Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                               May 16, 2019

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, May 17: 27th Day Omer (Iyyar 12)
6:30a Shacharit
6:45p Kabbalat Shabbat
7:57p Candle Lighting
Tonight's Sefirah Count Is: היום שמונה ועשרים יום שהם ארבעה שבועות לעמר

Shabbat, May 18: 28th Day Omer, Emor (Iyyar 13)
9:15a Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Dr. Micah Goodman
9:15a Women's Tefillah Shacharit 
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
11:45a Kiddush
6:15p Daf Yomi
6:45p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
7:15p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Dr. Goodman
7:40p Children's Seudah Shlishit
8:59p Havdalah

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
5/18: Kiddush 
5/25: Kiddush Luncheon sponsored by the Mendelsohn family
6/1: Kiddush

Comments on the Torah Portion & Haftorah, contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz

When I was in elementary school -- the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn -- one of our Hebrew teachers died suddenly, in the middle of the term. Another Hebrew teacher, Mar Rabinowitz, came to our classroom to give us the news. I remember what he said. He reminded us that the parshiyot for the following three weeks were Acharei Mos, Kedoshim and Emor. He pointed out that if those 3 parsha names were translated as a sentence, it would mean: "After the Death" (of) "Holy Persons,"  "Speak Up". We had an obligation to present the life and accomplishments of our teacher after his death. And so, Mar Rabinowitz stood before the class and spoke the praises of our deceased teacher. That was very long ago, but I still remember.

This week’s parsha, Emor, contains a full discussion of the holidays on the Jewish calendar. Different sections of this Torah reading also constitute the Torah readings for particular holidays. One of the most famous differences of opinion in Jewish legal thought plays a role in the interpretation of details of this parsha. Emor contains the commandment to start the counting of the Omer on Passover, which is the period during which the agricultural products are brought to the Temple, and to continue the counting until Shavuos (Vayikra 23:15). But exactly when do we start counting? The Torah says, "mi'macharat ha'Shabbos," from the day following the Shabbos. The difference of opinion that arose was between the two great Jewish schools, Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai. Beis Shammai read the words literally and said that we count from the day after the first Shabbos during Pesach. This means that Shavuos would  always come out on the same day. Beis Hillel, on the other hand, interpreted "Shabbos" to mean the first day of Pesach, so we start counting the Omer on the second day of Pesach. Since the day on which Pesach begins varies from year to year, so would the day on which Shavuos falls. As with many other issues, we follow Beis Hillel on this one.

Later in the parsha, we are commanded to light a "ner tamid," a constant, or eternal, candle, in the Sanctuary (Vayikra 24:2). There is an issue with the translation of the word "tamid." The new Jewish Publication Society translation offers the idea that we should light the candle "regularly." This doesn't seem quite right; it appears to be saying that we should light the candle "every day." Robert Alter may have come closer to the Torah's meaning by suggesting, through his translation, that we should light the candles "perpetually." The first JPS version translated "tamid" as "continually." In synagogues, a light, which is never extinguished, is placed in front of the Aron Kodesh (the Holy Ark), and is known as the Eternal Light. Years ago, there was a popular radio program with Jewish subject matter, produced by NBC in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary. It was called The Eternal Light. If I recall correctly, this was the first "Jewish" program on a major station. The program later moved to NBC television, and ran until 1989, for a total, on radio and TV, of 45 years. I remember listening avidly to the radio version, every Sunday, beginning at noon.

The Haftorah, from the Book of Ezekiel (44:15-31), speaks of the continuing rules applicable to the Kohanim, even after the destruction of the First Temple.

PIRKE AVOS. ETHICS OF THE FATHERS

It is traditional, from the first Shabbos after Pesach until Shavuos or even beyond, to study Pirke Avos, Ethics of the Fathers, on Shabbos afternoon. Pirke Avos is part of the Mishna, and as suggested by the name, emphasizes ethical sayings. Each Shabbos, the next of the six chapters is studied. This week, we study Chapter 3, which begins with the well-known Mishna:

Akavia ben Mehalalel says: Reflect on three things and you will not come to sin. Think of where you came from, where you are going, and before whom you will be required to give judgment. Where you come from -- from a putrid drop; where you are going -- to a place of worms and dust; and before whom you will give judgment -- before the Holy One, Blessed Be He.

Another Mishna every week.

Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l

Ezekiel 44:15-31

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