Shabbat Parshat Emor May 9, 2009 15 Iyar 5769

GNS TEFILLA DIGEST: A Weekly Discussion about the Fundamentals of Jewish Prayer
By Rabbi Brahm Weinberg – Rabbinic Intern
Torah
Artscroll, 672 This inspiring article about traditionally fulfilled through Hallel.
Hertz, 513 tefillah is sponsored by the recitation of Hallel. This
Diane and David Rein in form of praise is an obligation Over the next two weeks we will
memory of Diane’s mother. either mideoraita, from the speak about the issues with
Haftorah Helene M. Fink. Torah, or miderabanan, from reciting a bracha on Hallel and
Artscroll, 1176 end with the final psak of the
Issue # 40 – Hallel on Yom the rabbis. modern poskim on this issue.
Hertz, 528 Ha’Atzmaut (Part III) 2) The historical precedent of
General Issues with Hallel
Although Yom Ha’Atzmaut establishing new holidays with
Times has passed, I thought we the recitation of Hallel at other One of the interesting issues that I
would take a few more points in Jewish History. We have seen raised against the
Candle lighting 7:40 pm showed how Purim is the main recitation of Hallel on Yom
weeks to finish off the topic
Mincha 7:00 pm of Hallel on Yom model we look to in Ha’Atzmaut is that the
Ha’Atzmaut because we establishing Yom Ha’Atzmaut. establishment of the State of
Hashkama 8:00 am
still have so much more Despite the fact that we do not Israel is still a work in progress.
Minyan
material to cover. In recite Hallel on Purim, we How can we thank G-d for
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am explained that none of the something whose outcome is still
addition, there were so
Youth 8:30 am many questions addressed reasons why the Gemara says to unknown? How can we thank G-
to me this past shabbos abstain from Hallel on Purim d for something that may not be
Main Minyan 9:00 am apply to Yom Ha’Atzmaut. We the final redemption?
about the topic that I
Beit Midrash 9:15 am thought it was worthy of also explained that Channuka is Almost no one would claim that
continuing to discuss this not used as a comparison to we have seen the final redemption
Gemorah Shiur 6:30 pm Yom Ha’Atzmaut in the same
most relevant and come to its fullest fruition in the
Pirkei Avot 6:45 pm stimulating topic. Finally, way as Purim because it had a establishment of the State of
this discussion is equally revealed miracle of the oil Israel. At most, people would say
Mincha 7:30 pm
pertinent to Yom which gives the holiday an it is reishit tzmichat geulatenu,
Shabbat Ends 8:49 pm
Yerushalayim which falls in entirely different status. the beginning of the redemption.
Sunday, 7:30 am two and a half weeks. From the last two weeks’ There are still so many problems
May 10, 8:30 am
Last week we mentioned issues, one would conclude that in the State, not all the Jews from
that there are essentially Hallel is certainly appropriate around the world have come back
Mon., & Thurs., 6:35 am
two factors that enable us to for Yom Ha’Atzmaut. to Israel, and, most of all, the beit
Tues., Wed., & 6:45 am
halachically recite Hallel on There are issues raised with hamikdash has not been built.
Fri., Therefore, it would be
Yom Ha’Atzmaut: saying Hallel in general on
Second Shacharit Yom Ha’Atzmaut and issues inappropriate to recite Hallel at
Minyan (Daily) 7:45 am 1) The need to thank G-d this early stage of the redemption.
for a miracle He performed with reciting a bracha on Hallel .

