22 Years in Skokie!THE BETH HAMEDROSH HAGODOL

KESSER MAARIV ANSHE LUKNIK NEWSLETTERSHEVAT / ADAR I-II 5776

JANUARY / FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016www.KesserMaariv.org

UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES TO REMEMBER áñØãAnnual Banquet & Ad Journal

Our Annual Banquet and Ad Journal will take place onSunday, January 24, 2016 at 5:00 pm at the shul,honoring Jeff Greenspan. Ad Blanks (for thesupplement) are online at www.KesserMaariv.org/Ads .If you would like to attend the dinner, please call theoffice as soon as possible to make your reservation.

Etty Rubinow Tree of Life Sale During Shevat, save 10% on all Etty Rubinow Tree ofLife plaques. Leaves arre $90, Acorns are $450 andFoundation Stones are $900. Hurry, Shevat ends onTuesday, February 9, 2016! Contact the office at (847) 679-9800, emailbhhkmal@yahoo.com or use the online order form athttp://kessermaariv.org/tree%20of%20life.html

ARK Food and Toiletry DriveOur annual ARK Food and Toiletry Drive is nowunderway. Non-Perishable Kosher Food Items Needed:Canned vegetables & fruits, canned and boxed meals(i.e., soup, macaroni & cheese), canned or dried beansand peas, pasta, rice, Low sugar cereals, peanut butter,jelly/jam; condiments (i.e., ketchup, mustard); babyformula & baby foods; cake, cookie, pastry mixes;instant mixes like potatoes, gravies and sauces; cannedtuna, salmon ; Toiletries Needed: Shampoo, conditioner,body wash, hand soap, deodorant, plastic bags, diapers,baby products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss.

Please drop off food donations in the blue binlocated in the shul lobby. Questions or for a pick-up callLarry Weinger at (847) 677-2198. We will be collectingdonations through January 31.

PurimThe Fast of Esther will take place on Wednesday, March23. The fast begins at 5:24 am, and ends after we hearMegillah , after 7:37 pm.

On Wednesday night March 23, we will davenMincha at 6:50 pm (we have a custom to give $1.50 asthe Half-Shekel) and Maariv at about 7:15 with Megillastarting at 7:25 pm (don’t be late!)

On Thursday March 24 , Shacharit begins atth

5:40 am and Megilla at about 6:05 am. Last ChanceMegillah reading will be at 5:50 pm, and enjoy a PurimSeudah (reservations required to the office) at 6:30 pmwith entertainment to be announced.

Misheberach ListIf you have names for a misheberach, please send them

to the shul office or e-mail to bhhkmal@yahoo.com. Happy Day Cards & Standings

Join the Kesser Maariv Cards standing list! For only $50a year, your name will automatically be includedwhenever a card is sent from our shul to fellow membersfor a refua shlayma, condolence or mazal tov. To jointhe standings, please contact the office at (847) 679-9800or bhhkmal@yahoo.com. Also, cards are available forpurchase from the office for $1.50 each or 13 cards for$18. If you would like us to send a card for you for $2,please contact the office at (847) 679-9800.

Parsha PodcastsRabbi Louis Lazovsky's morning Vorts on the Parsha areavailable as podcasts online at KMvort.podomatic.com(a link is on our homepage, www.KesserMaariv.org). Onthe Podomatic page you can subscribe via iTunes.

Rabbi Meyer Juzint Books“The Chain of Miracles,” an amazing Holocaust memoirwritten by a teacher of Rabbi Louis Lazovsky and afriend of Kesser Maariv is available for purchase fromthe office and our website for $20.

PuskhasKesser Maariv Pushkas (Tzedaka Boxes) are available. Call the Office to pick one up.

Gemara Brachos ShiurRabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky's Gemara Brachos Shiur (opento all) is studying the third chapter. Class meetsWednesdays at 7:15, immediately following Maariv.

