PARSHIOT TAZRIA-METZORA Stone Chumash Page 608 April 20 April 27, Iyar 12 Iyar 5778

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1 Boca Raton Synagogue WEEKLY RABBI EFREM GOLDBERG Marah D asrah reg@brsonline.org PARSHIOT TAZRIA-METZORA Stone Chumash Page 608 April 20 April 27, Iyar 12 Iyar 5778 The Weekly is sponsored by Martin Schandelson, MJS Financial LLC, your local mortgage broker. RABBI PHILIP MOSKOWITZ Associate rabbi rpm@brsonline.org DAVID KAY, MD President president@brsonline.org RABBI DAVID SHABTAI, MD Rabbi, Sephardic Minyan rds@brsonline.org RABBI RAEL BLUMENTHAL Rabbi, BRS West rrb@brsonline.org RABBI JOSH BROIDE Outreach Rabbi rjb@brsonline.org RABBI SIMCHA SHABTAI Rosh Beis Medrash rss@brsonline.org RABBI KENNETH BRANDER, PHD Rabbi Emeritus rkb@brsonline.org MATTHEW HOCHERMAN Executive Director mjh@brsonline.org Plag Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat Earliest Candle Lighting Early Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat Candle Lighting Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat FRIDAY NIGHT SHABBAT DAY 6:10 pm 6:26 pm 7:00 pm 7:28 pm 7:30 pm Women's Class 5:15 pm The Tzuris of Tzara as: LeproSEEING God in the Everyday Amy Horowitz Rabbi Class 6:15 pm Counting Days, Creating Time A Lesson Learned from the Holocaust Rabbi Josh Broide Ashkenazi Mincha (Rand Sanctuary) 7:15 pm Ma ariv/havdalah 8:28 pm RABBI GERSHON EISENBERGER Youth Director rge@brsonline.org RABBI ELI ZIANS Teen Director rez@brsonline.org KERRY PURCELL-STEWARD Editor-in-Chief of the Weekly kerry@brsonline.org LIKE Like us on Facebook Boca Raton Synagogue FOLLOW Follow us @Broide SHARE Check out Jewish Pride Films for our latest videos Page 1 HAHN JUDAIC CAMPUS 7900 MONTOYA CIRCLE N. BOCA RATON, FLORIDA (561) FAX Boca (561) Raton Synagogue Valuing Diversity Celebrating Unity OFFICE@BRSONLINE.ORG

2 FROM THE RABBI S DESK AM YISRAEL CHAI A SLOGAN OR A PRAYER? Upon capturing Yerushalayim fifty years ago, Motta Gur uttered the now iconic words, Har Ha bayit b yadeinu, the Temple Mount is in our hands. Those who ascend the holiest place on earth, might disagree. Since taking the Old City in 1967, Israeli law has barred Jews from praying on Har HaBayis, or even from bringing a religious item like a siddur, tehillim, or tefillin there. In September 2015, Itamar Ben Gvir was touring the holy site when a Muslim woman shouted, Allahu Akbar at them. He responded by shouting back, Am Yisrael chai. After being held for breaking the law, Itamar sued for wrongful detention. This week an Israeli court ruled in his favor and permitted visitors to the Temple Mount to call out, Am Yisrael chai because it is a patriotic slogan, and not a prayer. It is unclear who first introduced the phrase Am Yisrael Chai. There is a recording of the liberated Jews of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp singing Hatikvah on April 20th When the anthem ends, there is a brief silence and then a single voice, that of British Army Chaplain Rabbi Leslie Hardman, cries out, Am Yisroel Chai! When Golda Meir visited the Great Synagogue in Moscow as the Israeli Ambassador in 1948 the crowd of 50,000 ecstatically welcomed her with shouts of Am Yisrael Chai. In 1965, Jacob Birnbaum was looking for songs to energize the Soviet Jewry movement. He asked Shlomo Carlebach to compose something, and Shlomo wrote the famous Am Yisrael Chai that climaxes with the pasuk, Od Avinu Chai, our Father is still alive. In 2009, Prime Minister Netanyahu visited Wannsee Villa in Berlin, where the Final Solution for the destruction of Europe s Jews was planned in 1942 by Hitler and leaders of the Third Reich. In the visitors book he wrote just three words in Hebrew and then translated them into English: Am Yisrael Chai The people of Israel live. As a slogan, Am Yisrael Chai affirms that despite the systematic attempts to exterminate and annihilate the Jewish people, thanks to Hashem s guiding hand and our tenacity and resilience, we stubbornly persevere. While I am happy with the outcome of the Israeli court s decision, I humbly disagree with its reasoning. Am Yisrael Chai must not remain a patriotic slogan alone. It needs to simultaneously be a prayer, a longing for a united Jewish people living together in safety, security and with unity and harmony. On the words, V lakachti eschem li l am, I will take you to Me as a people, (Shemos 6:7), Rabbi Soloveitchik writes: The political-historical unity as a nation is based on the conclusion of the covenant in Egypt, which occurred even prior to the giving of the Torah at Sinai. This covenant forced upon us all one uniform historical fate. The Hebrew word nation, is identical to,עם the Hebrew word,עם with. Our fate of unity manifests itself through a historical indispensable union No Jew can renounce his part of the unity Religious Jews or irreligious Jews, all are included in one nation, which stands lonesome and in misery in a large and often antagonistic world In the ashes of the crematoria, the ashes of the chasidim and pious Jews were put together with the ashes of the radicals and the atheists. And we all must fight the enemy, who does not differentiate between those who believe in God Page 2

