בס"ד MIZRACHI MATTERS SHABBAT PARASHAT CHUKAT (Vol 7, No 38) CALENDAR 15-21 June 2013 / 7-13 Tammuz 5773 Friday, 14 June (6 Tammuz) Candle Lighting 4:49pm 1, 3, 4 Minchah at 4:55pm 1. Beit Yehuda 2. Beit HaRoeh 3. Beit Midrash 4. Bnei Akiva 5. Elsternwick 6. Midrashah 7. Rabbi s Home 8. Goldberger Hall 9. Nachalat David Z manim SHABBAT 15 JUNE 7 TAMMUZ SUNDAY 16 JUNE 8 TAMMUZ MONDAY 17 JUNE 9 TAMMUZ TUESDAY 18 JUNE 10 TAMMUZ WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE 11 TAMMUZ THURSDAY 20 JUNE 12 TAMMUZ FRIDAY 21 JUNE 13 TAMMUZ Shacharit 7:30am 1 8:00am 1 6:25am 1 6:30am 1 6:30am 1 6:25am 1 6:30am 1 9:30am 1-4, 9 9:00am 3 7:25am 1 7:30am 1 7:30am 1 7:25am 1 7:30am 1 Dawn 6:22am 6:22am 6:23am 6:23am 6:23am 6:23am 6:24am Tallit & Tefillin 6:37am 6:37am 6:38am 6:38am 6:38am 6:39am 6:39am Sunrise 7:34am 7:34am 7:35am 7:35am 7:35am 7:35am 7:36am Sh ma (גר"א) 9:57am 9:57am 9:58am 9:58am 9:58am 9:59am 9:59am Earliest Mincha 12:51pm 12:51pm 12:51pm 12:51pm 12:51pm 12:52pm 12:52pm Candles 4:50pm Minchah followed by Ma ariv 4:40pm 1, 3 4:55pm 1 4:55pm 1 4:55pm 1 4:55pm 1 4:55pm 1 1, 3, 4 4:55pm Sunset 5:07pm 5:07pm 5:07pm 5:08pm 5:08pm 5:08pm 5:08pm Night 5:49pm 5:49pm 5:49pm 5:50pm 5:50pm 5:50pm 5:50pm Second Ma ariv 9:30pm 3 9:30pm 3 9:30pm 3 9:30pm 3 9:30pm 3 Shiurim Halachah Yomit Mishnah Yomit Events Yahrtzeits R Bert Mond 8:45am 3 R Leor Broh 9:00am 2 R James Kennard 9:30am 6 Drashot R Broh 1 R Kennard 2 R James Kennard Parashat HaShavua 4:00pm 3 Not today 8:45am 3 R Dudi Winkler Sefer HaKuzari 8:45am 6 Not this week 9:45pm 3 Between Minchah and Ma ariv 1 8:15am 3 R Dudi Winkler (for women) 9:30am 3 R Dudi Winkler Dilemmas Shiur Tzniut Part I: Hair covering for women 8:30pm 2 R Dovid Segal Gemara B iyun 8:30pm 2 Michal Kaufman (Lewis house) 9:00pm 9:45pm 3 Between Minchah and Ma ariv 1 8:15am 3 R Yaakov Sprung Chumash Shiur for women 10:00am 6 Not this week R Dudi Winkler Rav Kook Shiur The Vision of Vegetarianism and Peace 8:30pm 6 9:45pm 3 Between Minchah and Ma ariv 1 8:15am 3 Weekly Parashah Shiur for ladies & girls Mrs Toby Lieder 7 Morrice Street Caulfield 11:00am R Yaakov Sprung Masechet Brachot 8:00pm 6 Not this week Chani Winkler (for women) Jerusalem s Jewish Community during the Second Temple Period 8:15pm 2 9:45pm 3 Between Minchah and Ma ariv 1 8:15am 3 R Yaakov Sprung Gemara B iyun 7:00pm 6 Not this week R Michael Susman R Aviad Tabory R Dudi Winkler The Contemporary Relevance of the Three Weeks 8:00pm 9:30pm 3 R Dudi Winkler Gemara Shiur 8:00pm 3 Not this week R Yaakov Sprung Shiur for men 8:30pm 7 Not this week R Dudi Winkler Parashat HaShavua in easy Hebrew 8:45pm 3 Not this week 8:45pm 3 Between Minchah and Ma ariv 1 8:15am 3 Not today Bava Batra 8:1-2 Bava Batra 8:3-4 Bava Batra 8:5-6 Bava Batra 8:7-8 Bava Batra 9:1-2 Bava Batra 9:3-4 Bava Batra 9:5-6 4:30pm 1 4:45pm 1 4:45pm 1 4:45pm 1 4:45pm 1 4:45pm 1 4:45pm 1 Children s Tefillah Groups 10:15am 11:30am Bnei Akiva 3:30pm Seudah Shlishit Rabbi David Katz Avot U Banim 6:45pm 3 Birthday Rachel Mihalovich Jack Feldman (Mother) The Holy Bagel 9:00am 3 Birthday Anne Weinberg Jack Cherny (Wife) Jenny Abzug (Husband) Avi Cohen (Mother) Sue Tempelhof (Father) To sponsor the newsletter please call Rae on 8317 2555 Cocktail Party Birthday In honour of the Madeline Edwards 90 th birthday of Mrs Mena Kozminsky, founding Principal of Yavneh College 7:00pm Birthday Jenny Abzug