Weekday MinyanimPlease join us for daily minyanim. Shacharit is at 6:00am Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am on Sunday. Mincha-Maariv on Sunday is 10 minutes before sunset. During winter, weekday Maariv only is at 7:00 pm.

E-mail ListIf you would like to be added to our email list, pleasesend an email to bhhkmal@yahoo.com. We will gladlysend to multiple email addresses per family.

Rent the Shul for Your SimchaFor information regarding renting the Social Hall foryour event, please call Ben Zion Lazovsky at the Shuloffice at (847) 679-9800. Also, book you child’s Bar/BatMitzvah in the Shul calendar! Please call Judy Whislerat (847) 677-2281 or j5awhisler@aol.com

PAST EVENTSMovie Night - we thoroughly enjoyed The PrimeMinisters - Part I, based on the memoir of Ambassador

Yehuda Avner.Chanukah at Skokie Hospital - Thanks to RebbetzinSaretta for arranging, and for her and Natalie Meerovich,Gilda Allswang, Brenda Kahn, Eleanor & JeffGreenspan, Judy & Larry Weinger, Mila Zaretsky, andBen & Steven Keren for visiting patients. Oneg Shabbat -Thanks to Rebbetzin Channah & RabbiBenzie Lazovsky for hosting and for all who braved thesnow.Send-A-Kid-to-Israel – We had another goodenrollment in SKIP, which allows parents to contributemoney annually in partnership with the synagogue andthe Jewish Federation for an Israel experience for theirchildren. High Holidays - Yasher Koach to Rabbi Louis Lazovskyas well as Chazzanim Dr. Ed Kaplan, Rabbi Ben ZionLazovsky (who also blew Shofar) and Rabbi Dr. PinchasEisenbach, and Rabbi Eli Lazovsky for reading the Torahduring the High Holidays. We also thank you all foryour generous response to our appeals, and to theanonymous donor who matched the Rosh Hashana Aliyaauction. We also thank the anonymous sponsor of theSimchat Torah luncheon.

Adele Goldblum Women’s CouncilPast Events - An exciting Membership event tookplace at the home of Nasrin Kheradyar with singer HashaMusha. Eleanor Greenspan and Nasrin chaired theevent....Many Women’s Council members attended theMega Challah Bake...Thanks to those who serveddinner at Café ARK: Cookie Goldrich, Carmella Bega,Brenda Kahn, Judy & Larry Weinger and LarryRosen....Tehilla Lazovsky Ben-Ari gave a shiur onSukkot in memory of Wendy Hartz...Classes ended withSarah Kramer and began with Alise Gold. TheWomen currently learn Shmuel Aleph most Mondayevenings, and enjoyed a special Chanukah shiur withAlise...Sandy Miretzky arranged a Chanukah Party atBrookdale., Sandy, Nasrin Kheradyar, Sharon Friedman,Beth Gottesman and Julie Rosenheim helped spreadChanukah joy.Upcoming Events - We will feature speaker Yvette AltMiller on an evening to be announced in February. Staytuned for details...The next Shmuel Aleph class (self-contained) will meet on Monday January 25 at 7:00 pmat the Shul.

