Young Israel of St. Louis Bulletin
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A Message From Rabbi Bienenfeld Shavuos Edition 2006 An Ethical Message in Preparation for Shavuos
Inside this issue: The Talmud in Y evamos (62b) relates that the 24,000 student of Rabbi A kivah died betw een Pesach and S havuos. The reason: they did not show Guide to Shavuos respect (kavod) one for the other. W hat exactly this means is not at all clear. A parallel narrative of this calamity is found in the B ereishis Rabbah Tikkun Leil Shavuos (61:3). There, the midrash relates an apparently different reason for the Summer Women’s Shiurim deaths. In this account, after the tragedy, Rabbi A kivah addresses a small Laws of the Three Weeks band of new students thusly: “M y sons, my earlier students died because ‘aynahem tzara ailu l’ailu’ – they begrudged and resented one another. Be especially careful not to repeat their misdeeds.”
Dates to Rem em ber Is there a connection betw een these tw o reasons? I believe there is. W hat in fact is tzarus ha’ayin? The phrase can mean a constriction of the eye; • Thurs.-Fri. the inability of the eye to see a complete view . The metaphor of tzarus Nights, ha’ayin portrays a person w ho refuses to see the w hole person in another. June 1-2, 2006 It speaks of an individual w ho is so consumed w ith jealousy and envy that it pains him (tzar lo) to look at his friend, and w hen he does, he chooses to Shavuos see only a narrow , limited (tzar, again) and consequently distorted image of
his friend’s total personality. The result is a grievous lack of kavod, a re- • Shabbos, fusal to grant a measure of dignity and respect to the other. June 23rd, 2006 But, you ask, even if so, does such an ethical deficiency w arrant a death Yizkor penalty? Probably, under normal circumstances, no. But these w ere no aver- 10:30 a.m. age students living in no ordinary times. Rome w as threatening to destroy and extinguish the mesorah, and by extension, all of J udaism. Learning To- • Thursday, rah, observing the Festivals w ere punishable by death. Rabbi A kivah defied July 13th, 2006 Rome and taught students w hose great mission w ould be the safe transmis-
Fast of 17th sion of this mesorah into the future. H ow ever, to serve as holy vessels (k’lei of kodesh) for such a sacred task required individuals w hose ethical probity Tammuz (Continued on page 2)
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(Continued from page 1)
w as flaw less and w hose moral integrity w as unblemished. A ny behavior falling short of such standards w ould place that very mesorah in jeopardy. Torah taught from one w hose uprightness is compromised by unethical deeds becomes a “sam maves,” a veritable poison. The majesty and holiness of Torah – Torah as sam chayim, an elixir of life – can only be conveyed by human “vessels” w hose righteousness and goodness are impeccable. That R abbi A kivah’s students failed to measure up to this bar w as thus punishable by the same fatal reality that w ould have befallen J udaism had they taught a Torah disfigured by their dishon- orable characters.
There is a pow erful lesson in this tragedy that w e w ould do w ell to reflect upon as w e approach z’man M a- tan Toraseinu, the time of the G iving of O ur Torah.” Torah know ledge, of course, is absolutely critical and necessary to sustain our great tradition. H ow ever, that Torah must be housed in a personality w hose mid- dos, w hose ethical attributes, are of the highest order. Rabbeinu Yonah and the A vudraham both af- firmed that Pirkei A vos is generally studied betw een Pesach and S havuos precisely for this reason. You prepare to receive the Torah by fashioning a human vessel of sterling rectitude into w hich that Torah can take root, flourish, and nurture the w orld.
“D erech eretz kadma l’Torah.” Indeed, civility, menchlekeit, common decency are all precursors of Torah. “Im lo achshav, aimasai, if not now , w hen?”
Reference Info:
Eruv information: To find out if the eruv is functional call 863-1811 on Fri- day afternoons. A map outlining the Eruv is in the Shul.
