- Parshas Vayikra
- Parshas Vayakel Pekudei / HaChodesh
- Parshas Ki Tissa / Parah
- Parshas Tetzaveh / Zochur
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Shabbos Parshas Vayikra - 16 March, 2002
Series 3, Edition 28.
Candle lighting time: 7:23pm. Shabbos ends: 8:17pm.
Mincha & Kabalas Shabbos: Early Minyan 6:40pm, Late Minyan 7:40pm. Shacharis
on Shabbos in the Main Shule is at 9:30am and in the Youth Minyan at 9:45am.
*This week the Gemorah Brachos shiur at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos
afternoon commences at 6:15pm.
__________________________
MAZAL TOV
Mazal Tov to Eda & Harry Elkus, Imi Weinstein and Simon & Simona Weinstein
on the birth of a grand-daughter and daughter, this week.
Katanga would like to wish the parents, grandparents, brothers, sister and
extended family much naches and simcha in the future.
Simon and Simona Weinstein will be naming their daughter at Shule on Shabbos
and in honour of this occasion all members of the Shule are invited to help
celebrate with a Kiddish after davening. Mazal Tov.
__________________________
D'var Torah
"An Offer for the Taking"
by Rabbi Aron B. Tendler
Sefer Vayikra has been given a bad rap. As a subject, Vayikra is often seen
as detailed, dry, and mostly irrelevant. First of all, the korbanot and
other Temple services require a Beit Hamikdash. Secondly, most of the laws
are the responsibility of the kohanim. Thirdly, as a study, procedural
ceremonies are tedious. Occasionally we are treated to a story or two, but
most of Vayikra appears limited to the Temple functions and the priestly
services.
The truth is that Vayikra describes life as it should be and could be. When
the Beit Hamikdash stood, it was a place where the individual came to
recalibrate his outlook on life. It was a place of intensity and serenity.
The atmosphere was charged with focus and purpose. G-d was real and
self-sacrifice was an expression of humility, not martyrdom.
Wouldn't it be great to just stop for a moment and take a breather? Time and
events move around us so quickly that we forget why we do all the things we
do. From playing to school to work to sleep, we go through the motions of
life and living without ever asking ourselves, "Why?" This week's parshah
and all of Sefer Vayikra are intended to answer the question of "why?"
Family, friends, community and work battle for dominion over our time,
energy, and emotions. We walk the tightrope of responsibility, attempting to
juggle them all, while hoping to keep the balance between "them" and "me."
Why?
The childhood years were the easiest. Our natural egocentricity created
around us a protective shell that kept the rest of the world at bay. "Feed
me, bathe me, dress me, love me, and I'm a happy camper." So long as our
basic needs were being met, life couldn't have been better.
With the advent of school, schedules, homework, grades, friendships and
social engagements, life got complicated. All of a sudden, it became
important to prioritize, make choices, and find the balance between what we
wanted and what we could afford. In other words, accepting that we can't do
everything and that everything comes with a cost. There are no free lunches.
All of a sudden, life has value; life has purpose. Dimensions of social
responsibility, personal development, and spiritual awareness add value,
purpose and direction far beyond the intrinsic value of the specific effort,
service or product. Sefer Vayikra challenges us to recognize and accept
service to G-d as the truest purpose of our efforts.
Witnessing "the kohanim in their service and the Levi'im in their song"
forced each person to evaluate his own life by the scale of sanctity and
purpose. "Am I serving G-d to the extent that I can? Do I live my life with
a smile on my lips and a song in my heart? Am I satisfied with the little of
my lot just as the kohen is satisfied with his one bite of showbread? Do I
revel in the gift of giving, just as the priests rejoice in their gift of
service?"
While standing in the Temple courtyard, a person could witness the panorama
of human struggle and opportunity. The sick, the needy, the pure, the
innocent, the sinner, the repentant, the healthy and the content all entered
through the Temple portals. All were in search of meaning and perspective.
All were in search of guidance and forgiveness. All were in search of
closeness to G-d.
