Parshat Vayikra-Shabbat Hachodesh-Rosh Chodesh Nissan

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March 24, 2012 1 Nissan, 5772

Parshat Vayikra by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin

Efrat, Israel - "An individual who will sacrifice from yourself a sacrificial offering unto the Lord"(Leviticus 1:2) our first two Holy Temples were built and which will be the foundation for the third Holy Temple as well. Mt. Sinai, by contrast, sustained its sanctity only during the period when the Divine Voice emanated from its heights; today it is no longer sacred, and could therefore be given up as part of Israel's peace agreement with Egypt. Why does Mount Moriah have greater sanctity than Mount Sinai? seen as the apex of our communal structure. It should be the national commitment towards which we all aspire and for which the individual must be willing to sacrifice material comforts and even his/ her own life. It is because we took the Abraham- Isaac model so seriously that our history is so teardrenched and bloodstained, from the Hebrew babies in the River Nile at the beginnings of our history to the present day Israeli cemeteries where so many parents have buried their children. It is also because of this that paradoxically- we have survived, and largely succeeded in transmitting our sacred faith, until today. Apparently, it is only a commitment to God where we are willing to put our future at risk that we will secure an

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My teacher and mentor Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik ztz"l would often speak of the two great Biblical mountains, Mt. Moriah where God sent Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, and Mt. Sinai, from which God presented His the Rav Soloveitchik Torah to the magnificently explains Israelites. that whereas on Mount God presented Conventional wisdom Sinai, would maintain that Israel with the gift of His Mt. Sinai should have Torah, on Mt. Moriah, been the more sacred Abraham, was willing to of the two, since sacrifice his beloved son God. My teacher there is nothing on to that sanctity earth more sacred insisted than our Divinely requires sacrifice and the the human given Torah, the very greater words of God. sacrifice, the higher the Nevertheless, the degree of Divine sanctity. Sages of the Talmud Biblical Judaism took only endowed eternal great pains to ensure that sanctity to Mt. religion- our God given Moriah, upon which values and ideals be

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26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100

Shaabbat Announcements Parshat Vayikra-Shabbat Rosh Chodesh 5772

eternal future.

But though we must sacrifice our material comforts, and even our professional standing on the altar of our religious ideals; we dare not utilize our religious ideals as the stepping stones to enhance our personal power and prestige. Once that happens, then our religious ideals will become tainted and corrupted, the subjective ego will become the goal, and the still-small voice of God will be drowned out by the raucous shouts of When religion becomes a traded political political power. commodity, when rabbis use religion to gain political power, instead of sacrificing personal Hence our Bible attempted to separate the benefits for religious values, religious values get religious estate from political power and sacrificed for the aggrandizement of the governmental structure. The priest-teacher individual rabbi-politician. Kohanim, were meant to minister in the Temple, not in the palace of parliament, and the Prophet Shame on the "rabbis" who take Torah out of the was totally independent of the monarch, neither beit midrash and into hooligan initiated street appointed nor supported by any of the king's demonstrations, expressions of political power agencies. whose ugly shouts drown out the Biblical directive; "You shall love the stranger, convert". When, in the Hasmonean period of the Second Shame on the rabbi-politicians who sacrifice the Commonwealth, the Kohanim became the future of our land and country to gain governmental ruling class, it was tragic for governmental funds for an educational system Judaism, and presaged the death-knell of the which trains able-bodied men to live Second Temple. (See Ramban, Genesis 49:10) unproductive lives, contrary to objective and The members of the Sanhedrin were not appointed truly traditional Torah law (a Torah which was by the ruling powers; they were totally meant to be a prescription for life, not a independent, their office was determined by substitute for life); shame on religious political scholarship and piety alone. Indeed, in the parties who appoint insensitive judges, absence of the prophet, the king is to be appointed impervious to the cries of women hopelessly by the Sanhedrin! locked into marital bondage in defiance of the Talmudic directive to be lenient in freeing the The Bible does not advocate a separation of agunah. religion from state (it was the king who Biblically exhorted the Israelites at Hakhel); but it certainly We must free our Holy Torah from the shackles does advocate a separation between religion and of petty politics of Torarism, the terrorism of politics, a system whereby the religious leadership Torah. We must understand that politics is completely independent of the ruling power, so corrupts, and religious politics corrupts that the Chief Rabbinate is a religious and not a absolutely. We did not sanctify the political; we political appointment. Only an independent politicized the sacred. prophet like Nathan- devoid of a seat in
Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

parliament, government office, secretary, car and driver, and driven only by the voice of God burning within him could have had the courage to stand before King David with the damning words, "thou art the man;". Only such an independent and truly spiritual personage could have caused the venerated King to descend from his throne, weep uncontrollably and declare, "I have sinned before the Lord".