Shul Calendar: Call Clare at 727-1880 to reserve a date. Shul kitchen/ Facilities/Event Coordinator: Weekly Davening Times: Call Charles Landy at 994-0961 or the office at 727- Weekday Shacharis: 1880 at least one month prior to the event to re- serve the kitchen/facilities. Monday, Thursday and Rosh Chodesh …….6:30 AM Library: Mitch Wolf Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday …………..6:40 AM Sunday ………………………………………….8:00 AM Kitchen & inventory: Howard Oppenheimer Endowment: Larry Poger Weekday Mincha: Tefillin G‘mach: Block Yeshiva High School has a See the weekly announcements Tefillin G‘Mach for short and long term use, named for the merit of Reuven Ben Peretz Moskowitz ZTL. Daf Yomi Shiur, during the week: Call Moshe-Leib Cohen, 721-6390. 10:00 PM The Tehillim Hotline is 727-2750
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Shabbos and Yom Tov Davening Times
REV HAVUOS Saturday, July 8, 2006 E S SHABBOS B’HAALOSECHA Thursday, June 1, 2006 Hashkama Minyan ……….. 7:30 AM Mincha …………………... 8:00 PM Friday, June 16, 2006 Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM Eiruv Tavshilin Candle lighting …………… 8:09 PM Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM Mincha/Maariv …………… 7:00 PM Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM SHAVUOS I Mincha …………………… 8:05 PM Thursday night, June 1, 2006 Saturday, June 17, 2006 Shabbos Ends ………….. 9:10 PM Maariv ……………………. 9:01 PM Hashkama Minyan ………. 7:30 AM Candle lighting ………..…. 8:01 PM Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM 17TH OF TAMMUZ—FAST DAY Tikun Lail Shavuos begins 11:30 PM Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM Thursday, July 13, 2006
Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM Fast Begins ……………… 4:08 AM Friday, June 2, 2006 Shacharis ……………….. 6:15 AM Vasikin Minyan ………...... 5:00 AM Mincha ……………………. 8:05 PM Mincha …………………… 8:05 PM Sunrise ……………….…... 5:38 AM Shabbos Ends ………….. 9:10 PM Fast Ends ………………. 9:08 PM Regular Shacharis ……….. 9:00 AM
Special Shiur ……………… 7:00 PM SHABBOS SHELACH Mincha ……………………. 8:05 PM Friday, June 23, 2006 SHABBOS PINCHAS Candle lighting …………... 8:11 PM Friday, July 14, 2006 Mincha/ Maariv ………….. 7:00 PM SHAVUOS II Candle lighting …………… 8:07 PM Friday night, June 2, 2006 Mincha/ Maariv ………….. 7:00 PM Candle lighting ……………. 9:02 PM Saturday, June 24, 2005 Maariv ……………………… 8:40 PM Hashkama Minyan ……… 7:30 AM Saturday, July 15, 2006 Chumash Shiur …………. 8:00 AM Saturday, June 3, 2006 Hashkama Minyan …………7:30 AM Shacharis ……………….. 9:00 AM *Hashkama Minyan ……… 7:30 AM Special Shiur …………… 7:00 PM Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM Mincha ………………….. 8:05 PM Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM *Shacharis ………………. 8:30 AM Shabbos Ends …………. 9:12 PM Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM Megillas Ruth ……………. 9:30 AM Mincha ……………………. 8:00 PM Yizkor …………………….. 10:30 AM Shabbos Ends …………… 9:07 PM OSH HODESH AMMUZ Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM R C T Mincha …………………… 8:00 PM Mon.– Tues., July 26 -27, 2006 Yom Tov Ends ………….. 9:03 PM SHABBOS MATTOS-MASSEI * Note Earlier Times for Shacharis SHABBOS KORACH Friday, July 21, 2006 Friday, June 30, 2006 Candle lighting …………... 8:03 PM Candle lighting …………. 8:11 PM SHABBOS NASO Mincha/ Maariv ………….. 7:00 PM Mincha/ Maariv …………. 7:00 PM Friday, June 9, 2006 Saturday, July 22, 2006 Candle lighting …………… 8:06 PM Saturday, July 1, 2006 Hashkama Minyan ………. 7:30 AM Mincha/Maariv …………… 7:00 PM Hashkama MInyan ……… 7:30 AM Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM Chumash Shiur …………. 8:00 AM Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM Shacharis ……………….. 9:00 AM Saturday, June 10, 2006 Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM Hashkama Minyan ………. 7:30 AM Mincha …………………… 7:55 PM Mincha …………………… 8:05 PM Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM Shabbos Ends …………… 9:02 PM Shabbos Ends ………….. 9:12 PM Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM
Special Shiur ……………. 7:00 PM ROSH CHODESH AV Mincha ……………………. 8:00 PM SHABBOS CHUKAS-BALAK Wed., July 26, 2006 Shabbos Ends ……….. 9:07 PM Friday, July 7, 2006
Candle lighting ………….. 8:10 PM Mincha/ Maariv …………. 7:00 PM (Continued on page 5)
Shavuos Edition Page 4 News about our members!
