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Achim Newsletter
Emor
Picnic update
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MORE
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Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
The Lag b'Omer picnic just on
the other side of the weekend, please join us if your schedule allows it.
Candle lighting time for Baltimore between 6:24 - 7:33
pm
Shabbos concludes
8:42 pm
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
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to print this as a web page click here
In G.D we trust
Our current position on the
calendar is referred to as the Omer.
This is the 49 day period that begins with the second day of Pesach and
concludes with the Holiday of Shavuous. Pesach marks the exodus from Egypt and
Shavuous marks the day HaShem gave His Torah to His people. It is in this
week's Parsha, Emor, where the Torah instructs us on the Omer. There is much
written and taught regarding how to use this Omer period to prepare ourselves
for the upcoming holiday of Shavuous.
There is one such lesson which I wish to share with you that
I just learned from our current Parsha.
In our calendar there are various types of holy days. One
type is the Shabbos. Another type is the holidays such as Rosh Hashanah,
Pesach, Shavuous, etc. There is yet another day which is of lesser holiness than
the major holidays but still greater in holiness than the weekdays. These days
are known as chol hamoed. On these days there is an element of holiness but
somewhat diminished from the main holiday. Chol hamoed are the middle days of
the Pesach holiday and the middle days of the Succos holiday. They are the days
that are sandwiched between the first and last day of the holiday. Hence, they
receive their sanctity from those primary days.
The Mishna teaches us that the period of the Omer is a similar
to chol hamoed in that it is sandwiched between the first day of Pesach and
Shavuous. However, the Mishna refers to the Omer as being sandwiched between
two Shabbosos (plural for Shabbos). It lies between the first day of Pesach which
is referred to as a Shabbos and Shavuous which is also referred to as a
Shabbos.
How peculiar it is that the Torah identifies the holidays
which surround the Omer as being called Shabbos! Apparently the Torah is ascribing a quality of
the Shabbos to Pesach and Shavuous and is then associating that quality to the
Omer. What quality of Shabbos is being summoned in the development of the Omer?
There are many qualities to Shabbos. I would like to
highlight one specific quality which is primary to being a successful Jew and
the best source of this quality is the Shabbos. In other words, one who is
careful with observing the Shabbos will achieve proficiency in the art of this
quality.
The quality I refer to is Bitachon. Bitachon means security. Being more specific, bitachon is
the implicit trust and confidence that one has in HaShem. The Jewish people
demonstrated bitachon most eloquently when HaShem took us out of Egypt, into the
desert. We numbered approximately 3,000,000 people and without question we followed
Moshe into the desert with no food supplies. How can so many people, many were
highly intellectual people, follow blindly into such a situation? The answer,
we had bitachon. We knew that HaShem
was engineering our exodus; that was clear from everything that transpired
during the 10 plagues. We took the knowledge of HaShem's involvement and
internalized it. It was clear that we could go wherever HaShem wanted to take
us - there is no need to worry; period!
From the following Midrash we find that this level of trust
and security finds its source in the Shabbos.
The Midrash teaches us of a conversation between the Torah
and HaShem. Before the Jewish people entered the Land of Israel
the Torah came to HaShem with a concern. "Currently, Your people study the
Torah in the desert both day and night because they have no responsibilities;
their food, clothing and shelter is provided for them. Soon they will enter
their Land and they will begin living life like the rest of the world; their
concerns will turn to providing the basics of life, food, clothing and shelter.
They will be starting from scratch what will become of me?" HaShem responded to
His dear Torah "Have no fear they will have Shabbos during which they will
study the Torah." With this the Torah was comforted.
Why was the Torah satisfied with this answer? Her concern
was that now they study Torah 24/7 and upon the entry to Israel they
will not study with the same intensity. How does HaShem's response that her
people will have Shabbos resolve the concern, Shabbos is only one day?
Clearly the Torah's concern was not the amount of hours the
people spent studying; for if that was the concern HaShem did not resolve it.