NEW APPOINTMENT AT MELBOURNE ERUV The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Melbourne Eruv, Mr Romy Leibler, announced today that the Foundation Administrator of the Melbourne Eruv, Dr Peter Kloot, has retired from that position after 19 years. He has been replaced by Mr David Prins, who is well known in the Community from his various activities including leading services at St Kilda Hebrew Congregation on Yamim Noraim, giving shiurim at the Mizrachi Kehilla, and writing Divrei Torah published by Caulfield Beth HaMedrash, Mizrachi, and the Blake Street Synagogue. Mr Prins operates his own consulting company, and his new position with Melbourne Eruv should be a good fit with his professional career. Mr Leibler thanked Dr Kloot for his conscientious service to the Community at large in his position as Eruv Administrator over such a long period. He welcomed Dr Kloot s continuing association with Melbourne Eruv as a Consultant with special responsibility for establishing the northern extension to the Eruv. This is intended to include Malvern Chabad, the Montefiore Homes, Cabrini Hospital Malvern, and The Avenue Hospital. Bnei Akiva is looking for doctors to volunteer their time on our upcoming winter camp, 1-7 July. Please contact Ari Fisher (0439014782) or Lidi Slonim (0401344743). Kiddush At the home of R Leor & Tirzah Broh, in honour of the birth of their granddaughter, Devora Leah (daughter of Osher and Ita Broh). Where: 75 Balaclava Road, Caulfield North When: Shabbat Parashat Chukat, following mussaf. Everyone welcome. HOSPITALITY Mizrachi s active Hospitality Network, which is run by the Culture and Events Committee, ensures that visitors and others are hosted for meals on Shabbatot and Yamim Tovim. We are currently trying to coordinate a hospitality roster to ensure that this service is available every week. It is hoped that a number of Mizrachi families across the various age groups will volunteer to be part of the roster, so that visitors of every age will be able to be hosted by a suitable family. ATTENTION FOOTY CARD TRADERS! Please be advised that the trading or active discussion of footy (or other sports) cards in the foyer between Beit Yehuda and Beit HaRoeh is not permitted on Shabbat or Yom Tov. A number of complaints have been received regarding the noise generated from the trading floor which disturbs those in shul. This is aside from the halachic aspect concerning trading on Shabbat. If you would like to be included as part of our hospitality roster, please contact Rae Bower in the Mizrachi office. Thank you in anticipation! Culture and Events Committee
Birth Son to Tal & Sol Zehnwirth Grandparents: Lea & Avi Rubinstein (Israel) and Faye & Ben Zehnwirth Great-Grandparents: Dina & Menashe Rubinstein (Israel), Leah Waysman and Genia Zehnwirth Birth Daughter to Tamara & Daniel Solomon Grandparents: Esther & Michael Paneth and Florence & Sol Solomon Great-Grandparents: Brigetta Paneth, Rachel Roby (Israel) and Bluma Rothstein Marriage Yehudit Fainzilber to Shmuel Silcove Parents: Michal & Tzvi Fainzilber (Costa Rica) and Shoshanna & Chaim Silcove
MIZRACHI DEVELOPMENT NEWS SHAVE OUR SUBURBS Members and School parents will be aware of the changes to the appearance of our Centre at Balaclava Road this week. As previously foreshadowed, the old and dying hedges have been removed this week to make way for the new brick perimeter, entrance gates, lighting, security and upgrades to the kindergarten facilities and playgrounds. Members have commented on how open and naked this side of the campus appears. I can assure you that the new surrounds and landscaping which will replace the old will add to the site and beautify the