Torah Weekly

בס״ד TORAH WEEKLY 13 ‑ 19 May, 2018 Parshat Bamidbar the Book of Numbers how Back in the 1950s, at the start 28 Iyar ‑ 5 Sivan, 5778 MISSING JEWS How many Jews are G‑d orders the census of our of his leadership, he initiated people. And it doesn’t matter the concept of Jewish outrea‑ Torah: there in the world? 13 mil‑ what the size of our beard is ch. He sent young rabbis and Numbers 1:1 ‑ 4:20 lion? Perhaps 14 million, if you’re generous. How many or what type of yarmulke we rebbetzins to places that were HAFTARAH: Jews were there before World wear or don’t wear; at the end far away, geographically and Hosea 2:1‑22 War II? Apparently the num‑ of the day, G‑d counts what spiritually. Even in the ’60s ber was around the 19 million is precious to him. So if the and ’70s, other Jewish mo‑ TORAH STUDIES mark. So if we deduct the Almighty values every single vements laughed and scoffed We have many Judaic six million wiped out in the Jew, how can we allow that at the idea. They ridiculed topics for you to study. Holocaust, we are down to Jew to write himself out? the notion of sending young We will provide the 13 million—which is exact‑ Some years ago, religious couples to somewhe‑ material and courses. ly where we are today. So when I was hosting South re like UCLA in California. Please write to us for the colossal question is this: Africa’s only Jewish radio “They’ll eat them for brea‑ more information. Where are all the missing show, I interviewed a pro‑ kfast.” “He has no chance of Jews? Or, specifically, why in minent leader of the World changing anything.” “They ALEPH LIBRARY the last 60 years have we not Jewish Congress. We got won’t even be able to remain The Aleph Institute made up our losses? to talking on this subject. religious themselves.” Library, is available to The truth is that we I asked him if he was not Today, thank G‑d, you, thru the institution all know the reasons. Success, perturbed by the dire pre‑ there are over 100 Chabad library. affluence and lifestyles that dictions being made then centers in the state of Califor‑ Please ask to see our encourage sophisticated sel‑ about the shrinking Jewish nia alone. And today, thank catalog in the chapel in fishness—why spend money population. His answer was G‑d, those same movements every institution. on kids when we can enjoy it that we would probably have who initially thought the You can then ask the ourselves?—have all encou‑ a smaller Jewish community, Rebbe’s ideas ludicrous are librarian to order that raged overzealous adherence but that it would be a stron‑ themselves in the business of book. to zero population growth. ger one. Those who resisted Jewish outreach. Indeed, it is GRAPE JUICE & In fact, at 1.8 children per assimilation would be proud, gratifying to see his trailbla‑ MATZAH Jewish family, we aren’t even committed Jews. zing efforts being followed by Aleph offers free Grape replacing ourselves. I couldn’t argue the so many, including those who Juice and Matzoh for Then, of course, there point, but what disturbed were very cynical in the early you to be able to make are the ravages of assimila‑ me deeply was a seemingly days. the blessings every tion. If every other young nonchalant attitude and an Just over a year ago, Shabbos. Please have American Jew is marrying almost matter‑of‑fact tone in my daughter and son‑in‑law your chaplain / Rabbi out, what chance do we have his voice. It was almost as if established the first Jewish contact us for more info. at increasing our numbers? to say, “So what? We will be center in Table View, Cape Now it is true that, smaller but stronger.” Town. It is an area which has traditionally, Jews were never “So what”?! The attracted many young Jewish into playing the numbers Torah says every Jew is im‑ families, but there was abso‑ game. G‑d Himself said so portant enough to be counted. lutely no Jewish infrastructu‑ ALEPH INSTITUTE in the Bible when he told us, The mystics teach that every re or communal presence in Hyman & Martha Rogal “Not because of your great one of us has a soul which is a the area. Assimilation was a Center numbers have I chosen you, veritable part of G‑d. We lost serious reality. In her first vi‑ 5804 Beacon Street for you are the smallest of six million in the Holocaust, sit to the local public school, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 the nations.” That does not and a Jewish leader says, in she was able to meet with the 412‑421‑0111 mean, though, that we should effect, “so what?” Jewish