September 28 October 5, Tishrei 26 Tishrei 5779

Transcription

1 Boca Raton Synagogue WEEKLY RABBI EFREM GOLDBERG Marah D asrah reg@brsonline.org RABBI PHILIP MOSKOWITZ Associate rabbi rpm@brsonline.org SHEMINI ATZERET/SIMCHAT TORAH September 28 October 5, Tishrei 26 Tishrei 5779 The Weekly is sponsored by the Boca Raton Synagogue in honor of Linda Gordon's 21 st Anniversary at BRS and Kerry Purcell's 14 th Anniversary at BRS. AND in appreciation of the prayers and wishes of Refuah Shlaymah for Harvey Gordon. DAVID KAY, MD President president@brsonline.org RABBI DAVID SHABTAI, MD Rabbi, Sephardic Minyan rds@brsonline.org Mazal Tov to our 5779 Simchat Torah Chattanim and their families: 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 RABBI GERSHON EISENBERGER Youth Director rge@brsonline.org GALA KIDDUSH THIS SIMCHAT TORAH! Chattan Kol Hane'arim Rabbi Eli Zians Chattan Torah Rabbi Ari Mirzoeff Chattan Bereishis - Ken Bender Chattan Maftir Dr. Tomer Haik RABBI ELI ZIANS Teen Director rez@brsonline.org KERRY PURCELL-STEWARD Editor-in-Chief of the Weekly kerry@brsonline.org Page 1 LIKE Like us on Facebook Boca Raton Synagogue FOLLOW Follow us @Broide SHARE Check out Jewish Pride Films for our latest videos 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 WHY WAS ONE BOY ADMITTED TO YESHIVA AND THE OTHER REJECTED? Many years ago, two bachurim, students, came to the yeshivah of the Chasam Sofer, Rav Moshe Schreiber ( ) in Pressburg, Hungary to take a farher, an entrance exam, to determine whether or not the boys qualified for admission as talmidim in his prestigious yeshivah. It was right after Sukkos, just a few days before the new zman, the semester was to begin, and the bachurim were anxious to become part of the worldrenowned yeshivah. One of the boys had the reputation of being an iluy, a genius, whose understanding and perception of sugyos was outstanding. The second boy also had the reputation of being an exemplary student for his age, but he was not known to possess as sharp a mind that the first boy had. Both boys took the farher and afterwards the Chasam Sofer announced that he would be accepting only one of them: the second boy, the one with the fine reputation but not the outstanding iluy. Staff members who had observed and overheard the boys being tested were surprised. Maggid, pg. 135) The Gemara in Megilla 26b says explicitly that unlike a Sefer Torah, tefillin or mezuza, items used for the performance of a mitzvah don t contain intrinsic sanctity and can be thrown out. In just a few days, we will all be taking down our sukkos and if we used palm fronds as schach, we will place them at the curb to be picked up by the sanitation department. So why did the Chassam Sofer not admit this young man to his yeshiva? What did he do wrong? The answer can be found in the Gemara (Shabbos 22a) which tells us that while technically tashmishei mitzvah, items used for the performance of a mitzvah, can be discarded when the mitzvah is completed, nevertheless, we cannot treat them in an undignified or demeaning manner, lest we commit what is called tashmish shel bizayon. For example, we are permitted to place our lulav and esrog in the garbage, but we first wrap it in its own garbage bag, and then place that in the garbage so as to continue to show deference to these objects that were recently used for mitzvos. And so the Chassam Sofer understood that while the mind of this student might be very sharp, his memory was in fact impaired if the experience of sitting in the sukkah could be so easily forgotten and dismissed just a few days later evidenced by his trampling on the schach. Yesterday s experiences cannot so easily be discarded and cast off. We don t step on and trample the memories and experiences, but instead we embrace them, carry them with us and continue to draw from them. sacrifices? Rav Hirsch writes: The terumas ha deshen is an avodah itself and may only be done by a kosher kohen in priestly vestments He takes a handful of the ash and he places it deliberately, not scattered on the mizrach, the east side next to the altar The ash has been laid down as a remembrance of the devotion represented by the sacrifices of the past day to God and to His holy Torah It would give the idea as the introduction to the service of the day, that today brings no new mission, it has only to carry out, ever afresh, the mission that yesterday too was to accomplish. The very last Jewish grandchild stands there, before God, with the same mission of life that his first ancestors bore, and every day adds to all its solution of the task given to all generations of the House of Israel. In other words, according to Rav Hirsch, the message is clear before sacrifices can be made today, you must acknowledge and recognize the sacrifices of yesterday. We don t trample on palm fronds that just yesterday served as our schach and we don t discard yesterday s ash and move on to today s service. We place the memory of yesterday s sacrifice next to today s sacrifice and thereby celebrate the contiguity and continuity of the Jewish experience. Both had done well, and the iluy certainly had done better. Why, they asked the Chasam Sofer, are you taking only the second bachur? The Chasam Sofer peered at those who questioned him and answered sternly, I was sitting near the window and noticed the two bachurim as they made their way from the street into this building. There was some schach on the sidewalk from one of the sukkos that had just been taken down after the yom tov. The first bachur did not make it a point to avoid the schach, but nonchalantly stepped on it as he was walking. The second boy, however, walked around the schach. I maintain, continued the Chasam Sofer, that a bachur who can step on schach just two days after Sukkos does not have the proper sensitivity to kedushas hamitzvos. He will find someplace else to learn. (R. Paysach Krohn, Footsteps of This is perhaps best expressed in an incredible insight and comment of Rav Sampson Raphael Hirsch on the mitzvah of terumas ha deshen. At the beginning of parshas Tzav, the Torah instructs the Kohanim v lavash ha kohen mido vad u michnesei vad yilbash al besaro v heirim es ha deshen ashar tochal ha eish es ha olah al ha mizbeiach, v samo eitzel ha mizbai ach. The Kohen does something unusual. He gets dressed up to take out the garbage literally! The Kohen who cleans the altar from the burnt ash of yesterday s korbanos puts on his two of the four priestly garments and instead of taking the garbage all the way to the curb, outside the Temple, for some reason he places them down on the floor of the courtyard, east of the ramp that leads to the top of the Altar. Why does he get dressed up and why does he leave yesterday s garbage next to today s Shortly, we will complete six incredible weeks that began with Elul and end with Simchas Torah. We don t conclude this journey without pausing to think about all it took to get here. In 2003, Abe Foxman, the longtime National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote a book called Never Again? In it, he recounts the experience of being hidden by a Catholic nanny for four years during the Holocaust, separated from his parents. He tells an incredible story that happened to him involving a Russian soldier in the fall of 1945 after liberation as a five-year-old boy. Also in 2003, Jewish music songwriter Abie Rotenberg was on a flight sitting next to an old Jewish man, Rabbi Leo Goldman from Detroit, and the two struck up a conversation. The old man told him a story from after the war involving a young boy Page 2

