All K.I.N.S. zoom events are hosted at https://zoom.us/j/8618119980 Wednesday, June 10, 2020 - 12:00pm DAYTIME DIALOGUES - a new series click here for the webinar link
Thursday, June 4, 2020 - 7:00pm Larry and Sheryl Merzel lead... STORYTIME WITH SABBA & SAVTA
Minyanim will resume at Congregation K.I.N.S. beginning the week of June 14th.
All rules of hygiene & social distancing will be required. More information to follow!
THIS WEEK'S DAVENING INSTRUCTIONS THURSDAY: Last day to say Kiddush Levana is Thursday night June 4. FRIDAY, June 5: Resume saying Tachanun FRIDAY NIGHT: Kabbalat Shabbat as regular. Remember that following the Maariv amida and because we are davening without a minyan after va’yichulu, we skip to aleinu (i.e. no magen avot). SHABBAT DAY: We do not recite Yikum Purkan without a minyan. Av haRachamim is recited. TORAH READING: Parshat Naso and the Haftarah is Judges 13:2- 25. Chapter 1 of Pirkei Avot is read. FRIDAY, June 12 is the 20th of Sivan. Some observe this as a Fast Day (see Halacha of the Week)
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: The 20th of Sivan Next Friday (June 12th) there are some Jewish communities who will observe the fast of the 20th of Sivan - a fast that was established in commemoration of tragedies which befell the Jewish people.
In 4931 (1171) there was a terrible blood libel in France that led to the execution by sword and fire of 31 Torah scholars who were first given the choice of forsaking their Judaism. This episode was but a part of the tragic events of the Crusades that had begun in 1096. Rabbeinu Tam declared the 20th of Sivan as a day of fasting "greater than Tzom Gedalia; like Yom Kippur". Selichot and Kinot were composed for 20 Sivan to mark it.
Almost 500 years later, in 5408-5409 (1648-49 – years that correspond to the Hebrew dates of "Tach v'Tat" [Taf-Chet and Taf-Tet]), the 20th of Sivan became associated with the pogroms of the Ukrainian anti-Semite, the Cossack leader Bogdan Chmelnitzky, which resulted in the deaths of many tens of thousands of Jews and the destruction of hundreds of beautiful Jewish communities. The Council of the Four Lands, a powerful rabbinic body in Eastern Europe, reiterated the decree of the 20 Sivan as a fast day. Their decree was to apply to males from the age of 18 and females from 15. Even neighboring countries not part of the council's domain accepted upon themselves the fast of the 20th of Sivan and all of its stringencies. The Shach (Rabbi Shabtai Cohen, famous commentator on the Shulchan Aruch), added strength to the fast day by declaring it such, even though he was outside the boundaries of the "Four Lands."
In those communities which still observe this fast a formal "kabbalat taanit" during the preceding mincha is not necessary [Mishna Berura 574:1] and if it fell on a Monday or Thursday, according to some authorities the Torah portion for a fast day would be read instead [Orech Chaim, Beer Heitev 566:2; Mishna Berura 566:10].
DVAR TORAH In this week's parsha, the Torah introduces the individual offerings brought by each of the nesi'im (princes). It writes, (6:2) "The leaders of Yisrael, the heads of their father's household, brought offerings; they were “ni'se'ay hamatot” (lit. leaders of the tribes), they were those who stand at the countings." Why does the Torah first introduce the princes as the 'leaders of Yisrael' and then add that 'they were the leaders of the tribes'?
One possibility is to create a comparison in the leadership styles of these men to Moshe Rabbeinu. Like Moshe, they understood that proper leadership is accomplished by example. Just as Moshe viewed his staff as a tool to guide the people, they too viewed themselves as "ni'se'ay hamatot," princes who teach by personal example.
This idea is also expressed in a thought from Rav Shimon Schwab zt'l on the haftarah of Naso. The haftorah relates the events that preceded the birth of Shimshon. An angel appeared to his mother and informed her that she would have a son. But that the son must remain a nazir his entire life.
When she told her husband, he didn't believe her, so he went to the spot where she saw the angel, and the angel reappeared, assuring him that "Whatever I have said to the woman you should safeguard." But then the angel repeated the instructions he told her.
Why repeat the same instructions? Rabbi Schwab explained that the angel was teaching them an educational lesson: "whatever I have said to the woman YOU should safeguard." The only way to educate a child properly is to practice what you preach. If Shimshon was obligated to observe added restrictions, his father would have no recourse but to safeguard them as well!
To educate others, one must be a role model of those ideals.
MAZAL TOV *to Moshe and Gila Ainbinder on the birth of a son. *to Dr. Yigal and Donna Yahav on the engagement of their daughter Ariella to Beni Banbahji *to Dr. Michael and Dena (Shapiro) Verderame on the birth of a son. Mazal Tov to grandmother Mrs. Eileen Shapiro.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Ephraim Rimel and Etai Rimel who are recuperating rehab. * to Zahava Kahan who is recuperating at home * to Bonnie Myers who is recuperating at home. * to Shifra Yehudis Orlian who is recuperating at home. * to Timna Lieberman who is recovering from surgery.
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 Virtual Shiurim Days of Learning * Learning on Tuesday June 7th, 15 Sivan is sponsored by Reuben, Larry and Elizabeth Feder in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of their father Louis Feder - לוי יצחק בן אליעזר ז"ל * Rabbi Matanky's Navi shiur on Sunday June 28th is sponsored by Ira Silverstein is in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of his father Joseph Silverstein z"l.
Donations to our Virtual Learning Fund were made by: * Dr. Steve and Cheryl Karesh in honor of the 40th birthday of their son Phillip Karesh עמו"ש.
TO SPONSOR A SHIUR - CLICK HERE DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
3 MINUTE HALACHA – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
DAYTIME DIALOGUES
STORYTIME with SABBA & SAVTA – Thursday - 7pm
PRE-SHABBAT DRASHA - Thursdays 9pm
SEFER MELACHIM – LIVE Sunday @ 9:00am