DOCSLIB.ORG

Shabbat Sermon – June 1, 2019 Rabbi Eli Yoggev Israel, Yom Yerushalayim, and the Case for Jewish Values in Honor of the Modern

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shabbat Sermon – June 1, 2019 Rabbi Eli Yoggev Israel, Yom Yerushalayim, and the Case for Jewish Values in Honor of the Modern Shabbat Sermon – June 1, 2019 Rabbi Eli Yoggev Israel, Yom Yerushalayim, and the Case for Jewish Values In honor of the modern Israeli holidays that are upon us, Yom HaAtzma’ut a few weeks ago and Yom Yerushalayim tomorrow, I’d like to ask a pretty straightforward halachic question: are we Jews in the Diaspora obligated today to make Aliyah to Israel? Or put otherwise, in the context of our Parshah: if we want to abide by all of the laws of the Torah—as in the opening of the ?which means walking in God’s statutes—does that include Aliyah ,אם בחקותי תלכו Parshah If you ask the heads of my first yeshiva, Yeshivat Machon Meir, the answer would be a resounding yes. I remember being fresh out of public high school, long hair and all, as I sat in one of my first yeshiva classes ever. It was on the lessons of Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook on the importance of the Land of Israel. They didn’t waste any time at this place! This was a pretty Zionistic yeshiva. So much so that on several Shabboses in my first year I was set up for meals in settlements that were on the verge of being imminently disbanded by the government. A few classes later, they were already encouraging us to make Aliyah. And you know what? It worked! I ended up making Aliyah later that year and living there for thirteen years! I recall being very enchanted by this whole vision. I had a strong connection to the Land from childhood. My father grew up there and we used to visit yearly to spend time with our Israeli family. Even our family name, Yoggev, is Israeli. No, sorry to disappoint those who still call me Rabbi Yoga: it doesn’t come from the root of Yoga! It means farmer and is straight from the Tanach (see Kings 2, 25, 12 and Jeremiah 39, 10). And my connection to Israel only grew as the yeshiva took us on walking tours through the country and learned texts with us from Masechet Kiddushin about the rabbis’ deep love for the land. Israel was elevated so high, that I even heard it mentioned as a fourth pillar of Judaism— alongside Hashem, Am Yisrael, and Torah. I was into all of this. I loved being with my people, experiencing the history and walking on the same paths that Sarah, Isaac, King David, and Isaiah trekked; taking in the smells and sounds— and yes, frequent shoves—at the Machaneh Yehuda market. Touching stones that went back thousands of years was really cool and powerful. Israel has always been an important value for me; this messaging reinforced this. But I still was unsatisfied with the halachic piece. I kept asking: how could it be that so many religious Jews and prominent rabbis who live in the Diaspora are not fulfilling the obligation of Aliyah? At this time, I came across works of the Satmar Rebbe who, to my surprise, said the exact opposite of what I heard in yeshiva: it is a transgression for Jews today to move to Israel. Yes, you heard correctly. I will not go into the intricacies of this view, but one of the main arguments is that we should wait for Hashem to return us to the land of Israel in the final redemption. Rabbi Eli Yoggev • Beth Tfiloh Congregation • Baltimore, MD • June 1, 2019 This approach didn’t resonate for a few reasons, one of them being: we are always asked to do our part—our hishtadlut—in our service of God. This passive approach ran counter to this. So, I kept inquiring. When I came to the States the summer after my first year in yeshiva, I was enthused about Aliyah and remember speaking to people back in my hometown about it. They all answered the same thing: “It’s really not so simple.” I remember thinking to myself: “If it’s halacha, then it is simple. You just do it.” It turns out they were correct. Many quoted for me a source in Rav Moshe Feinstein—that is the approach people go by here in the Modern Orthodox community—saying that if one moves to Israel, one is doing a great mitzvah, but one is not halachically obligated to do so (see Igrot Moshe, Even ha-Ezer 102 (at the end)); Aliyah is not a mitzvah like Kriyat Shema, Tefillin, or Matzah, Rav Moshe explained. These must be performed no matter what. It’s more like eating in the Sukkah. The more one does it, the better off one is. But one is not required to do so aside