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Parshat Lech Lecha October 28, 2017 8 Cheshvan, 5778 Jonathan Sacks on Lech Lecha The most influential man nations” (Gen. 17:5). Sovereign of the universe.” ARTSCROLL 54 who ever lived, does not This is an extraordinary HERTZ 45 appear on any list I have There are today 56 Islamic passage. sees the seen of the hundred most nations, more than 80 Christian order of nature, the elegant HAFTORAH influential men who ever ones, and the Jewish state. Truly design of the universe. It’s like lived. He ruled no empire, Abraham became the father of a palace. It must have been ARTSCROLL 1133 commanded no army, many nations. But who and what made by someone for HERTZ 60 engaged in no spectacular was Abraham? Why was he someone. But the palace is on acts of heroism on the chosen for this exemplary role? fire. How can this be? Surely Bar battlefield, performed no There are three famous portraits the owner should be putting of miracles, proclaimed no of Abraham. The first is the one out the flames. You don’t Kroll prophecy, led no vast we learned as children. Abraham, leave a palace empty and throng of followers, and had left alone with his father’s idols, unguarded. Yet the owner of no disciples other than his breaks them with a hammer, the palace calls out to him, as Times own . Yet today more which he leaves in the hand of the God called to Abraham, asking than half of the 6 billion biggest of the idols. His father him to help fight the fire. God people alive on the face of Terach comes in, sees the needs us to fight the Candle Lighting 5:39 pm the planet identify devastation, asks who has caused destructive instinct in the Mincha 5:40 pm themselves as his heirs. His it, and the young Abraham human heart. This is Abraham, , of course, is replies, “Can you not see? The the fighter against injustice, Hashkama 8:00 am Abraham, held as the hammer is in the hands of the the man who sees the beauty Parsha Shiur 8:30 am founder of faith by the largest idol. It must have been of the natural universe being three great monotheisms, him.” Terach replies, “But an idol disfigured by the sufferings Main 9:00 am , Christianity and is mere of wood and stone.” inflicted by man on man. Islam. He fits no Abraham replies, “Then, father, Beit 9:15 pm conventional stereotype. He how can you them?” This Finally comes a third image, Gemorah Shiur 4:30 pm is not, like , described is Abraham the iconoclast, the this time by as unique in his generation. breaker of images, the man who : After he was Mincha 5:30 pm The Torah tells us no tales while still young rebelled against weaned, while still an infant, Ends 6:45 pm of his childhood as it does the pagan, polytheistic world of Abraham’s mind began to in the case of Moses. We demigods and demons, reflect. Day and night, he R’ Reisman Video 9:00 pm know next to nothing about superstition and magic. thought and wondered, “How his early life. When God is it possible that this celestial Sunday Oct. 29 7:30/8:30 am calls on him, as He does at The second is more haunting and sphere should continuously be Mon. & Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am the beginning of this week’s is enigmatic. Abraham, says the guiding the world and have no parsha, to leave his land, midrash, is like a man travelling one to guide it and cause it to Tue., Wed, & Fri. 6:45/7:45 am his birthplace and his on a journey when he sees a turn, for it cannot be that it father’s house, we have no palace in flames. He wondered, turns itself?” He had no Mincha 5:30 pm idea why he was singled “Is it possible that the palace teacher, no one to instruct him out. Yet never was a lacks an owner?” The owner of in anything. He was Latest Times for promise more richly fulfilled surrounded, in Ur of the Shema/Shemoneh Esrei the palace looked out and said, “I than the words of God to am the owner of the palace.” So Chaldees, by foolish idolaters. him when He changed his Abraham our father said, “Is it His father and mother and the October 28 9:59/10:52 am name from Abram to possible that the world lacks a entire population worshipped Abraham: “For I have made idols, and he worshipped with November 4 10:03/10:55 am ruler?” God looked out and said to you father of many him, “I am the ruler, the them. But his mind was Next Shabbat Kiddush and Seudah Shlishit are sponsored by