GOOD & WELFAREMazel Tov to Ellen & Arkady Kats on the birth of agranddaughter, Hadassah, to Daniel & MichalGordon...Edmond & Miriam Namordi on the BatMitzvah of their granddaughter...Howard & BarbaraPomper on the birth of a great-grandson, Zecharya YosefPomper...Shelley & Sanford Schwartz on the marriage oftheir granddaughter Aviva Weiser to Avi Forman, and onthe birth of a great-granddaughter, Tikva Yehudit, inIsrael...Lynn & Loren Stein on the marriage of ther sonDaniel to Matty Behar...Leonard & Marlyn Fensterheimon the Bar Mitzvah of their son Nathan, and tograndparents Dr. Alvin Fensterheim and IsabelGoldberg...Dan & Faith Harris and Rabbi Moshe &Debra Soloveichik on the birth of a granddaughter,Hadassah, born to Rachel & Shmuli Soloveichik, and onthe Bar Mitzvah of their grandson ChaimSoloveichik...Dan & Faith Harris on the marriage of theirdaughter Talia to Chen Meiri...Iris & Joe Fagan on thebirth of twin grandsons, Barrett & Maxwell, to Francie& Jeff Fagan...Joel & Gail Scher on the birth of agranddaughter...Cookie Goldrich on the marriage of hergranddaughter Shoshana Orloff, and on the birth of agreat-granddaughter, Shaindel Zeesel Halperin...Bob &Sheryl Greenstein on the birth of a granddaughter, JamieHannah, born to David & Liz Greenstein...Sandy &Marty Miretzky on the marriage of their son Eitan toChaya Sarah Israel...Jeff & Judy Whisler on the birth ofa granddaughter, Shoshana Rose, to Jordy & RenaWhisler, and to great-grandparents Sally Aaron andMyron Whisler...Gilda Allswang on the marriage of hergranddaughter Michaela to Fima Maltzav, and on the

Congregation B.H.H. Kesser Maariv A.L.4341 W. GolfSkokie, IL 60076(847) 679-9800 fax (847) 679-5041e-mail: bhhkmal@yahoo.com www.KesserMaariv.org

Rabbi Louis A. LazovskySteven D. Goldrich, PresidentRabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky,

Associate Rabbi & Executive DirectorSandy Miretzky, Nasrin Kheradyar & Saretta Lazovsky, Co-Presidents, Adele Goldblum Women’s CouncilCommittee Contact Information:

Happy Day Cards Saretta Lazovsky

Bricks (847) 676-0556 or lazovsky@juno.com

Chesed Fund Anne Elovic (847) 673-2904

Donate Books & Siddurim Office

(847) 679-9800 or bhhkmal@yahoo.com

Endowment Rabbi Louis Lazovsky

Kiddush & Seudat Shlisheet Judy Whisler Membership 8/677-2281 j5awhisler@aol.com

Social Hall Rental Office

Tree of Life bhhkmal@yahoo.com Yahrzeit Plaques (847) 679-9800

birth of a great-granddaughter, Naomi Bracha, inIsrael...Alan & Ann Herbach on the birth of agranddaughter, Devorah Bracha, to Jacob & DanielleHerbach...David Makowsky on his engagement to SaraDamelin of Savannah, GA.....Evelyne Sternfeld on theBat Mitzvah of her great-granddaughter, Hadassa LioraSternfeld.Refua Shleima to: Tammy Kaplan, Adeline Katz, Alan Slodki.Condolences to: The family of Gene Baruch Frayman...Mila Zaretsky on the passing of her father, FimaLapushin...Eleanor Greenspan on the passing of her father,David Goldman...Cookie, Steve and Howard Goldrich onthe passing of their husband and father ArtGoldrich...Bonnie Hernandez on the passing of her uncleCantor Dale Lind...Rabbi Dr. Pinchas Eisenbach on thepassing of his sister Miriam Weingarten in Jerusalem.Thank you to our recent Kiddush & Seudat Shlisheet Sponsors.To sponsor a Kiddush or Seudat Shlisheet, please contactthe office, or Judy Whisler at j5awhisler@aol.com.