from the first two nights of Sukkos. The multitude of approaches on Aliyah—and, believe me, there are many more than the three I mentioned—ended up, sadly, dulling my inner passion for the Land. I remember being so filled with innocent love for Israel, only to have it diffused while searching to apply it on a halachic level, discovering a whole gamut of approaches from Pro-Zionist to Anti-Zionist. This often happens in our religious lives. Due to the myriad opinions in Jewish law, we ignore the straight forward values that animate the law. We see the array of views on Aliyah, find the one that accommodates our lives, and, as a result, lose some of the inner connection to Israel that the Torah promotes. I speak in the plural “we” intentionally, because this is what happened to me. I went from being hot to warm in relation to Israel, due to the many positions. It is in anticipation of this kind of outcome that our parshah doesn’t stop at Bechukotai in the first .in the fourth aliyah ערכין three aliyot, but instead continues with a discussion on Arachin What are Arachin? These are assessments of how valuable different people are to us. In the beginning of the parshah, we discussed what we have to do. In Arachin, we talk about what is important to us—what, or who, we value. I believe this ordering of the parshah was intentional. In our religious lives we must be as diligent in our values, our Arachin, as we are in our halacha, our Bechukotai. You will not find a debate among our authorities on the value of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel for the Jewish people. EVERYONE agrees they are of the highest value. As Jews living in the Diaspora, we must especially bring this to mind tomorrow, on Yom Yerushalayim. On a halachic level, we may not have to pack up tomorrow and make Aliyah. There is some halachic complexity here. But what should not be complex is our value system. We must keep our passion for Israel and Jerusalem on high, and I am speaking to myself, also. Rabbi Eli Yoggev • Beth Tfiloh Congregation • Baltimore, MD • June 1, 2019 Tomorrow, we will join together in festive davening in shul in honor of Yom Yeushalayim, accompanied by music and singing. I strongly encourage everyone to attend. And as we sing together, I implore you to move beyond your geographic reality here outside of Israel, and tap into your inner connection to Yerushalayim. Bring to mind what you love most about the city— its people, its idiosyncrasies, its streets, its sites. Ponder its rich history and the endless prayers recited on its behalf by our ancestors for millennia. Turn up your passion, even for one day! And together we will give thanks to Hashem for our beloved city—the highest valued Jewish real estate in the world! Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and an early Yom Yerushalayim Sameach. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Shabbat-B'shabbato – Parshat Vayeira No 1596: 18 Cheshvan 5776 (31 October 2015)
    Shabbat-B'Shabbato – Parshat Vayeira No 1596: 18 Cheshvan 5776 (31 October 2015) AS SHABBAT APPROACHES The Binding of Yitzchak - by Esti Rosenberg, Head of the Midrasha for Women, Migdal Oz "He suppressed his pity in order to perform Your will with a complete heart. So let Your mercy suppress Your anger against us." These words from the "Memories" section of the prayers for Rosh Hashanah are an expression of an abstract of the Binding of Yitzchak – the human ability to overpower our natural mercy and our desires when they come up against the obligations and the commands of the Creator of the World. The Holy One, Blessed be He, demands that man must be willing to abandon some of his own inclinations, and sometimes even be willing to give up his life and to overcome his natural feelings of mercy as part of our acceptance of the yoke of heaven. This main element of the link between the Creator and His creatures first appeared in the way that G-d tested Avraham. In the end Yitzchak was not offered as a sacrifice, but the essence of personal sacrifice in response to a command and to the will of the Creator was born on Mount Moriah, and it remains the basis of our religious lives. What did Avraham feel at the time when he began to understand this very significant point? What emotions did he experience when he climbed Mount Moriah? Two world giants tried to describe Avraham's emotions at this point. Rav Kook writes, "Avraham did not lose any sleep that night, because of the clear knowledge that had come to him through the word of G-d.
