S E P T E M B EMR A5Y, 82 ,0 2200 2|0 K|I ETMA VOOR | P A G E 1 Congregation Beth Sholom TORAH WEEKLY Learning Initiative ז"ל A Project of the Linda Mitgang To sponsor an upcoming edition, please click here Doctors, Rabbis, and Jews ZMANIM BY RABBI KENNETH HAIN Candle-lighting 7:03 pm [email protected] Mincha 7:00 pm 7:22 pm I hope everyone in our community has read and taken to Shacharit Hashkama 7:45 am heart the important letter issued this week by over 100 Outdoors 8:15 am doctors regarding our response to the Corona Pandemic. In Sephardic 8:45 am clear concise language the letter instructs us to adhere to Joel Shiff/Main 9:15 am the guidelines and restrictions that have been implemented. Mincha 7:00 pm Shiur with Rabbi Wein 7:15 pm To summarize: Maariv 7:55 pm 8:02 pm 1) Covid 19 is still a clear and present danger and that the Shabbos Ends uptick of cases demands that we follow the necessary precautions. IN THIS ISSUE 2) People who have been exposed to the virus or tested 1 Doctors, Rabbis, and Jews positive must follow the quarantine guidelines. Rabbi Hain 3) The overwhelming majority of doctors and public health experts (including the Surgeon General of the US) maintain 2 Uncomfortable that masking prevents Covid 19 infection. It is not a matter Rabbi Fogel of personal choice, but is about not spreading the virus to others in the event of asymptomatic or early infection. 4 Halacha Al HaDaf Chayim Maza 4) The rules implemented in yeshivot, shuls and schools require us to help families and children to adhere to the rules. 5 Three Reasons for Tashlich Rabbi Miller 5) The evidence shows that the new cases of infection have resulted from large gatherings (weddings, bar and bat mitzvah, concerts) where social distancing and/or mask wearing is not being properly observed. M A JASUYUAEU GM1ULJPAJJMJGUAU5YUAUGTUASU,MN LMEYUNG 31TSYGYM2AE SAEU,8 T 1 U0 U1YT1B ,Y2 1S522 S,2 5GE5 T19,02 2016T19, R2,U ,202 , , 1 0 | 20S82 ,0522 0T ,02,B20| 02 2 0202E | 200C 0|20H 0 | MH2 0 |2| 2A| V|0| BU0A 0 RA| B DPS AK ET|EK- '|A|HIEBSMAOE MI N MVEHT EITKRIOOTCISALICDO--IEAKREDSHARBM HB'FECITU B CAEIUAT|V|AHMEHASL IZNKRS V M A R |EE|NOP |AP|OK |I IA ON TAP |P P P|G|APG. AAA P| A EIGEGP4GPG| A G EPAE3AE 3EGE A G G 2PE2 22GEE2A 2E G22 E2 3 Clearly what motivated our community physicians to issue this Upcoming Shiurim letter is the reality of what they are seeing locally. From a religious perspective this tells me that our proper observance of halacha is to adhere to the guidelines as set forth by our physicians. The great Rav Chaim Soloveichick z’’l of Brisk was famous for urging strict adherence to the obligations imposed by physicians. When asked why he was so halachically lenient on medical matters in deference to the opinions of the physicians, Rav Chaim’s response was reportedly that he “was not lenient about halacha” (of Yom Kippur) but was rather Daf Yomi “machmir”, (stringent) about protecting human life – pikuach nefesh.” 7:30am with R. Weberman 8:30 am with Chayim Maza At this critical time when we are gathering to observe the Yamim Noraim, it is vitally important that we observe the necessary guidelines of our health professionals. The wearing Thursday of masks and social distancing are not simply 9:15 pm, R. Weberman, recommendations – they are the halachic obligations for every Parsha Shiur observant Jew. I pray that we will follow the current halachic/medical requirements to enable us to be granted a New Year of life, health and peace. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Uncomfortable BY RABBI BARUCH FOGEL [email protected] AUDIO SHIUR ROUNDUP Imagine the following scenario. It is Rosh Hashanah. The temperature outside is 85 degrees with 95% humidity. The shul R. Miller: A Kotzker Thought on is packed with a few hundred people, and there is no air conditioning, and no breeze at all from the windows. Then the Scared Soldier and Elul" imagine wearing a thick wool suit, and keeping your Tallis over your head for the duration of the davening which took over 8 R. Wein: "Why Do We Need hours. Judges in Each City?"