Shabbat, December 6-7, 2019 Scholar in Residence RABBI DR. AVRAHAM STEINBERG
Sunday, December 15, 2019 – 7:30pm K.I.N.S. COOKBOOK CLUB Hassan Residence – 3012 Jarvis
For more information, click here
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Hachnasat Orchim In this week’s Torah portion we are told of the extraordinary hospitality of Avraham, who despite great pain sought to bring guests into his home. According to the Meiri [Talmud Bavli Shabbat 127a] this mitzva is the greatest of all the mitzvos.
According to the Shulchan Aruch [Orech Chaim 333:1] a guest as one who is either sleeping over in the host’s home or sleeping at a friend’s house but eating at the host’s home. Rabbi Yosef Lerner, in his work Sefer HaBayit [Chapter 33, note 11] expands this definition to include people for whom eating a meal out would serve as an act of "chesed" ( e.g. children whose parents are out of town). However, a friend who is invited over purely for social reasons is not halachically considered a "guest."
Because this is such an important mitzva, if no one else can properly attend to a guest, the Chofetz Chaim ruled that a person should stay home instead of going to learn or even davening with a minyan! [Ahavat Chesed 3:1] In fact, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach went even further, noting that if the guest was an important person one should tend to his/her needs personally and not delegate it to another [Halichot Shlomo Chapter 5 note 25]. Of course, if the guest would understand his/her host's departure and another person could tend to the guest's needs, the host would be permitted to leave for a minyan or to learn [ibid].
DVAR TORAH At the end of last week's parsha, we read of Avram's departure from Ur Kasdim for the land of Canaan. At first, it was Avram, his father (Terach), his wife (Sarai) and his nephew (Lot). When Terach died, Avram and Sarai continued their journey and Lot followed. Similarly, when Avran was forced to leave Egypt because of a terrible famine, Lot once again followed and even supported him in his risky plan to pretend that Sarah was only his sister. [The Midrash states that Lot’s loyalty to Avram during this time earned him the merit by which he was rescued from Sodom.]
But then somewhere along the line, something happened. Lot chose to leave Avram and headed to the evil environs of Sodom. He went "off the derech" as the verse write “And G-d spoke to Avram after Lot parted company from him” [Beresihit 13:14], explained the midrash, that G-d did not want to speak with Avram as long as the wicked Lot was with him.
What happened to Lot, who had started out as a righteous “brother” of Avraham, to become wicked?
Rabbi Shimon Schwab, ztz"l, the late leader of the German Jewish community n Washington Heights once suggested that even though we do not have an explicit answer to this question, a later verse hints at an answer. It was during the great war of the four and five kings that the Torah wrote: “And they took Lot and his possessions, the nephew of Avram” [Beresihit 14:12].
Why did the Torah phrase this verse in such an unusual way - why is fact that Lot is Avram's nephew separated by the words "and his possessions"?
Explained Rabbi Schwab that what separated Lot from Avram and caused his departure from the ways of his uncle, were “his possessions.” As a result, the once righteous Lot became a citizen of one of the most fruitful areas of Canaan, Sodom - a place where he could accumulate wealth, but also where he turned to the ways of evil.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT The Send-a-Kid-to-Israel Partnership (SKIP) savings incentive program was created to anticipate and save for our children's Jewish education. If your child is enrolled in grades 3 through 6 you can enroll him/her in the SKIP program. For more information or to enroll your child contact the KINS office. Deadline for enrollment and payment is December 18, 2019.
SPONSORSHIPS Early Minyan Kiddush is co-sponsored by Larry and Sharon Chambers in honor of Chosson Torah and in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Sharon’s mother Esther Robinson and by Mark and Julie Steinberg in honor of Chosson Bereshit.
Donation to the kiddush fund was made by * Naomi Samber in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of her mother Frances Shoenig z”l.
* Sonia Goldberg and family in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of their husband, father and grandfather Rabbi Norman Goldberg z”l.
* Tova, Mikey, Julie, Ariella, Zachary, Alex and Shira Perl in commemoration of the yahrtzeits of their grandparents and great-grandparents, Ernie & Betty Goldstein z’l.
MAZAL TOV * to Dr. Michael Messing on the birth of a grandson. The proud parents are Rabbi Zolly and Penina Messing Claman, Edmonton, Canada.
* Rabbi Shlomo and Gitta Resnicoff on the birth of a granddaughter. The proud parents are Shlomo and Tzippy (Resnicoff) Moskowitz
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Mrs. Bonnie Myers who is recuperating at home
* to Shifran Yehudis Orlian
* to Leora Heifitz who is recuperating at home
* to Joe Samuels who is recuperating at Alden North
* to Mordy Magence who is recuperating at home
* to Rachel Spindel who is recuperating at Alden.
SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT The shul security committee is looking for volunteers to help monitor security cameras in the office and/or to serve as door greeters for 30-minute periods during services. If you interested in helping, please contact the security committee at security@congkins.org .
Every Tuesday evening - K.I.N.S. is proud to host a kosher soup kitchen for the less fortunate. To volunteer,click here. To help fund the Soup Kitchen,click here
CLASSES @ KINS
FRIDAY
7:05am - Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg
SHABBAT
8:30am - Parshat HaShavua with Rabbi Myers NEW TIME 3:00pm - Parshat HaShavua with Wisdom of Torah Institute This week's speaker is Dr. Esther Shkop
45 min. before mincha - Talmud Class with Rabbi Matanky
1 hour after havdala - Father and Son Learning
SUNDAY
6:30am - Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg
9:00am – Sefer Shmuel Bet with Rabbi Matanky
9:00am – Halacha with Rabbi Bresler
8:00pm – SNL for high school boys with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
8:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
MONDAY
7:05am – Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg NEW 7:45pm – College Students Learning (every other week) NEW 8:00pm – “Through the Lens of a Modern Day Posek” with Rabbi Meyers NEW 8:00pm - Daf Hashavua Chabura with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
8:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
TUESDAY
7:05am – Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg
2:00pm – Chumash Shiur with Rabbi Bresler NEW 8:00pm - Daf Hashavua Chabura with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
8:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
WEDNESDAY
7:05am – Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg NEW 12:45pm - Tanach B'Shana with Emma Katz
2:00pm – Chumash Shiur with Rabbi Bresler NEW 7:00pm - Bat Mitzvah Program with NILI NEW 8:00pm - Daf Hashavua Chabura with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
8:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel NEW 8:25pm - Alei Shur Chabura for Men with Rabbi Ari Zucker
THURSDAY
7:15am - Daf Yomi with Yoel Goldberg
8:00pm – Night Seder with YU Torah MiTzion Kollel
Daf Hashavua Chabura: The Kollel is learning one daf of Mesechet Moed Katan each week during Night Seder. The Chabura has chavtura learning for men three nights a week in an independent and supportive environment, with Kollel rabbis available for questions and weekly wrap-ups. This is perfect for men looking for consistent Gemara learning. For more information contact DKanter@torahchicago.org.
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