Vayikra is challenge. It confronts each of us, in whatever capacity and
position, with a choice. Will we continue to eke out a mundane existence
living by the sweat of our brow and the strength of our hands? Or will we
embrace life as an opportunity to sanctify the mundane in the service of G-d
and humanity?
Accepting the Vayikra challenge means being willing to confront oneself and
one's society. Society, friends, and family profoundly influence us all. We
each need the time and space to step back and evaluate who we are and what
we are doing. The Beit Hamikdash provided the individual with that time and
space. Nowadays, the synagogue and Shabbat should do the same.
_________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - Vayikra
The book of Vayikra primarily deals with what are commonly called
"sacrifices" or "offerings." According to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: a
"sacrifice" implies giving up something that is of value to oneself for the
benefit of another. An "offering" implies a gift which satisfies the
receiver. The Almighty does not need our gifts. He has no needs or desires.
The Hebrew word is korban, which is best translated as a means of bringing
oneself into a closer relationship with the Almighty. The offering of
korbanot was only for our benefit to come close to the Almighty. This week's
portion includes the details of various types of korbanot: burnt, flour,
first grain, peace, sin and guilt offerings.
_________________
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, the traditional Shabbos Mevorachim kiddish was
held. Rabbi Shea Hecht, the guest speaker addressed the Shule after Mussaf
and spoke about the concept of Parshas HaChodesh signifying a time of
renewal and related this concept to the forthcoming Yom Tov of Pesach.
Yasher Koach.
*At Shalosh Seudas last week, Mendi Slodowitz explained the relationship
between two distinct components of Pesach - Matzah & the Korbon Pesach.
Yasher Koach.
*This week the Shule welcomes back those who have returned home for Pesach,
including Simon Fischer & Eli Godman and also farewells those who are
leaving to spend Pesach overseas including Mr & Mrs Dovid Grynberg and
Family Susskind.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 6:30am, Second Minyan @ 7:00am
Mincha at 7:30pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 8:10pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ezra May, or email us here.
-Please join us for our Katanga weekly squash game on Sunday 6:00pm at
Albert Park Squash Centre. If you are interested in attending, please
contact Mendi Solodowitz.
_________________________
Thoughts for the Week
* Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and
leave a trail.
* All the labour of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not filled.
* People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us
who do
_________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos to all!
"The Editors"
Shabbos Parshas Vayakel Pekudei / HaChodesh - 9
March, 2002
Series 3, Edition 27.
Candle lighting time: 7:33pm. Shabbos ends: 8:29pm.
Mincha & Kabalas Shabbos: Early Minyan 6:50pm, Late Minyan 7:50pm. Shacharis
on Shabbos in the Main Shule is at 9:30am and in the Youth Minyan at 9:45am.
*This week the Gemorah Brachos shiur at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos
afternoon commences at 6:30pm.
__________________________
MAZAL TOV
Mazal Tov to Alec & Miriam Kwiatkowsky, Ruth Amzalak and David & Sarah
Amzalak on the birth of a grand-daughter and daughter, Faigy last week.
Katanga would like to wish the parents, grandparents, brothers & extended
family much naches and simcha in the future.
__________________________
D'var Torah
"House and Home"
by Rabbi Stephen Baars (aish.com)
When does a house become a home? When does a job become a cause? An
obligation become a responsibility? An acquaintance become a friend? A
teacher become a mentor?
With everything in life, definition is the key. Definition is the first step
to living as opposed to existing, of finding purpose in life as opposed to
going through the motions. How do you know whether you have a house or a
home? How do we define the difference?
The last few words of this week's Parsha shed light on the distinction
between house and home: "The cloud ... and the fire ... were visible to the
entire Jewish people, in all their journeys." (Exodus 40:38)
Even though most of the time during the 40 years in the desert the Jews were
stationary, the Torah nevertheless refers to the desert experience as a
"journey." Rashi explains that the series of dwellings are collectively
called a "journey" because the Jewish people never intended to stay at any
place they stopped. They knew they'd soon be moving on.