    [Show full text]
  • Jointorah Education Revolution
    the JOIN TORAH EDUCATION REVOLUTION Afikei Torah • Ahavas Torah • Ahava V'achva • Aish HaTorah of Cleveland • Aish HaTorah of Denver • Aish HaTorah of Detroit • Aish HaTorah of Jerusalem • Aish HaTorah of Mexico • Aish HaTorah of NY • Aish HaTorah of Philadelphia • Aish HaTorah of St Louis • Aish HaTorah of Thornhill • Ateres Yerushalayim • Atlanta Scholars Kollel • AZ Russian Programs • Bais Yaakov of Boston • Bais Yaakov of LA • Bar Ilan University • Batya Girls / Torah Links • Bay Shore Jewish Center Be'er Miriam • Belmont Synagogue • Beth Din • Beth Jacob • Beth Jacob Congregation • Beth Tfiloh Upper School Library • Bnei Shalom Borehamwood & • Elstree Synagogue • Boston's Jewish Community Day School • Brandywine Hills Minyan • Calabasas Shul • Camp Bnos Agudah • Chabad at the Beaches • Chabad Chabad of Montreal • Chai Center of West Bay • Chaye Congregation Ahavat Israel Chabad Impact of Torah Live Congregation Beth Jacob of Irvine • Congregation Light of Israel Congregation Derech (Ohr Samayach) Organizations that have used Etz Chaim Center for Jewish Studies Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue • Torah Live materials Jewish Community Day Jewish FED of Greater Atlanta / Congregation Ariel • Jewish 600 Keneseth Beth King David Linksfield Primary and High schools • King 500 Mabat • Mathilda Marks Kennedy Jewish Primary School • Me’or 400 Menorah Shul • Meor Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya 206 MTA • Naima Neve Yerushalayim • 106 Ohab Zedek • Ohr Pninim Seminary • 77 Rabbi Reisman Yarchei Kalla • Rabbi 46 Shapell's College • St. John's Wood Synagogue • The 14 Tiferes High Machon Shlomo 1 Me’or HaTorah Meor • Me'or Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya College • Naima Neve Yerushalayim • Ohab Zedek • Ohr Pninim Seminary • Rabbi Reisman Yarchei Kalla • Rabbi 2011 2014 2016 2010 2015 2013 2012 2008 2009 Shapell's College St.
    [Show full text]
  • AJS Perspectives: the Magazine TABLE of CONTENTS of the Association for Jewish Studies President from the Editor
    ERSPECTIVESERSPECTIVES AJSPPThe Magazine of the Association for Jewish Studies IN THIS ISSUE: Orthodoxy Then and Now SPRING 2008 AJS Perspectives: The Magazine TABLE OF CONTENTS of the Association for Jewish Studies President From the Editor. 3 Sara R. Horowitz York University Editor From the President . 5 Allan Arkush Binghamton University From the Executive Director . 7 Editorial Board Howard Adelman Orthodoxy Then and Now Queen's University Alanna Cooper University of Massachusetts Amherst Becoming Orthodox: The Story of a Denominational Label Jonathan Karp Jeffrey C. Blutinger . 8 Binghamton University Heidi Lerner Historicizing Orthodoxy Stanford University Frances Malino Jay Berkovitz . 12 Wellesley College Vanessa Ochs Thoughts on the Study of the Orthodox Community: University of Virginia After Thirty-Five Years Riv-Ellen Prell Samuel Heilman . 16 University of Minnesota Shmuel Shepkaru University of Oklahoma Religious Feminism in Israel: A Revolution in Process Abe Socher Irit Koren. 20 Oberlin College Shelly Tenenbaum Haredi Counter History: Some Theoretical Clark University and Methodological Aspects Keith Weiser York University Nahum Karlinsky . 26 Steven Zipperstein Stanford University Haredim and the Study of Haredim in Israel: Managing Editor Reflections on a Recent Conference Karin Kugel Kimmy Caplan and Nurit Stadler. 30 Executive Director Rona Sheramy Graphic Designer Perspectives on Technology: Matt Biscotti Wild 1 Graphics, Inc. Researching Orthodox Judaism Online Heidi Lerner . 36 Please direct correspondence to: Association for Jewish Studies Ethnographic Sketches from the Future of Jewish Studies Center for Jewish History 15 West 16th Street Marcy Brink-Danan . 42 New York, NY 10011 Voice: (917) 606-8249 Reflections on Jewish Studies, Twenty Years Later Fax: (917) 606-8222 E-Mail: [email protected] Howard Tzvi Adelman.