3 and those who reject Him. This past week we celebrated Yom Ha atzmaut, marking the miracle of Israel s independence. While it should be a day that unites us in gratitude and appreciation, unfortunately, for too many it is a day that divides. For some, it is the annual opportunity, both online and offline, to sit in judgement of those who observe it differently or choose not to observe it at all. Full Hallel, half Hallel, with a bracha, no bracha, no Hallel? Shave, haircut and music or music, no shaving or haircut, or no music or shaving or haircut? Every combination of observance exists and so do the eye rolls, sarcasm and judgment from each camp of those doing it differently. These are all halachic issues and don t necessarily reflect a worldview or a lack of recognition of the religious significance of the founding of the State of Israel. Could anyone really believe that because Rabbi Soloveitchik didn t recite Hallel with a beracha, he wasn t a great Zionist? Would someone have the audacity to argue that because the Rabbanut endorses Hallel with a bracha, they are less committed to halacha? We must learn to live and pursue our convictions without having to expect them from, or force them on, others. The secret to a strong Am Yisrael is a sense of Im Yisrael, being in it together, united, loyal, giving one another the benefit of the doubt and judging each other favorably. Am Yisrael Chai cannot be a slogan alone, it must also a prayer, because we still have a long way to go to fully be an Am, a united family. Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, standing in Auschwitz- Birkenau at the March of the Living several years ago said, We always knew how to die together. The time has come for us to know also how to live together. Am Yisrael Chai! May the people of Israel learn to live with one another in harmony and unity! Good Shabbos, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Subscribe to receive the Rabbi's blog via at rabbisblog.brsonline.org BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE DERECH ERETZ STATEMENT In the spirit of our mission Valuing Diversity and Celebrating Unity, we believe that a community is built on the collective engagement of individuals representing differing perspectives, whether religious, political, or social. As Boca Raton Synagogue is an environment where all of its members and visitors need to feel valued and welcomed, members are required to comport themselves in a manner which reflects mutual respect and a sense of inclusiveness. In our Synagogue, we value debate about pressing issues. This is consistent with the American democratic tradition. Our sages saw the value of arguments conducted L Shem Shamayim, for the sake of heaven, believing that great minds who engage in respectful debate will arrive at better solutions. They valued and welcomed alternate views, as do we. Derech Eretz, good and proper conduct, and mutually respectful dialogue are core values of the Synagogue community. These create a safe place for inspiration and spiritual growth, the central purpose of the Synagogue. It is a violation of Jewish law and ethics to use harsh language (vitriol) to demonize or to marginalize people with whom one may disagree. Uncivil expression reflects negatively on our Synagogue as well as on the individuals who engage in such behavior. Boca Raton Synagogue expects its members to act and to speak with kindness and sensitivity to others. It is only in this fashion that a strong, vibrant, and harmonious community can be created and maintained. Adherence to this policy is a requirement for membership in good standing at the Boca Raton Synagogue. In line with our Derech Eretz Statement, we mention some examples of how we can be more sensitive toward others and create an even better community. When you Daven, please be conscious of the person next to you and Daven in a voice you can hear, but won't disturb your neighbor Children should be asked not to walk between or climb through rows of seats in front of others who are seated during services to collect candy. All of these Mensch Messages have been submitted to the office. If you have a Mensch Message you would like us to promote, please us at office@brsonline.org Page 3

