Welcome to the Welcome to the DAT Minyan Fri. June 5 Parshat Noach October Shabbat 25, 2014 Parshat 1 Beha alotcha Marcheshvan 5775 June 6, 2015 19 Sivan 5775 שבת June 6 Sun. June 7 Mon. Juue 8 Candles: (10/15): 6:51-8:06 6:03 Candles Havdalah: (10/16): 9:07 7:01 Candles (10/17): 6:00 Havdala (10/18): 6:58 Candles Parsha: p. (10/24): 774 5:50 Haftarah: p. 1182 ALTERS FAREWELL KIDDUSH sponsored by the Abramson-Pritchard, Alpert, Avner, Baraban, Bean, Berkowitz-Caplan, Bielsky, Brandt, Braunstein, Bulow, Carmel, Ciner, Eisen, Eliyahu, David and Shira Fishman, Dovid and Cheryl Friedman, Rob and Debbie Friedman, Geller-Fine, Goldstein, Greenwald, Gross, Halpern, Fred and Pia Hirsch, Noomi and Philip Hirsch, Hoffman, Horowitz, Hutt, Rabbi and Mrs. Aver Jacobs, Lenny Kark, Koll, Kornbluth, Levin, Lev, Levy, Lifschitz, Loewenthal, Lustig, Evan and Evi Makovsky, Noah and Arinn Makovsky, Narrowe, Penn, Perlmutter, Polotsky, Pomeranz, Rotbart, Schottenstein, Segall, Senkfor, Shapiro, Silberman, Shurtleff, Slamowitz, Steiner, Sunshine, Szrajber, Toys, Troy, Weiser, Winne, Wolf, Woodrow, Zalesch, and Zalkin families. Tue. June 9 Wed. June 10 Thu. June 11 Shacharit Latest Shema 9:15 am 6:45 7:30, 9:00 8:00 6:35 6:45 6:45 6:35 6:45 6:40 7:55 Maariv Earliest Shema 9:12 pm 9:06 party (about 9:00) Fri. June 12 7:30 at BMH then party! 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 6:45 WELCOME to our newest Shul members, Aaron and Nicki Toys and family. We are so glad to have you with us! APOLOGIES to Anath and Ian Gardenswartz on our omission of their son s graduation last week. Mazel Tov to their son Dani Charles on graduating Graduate School at Georgetown University. TZEITCHEM L SHALOM to Rabbi Daniel and Rivka Alter, and Yehuda, Shimmy, Talya, Elisha, Ezra, Avigail and Shayna, and our best wishes for your continued success in all of your future endeavors. Visit soon and often! THANK YOU from Morah Iris to the community for their outpouring of love and support during her recent loss. May we only share semachot together in the future. Alter Farewell Weekend This weekend, we wish farewell to the Alter family and celebrate their impact on our community. The Alters leave town the week of June 14. Oneg Shabbat Friday night, June 5, at the Zalesch home, 315 S. Newport, beginning at 9:15 pm. Farewell Kiddush Shabbat Day, June 6. The Kiddush will be outside (weather permitting), after Kiddush and cookies inside. Thank you to our Kiddush sponsors, who are name above and whose beautiful messages appear later in the newsletter. A SHAWL Tribute to Rivka Alter begins at 6:00 pm, and continues until 7:45. The first hour will feature Divrei Torah by Ellyn Hutt, Terry Samuel, Rachel Rabinovitch, and Morah Gross. The second hour will feature zemirot led by Julie Geller, refreshments, and additional Divrei Torah. Farewell Party Sunday night, June 7, 7:30-9:00 pm at BMH-BJ Fischer Hall. 7:30; Maariv following program. Adults only. RSVP to NaomiLev05@gmail.com. See Page 5. Rabbi Alter s Shabbat Derasha Over the years, Rabbi Alter has used the Shabbos Shuva Derasha as an opportunity to share his thoughts on issues that may be more DAT MINYAN NEWS AND EVENTS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DAY TIME TOPIC TEACHER PLACE Fri. Before Maariv D var Torah Rabbi Alter MPR 8:30 am Tefillah Ellyn Hutt MPR שבת Hashkama D var Torah Shimmy Alter 112 Mussaf Derasha (see left) Rabbi Alter MPR Rabbi Alter's Top Ten List: The Top Ten Shabbos Shuva Derashot That Rabbi Alter Would Have Liked to Give Haftarah/Mussaf Parsha Class Rabbi Gitler 112 6:00-7:45 pm SHAWL See left side of page MPR A SHAWL Tribute to Mrs. Rivka Alter (see left side of page) 6:40 pm HS Boys Gemara Dr. N. Rabinovitch MPR 6:55 pm Open Beit Medrash MPR 7:15 pm 5th-7th Boys Mishna Rabbi Alter DAT Seudah Shelishit Rabbi Alter MPR Sun. Maariv Advanced Talmud Rabbi Eli Mozes MPR sensitive in nature or challenging as topics. This Shabbat he will share his Top Ten list of issues that he thinks should be on the radar of the community. He promises to equally offend everybody :-) Please help make our Tefillot meaningful by refraining from talking during Davening. DAT Minyan 6825 Alameda Ave., Denver, CO 80224 www.datminyan.org Twitter: @datminyan