    [Show full text]
  • Vertientes Del Judaismo #3
    CLASES DE JUDAISMO VERTIENTES DEL JUDAISMO #3 Por: Eliyahu BaYonah Director Shalom Haverim Org New York Vertientes del Judaismo • LA ORTODOXIA MODERNA • La Ortodoxia moderna comprende un espectro bastante amplio de movimientos, cada extracción toma varias filosofías aunque relacionados distintamente, que en alguna combinación han proporcionado la base para todas las variaciones del movimiento de hoy en día. • En general, la ortodoxia moderna sostiene que la ley judía es normativa y vinculante, y concede al mismo tiempo un valor positivo para la interacción con la sociedad contemporánea. Vertientes del Judaismo • LA ORTODOXIA MODERNA • En este punto de vista, el judaísmo ortodoxo puede "ser enriquecido" por su intersección con la modernidad. • Además, "la sociedad moderna crea oportunidades para ser ciudadanos productivos que participan en la obra divina de la transformación del mundo en beneficio de la humanidad". • Al mismo tiempo, con el fin de preservar la integridad de la Halajá, cualquier área de “fuerte inconsistencia y conflicto" entre la Torá y la cultura moderna debe ser evitada. La ortodoxia moderna, además, asigna un papel central al "Pueblo de Israel " Vertientes del Judaismo • LA ORTODOXIA MODERNA • La ortodoxia moderna, como una corriente del judaísmo ortodoxo representado por instituciones como el Consejo Nacional para la Juventud Israel, en Estados Unidos, es pro-sionista y por lo tanto da un estatus nacional, así como religioso, de mucha importancia en el Estado de Israel, y sus afiliados que son, por lo general, sionistas en la orientación. • También practica la implicación con Judíos no ortodoxos que se extiende más allá de "extensión (kiruv)" a las relaciones institucionales y la cooperación continua, visto como Torá Umaddá.
    [Show full text]
  • Parshat Va'era No 1658: 1 Shevat 5777 (January 28, 2017)
    Parshat Va'era No 1658: 1 Shevat 5777 (January 28, 2017) WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER Membershiip: $50.00 CLICK HERE TO JOIN OR DONATE TO THE RZA Piillllar Membershiip:$180.00 We are iinthe process of collllectiing membershiip dues for 2017. Plleaseshow your support and jjoiin as a member or renew your membershiip at thiistiime. Relliigiious Ziioniists of Ameriica 305 Seventh Avenue, 12th Flloor, New York, NY 10001 [email protected], www.rza.org Dear Friend of Religious Zionism, One of the initiatives we are planning, in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the re- unification of Jerusalem, is an “Honor Roll” to be signed by the leadership of congregations and schools across the country. 1) Please have your leadership inform us if they want to be included on our Honor Roll. (We will include the names of all participating institutions in the media). 2) Please share this Honor Roll with institutions in your community and encourage participation. 3) Please arrange to hang this Honor Roll in the lobbies of your Shuls and Schools. Click here to print out a copy of the poster OR kindly email us to let us know if you’d like us to mail you a hard copy flyer or poster. Rabbi Gideon Shloush Presidium National Director Mr. Martin Oliner Religious Zionists of America - Mizrachi Rabbi Leonard Matanky [email protected] Dr. Ernest Agatstein Please encourage your community leadership toinclude the paragraph below in your Shul and School Announcements: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. On May 22-25 be front and center for a mega-celebration in Israel in partnership with the Religious Zionist of America (RZA) and World Mizrachi.
    [Show full text]
  • Komisaruk Family
    Komisaruk family Updated by Chaim Freedman 18/02/2020, to replace the material in his book “Eliyahu’s Branches, the Descendants of the Vilna Gaon and His Family”, Avotaynu 1997. Dov Ber (Berel) Komisaruk, born 1776 in Girtegola, Lithuania,1 (son of David Komisaruk [1747 - ] and Khana ?), died 1843 in Rassein, Lithuania.2 Oral tradition held that Berel came from a prominent family of scholars and communal leaders in Kovno. Lithuanian records prove that the family came from the city Rassein which was located in Kovno Gubernia (province).When the Jews were compelled to adopt a surname in 1804 Berel and his brothers or their father registered their surname as "Komisaruk". Later generations used various forms of this name: Komisaruk, Komesaroff, Komisar, Comisaroff, Comisarow. A full explanation of the reason for these variations and the historic basis for the family's activities in Rassein can be found in "Our Fathers' Harvest" (Chaim Freedman, Israel 1982, supplement 1990.) Berel Komisaruk and his family appear to have held a license to farm taxes which the local Jewish community was obliged to pay to the Russian government. In their case the particular tax was that due to the supply corp of the army, the Komisariat. This was probably the origin of this surname. Tradition claims some relationship with the famous Soloveitchik family of Kovno. Other than their common Levitic descent, this has not been established. The Soloveitchik family was amongst the founders of the Kovno community in the early 18th century. The 1816 Revision List for Rassein city includes two family groups with heads of family Leib, son of David Komisaruk and Velvel, son of David Komisaruk.