4 SHABBAT SCHEDULE FRIDAY NIGHT Friday Night Live: Please invite someone to this Outreach Program 6:00 pm Ashkenazi Plag Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat () 6:10 pm Earliest Candle Lighting 6:26 pm Sephardic Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:55 pm Ashkenazi Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Rand Sanctuary) 7:00 pm Candle Lighting 7:28 pm Ashkenazi Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat () 7:30 pm Shtiebel Minyan/Kabbalat Shabbat (Shtiebel Beit Midrash) 7:35 pm SHABBAT DAY Neitz Minyan (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:16 am Hashkama Minyan () 7:30 am Sephardic Minyan (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 9:00 am Ashkenazi Minyan (Rand Sanctuary) 9:00 am Sermon: Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Shtiebel Minyan (Shtiebel Beit Midrash) 9:30 am Teen Minyan (Shechet Beit Midrash Room 204/205/206) 9:45 am Youth Tefillah Groups (Jacobs and Rubin Youth & Senior Center) 9:50 am Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:05 am Early Mincha (Rand Sanctuary) 3:00 pm Women's Class 5:15 pm The Tzuris of Tzara as: LeproSEEING God in the Everyday Amy Horowitz Rabbi's Class 6:15 pm Counting Days, Creating Time A Lesson Learned from the Holocaust Rabbi Josh Broide Daf Yomi Mincha (Berdugo Beit Midrash) between mincha/ma'ariv Sephardic Mincha (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 7:10 pm Ashkenazi Mincha (Rand Sanctuary) 7:15 pm Sh kiah 7:47 pm Ma ariv/havdalah 8:24 pm SHABBAT LEARNING Tefillah Insights 8:30 am Advanced Gemara Chabura (Sender Galbut) after Hashkama Minyan Youth Groups (Drop-off begins at 10:00 am) 10:30 am Avos U Banim () 7:15 pm APRIL 27 & 28 PARSHIOT ACHAREI MOT-KEDOSHIM Friday Night Live: Please invite someone to this Outreach Program 6:00 pm Ashkenazi Plag Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat () 6:15 pm Earliest Candle Lighting 6:28 pm Sephardic Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:55 pm Ashkenazi Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Rand Sanctuary) 7:00 pm Candle Lighting 7:32 pm Ashkenazi Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat () 7:35 pm Shtiebel Minyan/Kabbalat Shabbat (Shtiebel Beit Midrash) 7:32 pm Ma ariv/havdalah (Shabbat) (Rand Sanctuary) 7:35 pm IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT The BRS professional and lay leadership are responsible to our membership to undertake reasonable efforts towards collecting fees owed to BRS. Please help us with this important task. Maintaining our programming and services and satisfying the Shul s costs and expenses in a timely manner obligate us to focus on collecting outstanding fees. While many members are entirely up-to-date on fees (for which the community is appreciative), some members have open balances; to those members, we ask your assistance. If you owe any funds to BRS, including dues, building fund commitment, or pledges, please contact the Shul office at (561) and speak with Matthew Hocherman to make payment arrangements. You may also send an to mjh@brsonline.org to schedule a time to discuss your account. Boca Raton Synagogue will never turn away a family or individual due to inability to pay. Our only request is that each member makes arrangements with our financial office. If you have an open balance, or are unsure, kindly contact the Shul office by April 27, 2018, to settle your account. Beginning in May, our financial committee will be contacting members with open balances. If you have an outstanding balance, please help us minimize administrative time and expense by contacting the Shul office before April 27 to settle your account. Importantly, elections will be held for the Shul officers and Board of Directors in June. Only members in good standing will be eligible to vote in the election. For your convenience, we will publish a list prior to the election of members eligible to vote. Our Shul By-Laws include the definition of members in good standing as one who has fulfilled all financial obligations of membership, taking into account officially approved account adjustments. Members on a payment plan coordinated with the Shul office are considered in good standing. DAILY MINYAN TIMES Page 4 SUNDAY 7 IYAR MONDAY 8 IYAR TUESDAY 9 IYAR WEDNESDAY 10 IYAR THURSDAY 11 IYAR Daf Yomi - Zevachim Omer Ashkenazi Shacharit 6:25 am 6:15 am 6:25 am 6:25 am 6:15 am 6:25 am Ashkenazi Shacharit 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am Ashkenazi Shacharit 7:45 am 7:45 am 7:45 am 7:45 am 7:45 am 7:45 am Ashkenazi Shacharit Ashkenazi Shacharit Early Ashkenazi Mincha Ashkenazi Mincha/Ma ariv Late Ashkenazi Ma ariv 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 9:15 am 2:00 pm Senders Library 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 9:45 pm 9:45 pm 9:45 pm 9:45 pm 9:45 pm Senders Library Senders Library Senders Library Senders Library Senders Library FOR SEPHARDIC TIMES, PLEASE SEE PAGE 9 - FOR BRS WEST TIMES, PLEASE SEE PAGE 10 FRIDAY 12 IYAR 8:30 am

