|
|
Achim Newsletter
Parshas Vayakheil-Pikudei
|
|
|
Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Please note our upcoming Melave Malka tomorrow evening. See details below. We will be having Harold Gans presenting.
Candle lighting time for Baltimore 5:52
pm
Shabbos concludes
7:01 pm
I wish you an easy preparation for the Pesach
holiday.
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
|
to print this as a webpage click here
Parsha
Thought
This week we will be reading the double Parsha of
Vayakhiel-Pikudei which concludes the Second Book of the Five Books. We will
also be reading an additional Parsha called Parshas Hachodesh, in which HaShem
instructs His people to prepare for their final day in Egypt.
Among the instructions found in Parshas Hachodesh we find
the following. "You shall safeguard the matzos..." The implication of this directive
is that we should take all measures to insure that the dough used for the
baking of the matzos should not become chametz (leavened). Once a short
duration of time passes while the dough is inactive it becomes leavened and the
baked product is no longer considered matzo but rather chometz. The natural
question is that the Torah should have instructed "You shall safeguard the dough" It only becomes matzo once the
baking process is finished and then it no longer needs to be safeguarded. The
Talmud tells us that the Torah was encoding an additional message as follows.
"You shall safeguard the mitzvos", from here we learn that if a mitzvah comes
your way do not let it become chometz but do right away with no delay. The
Torah is teaching us that the way to safeguard the mitzvos is by not allowing
it to become chometz. (The words matzos
and mitzvos are spelled the same
hence the lesson is encoded perfectly.)
The Talmud equates delaying the mitzvah performance to
delaying the matzo-baking process. It implies that just as delaying the matzo
process results in chometz not matzo, so too the delaying in mitzvah performance
renders the mitzvah chometz. To recognize the Talmud's message let us examine
this comparison.
How can the Talmud equate matzos to mitzvos? A delay in
matzo baking renders an invalid matzo - the baked product is not a matzo it is
chometz. Even if it looks like a matzo it is not a matzo. The very definition
of matzo is that there was no delay. Whereas a mitzvah that one tarried in its
performance does not disqualify the mitzvah. Hence, the Talmud's comparison
seems unbalanced.
Our question is a subtle one but its answer will uncover a
truth that lies at the very core of Judaism.
Let us begin with creation. Our Sages teach us that the very
first component of the physical world to be created was Time. Before Time's
creation in the physical world, Time was eternal. In the spiritual plane of
existence one moment is an eternity. In other words; the physical world is a
plane of existence where everything in it has its given limitations. Just as
all physical matter has its given weights and dimensions, physical time has its
limitations. Hence, a moment of pleasure only last a moment. A moment of pain
only lasts a moment. In the spiritual plane of existence, however, a moment of
pleasure is an eternity of pleasure.
If we can digest this notion we can begin to touch the
transcendental nature of mitzvos. Mitzvos exist outside of the limitations of
the physical world. Although the time
and location for the performance of the mitzvos find themselves within the
limitations of the physical world, nevertheless, they are spiritual entities.
When a person has the opportunity to perform a mitzvah in this world he has the
capacity to reach beyond this world and create an energy in the spiritual world
where the consequence of that action will transcend time.
Let us now go back to the Talmud's comparison of mitzvah to
matzo. Perhaps we will appreciate the striking parallel that exists.
A delayed matzo baking process results in chometz not matzo.
Although the resulting product looks like a matzo and tastes like a matzo it is
nevertheless not a matzo but rather
chometz. With our newly acquired insight we can identify the same parallel in
mitzvah performance. When the performance of a mitzvah is to the limitations of time then the very
essence of the mitzvah is no longer there. Let us take for example the poor
person who stretches out his hand to me for support and I tell him that I am
busy at the moment, please come back in an hour. He returns in an hour and I
give him everything he needs. There is no question that I have done a great
deed and my reward will be great. However, the mitzvah I just performed is
missing its very essence. When I told the poor man that I cannot attend to his
needs just now, I subjected this mitzvah to the limitations of time. That
mitzvah became downgraded from a spiritual eternity to time limited act. It may
look like a mitzvah, it may generate some reward like a mitzvah but it has lost
its transcendental nature.
As we draw nearer to the holiday of Pesach, the holiday that
celebrates our coming into existence. Let us fully appreciate what we gained.
We attained a capacity of transcending the physical limitations of the physical
world. Our actions now have eternal implications.
