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Shabbos
Parshas Nitzavim - Vayelech - 31 August, 2002
Series 3, Edition 51
Candle lighting time: 5:39pm. Shabbos ends: 6:37pm.
Mincha on Friday followed by Kabalas Shabbos: 5:55pm.
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 4:35pm.
*This week is the final edition for the current series of the Katanga
newsletter. IY"H next week will be the inaugural issue of Series 4.
__________________________
D'var Torah
The Apology Factor
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons (aish.com)
A few years ago I learned a valuable lesson about apologies. I was sitting
in a classroom and it was a few minutes past the time that the class was
scheduled to begin. We were waiting for the teacher to arrive, and when one
of my fellow students walked in, I gave him a warm and hearty welcome:
"Hello, Alan!"
After the class was over, Alan came up to me and said: "I was so mad at you
that I wanted to punch you!" "What are you talking about?" I asked. Alan
explained. When he walked in and I said a loud "hello," he thought I was
trying to draw everyone's attention to the fact that he was late.
Of course, that wasn't my intention at all, and the only reason that my
"hello" bothered Alan was because he was feeling self-conscious about his
own lateness! But then I realized: It doesn't matter whether I'm right or
wrong, and whether my insult was intentional or not. The fact remains that I
hurt someone's feelings. And for that I must apologize.
Next time somebody harms you and then comes to apologize, notice how he does
it. There are two approaches people use - what I call the "sincere apology,"
and the "selfish apology."
The sincere approach is short and sweet, and sounds something like this:
"I'm sorry I hurt you. I'll be careful to see that it doesn't happen again."
Clean, direct, no excuses. If you'd been hurt, wouldn't you feel better
after receiving such an apology?
Next is the "selfish apology." It goes something like this: "I apologize.
But I didn't do it on purpose. I had a hard day and I didn't realize what I
was doing. And why are you so sensitive about this, anyway!?" This person
has verbalized an "apology," but it is hollow because they have no regret.
They really feel "it's not my fault and I didn't do anything wrong."
The type of apology not only fails to appease the person who was hurt, it
actually makes things worse. Why? Because this "apology" is in effect
saying: "The fact that my actions were hurtful to you is not really my
problem. And since I don't regret my actions, I will not make an effort to
change them. Therefore if a similar circumstance occurs in the future, I
would do the same thing and hurt you again!" What came under the guise of an
"apology" actually turns into a great insult.
Apologizing can be a difficult, humbling experience. We may feel vulnerable,
low and bad. But it doesn't have to be this way...
Imagine your jacket got stained. Of course you have to take it to the
cleaners. But do you feel depressed when your clothes are stained? Of course
not! You know that a stain is not a permanent part of the fabric.
Judaism says it's the same thing when we make a mistake. Our soul is the
garment that gets stained. And we have to clean it. But making a mistake
doesn't mean I'm inherently a bad person! In fact, the Talmud (Yevamot 79)
says that a sense of shame is essential to the nature of a Jew.
A distinction needs to be made between "unhealthy" and "healthy" guilt.
Unhealthy guilt is where you feel like a bad person. Healthy guilt is where
you maintain the sense that you're a good person, while acknowledging that
you used bad judgment and made a mistake.
Think back to a time you apologized. How do you feel afterwards? Cleansed!
Getting it out is an expansive, cathartic, liberating release. We cleanse
the stain and recapture that lost purity. We rectify the past and move
forward.
This week's Parsha begins: "You are all standing here today before God"
(Deut. 29:9). Allegorically, this is referring to Rosh Hashana, the day when
every Jew stands before the Almighty and takes a long, hard look at who they
really are.
This is the time of year to make a commitment to correct our mistakes. God
is "close" at this time, and as the verse in this week's parsha says: "God
will remove the barriers from your hearts" (Deut. 30:6).
There's a feeling in the air. Let's use it!
__________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - Nitzavim - Vayelech (29:9 - 31:30)
On the day of Moshe's death he assembles the whole Jewish people and creates
a Covenant confirming the Jewish people as the Hashem's Chosen People for
all future generations. Moshe makes clear the consequences of rejecting
Hashem and the Torah as well as the possibility of repentance. He reiterates
that Torah is readily available to everyone.
VaYelech begins with Moshe passing the torch of leadership to Yehoshua
(Joshua). Moshe then gives Yehoshua a blessing which applies to every Jewish
leader: "Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid or feel insecure before them.