5 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS MAZAL TOV Carolynn Jarashow on the birth her first great grandson, Aaron Noah. Proud parents are Don & Chani Jarashow of Jerusalem. AND to his proud grandparents, Jonathan & Judy Jarashow of Wesley Hills, NY and Genie & Tzipi Weinberg of Minneapolis, MN. KIDDUSH Hashkama Minyan Kiddush sponsored by the Hashkama Minyan Kiddush Fund. Sephardic Minyan Kiddush co-sponsored by the Sephardic Minyan Kiddush Fund Teen Minyan Kiddush sponsored by the Greenbaum Family in honor of David being called up to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Seudah Shlishiet sponsored by Rabbi Philip & Arielle Moskowitz and family in honor of the birth of their daughter, Rena Zissel. Guest Speaker: Rebbetzin Arielle Moskowitz MEN S SEATING ON FRIDAY NIGHTS In the summer months when there are multiple Minyanim on Friday nights, we ask that no men sit in the Women s section in the Rand Sanctuary during Davening. Thank you in advance for your understanding. IN MEMORIAM A Memorial Service for our beloved Rabbi Simcha Freedman will be held at BRS in the Main Sanctuary on Sunday, April 22 at 1:00 pm. NEW AL-ANON MEETINGS BRS is proud to be hosting a new Al-anon beginners meeting for those with a family member or friend struggling with alcohol or substance abuse issues. The meeting will follow the Al-Anon program. Don t face this alone; find strength and support by joining others. Meeting will be held this Wednesday, April 24 at 8:00 pm in Room 106. TAHARAT HAMISHPACHA REFRESHER COURSE THIS TUESDAY NIGHT Join Rebbetzin Yocheved Goldberg this Tuesday night, April 24 at 8:30 pm for part one of a three-part series presented by BRS and the Boca Raton Mikvah. This week s topic is Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: The Wisdom of the Mitzvah of Taharas Ha Mishpacha Hosted at the home of Chava Weisstuch, Hollyhock Trail in Thornhill Green. The Mitzvah of Taharat Hamishpacha is one of the most sacred and holy Mitzvot in our tradition. Please take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about it and to review the details and meaning behind this important Mitzvah. Please remember that Rebbetzin Goldberg is always available to help with Halachik questions pertaining to Taharat Ha Mishpacha or other sensitive matters, or for general support or Chizuk. Feel free to reach her at (561) or her at goldbergmom@gmail.com. To be added to the Rebbetzin s women's What s App group promoting women s learning opportunities and inspiration in the community, please text her. BRET STEPHENS AT BRS Join BRS and AIPAC on Tuesday, May 1, at 7:00 pm at Boca Raton Synagogue for a briefing by Bret Stephens. For more information and to register for this event, see the flyer on page 15. GUEST SPEAKER RABBI AHRON LOPIANSKY Men & Women of the community are invited this Wednesday night, April 25, at 8:00 pm to hear from Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of Greater Washington Tiferes Gedaliah. Rabbi Lopiansky will be speaking on the topic Is keeping the Shulchan Aruch Enough to Make You a Good Jew?". This lecture will take place at Boca Raton Synagogue. LAG BA OMER CELEBRATION - WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 Join BRS for an authentic Lag Ba'Omar celebration, bonfire, chagigah, & Kumzitz. The Bonfire lighting will take place at 8:15 pm on the BRS Front Lawn. All musicians are invited and encouraged to bring an acoustic instrument to play at the Kumzitz. BRS MEALTRAIN NEEDS YOUR HELP BRS has a lot of wonderful Chesed opportunities that you can get involved in, one of which is the baby meal train. What is the baby meal train? When a member has a baby, we set up a meal train where other members will make dinner for the family of the new baby. We need YOU to make those meals. It's a huge Chesed for the family. Don't know the family? Even more of a reason to connect with them! Please send us your s so we can add you so you can be notified when there is a meal train. Thank you and Tizku L mitzvot! Shira Menczer, Lauren Hofstatter, & Michal Zisquit - mealtrain@brsonline.org DESSERT RECEPTION FOR THOSE MAKING ALIYAH On the second day of Shavuot, a Dessert Reception will be held in honor of those making Aliyah or returning to Israel. Please contact Linda at linda@ brsonline.org or (561) so we can wish you a Tzeitchem L Shalom at this year s Dessert Reception. MONTHLY KADDISH CLASS Rabbi Goldberg s next Kaddish Class will be held on Sunday, May 6 at 9:30 am in the new Petrover Board Room. This class has been designed for people who are within the year of mourning the loss of a loved one. If you have not received an regarding this class, and would like to participate, please contact Linda at or linda@ brsonline.org. MALKA TOUGER - THREE PART SERIES A Woman s Journey A Nation s Path Exploring the Book of Ruth with Malka Touger. Mondays, April 30, May 7 and May 14 from 8:30 pm - 9:15 pm. Malka Touger is a renowned teacher and lecturer whose insights have attracted and inspired audiences on all seven continents. Her weekly course in Tanach at the Midreshet Or Chayah in Jerusalem has attracted scores of women from a cross-section of Jerusalem s community. Together with her husband, the well-known author and translator, Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, she helped pioneer and nurture the development of the Torah community in the Jerusalem suburb of Har Nof. They have temporarily relocated to Boca Raton to be closer to their children. SECURITY COMMITTEE Security alert: Please do not open the pedestrian gates for people you don t know or recognize. If someone you don t know tries to follow you in, please alert the guard at the gate. Also, please be aware of who is around you when entering the gate code. Discretion should be used when entering or giving out the code. INVITING ALL HAPPY GOLDEN GIRLS Mark your calendar for a get-together at Boca Bagel Factory, Powerline Road in Boca Raton. Monday, May 7, 10:30 am. You can bring a friend or come to make new friends. No reservations required we will meet the first Monday of every month. ESCAPE ROOM - ISRAEL EDITION This Sunday, April 22 at 11:45 am - 1:00 pm in rooms 104/105. for all children in grades 3-6. Pizza lunch to be served. RSVP with Rabbi Eisenberger at rge@ brsonline.org LINKED Are you ready to be a link in the chain? The BRS Youth department presents LINKED. Join this movement as we attempt to learn as many Mishnayot from Pirkei Avot by heart from now until the end of the school year. Participation is simple. Just pick up your Pirkei Avot from one of our judges. Study with a parent or friend. Find a judge and show him what you've learned. Will you be inducted onto our Wall of Fame? Rules are in the lobby. Judges: Binyamin Muschel and Rabbi Gershon Eisenberger PRIZES!!! FUN!!! SNACKS!!! THE BRS YOUTH DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL NEW FAMILIES TO THE COMMUNITY Please stop by and check out our incredible youth program and meet our youth director, Rabbi Gershon Eisenberger. Our programs run throughout the year, from early childhood into middle school. For details and upcoming events, check the youth page in the BRS Weekly. Page 5

