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Achim Newsletter
Balak
Thursday June 24, 2010
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Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Next week brings us the fast day of the 17th of Tamuz. On this day the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans which eventually led to the destruction of our Holy Temple.
Fast details:
Date: Tuesday, June 29
Time: Beginning 4:00 am
Concludes 9:27 pm
What: No eating or drinking
Why: see above paragraph
Candle
lighting time for Baltimore
between 7:04 - 8:19 pm
Shabbos concludes
9:27 pm
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
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to print this as a web page click here
Parsha Thought
In this week's Parsha, Balak, the Torah introduces us to
Balak, the king of Moav and to Bilam, the universally accepted curse-maker. The
Parsha opens with Balak terrified at the prospect that Jewish people will
attack his nation of Moav and take their land. Balak understood that the
strength of the Jewish people rested in the spiritual realm and it would
therefore be futile to use physical force to deter the Jewish people. In
response to this concern he contacted Bilam who had a portfolio of many
successful curses. He offered Bilam a significant compensation to curse the
Jewish people. Balak reckoned that a successful curse from Bilam ought to do
the job and the nation of Moav will go on.
Balak was right. If Bilam had been successful in cursing the
Jewish people we would not be here to tell the story. However, as so many times
in history, the Jewish people are saved. HaShem, the One who made the covenant
with our father Avrohom to always maintain the survival of the Jewish people,
entered the scene and forced Bilam to articulate blessings on the Jewish
people. The very curses that he intended to utter against the Jewish people
were turned to blessings. In other words, the words and sentences he intended
to say were never articulated; instead words of blessings came out. Those words
of blessing were composed by HaShem and placed in his mouth. With the
appreciation that these blessings are composed by HaShem how valuable the insights
we gain from these are!
I would like to study one of these blessings as it sheds
light on the nature of the Jewish people in their distinction from other
nations of the world.
Bilam says "In what
can I make a hole where G.D has not punctured? What can I affect with wrath
which G.D's Wrath has not touched? For I see it (the Jewish people) from
the summit of the rocks and from the hills do I gaze at it, it is a people that
dwell apart and not reckon itself among the nations...."
Bilam is addressing Balak telling him that there is nothing
I can do to these people. This is a nation that is defined by their
relationship with G.D and if G.D does not puncture how can I? To further
illustrate this notion, Bilam points out that this people dwell apart and do not reckon among nations. What does Bilam mean
that they dwell apart? Every nation dwells apart from its neighbor. Every
nation is defined uniquely within the borders that define its land.
The indication of dwelling
apart is not that they live by themselves; rather, their manner of living
is distinctly different than the manner of the other nations. Let us explore
this notion further in the hope that we will gain a fuller picture of who we
are and how we live our lives.
All animals carry on life driven by the primary instinct of
survival. This includes eating and drinking as this is necessary for their
survival. This includes procreation as this is necessary for their survival.
This is true in the world of botany as well. The cycle of plant life is taking
in nourishment and production of seeds. And this is also true in the world of
history; namely, nations also operate on the principle of survival. A nation
will do whatever it needs to do to insure its survival.
Let us expand this a bit more. Animals will not give their
life for an ideal that is higher than life. Animals cannot even conceive
anything that is higher than life since they are creatures of survival. Man, on
the other hand is able to give his life for a higher ideal. The notion of
sacrificing life for something higher than life cannot be found in anything
whose existence is limited to the physical world. This is because in the
physical world there is nothing higher than life. Man, who is able to transcend
the physical, can grasp and strive for the abstract, whether it is liberty or
fame or moral concepts. Man is able to be driven by more than survival. There
is a spiritual component in him that is not limited to the physical.
However, nations even though they are composed of men,
nevertheless they cannot give themselves up to something higher than their own survival.
It is unthinkable that a nation will give itself up, to no longer exist, for
the sake of an ideal. It is not uncommon for the members of a nation to give up
their lives for the survival of the nation but never will you find that the
nation as a whole will give up its own existence for something yet higher than
itself. Hence, the world of nations is no different that the world of animals
and plants.
In this respect the nation of Israel dwells apart. The Jewish
nation is willing to give itself up for the Name of G.D. The reason for this
distinction is because the very essence of this nationhood was a creation of
HaShem. HaShem created this people to be a symbol of His Presence in the
physical world. If the Name of G.D would require the elimination of His people
then they would be eliminated; they have no reason to exist.
To put this in different words; the very existence of this
nation is for no other purpose than to bring the Glory of HaShem to this world.
This means that the moment the Glory of HaShem requires that there should be no
more nation, the nation will cease to exist. Hence, the nation of Israel is
unique in that it lives for something higher than its own survival. It lives to
carry HaShem's Presence.
This is the blessing that Bilam proclaims to Balak. How can
I inflict any damage to this nation? It is not like other nations which are
nothing more than historical developments and are therefore subject to the
curses that I can apply. No! this nation does not live like other nations,
rather they are a manifestation of HaShem's Presence and that is something that
is not subject to my curse.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
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Tuesday Evening Learning Program
Due to the Fast of the 17th of Tamuz our Tuesday evening of Learning will be canceled.
But... on all other weeks this is what you can anticipate at the Tuesday Evening of Learning
Featuring
1. Dr. Keidar's Parsha Class given in Russian.
2. Paysach Diskind in depth study of the 613 mitzvos (check out the blog for the current mitzvah)
3. Learn one-on-one with a study partner on the
matter of your choice.
4. Read, understand and speak Hebrew with Yakov Krug esq.
If you wish to have a chavrusah (study
partner) please contact me at 443.286.9338 or paysach@achim.org.
If you wish to the Hebew class contact Yakov Krug.
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.
This curriculum is a 10 week course and he 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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The Mitzvah Class
Join me weekly at the Tuesday evening of learning in developing an appreciation for mitzvos of the Torah.
The class deals with practical applications as well as philosophical insights.
Please visit our Blog for a taste of the class.
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Mom's Workshop
Summer has arrived with all the changes that come with it. One of those changes is that Brocha Skulnik will not be continuing the workshop.
We are very grateful to Mrs. Skulnik for her dedication and time that she puts into her presentations and discussions.
There is a possibility that they will continue when school resumes. We will keep you posted.
In the meantime, if have any questions regarding the workshop you may contact 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 22.
Our next session:
Date:Wednesday
evening, July 7.
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Location:
Home of Alla and Joseph Kovalerchik (101 Clarendon Road 21208)
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Хасидская притча
Способность чувствовать горечь рабства
- признак приближения
Избавления.
рабби Арье-Лейб из Гур
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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?
A new request has passed my desk.
If you know of a qualified tutor for Math, English grammar and reading for the summer months, please contact Yakov Krug or call 410-274-5446.
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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