Parshat Vayera
TORAH Artscroll, 78 Hertz, 232 HAFTORAH Artscroll, 1134 Hertz, 244 BAR MITZVAH MICHAEL COHEN
The Difference Between a 'Baal Chessed' and a Welfare Giver At the start of this week's parsha, the Almighty appears to Avraham, who was sitting at the doorway of his tent "in the heat of the day" [Bereshis 18:1]. Rashi quotes a teaching of Chazal: "The Holy One, Blessed is He, brought the sun out of its sheath, so as not to trouble Avraham (who at the age of 100 had just undergone circumcision), and because He saw that Avraham was pained that no visitors were coming, He brought the angels to him in the form of men." asked, why was Avraham had no guests? We
October 19, 2013 15 Cheshvan, 5774
Rabbi Frand on Parshas Vayera
extreme weather conditions), there would not be anyone in need of food or drink or a place to stay. Everyone would ostensibly be comfortably resting in their own homes.We know what happens on the night of a big snowstorm. People are not on the streets. We do not need to worry if the streets are empty -- we know everyone is sitting at home, warm and cozy. Everyone is taken care of! Avraham should have been thrilled by the hot weather. No one was on the road. Everyone was happy and taken care of. Why was he pained? What was his problem? The premise of our question is that the purpose of a 'Baal Chessed' is to provide for people's needs, and if no one is in need, the 'Baal Chessed' should not have anything to do. However, our premise is incorrect. Avraham Avinu is indeed the personification of a 'Baal Chessed', but he is the personification of a 'Jewish Baal Chessed', not the personification of a welfare dispenser. The Government gives welfare. It gives welfare because people need welfare, and would be very happy if no one was in need of welfare. Agencies that help the poor or homeless ideally would prefer to have no business. They dream of a world where no one is homeless and everyone has food. It is ostensibly the goal of every helping agency to go out of business. This is the case of someone interested in providing welfare. But the 'Baal Chessed' realizes that "more than the homeowner provides for the poor person, the poor person provides for the homeowner." [Vayikra Rabba 34] A Jew needs to perform Chessed - "not for YOUR sake, but for MY sake!" To become a better human being, to become a human being in the image of the Almighty, emulating HIM in the most perfect way, I MUST do Chessed. Therefore, it doesn't follow that if everyone is taken care of, then I can be happy and not have to worry about dispensing welfare. If Avraham Avinu is incapable of providing Chessed - for whatever reason then he knows that he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing.
Times
Canle Lighting Friday Mincha Hashkama Parsha Shiur Youth Minyan Main Minyan Beit Midrash Gemorah Shiur Mincha Shabbat Ends Sunday Oct. 20 Mon., Thurs. Tues., Wed., Fri. Mincha
5:53 pm 5:55 pm 8:00 am 8:30 am
8:30 am The question must be 9:00 am pained by the fact that he 9:15 am understand that Avraham 4:30 am would go out of his way 5:15 pm pain of recovery from a
even while suffering the major operation to help was a Baal Chessed who
6:59 pm out wayfarers in need. But
if there was not anyone on
7:30/8:30 am the road (because of 6:35/7:45 am 6:45/7:45 am 5:45 pm
Great Neck Synagogue welcomes Ambassador Yehuda Avner this Shabbatsee page 2 for details
Bima Flowers are sponsored by Betsy Lieberman and the Honorable Herbert Altman in honor of her grandson Michael Cohen's Bar Mitzvah
Latest Times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei Oct. 19 Oct. 26
9:56/10:51 am 9:53/10:49 am
Next Shabbat Chayei Sarah Candle Lighting Mincha 5:43 pm 5:45 pm
Kiddush is sponsored by Laura & Elie Cohen in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Michael
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Sarah Should Have Send 'Amen'
Shaabbat Announcements Parshat Chayei Sarah 5774
year old daughter. He said, "When you make a Kiddush, people come and give you blessings for you and your This week's Parsha contains a comment of the Ramba"n that is daughter. They wish you Mazal Tov. They express all sorts of very novel. Sarah overhears the news that the "guests" good wishes. Today, it is appropriate to wish fathers of delivered to her husband that she would become pregnant and newborn daughters a blessing that the father should find a have a child. She laughed inwardly asking incredulously, "After I shidduch easily for his daughter. People express such have withered shall I again have clear skin? And my husband is sentiments on such occasions. Twenty-seven years ago, you old!" [Bereshis 18:12]The Almighty was apparently upset with prevented your daughter from receiving those good wishes her reaction. In the very next pasuk, Hashem asks Avraham, from the well-wishers you could have invited to your "Why did Sarah laugh saying: 'Is it even true that I shall give Kiddush. You