    [Show full text]
  • De Yom Yeroushalayim Recueil D’Essais Autour De Yom Yeroushalayim
    Recueil d’essais Autour de Yom Yeroushalayim Recueil d’essais Autour de Yom Yeroushalayim Sommaire Avant propos - Rav Yeh’iel Wasserman 4 Une vie d’ abondance, à la memoire de H’ayim Zohar - Avraham Douvdevani (Douvdev) 7 H’ayim Zohar, homme de Jérusalem - Professeur Betty Rojtman 11 Paroles aux soldats de Tsahal , à la libération du Kotel - Rav Shlomo Goren 18 Jérusalem dans l’ enseignement du Rav Kook - Rav Yéhouda Léon Askenazi (Manitou) 19 La feuille de route de Jérusalem - Rav H’ayim Druckman 27 Jérusalem, coeur de l’ âme juive - Rav Dr. Eliyahou Rahamim Zini 33 A propos de Yom Yeroushalayim - Rav Yaakov Medan 38 Trois capitales - Botschko Rav Shaoul David 44 Jérusalem , de la division à l’ unité - Rav Oury Cherki 48 L’éternité c’ est Jérusalem - Rabanite Esthy Rosenberg 55 4 Yom Yeroushalaim 5 événements de notre vie, nous ne d’huile dans toute la Diaspora, et AVANT-PROPOS manquons pas d’exprimer la place l’image des parachutistes face au Rav Yeh’iel Wasserman primordiale qu’elle occupe, tel le Mur est devenue le symbole de jeune marié qui sous la H’ouppa cette guerre. Le roi David dit Ce recueil, publié en Hébreu Ainsi est la capitale éternelle du casse un verre en souvenir de la dans les Psaumes: «Jérusalem et en Français, a pour thème Peuple Juif: depuis sa fondation, Ville Eternelle. Tout au long de reconstruite est comme une ville «Jérusalem». Il est dédié à la Jérusalem a toujours été le centre l’Exil, le souvenir de Jérusalem a réunie». Ce verset est interprété mémoire de H’ayim Zohar, qui spirituel et national du Peuple Juif, sauvegardé l’Unité du Peuple qui dans le Talmud de Jérusalem et occupa différents postes de haut la résidence des rois de la Dynastie n’a jamais cessé de perpétuer sa dans le Midrash ainsi: «C’est une niveau dans des organismes de David et le lieu où se dévoile la mémoire et de prier d’y retourner.
    [Show full text]
  • JCF-2018-Annual-Report.Pdf
    JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Since 2000, Jewish Communal Fund’s generous Fundholders have made nearly $5 Billion in grants to charities in all sectors, including: + GRANTS 300,000 to Jewish organizations in the United States, totaling nearly $2 Billion + GRANTS 100,000 to Israeli and international charities, totaling $664 Million + GRANTS 200,000 to general charities in the United States, totaling $2.4 Billion CONTENTS 1 Letter from President and CEO 2 JCF Reinvests in the Jewish Community 3 JCF Adds Social Impact Investments in Every Asset Class 4 Investments 5–23 Financial Statements 24–37 Grants 38–55 Funds 56 Trustees/Staff 2018 ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL 2018 very year, we are humbled by the enormous generosity of JCF’s Fundholders. FY 2018 was no exception—our Fundholders recommended a staggering 58,000 grants totaling $435 million to charities in every sector. It is our privilege to facilitate your grant- Emaking, and we are pleased to report a record-breaking year of growth and service to the Jewish community. By choosing JCF to facilitate your charitable giving, you further enable us to make an annual $2 million unrestricted grant to UJA-Federation of New York, to support local Jewish programs and initiatives. In addition, JCF’s endowment, the Special Gifts Fund, continues to change lives for the better, granting out more than $17 million since 1999. Your grants and ours combine to create a double bottom line. Grants from the Special Gifts Fund are the way that our JCF network collectively expresses its support for the larger Jewish community, and this sets JCF apart from all other donor advised funds.