D var Torah Rabbi Yochanan Zweig Torah.org "Moshe heard the people weeping concerning their family groups..." (11:10) The Talmud relates that any commandment which we initially accepted with rejoicing, such as bris milah, circumcision, would be performed joyously in later generations. However, any commandment that was received with resistance would be fulfilled in later generations with aggravation. Specifically, since Bnei Yisroel wept over being prohibited from marrying their family members, the result was that there would never be a Kesubah, a marriage document that records the couple's financial obligations to one another, written that did not involve some form of dispute.1 Why are circumcision and prohibited relationships the two examples utilized? The Maharal questions why, in fact, it became prohibited to Bnei Yisroel to marry their family members; according to the Talmud, in preparation for receiving the Torah, Bnei Yisroel underwent complete conversion i.e. circumcision, ritual bathing, and the bringing of sacrifices. By Torah law, when a person converts he severs all preexisting family relationships. Therefore, technically, if a brother and sister were to convert, as Jews they would be permitted to marry one another, based upon the dictum "ger shenisgayer kikatan shenolad dami," "a convert has the status of a newborn child." Therefore, asks the Maharal, why did the conversion process of Bnei Yisroel not sever all preexisting family relationships, permitting them to marry their family members? The reason why conversion severs preexisting family relationships is that when a person becomes a Jew, he disconnects himself from his previous heritage, and connects himself with the heritage that began with our forefather Abraham. This is the reason for the custom of naming converts "ben Avraham," "the son of Abraham." The conversion of Bnei Yisroel at Har Sinai did not sever their previous heritage; on the contrary, it reaffirmed and reconnected them back to their ancestry. It is because of their connection to their ancestry that they merited to receive the Torah. Therefore, all previous family relationships remained in tact. Weekly Halacha : Kashrut Rabbi Yaakov Beasley Virtual Beit Midrash (vbm.org) Last week we looked at the Rambam s rationale for the laws of Kashrut that they safeguard our physical health. With this theory, the Rambam is able to explain the entire breadth of the kashrut laws in one fell swoop. In accordance with his general approach when providing rationales for the commandments, he does not need to involve himself with the explanation of every single detail of those laws. One does not not have to be a doctor (like the Rambam was) to instinctively appreciate the concern for health. Even from a spiritual standpoint, the necessity of a healthy, functioning body is apparent; only a healthy body can allow for the development of a healthy mind. The Rambam himself points out that "when a person is preoccupied in this world with illness, warfare, or hunger, then he cannot devote himself to the acquisition of wisdom and to the performance of the mitzvoth, by which one merits life everlasting in the World to Come" (Mishna Torah, Hilkhot Teshuva 9:1). Elsewhere, the Rambam emphasizes the central role played by the diet in preserving a person s constitution (see Mishna Torah, Hilkhot De ot, ch. 4). This approach is best articulated by the Sefer Ha- Chinukh in his explanation of the commandment: At the foundation of this mitzvah is to realize that the body is an instrument for the soul, for through its agency the soul can execute its mission, and in its absence its objective can never be completed. all, truly the soul entered the body for its benefit and not for its detriment, for God does good to all If