never know from whence comes the bracha birth though I have aged?' Is anything beyond Hashem? that will be heard in Heaven. The Almighty has all sorts of [Bereshis 18:13] conduits for His blessing to take effect." The Steipler continued, "Who knows, there might have been The Ramba"n asks why the Almighty was upset at Sarah's quite some neighbor or someone you met in shul who you could natural reaction. The "news" that she heard was not delivered have invited by saying 'come, I'm making a Kiddush, I had a (according to her perception) by great individuals or even by new daughter born this week'. He would have come in and righteous people. As far as she knew, an idol-worshipping Arab taken a piece of cake and a little kugle. He would have made delivered this message. This would be as if we found ourselves a 'lechayim' and taken a shot of whiskey and then wished walking on the street and some nut would approach us and you: 'you should have an easy upbringing for her and you announce to us that we will soon win the lottery. Would we be should find a good shidduch and be able to marry her off to a expected upon hearing such 'news' to bow down and express fine Talmid Chochom'. You could have responded "AMEN!" gratitude to the Master of the Universe? We would more than But you did not let that happen. You prevented your likely dismiss our "good tidings bearer" as some kind of lunatic! daughter from receiving all those blessings. Go now at age 27 and make a Kiddush for your daughter." The end of the Sarah had such characters coming through her house every story is that the father did make the belated Kiddush and she day. Why should the Almighty have complaints against Sarah soon thereafter became a Kallah. This is exactly what the for not taking the news seriously? She did not know they were meaning of the Ramba"n. The complaint is not that Sarah did Angels. She thought they were crazy! The Ramba"n teaches us not BELIEVE the blessing of the Arab would come true. The an interesting lesson. He says that Sarah should have said complaint is that she did not HOPE that it would come true. "Amen! May this be G-d's Will!" The implication is that the next The complaint is that she did not respond with the word time we walk on the streets of Baltimore and some panhandler "Amen". asks for a quarter and we give him a quarter and the panhandler says "You should win the Maryland State Lottery" our answer should be "Amen!" If we fail to respond "Amen" to such a situation, G-d may have complaints against us. Someone quoted an amazing story from the Steipler Gaon, related to this exact point. A person came to the Steipler and told him that he needed a blessing for his daughter. She was 27 years old and in need of a shidduch [marriage partner]. The Steipler asked him if it was his first daughter. The man replied that it was actually his third daughter. The Steipler then asked if when this daughter was born, her father made a Kiddush to celebrate her birth. The man admitted that although he had made celebrations when his first two daughters were born, by the third daughter, he, in fact, did not make a Kiddush to celebrate her birth. The Steipler then advised him to go make a Kiddush for this 27
Great Neck Synagogue welcomes Ambassador Yehuda Avner Shabbat, Parshat Lech Lecha Congregational Dinner Beginning at 7:00 pm Following Birkat Hamazon Ambassador Avner will speak on The Religious Convictions of Israels Prime Ministers Shabbat afternoon there will be an extended Seudah Shlishit Mincha at 5:15 pm Seudah Shlishit at 5:45 pm Ambassador Avner will speak on Memories of Independence Day 1948: Israels Future as Seen through the Prism of the Past with an open Q & A session
Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023 516-487-6100 Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Zehava & Dr. Michael Atlas, Youth Directors Mark Twersky, Executive Director Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Dr. Scott Danoff, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board Dena Block, Yoetzet Halacha 516-320-9818
GreatNeckSynagogueSisterhood PleaseJoinUsatOur AnnualSisterhoodDinner Tuesday,October22nd2013at6PM attheGreatNeckSynagogue PresentingFashionsforEveryone! AChildrensFashionshowstarringour preciouslittleones! FeaturingclothesbyRUUM aspresentedbyMindyLeventhal Designerlingerie,sleepwearandloungewear FromABriefAffair aspresentedbyJessicaSmooha andlotsandlotsofraffleprizes!!!! Membercost:$40NonMembercost:$45 Sponsorshipsavailable: Gold$72Silver$36Bronze$18 INVITATIONTOFOLLOW, BUTYOUCANALWAYSRESERVEYOURSPOTSNOW!!!! CalltheSynagogueoffice5164876100
GNSOCTOBERCHESEDCOLLECTION
OurOctobercollectionisforbabyclothesandbabyitems. AlldonationswillbenefitOnegShabbos. Babyclothesshouldbeneworgentlyworn.Babyitems shouldbecleanandingoodcondition. Snowsuitsandblanketsarealsoneeded. PleasedropoffdonationsatthehomeofMichelleandPhilip Berman11MargaretCourt. Allitemscanbeleftonthefrontporch.