3 that Abie Rotenberg says, changed my view of life. He was so moved that he wrote lyrics to a song called The Man from Vilna telling over the story. In 2010, a researcher from Yad Vashem heard Foxman tell his story and was moved to try to find the Russian soldier. He came across Abie Rotenberg s song and put two and two together. It wasn t long after that Abe Foxman took a flight to Oak Park, Michigan, and Rabbi Goldman and he were reunited 65 years after their incredible story occurred. They hugged and cried and prayed together. Goldman s children describe that their father told this story every single year and Foxman too often recounted the experience that shaped his life. Now they have all met one another and corroborated the story from both perspectives, giving the story even greater meaning and emotion. So, what is their incredible story? The Catholic nanny saved Abe Foxman s life but she also taught him to spit on the ground when a Jew walked by. In the middle of 1945, he was reunited with his parents who had miraculously survived. His father didn t know what to do with his little boy who now had negative feelings for Judaism. He waited four months to take him to Shul until it would be the holiday of Simchas Torah since it is associated with fun and joy. Foxman remembers walking to Shul that evening and when passing a Church making the sign of the cross on himself, as he had been taught to do by the nanny. Leo Goldman had lost his parents and many relatives to the Nazis before being enlisted to serve in the Russian army. By the fall of 1945, the concentration camps had been liberated and those who survived were reuniting with family across Europe. He had gone back to Vilna, of which only 3,000 of the 100,000 Jews survived. This is the rest of the story from Leo Goldman s perspective with Abie Rotenberg s lyrics from his incredible song, the Man from Vilna, that you must listen to: I remember liberation, joy and fear both intertwined. Where to go, and what to do, and how to leave the pain behind. My heart said Go to Vilna, dare I pray yet once again, For the chance to find a loved one, or perhaps a childhood friend? It took many months to get there, from the late spring to the fall. And as I, many others, close to four hundred in all. And slowly there was healing, darkened souls now mixed with light When someone proudly cried out, Simchas Torah is tonight. We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong. From evening until morning, filling up with song. Though we had no sifrei torah to clutch close to our hearts. In their place, we held the future, of a past so torn apart. We ran as one towards the shul, our spirits in a trance. We tore apart the barricade, in defiance we would dance. But the scene before our eyes shook us to the core. Scraps of siddur, bullet holes, and bloodstains on the floor. Turning to the eastern wall, we looked on in despair There d be no scrolls to dance with, the Holy Ark was bare. Then we heard two children crying, a boy and girl who no one knew. We realized no children were among us but those two. We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong. From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song. Though we had no Sifrei Torah to gather in our arms. In their place, we held those children. The Jewish people would live on. We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong. From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song. Though we had no sifrei torah to clutch and hold up high. In their place, we held those children. Am Yisrael Chai. Goldman described that he hadn t seen a Jewish child in over a year. When he heard the voice of a little boy he bent down and asked if he was Jewish. When Foxman said yes, he couldn t help but lift him and dance with him as the living Sefer Torah they longed for. Foxman describes the soldier, a stranger, had embraced him in public, in a synagogue. He had carried him like a trophy around the Shul. Foxman said, That was for me the first time anyone took pride in me. As a hidden child I didn t know who or what I was. [After that simchas Torah] I came home and told my father that I wanted to be Jewish. It was the beginning of my life as a Jewish person. Abe Foxman, as you know, went on to live a richly Jewish life filled with Jewish leadership, fighting anti-semitism, and defending the future of the Jewish people. We are heading into the final stretch of a long, amazing holiday season. We are so blessed to live in a beautiful community, to have an incredible shul filled with Sifrei Torah, the written ones and the living ones, those that are here and those that worked so hard to build what we benefit from today. Like the terumas ha deshen, their sacrifices sit right next to our service and perpetually remind us that we are simply the continuity of what they began. Good Shabbos, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Subscribe to receive the Rabbi's blog via at rabbisblog.brsonline.org 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. Page 3 BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE DERECH ERETZ STATEMENT 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.

