Don't Just Read & Listen Someone once asked me why religious Jews read and reread Parshat HaShavua every week, year in and year out. Don't you know what it says already? My answer at the time was that every time you read part of the Torah again, you can find something new. A new explanation. A new way to understand it. A new twist. True. But there is more. Much more. If you keep at the reading, listening, and study of the Torah, you can BECOME more like what G-d wants. You can internalize the lessons of the Torah and become a better person. And if you think about this — it's what G-d wants of us in the first place. He's not just telling us stories. He's not just commanding us to do this and don't do that to hear Himself talk (as the expression goes in other contexts). Maybe this is all obvious. Maybe it goes without saying. Maybe it SHOULD go without saying. But somehow it seems as if it needs to be said. And it needs to be taken seriously to heart. And to action. We attribute the establishment of the Shacharit daven to Avraham Avinu. He was talking to G-d in the morning. That says to us: Daven Shacharit. Think about it. And now reverse it. Our Shacharit (and the other davening that we do) is supposed to be talking with G-d! Simple point. But how many meticulous 3-times a day daveners talk to G-d when they daven? And what about the not so meticulous among us? Think about it. Hachnasat Orchim. Hospitality. We learn it from Avraham and Sara. Nice. But do we just take the idea, or do we grasp the details as well. Avraham Avinu, ailing from Brit Mila at an advanced age AND in the midst of a conversation with G-d, ran - in the heat of the day (extra heat courtesy of G-d's attempt to make things easier for him) - to welcome approaching strangers. He enlisted his wife and son in the preparations of the best of the best. He not only welcomed his guests, he also escorted them at their departure. How do each of us compare with the paradigm of hospitality? Do we just read about Avraham's hospitality and say that we too are hospitable? Or do we really go all out to make guests feel welcome? Remember, part of the lesson from the sedra is Hospitality EVEN when it is not convenient. Heat of the day. Extra hot. Ailing. Aged. And Avraham RUNS to greet his guests. If we've had an example in the area of BEIN ADAM LAMAKOM and an example of BEIN ADAM LA'CHAVEIRO, then we also need an example of BEIN ADAM L'ARTZO, between the Jew and his Land. (Not really sure that's a real term, but why not!) G-d sent Avraham to Eretz Yisrael. He told Avraham to walk its length and breadth. He promised Avraham that the Land will belong to his children... FOREVER. Perhaps I've brought up this point before, but ARE WE LEARNING OUR LESSONS FROM AVRAHAM AVINU when it comes to Eretz Yisrael? How seriously do we take what the Torah tells us about the Avot and Imahot and their relationships with G-d? It must be more than just reading the words. More than making a nice dvar Torah to share at Seuda Shlishit. We have to live the Torah. Maybe this is why we go over Parshat HaShavua year in and year out, over and over again. One of these days, the Torah's lessons are going to stick. They are going to be taken seriously... all the way. Let our Ancestors show us the way to a real Jewish Life. That's what they were supposed to do. That's why the Torah tells us about their lives. AROUND THE CENTER What's happening lately at the Center - that's the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center? We have a real front desk. It is still being finished, but it's there. The library shelving, cabinets, and drawers are in and the work of getting the books and tapes into their proper places will be underway this coming week. Mincha is now where it belongs - in the Ganchrow Beit Midrash. We're starting Shacharit next week, IY"H. We're working on the details of a Shabbat minyan and our Beit Midrash program. And lots more. Dear TT reader, The episode of Sodom and Gemorrah invites us to examine the nature of our dialogue with Hashem. Our first impression is of a lonely and desperate advocate, Avraham, contesting G-d and challenging the “Judge of all Earth” with the age-old cry: “Will you sweep the innocent along with the guilty?” It is not only Avraham who questions the Almighty, however, for Hashem is also both educating and testing Avraham. As the progenitor of the Jewish people Avraham learns, for example, about the possibilities of Teshuva and due process in law. And as the “Father of all peoples,” Avraham is challenged to step near enough to Hashem to implore: “Shall not the Judge of all the Earth deal justly?” Avraham thus teaches us to have the brazen courage – and an infinite sense of nothingness – to translate our intellectual commitment to chessed into practical deeds. For our commitment to the prophetic ideal of the pursuit of justice, notes Professor Reuven Kimmelman, is precisely what defines the greatness of a people who seek G-d. Sincerely yours, Great madrichim • Great ruach • Saturday night surprise • see old friends - meet new ones Transportation available from Netanya, Raanana, and Lod • Limited space Our devoted volunteers will be available to all who register for this help. Please contact Sarah Pinsky, bat sherut, 566-7787 for registration and more information. “Shalom and Tefilah” was the theme of the NESTO shabbaton held this past week in Bayit Vegan. High school students from Beit Shemesh, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Efrat, Ramat, Har Nof, and Nachlaot, gathered together for a spirited Shabbat that allowed them to explore the broad aspects of both social and inner peace, as well as reflect on the power of prayer. We left a little time for shmoozing! Friday night the NESTO participants led their own tefilah, during which time Rabbi Silverman spoke about the importance of inner peace and personal shlamut as a prerequiste for true prayer. The singing and divrei Torah at dinner were so powerful, that the kids sang past the time allotted for their “spontaneous fun.” Following dinner the group broke into two sessions, each dealing with an aspect of prayer, led by madrichim Yakov Reichart and Zemira Beren. Enthused and bursting with energy, the group headed down to the Gruss Kollel, located next to Machon Lev for an