D’VAR TORAHTu B’Shevat - Monday January 25 . The “Jewish Newth

Year of Trees” has Halachik significance in the Land ofIsrael, where the “Year” determines which tithes areseparated. Outside Israel, we emphasize our bonds to Israelon Tu B’Shevat. Tu B’Shevat is nowadays also celebratedas “Jewish Arbor Day” with large-scale plantings in Israel.Shmitta - Last year was the Sabbatical year in Israel. Theland was not worked normally, and the fruit and producehave special sanctity. Because of this, do not buy anyIsraeli produce that you might find in local stores unless itis an entirely Kosher certified store.Leap Year - The Jewish calendar consists of lunar monthsand solar years. To keep the calendar in order, whichguarantees Passover falls out in the springtime, weoccasionally add an extra month, the first Adar. In a leapyear, Purim is celebrated in the second Adar. Yahrzeitsfrom a standard Adar year are commemorated (accordingto Ashkenzic custom) in the first Adar. Children born in astandard Adar celebrate their Bar- and Bat-Mitzvahs in thesecond Adar. Rosh Chodesh Adar I is Wednesday Feb. 10,and Rosh Chodesh Adar II is Friday March 11.The Four Parshiot - Before Rosh Chodesh Adar II webegin a series of four special Torah readings and haftarot. Parshat Shekalim is on Shabbat, March 5. Itcommemorates the annual required donation of a one-halfshekel coin that every Jew made to maintain the Temple, topurchase the daily sacrifices and to conduct a census of theJewish people.Parshat Zachor, Shabbat, March 18, is always read on theShabbat before Purim. All of us, even children, areobligated to hear every word of the special maftir ofParshat Zachor. In the special reading, we learn about ourobligation to destroy Amalek, which is also one of themajor themes in the Book of Esther. Haman is associatedwith Amalek, the grandson of Esav, who was even worsethan Haman in that he represented total and absolute evil. The Jewish people have been commanded to wage anever-ending battle against evil. This special Shabbat

reminds us how and why.Parshat Parah - Shabbat, April 2. In the time of theTemple, everyone had to eat from the Paschal Lamb(korban Pesach) on Passover. We read about the parahadumah to remind everyone to ritually purify themselveswith the ashes of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah) to be ableto eat the sacrifice. This reading, like that of ParshatZachor, should be heard by everyone, even children.Shabbat, April 9 is Parshat Hachodesh. The additionalreading discusses laws pertaining to the Passover sacrificeand the importance of time, which is the definingcharacteristic of the Jewish people. The Almightypromised that the Jewish empire will be one over time, asour sages expressed: “The nations of the world are like thesun and the Jewish nation is like the moon;” despitewaning, always regenerating.Fast of Esther (Wednesday March 23) – The day beforePurim is a fast day, commemorating the gathering of theJewish people for prayer before they defended themselvesagainst their attackersPurim (Wednesday night March 23 & Thursday March 24)- As Megillat Esther teaches, Jews were hated in every oneof the 127 countries known in the ancient world. Haman,a former stable worker who was originally a slave toMordechai, became the richest man in the world. Hebribed Achashverosh, King of Persia and emperor of theancient world, for permission to annihilate the Jews. Unlike our enemies during the time of Chanukah, whowould have permitted our survival had we converted,Haman desired the extermination of every Jew. Oncepermission was granted, Haman drew lots, or “Purim,” toselect the day to implement the final solution. QueenEsther prayed and fasted for three days prior to her requestof King Achashverosh that the Jews should not be killed. The original fast began the night of the first Passover seder. Esther was only partially successful in that three-day fast;it led the King to issue a proclamation permitting the Jewsto protect themselves, but the King’s original order for theextermination of the Jews was not rescinded. As a result,we prepared for a defensive war on Purim. As during alltimes of danger, we did teshuva, prayed and fasted forHashem’s help. This second fast, a communal fast, washeld the day before Purim and eventually became known asTaanit Esther to commemorate Hashem’s answering theprayers of Esther and Am Yisrael.

Four Mitzvot were ordained especially for Purim. They are: 1) Reading or listening to the reading of theMegillah at night and on the day of Purim to remindourselves of the hidden but ever-present hand of theAlmighty; 2) Mishloach Manot, or giving at least two giftsof food to at least one person; 3) Matanot Le'evyonim –giving two gifts of charity to at least two poor people; andfinally, 4) Purim Seuda, or eating the festive Purim feastwhere we break bread together with family, friends andstrangers on Purim day. These mitzvot help promotefellowship and love among Jews and are as valid now asthey were then. Pesach & The First Seder beginon Friday night, April 22, 2016!

