Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - 12:00pm DAYTIME DIALOGUES with Keshet Starr - Ex. Dir. of ORA click here for the webinar link HALACHA OF THE WEEK: BLOWING THE SHOFAR DURING ELUL Beginning next Friday, the 1st day of Elul and through erev Rosh Hashana, there is a custom to sound the shofar at the conclusion of Shacharit.
According to the Tur Shulchan Aruch [Orech Chaim 581], the origin of this custom is found in the writings of Pirkei d'Rebi Eliezer. There we learn that when Moshe was about to ascend Mt. Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Elul to receive the second set of tablets the shofar was sounded - signifying the Jews' abandonment of idolatry (which had doomed the first set of tablets).
The Tur further explains that the custom to blow the shofar during the entire month of Elul is to inspire us to repent. This is based upon the verse in Amos [3:6] which establishes that the sound of the shofar can inspire fear and awe.
Rabbi Michael Rosenzweig of Yeshiva University suggests that the reason the Tur offered two sources for sounding the shofar (the anniversary of Moshe's ascension and the verse in Amos) is because the shofar represents a dialectic of a renewed mission (Rosh Hashana) and repentance (the verse in Amos).
The Aruch HaShulchan notes [ibid. 581:1], that while there were opinions that throughout Elul a full sequence of shofar sounds should be blown [Bach, Tur Shulchan Aruch, ibid.] the Ashkenazic custom is only to sound a Tekiah-Shevarim-Truah-Tekia.
If one forgot to blow the shofar following shacharit, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that the shofar could be sounded following mincha [Igrot Moshe, Orech Chaim 4:21(5)]. However, Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg notes, that the custom to blow shofar is only incumbent upon a minyan and not the individual. Therefore, if an individual did not hear the shofar during Elul, there is no obligation to arrange for a "make-up" opportunity [Tzitz Eliezer 12:48].
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THIS WEEK'S DAVENING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE WITHOUT A MINYAN FRIDAY NIGHT: Kabbalat Shabbat as regular, remember that following the Maariv amida we say va’yichulu, but then skip to aleinu (i.e. no magen avot). SHABBAT DAY: Shacharit and Musaf as regular. The Birkat HaChodesh is recited for the month of Elul (Thursday and Friday). No Av Harachmim. Chapter 4 of Pirkei Avot is read. TORAH READING: Parshat Reeh and the Haftarah is from Isaiah 54:11- 55:5. WEDNESDAY, EREV ROSH CHODESH: No tachanun at mincha. At maariv we add yaale v’yavo to Shemona Esrei. THURSDAY, ROSH CHODESH: The usual service for Rosh Chodesh. Yaale v’yavo in Shemina Esrei, Half-Hallel, the Yom and Borchi Nafshi, Mussaf for Rosh Chodesh. FRIDAY, ROSH CHODESH: The usual service for Rosh Chodesh. Yaale v’yavo in Shemina Esrei, Half-Hallel, the Yom, l’David Hashem and Borchi Nafshi, Mussaf for Rosh Chodesh. After Aleinu blow the shofar.
DVAR TORAH "If there shall be a poor person among you... do not harden your heart or close your hand to your impoverished brother. Rather, you should surely open your hand..." [Devarim 15:7-8]
Rabbi Yitzchak Karo (the uncle of Rabbi Yosef Karo and author of Toldot Yitzchak) learns several lessons from these verses about how to give charity.
First, why does the verse mention the heart? Doesn't the poor person need your hand, rather than your heart?
The answer suggest Rabbi Karo is that sometimes a person may not be able to give tzedakah, and therefore, may be tempted to close the door or run away from the one who is asking for support. But, said Rabbi Karo, that’s not the Torah’s way. Rather, even if your wallet is empty, open you heart and speak comforting words to the person. This, too, is tzedakah. And if you are in a position to give - make sure to do it with a smile.
But even more, why did the Torah use the seemingly redundant language: "do not... close your hand... Rather, you should surely open your hand"? Rabbi Karo explained, that sometimes you may reach into your pocket and remove a larger amount than you intended. Even in such a case, the Torah emphasized through its double language, do not close your hand. If the poor person has seen the larger amount that was in your hand, do your best to give it to him.
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MAZAL TOV * to Dean and Roz Isaacs on the birth of a granddaughter. Proud parents are Rabbi Reuven and Aviva Isaacs. * to David and Rochie Porush on the marriage of their daughter Miri to Dani Feit (NY). Mazal Tov to grandparents Israel and Esther Porush and Dr. Yudi and Phyllis Garden. Special Mazal Tov to great grandmother Mrs. Ibi Weiss.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Ephraim Rimel and Etai Rimel * to Shifra Yehudis Orlian who is recuperating at home
CLASSES @ KINS During the COVID-19 crisis, all of our shiurim will be online and can be accessed live at https://zoom.us/j/8618119980 or at https://www.congkins.org/video-shiurim.html A day of Virtual Learning Fund was sponsored by: * Rabbi Matanky’s Sunday morning Navi Shiur August 9th was sponsored by the members of the shiur in honor of Rabbi Matanky. * Daf Yomi on July 31st, 10 Av was sponsored by Randy and Robyn Cohen in commemoration of the 8th yahrtzeit of Gershona Raizel bat Chaim z”l. * Daf Yomi on Monday August 10th was sponsored by Mrs. Eva Gertzfeld in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of her father in law Yechiel Michel Hakohen ben Avraham Hakohen z”l.
TO SPONSOR A SHIUR - CLICK HERE DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
3 MINUTE HALACHA – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays, 12 noon
NINE MEASURES of BEAUTY - NEW TIME - Wed. 8:00pm
SEFER MELACHIM – LIVE Sunday @ 9:00am
BIRTHDAYS Avraham London (8/15) Mrs. Becky Starck (8/15) Mrs. Rena Berkowitz (8/16) Mr. Michael London (8/16) Ezra Weil (8/16) Mr. Michael Aberman (8/17) Dr. Dean Bell (8/17) Ariella Benjamin (8/18) Levi Benjamin (8/18) Mr. Avi Zisook (8/18) Mrs. Shari Feifel (8/20) Mr. Seymour Gertz (8/20) Isaac Shiner (8/20) Carly Sorscher (8/20)
ANNIVERSARIES Mr. and Mrs. Michael Perl (8/15) Rabbi and Mrs. Reuven Gottesman (8/17) Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Reich (8/17) Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Levitt (8/18) Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wasserstrom (8/18) Mr. and Mrs. William Russman (8/19) Rabbi and Mrs. David Rosenberg (8/19)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park 2800 W. North Shore Ave • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
3 MINUTE HALACHA – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
DAYTIME DIALOGUES
NINE MEASURES of BEAUTY - 
SEFER MELACHIM – LIVE Sunday @ 9:00am