Shabbat Nachamu Parshat Va etchanan

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1 YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD 2240 ALBANY AVENUE WEST HARTFORD, CT (860) Web Site: Shabbat Nachamu Parshat Va etchanan 9:00 AM 9:16 AM Sof Zman Kriat Shma 7:00 PM Rabbi Weinberg s Shabbat Afternoon Class 7:45 PM Mincha, Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 9:00 PM Shabbat Ends Seudah Shlishit Is sponsored by Judy & Sam Leichtberg on the occasion of the first Yahrzeit of Judy s mother, Frida Weiss, Toba Frida bat Ezra z l. Everyone is invited. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Sunday, July 25th at 7:30 PM (Mincha at 7:10 PM) Dvar Torah: Rabbi Weinberg Treasurer s Report: David Cohen President s Report: Laura Miller Overview of the Past Year and a Half & Recommendations for the Future Report on and Call to vote on National Council of Young Israel Delegates Proposal Report of the Nomination Committee: Steven Luger Proposal for a provisional administration HAPPY BIRTHDAY Al Weisel (90th - Mazal Tov!), Akiva Cohen, Steve Luger, Shayne Kesler, Elan Ganeles BRIDAL SHOWER FOR BRIDES OF GUSH KATIF Join WH Rebbetzins for an evening of Achdut And help us sponsor a basic kitchen/linens trousseau for these young couples who are now getting married! Monday, July 26th at 7:30 PM At the Home of Judie Patel, 100 Lawler Road Shabbat Nachamu Parshat Va etchanan July 24th, Av 5770 Kiddush This Shabbat Sponsored by The Shul Rabbi s Corner I always have this great feeling of relief when the three weeks are over and we transition in to Shabbat Nachamu. The weight of the mourning practices is lifted and we can once again return to normal life. When thinking about my feelings I realized how strange a thing it really is to feel this way. After all, nothing has changed; we are in the exact same situation as we were in before Tisha B Av. The Beit Hamikdash is still destroyed and the Mashiach is still not here (or at least I don t think so.). So why do I feel so relieved? After much contemplation I have concluded that my feeling is coming from a number of places and I would like to share my thoughts with you. Part of my feeling of relief certainly comes from the fact that I now get to take a haircut, listen to music, and wear clean clothes and do other happy activities but I do think that there is more to it than that. Part of my relief is that this terribly ominous day in the Jewish calendar, a day that the Gemara says huchpelu bo hatazrot, has passed and no further major Jewish tragedy has come upon us. I really get this terrible pit in my stomach every Erev Tisha B Av that something bad is coming so it is a relief when this thought is not realized. Another reason I feel good is that the structure of the day of Tisha B Av leads me there. You start off really intensely with the mourning practices, Eicha, and Kinnot then by the afternoon the restrictions begin to be lifted, you literally get up off the floor, stop crying, and ask for nechama (consolation) (in the passage of Nachem that we recite at Mincha) Rabbi s Corner- Continued on page 2 Editor: Judie Patel Editors Emeritus: Sam Leichtberg & Moish Trencher Web Site: Rabbi Brahm Weinberg or rabbi@youngisraelwh.org Laura Miller, President or lauramiller6188@sbcglobal.net Affiliate of the National Council of Young Israel Synagogues, Member of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Sponsor of West Hartford NCSY, National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Kashrut Commission of Greater Hartford, Mikveh Bess Israel of Greater Hartford, Eruv of West Hartford (Hotline )

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Kol Hanearim The Yom Tovim are almost here! Now is your chance to include your family in a part of YIWH history. Add your child/children's names on our Kol Hanearim Tallis in time for this Simchat Torah. You can start with one child at a time or add them all at once, the choice is yours! In addition, the names on the Tallis will all be added to the tree of life downstairs, check out the newest additions! Contact Aviva Braunshweiger for further information SAVE THE DATES UPCOMING SHUL & COMMUNITY EVENTS TOTALLY TEFILLAH & TANTALIZING TOPICS MONDAYS AT 8:00 PM Rabbi Ari Weiss of Agudas Achim is teaching a class in Pirkei Avot that rotates between homes At someone's home For