the body is deficient in any respect, then the ability of the mind to fulfill its task is curtailed to a corresponding degree, and therefore the Torah distanced us from all things that bring the body ruin. In a straightforward way, then, we may argue that this is the underlying rationale for all of the forbidden foods. But if there are some things among these laws whose detrimental effects are not known neither us nor to the physicians, do not be perturbed, for the faithful Physician who forbade them to us is more wise than either us or them. How foolish is the one who thinks that a thing s injurious or beneficial qualities are a function Cont d on page 3 Cont d on page 3 Refuah Shleima Please include the following names in your prayers. May each be granted a Refuah Shleima. Names are kept on the list until the next Rosh Chodesh. Help us keep the list accurate by verifying the necessary details each month on the Cholim GoogleDoc. Yisroel David ben Rifka Eirit bat Tzafi Yonna bat Esther Yisroel Yosef Ben Leah Rachama Sara Sima Bat Basha Leeba Dov Shmuel Ben nechama Rivka Baruch Shmuel bat Chava Shayna Rachel bat Chana Avraham Shalom ben Henna Barak Mordechai ben Edit Chaim Benjamin ben Bracha Chaim Shmuel ben Miriam Chaya Chanah Elisheva Rivka bat Sarah Devorah Leah bat Chanah Dina bat Hyla and Shayla Eliyahu Chayim HaKohen ben Sarah Rivka Ezra ben Mazal Ida bat Esa Ita Sheiva bas Udya Kalman ben Esther Leah bat Sarah Leah Devora Kivitiya bat Chaya Michael Aharon ben Hasia Miriam Tova Chaya bat Chanah Naomi Miriam bat Sarah Emanu Noa Shani bat Chaya Bracha Rabbi Ephraim Ben Henna Raphael Yotam ben Efrat Yosef Yisrael ben Rachel Hudi Shimon ben Miriam Hendel Sarah Esther bat Faiyge Sarah Shoshanna bat Sarah Baruch Getzel ben Esther Shirley Hasia bat Devorah Simcha hakohen ben Chana Yehuda ben Margalit Sarah Yogev Levi ben Sarah Tova Leah bat Chana Shashi bat Batya Baila Sandra Miriam Shoshana bat Chanah (Rabbi) Tzvi Gershon ben Shaindel Shaina Raizel
We are proud to announce our newly elected Board officers: President Rachel Rabinovitch Vice President Marc Avner Treasurer David Fishman Secretary TBD HELP HOUSTON RECOVER FROM SEVERE FLOODING The Jewish community of Houston needs our help to recover from severe floods that began on the second day of Shavuot and caused devastating damage. The homes of many of the 40,000 Jews who call Houston home are unlivable; several shuls and other communal facilities will also require extensive repair. Some elderly members of the community had to be rescued by boats and kayaks when torrential rains inundated the canals that criss-cross the city, causing them to overflow. Rabbi Steven Weil, senior managing director of the Orthodox Union, flew to Houston and helped assess the damage. He reports that flood waters stood several feet deep in many structures, ruining a great deal of property, including many seforim at both United Orthodox Synagogue of Houston and Meyerland Minyan. Thankfully, sifrei Torah survived unscathed at both shuls. The Orthodox Union will coordinate the distribution of financial aid to the Houston community through its disaster relief fund. Please help by contributing at OU.org/giving/houston-relief-fund. * B nei Akiva: This Shabbat: Final Luncheon and Snif! Grades 3-6 (and those entering those grades next year!) @ DAT Minyan following Kiddush! Come and enjoy the fun, food, ruach, and games! Come meet your new Madrichim and Roshei Snif!! Final Event of the Season: White Water Rafting Trip!! This Monday morning, June 8. Come join us as we raft Clear Creek! We leave DAT at 9:45 am! You must be aged 13 years or older! $50.00 covers everything including lunch! You must RSVP to Miriam Schottenstein or Hannah Kark before this Shabbat. Thanks to our outgoing/graduating Roshei Snif Hannah Kark and Sarah Senkfor for all your hard work and dedication. Hatzlacha Rabbah next year at Torah Viavodah Institute in Israel (Hannah) and Brandeis (Sarah)! We will miss you! * 2015 Western Conservative Summit June 26-28 