4 Page 4 SHABBAT AND HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FRIDAY NIGHT SHEMINI ATZERET - MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 Ashkenazi Plag Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Rand Sanctuary) Earliest Candle Lighting Friday Night Live: Please invite someone to this Outreach Program Sephardic Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Sephardic Beit Midrash) Candle Lighting Ashkenazi Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat (Rand Sanctuary) The Community is warmly invited to a Simchat Beit Ha Shoeiva at 9:30 pm in the Sukkah of Alan & Susie Berger Larkspur Trail in Thornihill Green. Divrei Torah - Singing Ruach (Weather permitting) 5:40 pm 5:55 pm 6:00 pm 6:35 pm 6:52 pm 6:55 pm SHABBAT DAY Neitz Minyan (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:31 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 9:45 am Youth Tefillah Groups (Jacobs and Rubin Youth & Senior Center) 9:50 am Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:11 am Early Ashkenazi Mincha (Rand Sanctuary) 3:00 pm Sukkot Stay (for children Kindergarten 2nd Grade) 4:00 pm Sukkot Hop (3rd 6th Grade) 4:00 pm Rabbi's Class 5:45 pm Is Sukkos a Universal Holiday or Our Particular Yom Tov? Reflections on the Embassy Opening in Yerushalayim Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Sephardic Mincha (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:30 pm Ashkenazi Mincha (Rand Sanctuary) 6:40 pm Seudah Shlishiet in Sukkah Daf Yomi (Shtiebel Beit Midrash) between Mincha/Ma'ariv Sh kiah 7:09 pm Ma ariv/havdalah 7:44 pm Daf Yomi 8:15 pm Ashkenazi Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabbah with Rabbi Josh Flug 9:00 pm Sephardic Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabbah 1:00 am SHABBAT LEARNING Tefillah Insights 8:30 am Advanced Gemara Chabura (Binyamin Zwelling) After Hashkama Minyan Youth Groups (Drop-off begins at 10:00 am) 10:30 am HOSHANA RABBAH - EREV SHEMINI ATZERET SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Ashkenazi Neitz Minyan (Shtiebel Beit Midrash) 6:45 am Sephardic Shacharit 6:53 am Ashkenazi Shacharit 6:05, 7:00, 8:00 & 9:00 am Sephardic Mincha/Ma ariv (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:30 pm Candle Lighting with Shehechiyanu 6:50 pm Mincha/Ma ariv (Rand Sanctuary) 6:55 pm DAILY MINYAN TIMES WEDNESDAY 24 TISHREI THURSDAY 25 TISHREI FRIDAY 26 TISHREI Daf Yomi -Menachos Ashkenazi Shacharit Ashkenazi Shacharit AAshkenazi Shacharit AAshkenazi Shacharit Ashkenazi Shacharit Early Ashkenazi Mincha Ashkenazi Mincha/ Ma ariv Late Ashkenazi Ma ariv 6:25 am 7:00 am 7:45 am 8:30 am 9:15 am 6:50 pm 9:45 pm Senders Library 6:15 am 7:00 am 7:45 am 8:30 am 9:15 am 6:50 pm 6:25 am 7:00 am 7:45 am 8:30 am 9:15 am 9:45 pm Senders Library Neitz Minyan (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:32 am Hashkama Minyan () 7:30 am Advanced Gemara Chabura (Rabb Dovid Kimche) After Hashkama Minyan Sephardic Minyan (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 8:30 am Ashkenazi Minyan (Rand Sanctuary) 9:00 am Sermon: Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Shtiebel Minyan (Shtiebel Beit Midrash - 2nd floor) 9:30 am Teen Minyan (Shechet Beit Midrash - 2nd floor) 9:45 am Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:11 am Yizkor (Rand Sanctuary) Approximately 10:30 am Youth Tefillah Groups (Jacobs and Rubin Youth & Senior Center) 10:30 am Daf Yomi 5:40 pm Rabbi s Class (Rand Sanctuary) 5:40 pm Rabbi Menachen Penner, Dean of RIETS at YU Mincha (Rand Sanctuary) 6:40 pm Sephardic Mincha (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 6:45 pm Kiddy Hakafot () 6:55-7:25 pm Ma ariv/hakafot 7:25 pm After the first two Hakafot, we will divide into: Simchat Hakafot in the and Hakafot in the Rand Sanctuary Candle Lighting with Shehechiyanu No Yom Tov Preparation Prior To 7:38 pm SIMCHAT TORAH - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2 Neitz Minyan (Sephardic Beit Midrash) (Shacharit Only) 6:32 am Ashkenazi Shacharit (Rand Sanctuary) 8:00 am Sephardic Shacharit (Sephardic Beit Midrash) 8:15 am Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:12 am Hakafot () 8:50-10:00 am Aliyot 10:00 am SIMCHAT TORAH READING ASSIGNMENTS Hashkoma Minyan: Room 203 Sephardic Minyan: Three stations in the Sephardic Beit Midrash Main Minyan: Six stations in the Rand Sanctuary Shtiebel Minyan: Room 211/212 Teen Minyan: Room 102 Gala Kiddush (Meat) 10:00 am Kiddush available for women (Berdugo Beit Midrash) 10:00 am Hakafot for Women (Berdugo Beit Midrash) 10:00-10:30 am Magic Show for Kids rooms 101 & High School Library 10:00 am Women s Shiur (Shechet Beit Midrash ) 10:30-11:15 am Will Praying for a Friend in Need or For Ourselves Really Make a Difference? Why Pray Even When You Don t Feel Like It Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Chattanim & Mussaf Chattan Kol Hanearim Rabbi Eli Zians Chattan Torah Rabbi Ari Mirzoeff Chattan Bereishis - Ken Bender Chattan Maftir Dr. Tomer Haik 11:15 am SHARP Daf Yomi 5:45 pm Sephardic Mincha 6:44 pm Mincha 6:45 pm Short Ideas on Simchas Torah to Take With Us Into The Year Dvar Torah - Rabbi Ari Mirzoeff Ma ariv/havdalah 7:41 pm