G-d your Lord is the One who is going with you, and He will not fail you nor
forsake you."
Moshe writes the entire Torah and gives it to the Cohanim and Elders. He
then commands that in the future at the end of the Shmita (Sabbatical Year)
the king should gather all the people during Succot festival and read to
them the Torah so "... that they will hear and learn and fear the Lord your
G-d and be careful to perform all the words of the Torah."
Hashem describes in a short paragraph the course of Jewish history. Lastly,
before Moshe goes to "sleep with his forefathers," he assembles the people
to teach them the song of Ha'azinu, the next weekly Torah portion, to remind
them of the consequences of turning against Hashem.
------------------------
ELUL
Many Meforshim discuss the importance of asking forgiveness from others
before Yom Kippur. Chazal explain that it does little good to ask
forgiveness from G-d when one has harmed one's fellow man. Because it is not
G-d Who must extend forgiveness; rather, forgiveness must come from the
individual who has been wronged!
The source for the mitzvah of Teshuva is found in this week's Torah portion,
Nitzavim. The Torah instructs someone who has transgressed to "return to the
L-rd your G-d." This understanding of Teshuva as a process of "return" is
embedded in the word itself which (though commonly mistranslated as
"repentance") actually means "return." Teshuva is the process by which we
reestablish our connection to the Almighty and return to the basic goodness
that is human nature. On this week's posuk that "very close is this (matter
of Teshuva) to your mouth," the Ramban takes this literally; he understands
that Teshuva requires verbal articulation of our misdeeds.
In instances where someone else was wronged, an apology must be made
directly to that person. In instances where we transgressed the Almighty's
will, we must privately, with no one listening, confess to our Creator.
If the Rosh Hashana holiday is to accomplish true change - and not just
another series of broken new year's resolutions - we must make proper
preparations. Thus, there arose a custom during Elul (the month before Rosh
Hashana) for individuals to undertake to correct one key aspect of their
behavior. The action should be something that, with a bit of serious effort,
could realistically be accomplished.
By making a permanent change (even a minor one) in one's behavior, a
momentum is created for the New Year. Combined with the special "Slichos"
prayers, the recitation of the "Vidui" (the verbal confession before G-d),
and the giving of Tzedakah (since the Jewish fiscal year ends the day before
Rosh Hashana), one can approach the Yomim Noro'im with a sense of elevation
and Kedusha.
May we all merit to have a good, sweet year!
---------------------
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, Eliezer Lebovits, explained the four different
deadlines for accomplishing Teshuvah dependant on which of the four
categories of person you are. Eliezer also explained how this is hinted at
by the Torah through the number of Pesukim in the four Parshas around Rosh
Hashona. Yasher Koach.
*At Shalosh Seudos last week, Rabbi Niasoff, in his farewell Shabbos after
visiting for 10 weeks, explained an analysis of the particular specific text
used by Bnei Yisroel when bringing Bicurim. Yasher Koach.
*Due to the current situation in Eretz Yisroel, leaders of World Jewry
headed by HaRav HaGoan Elyashiv have appealed to Jews world-wide to recite
Tehillim on behalf of the people of Israel. Chapters 20, 83, 121, 130 & 142
are encouraged to be recited daily.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-This Motzei Shabbos, 31 August 2002, begins the Selichos period. As is
customary, the service beings at midnight.
-As we are in the midst of Rosh Chodesh Elul, a reminder to recite Chapter
27 of Tehillim 'LeDovid Hashem Oire' and to blow the Shofar after davening.
-Anybody who requires a seat in Shule over the Yom Tov period is requested
to see Yankel Sziewicz.
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 5:45am, Second Minyan @ 6:30am
Mincha at 6:00pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 6:40pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ari Bergman, 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 Isaac Berkovits.
_________________________
Thoughts for the Week
* Wealth bring anxiety, wisdom brings serenity
* You can't start again to make a new start, but you can start now to make a
new end
* In life, pain is inevitable but suffering is not
_________________________
Kesivah v'Chasimah Tova, Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos to all!
"The Editors"
Shabbos
Parshas Ki Tavo - 24 August, 2002
Series 3, Edition 50
Candle lighting time: 5:33pm. Shabbos ends: 6:31pm.