at the Colorado Convention Center, hosted by Centennial Institute. For the first time ever we will be providing a Friday evening/saturday morning Shabbat service for our guests, under the supervision of Rabbi Zalman Popack. Licensed child care will be provided; register by June 20th with the promo code 'Mishpocheh,' and you will receive a full weekend pass with a 50% discount. For additional information, a full schedule, and to register for the event, please visit wcs15.co, or contact Dan Kopelman at shabbat@dankopelman.com. D VAR TORAH (cont d from Page 2) The misonenim complained that since they had undergone conversion, they should be permitted to maintain relationships with family members, as is standard for the laws of conversion. Their mistake was that Bnei Yisroel's conversion was not a standard one; rather, it was akin to the circumcision which they had to undergo. The function of circumcision is to reconnect us to the covenant of Abraham, as we recite in the blessing for circumcision "lehachniso bevriso shel Avraham Avinu," "to enter him (the one being circumcised) into the covenant of our Patriarch Abraham." It is for this reason that Chazal compare Bnei Yisroel's reaction to the precepts governing prohibited relationships and circumcision. They are alluding to the source of Bnei Yisroel's mistake; although they underwent conversion, this process did not serve to sever their preexisting heritage, rather to reaffirm it. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS WEEKLY HALACHA (cont d from Page 2) solely of what he has understood concerning them! (Sefer Ha-Chinukh, mitzva #73). The idea that a primary purpose of the laws of kashrut is hygienic is shared by both the Rashbam and the Ramban. The Rashbam explained that all cattle, wild beasts, fowl, fish, and various kinds of locusts and reptiles that God forbade to Israel are indeed loathsome and harmful to the body, and for this reason they are called unclean (commentary to Vayikra 11:3). The Ramban states that it is only permissible to eat fish that have fins and scales because those without fins and scales usually live in the lower muddy strata of the sea, which are exceedingly moist and where there is no heat. They breed in musty swamps and eating them can be injurious to health (commentary to Vayikra 11:9). * DAT Minyan only certifies Kashrut of events it hosts or co-sponsors. Next week: Counterarguments! DAT Minyan: A dynamic and friendly Modern Orthodox synagogue for all ages dedicated to meaningful prayer, personal spiritual development, community growth, youth involvement, Torah education and Religious Zionism. DAT Minyan Rabbi Daniel Alter 6825 Alameda Ave., Denver, CO 80224 (303) 281-8999 facebook.com/datminyan
DAT MINYAN YOUTH ANNOUNCEMENTS Attention Incoming 8th Graders and Above! If you are interested in being a Shabbat Youth Group advisor or sub for the summer or for next year, contact Mor Shapiro at youth@datminyan.org. Did you know? You can now reserve Youth Snack Sponsorship from your living room! www.datminyan.org/youth Happy Birthday: Emmy Horowitz Leila Friedman Is your child s birthday not listed? Email Mor Shapiro at youth@datminyan.org. Thank you and farewell to our wonderful advisor Shimmy Alter, and to our amazing sub Talya Alter. Farewell also to Elisha, Ezra, Avigail, and Shayna. We will miss you all! Jr. Congregation for 4th-6th Grades upstairs in Room 204! Tefillot Parsha skits and songs Trivia Weekly raffle Speak to Mor for more information. Youth Group Guidelines: Pick up for all groups (including 4 th -6 th graders) is indoors. Please bring your child s labeled water bottle, hat, and jacket to groups with them. Advisors and kids are not allowed to get these items from the coat rack or strollers during groups. A parent or guardian must be on shul premises when children are in groups. Children not attending groups must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. Please remember to pick up your children immediately after the Rabbi s speech.