5 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS MAZAL TOV Issac & Veronica Mizrahi on the engagement of their son, Daniel to Ariela. Her proud parents are Edi & Margarita Israelov of Miami Beach, FL. Eric & Loren Stein on the engagement of their son, Alex to Molly. Her proud parents Alissa & Sammy Zagha of Teaneck, NJ. And to his proud siblings, Jonah, Lena & Levi. KIDDUSH Hashkama Minyan Kiddush on Shabbat & Simchat Torah sponsored the Hashkama Minyan Kiddush Fund Shtiebel Minyan Kiddush sponsored by the Shtiebel Minyan Kiddush Fund Sephardic Minyan Kiddush on Shabbat sponsored by Eric & Mindy Haskin in honor of Hashem, Chag and the Sephardic Community Seudah Shlishiet co-sponsored by Dr. Robert & Elise Dolgow in commemoration of the Yahrzeit of his beloved father, Edward Dolgow. And by Yaakov Kronfeld. Seudah Shlishiet Guest Speaker: Rabbi Moshe Schochet Hashkama Minyan Kiddush on Shemini Atzeret sponsored by Gil & Lysee Stein and Hercules Roofing in honor of Tefilat Geshem Teen Simchat Torah Extravaganza sponsored by Chaim & Leah Rosen in commemoration of the Yahrzeits of Bobe Lina Feiglin, Zeidah Harry Rosen and Yitz ob m MAZAL TOV TO OUR SIMCHAT TORAH CHATTANIM Chattan Kol Hane'arim Rabbi Eli Zians Chatan Torah Rabbi Ari Mirzoeff Chattan Breishis - Ken Bender Chattan Maftir Dr. Tomer Haik TIKKUN LEIL HOSHANA RABBA Join us Motzaei Shabbat, September 29 at 8:15 pm in the Sukkah for Daf Yomi with Rabbi Ben Sugerman and 9:00 pm for a Shiur with Rabbi Josh Flug. Come, learn, and seal your heavenly decree with the fire of Torah. Light refreshments will be provided. Sephardic program begins at 1:00 am. NEITZ (SUNRISE) MINYAN ON HOSHANA RABBAH Hoshana Rabbah, Sunday, September 30 is considered the culmination of the Days of Awe. There will be a slow, unrushed, Ashkenazi Neitz Minyan in the Shtiebel Beit Midrash at 6:45 am. It is anticipated to conclude by 8:45 am. SAFETY MESSAGE Sukkot is a period in which we spend a great deal of time outdoors. Please make sure your pool and its immediate vicinity are safe. As we sit outdoors, we especially encourage those with young children to be vigilant in their supervision. Additionally, because of the concerns about Zika, everyone is encouraged to appropriately use bug repellent. SIMCHAT TORAH GUIDELINES In order to create the appropriate atmosphere in the Shul, and to protect our children on Simchat Torah, we ask for full cooperation from adults: 1. Zero tolerance for alcohol on the Hahn Judaic Campus on Simchat Torah Night 2. Alcohol is restricted on Simchat Torah Day to designated areas which will be under supervision. ALIYAHS FOR BOYS UNDER BAR MITZVAH All boys from 9 years old and up are invited to receive Aliyot on Simchat Torah morning at the Teen Minyan reading, provided that they have been taught the proper way to receive an Aliyah. MAIN MINYAN GALA KIDDUSH ON SIMCHAT TORAH is sponsored by: Daniel & Dr. Liora Adler Leo & Heni Ehrlich Noam & Jill Kaminetzky Aryeh & Brandy Meiteles Alex & Yochi Mitchell Dr. Barry & Dana Schechter Michael & Risa Zimmerman SIMCHAT TORAH CANDY BAGS Join us on the front lawn after Kol Hane arim on Tuesday, October 2 to pick up your delicious candy bag! We greatly thank BRS Sisterhood for generously sponsoring the over 1,000 candy bags. SISTERHOOD NEWS Sisterhood would like to thank all of our new members. We raised $2,425 to date. The funds for this project are used to buy 1000 Simchat Torah candy bags for our children at BRS and BRS West. You still have time to join and be included in the New Year e-card greeting. We would like to thank Loren Stein for her beautiful design. Thank you to Jessica Matiash for working on the e-card and to Anne Deakter and Sara Schandelson for all their efforts to recruit new members. KOL HANE'ARIM FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS For children with special needs who find the Kol Ha'Nearim Aliyah in the Rand Sanctuary noisy, crowded or overwhelming, we will be hosting an additional, special Kol Ha'Nearim aliyah in a separate, quiet room at 10:30 am in room 104/105 led by Rabbi Josh Broide. SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THOSE TRYING TO HAVE CHILDREN Prior to the Kol Ha'Nearim Aliyah in the Rand Sanctuary, we will be taking a moment to recite a special prayer on behalf of all those trying to have children. If you have name(s) of anyone to be thought of during that time, please Rabbi Efrem Goldberg at reg@brsonline.org before hand (The names are not recited out-loud) KOL HANE ARIM TALLIT We are only days away from, once again, using our Guinness World Record gigantic and beautiful Kol Hane arim Tallit. We are in need of a team of at least 40 strong men to volunteer on Simchat Torah morning in order to setup, hold, and put away the Tallit. If you are interested in being part of this team, please come to the front of the Rand Sanctuary at 11:00 am on Simchat Torah morning for the big event. We are especially grateful to Dr. Ashi & Chava Weisstuch for their sponsorship of the center of our Kol Hane arim Tallit. The Weisstuchs have sponsored the Tallit in loving memory of her beloved father, Henry Kamioner. We would also like to thank our corner sponsors, Moshe & Channi Bertram, Dr. Robert and Judith Bruckstein, Saul & Bobbie Friedman, and Dr. Merv and Elaine Jacobs. SUNRISE MINYAN AT THE BEACH Friday, October 5, at 6:55 am. Watch the sun rise over the ocean as you connect with God through prayer and inspiration. Meet at the Palmetto Park Gazebo for a special inspirational Minyan. Men and women are welcome. Coffee and donuts will be served after davening. INFERTILITY/ MISCARRIAGE SUPPORT GROUP BRS s Infertility/ Miscarriage Support Group will be meeting the first Wednesday of October. We will be meeting on October 3rd at 8pm at the Boca Raton Synagogue in the Petrover Board Room. Please RSVP by October 1st if you plan to come. For additional information about the group, or upcoming meetings, please contact Elissa love, MSW at ElissaL@ralesjfs.org BRS WANTS TO WELCOME YOU! SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, October 14 for the New Member dessert reception. Are you moving into our community? Do you know someone moving into our community? Our welcome committee wants to welcome you! Please contact Orlie Cohen at orlielevy@hotmail.com or Elana Belizon at elana.belizon@gmail.com to be set up with a buddy family. SHALSHELET BAT MITZVAH PROGRAM BRS is proud to present the annual Shalshelet Bat Mitzvah program! Please join us for a 10-week series about women throughout Jewish history. This program is for Bat Mitzvah age girls and their mothers, and is taught by Mrs. Michal Schochet and Mrs. Rina Lanner. The first class will be held on Sunday, October 14 at 10:00 am. Please Rebbitzin Yocheved Goldberg at goldbergmom@gmail.com to register and for more information. Page 5