SHABBAT SCHEDULE

Date Candle Lighting Friday Mincha Shacharit Shiur Mincha

Beshalach 1/22-1/23 4:33 pm 4:35 pm 8:45 am 3:25 pm 4:25 pm

Yitro 1/29-1/30 4:41 pm 4:45 pm 8:45 am 3:35 pm 4:35 pm

Mishpatim 2/5-2/6 4:50 pm 4:55 pm 8:45 am 3:40 pm 4:40 pm

Terumah 2/12-2/13 4:59 pm 5:05 pm 8:45 am 3:50 pm 4:50 pm

Tetzaveh 2/19-2/20 5:08 pm 5:10 pm 8:45 am 4:00 pm 5:00 pm

Ki Tisa 2/26-2/27 5:17 pm 5:20 pm 8:45 am 4:10 pm 5:10 pm

Vayakhel - Shekalim 3/4-3/5 5:25 pm 5:30 pm 8:45 am 4:15 pm 5:15 pm

Pikudei 3/11-3/12 5:34 pm 5:40 pm 8:45 am 4:25 pm 5:25 pm

Vayikra - Zachor 3/18-3/19 6:42 pm 6:45 pm 8:45 am 5:35 pm 6:35 pm

Tzav 3/25-3/26 6:49 pm 6:55 pm 8:45 am 5:40 pm 6:40 pm

Shmini - Parah 4/1-4/2 6:57 pm 7:00 pm 8:45 am 5:50 pm 6:50 pm

Tazria - Hachodesh 4/8-4/9 7:05 pm 7:10 pm 8:45 am 5:55 pm 6:55 pm

Metzora - Hagadol 4/15-4/16 7:13 pm 7:15 pm 8:45 am 6:05 pm 7:05 pm

If you have a chiyuv - obligation to daven or require an Aliya, please inform Rabbi Lazovsky before Shabbat.

To sponsor a Kiddush or Seudat Shlisheet, please contact the office, or Judy Whisler at j5awhisler@aol.com

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE

Minyan TimesMinyanim meet in the Kaufman Bais Midrash

ShacharitSunday: 8:00 am,Monday-Friday: 6:00 am

Mincha-MaarivSunday: 10 minutes before sundownMonday– Thursday Maariv only at 7:00 pm.

ClassesSunday Morning at 9:15 am: Parsha Class in theW e e k l y S e d r a . G i v e n b y R a b b i M o s h eSoloveichik

W e d n e s d a y n i g h t a t 7 : 1 5 p m : “ G e m a r aBrachos.” Now in 3 chapter. Given by Rabbird

Ben Zion Lazovsky.

Shabbat afternoon one hour before Mincha - Parsha Shiur Given by Rabbi Louis Lazovsky.

For more learning opportunities, contact Rabbis Ben Zion or EliLazovsky

Malamud Reference Library – Come and Learn from any of the hundreds of titles in our library.

Lending Library – Members may borrow books from our Lending Library, located on the south side of the Social Hall.

Tape Lending Library – We have tapes and digital audio files on many topics including Chumash, Talmud and Mussar.

“TREE”MENDOUS SAVINGSON OUR TREE OF LIFE

* Honor a relative or friend * Mark a special occasion * Memorialize a loved one *During the month of Shevat (January 10 - February 9, 2016) you will save 10% on all leaves, acorns and foundation

stones on our Tree of Life (ordered and paid for). Wording can be in English, Hebrew or a combination of both.

ORDER FORM

Name:_________________________________

Phone Number: (_____)______________

Amount Enclosed: $________

Please check one:

[ ] Leaf $100 $90 During Shevat

[ ] Acorn $500 $450 During Shevat

[ ] Foundation Stone $1000 $900 DuringShevat

TEXT OF PLAQUE

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

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(Please limit each Leaf to 4 lines plus the date)