Shabbat Blast

Shabbat Blast!!!

Erev Shabbat – December 30, 2016

Candle Lighting: 4:24 pm

Services 8:00 pm

Shabbat, December 31, 2016

Parshat Miketz

Nosh and Drosh 9:00 am

Services 9:45 am

Overview of the next few weeks:

January 1, 2017     Sunday Morning Minyan 9:00 AM

January 2, 2017     Monday Morning Minyan 6:30 AM

January 3, 3017     Hebrew Classes Resume

January 6, 2017     Chinese Food Shabbat! 6:30 Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 Dinner. RSVP to the Office.

January 7, 2017     Junior Congregation, 10 am, Muraskin Room

                                    ARTRageous Pottery Event, Sponsored by the Young Jewish Women’s Group! 6:30 PM

January 8, 2017     Lone Soldier Event.  10:00 AM.  See below for Details!

BE PART OF PROJECT PHOENIX: Help Masorti (Conservative) communities like Nataf, Harmed by Fires in Israel. This and other Masorti communities are devastated. Children and adults alike are in need of respite and trauma support services, services that Masorti kehillot are expert at providing. Whole towns must be rebuilt. We need to raise over $500K quickly. We hope that we can count on you to come to the aid of Nataf, Haifa, Zichron Yaakov and other injured Masorti communities.

Dear  [first_name],

By tonight you have the 7th candle burning. Every night we light one more, rising in holiness according to Hillel the Elder. Every night. We rise higher and higher. I think that is a Jewish trait. To constantly strive to grow, in education, to climb the ladder of mitzvot, even in our kindness to others. I want to share with you a short story about growing higher and higher, traditionally told on Rosh Hashanah:

“Every Friday during the month of Elul the Rabbi of Nemirov would vanish. He was nowhere to be seen. Where could the Rabbi be? In heaven, no doubt, the people thought, asking God to bring peace in the New Year. Where could the Rabbi be? A villager decided to find out.

One night he sneaked into the Rabbi’s home, slid under the Rabbi’s bed, and waited. Just before dawn, the Rabbi awakened, got out of bed, and began to dress. He put on work pants, high boots, a big hat, a coat, and a wide belt. He put a rope in his pocket, tucked an ax in his belt, and left the house. The villager followed.

The Rabbi crept in the shadows to woods at the edge of town. He took the ax, chopped down a small tree, and split it into logs. Then he bundled the wood, tied it with the rope, put it on his back, and began walking.

He stopped beside a small broken-down shack and knocked at the window.

“Who is there?” asked the frightened, sick woman inside.

“I, Vassil the peasant,” answered the Rabbi, entering the house. “I have wood to sell.”

“I am a poor widow. Where will I get the money?” she asked.

“I’ll lend it to you,” replied the Rabbi.

“How will I pay you back?” asked the woman.

“I will trust you,” said the Rabbi.

The Rabbi put the wood into the oven, kindled the fire, and left without a word.

Now whenever anyone reports that the Rabbi has gone to heaven, the villager only adds quietly, “Heaven? If not higher.”

May we grow higher and higher like the flames of the chanukiah dancing on our windowsills.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Bernstein

On January 8, we will be welcoming Aaron Goldenberg, a Lone Soldier serving in the IDF.  The discussion will begin at 10:30 AM.  Come hear him speak about how he made the decision to leave the US, make aliyah, and join the Israeli Military.  

Rabbi's Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class! Every MONDAY at 6pm, join the Rabbi for an informative class to learn all about the Torah/Haftorah Service, the prayers and tunes associated with it, and the history of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.  This is geared toward those who do not have any background in the Torah Service.  Flyer is available here.

Schechter School of Long Island presents the 5th Annual Night of Jewish Learning -"Celebrating our Past. Inspiring our Future."  January 28, 2017 - 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm.  Upper School Campus  - 6 Cross Street, Williston Park, NY 11596.  Rabbi Bernstein will be offering a class.  This event is open to the public, but RSVP’s are required.  Click here for more information.

From Andrew Kessler: As part of my mitzvah project, I am collecting new unwrapped toys that will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. This will give the children of the Ronald McDonald House an opportunity to play with a new toy during the holiday season. Thank you for helping make my mitzvah project a success! Andrew Kessler. Any questions you can email me at Kessler1107@gmail.com

"Or Lachayal" and its strategic mezuzah project for IDF.

Having a kosher mezuzah on every doorpost is one of the most important and widely observed mitzvot in the Torah, and is especially important now, with the dangerous security situation in Israel.

In addition to its religious significance, a mezuzah affords physical protection to everyone dwelling in the house, while at home or away. In Psalm 121:8, King David refers to the mitzvah of mezuzah with the words, "Hashem will protect your going out and coming in from now and forevermore." In fact, the Hebrew letters shin, dalet and yud, inscribed on every mezuzah, are an acronym for one of the names of G-d Protector of the Doors of Israel.

It is no exaggeration to say that this project has the potential to change the course of Jewish history by giving our soldiers an extra measure of blessing in their holy mission of defending the Land and its people.

Or Lachayal was founded in 2000, following an attack on Rabbi Menachem Ofen and his brother by Hamas terrorists near Hebron, while on their way to deliver Purim baskets to soldiers. Although their injuries were severe, they miraculously survived and decided to devote their life to raising IDF morale, enhancing the soldiers' awareness of their Jewish heritage and bringing them light and joy.

In the past few years, Or Lachayal has developed a wonderful relationship with the Friends of the IDF (FIDF). As part of our collaboration, FIDF has initiated a matching funding program with Or Lachayal, aimed at addressing the spiritual needs of the soldiers. This assistance has been instrumental in bringing our programs to an ever-growing number of army personnel. Our morale-boosting events throughout the year, holiday programming, which brings the excitement and happiness of the holidays to the bases, as well as educational and recreational programs have reached hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

Providing for the spiritual needs of the soldiers is a major part of our work. Due to the tremendous demand we are witnessing, Or Lachayal has undertaken a unique project of historic proportions to provide a kosher, mehudar mezuzah for every entryway in the army.

As part of this project, Or Lachayal will install 40,000 mezuzot, first and foremost at places that lack any mezuzah, and then replace those that are no longer kosher. The mezuzot will include a durable cover to ensure adequate protection from the elements, so that the new mezuzot will remain kosher for as long as possible.

The cost of each mezuzah is $40 for a total of $1.6 million.

We have obtained matching funding for half of this sum, and we would be honored if you would consider partnering with us for the remaining half ($800,000). Needless to say, any donation that you would make to the project will enable us to move forward. I am available to answer additional questions at any time. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

All checks should be sent to:

FIDF
60 east 42nd Street
New York, NY 10165

With a note: contribution to Or Lachayal Mezuza Project.

Please also send an email to: Rabbi Menachem Or Lachayal (orlachayal@gmail.com) so they can track checks.