6 Shtiebel Minyan Kiddush $250 Regular Page 6 BRS AUXILIARIES, ETC. BIKUR CHOLIM If you would like to have someone visited at the Boca Raton Regional Hospital, please contact Bikur Cholim of South Palm Beach County at or (561) 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 SECURITY COMMITTEE The BRS Security Team is looking for more volunteers. It is just hours of your time every 3 weeks. If you are able to help, then please send us an with your name & phone number to brsvst@gmail.com. If you are unable to volunteer but would like to donate to help security needs, a "security donations" line has been added to the donation type drop down menu at brsonline.org under the donate tab. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE There are many classes that take place during the week that are available to sponsor. Sponsorship will be acknowledged in the BRS Weekly and announced at the class. If you are interested in sponsoring any of the following classes in memory or in honor of a loved one, please contact the Shul office at office@ brsonline.org Day of Learning - $180 Rabbi s Class on Shabbat afternoon - $250 Rabbi Goldberg s Tuesday morning Parsha Class - $100 Daf Yomi for the Week - $100 Rabbi Goldberg s Emunah Class - $54 The BRS Weekly - $100 Week of Afternoon Kollel - $150 Wednesday Night Learning Program - $150 Avos UBanim - $150 BRS Announcements - $100 Hashkamah Minyan Kiddush $260 - Regular $360 - Deluxe $460 - Super Deluxe LIFE CYCLE BIRTHDAYS Elisheva Bloom Abiqail Matiash Sari Vine Gabriella Rosman Rhona Cohen Rotem Carmel Gil Stein Jane Epstein Judi Krasna Leora Goldberg Aharon Shabtai CONDOLENCES TO Dr. Mark Cohan and Cara Freedman on the passing of his beloved wife. and her beloved mother,, Helen Cohan. Abraham Jeremias on the passing of his beloved mother, Rivka Golda Jeremias. REFUAH SHLAYMAH For members of BRS Community. For all other Refuah Shlaymah needs, please call Linda at (561) 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 Ha'Levi Yisroel Moshe ben Yocheved Arieh Leib ben Baila Rochel 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 Dovid Yosef ben Eliezer Ha'Levy Michael Lupin Michoel Yonah ben Leah Menachem Mendel ben Baila Rochel Larry Perkins Yisrael Aharon ben Bayla Golda Charles Rotsztajn Chaim Yitzchak ben Shaindel Hinda Shoni Chaim ben Yoseffa Chaya Helen Ijac Alta Haita bat Devorah Joan Noven Rochel Tova bat Malka 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 Marie Gosser Muna bat Salima Shulamit Olga Newman Liba Rivka bat Esther Malka Breindel Chanah bat Chaye Raizel Shula Amsalem Shulamit bat Bella Avigail Malka bat Chana Yehudit Devorah Bat Yita Roiza Blima YAHRZEITS Dr. Stuart Lefkowitz in memory of his mother Pearl Lefkowitz 19 Tishrei Shifra Zwick in memory of her father Rabbi Shlomo Nulman 19 Tishrei Sylvia Pruzansky in memory of her mother-in-law Pesha Baila Pruzansky 19 Tishrei Shari Hirth in memory of her uncle Martin Samowitz 19 Tishrei Robert Pearlman in memory of his father Cyril Pearlman 19 Tishrei Dr. Sara Brudnoy in memory of her father Israel Serchuk 19 Tishrei Kenneth Bender in memory of his father Joseph Joel Pitt 19 Tishrei Frances Marx in memory of her brother Sol Popper 20 Tishrei Flora Goldsmith in memory of her uncle Harold Fogel 20 Tishrei Tony Gelbart in memory of his father Bernard Gelbart 20 Tishrei Richard Berg in memory of his aunt Ethel Seiden 21 Tishrei David Goldsmith in memory of his father Sidney Goldsmith 21 Tishrei Joel Clayman in memory of his father William B. Clayman 21 Tishrei Avi Tansman in memory of his uncle Victor Wolkowicz 22 Tishrei Dr. Jack Azar in memory of his mother Rena Azar Cohen 22 Tishrei Georgina Rice in memory of her father Michael Lewis,22 Tishrei Dr. Robert Dolgow in memory of his father Edward Dolgow 22 Tishrei Sylvia Broide in memory of her mother Yetta Katz 23 Tishrei Barbara Frenkel in memory of her mother Ruth Lerner Delman 23 Tishrei Jack Hanoka in memory of his grandfather Marco Penso 23 Tishrei Rabbi Josh Broide in memory of his grandmother Yetta Katz 23 Tishrei Warren Factor in memory of his father Anthony Factor 23 Tishrei Sara Maryles in memory of her father Moshe Binyamin ben Shlomo HaLevi 24 Tishrei Harvey Reichenthal in memory of his brother Steven Reichenthal 24 Tishrei Sydelle Tannenbaum in memory of her grandfather Joshua Greenfield 24 Tishrei Dr. Jaime Alalu in memory of his brother Leon Alalu 25 Tishrei Yocheved Hande in memory of her mother Lillian Beckenstein Horowitz 25 Tishrei Daniel Masri in memory of his father Joseph Masri 25 Tishrei Dena Ballew in memory of her father Dr. Sheldon C White 25 Tishrei Natalie Halperin in memory of her mother Frances Mager 25 Tishrei Debra Halperin in memory of her father Isadore Moore 26 Tishrei Yaakov Kronfeld in memory of his mother Yetta E Kronfeld 26 Tishrei Adam Ballew in memory of his grandmother Elsie Ballew 26 Tishrei Esti Ohayon in memory of her father Joseph "Ossie" Schonfeld 26 Tishrei Pamela Silverman in memory of her mother Ilene Tauman 26 Tishrei

