Shabbat, August 14, 2021 between Mincha and Maariv BTZAIT SHABBAT KODESH
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 DAYTIME DIALOGUES with Dr. Yoni Zisook, University of Pittsburgh
HALACHA OF THE WEEK:Sounding the Shofar During Elul Beginning this past week, on 1st day of Elul and until erev Rosh Hashana, we sound the shofar at the conclusion of Shacharit. (There are some Ashkenazim who sound the shofar also at maariv and some who begin from the first day of Rosh Chodesh. [Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim 581:1 and Mishna Berura 581 note 3.])
According to the Tur Shulchan Aruch [Orech Chaim 581] the origin of this custom can be found in the writings of Pirkei d'Rabbi 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 Shulchan Aruch 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 has the capacity to 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 actually represents a dialectic of 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 to merely 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 an obligation of 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].
DVAR TORAH "You should surely pursue justice ("tzedek tzedek tirdof") in order that you should live and inherit the land that Hashem your G-d gives you."
Rashi comments, quoting the Talmud Sanhedrin, "The act of appointing proper judges is itself worthy of sustaining Israel and settling them on their land."
Why does this mitzva of setting up the judicial system have such far-reaching implications?
According to the Chatam Sofer, the answer becomes apparent, when we appreciate how powerful the appointment of judges is. Imagine a community convening for the task. All those gathered know the import of their choices - the judges they elect will enact laws limiting the community’s behavior. Furthermore, when one person wrongs another, the judges will enforce the penalties and punishments that the Torah dictates for the situation. It is even possible, those citizens realize, that they might also one day sin and be found guilty by the court, receiving a monetary punishment, lashes, or even the death penalty - decided by judges they appointed themselves. The bottom line is that they appoint judges who might one day punish them.
Therefore, the act of appointing proper judges, whose authority they unconditionally accept upon themselves, is a tremendous statement of a community accepting the yoke of G-d’s Torah. A community that can do this, explained the Chatam Sofer, merits the reward of living on and inheriting the land of Israel.
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MAZAL TOV * to Lev and Orah Katz on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Aaron. Mazal Tov to the grandparents Dr. Jerrold and Brenda Katz and Avy and Bonnie Weberman. * to Yoel and Yehudit Goldberg on the birth of a grandson. Proud parents are Yonah and Mimi Goldberg. Mazal tov to great-grandparents Shmuel Brandman and Norman and Malkie Goldberg. Special Mazal Tov to great-great-grandmother Mrs. Connie Chaitovsky. * to Carol Silverman on the birth of a grandson, born to her children Rabbi Yoni and Rachel Fein (Hollywood, FL). * to David and Miri Rosenwasser on the marriage of their son, Ydidyah to Adina Drapkin, son of Tami and Shlomo Drapkin. Mazal tov to grandparents, Dr. Jeff and Myrna Buckman and Jackie Rosenwasser. * to Bill and Maureen Russman on the marriage of their daughter Sarah to Ari Roffe.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab. * to Robert Kaplan who is recuperating at home from surgery.
CONDOLENCES * to Rabbi Elchanan and Annette Frankenthal on the loss of Elchanan’s brother. The funeral took place in Israel on Motzaei Shabbat, and Elchanan is sitting shiva at his home through Shabbat morning. Condolence calls - by phone only - can be made Thursday 3:00 - 6:00pm, and on Friday 2:00 - 4:00 pm. His number is 773-558-7065. There will be no in-person visits
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here. Main Minyan and KINS North Kiddushim are sponsored by Lev and Orah Katz in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Aaron.
Early Minyan Kiddush is sponsored by Alan and Leah Cohen in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Alan’s father Arnold Cohen z’l.
A donation to the Learning Fund was made by: * Sharyl Ross in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of her father in law, David Ross z’l. * Robert and Susan Kaplan in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Susan’s father William Levey z’l * Juli and Dean Bell in honor of the upcoming birthdays of Dean and Malkaya.
BIRTHDAYS Yair Aberman (8/14) Benjamin Katz (8//14) Reuven Kleinman (8/14) Mrs. Shoshi Ross (8/14) 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) Mr. Avi Zisook (8/18) Mrs. Shari Feifel (8/20) Mr. Seymour Gertz (8/20) Isaac Shiner (8/20) Carly Sorscher (8/20) Boaz Stopek (8/20)
ANNIVERSARIES Howard and Ilana Karesh (8/14) Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov & Rifka Miretzky (8/15) Michael and Tova Perl (8/15) Ari and Sarah Nussbaum (8/16) Rabbi Reuven and Meira Gottesman (8/17) Chaim and Judy Reich (8/17) Dr. Leonard and Yafa Levitt (8/18) Henry and Marlene Wasserstrom (8/18) Mr. William and Maureen Russman (8/19) Rabbi David & Frances Rosenberg (8/19)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