Mincha on Friday followed by Kabalas Shabbos: 5:50pm.
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 4:30pm.
__________________________
MAZAL TOV
Mazal Tov to Menchi Schneier on the occasion of his engagement to Yael
Grossman.
Katanga would like to wish a Mazal Tov to the parents, grandparents,
brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins and whole extended family.
-------------------------------------
D'var Torah
Who are You...?
by Rabbi Stephen Baars (aish.com)
"Hi. I'm a doctor, what are you?"
"I'm a lawyer, what are you?"
In truth, I am anything but a lawyer or a doctor. I don't even want to be
thought of as one. I am an individual. I'm me!
If you introduce yourself to other people as a "lawyer," then you take what
is unique to you and disregard it. It is dangerous to define yourself as
something you do from 9-to-5 (or any other time of the day). To think of
yourself in terms of any single activity is to severely hamper your
self-image. Comparing yourself with all other lawyers is making a clear
statement: "I am not a person, I am a career."
Unfortunately, it's a problem we develop early in life. Every child is
asked: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It's a question fraught
with subtle implications, extremely damaging to the developing personality
of a child. Isn't the child who is asked that question going to grow up
thinking: "What's wrong with being 'me?' Is 'me' so terrible that I have to
'become' something different when I grow up?"
Many of us have spent the last 20-30 years trying to "be" somebody. Now we
are starting to ask "Who am I?" Maybe, we are thinking, this whole rat race
of "being somebody" isn't worth it. Maybe I am somebody valuable already, I
don't need to be anybody else.
Hillel, the great Torah sage, said, "If I am only for myself, who am I" (Pirkei
Avos 1:14). This is to say, if I ask the question "Who I should be?" I will
eventually have to ask the question "What am I?"
Shakespeare's "To be or not to be" reflects the values of Western society.
In Judaism, "To be or not to be" is not the question. Rather, "What to do
and what not to do" - that is the Jewish question. Judaism says that only
through "doing" will a person "be." In other words, the more we do, the more
we become.
It is important to understand that "becoming more" is not defined in terms
of man hours or production, but rather in terms of direction and purpose.
The greater our purpose, the greater we become.
It is a natural consequence that whatever you believe in, like that thing
you will become. Whatever you imagine as the highest expression of life is
what you will idealize, imitate, seek and desire. If you think movie stars
and professional athletes are the epitome of life, then it is they who you
will emulate. If you hold them in high esteem because of their ability to
toss a ball, then you will define your own life as well by such demeaning
definitions. If shallow people are your idols, then shallow will you be. If
you think the source of your energy is a dollar, then you'll become a
hedonist.
It is no wonder, therefore, that in a world of rampant materialism, many
people have no more depth than the money they believe will solve all their
problems.
The greater our purpose in life, the greater we become.
To find fulfilment, a person needs guidelines and a strategy. The quest for
purpose and meaning requires far more tools than is necessary to achieve
emptiness. The laws of physics tell us that all bodies follow the path of
least resistance. Therefore, since we are physical beings, we need a very
effective strategy to break away from the "easy yet meaningless" path.
To reach those depths, we need tools. This is why the Torah - in this week's
parsha (Deut. 28:9) - tells us to emulate God. This technique enables us to
see the world with a "God like" vision.
Ask yourself: What would God do if He was in your position? Which path would
He choose? This identification with God enables you to raise yourself up out
of life's pettiness. It gives you a perspective that is impossible to
achieve when you are trying to emulate a movie star.
If we are striving for the greatest "being" we can be, it has to be a "being
like God." Such an achievement simply cannot be topped. How can a person be
greater than that?
If the source of life is some primordial soup, then all a person can become
is a great chef. But if the source is God Himself, then there is no limit to
a person's reach.
_______________________________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - Ki Tavo
This Parsha is another one packed with Mitzvos. Topics include: Bringing to
the Temple as an offering the first fruits of the Seven Species special to
the Land of Israel, Declaration of tithes, Hashem designating the Jewish
people as His treasured people. The command to set up in the Jordan River
and then on Mount Ebal large stones which had the Torah written upon them in
70 languages, The command to have a public ratification of the acceptance of
the Law from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal; The Torah then sets forth the
blessings for following the Law and the curses for not following it and
concludes with Moshe's final discourse.
