August 24 Shabbat Announcements Great Neck Synagogue

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Parshat Ki Tavo August 24, 2013 18 Elul, 5773

It would be reasonable toassume that a language thatcontains the verb tocommand must also containthe verb to obey. The oneimplies the other, just as theconcept of a question impliesthe possibility of an answer.We would, however, be wrong.There are 613 commandmentsin the Torah, but there is noword in biblical Hebrew thatmeans to obey. WhenHebrew was revived as alanguage of everyday speechin the nineteenth century, aword, letsayet, had to beborrowed from Aramaic. Untilthen there was no Hebrewword for to obey.

This is an astonishing fact andnot everyone was aware of it.It led some Christians (andsecularists) to misunderstandthe nature of Judaism: veryfew Christian thinkers fullyappreciated the concept ofmitzvah and the idea that Godmight choose to reveal Himselfin the form of laws. It also ledsome Jews to think aboutmitzvot in a way more

appropriate to Islam (the wordIslam means submitting toGods law) than to Judaism.What word does the Torah useas the appropriate response toa mitzvah? Shema. The rootsh-m-a is a keyword in thebook of Deuteronomy, whereit occurs 92 times, usually inthe sense of what God wantsfrom us in response to thecommandments. But the verbsh-m-a means many things.Here are some of themeanings it has in Genesis:

[1] To hear as in Abramheard that his relative [Lot]

had been taken captive (14:14).

[2] To listen, pay attention,heed as in Because you

listened to your wife and ate fruitfrom the tree (3: 17)and Then Rachel said: God hasvindicated me; he has listened to myplea and given me a son (30: 7).

[3] To understand as in Come, letus go down and confuse theirlanguage so they will not understandeach other (11: 7). This is howtradition understood the later phraseNaaseh ve-nishma (Ex. 24: 7) tomean, first we will do, thenunderstand.

[4] To be willing to obey as theangels words to Abraham after thebinding of Isaac: Through youroffspring all nations on earth will beblessed, because you were willing toobey me (22:18). Abraham wasabout to obey Gods command but atthe last moment an angel said Stop.

[5] To respond in deed, to do whatsomeone else wants as in Dowhatever Sarah tells you (shmabekolah, 21: 12). It is in this lastsense that it comes closest inmeaning to obey.The fact that sh-m-a means all thesethings suggests that in the Torahthere is no concept of blind

obedience. In general, a commanderorders and a soldier obeys. A slave-owner orders and the slave obeys.There is no active thought processinvolved. The connection between theword of the commander and the deedof the commanded is one of action-and-reaction, stimulus-and-response.For practical purposes, the soldier orslave has no mind of his own. AsTennyson described the attitude ofthe soldiers before the Charge of theLight Brigade: Ours not to reasonwhy; ours but to do or die.

That is not how the Torah conceivesthe relationship between God and us.God, who created us in His image,

giving us freedom and the power tothink, wants us to understand Hiscommands. Ralbag (Gersonides,1288-1344) argues that it is precisely

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshas Ki Tavothis that makes the Torahdifferent: Behold our Torah isunique among all the otherdoctrines and religions that othernations have had, in that ourTorah contains nothing that doesnot originate in equity and reason.Therefore this Divine Law attractspeople in virtue of its essence, sothat they behave in accordancewith it. The laws and religions ofother nations are not like this:they do not conform to equity andwisdom, but are foreign to thenature of man, and people obey

them because of compulsion, outof fear of the threat of punishmentbut not because of their essence.

Along similar lines the modernscholar David Weiss Halivni speaksof the Jewish predilection forjustified law, and contrasts thiswith other cultures in the ancientworld: Ancient law in general isapodictic, without justification andwithout persuasion. Its style iscategorical, demanding, andcommanding Ancient NearEastern law in particular is devoidof any trace of desire to convinceor to win hearts. It enjoins,prescribes, and orders, expecting

to be heeded solely on thestrength of being an officialdecree. It solicits no consent(through justification) from thoseto whom it is directed. The Torahuses at least three devices to showthat Jewish law is not arbitrary, amere decree. First, especiallyevident throughout the book ofDevarim, is the giving of reasonsfor the commands. Often, thoughnot always, the reason has to dowith the experience of theIsraelites in Egypt. They knowwhat it feels like to be oppressed,to be a stranger, an outsider. Iwant you to create a different kindof society, says God through

Moses, where slavery is morelimited, where everyone is freeone day a week, where the poordo not go hungry, and the