oneg Shabbat led by two smicha students in the Y.U. Kollel. Though we returned after 11:00 p.m. the group had enough energy to wolf down yet another round of food, and geared up for a long night of board games and socializing. Shabbat morning davening was split among three shuls in the community, and following lunch the group gathered for a session given by Tamar Marcus, a madricha of NESTO who is a training officer in the North. Tamar spoke about moral issues facing soldiers today and allowed the group to debate amongst themselves over the issue of RPG warfare. Following the shiur and mincha the entire shabbaton walked to Shaare Tzedeck Hospital where we went room to room giving out Shabbat treats and wishing a refuah shlema to the patients. Shabbat ended with a moving seudat shlishit which included divrei chizuk from two former NESTO members who are now madrichim in yeshivot. I would like to thank the board members: Avi Mayer, Aviela Trapido, Yoel Kahn and Michal Stillman for their help in planning and organizing this event, as well as our madrichim, Yosef Sukenic, Moshe Fifer, Yaakov Reichart, Zemira Beren, Bracha Frasier, Tamar Marcus, and as always, or bat sherut Ilana Milo. Tuesday night Fiddlin and Food met for their second time with an enthusiastic group of kids who not only tackled the phenomena of shidduchim, the role of the shaddchan in Judaism, and the values we look for in a potential spouse, they also had a chance to place a value on the most important aspect to look for in a spouse. The next Fiddlin and Food wil take place on November 28th. at 7:30 p.m. in the youth lounge. We will be viewing the song ‘If I were a Rich Man’ and discussing the role of wealth in Judaism, and participating in an experiential program where we have to delegate our wealth. Thursday November 23rd. is Movie Night at the Youth Lounge. We will begin at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for members; non-members is five shekels. The Israel Center's youth program for Anglo-Israelis tel. 566-7787 ext. 245 • fax: 561-7432 silvera@mail.biu.ac.il • www.zyworld.com/nesto Rabbi Avi Silverman, dir. • Ilana Milo, Bat Sherut FEEDBACK Feedback on the shul & davening piece in last week's issue was heavy and favorable. Many people had favorites among the points in the piece, and readers are invited to submit their comments for possible inclusion in follow-up articles. Call (5667787), fax (5617432), email (tt@ou.org), or drop by (22 Keren HaYesod) with you pet peeves and-or helpful suggestions for improving the BEIN ADAM LAMAKOM and BEIN ADAM L'CHAVEIRO aspects of shul experience. How about those people whose pelephones go off in shul during the week (I've heard it on Shabbat too!), sometimes more than once, and somehow, always during the silent "18"? A nice sign on the wall can help, both as a reminder and as something for you to point out to the perpetrator. Less annoying, but still there on the list, is a watch alarm that goes off during the davening, especially on Shabbat. Of course, the perp can’t turn it off on Shabbat, but people should be mindful of the problem and take the proper steps on Erev Shabbat to turn off their alarms. Let’s go back to AMEIN CHATUFA, the saying of AMEIN before the end of the bracha. The most common occurrence of this non-Amein is the response to a chazan’s drawn out ending on Yom Tov and Rosh Chodesh. It has somehow developed into a prevalent practice for the TZIBUR (congregation) to join the Chazan’s last syllable with their Amein. Look at the ramifications of this. Everyone who answers before the Chazan finishes the bracha (no matter how long he stretches the ending) is violating the ISUR (prohibition) of saying an AMEIN CHATUFA. AND they prevent the relatively few people who are waiting to hear then of the bracha from hearing it, thereby preventing them from saying a proper AMEIN. AND – if nine people don’t answer AMIEN to the Chazan’s brachot during the repetition of the Amida, the Chazan’s brachot are L’VATALA, in vain. Very serious. This really is more than an annoyance in shul. If the Chazan’s brachot are l’vatala, then what happens to EVERYONE’s T’FILA B’TZIBUR? And on Rosh HaShana there is the extra complication of the brachot of the Amida being part of the proper fulfillment of SHOFAR. There really is a lot riding on the issue of AMEIN CHATUFA. Some chazanim help out be finishing the brachot that most people expect to be stretched, abruptly, changing their attempted AMEIN CHATUFA into a perfectly timed AMEIN. Kol HaKavod to the Baalei T’fila who merit their congregations in that way. But the chazan should not have to do that. The Kahal must learn to wait with their AMEIN to the proper time. Done properly, it really sounds so nice. As long as I'm starting the pet-peeve list, which will hopefully be added to by TT readers, let's go for one more of mine. You are in the middle of the SH'MA, things are pretty quiet in shul, the other people also busy with the SH'MA. The guy next to you all of a sudden increases his valume with a hardy few words out loud before settling back into the quieter recitation of most of the shul. That short blast of words is enough to distract you, mix you up, and have you continue your Sh'ma from where the other guy said his words aloud. And this is nothing against davening aloud. If that's what everyone is doing, you can tune the "noise" out so that you can concentrate on what you're saying. It's the sound-bursts that do me in. More to come... G'MATRIYA B'reishit 21:3 - And Avraham called his son who was born to him, whom was born from Sara, Yitzchak. According to Tradition, Yitzchak was born on the first day of Pesach. Bamidbar 28:18 talks about the first day of Pesach - On the first day it is called Holy, all M'lechet Avoda you shall not do. Both mentioned p'sukim have the same G'matriya - 2794. The promise by G-d to Avraham that his descendants will be as countless as the grains of sand and as the stars was "begun" with the birth of Yitzchak. It took a major leap forward with the description at the end of Vayigash, B'reishit 47:27 - And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt in the land of Goshen... and they grew andmultiplied greatly. This pasuk also has that same G'matriya. [The
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