Mincha (week of 7:45 pm for us or for saving the lives This week we will raise the One of the most interesting
May 10) of Jews. This obligation is general issue with saying counter arguments has been
Latest times for
Shema/Shmoneh Esrei Kiddush is Seudah Shlishit
sponsored by Bima Flowers
May 9 9:17/10:28 am is sponsored by
Jacob Sedgh are donated
May 16 9:/1410:26 am Shellie & steven
in honor of his In memory of
brother
Zuckerman
Next Shabbat - Behar - Mother, Aunts, in memory of
Bechukosai Abraham Grandmother his father
Candle lighting 7:47 pm who is layning and Friends
this Shabbat
Philip Zuckerman
Mincha 7:00 pm
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100
advanced by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag in his article
“Dayenu, Hallel and Yom Ha’Atzmaut” (www.tanach.org).
Rabbi Leibtag suggests that it is, in fact, appropriate to
recite Hallel and thank G-d for early stages of redemption
and not just to wait for the end.
Rabbi Leibtag says that in the order of the Haggadah that
we recite at the Pesach seder the section of Dayenu comes
before Hallel. He says that Dayenu is really a preamble to
Hallel. The section of Maggid, according to the Mishna in
Pesachim 10:4, is supposed to begin with genut (shame),
with slavery and suffering and idol worship, and end with
shevach, with praise for Hashem for ending the physical
slavery and ending the era of idol worship by bringing us
close to His Torah.
The section of drashot on “arami oved avi” is the turning
point where we move from genut to shevach and after that
we would expect to move right in to the ultimate form of
praise which is Hallel. Yet, we are interrupted by the
beautiful poem of Dayenu which is there to set the stage for
the shevach of Hallel which is yet to come.
When we say in Dayenu that it would have been enough if
G-d had taken us out Egypt but not punished Egyptians, or
if He had split the sea but not taken us through on dry land,
or if He had given us the Torah but not taken us to Israel…
it is impossible that we are actually saying that we would
had been satisfied if G-d had stopped at any one of those
stages! How could we have been satisfied without the
mainstays of Judaism: Shabbat, the Torah, Eretz
Yisrael…? The very purpose of leaving Egypt was for us
to receive the Torah etc…!
This is a classic question that everyone asks at the seder
and different answers have been suggested. Some try to
explain each and every line and how we could have been ok
without the subsequent stage of the exodus from Egypt.
Others say the whole song is not literal but metaphorical
saying that what G-d did for us is so great that it is AS IF
we would have been satisfied with each stage of the
redemption alone. Rabbi Leibtag suggests the following:
What we are really saying in Dayenu is not that if G-d had
ended the redemption at any of these stages that all would
have been well, but that any one of those stages would have
been enough for us, “dayenu,” to say Hallel and thank Him
for that great miracle. This is what makes it the appropriate
introduction to Hallel that we begin to recite at the end of
Great Neck Synagogue
Shabbat Activities Program
Dale Polakoff, Rabbi
Shalom Axelrod, Assistant Rabbi
Brahm Weinberg, Rabbinic Intern
Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus
Zeev Kron, Cantor
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus
Mark Twersky, Executive Director
Howard Silberstein, President
Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
Shabbat Announcements Parshat Emor, 5769
Maggid; essentially, we are saying that the Hallel we are about
to recite is thanks to Hashem for every stage of the process of
redemption.
With this background, the last paragraph of that poem makes
perfect sense: "al achat kama vekhama," - How much more so
is it proper to thank God for performing ALL these acts of
kindness, as He took us out of Egypt, and punished them, and
split the sea, and gave us the manna etc…."Dayenu" relates a
total of fifteen acts of divine kindness, each act alone worthy of
praise – and so it is even more so that we must praise God, for
He performed all of them!
Rabbi Leibtag’s understanding of the Dayenu poem of the
seder would imply that the Jewish view would be to thank G-d
for every stage of a redemptive process. Even if the current
redemption is not complete and not perfect we still have seen
the establishment of Jewish sovereignty in Israel and the
ingathering of some of the Jews to their land. This first step
would seem to already obligate us to recite Hallel. Yom
Ha’Atzmaut, the day statehood was declared and this stage of
the redemptive process was most recognizable would seem to
be an appropriate time to do so.
Thought to Ponder
If we believe it is appropriate to say Hallel for every stage of
the redemption where do we draw the line? Are we to recite
Hallel every time a new oleh arrives in Israel or every time a
new peace treaty is signed with one of our neighbors? z”l.
GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK
So often the home garden pest control remedies work as
well or better than the chemical counterparts, and with
the added bonus that with these formulas made of
kitchen cupboard ingredients, you don't need to worry
about poisoning yourself, your pets, or your garden!
Simple Soap Solution
: 2 Tbs. liquid soap 2 liter warm water. Dissolve soap in
water and apply directly to
infested areas every 5-7 days. Note: Too much soap can
cause burning on plants. Pests affected: aphids,
spider mites, and whiteflies.
Fungicide for Mildew and Black Spot:
1 tsp. baking soda 1 liter water 1 tsp. Liquid soap
Dissolve baking soda in 1 liter of warm water. Add soap
to help solution cling to leaves. Remove infected leaves
from plant, then spray top and bottom of remaining leaf
surfaces to control spread of the disease.
Coffee Grounds or Eggshells:
Used coffee grounds make a great fertilizer for plants
that thrive in acidic soil, like rhododendrons or azaleas.
Sprinkle coffee grounds and eggshells around the base
of plants to repel ants, snails, and slugs.
 Great Neck Synagogue
Annual Family Luncheon
In Memory of Sharon Sokol Heisler z’l
Saturday, June 20, 2009

Guest Speaker:
Gary Rosenblatt
Editor and publisher of
The Jewish Week of New York

Beautiful Catered Lunch by Prestige

Caterers

$50 per person

$20 per child
(No charge for children under 4)

Youth Program Luncheon

taking place same time
for first through eighth grade.