Times

Hashkama 8:00 pm

Youth Minyan 8:30 am

Main Minyan 9:00 am

Beit Midrash 9:15 pm

Gemorah Shiur 6:10 pm

Mincha 7:10 pm

Shabbat Ends 8:29 pm

Sun., August 25 7:30/8:30 am

Mon., Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am

Tues., Wed., Fri. 6:45/7:45 am

Mincha 7:20 pm

Latest Times forShema/ Shmoneh Esrei

August 24 9:36/10:43 am

August 31 9:39/10:44 am

Next ShabbatNitzavim-Va-Yelech

Candle Lighting 7:12 pm

Mincha 7:00 pm

Friday Mincha 7:00 pm

Cande Lighting 7:22 pm

TORAHArtscroll 1068

Hertz 859HAFTORAH

Artscroll 1201Hertz 874

Kiddush Is Sponsored By

Great Neck Synagogue and

The herring table is being sponsored by

the Uncles and Aunts

of the newly arrived Gail Ava Barry


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powerless are not denied justice.

The second, most notably in the book of Bemidbar, is thejuxtaposition of narrative and law, as if to say, the law is bestunderstood against the backdrop of history and the experience ofthe Israelites in their formative years. So the law of the red heifer purification from contact with the dead occurs just before thedeath of Miriam and Aaron, as if to say, bereavement and griefinterfere with our contact with God but this does not last forever.We can become pure again. The law of tzitzit occurs after the storyof the spies because both have to do with ways of seeing: the

difference between seeing-with-fear and seeing-with-faith.

The third is the connection between law and metaphysics. There is astrong connection between Genesis 1, the story of creation, and thelaws of kedushah, holiness. Both belong to torat cohanim, thepriestly voice, and both are about order and the maintenance ofboundaries. The laws against mixing meat and milk, wool and linen,and so on, are about respecting the deep structure of nature asdescribed in the opening chapter of the Torah.

Throughout Devarim, as Moses reaches the summit of hisleadership, he becomes an educator, explaining to the newgeneration who will eventually conquer and inhabit the land, that thelaws God has given them are not just Divine decrees. They makesense in human terms. They constitute the architectonics of a freeand just society. They respect human dignity. They honor theintegrity of nature. They give the land the chance to rest andrecuperate. They protect Israel against the otherwise inexorable

laws of the decline and fall of nations. Only by recognizing God astheir sovereign will they guard against overbearing kings and thecorruptions of power. Time and again Moses tells the people that ifthey follow Gods laws they will prosper. If they fail to do so they willsuffer defeat and exile. All this can be understood in supernaturalterms, but it can be understood in natural ways also. That is whyMoses, consistently throughout Devarim, uses the verb sh-m-a. Hewants the Israelites to obey God, but not blindly or through fearalone. God is not an autocrat. The Israelites should know thisthrough their own direct experience. They had seen how God,creator of heaven and earth, had chosen this people as His own,brought them from slavery to freedom, fed, sustained and protectedthem through the wilderness, and led them to victory against theirenemies. God had not given the Torah to Israel for His sake but fortheirs. As Weiss Halivni puts it: the Torah invites the receiver of thelaw to join in grasping the beneficent effect of the law, therebybestowing dignity upon him and giving him a sense that he is apartner in the law.

That is the meaning of Moses great words in this weeks parsha:Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of theLord your God. Listen to the Lord your God and follow His commandsand decrees that I give you today (Deut. 27: 9-10). Keeping thecommands involves an act of listening, not just submission and blindobedience listening in all its multiple senses of attending,meditating and reflecting of the nature of God through creation,revelation and redemption. It means trying to understand our limitsand imperfections as human beings. It means remembering what itfelt like to be a slave in Egypt. It involves humility and memory and

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

Great Neck SynagogueShabbat Activities Program

26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023516-487-6100

Dale Polakoff, RabbiIan Lichter, Assistant Rabbi

Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi EmeritusZeev Kron, Cantor

Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor EmeritusRabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director

Zehava & Michael Atlas, Youth DirectorsMark Twersky, Executive Director

Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program DirectorDr. Scott Danoff, President

Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the BoardDena Block, Yoetzet Halacha

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Ki Tavo 5773

Perhaps youve noticed

That theres a new name added to the

masthead at the bottom of this page. Through

the generosity of a donor family, GNS has hired

Dena Block to serve as a Yoetzet Halacha.

