MIDWEST TORAH CENTER THE TORAH TELEGRAPH

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1 MIDWEST TORAH CENTER THE TORAH TELEGRAPH NCSY Lounge Night p10 MTC Purim Ice Cream Party with Dr. Seuss Shpiel p8 Issue 110 April

2 RABBI S MESSAGE Passover is around the corner and it s time to rid ourselves of our chametz (leavened products.) I remember my mother going through the pantry, removing any food item that was opened and putting that into one box. The other box would be filled with sealed food packages. The sealed food would be put away for after Pesach, while the other box would be given to our non-jewish neighbor. Now, while it was true that we also sold our chametz, my mom couldn t rationalize the non-jew purchasing ½ a box of cornflakes, which is why she would give away the opened boxes, never to reclaim them. Pesach was also the one time of year that we would have matzo knaidlach(balls) which was a treat, as well as some of the other specialty foods, such as kichel and sugared fruit slices. Baruch Hashem that my mother found a recipe for pesach rolls, because it allowed me to bring tuna fish sandwiches to school instead of on Matza. (Matza in the short term is great with tuna, but after a few hours in the locker or lunch box, becomes quite soggy.) The Rabbis explain that the reason Hashem commanded us to rid ourselves of chametz, is because the essence of chametz is the rising of the dough, which represents our yetzer hara (base inclination.) By tempering our yetzer hara and ultimately our ego, realizing that we can only rely upon Hashem for our needs, we recapture the epiphany that we experienced in Egypt, during the plagues, at the Reed sea, at the splitting of the sea, and finally at Mt Sinai, with the Revelation. That is the true message of Passover and why we must undergo the cleansing of our homes and hearts. Have a chag kasher v sameach, Rabbi Fred Nebel TA ANIT BECHOROT FAST OF THE FIRSTBORN Every firstborn male and, according to some opinions, female, from either a father or mother is obligated to fast Erev Pesach (April19th.) The fast begins at 5:30am and concludes at 9:12pm. The reason for this fast is to acknowledge that Hashem killed all the firstborn Egyptians while sparing their Jewish counterparts. All the normal rules of a fast apply. If the firstborn wishes to eat before 5:30am, he or she must state this before going to sleep the previous night, then finish his morning meal before 5:30am. Without stating one s intentions the night before (to eat the morning before the fast), he or she cannot eat The Torah Telegraph is a monthly publication. Published by Midwest Torah Center 2516 S. Twyckenham Drive. South Bend, IN (574) Editor in-chief: Rabbi Fred Nebel Editor: Chaya Nebel MTC Board of Directors President Rabbi Lindow Treasurer -J Orenstein Vice President J Solomon Secretary S Rubin Member S Springer Member- M Orenstein Midwest Torah Center Staff: Executive Director: Rabbi Fred Nebel Youth Director: Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki Eruv Hotline The mission of the Midwest Torah Center is to cultivate relationships with the Greater Jewish Michiana Community to educate, inspire, and learn together in a welcoming and warm environment. 2