Candle Lighting 5:30 pm Ilana & Jonathan Kroll in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their Sammy Mincha 5:30 pm 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Lech Lecha 5778 constantly active and reflective, until he had attained the way of For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his truth, found the correct line of thought, and knew that there is household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what one God, He that guides the celestial spheres and created is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham everything, and that among all that exists, there is no God what He has promised him.” (Gen. 18:19) The great scenes in beside Him. This is Abraham the philosopher, anticipating Abraham’s life – waiting for a child, the birth of , the Aristotle, using metaphysical argument to prove the existence of tension between and , the birth of , and the God. Three images of Abraham; three versions, perhaps, of what binding – are all about his role as a father. it is to be a Jew. The first sees as iconoclasts, challenging the idols of the age. Even secular Jews who had cut themselves Judaism, more than any other faith, sees parenthood as the adrift from Judaism were among the most revolutionary modern highest challenge of all. On the first day of – the thinkers, most famously Spinoza, Marx and Freud. Thorstein anniversary of creation – we read of two mothers, Sarah and Veblen said in an essay on “the intellectual pre-eminence of and the births of their , as if to say: Every life is a Jews,” that the Jew becomes “a disturber of the intellectual universe. Therefore if you wish to understand the creation of the peace…a wanderer in the intellectuals’ no-man’s-land, seeking universe, think about the birth of a child. Abraham, the hero of another place to rest, farther along the road, somewhere over faith, is simply a father. Stephen Hawking famously wrote at the the horizon.” The second sees Jewish identity in terms of tzedek end of A Brief History of Time that if we had a Unified Field u-mishpat, a commitment to the just society. Albert Einstein Theory, a scientific “theory of everything”, we would “know the spoke of the “almost fanatical love of justice” as one of “the mind of God.” We believe otherwise. To know the mind of God features of the Jewish tradition which make me thank my we do not need theoretical physics. We simply need to know that I belong to it.” The third reminds us that the Greek thinkers what it is to be a parent. The miracle of childbirth is as close as Theophrastus and Clearchus, disciples of Aristotle, speak of the we come to understanding the-love-that-brings-new-life-into-the Jews as a nation of philosophers. So these views are all true and -world that is God’s creativity. profound. They share only one shortcoming...There is no evidence for them whatsoever in the Torah. speaks of There is a fascinating passage in Yossi Klein Halevi’s book on Abraham’s father Terach as an idolater (Josh. 24:2), but this is Christians and Muslims in the land of , At the Entrance to not mentioned in Bereishit. The story of the palace in flames is the Garden of Eden. Visiting a convent, he is told by a , perhaps based on Abraham’s challenge to God about the Maria Teresa: “I watch the families who visit here on weekends. proposed destruction of Sodom and the cities of the plain: “Shall How the parents behave toward their children, speaking to them the judge of all the earth not do justice?” As for Abraham-as- with patience and encouraging them to ask intelligent questions. Aristotle, that is based on an ancient tradition that the Greek It’s an example to the whole world. The strength of this people philosophers (especially Pythagoras) derived their wisdom from is the love of parents for their children. Not just the mothers but the Jews, but this too is nowhere hinted in the Torah. also the fathers. A Jewish child has two mothers.” Judaism takes what is natural and sanctifies it; what is physical and invests it What then does the Torah say about Abraham? The answer is with spirituality; what is elsewhere considered normal and sees unexpected and very moving. Abraham was chosen simply to be it as a miracle. What Darwin saw as the urge to reproduce, what a father. The “Av” in Avram/Avraham means “father”. In the only Richard Dawkins calls “the selfish gene”, is for Judaism high verse in which the Torah explains the choice of Abraham, it says: religious art, full of drama and beauty. Abraham the father, and Sarah the mother, are our enduring role models of parenthood Great Neck Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus as God’s gift and our highest vocation. Welcomes your questions about mikvah, observance of taharat mishpacha (halacha relating to married life) and women’s health, as it connects to Jewish law. Reach out to her at: Phone: 516.415.1111 Email: [email protected]. All conversations and emails are kept confidential.

Great Neck Synagogue 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023 516-487-6100

Rabbi Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Wolf, z”l, Rabbi Emeritus Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Zehava & Dr. Atlas, Youth Directors Mark Twersky, Executive Director Dr. James Frisch, Assistant Director Dov Sassoon, President Rabbi Aron Rubin, Rabbinic Intern Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board Lisa Septimus, Yoetzet Halacha 516-415-1111 WEEKLY CLASSES AVAILABLE

