The Chronicle 5777 Congregation Ahawas Achim B’nai Jacob & David1 A Shul, A Community, A Torah Way of Life The Chronicle SEPTEMBER 2016 Issue 1 TISHREI 5777 Aa Tamu5768 Rabbi’s Message President’s Message - Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler - Larry Liebman [email protected] [email protected] During the Aseret Y’mai Teshuva we All of our Jewish holidays have one central theme. have a number of additions in our On Pesach, we recall the exodus from Egypt. On Shemonah Esrei. The first addition is Shavuot, the original theme was the Bikurim, the added to the first fruits, which was eventually replaced, after זכרנו לחיים the verse of first section of the Shemonah Esrei the destruction of the Temple, by the giving of the .This first section is devoted Torah. Yom Kippur is the day of forgiveness“אבות”. which is called to praise of Hashem, linking the connection He Sukkot is the holiday of the Jews (their established with our forefathers. The words of uniqueness and history as represented by the .(should really be found in the part of Sukkah and the Lulav/Etrog זכרנו לחיים Shemonah Esrai where we make requests of Hashem. Rosh Hashanah is a holiday of great spiritual power, whose impact is meant to influence every Why did the authors of the siddur allow for a Jew throughout the whole year. As such, we change during this time of year? The Chatam would expect the holiday to send a strong single Sofer answers this question with a parable of a message, but this is not the case. Rosh king who for only a few days a year suspends the Hashanah is unique in presenting two themes. strict rules of visitation to his palace, so that his people can approach him with their requests. In one approach, Rosh Hashanah emphasizes G- d's position as King of the Universe. This During this period of time, the king allows access essentially rational approach sees the function of to himself in an unprecedented way, overlooking Rosh Hashanah as crowning the Creator in His the standard secure protocol, in order for His world. people to feel connected and close to him. During this period of time, Hashem is The second approach defines Rosh Hashanah as waiting for us to visit His palace. the Day of Judgment because on that day the Supreme Court of heaven sits in judgement of He is giving us the opportunity to redefine the nature of our relationship with Him. He begs us to (Continued on page 2) visit Him in a very personal way. A parent who has become estranged from their child waits with baited breath for the child to reach out and revisit Rosh Hashana Edition the relationship. Hashem does the same for His children. May we Guide for the Perplexed, p. 6 truly take advantage of this period and grow closer Sisterhood , p. 15 to our Creator resulting in a Ktiva Vachatima Tova and a wonderful successful new year. Together On Tuesday , p. 18 On behalf of Sharon, Yitzy, Tziporah, Menachem, and Zevi I wish the Shul community a happy, Year in Review, p. 20 sweet, healthy, and prosperous new year. Cong. Ahawas Achim B'nai Jacob & David 700 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052 2 The Chronicle 5777 President’s Message, cont’d every earthly being. In this approach, the role of Rosh Hashanah is to motivate man to improve his As 8 new families have moved in since January actions in fear of the day of spiritual stock-taking and a few others are still arriving this month, I for every Jew in the presence of his Creator. welcome them to our Shul and community where one can become involved on many different In practice, both approaches have support in the committees. West Orange is a community full of prayers and customs of the holiday. Moreover, chesed, friendship and warmth. I thank the both approaches that existed side by side marketing committee and Rabbi Zwickler for all throughout the generations are based on the they have done and continue to work together in distinction between the worship of G-d in love and bringing families to West Orange. the worship of G-d in fear. On behalf of Yaffa, Sheri & Ariel, Mitchel and The Rambam in Hilchot Shofar (Ch. 1, 2) lists the Jonathan, we wish each and every one of you a commandment relating to Rosh Hashanah of Healthy, Happy, Prosperous and Sweet New Year. sounding the shofar, by describing the sounding of K’tivah Vachatimah Tovah. the shofar in the Temple which was flanked by the blowing of two trumpets. This follows the first approach to Rosh Hashanah with the coronation Available on of G-d as King. In Hilkhot Teshuva (Ch. 3, 4), however, the Rambam relates to the second approach, where the shofar must elicit