Mazel Tov ALMANAC OF SIVAN Births: ♦ to Dr. Larry & Sunny Davis on the birth of a granddaughter, Avigayil Bracha, to Sarah & 1 — Children of Israel arrived and encamped at Mt. Sinai Yosef Rudolph. (Shemos 19:1); the waters of the Flood began to re- cede (B’reishis 7:3); prophecy to Ezekiel regarding ♦ to Uriah & Vardit Teperberg upon the birth Pharaoh (Yechez’kel 31:1); death of Korah by the hand of G-d (B’midbar 16:32) and bris of their son, Shlomo Yedidya. 2 — Moses’ first ascent of Mt. Sinai before the giving of ♦ to Rabbi & Yocheved Bienenfeld upon the the Torah. birth of their granddaughter to Bracha & 3 — Moses’ second ascent of Mt. Sinai; Mainz Massacre Chaim Sendic in Israel. (4856/1096) by Crusaders. Weddings/Engagements: 5 — Reuben found the mandrakes (B’reishis 30:14) ♦ to Bobby & Chelle Medow on the marriage of 6 — Death of King David; baby Moses was put in the Nile; giving of the Torah; death of Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem their son, Sam to Shuli Nitekman. Tov (Besht, 5460-5520/1700-1760) ♦ to Ted & Shirley Zeffren on the marriage of 7 — Moses built an altar at Sinai (Shemos 24:4); Uriah the their grandson Eli Polsky, son of Shani & Hittite divorced his wife. Simcha Polsky of Chicago, to Yehudis Kiss of 8 — Sacking and destruction of Safed by the Druze Monsey, N.Y. (5604/1844) 15 — Jeudah born; exile of the residents of Beth-Shan by ♦ to Ruth & Aaron Fredman upon the the Hasmonians engagement of their grandson, Elisha 17 — Noah’s ark alighted on Mt. Ararat Fredman to Anna Hut of Cleveland Ohio. 20 — Start of Gezeros tach ve-tat (5408-9/1648-9), the Achievements and Thank Yous: massacre of Polish Jewry: 100,000 killed, 300 com- munities destroyed ♦ to Dr. Hilton & Rene Price upon their son, Rabbi Jonathan Price receiving his semicha 22 — The thirty days of eating quail in the desert ended from Yeshiva University. 23 — Leprosy of Miriam (B’midbar 12:10); Mordechai wrote his missives to the Jews (Esther 8:9); Jeroboam ♦ to Shelly Wolf for her wonderful article about annulled the bringing of first fruits to Jerusalem our Shul in the Young Israel Viewpoint. 25 — The publican tax collection system was abolished in Judea & Jerusalem; deaths of Rabban Shimon ben ♦ to Alana Baron upon receiving the Stuart I. Gamaliel, R. Yishma’el ben Elisha & R. Chanina Se- Pessin Scholarship award towards an Israel gan Ha-Kohanim; murder of R. Chanina ben Teradyon program. 27 — First forty days of the Flood ended ♦ to Donna Iken upon receiving the Stuart I. 29 — The Spies were sent by Moses to Eretz Yisro’el Pessin Scholarship award towards an Israel (B’midbar 13) program. Bar and Bas Mitzvahs ♦ to Nat & Yvette Levy upon the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Tamara.