information call: ROSH CHODESH TEHILLIM GROUP Tuesday, August 10th, at 7:30 PM At the home of Evelyn Rutstein, 16 Miamis Road Monday, September 13th At the home of Sally Gelb, 50 Middlebrook Road BOOK CLUB NEW BOOK City of Thieves By David Benioff CRAFT CIRCLE ON HOLD FOR THE SUMMER Monday evenings at 7:30 PM At the home of Debbie Luger, 37 Miamis Road Further info call Debbie Luger or Laura Miller: ELISHA ROSENSWEIG CLASS is on hold until late August. Page 2 Rabbi s Corner- Continued because by that point in he day we are ready for it. By the nighttime the fast is over and our sages lead us to the celebratory Kiddush Levana ceremony with the knowledge that the seven haftarot of consolation are on their way and that one of the most joyous days in the Jewish calendar, Tu B Av, is right around the corner. This slow progression from the worst sadness and raw emotion, to some relief and mental contemplation, to joy really works! Finally, and perhaps most importantly, after Tisha B Av I am always filled with hope that we can really do better, that we can really make a difference.i feel energized for a great year knowing that it is really possible that come next summer the day of Tisha B Av will be one of joy and celebration in Yerushalayim Habenuya. This sentiment is captured by the Gemara s statement that the Mashiach will be born on the afternoon of Tisha B Av. Whether or not this is meant to be taken literally, the symbolism of it is clear: The seeds of redemption are sown from amidst the sorrow and mourning. That if it works, the sadness and contemplation of Tisha B Av can really spark us to greater self improvement and national improvement to the point where we will merit the final redemption. Taking these thoughts and these feelings away from Tisha B Av will hopefully lead us all in more positive directions towards great success. Shabbat Shalom BUY SCRIP! BUY SCRIP! Are you buying gift cards for staff or friends? Buy them at Waldbaum s using your existing Waldbaum s gift card and everyone wins! Please remember to continue to use scrip. It costs nothing additional to you - yet it helps the Shul. Remember, if you can not come and get the cards we can bring it to you! Let's support our Shul by buying scrip! Every dollar counts! Contact: Judith Hessing ( ), at 18 Grenhart Street

3 Page 3 The Mussar of Greek Mythology Rabbi Dr. Abraham J Twerski Sixty-five years ago, in high-school, I learned a powerful mussar lesson, but I did not realize it at the time. Ulysses was a traveler in Greek mythology. He heard of the music of the sirens. This was music that was heard at a particular harbor, and it was so enchanting, so attractive, that it drew sailors to the shore. However, there were sharp, ragged reefs in the harbor, and the ships would crash into them and were destroyed. Sailors knew this, and passing by the harbor, they would see the wreckages of the ships that had been destroyed, but once they heard the music of the sirens, they were helpless and headed into the harbor to their own destruction. Ulysses wanted to hear the fabled music of the sirens, but knew that this would be fatal. He, therefore, stuffed his sailors ears with wax so that they could not hear any sounds, and he told them that they were to sail by the harbor and pay no attention to anything he said. He then had himself tied securely to the ship s mast so that he could not move. As the sailors approached the harbor, Ulysses began hearing the music of the sirens. He began shouting to the sailors to head for shore, but of course, they could not hear him. He began screaming at them, I am your captain! You must obey my orders! As he heard the music of the sirens, he struggled to free himself from the ropes. Head for the shore! he shouted. I will have you hung for mutiny! But the sailors rowed on. After they had passed the harbor and the music was no longer heard, Ulysses fainted from exhaustion. The sailors then untied him, and he realized how helpless he had been, and had he not rendered the sailors unable to hear, they would have all been destroyed. Much later I realized that the music of the sirens is the yetzer hara. It can enchant a person and render one almost helpless to resist its temptation. Seeing the wreckage of the ships did not prevent sailors from rowing to their destruction. One cocaine addict worked in a mortuary, and buried