A Farewell Weekend for the Alters Friday Night, June 5 Oneg Shabbat At the Zalesch home, 315 S. Newport Way Beginning at 9:15 pm Shabbat Day, June 6 Farewell Kiddush Help Sponsor at DATMinyan.org/Alter A SHAWL Tribute to Mrs. Rivka Alter 6:00-7:45 pm; See Page 1 Sunday, June 7 Farewell Party 7:30-9:00 pm at BMH-BJ Fischer Hall RSVP to Naomi Lev NaomiLev05@gmail.com
Messages of farewell and thanks We will miss you personally and as role models and leaders. We hope success and joy surround you in your new home. Danny & Myndie Lehitrao't! We will miss you all. Please come back and visit often! Julie Geller, Josh Fine, Ilan, Aria and Tamar We express our heartfelt appreciation for years of dedication and work on behalf of Jewish Denver. Thank you as well for your guidance and friendship to us individually. Because of you Denver is a better place for us, our family, and our community. Oh, and thank you for never imposing any Carlebach songs on the hashkama minyan! May you go from chayil to chayil! The Penn Family Thanks for all your support over the years! Wishing you all the best possible future. Robert Shurtleff Mazel Tov on your move eastward! Thanks so much for your friendship, guidance, and leadership over the years - you will be missed! Warmly, The Senkfor Family Alter Family, Thank you so very much for your leadership and friendship. The Eisen Family Dear Rabbi Alter, Rivka, and the entire Alter family, We are so grateful for your dedication to our minyan and community and the contributions you faithfully and fullheartedly have made to create a vibrant shul and successful school. You have impacted the lives of so many people. We will miss you! Ellyn & Steve Good luck and G-d-speed Ari and Miriam Hoffman We were just getting to know you! Thanks for welcoming us to DAT with open arms. You are very special people and it's been our privilege to see you every shabbos and listen to your words of wisdom. We will miss you! Mimi and Alan Pomeranz B'hatzlacha! Thanks for everything! Sarah and Benny Levy Thank you for all your help, support and friendship. I do wish you were not leaving. What a loss to the Denver Jewish community! Joe Wolf Thank you for your friendship. We're really going to miss you ALL. Please come back and visit. The Sunshine Family We wish you much success in the years ahead! You both are inspiring leaders and your dedication and real connection to this community with be long be remembered! Lisa and Jonathan Perlmutter Rabbi and Rivka, Thanks for everything you have done over the years. You will be missed. The Schottensteins Goodbye and thank you. We wish you all the best. Alan, Isadora, Solomon and Adira Bielsky We will miss your ayin tovah and endless positive energy! May HaShem continue to shower you with bracha, hatzlacha, health, happiness and shalom as you continue on your noble path of Avodas HaShem! Rivka Gross Rivka, Thank you for being the best partner I have ever worked with in running activities. Your loss will be felt throughout the year. Rabbi Alter, Thank you bringing us here and giving us everything we have. Sheli v'shelachem shelcha. Our loss is Bergenfield's gain, but we hope to see you all back here soon and often. May you never be strangers in the halls of DAT. Leib and Yona Zalesch Thank you Alters for all your years of service and devotion to our community! We believe that your efforts and personal example will shine on in the Torah institutions that you have built in Denver. May the next chapter of your lives bring continued success and fulfillment. Warm regards, David and Jessica Zalkin and family Polotsky kids will really miss the sleepovers at Alters. You will be truly missed. The Polotskys Thank you for all you have done for our family and all you have given to this community. We wish you health and happiness, now and always. We will miss you! Visit often!! Love, The Avners Dear Rabbi and Rivka, You've left a legacy that has already benefited three generations of the Denver Jewish community and will continue to benefit generations to come. We thank you and wish you hatzlacha on your new adventure! Helen, Sara, Harley Rotbart and children Clearly you have Altered the life of the Jewish community in Denver. We are so blessed to have had your family for so long! May your continuing journey be one of strength and growth and illumination in Klal Yisrael. Alu v'hatzlichu!!! Aliza and Ephraim Bulow Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and prosperous new adventure! Joni Troy