What exactly is a Yoetzet Halacha, what does

she do and who is sheall of these questions

are answered in an exclusive interview in the

Rosh Hashana edition of SCOPE and in the

forthcoming Adult Education brochure. We just

wanted to acquaint you (those of you who

notice these things!) with the name, so stay

tuned for more details ...

gratitude. But it does not involve abdication of the intellect or silencing ofthe questioning mind. God is not a tyrant but a teacher. He seeks not justour obedience but also our understanding. All nations have laws, and lawsare there to be obeyed. But few nations other than Israel set it as theirhighest task to understand why the law is as it is. That is what the Torahmeans by the word Shema.

Great Neck Synagogue welcomesLederman Caterers

as our exclusive caterer.Please call 516-773-3000

and ask for Leon Shayesteh


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GNS 6TH ANNUAL ROSH HASHANAPASS IT FORWARD HUNGER INITIATIVE

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2013BRING THE SWEETNESS OF ROSH HASHANA TO THOSE IN NEED!

Now in its 6th year, the PASS IT FORWARD program of the GNS Hunger Initiative provides food to fami-lies for Yom Tov. Last year, volunteers packed and delivered o v e r 1 0 0 0 m e a ls to needy individuals,families, kosher food pantries and North Shore Hospital Bikur Cholim.

HERES HOW YOU CAN HELP ! Donate Food: If you have a kosher kitchen (separate meat and dairy utensils and kosher certification onall processed foods), make extra food (soup, main, side or dessert) and pack it in containers serving4-8 (no bags please!) Deliver it to GNSCOAT ROOM LOBBY on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2NDbetween 11 and 1 pm.Donate $$: Purchase a special meal for a $18 contribution from Mazurs, Great Neck Glatt or Everfresh,which will be delivered on your behalf. Or make a donation directly to the GNS Hunger Initiative.Donate Time: We need packers (from 10:30 am to 3 pm) and drivers for about 25 different routes,starting from 2:00 pm TO 5:00 PM on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND starting at GNS Coat Lobby.Donate Creativity: Have your child create a specialhandmade Rosh HaShana card to be enclosed in the fooddelivery. Drop them by Synagogue Office.ALL VOLUNTEERS PLEASE EMAIL:

MICHELLE BERMAN: [email protected]

CINDY HODKIN: [email protected]

Do A Mitzvah... Make Life Meaningful. Rosh HaShana is coming.

GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE MENS CLUB

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 at 1:10 pm

JEWISH HERITAGE DAY AT CITIFIELDAlso: Tom Seaver All-Star bobblehead Day

Mets vs Tigers

Discounted Price of $30 - Seats are Field Level

For Tickets Please ContactJack Lipsky (516) [email protected] Hilly Milun (516) 448-4890 [email protected]

Yes! We will be joining you at the Ball Game!

Name ______________________________________________ Phone # __________________

Number of tickets __________ at $30 each $ _____________________

Please make checks to GNS Mens Club and send to Synagogue office


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ANNOUNCEMENTS

YA

HRZEIT

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

SPONSORSHIPSTo sponsor a Kiddush, Seudah Shlishit, Sunday Breakfast, YouthEvent, Bima Flowers or a leaf on the Tree of Life in honor or inmemory of a loved one, please call Mark Twersky in the

Synagogue office 487-6100 or email [email protected].

Saturday, 18 ElulJudith Weinstein for Estelle Sandler

Sunday, 19 ElulMiriam Bader for Seymour Bader

Amy Goldberg-Reiss for David ReifleJerome Goodman for Sol GoodmanBlossom Kutcher for Miriam Chaney

William Liss-Levinson for Aaron LevinsonMonday, 20 Elul

Joyce Dacher for Howard WolfmanNetti Herman for Harry Minsker

Jason Mayer for Lena Mayer

Tuesday, 21 Elul

Henry Katz for Louis SuskinGladys Moslin for Ruth Kimmel

Gisela Steigman for David EhrlichWednesday, 22 Elul

Harriet Schimel for Harold ShermanHoward Silberstein for Max Silberstein

Florence Spira for Birdie SamsonThursday, 23 Elul

Anthony Berkowitz for Doris BerkowitzMark Gersten for Helene Gersten

Erica Heisler for Andrew Steven Zucker

Friday, 24 ElulHerman Kotler for Louis KotlerRenee Krieger for Louis KotlerMorris Nasser for Farha Nasser

GNS UPCOMING EVENTS

MENS CLUB UPCOMING EVENTSSUN., AUG 25, 1:00PM: Join us for "Jewish Heritage Day" atCitiField, where the NY Mets will be playing the Detroit Tigers.Tickets (behind 1st base) are $30 each. Please e-mail Jack Lipsky

at [email protected] or call Hilly Milun at 504-0320.