6 Page 6 WEEK AT A GLANCE DAILY DAF YOMI (Sunday - Thursday) Rabbi Ben Sugerman 7:00 am Petrover Board Room MISHNA BERURA YOMI (Sunday - Thursday) will not take place NIGHT BEIT MIDRASH (Sunday - Thursday) 8:00 pm Senders Library NIGHT TIME DAF YOMI (Sunday - Thursday) BRS Rabbinate at 8:40 pm Rooms 104/105 MONDAY HEBREW POETRY: H.N. BIALIK - 4 WEEK MINI SERIES Hassia Yehuda 9:30 am Petrover Board Room MEN'S AFTERNOON KOLLEL 3:00 to 5:00 pm A TOUR OF TOSHBA (FOR WOMEN) 7:45 pm CONTEMPORARY HALACHA FROM THE PARSHA 9:30 pm Rabbi Josh Flug TUESDAY PARSHA CLASS Rabbi Efrem Goldberg will not take place MELACHIM BET CLASS Rabbi Philip Moskowitz will not take place WEDNESDAY CUP OF JOE & KNOW Rabbi Efrem Goldberg will not take place LIVING WITH EMUNAH will not take place IN-DEPTH STUDY OF BOOK OF SAMUEL II Malka Morris 9:30 am Petrover Board Room MEN'S AFTERNOON KOLLEL 3:00 to 5:00 pm NIGHT LEARNING PROGRAM WITH TTB 7:45 pm CHASSIDUS with Rabbi Eliyahu Touger 9:00 pm ADVANCED GEMARA GITTIN with Rabbi Shaul Opoczynski 9:00 pm MESILAT YESHARIM with Rabbi Matan Wexler 9:00 pm THURSDAY AMUD SHIUR 8:45-9:20 pm Senders Library NIGGUNIM AND CHASSIDUS 9:00 pm Rabbi Ari Mirzoeff in the Berdugo Beit Midrash IYUN CHABURA 9:25-9:45 pm Senders Library WEEKLY SHMOOZE 10:00 pm Senders Library BRS AUXILIARIES, ETC. BIKUR CHOLIM DAVENING NOT TO GET SICK: One should always Daven that he should not get sick, because once he falls ill, he needs a Zechut to recover. When a person falls ill, it is a Mitzvah to visit him; this is known as Bikur Cholim. Source: Halachically Speaking --Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovitz BOCA RATON COMMUNITY ERUV The Boca Raton Community Eruv is in need of funds. Yearly membership remains at $100 per family. It is now possible to sponsor the Eruv for a particular Shabbat for $360. Donations can now also be made through our website or by contacting Chani Salamon at (561) for more information. Please help, as we ALL benefit from the Eruv. The Eruv is something we all rely on and often take for granted. If you have not yet contributed, please consider doing so in order to ensure that the Eruv can be checked and maintained. KITCHEN EXPANSION DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF THEO HENRY As you may be aware, the BRS Sisterhood is working hard on raising funds to expand the Shul kitchen. The Sisterhood has decided that the new expanded kitchen will be dedicated and named, the Theo Henry Kitchen in memory of our beloved custodian. If you are interested in contributing to this cause, please visit Moshe Applebaum Moshe Zvi ben Rochel Leah Yosef Chaim ben Faiga Merv Jacobs Meir ben Sarah Stuart Silverman Yeshaya Moshe ben Nacha Sarah Marcus Witztum Mordechai ben Malka Chayim ben Rashi Chaim ben Rachel Zev ben Levi HaLevi Yisroel Moshe ben Yocheved Arieh Leib ben Baila Rochel Isaac Shaya ben Taliya Levana Rabbi Dr. Brian Galbut Baruch Tzvi ben Rivka Batya Arnold Hordish Yosef Avraham ben Chana Yoel ben Etel Tzivia Yosef ben Rochel Harvey Gordon Yechezkel ben Leah Helen Ijac Alta Haita bat Devorah Joan Noven Rochel Tova bat Malka LIFE CYCLE BIRTHDAYS Zev Kay Asher Eisen Simcha Stadlan Melvin Mintz Yosef Shabtai Gary Kransa Rabbi Jerome Epstein Paige Rackman WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Mr. Alan Mark & Dr. Michal Rivka Miller APPRECIATION My gratitude to Rabbi Goldberg, Rabbi Moskowitz, Rabbi Broide, and our community for the overwhelming support we were given for the loss of our father and grandfather. - The Hirth Family. CONDOLENCES TO Eli Buzaglo on the passing of his beloved mother, Masouda bat Shlomo. Natalie Halperin and Dr. Larry Halperin on the passing of their beloved husband and father, Kermit Halperin. REFUAH SHLAYMAH For members of BRS Community. For all other Refuah Shlaymah needs, please call Linda at (561) Ariella Berman Ariella Sarah bat Elisheva Malka Chana Guta bat Rochel Noa Maya Carmel Noa Maya bat Devora Rachel Jacquie Padow Ya akova Chava Rus bat Beyla Or Ester bat Dina Rivka Wendy Wasserstrom Zehava bat Chaya Eden Malka bat Ravit Sara Leah bat Maya Elanit Jean Cohen Eta Chaya bat Rachel Yocheved bat Alta Sura Leah Ruth Malinowitz Rivka bat Freida Esther bat Doba Beverly Kellman Baila Rus bat Sara Marie Gosser Muna bat Salima Shulamit Olga Newman Liba Rivka bat Esther Malka Breindel Chanah bat Chaye Raizel Helen Cohan Chula bat Zissel YAHRZEITS Rachel Bensimon in memory of her mother Meny Abikhzer 5 Iyar Philip Landau in memory of his mother Linda Landau 5 Iyar Jerry Kaminetzky in memory of his father Morris H. Kaminetzky 5 Iyar George Saks in memory of his uncle David H Gluck 5 Iyar Stuart Silverman in memory of his father Orion Jacob Silverman 5 Iyar Rabbi Samuel April in memory of his mother Fanny Hannah April 5 Iyar Dr. Jack Mermelstein in memory of his mother Margaret Mermelstein 6 Iyar Shirley Eschwege in memory of her mother Myrtle Hudes 6 Iyar Rosa Golish in memory of her grandmother Heshmat Benhaim 7 Iyar Jean Cohen in memory of her father-in-law Arthur Cohen 7 Iyar Jonathan Gritzman in memory of his sister Carolynne Cohen 7 Iyar Beth Plotkin in memory of her brother Jay Ira Pepose 7 Iyar Chanie Zwiebel in memory of her father Simcha Meir ben Moshe Halevi 7 Iyar Deborah Rischall in memory of her husband Joseph Rischall 8 Iyar Tammy Clarke in memory of her father Michael Bleiman 8 Iyar Ruth Bleiman in memory of her husband Michael Bleiman 8 Iyar Benjamin Saketkhou in memory of his mother Molouk Saketkhou 8 Iyar Dr Cynthia March in memory of her mother Esther March 8 Iyar David Zwiebel in memory of his mother Mindel bat Dovid 8 Iyar Susan Kaskel in memory of her father Sanford Levine 8 Iyar Jean Cohen in memory of her mother-in-law Miriam Cohen 9 Iyar Rabbi Joel Morris in memory of his mother Anne Morris 9 Iyar Esther Abrams in memory of her mother Doba Barash 10 Iyar Murray Eisenberg in memory of his father Harry Eisenberg 10 Iyar Sandra Augenbaum in memory of her father Harry Medwied 10 Iyar Renee Rosenberg in memory of her father Sam Kissel 10 Iyar Helene Amar in memory of her mother Aida Pinto Podrizki 10 Iyar Barry Bard in memory of his mother Freda Bard 10 Iyar Rita Rubin in memory of her grandmother Yospa Kupietzky 10 Iyar Bonnie Weinreb in memory of her grandfather Mendel Hersch Riesel 11 Iyar Carla Klein in memory of her mother Helen Lewin Applebaum 11 Iyar Chaya Berdugo in memory of her grandmother Ruthe Peyser 11 Iyar Rhoda Azar in memory of her father Joseph Miller 11 Iyar Flora Reich in memory of her father Moishe ben Menasem Aaron Halevy 12 Iyar Pamela Abitbol in memory of her father Lester Greenberg 12 Iyar Dr. Sydney Abramson in memory of his mother Dorothy Abramson 12 Iyar