facade. Kindergarten staff are thrilled to have access to sunlight, sky and extra space in and around the children s play areas. The danger of falling branches and the issues with possums have now been dealt with. Even the kindergarten children have come home excited about the activity in their backyard. Members have commented that it s refreshing to be able to see the sky to the north from inside the premises for the first time in 30 years. Some comments have been made that it is nice to be able to see the original signage on buildings (please note: we will be updating the old lettering to ensure that dedications look neat and tidy where time has affected signage). One member even commented to me that the campus is so fragrant with the soothing smell of pine! In the next few weeks I will provide an update on the Program for development on the site. This will entail the construction of the brick wall, pedestrian and vehicular gates, security poles, cameras and landscaping prior to Rosh Hashanah. Following Simchat Torah, works will proceed on the installation of new modular classrooms for the kindergarten to be ready for 2014. As always, your positive or negative feedback is welcomed. Please contact me through the office or email to the Executive Director (ed@mizrachi.com.au). I must also thank David Fisher for his oversight and management of this project to date, which has gone smoothly despite the need to console Tram operators, electricity companies, CableTV providers, Council officers and kinder mums! Shabbat Shalom Nathan Cher Mizrachi Building Chairman
ב ס "ד NE W S L E TT E R FOR T HE ELSTERNWICK JEWISH COMMUNITY 15 June 2013 7 Tammuz 5773 Parshat Chukat Yahrzeits during the coming week Helen Max (Mother) [15 June] Eric Simms (Mother) [15 June] David Steinberg (Father) [15 June] Vardi Jacobs (Sister) [18 June] Judy Simms (Father) [20 June] Mandy Shochet (Grandfather) [21 June] Helen Max (Father) [21 June] Contact numbers Locum Rabbi Rabbi Mendel Haller 0406-987-900 mendaller@gmail.com Co-Chairman Mark Kras 0410-460-970 imkras@gmail.com Co-Chairman Robbie Wyner 0417-541-957 robert@foodsinternational.com.au Gabbai Elan Jacobs 9596-2050 elanjacobs@hotmail.com Secretary Sally-Ann Jaye 0437-625-350 ejc@mizrachi.com.au Haphtarah requests Dennis Max 9528-6865 classact@werple.net.au Contributions to this Newsletter (please) Sally-Ann ejc@mizrachi.com.au Shabbat times Candle Lighting this week Mincha (followed by break inc shiur) Kabbalat Shabbat this week Pre-Shacharit Shiur Shacharit Mincha at Shabbat ends at Candle Lighting next week Mincha (followed by break inc shiur) Kabbalat Shabbat next week 4.49 pm 5.00 pm 5.30 pm 9.00 am 9.30 am 4.35 pm 5.49 pm 4.50 pm 5.00 pm 5.30 pm The Rabbi s Shabbat Shiurim The early shiur (9.00am, before Shacharit) - come join the Rabbi for cake, coffee and a shiur on Jewish philosophy, this week: The source of disputes in Torah Tuesday evening shiur, 8-9pm @ the Bernshaws, 36 St. Georges Road, Elsternwick. This week s topic: Why did G-d create this world? Birthdays this week James Behr turns 3 on 18 June Mazel Tov Miriam Suss on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) In shule this week Dennis Max will be leading Kabbalat Shabbat, David West will be leading Shacharit, *** will be saying the Haftorah, and Rabbi Haller will be leading Mussaf. Kiddush this Shabbat You are all invited to the kiddush, which will be sponsored by David Klein in honour of the Shloshim of his late wife, Pearl a"h. Please wait for the Rabbi to recite the Kiddush before starting to eat.