a response leading to www.aabjd.org repentance. This aligns with the understanding of the holiday as a time for Man to repent. So we see that the Rambam uses both ideas to explain the blowing of the shofar. Congregation AABJ&D Board of Directors The Sifre Numbers 77 also supports the Larry Liebman President combining of the two approaches: "Why did the sages establish that first the Kingship verses Jack Becker First Vice President would be recited in the Musaf prayer and then the Bryan Bier Vice President Remembrance and Shofar verses? Because first Andrew Yolin Vice President you crown Him to be your King, and then you ask Shira Waldstreicher Vice President Him for mercy so that you will be remembered by Judy Levitan Secretary Him." Chaim Silverman Treasurer Rich Finkelstein Financial Secretary The duality of Rosh Hashanah in our approach to Mitch Cohen President Emeritus Hashem with both love/honor/respect and fear/ awe/reverence should also be how we approach Rich Kelin Chairman of the Board each other. The Rosh Hashanah lesson of Bain Rivkie Moradi Vice Chairman of the Board Adam LaMakom should be reflected as well in our Bain Adam Lachavero relationship. This should be present in both how we treat our fellow man Andrea Bier Sisterhood Co- Presidents and how we participate in our community. Merdith Kellman Adam Gindea Men’s Club President The Chronicle 5777 3 Yosef Sharbat Assistant Rabbi Meet Darren May! [email protected] Sharon & Jerry Volk Our New Rabbinic Intern Darren May is currently in the semicha program in Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary In the beginning of the Selichot prayers we say, of Yeshiva University. In 2016 The soul “הנשמה לך והגוף פעלך חוסה על עמלך ” – “ belongs to You, and the body is Your doing; have pity Darren graduated from the Sy on Your handiwork.” It seems that the intent of this Syms School of Business summa declaration is that even if we are unworthy of God’s cum laude with the distinction of grace, we appeal for His kindness on the basis of that first in marketing. He also mi- our soul and body belong to Him and for this reason nored in business management. alone God should have compassion for us. Before attending Yeshiva Univer- sity, he went to Nesivos Ahron and the Mir Yeshiva Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, the Rosh Yeshiva of in Jerusalem. Currently he is working toward a Ateres Yisrael in Yerushalayim suggests a different masters in Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard understanding as to why God should have Revel School of Jewish Studies, while studying as a fellow in the Katz Kollel. Additionally, he is a הנשמה לך והגוף ופעלך compassion for us. The words can also mean that we have our bodies and our souls symphonic and jazz trumpet player, having played purely for the sake of fulfilling the purpose for which in numerous venues and concert halls around the God created us. We acknowledge that we were country. He is currently engaged to Nechama created for a purpose and we should continue to live Stemple from Bayswater, whom he hopes with G- so we can fulfill that purpose, using the soul and body d’s help to marry in mid January. that God gave us. Rav Ezrachi cites a story told in the Talmud (Ta’anit 21a) of Nachum Ish Gamzu. Nachum had a difficult life, suffering tremendously. He thought that his suffering was a punishment for delaying The entire community is invited to the slightly before assisting a famished pauper. By the Sukkah of Rabbi Eliezer & Sharon time Nachum presented the pauper with food, he died Zwickler on the first day of Sukkot, and as a result Nachum declared upon himself that Monday, 10/17 at 4 PM. his various body parts should become dysfunctional All college and grad school students because of this mistake. Rav Ezrachi explained that are invited to the Sukkoah of Rabbi the message of this story is that our body is given to us for a mission and to fulfill a purpose. Nachum Eliezer & Sharon Zwickler for an Oneg believed that since he did not fulfill his mission, he on the first night of Sukkot, Sunday then does not deserve a functioning body. Thus, we 10/16. confess to Hashem that we failed to use our soul and body for our life’s mission and we beg for a second chance, to prove to Hashem that we will use it for Him. As we plead with God to forgive us for our failings and to continue providing us with blessings, If you have a child who is studying in Israel we must also acknowledge that blessings that we for the year, Rabbi Zwickler would love to have and to commit ourselves to utilize those keep in contact with them.