YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD 2240 ALBANY AVENUE WEST HARTFORD, CT 06117 860-233-3084 Web Site: www.youngisraelwh.org UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS 3/7 Mikveh Movie Night Rescheduled BLOSSOM 3/22 YIWH at the Israel Film Festival THE PRIME MINISTERS Shabbat Parashat Ki Tisa March 7th, 2015 16 Adar 5775 Kiddush this Shabbat Is Sponsored by Miriam Silberman In honor of Brian s Bar Mitzvah 3/23 HAT SHOW at HHNE SEE BULLETIN FOR MORE DETAILS מזל טוב to Michelle & Charlie Wizenfeld מזל טוב on the birth of their son Tuvia. מזל טוב to grandparents Betty & Irv and aunt, uncles and cousins Rachayl, Howie, Eliana & Shami, and Joey! MIKVEH MOVIE NIGHT RESCHEDULED BLOSSOM Saturday Night, March 7th at 8:00 PM At home Jo Bruce s home: 116 Brewster Road SPRING HAT SHOW Monday, March 23rd at HHNE From 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM מזל טוב to Brian Silberman on his bar מזל טוב mitzvah! מזל טוב to proud mother Miriam, grandmother Helene Ganeles; aunt, uncle and cousins Carolyn, Andrew, Elan Simon מזל טוב וברוכים הבאים Ganeles! & Gabi to grandparents Rita & Chaim Silberman; aunts, uncles and cousins Mickey, Barbara, Zachary & Shannon Silberman; Marni, David, Noah, Gabriel & Benjamin Bessler; Corky, Stuie and Batsheva Milworn, Uncle Jason, Aunt Nancy Halpern, Uncle Dov Ganeles & cousin Eitan Friedman- Ganeles, Uncle Mitchell & cousin Richie Ganeles, Cousins Mordechai and Jennifer Milworn and family! ROSH CHODESH TEHILLIM GROUP Tuesday, March 24th at 7:30 PM At Evelyn Rutstein s home, 16 Miamis Road YIWH PROJECT 5775 The Concise Book of Mitzvot - by The Chafetz Chaim SHABBAT MITZVOT TO STUDY 3/7 Negative 49-54 Rabbi Brahm Weinberg 860-233-3084 or rabbi@youngisraelwh.org Debra Luger 860-233-0300 or deluge613@sbcglobal.net Editor: Judie Patel bulletin@youngisraelwh.org Affiliate of the National Council of Young Israel Synagogues, Member of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Sponsor of West Hartford NCSY, National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Kashrut Commission of Greater Hartford,
Page 2 WINTER CLASSES AT YIWH MISHNA BRURAH CLASS With Rabbi Sheinkopf Shabbat Mornings at 8:00AM RABBI WEINBERG S SUNDAY MORNING GEMARA CLASS - Masechet Beitzah WEEKLY AUDIO CLASS 10 Minutes on Tefilla This class will be emailed every week We will be studying Shearim B Tefilla of Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus z l. WOMEN S LEARNING GROUP Wednesday morning at 11:15 AM In Classroom 1 at the JCC SHABBAT TOT CIRCLE Is a parent led Shabbat group for children ages five and under. The program is the first Shabbat of every month. Parents are invited to stay with their children during this program to partake in davening, songs and games. A special Shabbat treat will be served. SCRIP PROGRAM Thank you to our shul members who have either recently started to participate in the Scrip program or who have continued their involvement. I am happy to report that from July 1st our shul has raised $4900. We now also have gift cards from Whole Foods to sell to the shul members directly. BOOKKEEPER We have a new bookkeeper, Kim Danek. She will be working part time at the Shul office in the same capacity as Martha. In general, her hours will be Mondays & Thursdays from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. You can call during those hours, or email her at bookkeeper@youngisraelwh.org & she will get back to you when she is in the office. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NEW GUIDELINES FOR DONATIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CARDS The YIWH has beautiful, new printed cards to be used for acknowledgements and to thank individuals for donations. Please send your check with the detailed acknowledgement information (including addresses as needed) DIRECTLY TO THE SHUL OFFICE OR DONATE ON THE WEB SITE. Cards will be sent out and a posting will go in the Bulletin unless you direct us otherwise. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS YIWH GETAWAY RAFFLE FIRST PRIZE: TWO ROUNDTRIP TICKETS TO ISRAEL (Holiday Blackout dates apply) Economy Tickets not to exceed $1500 SECOND PRIZE: NYC GETAWAY includes Overnight Stay @ NYC Hotel ($300 value) Dinner for 2 at Wolf & Lamb ($200 value) Theater Tickets through TKTS ($250 value) THIRD PRIZE: BLOCK ISLAND GETAWAY Includes: One week stay for up to 6 people at Block Island Cottage. (Fall 2015 or Spring 2016) SUPPORT THE YIWH TICKETS $100 DRAWING APRIL 23, 2015 SAVE THE DATE THROUGH THE DECADES Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford 75 YEARS - HOMECOMING GALA May 17th