This coming week s topic: Tzniut: 17 June Hair covering for women 1 July Women s singing
Rav Aviad Tabory Rav Dudi Winkler Rav Michael Susman The meaning of the churban after the establishment of the State of Israel Is one obligated to perform kriah when visiting the Kotel? Are the tefillot of Tisha b Av relevant anymore?
Rabbi Meir Soloveichik is the Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, America s first Jewish congregation. A leading Jewish thinker, theologian and public intellectual, Rabbi Soloveichik obtained his Rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University and holds a Ph.D. from Princeton in Religion. He is also currently the Director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. Before joining Shearith Israel, Rabbi Soloveichik served as Associate Rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York City.
Chukat 5773 www.torahmitzion.org Issue 483 Page 7 Iyar 5773, 15 June 2013 Bs d שבת מציון Dedicated to Benjy and Renana Levy (Sydney) on the birth of a daughter. Mazal Tov! Moshe s Leadership Rav Ilan Haber, Director of the Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) which is a program of the Orthodox Union in partnership with Hillel. From an outsider s perspective, the experience of leadership often looks like a privilege rather than a terrible responsibility. We often look at the leaders in our society and see only their success, fame, and fortune... without considering the personal sacrifice that often goes hand in hand with their public role. This is perhaps most apparent with our greatest and most successful historical leader, Moshe. Unlike Aharon, Moshe did not enjoy Nachat from his children and grandchildren, who, according to Chazal, became idolaters. We see his personal frustration come out in Parshat Behaalotcha when he decries being able to carry the full burden of the Jewish people and their rebellious ways. Parshat Chukat relates the death of Miriam. This is followed by the incident in which Moshe hits the rock in order to draw out water for the Jewish people and he is subsequently punished banned from entering Eretz Yisrael as the leader of the Jewish people. This punishment seems, at first glance, unusually harsh for what happened and Chazal differ as to the mistake Moshe made and why this results in his removal from leadership and death, before Bnai Yisrael enter the Eretz Hakedosha. I would like to offer a possible explanation based on a little known Midrash (Otzar Hamidrashim - Ve-Aleh Toldot Aharon U Moshe Ketah 12). According to Chazal, the well that would follow Bnai Yisrael through the Midbar, was due specifically to the Zechut of Miriam. When she died, Bnai Yisrael were left without a source of water. However, we must understand that as Miriam s brothers, both Moshe and Aharon were in mourning over Miriam s death. The Midrash describes Moshe and Aharon as secluding themselves in a tent for six hours, crying and mourning. The Midrash then relates that Bnai Yisrael enter the tent and have the following conversation with Moshe: Bnei Yisrael: Until when are you going to sit and cry? Moshe: Do I not cry on the death of my sister who died? Bnei Yisrael: Just like you cry on one life, cry for all of us. Moshe: Why? Bnei Yisrael: We have no water to drink. Moshe goes out to investigate and then responds: Didn t I tell you that I am not able to bear all of you alone? You have officers for the thousands, for the hundreds, for fifties, for tens, princes, officers, and great elders. They will work for you. Bnei Yisrael: Everything is on you, because you are the one who took us out of Egypt and brought us to this horrible place. If you give us water, great, if not, we will stone you. Bnei Yisrael, in their need of water, were unable to give Moshe even a modicum of personal space to enable him to mourn the loss of his sister properly. Moshe s response that they should ask the other leaders (of the thousands, hundreds, etc.) alludes back to Behaalotcha in which he asks for and is given help in carrying the burden of the Jewish people. Bnei Yisrael s response is essentially that it does not matter what other leaders there are, you Moshe, bear ultimate responsibility for us. The presence of other leaders does not remove Moshe from the Continued on page #3 Toronto Lunch & Learn and Walk with Israel Shabbat Times Jerusalem Begin 19:10 End 20:28