PASSOVER CLASSES

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Intern Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Mark Twersky, Executive Director Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Joseph Hecht, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

Pre-Passover Night of Learning - Tuesday evening, March 27th Rabbi Dale Polakoff - Contemporary Halachot 7:45 8:20 pm Rabbi Ian Lichter Insights on the Hagadah 8:30 9:00 pm

 ThenextAIPACConferencewilltakeplace March35,2013. ThefullpriceforthePolicyConferenceis$599.Ifyou reservebeforeOctober26,2012thepriceis$499, andifyoureservebeforeMarch20,2012thepriceis $399.ThispriceincludesonlythePolicyConference anddoesnotincludetransportationorlodging.Ifyou wanttotakeadvantageofthesediscounts,pleasecall thesynagogueofficetoreserveyourspot.Payment mustbemadeinadvancetokeepyourreservation.

GREATNECKSYNAGOGUE isagainpleasedtoserveitsmembershipwiththesaleofHand BakedSHMURAHMATZAH. PickupforMatzahwillbeonWednesday,APRIL4,2012 Between6:30pm&8:30pm Allordersmustbeprepaid.Pleasemakecheckspayableto GREATNECKSYNAGOGUE. Allordersmustbereceivedbefore March30,2012 OrderForm

Name__________________________________ Address_________________________________ Telephone(Home)________Bus.)________ _____lb.ShmurahMatzah@$22.00perlb.________ TotalCost______ Checkmustbeincludedwithorder.

GNS2012 SUPPORT OUR SHABBAT LUNCHEON 60YearsYoung $180 - LUNCHEON SPONSOR FAMILYSHABBATDINNER&GUESTSPEAKERSERIES Includes a signed copy of Rabbi RiskinsA Haggadah RABBISHLOMORISKIN Happening ChiefRabbi,Efrat,Israel $360 - SHABBAT SPONSOR Chancellor,OhrTorahStoneInstitutions Includes signed copties of A Haggadah SATURDAY,MARCH24 Happening and Rabbi Riskins new SermonfollowingservicesintheGoldwynSanctuary Listening To God ShabbatLuncheon WomeninHalacha:HowFarCanWeGo? SeudahShlishitPresentation Israel:TheEnemyWithout,TheEnemyWithin ReservationsRequiredforShabbatLuncheon|LimitedSeating $30/person|$20/teen|$10/child|$100familymax RSVP:516.487.6100ormtwersky@gns.org RESERVATIONSDEADLINE:Wednesday,March21 RESERVATIONFORM Name__________________________________________ Phone_____________________ Email__________________________ NumberofReservations:____Adult____Teen____Child_____ IwouldliketobeaLuncheonSponsor____ IwouldliketobeaShabbatSponsor____ Iwouldliketoorder___signedcopiesofRabbiRiskinsAHaggadahHappening($25/ Iwouldliketoorder___signedcopiesofRabbiRiskinsListeningtoGod($30/each)

ANNOUNCEMENTS
FAMILY SHABBAT LUNCH & GUEST SPEAKER SERIES Rabbi Shlomo Riskin will be here for Shabbat on March 24. We will have a luncheon that day with him. Please call the office to make your reservations. See page three of your announcements for more details. SUNDAY BREAKFAST is sponsored by Mali Meisel in memory of her father Samuel Maultasch and her husband Robert Meisel, zl. BOOKS & BAGELS Sunday, March 25, 9:30am, Family Breakfast followed by presentation by Thanassis Cambanis, author of "Privilege To Die: Inside Hezbollah's Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel." Cambanis currently teaches at Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs and at the New Schools Graduate Program in International Affairs. Book signing to follow the discussion for pre-orders, please contact the synagogue office. Babysitting will be Provided. In cooperation with the Jewish Book Council. JEWISH FILM SERIES In cooperation with GN Arts Center Monday, April 18, 7:30pm Clearview Squire Theater, 115 Middle Neck Rd. Noted filmmaker Joan Mickling Silver will present and discuss her classic film Hester St., which pioneered a wave of films about the American Jewish experience, and screen selections from her latest film, currently in progress. For reservations and more info, call GN Arts Center: 516.829.2570 or online www.greatneckarts.org FLORENCE SHAFFER MEMORIAL FUND SCHOLARSHIP The deadline for submitting the applications for the Florence Shaffer Memorial Fund Scholarship has been extended to March 30th. This strictly need-based financial scholarship is open to all high school senior women who are GNS members. Applications are available from the synagogue office.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH The Sisterhood of Great Neck Synagogue would like to thank Cindy Hodkin for teaching us how to make Passover truffles. Everyone had so much fun learning and also enjoyed taking some home to share! She dedicated her baking demonstration in memory of her father Bernard Korman on the occasion of his 36th yahrzeit.

