Parshat Devarim

August 6, 2011 6 Av, 5771

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Devarim

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Rabbi Frand on Parshat Devarim Children are a Gift "May God, the Lord of your fathers, add a thousand fold more like you and bless you, as He spoke to you." (Devarim 1:11) The Jewish people,

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not very happy with the blessing Moshe gave them. "May God, the Lord of your fathers," he had said, "add a thousand fold more like you and bless you as He spoke to you." "Only that and no more?" the people responded. "Is that the full extent of your blessing? Hashem blessed us (Bereishis 32:13) to be 'like the dust of the earth that is too numerous to count.'" "You will surely get the blessing Hashem

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gave you," Moshe replied. wanted children for "This is just my own their usefulness alone, personal blessing to you." they would have said, "Thank you, but that's What exactly was Moshe's enough already! A reply? What additional thousand fold will suit our purposes just fine. benefit would the Jewish people derive from his We have no use for any more right now." But blessing of a thousand fold increase if they were that was not what they already receiving said. They wanted more children. They wanted Hashem's blessing of virtually limitless children "too numerous to count." Obviously, increase? they were not thinking about their own The Chasam Sofer explains that Moshe was material and emotional needs, but about the testing them. Why did they want children? Was it transcendent blessing because children were that each child useful, because they help represents, and so, carry the household they proved themselves worthy of Hashem's burden, provide companionship and are a blessing. source of security in old age? Or is it because each Hundreds of years earlier, these two child is a spark of the Divine, a priceless gift conflicting attitudes from Heaven, a piece of toward children had already become an the World to Come? issue. Yaakov and Eisav So Moshe gave the Jewish had made a division. people a test. He blessed Eisav was to take this world, and Yaakov was them with a "thousand fold" increase in their to take the World to Come. When Yaakov population. If they had

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Shabbat Announcements Parshat Devarim 5771

came back from Aram, Eisav welcomed him at the head of an army four hundred men strong. In the tense early minutes of the confrontation, Eisav noticed Yaakov's many children. "Who are these children?" Eisav asked. "These are the children," Yaakov replied, "that Hashem graciously gave to your servant." The Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer expands the dialogue between Yaakov and Eisav and reveals the underlying argument. "What are you doing with all these children?" Eisav asked. "I thought we made a division, that I would take this world and you would take the World to Come. So why do you have so many children? What do children have to do with the World to Come? Children are a boon in this world!" "Not so," Yaakov responded. "Children are sparks of the Divine. The opportunity to raise a child, to develop a Divine soul to the point where it can enter the World to Come, is a privilege of the highest spiritual worth. That is why I have children." Yaakov wants children for their own sake, but Eisav views them as an asset in this world. Children are an extra pair of hands on the farm. They can milk the cows and help with many other chores that need to be done in agrarian societies. Modern man has progressed beyond agrarian life. He has moved off the farm and does not have such a need for children anymore. In fact, he has made a startling discovery. Children are a tremendous burden. They are expensive, time consuming and exasperating. Who needs children? But what about companionship? Loneliness? No problem. Modern man can get a dog. Dogs are
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Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

wonderful. Instead of coming home to a house full of clamoring, demanding, frustrating children, he can come home to an adoring, tailwagging dog who will run to bring him his slippers and newspaper. So why does he need children? This is the attitude of Eisav adapted to modern times. Yaakov, on the other hand, understands that the purpose of children is not for enjoying this world or for making our lives easier. Each child represents a spiritual mission, a spark of the Divine entrusted to our care and our guidance, an opportunity to fulfill Hashem's desire to have this soul brought to the World to Come.

