IMPORTANT NOTICE January 30 – K.I.N.S. Annual Board Meeting & Election of Officers – 8:30 p.m. – via Zoom. Any member in good standing interested in attending should email the office for the Zoom link.
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Changing the On/Off Time on a "Shabbos Clock" While the use of a "Shabbos Clock" (i.e., an electric timer) is not universally accepted [see, for example, the objections of Iggrot Moshe Orech Chaim 4:60], many people do use such devices to control electric lights and other appliances on Shabbat.
According to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, not only is it permitted to use a "Shabbos Clock,” but under certain circumstances, it is permitted to change the on/off times [Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchta 13:25].
Specifically, if the on/off times of the timer can be changed by merely mechanically sliding the indicator, then:
1. It is permitted to move the "off" time to a later time. For example, if the light was set to turn off at 4:00 pm, you can set it to turn off at 5:00 pm.
2. It is permitted to move the "on" time to a later time. For example, if the light was set to turn on at 4:00 pm, you can set it to turn on at 5:00 pm.
(Under no circumstances are you allowed to turn off or on a light at an earlier time!).
If, when moving the indicator - you have to loosen a screw (or totally remove the indicator), then you cannot change times unless you first put a second such indicator in place (at a later time). Therefore, if the time it was supposed to turn off was 4:00 pm., first put a second indicator in place at 5:00 pm and only then remove the first indicator. This exact procedure would also have to be followed for those timers with push-button indicators - do not release a time before the second is in place. DVAR TORAH At the beginning of this week's parsha, we read, "And G-d said to Moshe: 'Come to Pharaoh because I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants so that I might show My signs in their midst...'"
Why did G-d tell Moshe to "come to Pharaoh" (Bo el Paraoh) and not "Go to Pharaoh" ("Lech el Pharaoh")?
The Zohar [Part II, 34a] explained that Moshe was terrified to go to Pharaoh. That's why G-d could not say, "Go to Pharaoh." So G-d told Moshe, "Come to Pharaoh," meaning "Come with Me to Pharaoh - you will not be alone, because I will hold your hand and accompany you as we go together to the tyrant."
But then G-d added something even more profound. "Come to Pharaoh because I have hardened his heart." Because I have hardened his heart, his stubbornness also comes from Me, and his strong resistance is all My doing. And therefore, Pharaoh is not the one in control.
But why would G-d make his heart hard and immovable if G-d wanted His people to go free? "So that I might show My signs in their midst..." I want to be able to show My people the wonders and miracles I performed to liberate them from their oppressive bondage.
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REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab.
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
The learning for this week (January 9-15) is sponsored in honor of Rabbi Aaron Leibtag by his parents Bernard and Susan Leibtag.
A donation to the Learning Fund was made by: * Eva Gertzfeld in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of her husband, Gilbert Gertzfeld z’l. * Abe and Debbie Bajtner with thanks to Hashem on the birth of their newest grandchild, Solly Nussbaum. Mazal Tov to Ari and Sarah Nussbaum, Mike and Susie Nussbaum, and all the extended family.
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SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM, Wednesday 8:15p
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat, 45 minutes before mincha