Chukat 5773 Page 2 Bs d Moshe s Leadership / continued from page #1 burden of caring for the needs of the people. While the Midrash does not offer this as an explanation for why Moshe did not listen to Hashem and hit the rock, one can almost imagine the great frustration that Moshe felt in being called to duty, and not being able to have the peace and privacy to simply mourn for his beloved sister. When understood in this light, the transition from Moshe to Yehoshua s leadership was not necessarily a punishment, but simply an Breaking Down the Barriers acknowledgement that Moshe was approaching the end of his ability to serve the people, and give of himself. We can also appreciate Moshe s true greatness, not only in successfully leading the people from bondage to freedom, and navigating the treacheries and difficulties of 40 years of wanderings through the wilderness, but at coming to Bnei Yisrael s salvation again and again at great personal expense. Rav Gideon Weitzman, Former TMT Shaliach Kansas City, Staff of Puah Organization Last week, we saw that shyness is a natural human state that the nuance and spirit of these vital lessons and be left with a needs to be protected and preserved in order for one to be a somewhat flawed view of the place and nature of intimacy in a good member of society. We teach our children not to say couple's life. everything that is on their mind, and that it is inappropriate to Sometimes there is a deeper problem that needs expert tell that overweight woman in the street that she is fat. We do counseling; previous negative experience and even abuse can not reveal all our secrets to others; how much we earn, the have left serious emotional scars that need to be treated details of our bank account or our inner private thoughts. professionally. In most cases it is less serious but takes time This is even more critical in matters of intimacy and modesty. and the patience of both partners to naturally ease into a deep We teach our children not to reveal their bodies in public and relationship. This is not on or off but something that develops not to discuss intimate matters with others. However, when a and grows with a relationship. There may still be areas of couple get married there is an expectation that the natural vulnerability that have to be left hidden and private but may barriers between these two people will come tumbling down. later become more open and revealed. Of course the hope is This, however, is not always such an immediate and simple that these are specific and limited places of a person's transition. For many couples this takes time and this time can personality and being and that the majority is shared and be a frustrating and exhausting experience especially when one exposed to the other spouse. The ideal is that the two people spouse is willing and ready to be open and intimate and the become intertwined in the fabric of each other's lives and care other is not yet ready. This requires guidance and counseling deeply about the other person's successes and failures as much for both partners since both are suffering; the one who is as they do about their own accomplishments and unable to open up and the other who is trying to get them to disappointments. While they remain two separate individuals, open up. The direction of counseling depends on the specific they do share their personal and professional lives together. circumstances and reasons for the inability to be intimate. If it While the wife may not exactly understand the details of her is due to "religious reasons" or education, then the person husband's job she still takes an interest and shows concern for needs to be retaught a more thorough religious approach that his career advance. While the husband may not be intimately does include the importance of intimacy in the right setting. It involved with his wife's interests, he still enjoys her triumphs is clear that the halacha and Jewish thought promote sexuality and listens attentively to her frustrations. This is how two and intimacy as essential elements of marriage and as a healthy individuals become a couple. As the Torah stated "and they will expression of love between two people and a manifestation of become one flesh". They grow together to become one integral their own Divinity. This is not usually widely taught to young unit, a oneness that is expressed in their sexuality but is felt people or adolescents and this instruction is reserved for people throughout their married life as they become a pair. How can who are about to get married. Caught up in the whirl of this special relationship be preserved? wedding arrangements and preparations they can easily miss More on that next time. If you would like to sponsor a parsha sheet please email michelle@torahmitzion.org