Messages of farewell and thanks Wishing Rabbi and Rivka Alter and their family Hatzlacha Rabbah on their new position and move!! We will miss you! Jill and Daniel Goldstein and family! B'hatzlacha. Toda Rabah. David and Shira Fishman You epitomize what truly matters to all of us as individuals, as families, as communities and as citizens of the world. We will be forever grateful to you for your unwavering commitment and contribution to building the Denver Jewish community. Dan and Vencie Levin Rabbi & Rivka - It's been a privilege having you in our community all these years. You have made a significant impact from both a religious and educational vantage point. We wish you great success in your new roles. You will be greatly missed. Rob & Debbie Friedman Thank you for taking such good care of The entire Alter family (as it expanded over the years) for the past fifteen plus years. We will miss our visits to your wonderful community. Judy and David Carmel We wish you bracha vehatzlacha in all of your new endeavors. With heartfelt gratitude, The Ciners Thank you for all you did for the school and the community. Zetcham leshalom! Bentzi and Tali We wish you much success and happiness in your new home! Ilan and Amy Berkowitz-Caplan Thank you for everything you have done for our community! You will be missed, and Julie will especially miss Avigail. Myles, Amy, Julie and Emily Dear Rabbi and Rivka Alter. We will miss you a lot - big shoes to fill in - but wish you all the best!!!! Pia and Fred Hirsch We truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to our shul, community and school. We wish you lots of luck! Dovid and Cheryl Friedman We will miss you!!!!! Noomi and Philip Hirsch We wish you hazlocha, brocha and all good things for you and your family in New Jersey. It was a please to have had the opportunity to get to know you in the short time since we've been here. You, Rivka and your whole family should be very proud and have lots of nachas for the school and the community which you have helped to build. The Toys Family It was a pleasure and honor to have you as Rabbi and teachers in Denver for all these years. You and your family are the best and greatest, and you have accomplished a great deal in your leadership of our community. We are sad that you are leaving the community, but wish וכל endeavors. you bracha and hatzlacha in your future מי שעוסקים בצרכי צבור באמונה הקב ה ישלם שכרם. Cantor Isaac and Zahava Koll Rabbi and Mrs. Alter - thank you for your profound contribution to the Jewish community of East Denver. It has been a pleasure working together in many ways. We wish you tremendous Hatzlacha in all of your future endeavors. Aver and Chavi Jacobs Thank you for all you have done in building and strengthening our community. We wish you much success as you begin a new chapter in your lives. David & Wendy Slamowitz Thank you for welcoming us into this wonderful community. The Kornbluth/Katz's Wishing you lots of success in the future! You will be missed. Love, The Bean Family Rabbi Alter, Thank you so much for the warmth, knowledge, hard work and hospitality in your last few years in Denver. May the upcoming move to NY be smooth for you and your family. We wish you Hatzlacha and you will be missed by us. May we all meet up again soon in Eretz Yisrael. Eliyahu family Rabbi Alter and Rivka, You have been an integral part of this community and we are lucky to have had you as our leaders and guides. We will miss you and your family in both the sense of community and friendship. Hatzlacha rabba in New Jersey and thank you. Naomi and Dovid Lev
Thanks for the Memories!