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Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Having gained the Shavuous experience and energy, we move ahead in our studying Torah and learning Hebrew. Please join us this Tuesday evening.
Candle
lighting time for Baltimore
between 6:48 - 8:00 pm
Shabbos concludes
9:09 pm
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
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The Jewish charm for success
ust a few hours ago I recited the havdallah service which
concludes the holiday of Shavuous and I am wondering if I have anything to show
for myself after traveling two days through this beautiful holiday. To address
this question I should first appreciate what the holiday of Shavuous offers to
her people which will hopefully help me identify what I have gained from the
holiday and finally I will be able to take advantage of that gain in an
effective manner. For this final stage, this week's Parsha, Naso, will give us
direction and guidance to implement our gain effectively.
Shavuous celebrates the anniversary of HaShem's giving us
His Torah at Mount Sinai. As we discussed many
times, the Jewish holidays are more than mere commemorations of past historical
events; they are a reenactment of the same energies that were active at the
historical moment which they are celebrating. As we apply this notion to
Shavuous, the implication is that during the past two days of Shavuous every
Jew traveled through the experience of Mount Sinai.
The energy generated by HaShem's giving us the Torah at Sinai was imparted to
every member of the Jewish people. To the extent that one celebrates and
appreciates what is being celebrated will be the extent of effectiveness of
those energies. However, even if someone traveled through the holiday without
any awareness that he was just at Sinai, he was nonetheless impacted by that
energy. Of course it will be far less that the individual who celebrated
Shavuous with all the pomp and circumstance, nevertheless, no Jew is left
untouched. The neshoma of every Jew stood at Mount Sinai,
deep inside there is memory of that moment of history. When this neshoma
travels through Shavous it is touched once again.
What is the nature of the energy generated by our experience
of standing at Mount Sinai?
We know that HaShem gave us His Torah, but let us spend a
moment focusing on what exactly He gave to us. Our source books teach us that
the Torah is the embodiment of HaShem's Will. Our Sages explain that the very
words of Torah compose the names of HaShem. The notion that our Sages are
teaching is that the Torah captures within it, the infinite understanding of
G.D that we can ever achieve.
Let us try applying this on a more practical level. My friend
wants to introduce me to his friend, David. The problem is that David lives in Melbourne, Australia
and has no plans of coming to America
in the next 10 years. I also have no plans of traveling to Melbourne. How can the two of us get together
and meet? With modern technology we can skype, talk on the phone or just email
back and forth. The more emails David sends me the more I get to know him. The
more articulate he is in his writing the better I get to know him. So even
though I will not meet David there is much I can learn from his correspondence.
Although this analogy is simplistic and very incomplete in depicting
the true essence of the Torah, nevertheless, it opens up the window to what our
Sages are teaching us. The Torah is the medium by which we come to know HaShem.
The more we connect to Torah the more profound our relationship with HaShem
becomes.
The energy of Mount Sinai
was that of HaShem giving Himself to us. This is the energy that we experience
when studying Torah; namely, getting to know HaShem.
Let us move on to this week's Parsha, Naso. In our Parsha
HaShem instructs the priests to bless the Jewish people by reciting the
following three verses; "May HaShem
bless you and safeguard you. May HaShem
lift His countenance for you and be gracious to you. May HaShem lift his countenance to you and establish peace for you."
The Torah then concludes the instructions for the priests "Let them place My
Name upon the Jewish people and I shall bless them."
Behold! The effectiveness of these three blessings is the
fact that each of these blessings contain the name of HaShem within them. By
the priests reciting these blessing for the people they were effectively
placing the Name of HaShem upon the people. The blessing was brought about only
through HaShem's Name being placed upon us.
If we can appreciate the notion that HaShem's Name or
HaShem's Presence brings blessing then we are ready to return to Shavuous and
see what we have gained from the holiday.
As we mentioned earlier, Shavuous generates the energy that
allows us to connect to HaShem. The more Torah we study and the more we make
Torah part of our life the more HaShem's Name rests with us.
I have been approached numerous times this year by different
people asking if there is any special charm that Judaism offers which generates
blessing. This week's Parsha answers this question emphatically - "place
HaShem's Name upon the Jewish people and I will bless them."
It is appropriate at this point to invite you to join a
class of Torah study. There are many learning opportunities at Kehillas Achim
as well as many more being offered to the larger community. If you wish to have
a one-on-one study partner to learn Torah, that too is available. For more
information contact me at 443.286.9338 or paysach@achim.org.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
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Tuesday Evening Learning Program
If you plan to joining us this Tuesday evening I look forward to seeing you. If your plans are conflicting change them!
If you wish to have a chavrusah (study
partner) please contact me at 443.286.9338 or paysach@achim.org.
I encourage you to join us. Whether you
would like to learn or like to teach we need you.
The details are as follows:
Date:Every Tuesday evening
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 pm
Location:
Rabbi Berger's Shul (3209 Fallstaff Road, 21215) map
What: an
evening of Torah study -
your choice, your level
We are very grateful to Frank and Danielle Storch for providing their property for this program.
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NEW
Hebrew Reading Class
by Yakov Krug
 Yakov Krug will begin a new Hebrew reading class. The goal of this class to give the student a comfort level in reading and speaking classic Hebrew as well as common conversational Hebrew.
His curriculum is a 10 week course and will be using Ha-Yesod as his base.
This Hebrew class will take place as part of our Tuesday Evening Learning Program.
If you are interested in learning more information contact Yakov at yakovkrug@yahoo.com or 410-274-5446.
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Mom's Workshop
Administrating Reward & Punishment
Our next session will be this Monday May 24.
The current issue; Reward and Punishment in the Jewish home
Date: Monday evening, May 24
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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Mesilas Yeshorim / Path of the Just
This
class meets Wednesday's twice a month. 
Our next session:
Date:Wednesday
evening,
May 26.
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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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 Kehilas Achim's Tuesday evening of Learning.
If you are interested in participating or have questions contact Dr. Keidar at keidar@gwu.edu. |
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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Хасидская притча
Сказали мудрецы: Молчание - ограда для мудрости.
Забор - это очень важно.
Но важно и то, что за забором.
р. Дизель из Слонима
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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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