Mondays Wednesdays Jewish Philosophy (Beit Midrash) Contemporary Topic Chabura Rabbi Ian Lichter 8:00 – 9:00 pm (rotating homes, ask to be put on weekly email) Rabbi Ian Lichter - 9:00 10:30 pm This class takes one interpersonal mitzvah per – evening and analyzes its scope in our day to day Join this growing shiur focused on exploring the interactions. This week’s focus will discuss world of halacha and hashkafa. deception and misrepresentation. Thursdays Topics in Aggadata (Bilfeld home) Women’s Chumash Class (Chalfin Room) Rabbi Dale Polakoff 9:00 – 10:00 pm Rabbi Dale Polakoff 9:15 – 10:30 am Join us in discovering the deeper teachings of This class takes an in-depth look at Sefer the Rosh Hashana. Bamidbar and relates the mitzvot and narratives of the Torah to our daily lives. Tuesdays Parsha ‘n Pizza (Chalfin Room) Power Chumash (Chalfin Room) Rabbi Ian Lichter - 7:00 – 7:30 pm Rabbi Dale Polakoff 8:30 – 9:30 pm 1st-5th graders learn the Parsha with an This class utilizes the breadth of Torah opportunity to share a dvar Torah at the Shabbat commentaries in dissecting passages in the table; raffle every month and pizza for all. Torah to provide a broad picture into isolated mitzvot: Sefer .

GUEST SPEAKER & NSHA SHABBATON/OPEN HOUSE

UPCOMING EVENTS

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PIE AND EAT IT TOO..... Order homemade pareve PIES for Thanksgiving ALL the funds raised will go to SHARSHERET to support young Jewish women facing OVARIAN CANCER.

Check it out AT: www.sharsheret.org/pies-for-prevention/greatneck

ORDER BY NOVEMBER 15th Need more info? Contact [email protected] VARIETY NIGHT

THANKSGIVING CHESED This year for Thanksgiving You can really give thanks and be giving!

Buy a Thanksgiving Dinner for a resident at Arrandale Senior Housing and make your parents proud of you.

$18 can sponsor a dinner in honor of/in memory of your parents

Name:______Phone #______Email:______Meals purchased in memory/ in honor of: ______Amount enclosed:______We are also looking for a limited number of volunteers (ALL AGES) to help serve the dinner, clean up, play music, sing & talk to the residents

I would like to volunteer on Thursday, Nov 23th 11:30-2 pm Food Server:______Other Talent:______Volunteer & Kids’ Ages: ______

Co-Sponsored by: GNS Hunger Initiative, Sisterhood & Women’s Tefila For more info: call Nechama at 516-773-3572 or email [email protected]

Please return to: GNS 26 Old Mill Road Great Neck, NY 11023 ANNOUNCEMENTS Rabbi Polakoff’s shabbos drasha through 5778 MAZAL TOVS & COMMUNITY NEWS is dedicated in memory of PINCHAS BEN YOSEPH For other such opportunities please contact Mazal Tov to Ilana & Jonathan Kroll on the Bar Mitzvah of Howard Wolf 516-643-3344 their son Sammy. Mazal Tov to grandparents Edith & Leo Scheiner, Hasson and Martin & Rita Kroll. IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS MOVING INTO THE GREAT NECK AREA PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW. Mazal Tov to Mariana Naim on the engagement of her son, Jonathan to Judith Mizrachi, daughter of Victor & Tara OFFICE HOURS FOR RABBI POLAKOFF Mizrachi. Wednesdays: 10-12; Thursdays: 1-3. He can always be reached via 516.637.3674 or [email protected]. Mazal Tov to Jessica & Chris Hackel on the birth of their daughter. HASHKAMA KIDDUSH Hashkama Minyan Kiddush is sponsored by Susan & Sedge in Mazal Tov to Jackie & Mike Rudick on the birth of a baby boy. honor of the participants of the minyan. Mazal Tov as well to grandparents Laura & Scott Danoff. Mazal Tov to Carol Berlin on being honored by YU’s Ferkauf CHANUKAH BOUTIQUE Graduate School of Psychology. Our Chanukah Boutique is early this year - so you have a great opportunity to come and get all your shopping done with the SAVE THE DATE Sisterhood! It's the same day as the Men's Club Blood Drive, so you Randi Luxenberg will be honored at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in can do good, and then shop (because you deserve a reward, because, Dinner on Wed. Nov. 15th at Guastavinos NYC. To register you know, you've just been GOOD)!! Nov. 5th, from 12-4 pm. or to place an ad go to www.acsz.org/dinner. WOMEN’S TEFILA NORTH SHORE HEBREW ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE The Women’s Tefila has asked to announce the honorees and sponsor Sunday, November 5th, 10:00am-1:00pm - Join us to learn about for Kiddush from : Kallah Torah: Gisela Steigman; NSHA’s premier Toddler-Eighth grade academic program and how the Kallah Breishit: Irene Dicker; Kallah : Marla Lemonik; Kiddush NSHA Modern Orthodox Yeshiva experience can transform your child Sponsor: Hedva and Edmund Kessler in Honor of their grandchildren. and your family. Your child's journey begins here. This event will be at MEN’S CLUB EVENTS 16 Cherry Lane. To RSVP visit www.nsha.org/openhouse. To schedule a Sun. Oct. 29th @ 10:00 am: Rabbi Evan Hoffman tour, or for more information, contact Zausmer Weiss Sun. Nov. 5th @ 9:00 am: Blood Drive [email protected].