- Thoughts from the Rambam, Sefer This is not a hypothetical case. That was the exact condition of Hachinuch, and Rabbi Rosh Hashanah in Shanghai for the Mirrer Yeshiva students in Rosensweig the 1940’s. The humidity in Shanghai was so oppressive that the yeshiva students had to cover their seforim with plastic, TO PAY FUTURE SHUL otherwise the sweat that would constantly drip down from their heads would ruin the pages. Nevertheless, it is told that CONTRIBUTIONS NOW, on Rosh Hashanah the Mashgiach, Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein, PLEASE CLICK HERE dressed and davened as if he was back in Mir in Europe. He did not lower his Tallis, loosen his tie, or change anything about TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE his comportment even in the face of such conditions. RABBI'S CHARITY FUND, PLEASE CLICK HERE I mention this after seeing pictures from the different quarantine locations in Eretz Yisroel. Many yeshivas, to fulfill the strict quarantine rules, had to relocate the incoming American students to hotels. It seems that quite a few of the hotels are located in or near the Negev, with desert-like weather conditions. In the pictures showing the Rebbeim M AJ UJJASYUUAEN UG1MLUJAJPJJEGUAU5YUGUTA US, NJ L1MEUNYG 31UTSGY2ME SA,UE8 TN, 1U0 1TB ,Y2 1 S252E S2, E5 T1902 ,20 6T089R,2 ,5202 , 2, 1, 0 |,0 82 ,2 05 22 ,002 B2,|0 0 |2 020 E2|2 0C20| 2H0 B0 | 0HM2 0 | EA2 |V |0| UA BH 0|R|A DP SK TAK|AE-K '|HNIEBSAOE MAIN VEHAET KRTRLIOCTIALCSO--DIEOKAEHABRMO H'FBECTI ACEI UTAV|AEHM|HLSIZNKS CRV MA |EP|O|HAP |OK I| A TAPN| P P PG|A|GP AAA|P E IGAEGPGPG | A EGPA6EAE 2EG AE G G 3PE33 3GEEA3 E3 G33 9E3 2 standing outside giving shiur to the students who tried to anger him chose a very who are listening from their porches, it was inopportune time. But, that is not enough of a clear that they had changed the way they reason to tell us that he was bathing and that it normally dressed. Gone were the standard suit was on Erev Shabbos. I think that the Gemara is and tie, the uniform of the Rebbe, due to the teaching us a depth in his refusal to get angry. oppressive heat of the desert [1]. who tried to anger him chose a very In no way should this be construed as a inopportune time. But, that is not enough of a criticism of any person, or group of people. I reason to tell us that he was bathing and that it don't think anyone can live up to the was on Erev Shabbos. I think that the Gemara is expectations of R’ Chatzkel Levenstein, and it teaching us a depth in his refusal to get angry. would be equally unfair to compare our post air-conditioned world to a time where even How to deal with being uncomfortable is, in my running water and indoor toilets were a luxury. opinion, the most important issue that we all However, I think that as a lesson for us as we currently have to deal with. Whether it is in approach this unique Rosh Hashanah it is regards to davening or giving shiur outdoors important to think about the concept raised by where the weather can make us feel the removal of their suits and ties. uncomfortable, whether it is being indoors with an uncomfortable mask, or whether it is any The Gemara (Shabbos 31a) tells the famous other inconvenience to our lives, being story of the man who bet his friend 400 zuz that uncomfortable is the sugya that we are all he could anger Hillel. The Gemara recounts how facing. this person tried to be the biggest “nudnik” in the world. Three times in a row he bothered It is not a topic that should be taken lightly or Hillel with ridiculous questions, and each time brushed aside[4]. Being uncomfortable is a real Hillel answered him patiently. After his third challenge for most of us. In fact, it seems that question, he told Hillel that he has many more this week’s parsha clearly indicates that the questions and is worried that Hillel might get feeling of discomfort is the ultimate curse. In upset at him, to which Hillel replied calmly that the tochacha we read all the punishments that he can ask as many questions as he would like. await Klal Yisroel if we were to stray from The Gemara concludes with the man explaining listening to Hashem’s word and the motive for annoying Hillel, and with Hillel commandments. The last set of the tochacha responding “Hillel is worthy of having you lose seemingly informs us of the worst possible four hundred zuz and another four hundred zuz punishment. Hashem will scatter us amongst on his account, (however) Hillel will not get the nations, and “And among those nations you upset.” shall not find ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot; and the L-rd shall give you Not only is the Gemara teaching us an there a quaking heart, and failing of eyes, and important lesson about the trait of anger, [2] despair of soul.