Parasha Page Numbers Derash veDaSh: A Shabbat Message and Greeting Parasha Artscroll 998, Soncino 799 “Hyperbole, History, Homily, and Harmony” Maftir (Rosh Chodesh) Artscroll 890, Soncino 695 In his magnum opus Mevo Ha-Talmud (=An Introduction to the Talmud), Haftara (Rosh Chodesh) Artscroll 1208, Soncino 944 the author - Galician Torah-giant Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Chajes - suggests that the number 300 frequently found in the Talmud is intended not as an Schedule of Services and Classes accurate count of the given items under discussion, but rather a hyperbole Friday, August 17 / 29 Av designed to stimulate the attention of the student-reader. Shacharit 6:15 am Mincha//Maariv 7:00 pm As it turns out, there is also some degree of inaccuracy surrounding the Candle-lighting, preferably by 7:15 but no later than 7:32 pm announcement of this “300th Issue” of The Park Page. Those with long Saturday, August 18 / 30 Av – Rosh Chodesh memories may recall an inaugural Issue #0 reconstructed and circulated after Issue #1, to align the publication schedule with this author’s service Navi Shiur: Ezekiel (R. Teitelman) 8:15 am at the synagogue. Approximately two years later appeared Issue #100b, Shacharit 8:45 am sub-sequenced so that the commemorative edition #101 would coincide Latest time for Shema MA 8:57 GRA 9:33 am with its scheduled date of Shabbat Bereshit 5769. I put all this out there Youth Groups 9:30 am with full disclosure on the proverbial table … just in case I should decide down the line to run for President. Sermon: “For the Kids’ Sake” 10:30 am Shiur: “Elul: A Beginning, a Middle, or an End?” 6:40 pm Lest I have diminished any excitement otherwise concomitant with this Mincha, followed by Seuda Shelishit and Maariv 7:20 pm milestone, let me admit a special affinity I have for the current Parashat Shabbat ends 8:33 pm Hashavua Re’eh, particularly when it coincides with Rosh Chodesh Elul. Sunday, August 19 / 1 Elul – Rosh Chodesh Rosh Chodesh Elul was the wedding anniversary of my father, Dr. Bernard Shacharit 8:10 am Teitelman zikhrono livrakha, and my mother Mrs. Joyce Teitelman, tibadel le-chayim tovim ve-arukim, and I am indeed fortunate to be the firstborn Shiur – Masekhet Mikvaot (R. Teitelman) 9:10 am beneficiary of that union. Parashat Re’eh, for its part, back in 1985 when it Mincha/Maariv 7:25 pm was also Rosh Chodesh Elul, was my very first Shabbat in the holy city of Monday, August 20 / 2 Elul Yerushalayim. The next day I would commence my post high-school Shacharit 6:10 am studies at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shevut, a most transformative Mincha/Maariv 7:25 pm experience as the “year in Israel” is wont to be. My article on Parashat Tuesday, August 21 / 3 Elul Re’eh in 2003 was the first of many I would contribute to National Council of Young Israel’s Divrei Torah Bulletin (see later in this issue). In 2006, Shacharit 6:15 am Re’eh would become as well our tryout Shabbat (“proba”) at Young Israel Mincha/Maariv 7:25 pm of New Hyde Park, what has – in the six years since - evolved into a Wednesday, August 22 / 4 Elul treasured relationship both with the synagogue - an institution of Torah, Shacharit 6:15 am Tefillah, and Chesed - as well as with its individual congregants and the Navi Shiur – Sefer Shmuel (R. Bilitzky) n/a extended community. And last year also on Parashat Re’eh, Nehama and Gemara Shiur – Masekhet Sanhedrin (R. Bilitzky) n/a I, our family, and the shul would celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of our eldest Mincha/Maariv 7:25 pm daughter Sara Hanna. Despite a “Hurricane Irene” that had people evacuating their homes and abandoning their cars, we enjoyed our first Thursday, August 23 / 5 Elul complete reunion since our wedding of both sides of the family - the Shacharit 6:15 am Kutliroffs and Teitelmans - a momentous Siyum by Sara, and a weekend Mincha/Maariv 7:25 pm of Yiddishe nachas and simcha enhanced by the characteristic warmth Friday, August 24 / 6 Elul and hospitality for which our community is known, and the determination to do what it takes despite whatever the circumstances. Shacharit 6:15 am Mincha/Maariv 7:00 pm But aside for all its sentimental meaning, Parashat Re’eh represents the Candle-lighting, preferably by 7:15 but no later than 7:21 pm fusion between the secular and the sanctified, taking the mundane and infusing it with meaning. We elevate our festivals by experiencing them in Daf Yomi, currently studying Berakhot, meets Monday thru Friday at 5:30 the presence of G-d. Instead of ordinary meat, we consume Shelamim – a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. In the evenings between discretionary offerings but nonetheless endowed with holiness. Maaser