Rashi is inferring that there are two types of lifestyles: One in which the
person moves to a place because this is the place where he ultimately wants
to live. The other is when a person moves but never intends to stay
permanently. Emotionally, he is constantly on the move.
Living in a house as opposed to living in a home is like living out of a
perpetual suitcase. Houses are great for holding families, or storing our
clothes and books. But they are rarely used to 'live' in. Houses are often
only fancy bases from which to vacate, or from which to leave for work - a
sort of "base camp for the summit." We stay until we get too small for the
new family, too big for just us two, or too far away from the new job.
No one likes to think of himself as a wanderer, transient - to do so is to
realize you have no place called "home." We like to think of our houses as
homes, because it's far more comforting.
It may be comforting, but is it true? Is it really home?
Is your work very personal to you, more than your home? We often relate to
work far more deeply, and fight for it far more strongly, beyond its
financial aspect. Many of us relate to our work as personal and our house as
disposable. If you feel more at home with your work it's probably because
you are not at home with your 'home.'
The Kabbalists say that our desire to travel and move is actually an
expression of our souls' yearning to find its place in this world. So really
we aren't running from, we are running to! We are not fleeing - but
searching, looking not hiding, questioning not disappearing.
The story is told of the Chafetz Chaim, the greatest sage of the 20th
century. The Chafetz Chaim lived in an extremely modest house in a village
in Poland, with sparse and simple furnishings.
A reporter came to interview the eminent rabbi. After conversing together
for some time, the reporter posed the question he'd been waiting to ask:
"For such a great and important rabbi as yourself, where's all your
furniture?" "Let me ask you a question," the Chafetz Chaim replied. "For
such an important reporter as yourself, where's all your furniture?" "Well,"
the reporter said confusedly, "I'm only travelling through." "I, too, am
only travelling through," the Chafetz Chaim replied.
The rabbi was trying to illustrate that we are all just travelling through.
We have yet to arrive at our permanent destination. This world is extremely
temporary.
You wouldn't take a crystal chandelier on a camping trip; you only take
along those things you really need. Life is ultimately a journey. And your
chandelier is not going with you.
In other words, the place we call 'home' should be a place of meaning, a
place where we find purpose to life. That place is made more through the
quality of the books on our shelves and the relationships it nurtures than
it is in the cut of our carpets.
Because ultimately, we are all "just travelling through."
_________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - Vayakhel Pekudei
The Jewish people are told to refrain from all activities related to the
building of the Mishkan on Shabbat. Craftsmen are selected and the work
begins. The craftsmen report that there are too many donations, and for the
first and probably the only time in fundraising history, the Jewish people
are told to refrain from bringing additional contributions!
Pekudei includes an accounting of all the materials that went into the
making of the Mishkan and details of the construction of the clothing of the
Cohanim. Moses examines all of the components and gives his approval to the
quality and exactness of construction, the Tabernacle is erected and the
various vessels are placed in their proper place.
_________________
Parshas HaChodesh
On the Shabbat preceding Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we read the special Maftir
from Exodus 12:1-20. These verses contain the commandment to make Nissan the
head of all months. This was the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people
while still in Egypt. By declaring the new month, the Jewish people have the
ability and responsibility to sanctify life and the passage of time. The
haftara of Parshat Hachodesh prophetically narrates the consecration of the
third and everlasting Beit Hamikdash. As this will occur on the first of
Nissan, we thus read this haftara on the Shabbat preceding the first of
Nissan.
_____________
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, a Kiddish was sponsored by Abe Muchnik who
also spoke in honour of the Yorzeit of his late father Menashe Yitzchok
HaCohen Muchnik. Yasher Koach.
*At Shalosh Seudas last week, being Parshas Parah, Isi Pacanowski explained
an intrepretation of the unique Mitzvah of Parah Adumah as being symbolic of
the unique relationship that exists between Hashem and Bnei Yisroel. Yasher
Koach.
*Last week the Shule welcomed back Yaron Gottleib who has returned from
visiting Israel.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-This week is Parshas HaChodesh, one of the four weeks where a special
Maftir is read.