GNS 66TH ANNUAL DINNER SILVERSTEIN HEBREW ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE We are looking for donations for the raffle at the dinner. Please speak Join us to learn more about our Preschool-Eighth grade program. with Daniel Winter or email him at [email protected] with Preschool: Tues. Oct. 31st 9:30-11:30 at 117 Cuttermill Rd. your donations and or suggestions for raffle prizes. Elementary School: Wed. Nov. 1st 9:30-11:30 at 117 Cuttermill Rd. Middle School: Mon. Oct. 30th 9:30-11:30 at 5 Old Mill Rd. CHANUKAH SCOPE MAGAZINE SPONSORSHIP Call Adena at (516) 423-8522 or email us at [email protected]. Thank you very much to our Rosh Hashanah SCOPE sponsors (we have about 70!) for their strong support! We are grateful for the YESHIVA HAR TORAH OPEN HOUSE outpouring of financial assistance we receive from so many members Please join us at Yeshiva Har Torah’s Open House on Mon. Nov. 6th at of our shul. We invite others to add their names to the sponsor page 7:15 pm. To find out more about the admissions process, call us at for the upcoming Chanukah issue. You can dedicate the sponsorship (718) 343-2533 or register for the Open House at www.hartorah.org. in honor or in memory of a loved one. The cost is $36/issue or $100 for 3 issues. Please contact Diane Rein at [email protected] to be a Saturday, 8 Cheshvan sponsor. Thank you so much! Laurie Mermelstein for Carl Berlin Leo Mindick for Hyman Rubinstein GNS SHIVA CHESED FUND RUNNING LOW Harold Domnitch for Alice Smoklow Over 13 years ago we started the GNS Shiva Chesed Fund and Shiva Sunday, 9 Cheshvan system so all our Shul families could be cared for at all times of Felix Glaubach for Cyrilie Glaubach Shiva. As our Shiva Chesed fund is running low we appreciate your Monday, 10 Cheshvan help to donate now so we are ready to assist Shiva families at any Y Sharon Janovic for Janovic time with meals and with whatever is needed. Please donate online at Marc Kalter for Harold Kalter https://www.gns.org/about/affiliates/shivachesed/shiva/ or make all A Albert Miller for Israel Miller checks out to GNS Shiva Chesed Fund and mail or drop off at the Stephen Rabinowitz for Abraham Rabinowitz Shul. H Milton Rabinowitz for Abraham Rabinowitz Tuesday, 11 Cheshvan VETERAN’S DAY - NOVEMBER 11TH R Steve Blumner for Dov ben Chaim If you are a veteran of the US, Israeli or any other country’s armed Charles Mandelbaum for Jack Mandelbaum forces, we would like to list your name and service in the Z Evelyn Henis for Harry Noah announcements for Shabbat November 11th. Please email E Wednesday, 12 Cheshvan [email protected] or call the shul to provide the necessary information. Roslyn Dicker for Gottlieb Thank you. I Sydelle Knepper for Rosalie Marin UPCOMING EVENTS Tricia Moslin for Nycha AT GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE T Thursday, 13 Cheshvan David Benrimon for Jacob Benrimon October 29: Men’s Club Event: Rabbi Evan Hoffman Eva Bachrach for Joseph Grunfarb November 1: Chaverim Center Elana Jochimek for Susan Jochimek November 4: NSHA Shabbaton Abigail Epstein for H. Howard Ostrin November 4: Guest Speaker: Dr. David Dalin Friday, 14 Cheshvan November 5: Men’s Club Blood Drive/Sisterhood Boutique Ellen Siegel for Shirley Crair November 11: Men’s Club & Sisterhood Variety Night Zalta for Lauri Zalta