Shavuos Edition Page 5 Message from the President
Hs b_[ln [h^ j_lb[jm gs gch^ cm mncff [n nb_ qih^_l`of \[hko_n nb[n q_ domn _rj_lc_h]_^- D `ioh^ cn ni \_ [ p_ls _gincih[f [h^ fipcha nlc\on_ ni M[\\c [h^ Ti]b_p_^ =c_h_h`_f^- D q[m p_ls gip_^ \s nb_ _p_hcha [h^ D (Continued from page 3) jl[s nb_ M[\\c [h^ M_\\cnt_h q_l_ [m q_ff- Iiq nb_ ^[s [`n_l+ l_[fct[ncih bcnm g_- Eomn [m nb_ M[\\c m[c^ _p_ls _p_hn b[m \_]ig_ gil_ mcahc`c][hn SHABBOS DEVARIM `il cn cm nb_ f[mn ncg_ b_ qcff \_ ^icha nb_m_ nbcham qcnb om ch Nn- Giocm+ D SHABBOS CHAZON l_[fct_ cn cm nb_ m[g_ `il om- @[]b _p_hn qcff \_ nb_ f[mn ncg_ q_ mb[l_ qcnb Friday, July 28, 2006 iol M[\\c nbcm mcno[ncih qcnb om- Dn \_achm qcnb Nb[poim+ nb_ f[mn Nb[poim Candle lighting …………... 7:57 PM qcnb M[\\c =c_h_h`_f^ [m nb_ M[\\c i` Tioha Dml[_f- Tio ehiq+ jc]echa oj Mincha/ Maariv ………….. 7:00 PM [h^ g[echa [fcs[b cm mig_qb[n `lcabn_hcha [fnbioab _r]cncha- >b[ha_ [h^
mn_jjcha `ilq[l^ chni nb_ ohehiqh cm `lcabn_hcha+ q_ [l_ m_]ol_ ch qb[n Saturday, July 29, 2006 q_ ehiq- R _ff q_ [m [ ]ihal_a[ncih [l_ ch nb_ m[g_ \i[n mi ni mj_[e- R _ Hashkama Minyan ………. 7:30 AM [l_ jl_j[lcha [fmi ]b[ln [ ]iolm_ chni nb_ ohehiqh [h^ cn cm mig_qb[n Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM `lcabn_hcha- J ol M[p ][l_^ `il om [h^ a[p_ om nb_ m_]olcns [h^ ]ig`iln Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM nb[n q_ ]iof^ ]iohn ih+ hiq q_ gomn `ila_ [b_[^- D jl[s nb[n C[Nb_g Special Shiur ……………. 6:50 PM mbiof^ aoc^_ nb_ M[p [h^ bcm `[gcfs [h^ nb_ Nbof [h^ iol `[gcfc_m mi nb[n Mincha …………………… 7:50 PM nb_m_ nl[hmcncihm [fnbioab ^c``c]ofn qcff \_ []]igj[hc_^ qcnb bcm \l[]bin [h^ Shabbos Ends …………… 8:56 PM q_ qcff [ff `ch^ b[jjch_mm-
SHABBOS VAESCHANAN J h]_ [a[ch D q[hn ni nb[he @p[ [h^ < f ?_l\s [h^ Nb_ffs [h^ Hcn]b R if` SHABBOS NACHAMU `il ]b[clcha nb_ \[hko_n [h^ _p_lsih_ qbi qile_^ ih [hs [mj_]n i` nb_ Friday, Aug.4, 2006 ?chh_l [h^ Eiolh[f- Tio q_l_ [ff al_[n+ [h^ nb_ ]igjfcg_hnm [l_ mncff Candle lighting …………... 7:50 PM jiolcha ch- D ehiq sio [l_ [q[l_ biq cgjiln[hn nbcm _p_hn q[m `il iol Mincha/ Maariv ………….. 7:00 PM Nbof-
C_mmc_ [h^ D qcmb sio [ff [ aii^ sig nip- Saturday, July 22, 2006 Hashkama Minyan ………. 7:30 AM =[lls Chumash Shiur ………….. 8:00 AM Shacharis ………………… 9:00 AM Special Shiur ……………. 6:45 PM Mincha …………………… 7:40 PM Shabbos Ends …………… 8:49 PM My Dinner Postscript:
It is the morrow of the Shul Dinner and the Shavuos Bulletin is about to go to press. I cannot begin to de- scribe how emotional and heartwarming the Dinner was. I’ve begun reading the wonderful tributes to my wife and myself in the Ad-Journal. Yocheved and I will treasure that volume always as we will ever treasure our 26 years together.
To Eva and Al, to Barry and Hessie, to Shelly and Mitch, to Erich and Elliot and Clare, and to all the many people who made the event possible, thank you, thank you. It was indeed a memorable night. I’m sure I’ll have more to say, but the presses are waiting. Have a wonderful Yom Tov.