SUN., OCT 13: Semi-Annual Blood Drive.

SUN., OCT 27, 10:00 am: The diplomatic correspondent for TheJerusalem Post, Herb Keinon, will be talking on the political anddiplomatic situation in Israel, and present his view on the current

Peace talks.

SUN., NOV 10, 10:00am: We are thrilled that ReverendKenneth Meshoe, an elected member of the South Africanparliament and a staunch supporter of Israel will be speaking at

our breakfast that morning.

SUN., NOV 17, 2:00PM : A trip to NYC, together with Dos YiddishVort, to the Yiddish Theater to see " Lies My Father Told Me ",a musical in English with Yiddish. Cost is $65 per person, whichincludes the bus, theater tickets and a light dinner. Please contactRos Wagner 487-9795.

HIGH HOLIDAYS

With the High Holidays taking place right after Labor Day, we areasking that all members take care of their outstanding financialobligations in a timely manner to insure that seats for the holidays

will be able to be sent out. Those in arrears will not be able to obtaintheir seats unless arrangements for payment have been made.If you have any questions, please speak to Mark Twersky orElie Cohen our Treasurer.

BAKE BROWNIES FOR PASS IT FORWARD

Once again, we have Brownie mix for you to bake for Pass ItForward! Its a great activity to do with your children orgrandchildren; and a wonderful way to participate in this mitzvah.

Bake them, place them in the freezer, well wrapped, and then dropthem off on September 2, between 11 1, at the Great NeckSynagogue. Mixes and pans can be picked up from the front porch

of 11 Margaret Court. Call Michelle Berman (516)697-0522with any questions.

Mazal Tov to Phyllis & Arthur Kirsch on the birth of agranddaughter, Ariella Tema, born to their childrenRachel & Avi Berger.Mazal Tov to Esther & Jacob Ambalu on the birth of agranddaughter Layla Esther, born to their children

Naomi& Oren Ambalu.Mazal Tov to Judith & Jerrald Weinstein on theupcoming marriage of their son Ari to Erica Michelsteindaughter ofKim & Rich Michelstein.

HASHKAMA MINYANKiddush is sponsored by Florin & Howard Silberstein in memoryof his father Max Silberstein.

INTERGENERATIONAL MITZVAH OPPORTUNITY FOR

ROSH HASHANA

The GNS HUNGER INITIATIVE sponsors a program known asPASS IT FORWARD, in which deliveries of food for the holidays aremade to needy individuals and families. Be a part of this mitzvah!Spend some time on LABOR DAY, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd withus, either packing and/or delivering food for the Yom Tov.Packing will be at the GNS Coat Lobby, from 10:30- 2:30 pm,

with two hour shifts possible (10:30-12:30 or 12:30 - 2:30).Deliveries begin at 3:00 pm to communities in Long Island orQueens. For the deliveries, ALL AGES are invited! Parents, bringyour kids! It's an amazing experience. For the packing, wewelcome adults and children ages 12 and up. Please let us know if

you are interested. We need drivers, packers, bakers, cooks anddonors. Full instructions on page three. This year, we especiallyneed drivers on Labor Day, Monday Sept 2nd, to deliver food tothose in need.

Contact Cindy Hodkin [email protected] Michelle Berman [email protected]

FYIDr. Paul Brody will be receiving The Israel Leadership Award atChazaqsInaugural Dinner, to be held at Leonards on Monday,

August 26th. For further information call Yaniv at 917-617-3636.

MIKVAH HOURS FOR MEN FOR YOM TOVThe North Shore Mikvah will be open for men only on Erev Rosh

Hashana, September 4th, and Erev Yom Kippur, September13th from 5AM-3PM. Men must bring their own towels. The costis $25.00. Please contact Ilana Kroll at 516 829 3122 orMalka Ismach at 917 373 4883 for more information.

DOS YIDDISH VORT

Dos Yiddish Vort explores foods and festivals in the Chalfin Roomon Wednesday, September 11 at 1:30. All welcome. For info:Call Roz Wagner 487-9795.

Documents

August 24 Shabbat Announcements Great Neck Synagogue