---------------------
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, Rabbi Turtletaub, visiting from Skokie, USA,
explained the importance of remaining stringent regarding the prohibition of
Loshan Hora, particularly in the month of Elul, as a function of our ongoing
struggle with our Yetzer Hora. Yasher Koach.
*At Shalosh Seudos last week, Prof. Hasofer, based on a Possuk in the Parsha,
explained a Kabbalistic interpretation of the recurrent consequence
throughout history, of the affect of the episode of the Snake convincing
Adam to eat from the fruit of The Tree of Knowledge. Yasher Koach.
*Due to the current situation in Eretz Yisroel, leaders of World Jewry
headed by HaRav HaGoan Elyashiv have appealed to Jews world-wide to recite
Tehillim on behalf of the people of Israel. Chapters 20, 83, 121, 130 & 142
are encouraged to be recited daily.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-Next Motzei Shabbos, 31 August 2002, is first night Selichos. As is
customary, the service beings at midnight.
-As we are in the midst of Rosh Chodesh Elul, a reminder to recite Chapter
27 of Tehillim 'LeDovid Hashem Oire' and to blow the Shofar after davening.
-Anybody who requires a seat in Shule over the Yom Tov period is requested
to see Yankel Sziewicz.
-The Shule committee, which requested contributions to be made towards the
Shaarei Tzedek Hosptial Appeal would like to finalise the arrangements.
Would those members that have not yet paid their pledges or made a donation,
please promptly do so to Ari Bergman. The Shule hopes to shortly be able to
present a cheque to Shaarei Tzedek to fund the purchase of a new piece of
medical equipment.
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 6:15am, Second Minyan @ 7:00am
Mincha at 5:50pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 6:30pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ari Bergman, 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 Isaac Berkovits.
_________________________
Thoughts for the Week
* Better to light a candle then curse the dark
* A pessimist feels bad when he is good for fear he'll feel worse when he is
better
* Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
_________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos to all!
"The Editors"
Shabbos
Parshas Ki Tetze - 17 August, 2002
Series 3, Edition 49
Candle lighting time: 5:27pm. Shabbos ends: 6:26pm.
Mincha on Friday followed by Kabalas Shabbos: 5:40pm.
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 4:25pm.
__________________________
D'var Torah
The Inheritance...
by Rabbi Stephen Baars (aish.com)
Parents will warn their children to avoid drugs and teenage pregnancy. Yet
why don't we hear with such frequency a father instructing his child to
refrain from being pessimistic or unkind? I have yet to meet the person who
said that his father pressured him more about developing good character than
he did about developing a high-paying career.
Do you want your child to be wealthier than you? What about more kind and
generous, more caring and considerate? If so, where is he going to learn
these values from? Maybe you think comments made now and again, such as
"share your toys," or "be nice" are the keys to generous and caring
children. Or maybe you think they will learn to be good people in school -
from a school that in fact teaches there are really no absolute values!!
Unlikely.
Where do you think your child is going to learn values? Are you teaching
them? Is the school? Is not your precious child going to spend much (if not
more) time with their teacher than you? Would you place your child in the
chair of an unqualified dentist?
When you select a school for your child, do you examine the teachers for
their morals and values as well as for their diplomas? Is the school even
qualified to teach values?
You may claim that you don't want your child learning values in school. But
there is no such thing as a vacuum. Be assured that one way or another, your
child is absorbing an approach to life.
This week's parsha points out that a child is not punished for the crimes of
a parent (Deut. 24:16) nor a parent for a child. But the Torah also tells us
(Deut. 5:9): Children will suffer the consequences for crimes they commit,
even if they have inherited such delinquencies from their parents.
Will your child inherit your bad traits? Do you want to inflict your child
with all the pain that you have suffered? Will he not most certainly inherit
these flaws from you... if there is no instruction to the contrary?
It is true your child will probably inherit your good side, too. But does
that mean you should not try to make things better for him?
At the very least, we should worry over the dangers of him acquiring our
traits of selfishness, anger, pride and frustration. A child will see and
imitate these traits, just as a child will often imitate a parent's drinking
habit.
The image of a pregnant women smoking is one for which we all have disdain.
But what about a pregnant woman being unkind? None of us seem too concerned!
Yet what terrible harm is awaiting that unborn child!
How noble it is to leave one's heirs a nest-egg in case of hard financial
times. But are we giving our children a similar repository of wisdom to know
how to deal with the hard times of life?