Rabbi J. Bienenfeld
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Young Israel Officers
Greetings from the President ……………………………………………………… Barry Needle Women’s Division President, Women‘s Division ……………………… Melissa Perlman Vice President, Finance ……………………………….. Mike Oberlander Our most important news this Vice President, Education ………… Doniel Lefton, Mordechai Simon month is about our board. W e have Vice President, House ……………………………….…….. Earl Newman several positions opening up for the fall slate. If you would like to recom- Vice President, Fundraising……………… Vicki Isakow, Ezra Hurwitz mend someone for a unique opportu- Vice President, Youth ………...……… Roz Hirschhorn, Ruth Raskas nity to serve the shul and the com- Vice President, Social Programs… Bonnie Drazen & Joelle Engel munity, please call me ASAP. Vice President, Membership …………………………….. Murray Bresler W e would like to thank our Treasurer ………………………………………………………. Jonti Felsher outgoing Education chair, Yoceved Secretary ……………………………………………… Danny Wachsstock Bienefeld for her work on our W omen’s Iyun weekends for the past Trustees …..……………………………………………… Rich Axelbaum years. She has brought us a wide va- ………………………………………………… Merle Hartstein riety of speakers with fascinating ….…………………………………………….. Stuart Zimbalist backgrounds and interests. Her input Gabbaim …………….……………………………...… Elliot Franklin on the board has also been greatly appreciated!! W e wish her hatzlacha ……………………………………………… Alan Gerson as she moves on to the next, exciting ……………………………………………...….Dr. Robert Hellman chapter of her life!! W e also would like to wish our past president, Beth M arrus and her husband M arc, much success as they head to Baltimore to be near their precious family. Our community is indebted to you both for all your hard work both publicly and behind the scenes! W e will truly miss you! M elissa Perlman SUMMER WOMEN’S SHIURIM W omen’s Division Young Israel will once again be sponsoring summer shiurim Presi- for the women. will start our series, June 10th. We hope all women will join us for some fascinating lectures on contemporary issues. Please mark your calendars with the following dates: Ω July 22 Ω June 10 Ω August 5 Ω June 24 Ω August 19 Ω July 8
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Law s of the Three W eeks (Part I)
The twenty-one days between Tammuz 17 and Tish’ah B’Av are called in Hebrew “Yemei Bein Hametzorim” (The Days of Difficult Straits), as described in the Book of Lamentations (1:3), “...all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.” Throughout history these 17 days have been replete with catastrophes that have befallen the Jewish people. W e therefore limit all forms of rejoicing and mourn the destruction of the First and Second Holy Temples which in this period were both set aflame. The intensity of mourning practices increases steadily, from the Fast of 17 Tammuz, reaching its peak on Tish’ah B’Av itself, when even the most basic pleasures such as washing, anointing, cohabitation, eating and drinking are forbidden. THE THREE W EEKS Although it is customary not to hold weddings during the 3 weeks, engagement celebrations are permitted. Dancing and music, however, are forbidden during the meal. The feast in honor of a bris or pidyon haben is also permitted, but without dancing or music. It is customary not to say the blessing Shehecheyonu during the 3 weeks. However, regarding events which are fixed in time (e.g. bris, pidyon haben), it is recited. On Shabbos (except Shabbos Chazon), it is permitted to say Shehecheyonu (on a new fruit, for example). Because of the many major tragedies that occurred in this period, we are especially careful not to enter into situations that might result in bodily harm. According to the Ari Zal, it is especially appropriate to actively mourn the Temple’s destruction. M any congregations sit on the ground & recite Tikun Chatzos each afternoon, except on erev Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, & erev Tishah B’Av. It is forbidden to take a haircut or trim the beard during the Three W eeks.
Eruv Tavshilin This year, the first day of Shavuos occurs on Thursday Night and Friday. An Eruv Tavshilin must be made on Thursday in order to permit cooking on Friday for Shabbat. A.) An Eruv Tavshilin consists of matzah and a cooked food such as fish, meat, or a hard boiled egg. A hard boiled egg is most often used. The master of the house or any other member of his household takes the plate with the cooked food and the matzah (preferable in the right hand) and says the Brachah: ...