-This week is also Shabbos Mevorachim Nissan. Rosh Chodesh Nissan is
Thursday, 14 March 2002.
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 6:25am, Second Minyan @ 7:00am
Mincha at 7:40pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 8:20pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ezra May, or email us here.
-Please join us for our Katanga weekly squash game on Sunday 6:00pm at
Albert Park Squash Centre. If you are interested in attending, please
contact Mendi Solodowitz.
_________________________
Thoughts for the Week
* Fewer things are harder to tolerate than a good example.
* To be consistently successful, one has to be successfully consistent.
* Every complex problem has a simple answer, and it is wrong.
_________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos to all!
"The Editors"
Shabbos Parshas Ki Tissa / Parah - 2 March, 2002
Series 3, Edition 26.
Candle lighting time: 7:42pm. Shabbos ends: 8:38pm.
Mincha & Kabalas Shabbos: Early Minyan 7:00pm, Late Minyan 8:00pm.
Shacharis on Shabbos in the Main Shule is at 9:30am and in the Youth Minyan
at 9:45am.
*This week the Gemorah Brachos shiur at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos
afternoon commences at 6:40pm.
__________________________
MAZAL TOV
Mazal Tov to Mr & Mrs Noach Herbst and Zvi & Rita Tamir on the engagement of
their grandson and son, Alon.
Katanga would like to wish the parents, grandparents, brother, sister &
extended family much naches and simcha in the future.
__________________________
MAZAL TOV
Mazal Tov to Les & Julie Roth and Michael & Chaya Sora Roth on the birth of
a grandaughter and daughter, Tzipora Rosa (Rosie) last week.
Katanga would like to wish the parents, grandparents, brother & extended
family much naches and simcha in the future.
__________________________
D'var Torah
"Yes, We Are All Individuals..."
by Rabbi Stephen Baars (aish.com)
"50% of all people will..."
"Most Australians have two..."
"Chances are you will..."
"By the time you reach thirty you will have..."
Statistics. They've become a way of life in the Western world. Marketers can
predict with uncanny accuracy who and how many will buy what. We've been
analysed, studied and reduced to a probability. "They" seem to know what we
will do. It seems that whatever we do is predictable. We receive a
particular piece of junk mail (or junk email!) because we tend to buy
certain products. To some degree, it seems we've stopped being people and
have become trends. Where did our individualism go?
Religion, as the secularists would have us believe, is a movement that -
through endless rules and rituals - robs you of your personality, removes
any trace of individuality and creates a blind mass of followers. This is
ironic because the secular world - which proclaims to be based on the
principle of "individualism" - seems to be plagued by "existential crises"
and questions of identity in far greater numbers than their religious
counterparts. Society, by it's very nature, curtails people's individualism.
It groups people by race and socio-economic status. It applies social
pressures to conform to standards of dress, food, entertainment and
professions.
Judaism on the other hand, wants people to stand up and take responsibility.
Emphasis and praise are constantly given to those who stand out and give
direction. This encourages individualism. Even within Judaism there is a
great dilemma that any individual faces when he takes responsibility and
expresses individualism. We ask with trepidation: "What can one person do?"
We are sceptical at how can someone express his inner personality to make
the world a better place - when overwhelming forces stand in opposition?
This feeling is so great that it can curtail even the most ardent of
idealists.
This week's parsha gives us a great insight into this problem. Exodus
30:11-17 describes God's command to count the Jewish People. Since God knows
how many people there are, why does He want us to count them? Obviously it's
not for the purpose of telling Him how many there are. Yet neither is it for
the purpose of letting us mortals know how many we are; God could simply
tell us. The only reasonable explanation is that this census is for the
purpose of us going through the process of counting.
The Kli Yakar (16th century Poland) points out that certain things only have
value in large numbers. On the other hand, some things are so important and
valuable they are only counted individually. The Torah tells us that God
wants us to count each individual person. This is because every individual
is important. God takes each individual into account. Every Jew is equally
important to our mission. Just as removing one letter invalidates a Torah
Scroll, so too the loss of one Jew hinders our destiny.