7 ISRAEL UPDATE SOCIAL ACTION In September 2017, Palestinian Media Watch published a special report revealing that the PA Ministry of Education has named at least 32 schools after terrorists and 3 after Nazi collaborators. 41 school names glorify "Martyrs" and "Martyrdom". One of the schools named after Dalal Mughrabi, a terrorist who led the murder of 37 civilians, was built using Belgian government money. Initially the school was named "The Beit Awaa School," but subsequently renamed the "Dalal Mughrabi Elementary School" without Belgian donors being notified. The government of Belgium immediately demanded that the name of the school it had funded be changed. Almost a year later, in July 2018, despite Belgium's complaints, the school was still named after terrorist Dalal Mughrabi. PMW's report led to further pressure from Belgium, and the PA finally changed the name of the school to "The Belgian School" last month. In a show of contempt for Belgium, the PA simultaneously renamed a nearby school after the same terrorist, giving it the name "The Martyr Dalal Mughrabi Elementary School." In addition, it publicly laid the foundation for another school named "The Second Dalal Mughrabi Republic School." Belgium reacted promptly. The Belgium Ministry of Development Cooperation has cancelled all funding of PA schools, not only those funded by Belgium, until no schools are named after terrorists. 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, Jonathan Cohen, Yonatan Fastag, Aviad Halfon, Ariel Hirschhorn, Shoshanna Golish, 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, Sarina Solomon, Oliver Solomon, Chananya Strauss, Amir Tsarfati, Joshua Weiss, Noah Weiss, and Eitan Wolfson. 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. If you have children or grandchildren currently serving in the IDF, please let us know their names so we can include them. Please have in mind our missingin-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 MASHGIACH. MASHGIACH Learn to be a Mashgiach. Mashgiach Training Course. Monday, October 15 Friday, October 26. Monday - Thursday, 9:30am - 3:30pm. Friday, 9:30am - 1:30pm. Jointly sponsored and taught by orb and kosher Miami. For additional info contact:orbko@cs.com (954) Certain age and other requirements apply. Application receipt deadline Wednesday, October 17. The last two gubernatorial elections in Florida were decided by less than 1% of the vote. There is no reason to think this year will be any different. Register to vote by October 9 to make sure your voice for Jewish education is heard this November. Contact teachflorida@ ou.org with questions. Page 7