He then recites the Eruv Tavshilin text in Hebrew (found in a Yom Tov machzor, Erev Yom Tov), or the following text in English. "By virtue of this Eruv, we (the members of this household), shall be permitted to cook, bake, keep food warm, carry, light candles and do all preparations on Yom Tov for Shabbat." B) Even though the Eruv is made, the food for Shabbat should preferably be prepared early on Friday, while there is still much of the day left, rather than leaving the preparations for the last minute. C) the Eruv should be put in a safe place, so that it is not eaten before Shabbat and that the Eruv will not spoil.
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Guide to Shavuos
SIXTH OR SEVENTH… year only. (through HAGOM EIL Shavuot is the sixth of Sivan. CHASADIM … ). One should try This date is not mentioned in the to hear these brachot from some- DECORATIONS… Torah. M ore significantly, it was one who slept and answer not even the date on which the It is customary to decorate the shul AM EN. M en and boys who have Torah was actually given. Tradi- (and the home) with leaves, verdant worn their tzitzit all night tion tells us that we received the branches and flowers. Some say it is should hear and answer to some- Torah on the seventh of Sivan, commemorative of Har Sinai that one’s talit-bracha in lieu of the not the sixth. Two interrelated was uncharacteristically tzitzit-bracha. reasons are given for this anom- (miraculously) rich in greenery dur- aly. The world was created with ing M atan Torah. Additionally, days whose nights preceded decorating with flowers and the like DAIRY FOODS… them. VAYEHI EREV, VAYEHI reminds us of the decoration of the Shavuot is a Yom VOKER… — night, then day. Bikurim baskets which were Tov. On Yom Tov we W ith the sins of the generations brought to the Beit HaM ikdash have the mitzva of that ended with the Flood, G-d starting with Shavuot. Simcha. One of the declared that the world would traditional forms of continue functioning unceas- Simchat Yom Tov is festive ingly, day and night. The switch TIKUN LEIL meals with meat and wine. in the order of day and night is SHAVUOS… (Note for veggies and other who considered a metaphoric distanc- The M idrash tells prefer not eating meat: M eat as ing from human beings on G-d’s us that some of the Simcha is subjective — if you part. Humans were originally People of Israel don’t like meat, then you need destined to be His partners in slept on the night not have it on Yom Tov; if you Creation, but we let Him down, before M atan Torah and G-d had to enjoy eating meat dishes, THEN so to speak. Subsequently, with awaken them in order to give them it is proper to honor and enjoy our acceptance of the Torah, we the Torah. Our Sages do not fault Yom Tov in that way. This is (the Jewish People; the rest of them for sleeping — they were ex- when we have no Beit HaM ik- the world still considers night to hausted from their travels. How- dash, Simcha is associated with follow day) were returned to the ever, a custom developed to spend the korban called Shalmei Sim- night-day system which brings the night prior to M atan Torah im- cha.) us, one again, in synch with, and mersed in Torah study, as a “better” closer to, G-d. This realignment preparation for the event of the Additionally, we all know of the took place a few weeks before morning. One whose davening custom of eating dairy foods on M atan Torah, with our accep- would be compromised by having Shavuot. Some people will have tance of the mitzvot taught us at been up all night should rather a dairy meal on Yom Tov night Refidim. The switch back to learn for a few hours and get some and a meat meal for lunch. This night-day meant that the first sleep. has a certain logic, since the day that they had counted (from nighttime is “more specifically the morning) was missing its Those who do stay up all night Shavuot” and the day is “more first half (the night before). In should carefully avoid wasting time, generically Yom Tov”. Other order to have 49 complete days, since it is the learning — and not families will have meat at night the generation of the M idbar had just being awake — that is signifi- and dairy during the day. to add one cant. W hen one has stayed up all Still others will make Kiddush complete day. night, there are a few parts of the and HaM otzi, have some dairy Thus, the first pre-Shacharit davening that cannot dish (blintzes, perhaps), then Shavuot was be said, as follows: M ODEH; ELO- bench. Following a short break moved to the KAI, NESHAM A; BIRCHOT HATO- and a change in table covering, seventh of RAH; and the last of Birchot Ha- they will wash again, this time Sivan for that Shachar, HAM AAVIR SHEINA for a meat meal.