Sometimes we may feel that events around us are due to forces beyond our
control. We may feel that God is causing things to happen because of global
factors, regardless of who we are. This feeling does not reflect reality.
The world never gets too big for God to be able to run it for the best of
all concerned. But this feeling of our own insignificance is strong and so
God tells us to count each person. By so doing, we are reminded that God
takes each and every person into account. Symbolically we count in a way in
which we only know how many coins we have, not people. We should always keep
in mind that total numbers don't make a difference. Because one person can
change the world.
This is a very difficult idea for Western society to comprehend. We think in
terms of masses. Football stadiums, political rallies. Masses seem to have
more power than individuals. However if we look at even our recent Jewish
history we can see the power of single individuals: Herzl, Einstein, Freud,
Marx. These were individuals; individuals whose influence and affect on the
world is equal if not greater than that of an entire nation!
It is important to realise that if we were to truly think of ourselves as
individuals, it would dramatically affect the way we would behave. If we
were to think of ourselves as unique, we would not compare ourselves to
others. We would look to ourselves for direction. We would have our own
expectations to judge ourselves, and no one else's. Not only is this
significant for our own self image, but also for how we look at and treat
others. As we are unique individuals, so too are all others singularly
significant. Therefore, don't judge others by your standards - just as you
shouldn't judge yourself by theirs. Whoever you may meet is unique and
worthy of your attention. Remember their names, and count them as single
people. They are individuals! If you think of and treat others this way you
will come to realise how much of an individual you are.
If you truly can see the power of one - of you alone - you will realise that
one alone can implement world shattering effects. Look to yourself. Remove
the excuse of "What can I do?" And do what individuals who are truly unique
do! Live your own life, not society's, not your family's, and certainly, not
that of the marketing executives. Get in touch with and follow your own
goals and wishes!
_________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW – Ki Tissa (Shemos 30:11 - 34:35)
The Parsha begins with instructions for taking a census (by each person
donating a half shekel) and then continues with instructions to construct a
Washstand, the Anointing Oil, and Incense for the Mishkan. Bezalel and
Oholiab are appointed as head architects and craftsmen for construction of
the Mishkan and a special commandment forbidding the building of the Mishkan
on Shabbat is given.
The Torah continues with the infamous story of the Golden Calf where the
people wrongly calculated that Moses was late in coming down from Mt. Sinai.
The people sought a replacement for him by making a Golden Calf. Moses sees
them dancing around the calf and in anger breaks the Two Tablets. He then
punishes the 3,000 wrongdoers (less than .1% of the 3 million people) and
pleads to G-d not to wipe out the entire people. Moses then requests to see
the Divine Glory and receives the second set of Tablets of the Ten
Commandments.
_________________
PARSHAT PARAH
Parshat Parah (Numbers 19:1-22) is read on the Shabbat following Purim.
These verses deal with the Red Heifer used in the spiritual purification
process at the time of the Holy Temple. This issue is important at this
season of the year, since in looking forward to Passover, every Jew is
careful to maintain spiritual purity in order to partake in the holiday
offerings. Many authorities hold that this reading is a Torah precept.
_____________
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, a farewell Kiddish was held in honour of
Benseon Apple, who after living in Melbourne for two years is returning to
Sydney. Bensi thanked all members of the Shule for making him feel so
welcome and for making the minyan such an enjoyable experience. Yasher Koach.
*At Shalosh Seudas last week, Rabbi Raskin explained the special connection
that Moshe as leader had with Bnei Yisroel and why it was specifically
Parshas Tetzaveh that his name was removed from the Torah. Yasher Koach.
*Monday night, 25 February 2002 was Purim night and as usual a large crowd
dressed up for the occasion to hear the reading of the Megillah at Shule.
Younger members received Shalach Mones and then participated in their usual
enthusiastic way when required to make noise at the mention of Haman’s name.
