Achim Newsletter / Parshas Vayikra

Achim Newsletter Parshas Vayikra

Greetings!

The winter has passed, the flowers will soon begin to blossom, spring is in the air and I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Candle lighting time for Baltimore 7:00 pm

Shabbos concludes 8:08 pm

To get an easily printed newsletter click printable newsletter.

To enjoy our Parsha summary go to Parsha

Please check out our latest web page with a Parsha thought direct from Toldot Yeshurun

I wish you an easy preparation for the Pesach holiday.

Vsego khoroshego,

Paysach Diskind

Table of contents

:: Hebrew Literacy Level II

:: Women's Class

:: The Path Class

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A Childish Thought

This week we will read the Parsha of Vayikra and as such my thoughts should address the messages of Vayikra. However, we stand now less than two weeks before the holiday of Pesach. The lessons to be learnt from Pesach as well as the lessons we need to teach and impart to our children on Pesach are so vital that I have chosen to focus on those lessons of Pesach. As with every holiday on the Jewish calendar there are so many layers of insight and understanding, Pesach is no exception. Pesach is the holiday that celebrates the birth of our people. It therefore celebrates HaShem's choice of Israel as the people who will represent His Sovereignty in this world. Certainly there are many lessons to be learnt.

Let us focus on the notion that in less than two weeks Jewish families across the spectrum of religious observance will be sitting around the table with extended family and friends. The Seder will be celebrated by Jews who know of no Shabbat and even by many who know little about Yom Kippur and nevertheless they will participate in a family Seder. How did this piece of Jewish tradition survive the onslaught of assimilation and ignorance?

Throughout the centuries and millennium the Jewish people have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate their miraculous tenacity to survive and to thrive. The only explanation for this miracle is their explicit relationship and commitment to that relationship with the Director of History. One needs only to chart the last 2,000 years of history to see HaShem's commitment to the survival and vitality of His people.

If we could understand how the Seder plays a critical role in Jewish continuity we could perhaps understand the Seder's survival. Just as HaShem engineers history in ways that will insure the continuity of His people He also engineers the survival of the Jewish traditions that are critical to Jewish survival.

Let us therefore attempt to appreciate the critical role that the Pesach Seder plays in Jewish continuity. In doing so, perhaps we will be inspired to make the most of our own upcoming Seder opportunity to insure our own continuity as members of the Jewish people.

The future of any nation lies in the children. This axiom is self-evident. To the degree that a nation is able to instill in their children the values that define them; to that degree they will succeed in insuring the continuity of their nation. If society is changing so rapidly that within a period of 25years the basic values of right and wrong or the basic values of good and evil undergo major change then we can assume that this nation will not survive much longer. If however a nation can successfully transmit those values that define them to their children their future is assured.

Once we have accepted this axiom we can begin to appreciate the role that the Pesach Seder plays. The Seder is an experience that is designed to be an educational tool by which parents can transmit the core essential values that define the Jewish people to their children. There are many components of the Seder whose only function is to engage the children.

As Pesach approaches let us focus on the lessons we teach our children for it is these lessons that will define each of us a being continuing members of the Jewish people.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Paysach Diskind

Mom's Workshop

The workshop is hard at work.

Last 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)
For more information call Leah Mikeladze at 410.358.1450

If you have any questions call me at 443.286.9338 or paysach@achim.org.

Хасидская притча

Один из хасидов Цемах Цедека из года в год арендовал у помещика постоялый двор.

Пришло время и сын его подрос. Решил арендатор передать дело сыну и послал его к помещику продлевать аренду. Сын вернулся в отличном настроении ему удалось сторговать у помещика аренду на пять лет с большой скидкой. Но отец, оказалось, не разделял его радость:-Ты думаешь, я не мог выторговать постоялый двор на долгий срок ? Почему же, если так, я продлевал аренду каждый год? Да потому, что верил, что машиаха не придется ждать пять лет.

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

wafting coffee
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

Challah

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

We have concluded the second chapter and hope to begin the third chapter at our next meeting.

This class meets Wednesday's twice a month.

Our next session:

Date: Wednesday evening,

April 7.

Time: 8:00 - 9:00

Location: Home of Alla and Joseph Kovalerchik (101 Clarendon Road 21208)

If you wish to join contact me at

paysach@achim.org.