    [Show full text]
  • World Torah Assembly
    Bs"d, Tevet 5778, December 2017 World Torah Assembly In the presence of HaRav HaGaon, Rabbi David Lau, shlit"a, Chief Rabbi of Israel and president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Outstanding Torah Achievement awards were conferred upon distinguished Rabbis, Heads of Rabbinic Academies and Torah projects, that were noted for their significant, exclusive and singular contribution on behalf of teachers of Torah and their students, wherever they may be. The awards were conferred at the World Torah Assembly, before a large crowd of participants, in Jerusalem, celebrating 70 years of Israel's statehood and 50 years to the reunification of Jerusalem. Presented at the assembly were learned lectures on the variant methods of Torah learning, in our era, and on the observance of Halacha in the medical realm and the Halachic utilization of modern technologies. Picture on right: HaRav HaGaon Rabbi David Lau shlit"a - Chief Rabbi of Israel, Mr. Eliezer Sheffer, Chairman World Organization of Orthodox Communities and Synagogues, HaRav Avichai Katzin - Head of "Reishit" Bet Midrash. Award Recipients, sitting from right to left: HaRav Zvi (Herschel) Schachter- rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kolel, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University, New York, HaRav Yaakov Ariel - Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan, HaRav Dr. Ratzon Arussi - Rabbi of Kiryat Ono, and member of Chief Rabbinate Council, HaRav Chaim David Kowalsky - Rosh Beit Midrash "Meorot HaDaf HaYomi", HaRav Eliezer Melamed - Rabbi of Yishuv "Har Bracha" and Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Dov Begun - Head of "Machon Meir". In collusion with Knesset member, HaRav Eli Ben Dahan - vice Minister of Defense Granting of awards to distinguished recipients HaRav Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Shabbat-B'shabbato – Parshat Bamidbar (Shavuot) No 1575: 5 Sivan 5775 (23 May 2015)
    Shabbat-B'Shabbato – Parshat Bamidbar (Shavuot) No 1575: 5 Sivan 5775 (23 May 2015) AS SHABBAT APPROACHES Divine Names - by Rabbi Oury Cherki, Machon Meir, Rabbi of Beit Yehuda Congregation, Jerusalem In both religious and nonreligious circles, it is common to speak about the Holy One, Blessed be He, as the "Supreme Force" (" Koach Elyon "). However, this concept is entirely wrong, for several reasons. The simplest reason for this fact is that any attempt to define Divinity diminishes the concept and distorts the truth, in the manner of, "for You, silence is praise" [Tehillim 65:2]. G-d is the source of all force, but He is above and beyond any such definitions. If we look in depth, we will see that the spiritual world that is linked to such definitions is sorely lacking. Force refers to the strong side, the one which is to be preferred, and not the opposing side. Strength crushes under its force everything which is outside of its own limits. As a result of such an approach the service of G-d becomes an egotistic interest, full of fear, without any love. As time passed and people became more and more accustomed to view G-d as a force with a desire for power and honor, the attitude of revolt against religion and faith grew, until it morphed into a denial of the existence of G-d. Criticism of religion enlists help from demands for normalcy and a desire for simple joys of life. These demands are basically part of the conditions for serving G-d out of a feeling of love, which not only does not subjugate man but even raises him to his full stature and gives his feet the agility of a deer.
    [Show full text]
  • The Weekly Brief: Parshat Matot-Masei / Shabbat
    19-10 Morlot Avenue Andrew Markowitz, Rabbi Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Benjamin Yudin, Rabbi Emeritus 201.791.7910/shomrei-torah.org T HE WEEKLY BRIEF: PARSHAT MATOT-MASEI / SHABBAT MEVARCHIM Tammuz 26, 5780 / July 17-8, 2020 Parsha/Haftorah: Artscroll: 900/1193; Hertz: 702/725; Living Torah: 822/1217 Pirkei Avot: Chapter 1 From the Desk of the new President of Shomrei Torah, Danny Pickett Dear Shomrei Torah Member, I am honored and humbled to be chosen to serve as the next president of Shomrei Torah. As this is my first opportunity to address the general membership, I would first like to share a little about myself and then briefly discuss some thoughts regarding the present and future of Shomrei Torah. About Me Many of you know me well, some not so well and others may not know me at all (but have probably heard my booming voice). I was born in Haifa in December 1976. In 1980, my parents, who were olim for 12 years, moved back to the United States. I grew up the youngest of four boys in Passaic, where we davened at the Young Israel. My parents gave their time and energy to the synagogue and we were expected to help as well. I attended Hillel Academy until fifth grade when I switched into Yavneh. I attended Frisch for high school and then spent a year studying at the Israeli yeshiva Machon Meir. Following my year in Israel I went to the University of Maryland, College Park where I majored in Government and Politics and was active in the Hillel.
    [Show full text]
  • Danny Raymond Phd Jewish Diaspora and Migrant Settlers On
    JEWISH DIASPORAS AND MIGRANT SETTLERS ON THE WEST BANK PHD DISSERTATION BY DANNY RAYMOND ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY & DANISH INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STU DIES 2011 CONTENTS Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 The Journey begins ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Background .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Theoretical Approaches ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 Fields of research ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2 ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Theory .............................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]