8 The Sephardic Minyan of Boca Raton Synagogue המנין הספרדי של ק"ק בוקה רטון שבת SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY חול המועד-שמיני עצרת Hol ha-mo ed Shemini Atzeret תשרי September תשרי September שבת חול המועד חול המועד 6:52am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:31am Ha-Netz Minyan 5:56pm Earliest Candle Lighting 8:40am Hilkhot Shabbat Shiur 6:35pm Minhah / Arvit 9:00am Main Minyan 6:52pm Latest Candle Lighting 5:35pm Rabbi s Class 7:24pm Earliest Shema 6:25pm Minhah 9:30pm Simhat Beit ha-sho eivah Seudah Shelishit 7:44pm Arvit/Havdalah 8:18pm Rabbenu Tam 1:00am Tikkun Leil Hoshanah Rabbah תשרי October 6 27 תשרי October 5 26 תשרי October 4 25 תשרי October 3 24 תשרי October 2 23 תשרי October 1 22 תשרי September בראשית שמחת תורה שמיני עצרת הושענא רבא 6:53am Ha-Netz Shaharit 5:54pm Earliest Candle Lighting 6:40pm Minhah / Arvit 6:50pm Candle Lighting 7:22pm Earliest Shema 6:32am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:32am Ha-Netz Shaharit (only) 6:54am Ha-Netz Shaharit 8:30am Main Minyan 8:15am Main Minyan 6:45pm Minhah / Arvit 5:40pm Rabbi s Class 6:45pm Minhah 7:18pm Earliest Shema 6:45pm Minhah Shiur 7:41pm Shiur Arvit / Havdalah 7:30pm Arvit 7:42pm Earliest Candle Lighting No preparations for the evening meal before 7:42 pm Friday Night 9.30pm 6:55am Ha-Netz Shaharit 6:45pm Minhah / Arvit 7:17pm Earliest Shema Rashi famously explains the meaning of Atzeret (stopping or pausing) in Shemini Atzeret as if Hashem it asking Bnei Yisrael to not leave just yet and spend one more day together with Him. While certainly inspiring that not only do we feel close to Hashem during the Tishrei holidays but that He also feels close to us, how is just one more day going to help? If the difficulty of separating is so great, why is it so meaningful to delay it by one day? Indeed, if it were just one more day, then it wouldn t matter all that much. But it s not just one more day, but Shemini Atzeret / Simhat Torah. 6:55am Ha-Netz Shaharit 5:50pm Earliest Candle Lighting 6:30pm Minhah / Arvit 6:45pm Latest Candle Lighting 7:16pm Earliest Shema 6:34am Ha-Netz Minyan 8:40am Hilkhot Shabbat Shiur 9:00am Main Minyan 5:30pm Rabbi s Class 6:25pm Minhah Seudah Shelishit 7:37pm Arvit/Havdalah 8:11pm Rabbenu Tam Shemini Atzeret Thought Shemini Atzeret / Simhat Torah are days that we specifically celebrate our role in Torah learning and renew our committment to following and learning Torah. It s when we restart the cycle of Torah learning for the year. It is not just one more holiday but a holiday geared to preparing us for the rest of the year. When we take leave from Hashem as we renew our committment to following His guidebook for the world, He is confident that as far as we might physically travel, we will never be too far away. This is the significance of this one more day. Shabtai Home 7711 San Mateo Drive Montoya Estates East Rabbi David Shabtai, MD Rabbi, Sephardic Minyan rds@brsonline.org Page 8