How fortunate we are that nothing in our lives needs to be
meaningless.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
|
Tomorrow night's Melave Malka
Harold Gans
Date: Saturday evening, March 13
Time: 8:30 - 10:00
Location: home of the
Malchevsky's
(3002 Lightfoot Drive
21208)
What: Melave Malka
Featured Speaker: Mr. Harold Gans
Topic:
Searching for G.D in a Test Tube
Who: YOU, of course, and that Jewish friend you wanted to introduce to
Achim.
Mr. Gans was a Senior Cryptologic Mathematician with the National
Security Agency, United States Department of Defense until his retirement after
28 years of service. While there, he received the prestigious Meritorious
Civilian Service award for research. Mr. Gans is currently a mathematical
consultant and international lecturer throughout North America, Israel, Australia
and South Africa.
|
Mom's Workshop
The workshop is hard at work.
This week we worked on Pesach preparations. Our next shop will be meeting after the holiday.
Date: Monday evening, April 12
Time: 8:45 - 9:45 pm
Location: the Mikeladze home (6807
Park Heights Ave. apt. 3I)
If you have any questions call me at 443.286.9338 or
paysach@achim.org.
|
Хасидская притча
Недостаточно любить Святую землю умом и сердцем,
надо научиться любить ее
глазами и ногами.
р. Йехезкель Альберштам
|
|
|
Gemara Class
Weekly class in Russian language
The Talmud is the exposition and clarification of the Oral Torah. Talmud and Gemara are interchangeable terms for this work. So much of classic Jewish literature is built on the teachings of the Talmud. Children 13 years old as well 80-year rabbis study this ancient text. It engages the mind and activates the thinking process in a very deep way.
Monday evenings from 8:00 - 9:00 Dr. Michael Keidar gives a class on Gemara (Talmud) in Russian. This class is designed to accommodate people with limited background in Torah study.
Dr. Keidar gives the class at the Baltimore Community Kollel (3800 Labyrinth Road 21215)
If you are interested in participating or have questions contact Dr. Keidar at keidar@gwu.edu. |
|
Parsha Class
Weekly Class in Russian Language
The Torah carries within it many messages. Every Shabbos is assigned its own special portion that is read in the synagogue. This weekly portion is called the Parsha. The lessons and insights that are packed with the Parsha are timeless as they are profound.
Tuesday evenings 8:00 - 9:00 Dr. Michael Keidar presents insights on the weekly Parsha in the Russian language. Participation does not require any background in Jewish education.
Dr. Keidar gives the class at the Baltimore Community Kollel (3800 Labyrinth Road 21215)
If you are interested in participating or have questions contact Dr. Keidar at keidar@gwu.edu. |
|
Sunday morning @ Milbrook
Shachris service
Every Sunday morning we have a morning prayer service followed by tasty donuts with coffee and lively discussions with insights on the weekly Parsha dealing with relevant applications.
People who need to recite kaddish but are embarrassed to do so will feel comfortable at our service. We provide help and support in reciting kaddish in a friendly atmosphere.
Sunday morning schedule
Service 8:00 - 9:00
For kaddish be there no later than 8:45
Donuts, coffee and discussion 9:00 - 9:45
Everyone is welcome
Special prayers are recited by the minyan for sick members of the community. If you have someone you wish to be mentioned contact me at paysach@achim.org .
| |
Hebrew Literacy Level II
This class ran its six sessions
and is currently not running.
If you are interested in creating a new class
please contact me at 443.286.9338 or paysach@achim.org
|
|
Weekly Women's Class
Continuing professional education
The Jewish woman has many responsibilities, each of which is critical to their family and to their people as whole. We can define the position of Jewish womanhood as requiring a degree in culinary arts, psychology, clinical social work, business management, human resources and education. In addition to this list, a comprehensive background in Jewish law comes in handy.
As with every profession, Jewish womanhood requires Continuing Professional Education. Achim is very fortunate to have Mrs. Tamar Englander who is an outstanding member of this elite class of Jewish Women. Tamar conducts a weekly class that provides motivational and educational approaches to practical Jewish womanhood. A sampling of the areas that are covered in her classes include perspectives on Shabbat, dealing with the challenges of stress that find themselves in life, cooking with a touch of spirituality, child rearing, marital relationships and many more.
Every Wednesday evening from 8:30 - 9:30 Tamar conducts this class at her home, 6307 Wirt Avenue 21215. All women are invited to participate in this group.
Please contact paysach@achim.org if you wish to join. |
|
Mesilas Yeshorim / Path of the Just
This class meets Wednesday's twice a month.
Our next session:
Date: Wednesday evening,
March 17
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Location: Home of Alla and Joseph Kovalerchik (101 Clarendon Road 21208)
In our next session we will conclude Chapter 1.
If you wish to join contact me at
paysach@achim.org.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