Rather, the Torah was concerned that her position within the people would be
jeopardized. Until the entry to the Land the Torah held the central focus of
the people. There was nothing that occupied the priority of the people other
than Torah. There were no other issues that concerned the people. With their
entry to the Land that would all change. They would now have new concerns and
responsibilities which would move Torah off center stage and the people would
lose their priority for the Torah. To
this concern HaShem's solution of the Shabbos resolved the issue.
The Shabbos strengthens the Jew's bitachon in HaShem. That
bitachon carries the Jew throughout the entire week giving him the sense of
security that comes when one knows and understands that HaShem cares and
provides for his every need. Although the Jewish people will have to spend so
much of their time struggling to provide for their needs, however, the fear and
anxiety that so often accompanies man's struggle will not exist. And the Torah
understood that she need not be concerned. She will continue to maintain her
centrality within the life of the Jewish people as long as they have Shabbos.
How do we draw this quality from the Shabbos? How can we
acquire this sense of confidence and security in HaShem from the Shabbos?
The only way for a person to refrain from working on Shabbos
is by practicing his bitachon muscles. Consider the Shabbos observer who needs
every penny he can get to cover his bills. When he declines a job on Shabbos
out of deference to the holy day of Shabbos, he has flexed his bitachon muscle.
When this type of behavior is reinforced on a regular weekly basis the level of
bitachon begins to rise. The sanctity of Shabbos together with energy of
practicing bitachon gives the Jew tremendous spiritual strength.
The Omer, those intermediate days that occur between the two
Shabboses of Pesach and Shavuous, draw their sanctity from those days of
bitachon, namely the first of Pesach and the Shavuous.
So as we march along in these Omer days towards our
destination of Shavuous let us glean the energy of bitachon that these days
offer.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
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And More!
Kehillas Achim takes much pleasure in announcing the beginning of its new Tuesday night program.
A full detail email will be coming out soon.
In the meantime:
Date: Every Tuesday evening
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 pm
Location: 3209 Fallstaff Road, 21215
What: an evening of Torah study - your choice, your level
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Lag b'Omer Picnic
The Picnic is just on the other side of the weekend
If you plan on coming please indicate so to paysach@achim.org
If you are not planning to participate - change your plans!
 Date:
Sunday, May 2
Time: 12:00 noon - 4:30 pm
Location: Gunpowder Falls State Park
7200
Graces Quarters, Chase, MD 21027
Hammer Shelter / Dogwood #2
What:
Lag b'Omer Picnic / Football
Hot dogs, Hamburgers,
salad, drinks, i takdali
Cost: $10 per person / $25 per family
Who:
YOU, of course, and that Jewish friend you wanted to introduce
to
Achim.
Directions: From I-95 take exit 67A
for Route
43 east (White Marsh
Boulevard). Follow 43 to route 40 east. After turning onto Route 40,
turn right at the first light onto Ebenezer Road and follow it for 4.5
miles. The park entrance will be on your left.
For a Google map
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New option!
If you would like to participate in this exciting class of personal development but you simply can't get out, or you are uncomfortable for any reason, you can still participate.
We are introducing the option of participation via skpe.
if you are interested contact me at paysach@achim.org
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,
May 5.
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Location: Home of Alla and Joseph Kovalerchik (101 Clarendon Road 21208)
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Mom's Workshop
The
focus of the past workshop centered on raising children and
allowing
yourself some space. Being able to just be you.
Our next session will be Monday May 3,
and will be
dealing with more children-raising issues.
Date: Monday evening, May 3
Time: 8:45 - 9:45 (real
time not Jewish or Russian time)
Location: the home of Leah Mikeladze (6807 Park Heights Ave.
The Canterbury House, Apt.
3-I, 21215) To reach
Leah call 410-358-1450.
Moderator: Mrs. Brocha Skulnik
Parking
instructions; there is much parking behind
the building. However, only park around the perimeter not
underneath the
building itself. Those spots are reserved for the tenants only.)
If you have any questions call me at 443.286.9338 or
paysach@achim.org.
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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. |
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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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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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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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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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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