people who were killed by cocaine, but that did not stop his use, and he died from cocaine at age 33. Cocaine, music of the sirens, yetzer hara they are all the same. How can we stuff our ears to the music of the sirens that can be heard almost anywhere in our environment? The Talmud cites Hashem as saying, I created the yetzer hara, and I created Torah as its antidote (Kedushin 30b). It is our only defense. However, just holding on to Torah is not enough, just as holding on to the mast would not have been enough. We must tie ourselves so tightly to Torah that we can not break loose from it. This is why Moses repeatedly stressed, But you who cling to Hashem you are all alive today (Devarim 4:4), to Him you shall cleave, (ibid. 10:20) and To love Hashem, to listen to His voice and to cleave to Him (ibid. 30:20). King David says, I have clung to your testimonies (Tehilim 119:31). To cling and cleave means to be inseparably attached to Torah. Learning Torah and doing mitzvos is of greatest importance, but does not yet result in the necessary fusion. The Talmud says that the single verse that the entire Torah depends on is Know Hashem in all your ways (Mishle 3:6, Berachos 63a). Cleaving and clinging is not accomplished by relating to Hashem just in Torah study and in performance of mitzvos, but in everything we do eating, sleeping, transacting, socializing. The works of mussar tell us how we can accomplish this. It is this kind of observance of Torah that can save us from the destructive attractions of the yetzer hara. SODA BOTTLE COLLECTION Eliza Katz is collecting bottles, cans and glass during the summer to raise money for the Rabbi s Fund. Please bring empties to her address 24 Miamis Road. She can be reached at

4 YIWH Schedule of Services July 23rd - 30th, 2010 Shabbat Nachamu Parshat Va etchanan It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Or Seudah Shlishit! Friday, July 23rd Shabbat, July 24th Rabbi Sheinkopf s Mishna Brurah Class Sof Zman Kriat Shma Rabbi Weinberg s Shabbat Afternoon Shiur On Mesilat Yesharim Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv Shabbat Ends Sunday, July 25th - Thursday, July 29th Earliest Tallit & Tefillin... Sunday Followed by Rabbi Weinberg s Gemara Shiur on Masechet Chulin Perek 8 Monday - YIWH Friday, July 30th 8:01 p.m. 9:16 a.m. 7:45 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 4:36 a.m. 8:00 p.m. 7:55 p.m. Shul handles set up & Clean up! Contact Judie Patel at or judiep@gmail.com to check the availability of the date you need & to make the arrangements for the type of Kiddush you want to sponsor. Checks need to be received the Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Send to David Cohen at 19 Mansfield Avenue. There are three types of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Semi-Deluxe for $250 & Deluxe for $350 With supplements available. For Seudah Shlishit contact Stan Rutstein at Kiddush Schedule Check out the Weekly Schedule on the Shul Website: Times from: Ner La Maor Lights Evelyn & David Hessing In Memory of their Grandmothers Sarah Schwimmer שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה And Chava Bat Bahiya חוה בת בהיה Yayin l Kiddush Ve'Havdalah Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva Goldfischer in memory of their father and grandfather, Israel Weiss ישראל בן דוד and their mother & grandmother Frida Weiss טויבא פרידה בת עזרא Pat La Orchim Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her Parents Tobias & Esther Spira טוביה בן צבי אלימלך אסתר בת דוד הכהן Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father Sam Wizenfeld שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 5770 Candy Man: Bernard Kesler in memory of his father Sender ben Avraham Zelig סנדר בן אברהם זליג Kiddush Supplement Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg In honor of their parents Morrie & Lynn Weinberg Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum Seudah Shlishit Supplement קהלת 12:14 סוף דבר הכל נשמע את האלקים ירא ואת מצותיו שמור כי זה כל האדם Anonymous Want to join the Listserve? If you are interested in subscribing to the yiwhevents listserve, send an to webmaster@youngisraelwh.org and he will add your name. If you are a member of the group, you can send an to the entire group by addressing your to yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com.