Chukat 5773 Page 3 Bs d Exiting Eretz Yisrael Part Two Rav Moshe Aberman, Former Rosh Kollel, Chicago and Rosh Kollelim, Torah Mitzion In our previous article, we presented the opinion of Tosafot who limit the possibility of leaving Eretz Yisrael to only a minimal set of central mitzvot such as marriage and the study of Torah. They further limit the acceptability of leaving to temporary trips with the clear intention to return. Amongst the Rishonim there are other views that differ on one level or another with Tosafot. One such opinion is that of the Rambam. In his Mishneh Torah Hilchot Melachim (ch 5 hl 9), the Rambam opens in similar fashion to the Tosafot stating: "It is prohibited to exit Eretz Yisrael to the diaspora except for the purpose of studying Torah or marrying a woman or to redeem from the hands of the gentiles and then return to the land". However, the Rambam proceeds and opens the possibilities by stating: "One may also exit for commerce". This expansion offered by the Rambam stems from one of several sources. One possible source is found in the Talmud Yerushalmi. In the final words of the tenth chapter of the Yerushalmi, in reference to the prohibition to return to Egypt, it states: "Leyeshiva ein at chozer, chozer at le'prakmatya"- you may not return to reside but you may return for commerce. Since the pasuk prohibiting the return to Egypt speaks about a person residing in Eretz Yisrael, it is understood that not only can one return to Egypt for commerce but he may also leave Israel for the purpose of commerce in Egypt. Another possible source for the Rambam's ruling, permitting one to leave Eretz Yisrael for the purpose of commerce, is a Gemarah in Moed Katan (14a) that relates to a dispute between Rabi Yehuda and other "Chachamim". The dispute pertains to who may shave on Chol Hamoed when he did not shave before Yom Tov. The agreed principle is that only if one could not shave before Yom Tov, due to circumstances out of his control, he may shave on Chol Hamoed. Rabi Yehuda and Chachamim agree that a person who traveled for the purpose of sightseeing and was unable to shave is perceived to be at fault and may not shave on Chol Hamoed. If, on the other hand, he traveled for basic needs of nourishment, he is certainly permitted to shave. If the trip was for commercial purposes, Rabi Yehuda equates it to sightseeing and, therefore, prohibits shaving on Chol Hamoed while Chachamim equate it to the needs of nourishment and, therefore, allow for shaving during Chol Hamoed. The Raavad suggests that they differ on whether leaving Eretz Yisrael for commerce is viewed as a prohibition like leaving for sightseeing or is it an acceptable reason to go abroad. If we are to assume that the Rambam understood the Gemarah in Moed Katan as the Raavad did, then we can conclude that the Rambam rules like Chachamim that it is permissible to exit Eretz Yisrael for commerce. A third understanding can be found in Rav Shaul Yisraeli's Eretz Chemdah (pp. 47-48). Rav Yisraeli suggests that the Rambam may have understood from the Gemarah in Ketubot (see last week's article for details) that whenever one does not emigrate permanently, he does not undermine the fulfillment of the Mitzvah to settle Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, he may leave on the condition that there is a need for his travels. This understanding requires expanding the approval to exit Eretz Yisrael beyond the purpose of commerce. Whether this is the Rambam's position is unclear and debated amongst his commentaries. On the one hand, the Rambam in Hilchot Melachim only mentions leaving for the purpose of commerce. On the other hand in Hilchot Avel (ch.3 hl. 14) when speaking of a Kohen going to the diaspora, the Rambam uses a broader term, "lidvar mitzvah", for the purpose of a mitzvah. Even if the Rambam does not broaden the right to leave Eretz Yisrael beyond the special mitzvot and commerce such an opinion can be found in Rav Achay Gaon's Sheiltot (sheilta 103). It should be noted that Rav Achay does not state this explicitly. What Rav Achay says is: that contrary to what has been presented previously, the mitzvot of Torah study and marriage are not preferred mitzvot but rather limited mitzvot. Rav Achay's rationale is that if for these mitzvot, which can be fulfilled without the Kohen exiting Eretz Yisrael, we allow the kohen to leave, in order to fulfill the mitzvah in a personally preferred way. So too, all the more so with mitzvot that could not be performed otherwise. Dedicated to Michal & Moshe Natan on the engagement of their daughter Reut to Ofer Avnon.