Page 3 Parshat Ki Tisa - Rabbi David Silverberg (www.vbm-torah.org) The Torah in Parashat Ki-Tisa presents the instructions for producing the ketoret, the incense that was burned twice each day inside the Mishkan. The ketoret was a blend of several different spices, including chelbena (galbanum), which, as Chazal famously noted, generally emitted a foul odor. It was only when it merged with the other spices of the ketoret that the chelbena contributed a pleasing scent to the aroma of the ketoret. The Gemara in Masekhet Keritut (6b) comments that the inclusion of the chelbena in the ketoret serves as a model for the inclusion of sinners in public religious events: Any fast day that does not include the sinners of Israel is not a fast day. When a community observes a public fast day in response to a threat or calamity, it must include the sinners of Israel. As we come before the Almighty as a collective group, all members of Am Yisrael must be represented. Even the posh ei Yisrael, the nation s sinners, have a vital role to play in our appeals to God, and they must therefore be included in a community s observance of a day of prayer and repentance. The Ba al Shem Tov is cited as sharpening the message of the Gemara s comment by suggesting a bold and novel reading of this remark. One might wonder, how are we to include the posh ei Yisrael in a day of fasting? Why would a sinner want to join in this kind of religious observance? The Ba al Shem Tov suggested that this is precisely the Gemara s message. If the righteous members of the community fail to persuade the sinners to join in the public fast day, if the posh ei Yisrael have been disenchanted to the point where they separate from the community even in times of communal crisis, this serves as a harsh indictment against the righteous community members. It is their responsibility to draw the posh ei Yisrael back, and if this does not happen, then the fast day is inherently deficient, because even the righteous members are not so righteous. If they were truly pious, then they would have succeeded in drawing the posh ei Yisrael to participate in communal religious functions. This reading of the Gemara s comment may be somewhere exaggerated (and it is likely that the Ba al Shem Tov intended it as an exaggeration), as it is difficult to accept the premise that every instance of alienation from the religious community is the fault of that community. Still, the Ba al Shem Tov s insight alerts us to the fact that insincerity can often serve as a powerful repellant. When the sinners of Israel detect a lack of genuineness in our religious devotion, they are less likely to join our ranks. The chelbena can emit a pleasing aroma only if it mixes with spices that are truly pleasing. The more sincere and genuine our Torah observance, the more likely we are to inspire others, and transform Am Yisrael into the magnificent ketoret that we are meant to be, that will emit the pleasing aroma of Godliness and spirituality throughout the world. ERUV As you might know, I have been personally checking and maintaining the Eruv for a number of years. There is only one local person aside from myself who knows how to check our Eruv. This is precarious at best. This poses a problem when we encounter times that both of us are away. It would be great to train a few more people to check the Eruv; people who could either serve as backup checkers when needed, assist me in my weekly check to ease the burden, or actually take over the checking of the Eruv. I have made numerous attempts to train others in the past and some trainings have been quite successful. An Eruv checker would have to have the following qualifications: 1) Shomer Shabbat 2) Available every week on Friday mornings for 2-3 hours to check 3) Able to drive (and has a car to use) and check at the same time 4) Comfortable using tools to make minor repairs 5) Comfortable interfacing with the electric company to make major repairs 6) Able to walk through heavy snow or mud to check areas of the Eruv that are in the forest. 7) Extremely reliable. A small stipend to pay for gas is available for those interested. Anyone interested would have to undergo training from myself in order to become proficient. Please be in touch if you are interested or know of anyone who would be interested. Thanks, Rabbi Weinberg
March 6th - 13th, 2015 Shabbat Parashat Ki Tisa Friday, March 6th - Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting 5:28 p.m. or bulletin@youngisraelwh.org Mincha/Maariv 5:34 p.m. to check the availability of the date Shabbat, March 7th - Brian Silberman Bar Mitzvah at 860-983-4837 Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:09 a.m. Checks need to be received the Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 5:15 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 6:30 p.m. of Kiddushim: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS Standard for $150, Sunday, March 8th - Thursday, March 12th Semi-Deluxe for $250 Shacharit Tuesday & Wednesday 6:45 a.m. 3/7 Silberman Mincha/Maariv...Sunday - Thursday at YIWH 6:30 p.m. 3/14 Weinstein Friday, March 13th - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m. The cost to sponsor is $90.00 Candle Lighting 6:36 p.m. To set up Seudah Shlishit contact Mincha/Maariv 6:42 p.m. Steve Luger swluger2@yahoo.com Check out the weekly Schedule on the YIWH Website youngisraelwh.org/times ~ Times from: ou.org/holidays/calendar For Eruv Information: twitter.com/whartforderuv or youngisraelwh.org/eruv or (Hotline - 860-232-6417) WANT TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: To receive emails from the synagogue about classes, events, and times of services consider subscribing to our public listserv by emailing yiwhevents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Members of the listserv can email each other about events and other needs by addressing email to yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com. Visit our website www.youngisraelwh.org or contact webmaster@youngisraelwh.org for more information.