7 ISRAEL UPDATE SOCIAL ACTION Dr. Shimon Samuels, Director for International Relations of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, recently spoke at a panel on the denial of Jewish history in international organizations at the Foreign Ministry-sponsored sixth Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism in Jerusalem. According to Samuels, the next prize the Palestinians will likely claim as their own at UNESCO will probably be the archeological site of Qumran and its Dead Sea Scrolls. Samuels chronicled the Palestinians success at having attributed to themselves biblical and cultural sites, including Jewish ones, on the World Heritage List since joining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a member state in The World Heritage Committee ascribed to Palestine Bethlehem s Church of the Nativity in 2012; the agricultural terraces of Battir, site of the ancient Jewish fortress at Betar, in 2014; and Hebron s Tomb of the Patriarchs in The Palestinian Authority has a tentative list of 13 additional sites it seeks to register at UNESCO. Out of that list the Palestinians are next likely to seek cultural ownership of the Qumran Caves and Dead Sea Scrolls. The request may come up at the next meeting of UNESCO s World Heritage Committee this July in Bahrain, Samuels told the conference. ROBERT ALAN BOB LEVINSON Is an American private investigator and retired DEA and CIA agent. He was taken hostage on March 9, 2007 when visiting Iran s Kish Island and is currently the longest held hostage in American history. PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS OF IDF SOLDIERS Please have in mind children and grandchildren of members of our community currently serving in the IDF: Eliana Aiken, Matthew Albert, Avishai Augenbraun, Noam Bar Yakov, Shani Ben Zikry, Raz Ben-Zikry, David Borenstein, Maya Borzak, Rotem Bronfman, Jonathan Cohen, Aviad Halfon, Ariel Hirschhorn, Rafael Nissim ben Moshe Israel, Avi Kahn, Menachem Kaplan, Shabtai Kaplan, Asher Kaplan, Shuli Klein, Jacob Katz, Razi Katz, Mikki Kowal, Ami Lieder, Noam Lowenstern, Shuli Mayer, Daniel Miller, Eitan Yitzchak ben Etel Rochel, Elad Shachar, Sarina Solomon, Chananya Strauss, Dean Tansman, Amir Tsarfati, Joshua Weiss, Noah Weiss, and Eitan Wolfson. If you have children or PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES (IDF) AVRAHAM BEN AGERNISH Avera (Avraham) Mengitsu is an Israeli civilian with a history of severe depression and mental illness. He crossed into Gaza in September Hamas has recently admitted that they are holding him captive but there is no additional information on his condition. grandchildren currently serving in the IDF, please let us know their names so we can include them. Please have in mind our missing-in-action Israeli Soldiers. DEAR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, IF YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD IS NO LONGER IN THE IDF, PLEASE LET KERRY KNOW SO THEIR NAME CAN BE REMOVED. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS More than 3.4 million Florida voters are registered as No Party Affiliation (NPA), meaning they can t vote in Republican or Democratic primary elections. Your primary vote can help ensure the pro school choice candidates make it onto the November ballot. To check and update your status or register to vote, visit teachadvocacy.org/florida/vote. Page 7