Mincha and Maariv, we discuss additional insights into that day’s Daf. Sheni – the tithes of ordinary produce – are a sacred obligation (possibly attended to by a rather exceptional Biblical blessing – cf. Rashi to Ki The last time for Kiddush Levana, during the month of Elul, is Saturday, Tavo). It is that model to which we have subscribed in this publication September 1 at 12:35 a.m. + 7 Chalakim. generally – and this column in particular – looking for news items from all around the world and all forms of media, hoping still in the most During the month of Elul – which begins this Saturday night - the shofar is unexpected contexts to glean inspiration consistent with and conducive to sounded after Shacharit and we recite Psalm 27 (Le-David Hashem Ori ve- our Torah value system and lifestyle. Yishi) after the morning and evening prayers. Additionally, Sefardim say Selichot the entire month, while Ashkenazim begin at least four days before I thank our readers wherever they can be found (sometimes in unexpected Rosh Hashana. places.); the “writers” who provide feedback in the form of compliments, criticisms, and corrections; the sponsors of this issue and its ~300 Daf Yomi Insights predecessors; Shul President David Rouhani for his support of all my endeavors in addition to his own indefatigable efforts directly on behalf of To complement our study of Daf Yomi in the mornings, we have the synagogue; to my father-in-law Dr. Jerome Kutliroff whose weekly been using the time between Mincha and Maariv to explore in Dvar Torah to family and friends has certainly influenced the trajectory of greater detail something from the daily Daf. Below are the topics my own thinking; to Nehama and my children for allowing me the time to examined over the past week: Page 9 - “The relationship of tekhelet produce The Park Page each week and assisting me with its design, (blue) and lavan (white) in Tzitzit.” Page 10 – “The beauty of printing and distribution; and to the Ribono Shel Olam for the Siyata symmetry in Biblical text and religious practice.” Page 11 – “Do Dishmaya in whatever I am fortunate to accomplish. Birkhot Hatorah cover one’s learning for the entire day?” Page 12 - And let me assure you that these expressions of appreciation – even if “The imperative to pray for others generally, and in the context of th Bikur Cholim.” Page 13 – “Is Keriat Ha-Torah from the Torah?” they may come on the occasion of the 300 – are no hyperbole, but reflect Page 14 – “Are all readings of Hallel mandated equally?” Page 15 – a profound sense of gratitude from me to all of you. “Precision while reciting the Shema.” Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Lawrence Teitelman Y O U N G I S R A E L O F N E W H Y D E P A R K th National Council of 264-15 77 Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 · Tel: 718-343-0496 · Fax: 718-343-6509 · www.yinhp.org · [email protected] Young Israel Dvar Torah on Parashat Re’eh 2003 from National Council of Young Israel’s Divrei Torah Bulletin by Rabbi Teitelman The fifth and final book of the Chumash, though popularly called "Devarim," is in fact known in the Talmud as "Mishneh Torah" -- literally, "a second Torah". The source for this alternate appellation is found in the Book of Devarim itself: "and [the King of Israel] should write this Mishneh Torah in a book" (17:18). The Commentators, following Sanhedrin 21b, by and large understood the expression in this context not specifically as a reference to Devarim, but rather as part of a directive for the King to maintain two copies of the entire Torah, one for his royal treasury and another to accompany him at all times. Nonetheless, the term "Mishneh Torah," and the vernacular "Deuteronomy," clearly also reflects the reality that many portions of Devarim are recapitulations of sections found earlier in the first four books of the Torah. One of the most obvious examples of such duplication is the description of the kosher and non-kosher species that originally appeared in Parashat Shemini (Vayikra 11:1-47) and now recurs in Parashat Re'eh (Devarim 14:3-21). Not only does the Torah restate the prohibitions to consume non-kosher animals, and even reiterate its guidelines for differentiating between the permitted and forbidden types, but it goes so far as to once again itemize specific beasts and birds that may not be eaten. Naturally, considering the significance granted to each and every word - nay, every letter - of the Torah, one wonders about the necessity to repeat the presentation in our parasha, especially in such detail. The astute reader may be quick to discern variations between the pair of accounts in Vayikra and Devarim, with certain particulars only being revealed in the later version.