“Everyone according to his/her Shavuot is Yom HaBikurim. There- days to kasher our vessels, prepare custom.” fore, we eat both dairy and meat meat according to halacha, etc. W e dishes, with proper attention to the mark this by eating dairy foods on M ost of us probably know a rea- strictures of halacha, specifically on Shavuot. son or two that we have picked Shavuot. up over the years. It will be, There are sources that suggest that however, helpful and enlighten- Halachically (especially when han- the Children of Israel did not drink ing to review some of the reasons dling the food with our hands), it is milk prior to M atan Torah for fear for this custom. improper to use the same loaf of that it would constitute a violation bread for both meat and dairy of Eiver M in HaChai (limb from a It will be useful to keep in mind meals because of the food residue living animal), this being forbidden that some of the reasons might that might adhere to the bread. even to a Ben Noach. One of the have produced the custom, while Therefore, a dairy meal and a meat teachings of the Torah is that milk others might be merely addi- meal will require two loaves of is indeed permitted to us. This is tional symbolisms after the fact. bread, reminiscent of the Two based on the Torah’s repeated de- Furthermore, some reasons ex- Loaves offering of Shavuot. scription of Eretz Yisrael as a Land plain why we eat dairy, while flowing with M ilk and Honey. Ac- others make sense only in the Some suggest that having a dairy cordingly, it was on the first Sha- context of having BOTH dairy dish and a meat dish is like the vuot that we partook of dairy foods. and meat dishes. “two cooked foods” of the Pesach Seder. Shavuot is not only its own The Torah commands us to bring in This custom has become so en- Holiday; it is also the culmination the Beit HaM ikdash a M incha Cha- trenched in our collective prac- of Pesach — hence, “two foods” on dasha LaShem B’Shavuoteichem. tice of Judaism, that it is tanta- Shavuot as well as Pesach. The initial letters of this phrase mount to law, and should not be spell the word M ICHALAV — treated lightly. According to tradition, M oshe Rabe- “from milk”. This, too, is considered inu was born on the seventh of Shir Hashirim poetically de- one of the origins of the custom. Adar and was successfully hidden scribes those who merit the ac- Furthermore, the numeric value of by his parents for three months. It quisition of Torah as having the word CHALAV is 40, a num- was on the sixth (or seventh) of “honey and milk under your bers integrally associated with M a- Sivan (future Shavuot) that baby tongue”. This verse is considered tan Torah (forty days and forty M oshe was placed in the basket on one of the sources of having nights that M oshe spent on Har the river and found by the daughter dairy on Shavuot. In addition, it Sinai). of Par’o. W e are taught that M oshe gave rise to the custom of includ- refused to nurse from an Egyptian The M idrash uses many nicknames ing honey in the preparation of woman which led to M iriam’s sug- for Har Sinai including GAV- dairy dishes to be eaten on Sha- gestion that Yocheved, M oshe’s NUNIM , from the word for cheese, vuot. mother, be his “wet nurse”. He, who describing the mountain as being (A spoonful of honey mixed with was to teach all of Israel the Torah, white and smooth like cheese. Gil, Eshel, Leben, plain yogurt could not drink “mother’s milk” W hether it is cheese blintzes, yo- fits the bill nicely — eaten alone from a non-Jew. W e commemorate gurt with honey, cheesecake or la- or spooned atop cheese blintzes, this with dairy dishes on the day of sagna, dairy dishes on Shavuot pro- with peanut butter.) M atan Torah. It might also be sug- vide us with much food for thought. gested that the day of the receiving Having both dairy and meat of the Torah is like the birth of the dishes as mentioned above re- Nation of Israel, and we have milk quires strict attention to the to symbolize the spiritual infancy of laws of separation of milk and the People of Israel. meat. These laws, of course, are based on the Torah’s prohibition W ith the receiving of the Torah, the of “meat in milk” as presented by people of Israel officially changed the phrase “Do not cook a goat in their status from Bnei Noach to its mother’s milk”. This phrase Jews. It was therefore impossible to (twice) follows, in the same eat meat with its many halachic verse, the command to bring Bi- requirements immediately after kurim to the Beit HaM ikdash. receiving the Torah. It takes a few