8 The Sephardic Minyan of Boca Raton Synagogue המנין הספרדי של ק"ק בוקה רטון שבת SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY תזריע-מצורע Tazria-Metzora אייר April 21 6 אייר April 20 5 תזריע-מצורע 6:33am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:09am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:55pm Minhah / Arvit 9:00am Main Minyan 6:22pm Earliest Candle Lighting 6:20pm Rabbi s Class 7:28pm Latest Candle Lighting 7:15pm Minhah/Seudah Shelishit 8:00pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 8:23pm Arvit/Havdalah Count #21 9:00pm Rabbenu Tam Count #22 אייר April אייר April אייר April אייר April אייר April 24 9 אייר April 23 8 אייר April 22 7 אחרי מות-קדושים 6:31am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:31am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:30am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:29am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:28am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:27am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:02am Ha-Netz Shaharit 7:30pm Minhah / Arvit 7:30pm Minhah / Arvit 7:30pm Minhah / Arvit 7:30pm Minhah / Arvit 7:30pm Minhah / Arvit 7:00pm Minhah / Arvit 9:00am Main Minyan 8:01pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 8:02pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 8:02pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 8:03pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 8:04pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 6:29pm Earliest Candle Lighting 6:20pm Rabbi s Class Count #23 Count #24 Count #25 Count #26 Count #27 7:32pm Latest Candle Lighting 7:15pm Minhah/Seudah Shelishit 8:04pm Earliest Shema / Sefirah 8:28pm Arvit/Havdalah Count #28 9:04pm Rabbenu Tam Count #29 Weekly Halakhah The Torah describes a particular ceremony that Bnei Yisrael are to perform upon entering the Land of Israel of the ברכות וקללות [blessings and curses] through which each member of Klal Yisrael would formally accept responsibility for each other. The list of curses concludes with Cursed ארור אשר לא יקים את דברי התורה הזאת is the one who does not fulfill the words of the Torah. Ramban quotes [his version of] the Yerushalmi, that pick up on the interesting word choice of לא יקים,אשר which literally translates as will not lift, to mean that it refers to performing הגבהה (lifting the Torah). Ramban writes that the Torah requires that properly. be performed הגבהה הגבהה The Poskim write that the purpose of is to show the congregation the words of the Torah that we are about to read. This notion is elaborated upon in מסכת סופרים and the Shulhan Arukh discusses הגבהה in the context.ארון קודש of removing the Sefer Torah from the This is the reason for the Sephardic practice of performing הגבהה prior to the Torah reading. The Ben Ish Hai quotes the Ariza l as attributing particular Kabbalistic significance both to the and its timing. The time of opening the הגבהה is one where a person can more easily ארון קודש connect with the spiritual realm and is unique in its ability to have tefillot answered. Opening up the Torah at this time reflects a person s desire and ability to connect more directly with Hashem and His instructions for us. It is for this reason that many Sephardim have the practice of carrying the Torah from the Others, while it is open. בימה to the ארון קודש הגבהה such as ours, carry it closed but perform.בימה immediately upon reaching the There is somewhat of a disagreement among the Poskim as what to do when we read two or more Sifrei Torah. All agree that we remove both from the ארון קודש at the same time. The question is only regarding the proper way to.הגבהה perform Some are of the opinion that only one Torah is to be raised and shown to the congregation. Since we recite וזאת התורה אשר שם משה when we see the Torah text, they argue that it might seem that there are two Torahs and might lead somebody astray. Others are less bothered by this problem and therefore advise lifting both Sifrei Torah, one after another, immediately.בימה after bringing them to the Since the universally accepted Sephardic practice is to perform הגבהה prior to reading the Torah and according to Kabbalah it is to be associated with ההיכל,פתיחת those are the only two options considered by any of the Poskim. They don t even consider the possibility of performing הגבהה on the second Sefer immediately prior to reading it [but after completing the first], because in their minds, is to be performed prior to any reading הגבהה.פתיחת ההיכל and connected to It is for this reason that virtually all Sephardic הגבהה congregations either perform only one when removing two Sifrei Torah, or two back.קריאת התורה to back prior to beginning Rabbi David Shabtai, MD Rabbi, Sephardic Minyan rds@brsonline.org Page 8

