Tuesday, August 25, 2020 - 12:00pm STEMM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine & Mathematics with Rabbi Dr. Jerold Isenberg TOPIC: Gematria; Does It All Add Up?
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - 12:00pm DAYTIME DIALOGUES with RABBI AARON KOTLER President, Beth Medrash Govoha (Lakewood) click here for the webinar link THIS WEEK'S DAVENING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE WITHOUT A MINYAN THURSDAY, ROSH CHODESH: The usual service for Rosh Chodesh. Yaale v’yavo in Shemona Esrei, Half-Hallel, the Yom and Borchi Nafshi, Musaf 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, Musaf for Rosh Chodesh. After Aleinu blow the shofar. 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) and l’David SHABBAT DAY: Shacharit and Musaf as regular. Chapter 6 of Pirkei Avot is read. TORAH READING: Parshat Shoftim and the Haftarah is from Isaiah 51:12- 52:12.
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HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Reciting l'David During During Elul and the High Holidays Beginning this Thursday night, the first day of Elul, we began to recite the 27th chapter of Psalms, "L'david Hashem Ori," twice daily, and will continue to do so until Shemini Atzeret [Mishna Berura 581:1; Mateh Ephraim 581:6].
Interestingly, the Chid" a recommended reciting l'David at all three of the daily prayers throughout the year - [Piskei Teshuvot 581 note 72], while the Vilna Gaon did not recite l'David even during the month of Elul!
The origin of the custom to say l'David is based upon a midrash [Vayikra Rabbah 21], which teaches that this chapter of Psalms refers explicitly to the High Holiday season. For example, the word "Ori" refers to Rosh Hashana, "Yishi" to Yom Kippur, and "Ki Yitzpeneni B'sukko" to Sukkot. This Psalm also contains thirteen references to God's name, which correspond to the "Thirteen Attributes," which are recited as part of the Selichot in Elul and Tishrei [Minhag Yisrael Torah, Orech Chaim 581:5].
Although there are several customs and themes that characterize the month of Elul, it might be that the repeated recitation of "l'David" encapsulates them all. For example, the Malbi"m notes that "l'David" emphasizes every Jewish soul's natural desire to further its relationship with God, a concept referred to as deveikut. Elul is the ideal time to work on one's relationship with God, as Elul is the month in which "the king is in the field" for all to approach him [Rosh Hashana 18b]. It is also noted that the last line of "l'David" contains the word "lulay," which consists of the same letters as the word "Elul" and further alludes to the connection between this chapter of Tehillim and the month of Elul [Ziv Haminhagim].
A small number of Chassidic communities do not recite “l'David" in Elul, citing the fact that it is not mentioned in the works of the Ariza”l or even in Shulchan Aruch. Nevertheless, the custom of reciting "l'David" twice daily in Elul is virtually universal today.
DVAR TORAH At the beginning of this week's parsha, we learn the halacha of an "eshet yifat to'ar" – a woman who captured in war and prepared to marry her captor. Among the laws that govern this situation is that she is allowed to mourn for her family for 30 days before converting Judaism. The Zohar writes that this 30-day period of mourning is the month of Elul.
What is the connection between this unusual halacha and the month of Elul?
Perhaps the answer is found in the terminology of the verse, which refers to the 30 days as "yerach yamim" [lit. a moon's of days] and not as a "chodesh" [lit. month]. Because "chodesh" implies a new beginning (chodesh and chadash) while "yerach" implies an ending. (For example, in a ketubah – we use the word "chodesh." While in a "gett" a month is referred to as a "yerach.")
And that's why the Torah writes that the "eshet yifat to'ar" mourns for a "yerach yamim," because she is setting aside, is ending the life she had, and preparing to become a Jew.
Which is also the challenge we face as we prepare for the high holidays during the month of Elul. We must set aside the sins and behaviors that have stopped living inspired Jewish lives. We must prepare for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur using the 30 days of Elul to become better servants of Hashem through the "yerach yamim" of Elul.
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MAZAL TOV * to Danny and Alida Harris on the marriage of their daughter, Marnina to Eli Frenkel. Mazal tov to grandmother, Miryam Harris. *to Ricki and Rabbi Aaron Jacoby on the upcoming marriage of their daughter Eliana to Yosef Frenkel * to Dov and Pam Solomon on the birth of a great-grandson, born to Eitan and Elana Horowitz. * to Dov and Pam Solomon on the upcoming marriage of their granddaughter, Efrat Horowitz to Matthew Carl. * to Rabbi Ari and Esther Maryles on the engagement of their daughter Rivka to Yisroel Meir Fulda. Mazal Tov to grandparents Jack and Anne Maryles. * to Richard and Rachel Silverman on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Avigayil. Mazal Tov to grandparents Dr. Jerry and Carol Silverman and Arleen Leib. * to Shelly and Miriam Aberman on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Yair. Mazal Tov to grandparents Art and Sandy Aberman and Dr. Fred and Laura Krause. * to Shelly and Miriam Aberman on the Auf Ruf of their son Yoni and on his upcoming marriage to Aliza, daughter of Dr. Meir and Deborah Pollack (Cleveland). Mazal Tov to grandparents Art and Sandy Aberman and Dr. Fred and Laura Krause. * to Dr. Oscar Novick and his wife Bernice on the birth of a great-granddaughter, Tagel Rachel born to Zehava & Rabbi Noam Feintuch. * to Mr. and Mrs. Dean Isaacs on the birth of a granddaughter, born to Rabbi Reuven and Aviva Isaacs.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to 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: * Dr. Jerry and Carol Silverman in honor of the upcoming Bar Mitzvah of Sandy and Art Aberman’s grandson and in honor of the upcoming marriage of Sandy and Art Aberman’s grandson Yoni Aberman.
TO SPONSOR A SHIUR - CLICK HERE DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
ANNIVERSARIES Dr. and Mrs. Jerrold Katz (8/23) Dr. and Mrs. Joshua Hassan (8/24) Dr. and Mrs. Yudel Mayefsky (8/25) Mr. and Mrs. Elly Bachrach (8/26) Mr. and Mrs. Josh Bernstein (8/27)
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
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