the 20th parsha in the Torah, it is declined the job, preferring that it go to his older
the appropriate parsha in which to have Moshe's brother. Parshas Tezaveh is the parsha of the
name omitted. Priestly Garments. This is the parsha describing the
glory of the Kohen Gadol. When Moshe Rabbeinu
This cute insight only begs the question. Why did reached Parshas Tezaveh, he may be thinking to
Moshe pick the 20th parsha, Parshas Tezaveh, as the himself "the Torah could be talking about me over
one to have his name removed from? here; this could have been my uniform; I could
have been the Kohen Gadol." In his extreme
I saw in a sefer the following explanation: Many modesty, however, Moshe says that this is precisely
times when a person is being removed from the the parsha where he does not even want to have his
picture, he feels a need to remind people "You should name mentioned. "This is Aaron's parsha. I want to
know that I could have had this job". take a back seat and not even be mentioned in the
whole parsha."
There was a famous incident involving Rav Chaim This is a classic example of someone who "flees
Shmuelevitz. There are usually 3 jobs in connection honor". Furthermore, as we said at the outset, this is
with a garbage truck - the driver and the two fellows the goal of every teacher. This is an example of
Great Neck Synagogue
what Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch means - that the
Shabbat Activities Program
Great Neck Synagogue flame should arise on its own. The teacher should
Shabbat Activities Program
not always hover over the student and tell him
Dale Polakoff, Rabbi
"Remember I was the guy who put you there" or "I
Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi taught you everything you know." The teacher must
Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus be prepared to stand back, take himself out of the
Michael Bleicher, Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Interns
Zeev Kron, Cantor
picture, and let the student and disciple go forth
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus totally by himself. The flame of the light of the
Mark Twersky, Executive Director Menorah should arise on its own.
Joseph Hecht, President
Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
PESACH SCOPE DEADLINE
The deadline for the Pesach edition of Scope magazine is
Monday, March 7th. Please submit all articles, photos,
sponsorships and advertisements by that date to Diane
Rein at drein@verizon.net . Thank you very much!
SUNDAY BREAKFAST is sponsored by Gil Aronowitz in
memory of his mother Faigel Rachel bat Zev Moshe, z”l
and his wife Faiga bat Yisroel, z”l.
YOUTH SNACKS are sponsored by Diane & David Rein in
honor of their son Oliver’s tenth birthday.
RABBI REISMAN
The Rabbi Reisman simulcast takes place every Saturday
evening in the Weinstein Torah & Tech. Center. The time
for February is 8:00 pm.
PARENT CHILD LEARNING ON MOTZAI SHABBAT
This Shabbat at 7:00 pm, there will be a program at
Great Neck Synagogue, for parent-child(ren) learning.
Parents of middle school age children are invited to come
to GNS for this special program.
WOMEN’S TUESDAY LEARNING
The Tuesday class with Amit Yagoubi will begin at
10:30 am. The class will focus on “Tomer Devorah” How
to tap into the 13 attributes of G-D. Five weeks cost $50.
Individual classes $12.
NEW MEMBER DESSERT RECEPTION
We welcome new and prospective members of Great Neck
Synagogue to a Dessert Reception on Saturday evening,
February 12th at 8:30pm at the home of Debbie and
Hal Chadow, 50 Dickenson Place. Rabbi Dale Polakoff will SAVE THE DATE
offer welcoming remarks. Please join us! A Cabaret Night in Great Neck starring Adina Dicker Feldman will
be held on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 7 pm at the home of Elana &
Herschel Flax. Proceeds from the evening will support Ulpanat
WANTED DONATION OF A USED CAR Dolev, a school in Israel for at risk girls. To be a sponsor or
The synagogue is looking for someone to donate a car for use make a reservation, please contact Marilyn Freedman at
as a deterrent for security measures. It will be painted to marilpriv55@gmail.com or call 516-829-0960.
look official and a beacon will be installed on the roof. The car
does not have to run well, it just has to be able to be driven
in and around the shul. The body needs to be in decent condi-
tion. Please contact Scott Danoff if you have such a vehicle,
and would like to make a tax deductible donation to the shul.
E-mail Scott, at ScottDanoff.GNS@gmail.com
KOL HANEORIM PROJECT
This year in conjunction with our 59th Annual Journal Dinner we are
launching a new and exciting project in honor of our children. We
are very blessed to have a shul with so many families, young and
old, with numerous children and grandchildren. Each Simchas
Torah our children and grandchildren gather together under a
special tallis for Kol Haneorim, an aliyah dedicated to the children.
Our project is to dedicate a new tallis that will be a true piece of
art that will be used each Simchas Torah as well as displayed
throughout the year. We have commissioned an experienced artist
to design this tallis exclusively for the families of GNS. We know
that you will want to be a part of this unique and historical GNS
opportunity. There are a limited number of dedication opportunities
so we ask that you to please respond quickly and generously. We
encourage all families to participate in the project; together we can
create a beautiful tallis to cover our children as they receive their
bracha. Please go to the website www.gns.org and see the
rendering of this tallis and the list of donation possibilities.
Within Our Family
Mazal Tov to Nazanin & Payman Rabiei on being honored at
the OHEL Dinner on Sun. Feb.13th.
Mazal Tov to Bernadette & Allan Beyda on the birth of a
grandson, born to their children Alana & Jeremy Beyda
Mazal Tov to our members Beth & Gary Orbach and
Allegra & Avi Goldberg on their being honored at the YIGN
Dinner, past Saturday night.
Mazal Tov to Isadore Sirota on the birth of a great-grandson
born to his grandchildren Bracha & Ari Perl.
Mazal Tov to Myra Honig & Murray Honig on the birth of a
grandson, born to their children Elizabeth & Shaun Honig.
Jacqueline & Stanley Fischer and family would like
to thank Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Lichter, Cantor Kron
and the entire congregation for their outpouring of
sympathy and support following the death of her
mother Else Salomon, z’l.
NCSY will be holding a Wine and Chocolate Tasting on Saturday
night, February 19th at 8:30pm in the home of Sara & Mitch
Shapiro, 18 Robin Way. This evening will be an opportunity for
people to view the prizes at the NCSY Chinese Auction which will
be held in March.
MARATHONERS
Viviane and Arnold Brietbart will be running in Jerusalem on
March 25 to raise money for Shalva, where he will be running
the Jerusalem Marathon and Viviane will be running the 10K.
Tami Secunda Kramer will be running in a 10K race for
Sharsheret.
Saturday, 8 Adar I
Norman Fisher for Henry Fisher
Malka Gad for Tvuz Hakimi
Elizabeth Katzwer for Isaac Katzwer
Moosa Soleimani for Rahamim Soleimani
Sunday, 9 Adar I
Faye Berke for Lawrence Jacobs
Milton Mitzner for Morris Mitzner
Y Rabbi Dale Polakoff for Herbert Rosen
Monday, 10 Adar I
A Martin Brownstein for Florence Brownstein
H Ruth Apelbaum for Simcha Shevili
Tuesday, 11 Adar I
R Carol Buckmann for Mayer Siegel
Z Morris Nasser for Ezra Nasser
Wednesday, 12 Adar I
E Dina Sharifian for Yagoub Misaghi
I Thursday, 13 Adar I
T Gilbert Aronowitz for Florence Aronowitz
Jay Aronowitz for Florence Aronowitz
Roselin Wagner for Yehuda Leib Prebluda
Elaine Wolf for Ephraim Wolf