3 the next morning, even though he/she might arise before 5:30am. There is a way to exempt oneself from this fast. One may either attend a siyum a meal celebrating the conclusion of a Talmudic tractate, -- or make a siyum. The siyum, at MTC, will, IY H, take place immediately following shacharit which begins at 8am. Otherwise, have an easy fast. HANDS OFF THAT BREAD On Passover, we are forbidden to eat or own chametz, which is defined as when one of the 5 species of grain -- barley, rye, oats, wheat, or spelt -- remains undisturbed for more than 18 minutes after coming into contact with cool water. If the water is hot or salty, the grains instantly become chametz. This is the biblical definition of the prohibition. Additionally, Ashkenazic Jewry has accepted upon itself not to eat kitniyot, which are soy, kidney and lima beans, peas, corn, rice, string beans, mustard, and sesame products and derivatives. The custom not to eat kitniyot probably took hold because these items were prepared in the same way as real chametz and it was suspected that people would come to confuse the flours of beans and other kitniyot for wheat flour and thus inadvertently eat chametz. Since a Jew is not allowed to own any chametz on Passover, one has 3 options: 1. Finish all of your chametz before Passover 2. Donate all of your chametz to a local food shelter (a non-jewish one, of course) 3. Sell your chametz for the duration of Passover to a non-jew. The sale is a legally binding sale which gives the non-jewish owner total rights to your chametz, and then returns the chametz back to your possession after the holiday once your legal representative (i.e. rabbi) buys it back for you. MAOT CHITIM- WHEAT FOR THE POOR One of the special mitzvot associated with Passover is maot chitim- donating to a fund that will allow the poor to obtain food for their Passover meals. While any amount is acceptable, one should endeavor to donate as much as it would cost to buy matza, wine, and enough food to insure a joyful Yom tov, which today comes out to approximately $20. It should be given early in the month, thus allowing the people to be able to purchase their Passover needs. You may give your maot chitim to either Rabbi Nebel, Rabbi Bulman, of Hebrew Orthodox Congregation, or the Jewish Food Pantry at the Federation. BEDIKAT CHAMETZ After cleaning our homes and making them chametz-free zones, we must check our houses right before Pesach to ensure that we have found and removed even the smallest piece of chametz. (No Cheerio is safe on this night!) The search, which should take place on April 18th, beginning at 9:11pm, should be done in a meticulous manner. This should be a real, and not just ceremonial, search. Traditionally one searches the crevices of one s home with a candle, feather (to sweep up the loose crumbs of chametz), and a baggie (into which to put the crumbs). Instead of a candle, a flashlight may be used. (It is safer than a candle and sheds more light on the chametz.) Before one begins the search one should recite the following blessing: Blessed are you Ado-nai our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us concerning the removal 3

4 of chametz. After completing the search one recites the following declaration: Any chametz or leaven that is in my possession, which I have not seen, have not removed, and do not know about, should be annulled and becomes ownerless, like the dust of the earth. PESACH TIME AND BITTUL CHAMETZ On Friday, April19th, at 10:22am, one must desist from eating chametz. One should also, on this morning (by 11:25am), burn any chametz that was found during the search of the night before and recite the following declaration of nullification: Any chametz or leaven that is in my possession, whether I have recognized it or not, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have removed it or not, should be annulled and become ownerless, like the dust of the earth. BLESSINGS FOR THE CANDLES Below are the blessings that are recited on the candles the first two nights of Pesach. On the 2nd night the candles must be lit from a pre-existing flame in order not to desecrate the holiday. Also they should not be lit before 9:14pm on second night. Also please keep in mind that preparations for the second seder may not begin until 9:14pm that night. 1) Baruch atta Ado-nai E-lo-hanu, melech haolam, asher kidshanu b mitzvotuv v tzivanu l hadlik nar shel yom tov. 2) Baruch atta Ado-nai E-lo-hanu, melech haolam, she hechiyanu v kmanu v higeeyanu laazman hazeh. On the last two nights of the holiday we only recite blessing number 1. ERUV TAVSHILIN-COOKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS On Thursday, April 25th, we need to make an eruv tavshilin which will allow us to cook on Friday afternoon for Friday Night. You will need a hard-boiled egg or some other prepared food that will be eaten with your third meal on Shabbat, and a whole matza. Before lighting your candles, take the matza and egg and recite the following: Blessed are you, Hashem, our God, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments and has commanded us concerning the mitzvah of eruv. Through this eruv may we be permitted to bake, cook, insulate, kindle flame, prepare, and do anything necessary on the festival for the sake of the Shabbat (for ourselves and for all Jews who live in this city.) An eruv tavshilin must be made any time that Friday is a Yom Tov. If the eruv is not made one may not do anything, including lighting candles for Shabbat. Also, the eruv does not allow you to create a new fire. The stove must be left on throughout the holiday and you can only light a candle from a preexisting flame. My advice is to light a Jahrzeit candle Erev Yom Tov and that will last to the next night, allowing you to kindle 4

