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Achim Newsletter
Shabbos chol hamoed
Pesach
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Greetings!
I hope that you are enjoying the beautiful holiday of Pesach and that this newsletter finds you well.
Candle lighting time for Baltimore between 6:13 - 7:13
pm
Shabbos concludes
8:22 pm
Candle lighting for Sunday evening and Monday are as follows Sunday evening between 6:14 - 7:15 pm
Monday evening anytime after 8:25 pm
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
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A dove bird's eye view
This Shabbos belongs to the holiday of Pesach and as such we
suspend the usual Torah reading and reserve the Torah reading for Pesach
related portions. One of the readings that we will do this Shabbos is the reading
of Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs). Its author, King Solomon, wrote it as a
dialogue between a man and his wife as an analogy depicting the relationship
that exists between HaShem and His beloved people. The essence of this book is
a love song of much detail which opens up windows of insight to the deep
meaningfulness of our relationship with HaShem and how it manifests itself in
times of exile.
I wish to focus on one beautiful verse which perhaps
captures the secret of Jewish survival in the former Soviet
Union.
The verse reads "Behold, you are lovely, My beloved, behold
you are lovely, your eyes are like doves..." The Midrash explains the double
usage of "Behold, you are lovely" to
refer to the two states of the Jewish people; one before they sin and one after
they have sinned. In both states HaShem expresses His feelings towards them as
one of Behold, you are lovely. In
other words, no matter in what state we find ourselves, even one which is so
far removed from where HaShem wants us to be, nevertheless, HaShem recognizes
something beautiful in us.
What is that beauty? The verse continues that our beauty
lies in the fact that our eyes are likened to those of the dove. What is unique
to the dove's eyes and how does that translate to the beauty of our people in a
sinful state?
The Talmud teaches us that a dove is unique in the following
way. A young dove will not leave its home unless it can see it from the
distance. It wants to insure itself that it will always be able to find its way
home.
Before we return to our verse I will share with you a story
I just heard two days ago.
Rabbi Chaim Berlin, was the
Rabbi in Moscow
in the mid 1800's. As a rabbi he was quite talented and among his various
skills was that he read the Torah in his synagogue. He read the Torah with such
clarity that it was an attraction that brought people to come to his shul. The
single most attractive Shabbos was the Shabbos that occurred on Pesach. The
reason for this was because Rabbi Chaim Berlin
read the Book of Shir Hashirim with such meaning that it inspired all who were
listening. When Rabbi Chaim Berlin
read the abovementioned verse he was moved to tears. This happened year after
year long after Rabbi Berlin left Moscow and became the Rabbi of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). One year a
student of Rabbi Berlin
asked him why he is moved to tears when reading that verse. Rabbi Berlin answered him with
the following story.
Before I begin the story I need to introduce one more skill
of Rabbi Berlin;
he was a mohel, namely that was able to perform the Bris on a child. He used this
skill quite often and never charged a kopeck.
One day a man knocks on his door and asks to speak to the
Rabbi. Rabbi Berlin
introduces himself to the guest. The man then requests that he must speak to
the Rabbi in complete privacy. The Rabbi accommodates his guest and invites him
in to his private office and closes the door behind. Once the door closes he
asks Rabbi Berlin
to circumcise his newborn baby. Rabbi Berlin
readily agrees to the request and asks his guest why should this bris be such a
high level secret, what is to purpose of having to meet in private. The guest
responds that if anyone would discover that he is Jewish then his life and his
wife's life would be endangered.
The Rabbi's guest continues to explain that he is merchant
that specializes in Christian accessories such as crucifixes, statues and the
like. He lives in a non-Jewish neighborhood in Moscow where there are absolutely no Jews at
all. If it were discovered that he is a Jew not only would his business be
terminated but his life would be threatened. Rabbi Berlin understood that his guest was living
like a total Christian. He then turned to his guest and asked him if he did not
do anything Jewish, not he nor his wife, not in the home not out of the home,
why did he care to have his child circumcised and possibly endanger their
lives?
The guest answered him that he understands that his son may
never be interested in being a Jew. However, in the event that he is awakened
to his Jewish roots he should have a Bris so that he will know that he belongs
to the Jewish people and that the path home is open to him.
Rabbi Berlin told his student that the Midrash teaches us
that HaShem sees the beauty of the Jew even after he falls in sin because no
matter how far away he goes from his nest he always looks back to make sure
that it is possible to return home.
That is why I am moved to tears when reading that verse. I
have seen with my own eyes that beauty, that faithfulness, that inherent sense
of belonging to our people no matter how far away they seem to be.
From where does this powerful dovelike feature come? It
comes from the memory that lies in the deepest recesses of the Jew's mind that
HaShem performed the greatest of all miracles to take us out of Egypt over
3,000 years ago. HaShem's demonstration of His intense love for us created
within us a reciprocal intensity for our love to Him.
Have a wonderful Shabbos Pesach.
Paysach Diskind
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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.
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Хасидская притча
Сумасшедший поднялся на подводу посреди ярмарки в Надразине и кричал:
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Евреи, пришел Машиах, пришло Избавление!
Все начали в панике бежать домой,
дети разревелись. Сказал им раби Яаков
- Не пришел еще Машиах: если бы
пришел, не плакали бы еврейские дети.
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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. |
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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. |
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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 .
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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
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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. |
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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.
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Employment Opportunities?
Do you know of any opportunities that perhaps someone in our group might benefit? Or perhaps you are looking for an opportunity and you wish to include other people in your search. Please contact me at paysach@achim.org.
We will be posting such opportunities on our website at Employment Opportunities
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