5 YIWH Schedule of Services July 30th - August 6th, 2010 Shabbat Mevorchim Parshat Eikev Friday, July 30th Shabbat, July 31st Rabbi Sheinkopf s Mishna Brurah Class Sof Zman Kriat Shma Rabbi Weinberg s Shabbat Afternoon Shiur On Mesilat Yesharim Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv Shabbat Ends Sunday, August 1st - Thursday, August 5th Earliest Tallit & Tefillin... Sunday Followed by Rabbi Weinberg s Gemara Shiur on Masechet Chulin Perek 8 Monday - YIWH Friday, August 6th 7:55 p.m. 9:20 a.m. 6:55 p.m. 7:40 p.m. 8:54 p.m. 4:45 a.m. 7:55 p.m. 7:47 p.m. It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Or Seudah Shlishit! Shul handles set up & Clean up! Contact Judie Patel at or judiep@gmail.com to check the availability of the date you need & to make the arrangements for the type of Kiddush you want to sponsor. Checks need to be received the Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Send to David Cohen at 19 Mansfield Avenue. There are three types of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Semi-Deluxe for $250 & Deluxe for $350 With supplements available. For Seudah Shlishit contact Stan Rutstein at Kiddush Schedule 8/28 Lichter Check out the Weekly Schedule on the Shul Website: Times from: Ner La Maor Lights Evelyn & David Hessing In Memory of their Grandmothers Sarah Schwimmer שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה And Chava Bat Bahiya חוה בת בהיה Yayin l Kiddush Ve'Havdalah Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva Goldfischer in memory of their father and grandfather, Israel Weiss ישראל בן דוד and their mother & grandmother Frida Weiss טויבא פרידה בת עזרא Pat La Orchim Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her Parents Tobias & Esther Spira טוביה בן צבי אלימלך אסתר בת דוד הכהן Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father Sam Wizenfeld שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 5770 Candy Man: Bernard Kesler in memory of his father Sender ben Avraham Zelig סנדר בן אברהם זליג Kiddush Supplement Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg In honor of their parents Morrie & Lynn Weinberg Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum Seudah Shlishit Supplement קהלת 12:14 סוף דבר הכל נשמע את האלקים ירא ואת מצותיו שמור כי זה כל האדם Anonymous Want to join the Listserve? If you are interested in subscribing to the yiwhevents listserve, send an to webmaster@youngisraelwh.org and he will add your name. If you are a member of the group, you can send an to the entire group by addressing your to yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com.

6 YIWH Schedule of Services August 6th - 13th, 2010 Shabbat Mevorchim Parshat Re eh Friday, August 6th Shabbat, August 7th Rabbi Sheinkopf s Mishna Brurah Class Sof Zman Kriat Shma Rabbi Weinberg s Shabbat Afternoon Shiur On Mesilat Yesharim Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv Shabbat Ends Sunday, August 8th - Thursday, August 12th Earliest Tallit & Tefillin... Sunday Followed by Rabbi Weinberg s Gemara Shiur on Masechet Chulin Perek 8 Monday & Thursday Tuesday & Wednesday - R C YIWH Friday, August 13th 7:47 p.m. 9:23 a.m. 6:45 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:45 p.m. 4:45 a.m. 6:30 a.m. 7:45 p.m. 7:38 p.m. It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush Or Seudah Shlishit! Shul handles set up & Clean up! Contact Judie Patel at or judiep@gmail.com to check the availability of the date you need & to make the arrangements for the type of Kiddush you want to sponsor. Checks need to be received the Sunday prior to your Kiddush date. Send to David Cohen at 19 Mansfield Avenue. There are three types of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Semi-Deluxe for $250 & Deluxe for $350 With supplements available. For Seudah Shlishit contact Stan Rutstein at Kiddush Schedule 8/28 Lichter Check out the Weekly Schedule on the Shul Website: Times from: Ner La Maor Lights Evelyn & David Hessing In Memory of their Grandmothers Sarah Schwimmer שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה And Chava Bat Bahiya חוה בת בהיה Yayin l Kiddush Ve'Havdalah Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva Goldfischer in memory of their father and grandfather, Israel Weiss ישראל בן דוד and their mother & grandmother Frida Weiss טויבא פרידה בת עזרא Pat La Orchim Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her Parents Tobias & Esther Spira טוביה בן צבי אלימלך אסתר בת דוד הכהן Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father Sam Wizenfeld שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 5770 Candy Man: Bernard Kesler in memory of his father Sender ben Avraham Zelig סנדר בן אברהם זליג Kiddush Supplement Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg In honor of their parents Morrie & Lynn Weinberg Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum Seudah Shlishit Supplement קהלת 12:14 סוף דבר הכל נשמע את האלקים ירא ואת מצותיו שמור כי זה כל האדם Anonymous Want to join the Listserve? If you are interested in subscribing to the yiwhevents listserve, send an to webmaster@youngisraelwh.org and he will add your name. If you are a member of the group, you can send an to the entire group by addressing your to yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com.