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Achim Newsletter
Matos - Masei
Thursday July 8, 2010
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Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Please note our Tisha b'Av Megillah Reading below.
We extend Mazel Tov wishes to the entire Jewish people on the birth of the new moon which will occur this Sunday evening at just about 6:08 pm. This new moon ushers in the new month of Av which will be celebrated this Monday.
Candle
lighting time for Baltimore
between 7:03 - 8:17 pm
Shabbos concludes
9:25 pm
To print the Parsha thought click printable newsletter.
To enjoy our Parsha summary go to Parsha and to enjoy a parsha thought in Russian go to Nedelya glavy.
Rabbi Baddiel has offered us the insightful story of Rabbi Yochanon ben Zakai in both English and Russian. I hope you enjoy it.
Vsego khoroshego,
Paysach Diskind
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Tisha b'Av Megillah Reading
Pending any historical changes
We, the Jewish people have a firm belief that at any moment the historical landscape can change. In the current mode our people are subjected to powers other than HaShem. However, we know that this mode is going to change and the change can happen within a short time frame.
That said, pending any significant changes, we will be holding our Tisha b'Av megillah reading at the Malachevsky's.
Date: Monday evening, July 19
Time: 9:10 - Maariv service
9:25 - Megillah reading
Location:
the Malachevsky home (3002 Lightfoot Road, 21208) map
What: the reading of the Book of Eicha / Lamentations
There will be a program on Tuesday, July 20 at the Etz Chaim Center. For more information go to the Etz Chaim site.
This Megilah Reading is sponsored by Sol Levinson Bros Funeral Home
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to print this as a web page click here
Slurpies and Sadness
In Judaism sentiment is as important or perhaps more
important than action. This is not to
say that it carries priority over action; No! Never does sentiment override action. (If our sentiment of going to
shul on Shabbos moves us to drive to shul we must sacrifice our sentiment and
stay home and demonstrate our commitment to HaShem and His Torah by foregoing
our sentiment in the honor of Shabbos.) However when the appropriate action is taken,
the energy of the action lies in the sentiment. An action done with no
sentiment is nothing more than an empty shell. It is comparable to presenting
flowers to your wife on her birthday and be watching the TV as you present it
to her without even looking up at her once. With several mitzvos there is in
fact no specific action required and the only aspect of the mitzvah is
sentiment. I would therefore like to focus our attention on the Jewish
sentiment that should be currently manifest in the heart of every Jew.
This week we will read the double Parsha of Matos-Masei which
will conclude the fourth Book of the Five Books, the Book of Bamidbar. As I
review this Parsha I have a melancholy taste in my mouth. There is a certain
sadness in this Parsha which extends throughout the entire history of the Jewish
people up to this very day. It is the sadness of unfulfilled dreams, or perhaps
an unfulfilled mission. I will explain.
With the conclusion of the Book of Bamidbar, we conclude the
entire history of the Jewish people from their inception with the birth of
Avrohom (Abraham) through the Egyptian exile up to their last wanderings in the
desert. In our Parsha of Masei we find the Jewish people encamped just outside
the Land of Israel ready to enter. The only thing
that separates them from their beloved Land, their beloved destination, is the
death of their beloved leader, Moshe. Several weeks ago we read how Moshe was
punished that he and his brother Aharon would not enter the Land.
Our Sages teach us that if Moshe had been allowed to take
his people into the Land
of Israel our entry would
be final and we would never be exiled.
Imagine the intense feelings that stirred inside the souls
of the people. On one hand they wait anxiously to enter the Land that was
designated by HaShem for them. The Land which HaShem promised to Avrohom and to
Yitzchok and to Yaakov that their children would inherit and in this Land they
would develop into a nation that would bring greatness to the world. Through
our marriage to the Land we would take the world to that utopian state of
complete harmony among Mankind as an orchestra, with HaShem as their conductor.