For reservations please call or

e-mail
Mark Twersky
487-6100
email to: mtwersky@gns.org

NAME____________________________________

Seating Requests:
1 __________________________________

2 __________________________________

3 __________________________________

4 __________________________________

Amount enclosed__________________

For more information please call:

Debbie Hollander 829-2013

DOS YIDDISH VORT

PRESENTS
A MUSICAL EVENING
WITH THE KLEZMORIM OF “SHORESH”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009
7:45 PM
GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE
26 OLD MILL RD.
Enjoy a program of Klezmer,
Yiddish, Israeli, & Sephardic Melodies
For Info: call Roz Wagner 516-487-9795
FREE ADMISSION
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
RABBI REISMAN SATURDAY NIGHT TELECAST
Weinstein Torah & Technology Center Sat., 10:30pm www.gnstorah.org
PIRKEI AVOT
Every Shabbat afternoon, through Shavuot, there will be a class on
Pirkei Avot, this week’s class is at 6:45pm.
CLASS IN MEGILLA READING
Dr. Paul Brody will be giving a class to learn how to lain “Megillat
Ruth” for Shavout between Mincha & Maariv on Shabbat afternoon.
WOMENS TEFILA
You are all invited to hear Rabbi Brahm Weinberg speak to
Women’s Tefila on Shabbat afternoon, May 9th, at 6pm to be followed
by Mincha. The Oneg following Mincha is sponsored by Nechama &
Billy Liss-Levinson in honor of the birth of their granddaughter
Sadie Annaliss Sussman.
SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Sunday Breakfast is sponsored by Shirley & Aaron Eliach in memory May 17th. All are invited!
of his mother Chana bas Harav Moshe Ben Zion.
GREAT NECK SCHOLARS KOLLEL
Learning at the Kollel this week is sponsored anonymously in honor of those seeking jobs, and those that have jobs or advice to offer. This event
Jeffrey Kaufman.
MEN’S CLUB
May 6th 8pm– Talk by Michael Tuchfeld, Commentator and
correspondent Israel TV2 News—The Knesset Channel 99,
May 10th 9:30am Nitsana Darshan Leitner will speak on how through
legal action “The War On Terror is Being Waged” both events are
co-sponsored by JPEF, publisher of the Jewish Political Chronicle.
SAVE THE DATE - LAG B’OMER CELEBRATION
Tues. evening May 12th, there will be a baseball game and family
E outing at Kings Point Park. More details on the event will be coming
shortly. For more info please see Rabbi Steven Moskowitz.
YIDDISH VORT
Concert with the Klezorim of “Shoresh”: Wed., May 13th at 7:45pm.
Enjoy a spring evening of Klezmer, Israeli, Yidish, Ladino, and
Sephardic melodies. Free admission.
Stories of the Legendary Prankster, Hershel of Ostropol: Wed., May 6th
at 1:30pm. All are welcome. For more info call Roz Wagner 487-9795
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
The Sisterhood of GNS would like to thank Temple Beth El for hosting a
wonderful Ladies Night Out for the 57th Annual Combined Sisterhoods
of Great Neck. Everyone had a great time shopping at the boutique
and enjoyed delicious food by Lederman Caterers and listening
to award winning author Beth Harpaz. The raffles were fun and the
turnout was terrific! We’re so happy that the Sisterhood from the
Cherry Lane Minyan joined us this year for the first time - and we look
forward to working together again next year to continue making this
community wide event a wonderful way to bring all the synagogues
together. Thank you also to UJA for all their help in collecting and
distributing toiletries to victims of domestic violence. Thank you to our
Sisterhood Committee for all their hard work helping to organize and
plan this event: Sheila Bachman, Helene Gersten, Erica Zucker
Heisler, Vivian Kron, Margery Libin, Judy Lillien, Galit Reichlin,
Diane Rein, Phyllis Ringel, Anida Rosman, and Chava Shalmon.
Thank you also to Richard Lillien from APPCO Paper Co. for donating
all the paper goods, Celia Lemonik for volunteering to play the piano
and Philip Hanfling for donating the beautiful centerpiece wicker
baskets. We are also extremely grateful to the 28 sponsors of this