9 Have YOU met someone recently that would like to learn more about our Jewish community? Please have them contact US!! Simone (561) Josh (561) Welcome to the Boca Raton Synagogue CommUNITY Outreach Initiative Tune into the Jewish CommUNITY Radio Show EVERY Sunday from 3:00-4:00pm on 850 WFTL Page 9

10 Page 10

11 Page 11

12 Page 12

13 NEW NIGHT KOLLEL! Starting After Sukkot 8 Kollel Fellows Will Be Available For 1 On 1 Chavrusa Learning Mondays - Thursdays 2 Time Slots Available: 8:15-9:00 pm 9:00-9:45 pm GUEST RABBONIM 5779 RABBI SIMCHA SHABTAI ROSH BEIS MEDRASH RSS@BRSONLINE.ORG Page 13

14 Page 14

15 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 15

16 Join the Boca Raton Synagogue Youth community and Bnei Akiva for our annual Parshat Noach Animal Show and Bounce Houses Come see and learn about some of the amazing animals Noah had to live with! Sunday, October 14 from 3:30-6:00 pm at Boca Raton Synagogue We will be opening half an hour early, at 3:00 pm, for a sensory friendly experience to accommodate children with special needs only. Pizza dinner will be available for sale. Dodge the Log Jammer! Jump Around our Toddler Play Zone! Face Painting Balloon Animals Animal show will begin promptly at 4:45 pm Sponsored by TD Bank For more information contact Rabbi Gershon Eisenberger at rge@brsonline.org HAHN JUDAIC CAMPUS 7900 MONTOYA CIRCLE N. BOCA RATON, FLORIDA (561) FAX (561) OFFICE@BRSONLINE.ORG Page 16

17 BRS YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE BRS Season III For boys in grades 1-2 & 3-4 Sunday mornings 9:00-10:15 am (Grades 1-2) 10:30-11:45 am (Grades 3-4) Tentative clinic & game dates: October 21 & 28 November 4, 11, 19 & 25 December 2, 16 & 23 December 30 (Championship) Space is limited - limit of 9 players per team, no exceptions. Registration deadline: Thursday, October 4 Cost per child: Members: $100 Non-members: $130 register today brsonline.org/flagfootball Thank you to our Sponsors: Hahn Judaic Campus 7900 Montoya Circle N. Boca Raton, Fl (561) Page 17

18 Page 18

19 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, Yaakov Kronfeld, 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! Page 19 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO

20 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO Page 20 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO

21 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO Page 21 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO

22 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO Page 22 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE GO TO

23 IN YOUR MAILBOX SOON Page 23

24 SIMCHAT TORAH Our third annual MAGIC SHOWS Two Magic Shows for the BRS Youth! Tuesday, October 2, Simchat Torah morning FOR AGES 3-6 Room 101 at 10:00 am FOR AGES 7-11 at 10:00 am in Room 101 and in High School Library (No Parents Allowed) We welcome back one of our favorite magicians for a spectacular show. Sukkah Hop & Stop! Shabbat, September 29 at 4:00 pm in the Shul Sukkah Join the BRS Youth community for our incredible Sukkah Hops and Stops. Children up to 2nd grade, join us in the Shul Sukkah to create your very own Candy Sukkah. 3rd through 6th graders will join our incredible Bnei Akiva Hadracha on a fun Sukkah Hop with great snacks and activities. In the event of rain all groups will meet in the Berdugo Beit Midrash for an indoor activity. Page 24 Boca Raton Synagogue Hahn Valuing Judaic Diversity Campus Celebrating Unity