FAMILYSHABBATDINNER&GUESTSPEAKERSERIES Fridayevening,October18 26OldMillRoad,GreatNeck,NY11023|5164876100 |www.gns.org GuestSpeaker AMBASSADOR YEHUDAAVNER
SPONSORSHIP&DEDICATIONOPPORTUNITIES DinnerSeriesDedication$5,000| SingleDinnerDedication$1,800 DinnerSponsor$1,000|DinnerPatron$500 DinnerSupporter$360 Formoreinformation, pleasecontactthesynagogueoffice ReservationsRequired~LimitedSeating $36/adult|$24/teen|$10/child|$125familymax. RSVP:
[email protected]GreatNeckSynagogueMensClub ComeenjoyaFreeBreakfast andhearourDynamicSpeaker
HerbKeinon
Diplomaticandpoliticalcorrespondent atTheJerusalemPost Topic: Isitasbadasitseems?Anonsensationalistlookat Israel'scurrentstateofaffairs,fromIrantoGaza, ObamatoAbbas,withemphasisonthepeacetalks. Sunday,October27,2013at10:00am Allwelcome
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
WELCOMING NEW FACES We encourage all of our members to welcome the new faces they see during the week and Shabbat with a warm and friendly approach, indicative of the wonderful community we live in. Please consider inviting the following for a meal. Welcome to our Community: David & Dahlia Shabbatian, Joseph & Randi Cohen, Ben & Rachel Feintuch, Welcome New members: Nima & Bracha Dayani, Josh & Kathleen Gold,Howard Goldstein, Aryeh & Jessica Hauptman, Arik & Sarah Hirschfeld,Michael & Leslie Kule, Bijan & Elda Niknam, Jeremy & Tania Orenstein,Peter & Pamela Shrock. FAMILY SHABBAT DINNER & GUEST SPEAKER SERIES Guest Speaker AMBASSADOR YEHUDA AVNER Fri. Evening, Oct., 18 (Deadline Tuesday October 15) SPONSORSHIP & DEDICATION OPPORTUNITIES Dinner Series Dedication - $5,000 | Single Dinner Dedication - $1,800 Dinner Sponsor - $1,000 | Dinner Patron - $500 Dinner Supporter - $360. For more information, please contact the synagogue office. Reservations Required ~ Limited Seating $36/adult | $24/teen | $10/child | $125 family maximum RSVP: 516.487.6100 or [email protected] YOETZET HALACHA Join us to welcome Great Neck Synagogue's new Yoetzet Halacha Dena Block, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 9:30-11:00 a.m. Dena Bock, together with ob/gyn, Dr. Valerie Altman, will discuss topics related to contraception, peri-menopause and sexuality. Her topic that morning will be What to Expect When You're Not Expecting! This will be a "women only" brunch sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue at the home of Ilana Wallenstein, 32 Arrandale Avenue. To reach Dena please call 516-320-9818 or reach her by email at [email protected]. SISTERHOOD NEWS The Annual Sisterhood Dinner is Tues., Oct 22nd at GNS. See Page 2 Wed. night, Oct. 30th, Aksana Jensen will be presenting a spa facial demonstration! BI-ANNUAL OHEL SHABBATON The Ohel Shabbaton will be taking place on Oct.25-26th. If you are interested in hosting OHEL members for that Shabbos, please contact Rabbi Lichter at ilichter @gns.org. The program will include dinner Friday night at the shul for OHEL and their hosts, an Oneg following dinner open to the entire community and a Saturday night activity. MENS CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS SUN., OCT 27, 10:00 am: The diplomatic correspondent for The Jerusalem Post, Herb Keinon, will be talking on the political and diplomatic situation in Israel. SUN., NOV 10, 10:00am: We are thrilled that Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, an elected member of the South African parliament and a staunch supporter of Israel will be speaking at our breakfast that morning. SUN., NOV 17, 2:00PM : A trip to NYC, together with Dos Yiddish Vort , to the Yiddish Theater to see " Lies My Father Told Me ", a musical in English with Yiddish. Cost is $65 per person, which includes the bus, theater tickets and a light dinner.
