SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 8, 2020 - SHEVAT 13, 5780 PARSHAT BESHALACH (Pg
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SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 8, 2020 - SHEVAT 13, 5780 PARSHAT BESHALACH (Pg. 366) SHABBAT SHIRA TORAH INSIGHTS FROM RABBI ELI BABICH In Your “loving kindness” You led the people You redeemed; You led [them] with Your might to Your holy abode (Beshalach 15:13). Tanna De’beh Eliyahu, a collection of lessons taught by Elijah the prophet, explains what ultimately served as the impetus for the redemp- tion of the Jewish people from Egypt. As the servitude prolonged and the pain and suffering worsened, the Jewish people came to the realiza- tion that the Egyptians would never show mercy upon them, and that they were in a dire predicament. Consequently, as a way of alleviating their suffering, the nations committed to the care of one another, attempting to ease each other’s pain to the best of their abilities. A brit of chesed, a covenant of care and kindness, was established between them. The verse in Jeremiah (2:2) similarly records the nation’s commitment to chesed while enslaved in Egypt: “Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: so said the Lord: I remember to you the loving kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following Me in the desert, in a land not sown.” The “loving kind- ness of your youth,” says the Chofetz Chaim, refers to the commitment to acts of loving kindness our forefathers undertook while slaves in Egypt. In addition to dedicating them- selves to caring for each other’s needs, the nation further strengthened their resolve to the sacred Torah values of their ancestors. The Chofetz Chaim wrote that when the Almighty saw the care and compassion the nation demonstrated to each other, despite themselves experiencing personal difficulties, G-d too demonstrated loving-kindness and redeemed the nation from slavery. Hence, the impetus for the Almighty displaying “loving kindness” was due to the nation’s personal commit- ment to acts of loving kindness. According to the Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin 11), not only did acts of kindness serve as a merit for our nation’s deliverance from Egypt, but throughout the ages, acts of kindness served as a merit for our salvation. The Talmud declares that if a person experiences per- sonal troubles in life, and all avenues for deliverance seem to fail, one must redouble their personal commitment to the ideals of kindness, as acts of kindness generate redemption. The Chasam Sopher was approached for advice by a businessman who had a prosperous business, however, this business was currently struggling. Chasam Sopher questioned the businessman whether he still assists the poor? The businessman replied in the negative, as his business was doing poorly. The Chasam Sopher responded that seems to be the prob- lem. G-d has mercy upon those who have mercy upon others, said the Chasam Sopher, therefore engaging in acts of kindness may serve as a merit for your personal deliverance. ELI BABICH, RABBI JOSEPH MALOVANY, CANTOR 5 East 62nd Street ● Tel: 212.838.2122 ● www.5as.org GUEST BA’AL TEFILAH YEHUDA GREEN Fifth Avenue Synagogue welcomes back sensational singer, composer and Ba’al Tefilah Yehuda Green, who will lead Carlebach style services this Shabbat. ALEXANDRA WINN BAT MITZVAH Alexandra Aliza Winn is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat Shira, Parshat Beshalach. Mazal Tov to parents Tamara and Randall Winn, and to siblings Mia Elisheva and Charles Eli. Mazal Tov to grandparents Inge and Ira Rennert, and to Aunts and Uncles Yonina and Mitchell Davidson, and Erynne and Ari Rennert. Kiddush Sponsorship The Kiddush this Shabbat is kindly sponsored by Tamara and Randall Winn in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Alexandra. YAHRZEITS February 8 - 14, 2020; Shevat 13 - 19, 5780 FEBRUARY/SHEVAT 8 13 Mrs. Renate Zimet, Father 11 16 Mrs. Susan Kalt, Mother-In-Law 8 13 Mrs. Evelyn Hootnick, Friend 11 16 Mrs. Lorelei Hammerman, Sister 8 13 Mrs. Anne Hiltzik, Father 12 17 Dr. Patricia Cayne, Father 9 14 Mr. Martin Zimet, Brother 13 18 Dr. Rena Orbuch, Mother 9 14 Mr. Joel Handel, Mother 13 18 Mrs. Barri Shane, Father 10 15 Mrs. Bernice Schwartz, Mother 13 18 Mrs. Marion Wiesel, Father-In-Law 10 15 Dr. Renata Frenkel, Father 14 19 Mr. Joseph Guttmann, Father 11 16 Mr. David Benrimon, Mother 14 19 Mr. Natalio Fridman, Mother 11 16 Mr. Jacob Gold, Grandmother SPECIAL TU B’SHEVAT TALK with YISROEL HALPERT “Tu B’Shevat - Happy New Year To The Trees” This Monday, February 10, at 6:30 PM at Fifth Avenue Synagogue. This class is partially dedicated by Lynn Gold, in observance of the yahrzeit of her mother ob”m. Please join us and RSVP to [email protected]. Pizza will be provided. FIFTH AVENUE SYNAGOGUE WARMLY WELCOMES RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS Shabbat, Parshat Beshalach, February 8. Rabbi Lord Sacks will address us this Shabbat morning following