TISHA BAV 5771 Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Monday Schedule Mincha 7:15 pm Seudah Mafseket: Rolls and hard boiled eggs Fast Begins 8:02 pm Maariv 8:05 pm Introduction to Eicha by Rabbi Polakoff followed by Eicha and Kinot 8:20 pm Tuesday Schedule First Shacharit 6:00 am (with kinot until 8:15am) Second Shacharit 8:30 am (with kinot until 12 noon) Tisha B'Av Shiur by Rabbi Lichter 12:15 12:45 pm

12:45 1:30 pm OU Video with Rabbi Tzvi Weinreb and Rabbi Steven Weil: Tears of faith Visions of Hope Chatzot 1:01 pm 1st Mincha 1:40 pm 2:10 3:10 pm Tisha BAv Shiurim from the OU Rabbi Aharon Kahn, Rabbi Yaakov Glasser

6:00 7:35 pm Chofetz Chaim Video 2nd Mincha 7:35 pm Shiur between Mincha and Maariv Rabbi Polakoff Maariv 8:35 pm

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Michael Bleicher, Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Interns Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Mark Twersky, Executive Director Joseph Hecht, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

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August2,2011at8:15pm (followingMinchaat7:55pm) RabbiDovidHirsch KiddushHashem: TheExpectationsandResponsibilities

RabbiHirschisa1990graduateofYeshivaCollege,wherehemajoredincomputer science.UpongraduationfromYC,RabbiHirschreceivedtheRothmanAwardfor ExcellenceinTalmud.HeearnedhisM.S.degreeinJewishEducationfromAzrieli GraduateSchoolofJewishEducationandAdministrationin1993.Thatsameyear, hewasordainedattheRabbiIsaacElchananTheologicalSeminary(RIETS).After RabbiHirschwasgrantedsemikhah(rabbinicordination)fromRIETS,hewasnamed afellowoftheGrussKollelElyon.RabbiHirschhastaughtTalmudandhalakhah (Jewishlaw)andJewishThoughtintheStoneBeitMidrashProgramatYUandwas appointedRoshYeshivaonJune7,2000.AnativeofPeoria,Illinois,heismarriedto toMiriamHirsch.Thecouplehasthreechildren,Esther,Rochel,andRivka.

August16,2011at7:45pm

(followingMinchaat7:30pm) RabbiDanielFeldman Revenge&GrudgeBearing

RabbiDanielZ.FeldmanisaninstructorofTalmudandJewishStudiesattheStone BeitMidrashProgramofYeshivaUniversity,andservesastheDirectorofRabbinic ResearchatYU'sCenterfortheJewishFuture.HeisanalumnusofYeshivatKerem B'Yavnehandreceivedhisordination(YorehYorehandYadinYadin)fromtheRabbi IsaacElchananTheologicalSeminary,wherehewasafellowoftheBellaandHarry WexnerKollelElyon.RabbiFeldmanisthecoeditorofsixvolumesofTalmudicessays andservesontheVa'adHaHalakhahoftheRabbinicalCouncilofAmerica.Heisa frequentlecturerinlocationsacrossAmericaandabroadandhaswrittenfor publicationssuchasTraditionandJewishAction.RabbiFeldmanisthespiritualleader ofEtzChaimofTeaneck,NJ,whereheresideswithhiswife,Leah,andtheirchildren.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM Each year our Summer Learning Program is run through the generosity of sponsors. It is to the credit of our sponsors that the voice of Torah is strengthened each summer. Sponsorship is $100.00. Please call the office to be included in this noble effort. We will once again be including a sponsors list in the Shabbat Announcements. If you would like to sponsor a Day of Learning at an additional cost, in honor or in memory of someone, please call Mark Twersky and let him know. Sponsor list in formation Josh Olshin in memory of Sally Olshin, zl. Pam & Baruch Toledano in memory of Harold Kovar, zl. Gil Aronowitz in memory of Samuel Movsas, zl. Debbie & Hal Chadow in memory of Samuel Movsas, zl. Sonia Movsas in memory of Samuel Movsas, zl. Carol Buckmann in memory of Mayer Siegel, zl. In memory of Barbara S. Horowitz, zl. Mark & Adina Abraham in memory of his parents Shalom & Sara Abraham, zl. Brenda & Ed Parver in memory of Shifra bat Yaakov Yisrael, zl. Jack & Hadassah Wachstock in memory of Phil Machnikoff, zl. Ruth & Milton Mitzner in memory of Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine, zl. Harvey & Helen Ishofsky in memory of their parents. Rafael Gad in memory of Sara bat Nissan Gad, zl. Alisa & Michael Hoenig. Joan & Gerald Begun. Marc Epstein in memory of Toby Epstein zl Lilly & Gary Chubak in memory of parents Malvina Graf and Ida & Benjamin Chubak, z"l. Rita Gordonson in memory of Lewis C. Gordonson and Dora & Leon Gershkowitz, zl. Jolanta & Frank Rosenstein in memory of Sally Olshin, zl, and Phil Machnikoff, zl. Sam Levitt in memory of Eugene Levitt zl. Annie & Robert Mendelson in memory Walter Mendelson and Robert Meisel zl. WOMEN'S TEFILA STORY QUILT In honor of the upcoming 30th Anniversary Year of the Women's Tefila Group in Great Neck, we are asking people to submit a vignette of their experiences as participants in Women's Tefila. Whether you are a regular member or came just once, a Bat Mitzvah alum, mother of a Bat Mitzvah, bride, grandmother, mother of a newborn, woman who observed a yahrzeit with us, or father of a bat mitzvah girl. PLEASE write a couple of sentences or a couple of paragraphs about your experience at Women's Tefila. EMAIL your reflections to Harriet Schimel at hschimel@aol.com GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE TALMUD TORAH The GNS Talmud Torah is now accepting registration for the 20112012 semester. The GNS Talmud Torah is a full Jewish after-school program dedicated to excellence in an engaging and respectful learning environment in which Jewish children can become proud, caring, responsible, and dedicated members of the Jewish people and American society. Our goal is to create lifelong learners who can identify with their heritage and for whom Judaism is a central part of their lives. Classes take place on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, 4:30 to 6:30 pm, at the Great Neck Synagogue. The Talmud Torah, directed by Rabbi Polakoff, serves member families and students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. We offer a varied leveled curriculum focused on your childs competencies delivered by experienced Jewish educators. For more information please email Mark Twersky at mtwersky@gns.org. SCHOLARS KOLLEL The Great Neck Scholars Kollel will be holding a Siyum on Wednesday, August 3rd, at Chattanooga Restaurant in Great Neck. The all inclusive cost will be $35 per person. Please make checks out to Scholars Kollel. For reservations please email Steve Zuckerman at zkster@aol.com.