On the other hand, they had to bid farewell to the dear leader, Moshe. The
impending loss of Moshe was not limited to their losing his leadership and his
advocacy on their behalf to HaShem. With the loss of Moshe they understood that
this treasure, the Land they would soon receive, would only be a temporary
entry. They knew that there would be exiles, painful exiles, which would have
to be endured before that utopian state could be achieved.
Is this sentiment not reminiscent of our current
relationship to the Land
of Israel? Israel is there
for all who wish to settle in it. And yet it is so much not ours; on a
political level America
and the UN control our freedom and security, on a social level there is so much
strife within our own people, on a national level we are missing the core
essence of our peoplehood namely the relationship with HaShem. Why even the
national anthem of our Land has no mention of G.D's name! We are so close yet
so far!
Oh! How painful! How much longer must we endure this current
exile which is one long continuing chain of dashed expectations? No wonder many
people ask me if I really believe that Moshiach will yet come.
If I have been successful in generating even a small sense
of melancholy within you, I am thankful to HaShem. Not that I wish to sadden
the readers of this Parsha thought. No! My aspiration is to inspire the reader
and perhaps give joy and hope to the readers of this thought. The reason I am
thankful to HaShem for generating this sadness is because this sadness is
critical for us to go through if we are to fully enjoy the arrival of Moshiach.
Let me explain.
Baltimore
has been experiencing triple digit temperatures from morning to evening. As
many young people continue playing basketball outside in spite of these
temperatures they build up an incredible thirst as they nearly die of heat.
There is almost nothing more enjoyable to these young people than a 64 ounce
slurpie (crushed frozen soda). The sheer pleasure they have when drinking that
slurpie cannot described to one who has never experienced it. It transcends the
simple enjoyment one has when drinking a delicious drink. It is a form of
resurrection, of feeling of life re-entering one's soul. There is no possible
means of experiencing this resurrection unless you have suffered the heat and
exertion first. One cannot experience resurrection without first dying.
The reason I relish the melancholy taste in my mouth as I
review our Parsha is because I know that when Moshiach will come I will then be
fortunate to experience the indescribable ecstasy of reaching the destination
of our 4,000 year dream. And this is the reason why I am thankful if you too,
have tasted this bitter taste as well.
We currently find ourselves in the three week period of our
calendar known as The Three Weeks of Punishment. It was during this period that
both Temples
were destroyed and their subsequent exiles began. These tragedies have been on
the minds of the Jewish people for already thousands of years, and we never
give up; this memory is part of the Jewish psyche.
Why don't we just forget it and move on? The answer is
because the moment we forget and no longer yearn to return we have at that
moment terminated our relationship with HaShem. And if absence makes the heart
grow fond than we should cherish every moment that we have, to continue feeling
that absence so that when Moshiach comes how much more fonder we will become.
How fortunate we are that our weekly Parsha punctuates our
calendar with such precision so as to give us the necessary taste and sentiment
that we need to keep us well aligned.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
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Tuesday Evening Learning Program
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 study
partner please contact me at 443.286.9338 or paysach@achim.org.
If you wish to attend 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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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 classic work on basic Jewish
philosophy is studied
depth by two groups of classes.
One group meets on alternate Mondays and the other meets on alternate Wednesdays.
We are currently up to page 23.
Our next sessions:
Date: Monday evening , July 12
Wednesday
evening, July 21.
Time: 8:00 - 9:00
Location:
Monday at the Malachevskys (3002 Lightfoot) map
Wednesday at Kovalerchik (101 Clarendon Road) map
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Хасидская притча
Рабби Леиб Соррес говорил:- Что это за профессия такая -проповедник?
Он
поучает народ Всевышнего, произносит пламенные речи?! Но что значит произносить
поучения?Человек должен стремиться к тому, чтобы не слова его, но вся жизнь была
поучением, чтобы люди видели милость Всевышнего в его делах, а не в его словах,
чтобы хотели подражать его поведению. Он сам должен уподобиться молчаливым
Небесам, о которых сказано Нет языка и нет слов, не слышен голос Небес, но по
всей земле - предначертание Их, и до пределов вселенной - речения Их. По
настоящему проповедовать можно только молча!
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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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