9 במערבא NEWS FROM THE WEST פרשת תזריע מצורע TAZRIA HILLEL DAY SCHOOL TH AVE BRSWEST.NET (561) self control מגדולי המחשבה שבפרשנינו commentary Of the great thinkers in FRIDAY SHABBAT SUNDAY 20 APRIL 21 APRIL 22 APRIL 7:28PM CANDLE LIGHTING 7:30PM MINCHA / KABBALAT SHABBAT 8:30AM SEFORNO 9:00AM SHACHARIT 10:00AM MACHANEH SHABBAT 11:00AM TEEN SICHA 6:15PM SHIUR 7:15PM MINCHA / SEUDA 7:47PM SH KIAH 8:23PM MA ARIV / HAVDALAH 8:00AM SHACHARIT 7:30PM MINCHA KIDDUSH IS SPONSORED BY DAVID AND ROCHEL LEAH AMSEL IN HONOR OF DAVID S BIRTHDAY Page 9

10 Have YOU met someone recently that would like to learn more about our Jewish community? Please have them contact US!! Simone (561) Josh (561) BRS CommUNITY Outreach!! SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! 13 Page 10

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13 LAG BA OMER Wednesday Night, may 2 Begins at 8:15 pm Join BRS for an authentic Lag Ba Omer celebration BONFIRE CHAGIGA AND KUMZITz Bonfire lighting at 8:00 pm BRS Front Lawn All musicians are invited and encouraged to bring an acoustic instrument to play at the Kumzitz. Prizes and Treats for all Children! Hahn Judaic Campus 7900 Montoya Circle Boca Raton, Florida (561) Page 13

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15 DONATE A CAR TO BRS For more information contact Matthew Hocherman at mjh@brsonline.org THANK YOU TO Daniel & Ellen Averbook, Joseph & Sarah Blumenthal, Zev & Estelle Bari, Noah & Leslie Davis, Ephraim & Dvora Haimson, Dr. Tomer & Shari Haik, Adam & Gabrielle Link, Michael & Sharona Loeffer, Yechiel & Margo Rosman, Rabbi Gershon & Stephanie Eisenberger, Joe & Shira Sharp, Stuart & Enny Wax, and Janet Zwiebel for donating their cars to BRS! Boca Raton Synagogue Presents Scholar in Residence RABBI DR. DOVID KATZ Shabbat Parshat Emor, May 5, 2018 Shabbat Morning Shiur A ג ט ש כ יב מ רע and A Tale of Two Bathshebas Rabbi s Sermon at 9:00 am Repentance, A Reform Jew, ל ה ז ה יר ה ג דו ל ים ע ל ה ק ט נ ים and How Israel Got the A-Bomb: A Tale from the Eisenhower Era Rabbi s Class How Did We American Orthodox Jews Get This Way? The Strange Story of the Lithuanian Yeshiva in the 19th and 20th Centuries: From Beleaguered Outpost of Orthodox Judaism to Owner of Orthodox Judaism. Seudah Shilshit The Perfect (Italian) Jewish Wedding: Elegance, Class, and Biting Social-Criticism. ל ח מר and a 1743 in ח תו נ ה Remarkable. Sponsored Anonymously Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz is the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Abraham of Baltimore, Maryland, and a Professor of History at the Johns Hopkins University (Dept. of Near- Eastern Studies). A former Contributing Editor to the Art Scroll Schottenstein Edition of the Babylonian Talmud and a popular speaker, Rabbi Katz lectures widely on Jewish History as well as on Rabbinic Literature. Boca Raton Synagogue Hahn Judaic Campus 7900 Montoya Circle, Boca Raton, Florida (561) Page 15

16 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO DO YOU SHOP AT THE GROVE? GIFT CARD $50 BRS is selling gift cards! If you are planning to do any shopping at the Grove, we strongly encourage you to purchase gift cards from BRS in advance. BRS is now selling gift cards for the Grove in $50 and $100 denominations. We make 10% for every dollar you spend on these gift cards. Pick up as many gift cards as you would like from the BRS office, and please make checks payable to BRS. You can even purchase with your credit card. We would like to thank The Grove for the program they have put in place to help raise money for our Shul. Page 16

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19 HaRav Ahron Lopianksy, Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva of Greater Washington-Tiferes Gedaliah IS KEEPING THE SHULCHAN ARUCH ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU A GOOD JEW? Boca Raton Synagogue Wednesday, April 25 at 8pm Open to Men and Women Boca Raton Synagogue Hahn Judaic Campus 7900 Montoya Circle, Boca Raton, Florida (561) Page 19

20 ISRAEL WEEK 2018 AT BRS WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO ROGER & LISA GLADSTONE AND THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR THEIR GENEROSITY. Page 20