Yasher Koach.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-This week after davening there will be a Kiddish sponsored by Abe Muchnik
in honour of the Yorzeit of his father, Reb Menashe Yitchok HaCohen Muchnik.
-This week is Parshas Parah, one of the four weeks where a special Maftir is
read.
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 6:20am, Second Minyan @ 7:00am
Mincha at 7:55pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 8:35pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ezra May, or email us here.
-Please join us for our Katanga weekly squash game on Sunday 6:00pm at
Albert Park Squash Centre. If you are interested in attending, please
contact Mendi Solodowitz.
_________________________
Thoughts for the Week
* The trouble is that nowadays the future is not what it used to be.
* A wise man knows what he says, a fool says what he knows.
* I am meditating – at least it's better than sitting and doing nothing.
_________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos to all!
"The Editors"
Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh / Zochur - 23 February,
2002
Series 3, Edition 25.
Candle lighting time: 7:53pm. Shabbos ends: 8:48pm.
Mincha & Kabalas Shabbos: Early Minyan 7:00pm, Late Minyan 8:05pm.
Shacharis on Shabbos in the Main Shule is at 9:30am and in the Youth Minyan
at 9:45am.
*This week the Gemorah Brachos shiur at Mark Franck's house on Shabbos
afternoon commences at 6:50pm.
__________________________
D'var Torah
Name Up in Lights...
by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair (aish.com)
It always amazes me how many people's names roll down at the end of a movie.
There's the "third assistant grip..." "Poodle manicure services by..."
"Beers chilled by...." A vast and determined army has come together to
create two and a half hours of armchair illusion. And that's only the end
titles. The opening titles are usually a showbiz lawyer's nightmare - (or
dream really when he has to bill his client). Who goes first? The Director?
Or the Star? Is it "Seldon Shmendrick presents Rock Jaw" or should it be
"Starring Rock Jaw in a Seldon Shmendrick production." What about the
pecking order of the lesser actors? And then of course there are the TV
trailers and the print ads. Have you ever seen so many names in so many
typefaces in so many different point sizes grace a piece of printed material
as the average Hollywood blockbuster poster?
If Hollywood is about anything, it's about prestige. Or as it's called in
Hebrew kavod. Judaism sees honor-seeking as one of the things that "removes"
a person from this world. It puts him into a non-real world where he becomes
a legend in his own lunchtime. Kavod is something that a Jew runs a million
miles from.
There's a fascinating section of the Talmud which describes a conversation
between the Almighty and Yerovam ben Navat. Yerovam was a Jewish King, a
great and brilliant scholar, who was ultimately responsible for turning the
Jewish People to idol worship. It was he who caused the division of the
twelve tribes into the Kingdoms of Yisrael (the ten tribes) and Yehuda (the
two tribes). Those ten lost tribes, the vast majority of the Jewish People,
are now vanished, invisible and lost as Jews. That was Yerovam.
What caused someone so great to fall so far? There's a fascinating character
insight that the Talmud gives us in Sanhedrin (102a): "Rebbe Abba said - the
Holy One, Blessed is He, grabbed Yerovam by his garment and said to him
'Return to your former self and I and you and the son of Yishai (King David)
will walk in Gan Eden. He (Yerovam) said: "Who's going to be at the head?"
"The son of Yishai will be at the head." "If so, I don't want."
Why did Yerovam ask the Almighty who would be first? G-d already said that
"I and you and the son of Yishai will walk in Gan Eden." G-d mentioned
Yerovam first, indicating that Yerovam would be before King David. If so,
why then did Yerovam ask who would be first?
Yerovam wanted a billboard two stories high with his name in lights. He
wanted G-d to spell it out. This was the granddaddy of disputes over
billing. It wasn't enough that he would go first. He wanted his billing
locked into the contract.
If kavod - honor-seeking - is something so despicable and lowly, its reverse
is the greatest treasure available to man. Humility is the greatest prize
that one can aspire to. The praise of the greatest Jew who ever lived was
that he was the humblest of people. That man was Moshe, our teacher.