Within Our Family

Mazal Tov to Lisa & Michael Aryeh on the birth of a son born to Aliza & Joseph Aryeh and Mazal Tov to great-grandmother Mahin Aryeh.

SAVE THE DATE Sunday, August 7th, 9:30 a.m., Barbara & Ira Warren invite the community to their home 123 Middle Neck Rd., apt 311., on behalf of Project Extreme: Project Extreme provides innovative solutions for Jewish Teens-atRisk, their Families, and their Communities. Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski will be making a rare speaking appearance on behalf of Project Extreme. Rabbi Twerski will share his reflections and insights as a Rav & psychiatrist: The Positive and Negative Trends Within the Jewish Community At-Large. NSHA 8th ANNUAL GOLF, TENNIS, MAH JONG & CHARITY POKER Monday, September 19th, NSHA will hold a golf, tennis, card games mah jong lessons, brunch, BBQs and a sunset cocktail party with a million dollar Jet Blue Challenge followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner, with prizes, raffles and auctions and an evening Charity Texas Hold'em Tournament with amazing prizes. For additional information : please email Arnie Flatow at aflatow@nsha.org or call 487-8687 ext 133. CALENDERS
New calendars are available in the shul office.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 6 Av Sabina Geist for Rachel Lea Geist Sabina Geist for Tova Geist Joan Hope for Dora Hoffman Sunday, 7 Av Dassie Barth for Roslyn Orenstein Stanley Fischer for Harry Fischer Sabina Geist for Ichaskel Geist Marion Kapner for David Eisenberg Alan Levy for William Levy Monday, 8 Av Sheila Bachman for Max Gur Sabina Geist for Itzchak Geist Sabina Geist for Moshe Geist Israel Rosenzweig for Evelyn Rosenzweig Tuesday, 9 Av Trudy Jettelson for Sol Sirota Robert L. Kraft for Rachel Kraft Wednesday, 10 Av Claire Behar for Patricia Winston Marback Sanford Brand for Frieda Brand Annette Forman for Frieda Krauss Marilyn Freedman for Anna Cohen Hilda Schulman for Mollie Trainer Jerrald Weinstein for Philip Weinstein Thursday, 11 Av Charles Berlin for Helen Berlin