Within Our Family

Mazal Tov to Ellen & Rabbi Dale Polakoff on the upcoming marriage of her daughter Aliza Hoffman to Lior Tor in Israel. Mazal Tov to Michele & Howard Wolf on the engagement of their daughter Rachel to Andrew Borodach son of Ardell & Gerold Borodach of Riverdale.
We will be leaving this week to celebrate the marriage of Aliza in Jerusalem on March 25, and we will be returning next Tuesday. We wanted to thank all of you for your good wishes and kind words, and look forward to the new couple coming to visit so that we can celebrate together, Ellen and Rabbi Dale Polakoff. PS. The rabbi will continue to be available through his email (rabbi@gns.org) for any Pesach questions during the days he is away. You can also call the office and leave a detailed message for him. As always, Rabbi Lichter will be available for any emergencies.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION Mazal Tov to Nechama Liss-Levinson for being chosen as a semifinalist in the American Jewish World Service competition, Where Do You Give?, which asks us all to reimagine philanthropy for the 21st century. You can vote once a day for the next two weeks for Nechamas entry online at www.wheredoyougive.org . Her category is out of the box.
HATZALAH RESCUE OF ISRAEL Susan Mayer will be hosting a parlor meeting for Hatzalah Rescue of Israel dedicated to her late husband, Steven, ZL. The volunteers of Hatzalah Rescue of Israels mission to come to the aid of the members of their communities even at the risk of their own lives. This organization is entirely voluntary; existing for the benefit of the community. Please join her, on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 7:45 PM. at her home, at 40 Radnor Rd. SAVE THE NEW DATE The NSHAs Annual Journal Dinner has been postponed from Sunday March 25th to Tuesday, May 22nd Rosh Chodesh Sivan at CITI FIELD honoring Sarit & Shlomo Elias and Kathy & Arnie Flatow. To place an ad or make a reservation, call the NSHA Office at (516) 487-8687 x 2. THANK YOU Thanks to Ira Lubin for polishing the silver in the Aron Kodesh and helping to beautify our sanctuary.
Saturday, 1 Nissan Carol Adamsky for Gloria Adamsky Berger Edwin Frederick for Charles Frederick Henry Katz for Erna Katz Edwin J Rosman for Flora Rosman Elaine Wolf for Arnold Wolf Sunday, 2 Nissan Jacqueline Hott for Louis Hott Al Leiderman for Anna Leiderman Payman Rabiei for Junjan Bat Mashala Monday, 3 Nissan Sharon Goldwyn for Frances Kessler Susan Kaufman for Marvin Goldsmith Pauline Loewenstein for Harry Loewenstein Kenneth S. Magida for Rachel Bilsky Mali Meisel for Pauline Rosenthal Charline Milun for Israel Israelite Carl Mosesson for Norman Mosesson Tuesday, 4 Nissan Frank Buchsbaum for Nicolas Buchsbaum Joseph Farajian for Mrs. Farajian Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Sarah Gabbaizadeh Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Yehuda Gabbaizadeh Pia Shlomo for David Spilky Wednesday, 5 Nissan Lorraine Domnitch for Sidney Spiesel Jacques Fouladi for Azam Fouladi Mark Gersten for Richard B. Gersten Mindy Hercman for Bernard M. Grosser Jeffrey Kaufman for Martin Kaufman Roselin Wagner for Miriam Seider Howard Wolf for Julius Wolf Michele Wolf for Ruth Berman Thursday, 6 Nissan Alina Dynkin for Reuven Chernyavsky Pearl Ginsberg for David Ginsberg Gedale Horowitz for Florence Horowitz Samuel Levitt for Benjamin Levitt Amir Mardkha for Nasrollah Mardkha Friday, 7 Nissan Joyce Swartz for Seymour Zeff

SISTERHOOD PASSOVER WINE SALE Sisterhood is offering Passover wine through Lakeville Wine & Spirits which is the largest Shomer Shabbos liquor store on Long Island Conveniently located on the corner of Lakeville Road and Union Turnpike, in the Lakeville Shopping Center. The store has hundreds of kosher wines in stock and specializes in wines from Israel. All orders will be delivered and can be faxed to 516.352.1103 or emailed to info@kosherwineco.com. Please mention Sisterhood of GNS. Danue Passionfruit and Pomegranate wines are also available. GNS- PASSOVER FOOD CHESED COLLECTION 2012 Got Matza? Please drop off Passover packaged food items to donate to Needy Families at the Lunzer home at 91 Bayview Ave. Drop off dates will be Tuesdays, March 27th and April 3rd from 2-8pm and Thursday, March 29th from 12-6pm. Please ring bell so it can be brought into the house or leave all packages on the side porch which will be open. Please leave all food in shopping or garbage bags, please do not bring items in glass containers. Please do not leave any packages at the front door. Thank you for being a part of this special Mitzvah. CHOMETZ CHESED COLLECTION 2012 Dont throw out your Chometz. Please donate your Chometz now. Please drop off your Chometz in the box in the garage at Rabbi/Rebbetzin Lichters home at 76 Bershire Road. Their garage is located on Margo Street. You can drop off everydayall day in their garage through April 4th. Thank you for your help. SISTERHOOD SCHLISSEL CHALLAH BAKING Sisterhood presents a hands-on challah baking demonstration given by Sharona Abraham to learn the significance of the Schlissel Challah - an opportunity that comes just once a year! Join us on Tuesday, April 17th at 8:00pm in the Braun Youth Center. Class is limited to 36 women and costs $18. To make a reservation, please contact Farla Frumkin at mailto:farlafrumkin@gmail.com farlafrumkin@gmail.com or 829-7938. Everyone goes home with a schlissel challah - please remember to bring a spare house key. Two batches available for sponsorship at $72 each. Sponsors choose name and perform bracha for hafrashat challah.

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