WHY SHAVUOT HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT NAMES meaning fiftieth, is used, since the festival is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the first day of Shavuot is known by more different names than any Passover. other festival. Five names are in general use: Chag HaKatzir (Feast of the Harvest); Chag HaShavuot (Feast of Weeks); Yom In Babylon, the Feast of Weeks was HaBikkurim (Day of the First Fruits); Atzeret (Concluding Festi- called the Feast of Visitation, derived from the val); and Zeman Mattan Toratenu (Season of the Giving of our custom of visiting the traditional grave sites of Law). The first three designations are found in the Pentateuch. noted ancestors on the festival. The same tradi- tion was maintained in Kurdistan, where Shavuot “And the Feast of the Harvest, of the first fruits of your was named Pilgrimage. work, of what you sow in the field” (Exodus 23:16) alludes to the completion of the reaping of the what that takes place at this time In Italy, Shavuot was known as the and is celebrated with a festival. “You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest” (Exodus 34:22) and “You shall count off SO M E F A C T S A B O U T SH A V U O T seven weeks… Then you shall observe the Feat of Weeks for the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 16:9-10) indicate the relationship 1. The Bene-Israel and Shavuot… For of Shavuot to Passover, when the omer-counting commences. It m any centuries, the Bene-Israel of India is written “From the day after you bring the sheaf (omer) of wave did not observe the Feast of W eeks as there were no visual sym bols associ- offering, you shall count fifty days, until the day after the seventh ated with the festival and they did not week” (Leviticus 23:15-16). Hence it is denominated the Feast of possess a copy of the Bible to rem ind Weeks. them of it. Not until the beginning of The designation of Shavuot as the Day of the First Fruits the 19th Century, when a synagogue is found in the verse “On the day of the first fruits, your Feast of was erected in Bom bay, was Shavuot Weeks, when you bring an offering of new grain to the Lord, you observed by these oriental Jews who shall observe a sacred occasion” (Numbers 28:26). In his com- had long been separated from the mentary on this verse, Rashi states that Shavuot is called First m ainstream of Jewish life. Fruits of the Wheat Harvest. 2. The M artyrdom of a Righteous Prose- The Talmud as well as Josephus called this festival Atz- lyte… Abraham ben Abraham was a eret or Atzarta in Aramaic. While the precise meaning of Atzeret noblem an nam ed Count Valentine is uncertain, the Bible associates it with the seventh day of Pass- Potocki before he becam e a ger tzedek (righteous proselyte). He is re- over (Deuteronomy 16:8) and the eighth day of Sukkot (Leviticus ported to have taught that when G-d 23:26), where it is translated as “solemn gathering.” It is also in- offered the Torah to the nations of the terpreted to mean “concluding festival.” Just as the eighth and world and they refused to accept it, concluding day of Sukkot is named Shemini Atzeret, so, the rab- there were individuals am ong htem bis deduced, Shavuot should be considered the eighth and con- who were prepared to receive the cluding day of Passover, therefore it is called Atzeret. It was later Law; from them descended converts expounded that the exodus from Egypt, celebrated on Passover whose souls were present at M ount Si- was not fully consummated until the Law was given on Mount Si- nai. As a consequence of his conver- nai, commemorated on Shavuot. sion to Judaism , he was publicly The above four appellations are basically related to the burned at the stake in Vilna on the sec- agricultural aspects of the festival. It was not until the second ond day of Shavuot, M ay 24, 1749. It century C.E., after the destruction of the Second Temple, when becam e a custom to m em orialize him first fruits and sacrifices were no longer brought to Jerusalem that on the anniversary of his m artyrdom in the m ain synagogue of Vilna. Rabbi Shavuot became identified with the theophany at Mount Sinai Hirsh Levinson would interrupt the re- (Shabbat 86b). In the festival liturgy it is called Z’man Mattan Tor- joicing on Shavuot to relate how Abra- atenu (Time [or season] of the Giving of our Torah), or by the ham ben Abraham Potocki becam e a designation Yom Chag haShavuot Ha-zeh Zeman Mattan Tor- Jew and how he died for the sanctifi- atenu (Day of This Feast of Weeks, Time of the Giving of our To- cation of His nam e on the day of the rah). “Time” or “season” is used rather than “day” or “days”, to giving of the Torah. imply that Torah acquisition requires a long period of study. In Judaic-Hellenistic literature the Greek term Pentecost,
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Tikkun Leil Shavuos
Thursday, Friday: June 1st & 2nd Our program will begin on Thursday Night, June 1st at 12:30 AM. NtqSgdld9G `k`bghb%G `rgj`ehbSnohbr hmsgdSdmBnll`mcldmsr
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