children. When she Fax: 412‑521‑5948 be complacent about disap‑ Only now are people asked a boy of twelve about www.alephne.org pearing Jews. We read in beginning to realize what plans for his bar mitzvah, she [email protected] a visionary the Rebbe was. was told, “My parents said I don’t need to have one.” After the holiday evening prayers, the recitation of the holi‑ Needless to say, his was the first bar mitzvah cele‑ day kiddush, is again made. brated at the synagogue of Table View. Second day of Shavuot (Monday, Sivan 7 - May 21) But you don’t have to be a professional at outreach Torah reading: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17; Numbers 28:26– to bring a fellow Jew closer. Bring a friend to synagogue. 31 Haftarah: Habakkuk 2:20–3:19 Just get him or her there, and let the rabbis know, so they The Yizkor memorial service is recited (and charity is pled‑ can welcome them and make them feel comfortable. You ged) for the souls of departed loved ones. don’t have to be a rebbetzin, the rabbi’s wife, to invite an The priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Bles‑ uninvolved Jewish family to your Friday night Shabbat sing during the Musaf prayer. table. If you know the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Kiddush is recited, and a holiday meal follows. alef, teach the letter alef to someone who doesn’t. If you Some communities have the custom to read the Book of know bet, it’s guaranteed there is someone out there who Ruth on the second day of Shavuot. does not. You can be a teacher and an inspiration even if The holiday ends tonight at nightfall. you are not a rabbi. In fact, many uninitiated Jews are inti‑ midated by rabbis, and need a friend for moral support and In Jewish History a smooth entrée to Jewish life. Sunday, 28 Iyar, 5778 - May 13, 2018 Please G‑d, we will all fulfill the responsibility Passing of Samuel (877 BCE) and privilege to help rebuild the lost generation and the The prophet Samuel (931‑877 BCE) was one of the vanished communities of Eastern Europe. Please G‑d, our most important figures in Jewish history; our sages describe nation will be strong and will grow in numbers, until every him as the equivalent of “Moses and Aaron combined.” lost Jew will find their place and stand up and be counted Samuel was the last of the Shoftim (“Judges”) who led the among our people. people of Israel in the four centuries between the passing of By Rabbi Yossy Goldman Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy, and the au‑ thor of the biblical books of “Judges”, “Samuel” and “Ruth” SH AV UOT Samuel was born in the year 2830 from creation Shavuot eve (Shabbat, Sivan 5 - May 19) (931 BCE) after his barren mother, Chanah (Hannah), Women and girls light candles tonight to usher in the holi‑ prayed for a child at the Sanctuary at Shiloh and pledged, day. “O L‑rd of hosts... If You will give Your maidservant a man After the holiday evening prayers, recitation of the holiday child, I shall dedicate him to G‑d all the days of his life...” (I kiddush. Being that it is Saturday night, special additions Samuel 1:11). At age two, his mother brought him to Shiloh are inserted to mark the end of the Shabbat. in fulfillment of her vow, where he was raised by Eli the On this night it is customary to remain awake and study High Priest; shortly thereafter, Samuel had his first prophet‑ Torah until dawn. ic communication (described in I Samuel 3). In 890 BCE, First day of Shavuot (Sunday, Sivan 6 - May 20) Samuel succeeded Eli as leader of the Jewish people. Torah reading: Exodus 19:1–20:23; Numbers 28:26–31 After ten years under Samuel’s guidance, the Haftorah: Ezekiel 1:1–28; 3:12 people approached him with the request, “Appoint for us a Reading of the Ten Commandments. king... like all the nations around us.” Samuel disapproved All men, women and children should go to the synagogue of their request, believing that the people of Israel should to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments. be subject only to G‑d and not to any mortal king; but G‑d instructed him to do as the people ask. Samuel then anoint‑ The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, ed (879 BCE) Saul as the first king of Israel. When Saul dis‑ of righteous memory, encouraged the bringing of even the obeyed G‑d during the war on Amalek, Samuel proclaimed youngest of children to the reading of the Ten Command‑ David the legitimate king in Saul’s stead.

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