event from our Sisterhood. The following people were sponsors:
Anonymous, Sheila Bachman, Joan Begun, Viviane Breitbart,
Carol Buckmann, Erica Zucker Heisler, Debbie Hollander, Lisa
Kagan, Amy Kalter, Gloria Kaylie, Ilana Kroll, Vivian Kron,
Lillian Leiderman, Nechama Liss-Levinson, Margery Libin, Susan
Mayer, Liz Ort, Marci Rabinowitz, Diane Rein, Anida Rosman,
Pia Shlomo, Rachel Singer, Esther Sloyer, Karen Spitalnick,
Jill S. Swartz, Roz Wagner, Ellie Werber, and Karen Zalta.
DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE
GNS Men’s Club is holding an AAA Driver’s Education course on
Wednesday and Thursday June 3rd, and 4th from 7-10pm each night
at GNS. $25 per person over 55, $30 for under 55. Checks made
payable to AAA, call the Synagogue office for reservations 487-6100.
Space is limited.
BLOOD DRIVE
Semi-annual Men’s Club blood drive will be on June 7th, Sun. morning.
WITHIN OUR FAMILY
Mazal Tov to Coby Benzaquen on being honored by Great Neck Rotary
for his week as head Gabbai NSHA.
Mazal Tov to Lynda Ossip Mandelbaum, and to Julia Wolf on being
honored by UJA Federation for participating in the development of a quilt
for the Woman to Woman Domestic violence shelter in Jerusalem. The
square for Lynda was donated in her honor by Women’s Tefila of GNS,
and Julia donated money from her Bat Mitzvah to the shelter.
Mazal Tov to Bonnie & Elliot Diamond on the birth of their grandson,
born to their children Audrey & Andrew Kent.
Mazal Tov to Joyce & Stanley Dacher on the Bar Mitzvah of their
grandson Joshua Roth, son of Karen & Steven Roth.
TALMUD CLASS SIYUM
Rabbi Singer’s Talmud class invites the congregation to a Siyum to
celebrate the completion of Masechet Shabbat, to be held in conjunction
with the midrash breakfast, promptly after morning minyan on Sunday,
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday May 17th 9:30-11:30am there will be a networking breakfast for
is the first in a series that chazakchazak.org is organizing.
ISRAEL BONDS
The Great Neck Community Dessert Reception for the Israel Bonds is on
Monday, May 18th 7:30pm at Temple Israel, and is being co-chaired by
Tricia Moslin. Please RSVP Anne Bernstein (212)-466-5853 or
anne.bernstein@israelbonds.com
SAVE THE DATE
2nd Annual “Koby Memorial Day Baseball Game,” for the benefit of Camp
Koby and the victims of terrorism: Monday May 25, 3 games: ages: 6-12;
13-18; and 19 and up! To play on these teams please contact Jack Lipsky
829-1890 ex 219
SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN
The NSHA and the NSHA High School, in conjunction with the greater
Great Neck Jewish Community, will hold a historic campaign that will
involve the dedication and commissioning of 12 new Sifrei Torah. All
proceeds will support the Sam Aharonoff Memorial Scholarship Fund to
help offset tuition costs for dozens of needy students. For more info:
www.shivteitorah.org, or Arnie Flatow 487-8687 ext 2.
GIVE OLD MAGAZINES A NEW LIFE
Please drop off your current used magazines to the Synagogue office to be
donated to NSUH. Please cut off labels, do not tear.
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
Please send in your Book of Remembrance forms ASAP. The new edition
will be ready for Shavuot.
Saturday, 15 Iyar
Kathy Flatow for Imre David
Sunday, 16 Iyar
Helene Bayme for Rhea Asher
Sigmund Horowitz for Carol Horowitz
Steven Zuckerman for Philip Zuckerman
Monday, 17 Iyar
Aaron Eliach for Chana Eliach
Y Murray Frank for Pearl Gold
Adele Jackson for Teddy Niad
A Stuart Kaufman for Florence Kaufman
Tuesday, 18 Iyar
H Emile Heskel Kattan for Edward kattan
R Karen Shein for Philip Weitman
Wednesday, 19 Iyar
Z Susan Castle for Avraham Dobkowski
Louisa Prawer for Ruben Fuchs
E Carl Rosenberg for Blanche Rosenberg
I Thursday, 20 Iyar
Herbert Eckstein for Leah Eckstein
T Ellen Siegel for Avraham Givner
Friday, 21 Iyar
Sheila Bachman for Allan Bachman
Helene Bayme for Maurice Asher
Llewllyn Lillien for Jacob Markowitz
Herzel Nir for Abraham Nir