From his birth until Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy), Moshe's name appears in
every parsha, except one - this week's parsha. The Vilna Gaon explains that
Moshe died on the seventh of Adar. As this date usually falls in the week of
Parshat Tetzaveh, so just as Moshe was removed from the world during this
week, so his name was "removed" from the parsha of this week.
The words of the tzaddik can have a power beyond their immediate context.
When G-d wanted to destroy the Jewish People after their infidelity at the
golden calf, Moshe pleaded with Hashem to "Erase me from Your Book that you
have written." Moshe asked that he, rather than the Jewish People, be
eradicated. Even though Moshe spoke out of total self-sacrifice,
nevertheless, his words made an impression, and it is for this reason that
his name was "erased" from this week's parsha.
_________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW – Tetzaveh (Shemos 27:20 – 30:10)
The Torah continues this week with the command to make for use in the
Mishkan; oil for the Menorah and the special clothes for the Cohanim. It
then gives instruction for the consecration of the Cohanim and the Outer
Altar.
The portion concludes with instructions for constructing the Incense Altar.
_________________
PARSHAT ZACHOR
The Shabbat immediately preceding Purim is called Shabbat Zachor. The
portion of Amalek (Deut. 25:17-19) is read, since Haman was a descendant of
Agog, King of Amalek. One should be very careful to listen to all the words,
since most halachic authorities consider it a Torah-level mitzvah to hear
this portion once each year. Since this is not considered a time-related
mitzvah, women are obligated to hear the reading as well. If one
accidentally missed Parshat Zachor, the obligation may be fulfilled by
listening to the Torah reading on Purim itself, or to the weekly reading of
Parshat Ki Tetzei (and according to many authorities, Parshat Beshalach as
well).
_________________
PURIM
This Tuesday, 26 February 2002 is Purim. The special Mitzvot for Purim are:
Seudat Purim (festive meal - including wine, wine and more wine!), Kriat
Megillah (Scroll of Esther), Mishloach Manot (at least two ready foods to
one person) and Matanot La'evyonim (charity to at least two persons).
_____________
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, Yoel May, in his debut performance, explained
how the Mordechai and Haman dispute featured in the story of Purim, can be
seen to have had its historical genesis in the long running Yakov and Esau
dispute. Yasher Koach.
*A special Shalosh Seudas was held last week, co-sponsored by Arnold Jacobs
in honour of the first Birthday of his youngest daughter, Aviva and by Mr
Schulim Koperszmidt on the occasion of his Birthday. Rabbi Meir Rabi was
also honoured and spoke as it was the last Shabbos he was teaching his
pre-Mincha Shiur at Shule. Mr Koperszmidt then spoke about the significance
and special Holiness of the day of Shabbos and in a busy schedule, Simon
Weinstein explained the symbolism of the Aron (Ark) having a lid of gold.
Mazal Tov and Yasher Koach to all.
*This week the Shule farewells a regular member, Benseon Apple, who after
living in Melbourne for two years is returning to Sydney. In appreciation of
the contribution Bensi has made to the minyan, there will be a Kiddish in
his honour after davening this week.
*Last Shabbos the Shule welcomed back Rabbi & Rebbetzin Moshe Cohen who have
returned to Australia after six months in Israel.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-The fast of Taanis Esther is this Monday, 25 February 2002. The fast ends
at 8:35pm and following Maariv, Megillas Esther will be read. Purim day,
Tuesday 26 February 2002, the Megilla will be read during davening
commencing 6:05am and 6:45am.
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 6:15am, Second Minyan @ 7:00am
Mincha at 8:00pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 8:40pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ezra May, or email us here.
-Please join us for our Katanga weekly squash game on Sunday 6:00pm at
Albert Park Squash Centre. If you are interested in attending, please
contact Mendi Solodowitz.
----------------------------
Thoughts for the Week
* There is no future living in the past.
* A clear conscience is a good sign of a bad memory.
* Everything is in walking distance, if you have the time.
_________________________
Shabbat Shalom, Gut Shabbos & Happy Purim to all!
"The Editors"
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