Mussaf. A global religious leader, philosopher, author and moral voice for our time, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is currently the Ingeborg and Ira Rennert Global Distinguished Professor of Judaic Thought at New York University and the Kressel and Ephrat Family University Professor of Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University. He is also Professor of Law, Ethics and the Bible at King’s College London. Previously, Rabbi Sacks served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, a position he held for 22 years. SEUDAH SHLISHIT GUEST SPEAKER RABBI DANIEL KAPLAN Rabbi Daniel Kaplan, nephew of Beatrice and Cantor Joseph Malovany, will speak during Seudah Shlishit this Shabbat afternoon. Rabbi Daniel Kaplan was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he attended Yeshiva College Boys’ High School. He subsequently studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel , before returning to South Africa, where he held various leadership positions in B’nei Akiva South Africa. After receiving his Smicha from Yeshiva Har Etzion, Rabbi Kaplan returned to Johannesburg and held the position of Rabbi of B’nei Akiva South Africa for six years, followed by the role of Menahel of the boys’ High School at Yeshiva College. Rabbi Kaplan is currently the Rabbi and CEO of Mizrachi South Africa, and he is married with three beautiful children. FOR ERUV STATUS: Call 212-838-2122 x 5. For questions or comments about the Eruv please contact Rabbi Tauber at Mechon L’Hoyroa: (845) 659-8777. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Avi Heller Honig, 9 FAS YOUTH PROGRAM EVERY SHABBAT & HOLIDAY! -Youth Groups Ages 5+ led by Yosef Itzkowitz; 4th Floor - 9:30 AM - Junior Congregation Ages 1-4 led by Rivkah Halpert; 5th Floor - 10:30 AM WEEKLY TUESDAY NIGHT TALMUD CLASS with RESIDENT SCHOLAR RABBI DR. MICHAEL ROSENSWEIG Rabbi Rosensweig’s Talmud class continues next Tuesday night, February 11, at 7:30 PM at FAS. Rabbi Rosenweig is teaching Tractate Chulin. ADULT HEBREW CLASS with RABBI ELI BABICH WEDNESDAYS AT 6:00 PM AT FAS Rabbi Eli Babich is teaching a warm and intimate Hebrew reading class for adults in January and February. This 6-part class includes davening instruction and explanations of the various prayers. The class meets at Fifth Avenue Synagogue, on Wednesday Evenings at 6:00 pm. All textbooks and materials will be provided. Please register at www.5as.org or email [email protected]. Learning Hebrew and understanding the prayers is one of the best ways to enhance your connection to Judaism. Please join us for this special opportunity. THREE - PART SERIES ON THE ZEMIROS OF SHABBOS with CANTOR JOSEPH MALOVANY The second class “Shabbos Day Zemiros” takes place on Thursday, February 13, at 6:00 PM at FAS. Come and learn the origin of the text of the Shabbat table songs, the great Rabbinic personalities who composed these beautiful poems, and the music as sung throughout the Jewish world. Cantor Joseph Malovany will explain, sing the beautiful melodies, and teach these Zemirot accompanying himself on the keyboard. Sushi and wine will be provided. Please RSVP to [email protected]. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FAS NEW MEMBERS DINNER HELD ON JANUARY 31 L-R: Elie Schwebel, Jacob Gold, Rachel Akrongold, Dr. Walter Molofsky L-R: Cantor Joseph Malovany, Rabbi Eli Babich, Rabbi Y Y Jacobson, President Jacob Gold FAS SPEAKER SERIES: FIFTH AVENUE SYNAGOGUE WELCOMES ALAN MENDOZA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 at FAS Reception: 6:45 PM, Lecture: 7:00 PM Mr. Mendoza will speak on the following topic: “Lessons for the US from European Anti-Semitism.” Please RSVP to [email protected] or www.5as.org Alan Mendoza is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Henry Jackson Society (www.henryjacksonsociety.org), Britain’s leading thinktank fighting for the principles and alliances which keep societies free. He directs strategy for the organisation as well as acting as its main public face in mediums as diverse as the BBC, Sky, CNBC, Al-Jazeera. Bloomberg and the British print media. Alan is also a weekly columnist for City AM, London’s business newspaper, and is the host of Current Affairs on the J-TV news channel, where he has held controversial figures like former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Baroness Tonge and Professor Norman Finkelstein to account for their views on Israel and Jews. Having obtained a B.A. (Hons.) and M.Phil in history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, Alan completed a Ph.D. at the same institution. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was the Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservative Party in the Brent Central Constituency for the 2015 General Elec- tion. He is also Vice-Chairman of JNF (UK), Director of the Israel-Diaspora Trust, a non-aligned political salon in London educating about Israel and Diaspora issues, and a Trustee of the President Reagan Memorial Fund Trust.