5 the Shabbat candles. DONATIONS Thanks to all those who contribute to MTC and insure that we can continually provide inspirational programming Moishe & Tira Gubin General Betzalel & Ruthie Isaacs-Holzer- in Anonymous memory of Betzalel s aunt Liba B Moshe Charles & Susan Ballinger Mark & Janine Orenstein in memory of Mark & Joanne Bane Janine's parents & sister Josh Brown Ben & Bobbie Solomon Beverly Chamberg Simon & Danielle Springer in honor of Yanki Cohen Danielle's birthday Mike & Cindy Ebersol Youth Groups Yossi & Leah Fried Anonymous Moishe & Tira Gubin Danny & Michall Goldman Sandy Hall Rabbi Akiva & Chavie Gutnicki Betzalel & Ruthie Isaacs-Holzer Mark & Janine Orenstein in honor of their Bill & Catherine Hostetler grandchildren Sharon Jackson David & Stacy Rubin in honor of David s Moshe and Susi Katz sister, Aliza Rubin getting married to Seth Aryeh & Shani Kramer Trevino of St Louis Yakov Kreisman Josh & Andi Solomon in honor of Ben & Gary & Paula Leece Bobbi Solomon. Welcome to town Dave & Barbara Lerman Shalosh Seudot Shannon & Lisa Levin Yossie & Leah Fried in Hakarot hatov for Danny & Sandy Levine Yossie s new Position Rabbi Kuppel & Bekki Lindow Sharon Jackson Keith & Margarita Mattingly Moshe & Suzie Katz Tzvi & Rachel Novick Keith & Margarita Mattingly Mark & Janine Orenstein Sam & Alice Frost-Saffren in appreciation Mr Peikes for all that MTC does for our community Mark & Gina Pyrzewski NCSY Zev & Thea Ripps-Meyers Yanki Cohen Shmuel & Devorah Rosenblum Robert & Dianne Gallor David & Stacey Rubin Steve & Lisa Gerber Sam & Alice Frost-Saffren Rabbi Fred & Chaya Nebel Jeff & Arielle Sax Shabbat Table Cloths Josh & Andi Solomon Rabbi Shimon Dov Podrigal Simon & Danielle Springer Tea station Jeremy Stein Ehron & Beth Daniel Taller Nygard Shlomo & Michal Wadler Kiddush David & Sarah Goldstein in honor of MTC s of allowing Torah readers the opportunity to use their skills 5

6 am Shacharit 9:45am Talmud & Tea 9am Shacharit 9:45am Talmud & Tea Pesach 8:15pm Mincha 9:14 Maariv 2 Omer 9am Shacharit 9:45am Talmud & Tea 9 Omer April 2019/5779 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Shabbat pm ND Lunch & Learn 7:55pm Mincha-Maariv 12pm ND Lunch & Learn 12pm ND Lunch & Learn Chol Homoad 8pm Mincha & maariv 3 Omer 12pm ND Lunch & Learn 10 Omer am Jewish Lore 7:55pm Mincha-Maariv 10am Jewish Lore 10am Jewish Lore Chol Homoad 8pm Mincha & maariv 4 Omer 10am Jewish Lore 11 Omer :55pm Mincha-Maariv 12pm Lunch & Learn 6-7pm Chumash & Kreme Chol Homoad 8pm Mincha & maariv 5 Omer am Book of Samuel 7pm Study of Weekly Parsha 7:55pm Mincha& Maariv 10am Book of Samuel 7pm Study of Weekly Parsha 10am Book of Samuel 7pm Study of Weekly Parsha Chol Homoad Please make eruv tavshilin 7pm Mincha 7:10pm Plag hamincha & Candle Lighting 6 Omer :55pm Mincha 7:56pmCandle lighting 8pm Mincha 8:04pmCandle lighting Erev Pesach -Fast of the Firstborn & Siyum 8:10pm Mincha 8:11pmCandle lighting First Seder begins no earlier Than 9:11pm 26 Pesach 7pm Mincha 7:11pm Candle lighting 7 Omer Rosh Chodesh Nisan Tazria-Parshat Hachodesh 7:50pm Mincha 8:58pm Maariv Metzora-Parshat Hagadol 7:55pm Mincha 9:05pm Maariv Pesach 8:05pm Mincha 9:12pm Maariv 1 Omer Pesach 9:30 am Shacharit 8:10pm Mincha 9:21pm Maariv 8 Omer Merav Cohen Director of Operation-Apex Issuances Ltd Tel /Fax /Cell Sheshet HaYamim Rd., Champion Tower, Bnei Brak, Israel 6