Does your child's school curriculum have a course on building relationships,
a class on personal crisis management, or a seminar on developing a system
of personal values?
Are we living such wonderfully happy lives, care - and problem-free, that
our only concern is that our children's teeth are straight and the right
college diploma hangs on the wall? Shouldn't we be equally concerned that
our children may lack the fortitude and wisdom to deal with the kind of
personal problems we have faced?
When we look back in our final days, will we say with confidence that we
made the right choice for each of our children's inheritances?
Aren't we just wishing upon a fallen star that against great odds our
children will figure all this out by themselves?
_______________________________________________
PARSHA OVERVIEW - Ki Tetze
This Parsha is another one packed with Mitzvos. Topics include: Women
Captives, First-Born's Share. The Rebellious Son, Hanging and Burial,
Returning Lost Articles, The Fallen Animal, The Bird's Nest, Guard-Rails,
Mixed Agriculture, Bound Tassels, Laws of Marriage, Divorce & Relationships,
Ammonites & Moabites, Edomites & Egyptians. The Army Camp, Sheltering
Slaves, Deducted Interest, Keeping Vows, Worker in a Vineyard, Field Worker,
Kidnapping, Leprosy, Security for Loans, Paying Wages on Time, Testimony of
Close Relatives, Widows and Orphans, Forgotten Sheaves, Leftover Fruit.
Flogging, Weights and Measures and concludes with the famous passage to
remembering what Amalek did to us.
---------------------
ELUL
Being Chodesh Elul, people should increase their level of commitment and a
good and easy way to do this is by attending one or more Shiurim throughout
the week.
Following is a list of Shiurim offered by the Katanga Youth Minyan. Those
who are interested in attending are invited to express their intent to Isi
Pacanowski.
When Time Topic
Sunday - Friday 7:45 AM Mishna a Day - Mesechte Shekolim
Tuesday 8:30 PM Gemora Sukka
Shabbos 9:40AM Yismach Yisroel on the weekly Parsha
Shabbos After Musaph Variety of Local and Guest Speakers
Shabbos 1 hr before Mincha Gemora Brochos
---------------------
Other Developments
*Last Shabbos after davening, Isi Pacanowski, explained the necessity to
individually appoint judges and police over our own persons to ensure we are
judicious and guarded regarding how we conduct ourselves. Yasher Koach.
*At Shalosh Seudos last week, Prof. Waller, based on the famous Possuk of
'Justice, Justice you shall pursue' delivered a description of the Jewish
approach to justice and the administration of just processes. Yasher Koach.
*This Shabbos the Shule farewells Alon & Racheli Tamir who are returning to
America. Simultaneously the Shule extends a welcome to Sarit Wolkenstein,
the fianc?e of Eliezer Lebovits, who is currently visiting. Farewell,
welcome and Mazal Tov.
*Due to the current situation in Eretz Yisroel, leaders of World Jewry
headed by HaRav HaGoan Elyashiv have appealed to Jews world-wide to recite
Tehillim on behalf of the people of Israel. Chapters 20, 83, 121, 130 & 142
are encouraged to be recited daily.
-----------------------------
Announcements
-As we are in the midst of Rosh Chodesh Elul, a reminder to recite Chapter
27 of Tehillim 'LeDovid Hashem Oire' and to blow the Shofar after davening.
-The Shule committee, which requested contributions to be made towards the
Shaarei Tzedek Hosptial Appeal would like to finalise the arrangements.
Would those members that have not yet paid their pledges or made a donation,
please promptly do so to Ari Bergman. The Shule hopes to shortly be able to
present a cheque to Shaarei Tzedek to fund the purchase of a new piece of
medical equipment.
-Minyanim times for the coming week are:
Shacharis: First Minyan @ 6:15am, Second Minyan @ 7:00am
Mincha at 5:45pm followed by shiurim and then Ma'ariv at 6:25pm.
-Anyone interested in presenting a Shiur in the Youth Minyan please contact
Ari Bergman, 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 Isaac Berkovits.
_________________________
Thoughts for the Week
* A friend doubles the joy and halves the grief
* A ship in the harbour might be safer but it belongs in the sea
* He who loses money, loses much; he who loses faith, loses all
_________________________
Shabbat Shalom & Gut Shabbos to all!
"The Editors"
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