March 13th - 20th, 2015 Shabbat Mevorchim Parashat Parah/Vayakhel-Pekudei Friday, March 13th - Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting 6:36 p.m. or bulletin@youngisraelwh.org Mincha/Maariv 6:42 p.m. to check the availability of the date Shabbat, March 14th - Michael Weinstein s Auf Ruf at 860-983-4837 Sof Zman Kriat Shma 10:03 a.m. Checks need to be received the Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 6:20 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 7:38 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, March 15th - Thursday, March 19th Semi-Deluxe for $250 Shacharit Tuesday & Wednesday 6:45 a.m. 3/14 Weinstein Mincha/Maariv...Sunday - Thursday at YIWH 6:40 p.m. Friday, March 20th - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m. The cost to sponsor is $90.00 Candle Lighting 6:44 p.m. To set up Seudah Shlishit contact Mincha/Maariv 6:50 p.m. Steve Luger swluger2@yahoo.com Check out the weekly Schedule on the YIWH Website youngisraelwh.org/times ~ Times from: ou.org/holidays/calendar For Eruv Information: twitter.com/whartforderuv or youngisraelwh.org/eruv or (Hotline - 860-232-6417) WANT TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: To receive emails from the synagogue about classes, events, and times of services consider subscribing to our public listserv by emailing yiwhevents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Members of the listserv can email each other about events and other needs by addressing email to yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com. Visit our website www.youngisraelwh.org or contact webmaster@youngisraelwh.org for more information.
March 20th - 27th, 2015 Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Parashat Hachodesh/Vayikra Friday, March 20th - Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting 6:44 p.m. or bulletin@youngisraelwh.org Mincha/Maariv 6:50 p.m. to check the availability of the date Shabbat, March 21st - Rosh Chodesh Nisan at 860-983-4837 Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:56 a.m. Checks need to be received the Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 6:30 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 7:46 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, March 22nd - Thursday, March 26th Semi-Deluxe for $250 Shacharit Tuesday & Wednesday 6:45 a.m. Mincha/Maariv...Sunday at YIWH 6:50 p.m. Friday, March 27th - Erev Shabbat Shacharit 6:45 a.m. The cost to sponsor is $90.00 Candle Lighting 6:52 p.m. To set up Seudah Shlishit contact Mincha/Maariv 6:58 p.m. Steve Luger swluger2@yahoo.com Check out the weekly Schedule on the YIWH Website youngisraelwh.org/times ~ Times from: ou.org/holidays/calendar For Eruv Information: twitter.com/whartforderuv or youngisraelwh.org/eruv or (Hotline - 860-232-6417) WANT TO JOIN THE LISTSERV: To receive emails from the synagogue about classes, events, and times of services consider subscribing to our public listserv by emailing yiwhevents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Members of the listserv can email each other about events and other needs by addressing email to yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com. Visit our website www.youngisraelwh.org or contact webmaster@youngisraelwh.org for more information.
March 27th - April 3rd, 2015 Shabbat Hagadol Parashat Tzav Friday, March 27th - Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting 6:52 p.m. or bulletin@youngisraelwh.org Mincha/Maariv 6:58 p.m. to check the availability of the date Shabbat, March 28th - SHABBAT HAGADOL at 860-983-4837 Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:49 a.m. Checks need to be received the Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 6:40 p.m. There are three types Shabbat Ends 7:54 p.m. of Kiddushim: Standard for $150, Sunday, March 29th - Thursday, April 2nd Semi-Deluxe for $250 Shacharit Tuesday & Wednesday 6:45 a.m. Mincha/Maariv...Sunday - Thursday at YIWH 6:55 p.m. Friday, April 3rd - Erev Pesach Taanit Bechorot Alot Hashachar 5:06 a.m. The cost to sponsor is $90.00 Shacharit & Siyum Bechorot to follow 6:30 a.m. To set up Seudah Shlishit contact Communal Chametz Burning at YIWH 8:00-9:30 a.m. Steve Luger swluger2@yahoo.com Latest Time for Eating Chametz (M A) Latest Time for Owning/Burning Chametz (M A) Candle Lighting Mincha/Maariv 6:59 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Start Seder After...