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Achim Newsletter
Behaloscha
Mazel Tov! - Mazel Tov!
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Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Mazel Tov!
It is with much joy that I take this opportunity to announce the engagement of Shevy Levin to her fiancee Aaron Gropper from Queens, NY.
In honor of their engagement they are inviting you as well as all the other recipients of the Achim newsletter to an engagement reception. See details below.
Mazel Tov!
This just in - Ilya Yablonovsky, the son of Roman and Svetlana just became engaged to Miriam Devor from Brooklyn, NY.
Candle
lighting time for Baltimore
between 6:52 - 8:06 pm
Shabbos concludes
9:15 pm
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
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MAZEL TOV!!
You are invited to join the fun and share in the joy of the engagement of Shevy to Aaron.
Date: Sunday afternoon, May 30
Time: 5:00 - 7:00
Location: The home of the Gur family (6110 Benhurst Road, 21209)
Who: Everyone who is ready to share in this remarkable simcha and their family
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to print this as a web page click here
First discuss and then react
How fortunate we are to have been given the Torah which teaches
us the way Man should live a proper life. And how much more fortunate we are
that HaShem uses Himself to be the role model that we are to emulate. Let me
explain.
It would be a great treasure if HaShem would give us the
instruction manual for life and teach us the rules and the secrets of how to
live a successful life. However, HaShem did much more than that. He instructed
us how to live our life by demonstrating His own Personal behavior. He used His
own behavior as the lesson. And if you might ask, what difference does it make,
I will tell you. If HaShem simply gave us the instructions we would assume that
if one lives by these principles he will be a successful human being; he will
be the ideal Man.
However, by using Himself as the paradigm of how to live one's life, He is
teaching us that when one lives by these principles he is Godly! HaShem is
teaching us that when we live our life appropriately we transcend our
mortality.
In this week's Parsha, Behaloscha, we find one such
demonstration. There is an incident involving Miriam, the older sister of
Moshe, who spoke disparaging words about Moshe to her other brother, Aharon.
Needless to say, Miriam was not chatting idle gossip to Aharon but rather
thoughtful criticism about Moshe. In spite of her good intentions HaShem deemed
her words as being inappropriate. He therefore reprimanded her and expressed
his great displeasure. The Torah records HaShem's reaction in careful order so
as to serve for us a model how we are to act and react when we confront such
situations.
Let us get closer to the details of the story and watch and
learn from our Teacher. Miriam had noticed that since Moshe had received the
Torah on Mount Sinai he adopted a life of
celibacy. She understood the reason for this was because Moshe wanted to
maintain a state of preparedness to receive prophecy. Although this was a noble
reason, Miriam argued that she too was a prophetess and maintained
communication with HaShem as well as Aharon her other brother while both of
them maintained normal relations with their spouses. Why did Moshe think he was
any different? These were her words of criticism she shared with Aharon.
The truth of the matter was that Moshe's level prophecy was
distinctly different than that of Miriam's and Aharon's. One of the
distinctions was that Moshe was on-call 24/7. He had to be ready at all times
to receive communication with HaShem, whereas Miriam and Aharon only received
prophecy when they prepared themselves. Another distinction was the level of
the prophecy. While all the other prophets received visions and dreams as
mediums by which HaShem communicated with them, Moshe on the other hand
experienced explicit conversations with HaShem as one man would talk to
another. Both of these distinctions made it necessary and appropriate for Moshe
to conduct himself differently than his brother and sister.
Let us now watch HaShem's reaction to Miriam. "HaShem
summoned Aharon and Miriam, He said 'Hear now My words. If there shall be
prophets among you, in a vision shall I make myself known to him; in a dream
shall I speak to him. Not so is My servant Moshe... mouth to mouth (i.e. face to
face) do I speak to him, in a clear vision and not in riddles... Why do you not
fear to speak against My servant Moshe?' The anger of HaShem flared up against
them and He left."
Please note that HaShem 'anger' only flares up after he rebukes them.
Why? The anger was the result of Miriam's criticism which
occurred before the rebuke? Our Sages teach us that HaShem is demonstrating for
us how we are to conduct ourselves in this situation, as follows.
Let us take a person who wrongs you, for example, they say
something hurtful against you. The natural reaction is to impulsively get angry
and express that anger. HaShem would certainly be justified in doing so. HaShem
understood how wrong it was on Miriam's part to say those words. Nevertheless,
HaShem speaks to Miriam and demands from her 'why do you not fear to speak
against My servant Moshe?' Only after she gives no response and acknowledges
that she was wrong does HaShem express His anger.
On this our Sages teach us that if HaShem does not express
His anger until after he gives Miriam a chance to respond then certainly us
mortal creatures who can misjudge the other persons words, should refrain from
expressing anger until after we
discussed the matter with the other person. We may discover that we need not be angered; let
the other person have a chance to answer.
Behold! HaShem conducted Himself in this manner for the sole
purpose of demonstrating to us what the Godly behavior is for a Jew to behave.
May we all benefit from this beautiful gift and
progressively advance ourselves to become people of greater and greater
Godliness.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
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Tuesday Evening Learning Program
I want to take this opportunity to thank so many of you for participating in our learning program. I am confident that this small amount of time dedicated to learning will bring much light and happiness into your lives and those that you touch.
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 - 10:00 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 has begun 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 foundation.
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
Delegating jobs with authority
Our next session will be this Monday June 14.
The current issue; How to get the children to listen without a fight
Date: Monday evening, June 14
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. 
We are currently up to page 19.
Our next session:
Date:Wednesday
evening, June 9.
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Location:
Home of Alla and Joseph Kovalerchik (101 Clarendon Road 21208)
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Хасидская притча
Однажды Бешт рассказывал о
праведнике, пожертвовавшем своим уделом в раю ради
других.
Один из слушателей сказал: Я тоже готов пожертвовать своей
долей в
раю!Это хорошо, - сказал Бешт, - а три рубля ты тоже готов пожертвовать?
Тот
замялся и промолчал. Вздохнул Бешт и сказал:О какой же доле в раю мы
говорим?!
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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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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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