7 5 12 May 2019/5779 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Shabbat A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don t need it. Rosh Chodesh Iyar 9am Shacharit 9:45am Talmud & Tea 16 Omer 9am Shacharit 9:45am Talmud & Tea 23 Omer 6 13 Rosh Chodesh Iyar 12pm ND Lunch & Learn 17 Omer 12pm ND Lunch & Learn 24 Omer am Jewish Lore 18 Omer 10am Jewish Lore 25 Omer Omer 12pm Lunch & Learn 8pm Mincha & Maariv 19 Omer 26 Omer am Book of Samuel 7pm Study of Weekly Parsha 13 Omer 10am Book of Samuel 7pm Study of Weekly Parsha 8pm Mincha & Maariv 20 Omer 16 10am Book of Samuel 7pm Study of Weekly Parsha 8pm Mincha & Maariv 27 Omer :30pm Mincha 8:34pmCandle lighting 14 Omer 8:40pm Mincha 8:41pmCandle lighting 21 Omer 8:45pm Mincha 8:48pm Candle lighting 28 Omer Acharei Mot 8:20pm Mincha 9:28pm Maariv 15 Omer Kedoshim 8:25pm Mincha 9:35pm Maariv 22 Omer Emor 8:35pm Mincha 9:43pm Maariv 29 Omer 7

8 MTC s Purim Shpiel after the Meal March 2019 Our Purim Shpeil After the Meal was a big hit, with over 50 people in attendance! Thanks to Shana Lipsky, the director & narrator, along with her cast of characters :Josh Brown, Yossie Fried, David Rubin, Yanki Cohen, Rochel Gutnicki, Chavie Gutnicki, Yehudis Gutnicki, Ahuva Gutnicki, Chana Lipsky, & Menachem Lipsky. The performance was the megillah put to Dr Seuss rhymes. The play was hilarious with tons of laughs. Yasher Koach to all of the players. 8

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10 NCSY Lounge Night March 2019 Highlights from Lounge included Ben Davis, the executive director of the Jewish Federation speaking about summer camps and stumping the NCSYers with hard riddles. Avigayil Siegel performed three songs with the viola and everyone loved it. If anyone else wants to show off their talents please contact Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki at 10

11 Lunch and Learn every 2nd & 4th Wednesday from 12-1pm Great food, great company with engaging topics from Rabbi Fred Nebel. We spoke about the origin of the mechitza, the physical separation of men & women in the synagogue. MTC is very excited to have Logan and Rivka join the after-school Hebrew program. They enjoyed their time and are both excited for the upcoming lessons. If you would like your kids to join the fun please contact Rabbi Akiva Gutnicki at 11

12 Midwest Torah Center South Bend Sr & Jr NCSY Channel Rabbi Nebel Home Page Midwesttorah.org Check Us Out MIDWEST TORAH CENTER CLASSES Sunday 9:45am Talmud & Tea Monday Tuesday 10am Studies in Aggada Eyn Yaakov Wednesday 12pm Lunch & Learn (every 2nd and 4th week ) Thursday 10am Book Of Samuel 7pm Studies in Weekly Torah Portion Private classes are available for the asking. If you have something that you would like to learn, talk to us,and we will do our best to make it happen 12