Within Our Family
Mazal Tov to Sonia & Sidney Mauthner on the birth of their fourth great-granddaughter, born to their grandchildren Stacy & Kevin Weiler and on the upcoming marriage of their granddaughter Brittany Klein to David Miller. Mazal Tov to Gloria Faizakoff on the birth of a granddaughter born to her children Dan & Debra Faizakoff. Mazal Tov also to aunt Judy Faizakoff. Mazal Tov to Laura & Elie Cohen on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Michael. Mazal Tov to Grandparents Betsy Leiberman and the Honorable Herbert Altman.
IN THE COMMUNITY HONORING GLORIA & HARVEY KAYLIE American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro will be honoring Gloria and Harvey Kaylie at its Inaugural Humanitarian Award Celebration Dinner on Thur., Oct. 17, 2013, at 6:30 PM at The Essex House, 160 Central Park South. For more information or to make a contribution, e-mail
[email protected] or call 212-586-2464. SAVE THE DATES Our member Anna Hakakian will be honored by Larger Than Life at its dinner on Oct., 22 at Temple Israel. Call 773-1050 for info. Vocapeople from Broadway will be featured. The Iranian Jewish federation will be holding its 12th Annual Gala Thur., Nov. 7 at Alice Tully Hall. SHAARE ZEDEK CHILDRENS BOWLING/CASINO EVENT Please join us at Sat. night Oct. 26th at Bowlmor Times Square from 8:30pm-Midnight. For full details, and to Register go to www.acsz.org/bowl. This years goal is to purchase a 14 Crib Nursery and an Overnight NICU Parent Room. Great Neck Chair Couples: Talia & Sol Goldwyn, Ilana & Aaron Wallenstein, Asher & Lauren Abehsera and Aliza & Dov Sassoon. For more info contact Sharon 917 287 7334 NYC MARATHON FOR SHEBA BURN CENTER AND BLUE CARD Arnie Breitbart will be running the NYC Marathon on Nov. 3 to benefit both the Burn Center at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, and The Blue Card, an organization providing support to destitute Holocaust survivors. Check donations can be made out to American Friends of Sheba Medical Center and/or The Blue Card, and mailed to Arnie Breitbart, 10 Imperial Court, GN NY 11023. SAVE THE DATE Thur., Nov. 7, 7 PM at the GN Library, Main Branch, Community Room. Andrew G. Bostom, noted author and lecturer, will speak on "Islam and The Jews". Sponsored by the Jewish Political Education Foundation. All Welcome. No charge for admission.
GNS ANNUAL DINNER Our 62nd Annual Dinner will take place on Saturday evening, Dec.14, 2013. Our Guests of Honor will be: Dina & Natan Hamerman & Judith & Jerrald Weinstein and Boneh Habayit: Zachary Mittleman Please volunteer to help make this a memorable evening. Leon Schwechter and his family would like to express their sincerest thanks and great appreciation to Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Lichter and the entire Great Neck Synagogue for the support and comfort that they gave to us during the week of shiva for his mother Rachelle Schwechter. We appreciate everything and everyone who were there for us, and you helped us get through this difficult time. We look forward to sharing in simchas with all of you in the future!!
Y A H R Z E I T
Saturday, 15 Cheshvan Pauline Loewenstein for Emanuel Rutta Ira Lubin for Nathan Lubin Brian Smith for Francine Smith Sunday, 16 Cheshvan Herman Davidovics for Samuel Davidovics Monday, 17 Cheshvan Perry Schneider for Sandra Schneider Tuesday, 18 Cheshvan Osnass Shein for Simchat Charchat Joyce Swartz for Geraldine Zeff Wednesday, 19 Cheshvan Anne Lupkin for Mary Fischler Irene Wineman Marcus for David Wineman Hillel Milun for Nancy Milun Thursday, 20 Cheshvan Victor Ancelson for Lviu Galateanu Stanley Dacher for Samuel Dacher Yaacov Mizrahi for Dalia Mizrahi Morris Seidman for Kalma Seidman Jerrald Weinstein for George Weinstein Friday, 21 Cheshvan Paul Brody for Ruth Schaeffer
