Parshat Yitro No 1661: 22 Shevat 5777 (February 18, 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 Yom Yerushalayim Honor Roll 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 display 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. Nearly 100 Shuls have signed up. If your community is not yet on our list please let us know. 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. Individuals and communities from around the world will participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Celebrating 50 years of a reunited Jerusalem on Yom Yerushalayim. See www.mizrachi.org/YY50. Below is a list of shuls, schools, and organziations that are participating in our Honor Roll: Beth Jacob Congregation Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills Beverley Hills, CA Kew Gardens Hills Rabbi Kalman Topp Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld Young Israel of Orange County Rambam Mesivta Irvine, CA Lawrence, NY Rabbi Dov Fischer Rabbi Zev Friedman Congregation B’nai David-Judea Congregation Beth Sholom Los Angeles, CA Lawerence, NY Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky Rabbi Kenneth Hain Yeshivat Yavneh HAFTR Los Angeles, Lawrence, NY Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen Young Israel of Century City Young Israel of Long Beach Los Angeles, CA Long Beach, NY Rabbi Elazar Muskin Rabbi Chaim Wakslak Shaarey Zedek Congregation Community Synagogue of Monsey Valley Village, CA Monsey, NY Rabbi Jonathan Rosenberg Rabbi Moshe Tendler Westville Synagogue Young Israel of New Hyde Park New Haven, CT New Hyde Park, NY Rabbi Fred Hyman Rabbi Lawrence Teitelman Beth David Synagogue Bialystoker Synagogue West Hartford, CT New York, NY Rabbi Yitzchok Adler Rabbi Zvi Romm Young Israel of West Hartford Congregation Adereth El West Hartford, CT New York, NY Rabbi Tuvia Brander Rabbi Gideon Shloush Boca Jewish Center Congregation Ohab Zedek Boca Raton, FL New York, NY Rabbi Yaakov Gibber Rabbi Allen Schwartz Boca Raton Synagogue Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Boca Raton, FL New York, NY Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz Congregation Torah Ohr Manhattan Jewish Experience Boca Raton, FL New York, NY Rabbi Benjamin Yasgur Rabbi Mark Wildes Anshei Chesed Congregation The Jewish Center Boynton Beach, FL New York, NY Rabbi Avi Billet Rabbi Yosie Levine Anshei Emuna Congregation Young Israel of New Rochelle Delray Beach, FL New Rochelle, NY Rabbi Jack Engel Rabbi Reuven Fink Young Israel of Hollywood Young Israel of Hillcrest Hollywood, FL Queens, NY Rabbi Yosef Weinstock Rabbi Richard Weiss Congregation KINS Congregation Beth Shalom Chicago, IL Rochester, NY Rabbi Leonard Matanky Rabbi Avi Kilimnick Congregation Or Torah Magen David Sephardic Congregation Chicago, IL Scarsdale, NY Rabbi Zvi Engel Rabbi Mitchell Serels Ida Crown Academy Young Israel of Scarsdale Chicago, IL Scarsdale, NY Rabbi Leonard Matanky Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern Congregation Yehuda Moshe Shaarai Torah Orthodox Congregation Lincolnwood, IL Syracuse, NY Rabbi Joel Gutstein Rabbi Evan Shore Ohr Torah Congregation Young Israel of West Hempstead Edison, NJ West Hempstead, NY Rabbi Yaakov Luban Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva Young Israel of Woodmere Edison, NJ Woodmere, NY Rabbi Daniel Loew Rabbi Hershel Billet Congregation Ahavath Torah Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe Englewood, NJ Brighton, MA Rabbi Shmuel Goldin Rabbi Jason Strauss Congregation Ahavas Achim Congregation Beth El-Atereth Israel Highland Park, NJ Newton, MA Rabbi Steven Miodownik Rabbi Gershon Segal Congregation Etz Chaim Congregation Shaarei Tefillah Livingston, NJ Newton, MA Rabbi E. Sameul Klibanoff Rabbi Benjamin J. Samuels Suburban Torah Young Israel of Sharon Livingston, NJ Sharon, MA Rabbi Elie Mischel Rabbi Noah Cheses Congregation Brothers of Israel Beth Tfiloh Congregation Long Branch, NJ Baltimore, MD Rabbi Nasanayl Braun Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg National Council of Young Israel Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Paramus, NJ Baltimore, MD Rabbi Binyamin Hammer Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg Congregation Israel Rockville Jewish Outreach Center Springfield, NJ Rockville, MD Rabbi Chaim Marcus Rabbi Yaacov Benamou Congregation Bnai Yeshurun Young Israel of Oak Park Teaneck, NJ Oak Park, MI Rabbi Steven Pruzansky Rabbi Michael Cohen Congregation Keter Torah Young Israel of Southfield Teaneck, NJ Southfield, MI Rabbi Shalom Baum Rabbi Yechiel Morris Congregation Rinat Israel Nusach Hari B'nai Zion Congregation Teaneck, NJ St. Louis, MO Rabbi Yosef Adler Rabbi Ze'ev Smason Congregation Shaarei Orah Young Israel of St. Louis Teaneck, NJ St. Louis, MO Rabbi Haim Jachter Rabbi Moshe Shulman Congregation AABJ&D Young Israel of Las Vegas West Orange, NJ Las Vegas, NV Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler Rabbi Yitzchak Wyne The Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach Congregation Torat Emet Atlantic Beach, NY Columbus, OH Rabbi Ari Perl Rabbi Howard Zack Avenue N Jewish Center Green Road Synagogue Brooklyn, NY Cleveland, OH Rabbi Doniel Eisenbach Rabbi Binyamin Blau Congregation Ahavath Achim Kesher Isarel Congregation Brooklyn, NY Harrisburg, PA Rabbi Ari Kagan Rabbi Elisha Friedman Congregation Beth Torah Congregation Mikveh Israel Brooklyn, NY Philadelphia, PA Rabbi Ari Azancot Rabbi Albert Gabbai Congregation Pri Eitz Chaim Touro Synagogue Brooklyn, NY Newport, RI Rabbi Melvin I Burg Rabbi Marc Mandel Congregation Talmud Torah of Flatbush Congregation Shaare Tefilla Brooklyn, NY Dallas, TX Magen David Yeshiva High School Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky Brooklyn, NY United Orthodox Synagogues Rabbi Saul Zucker Houston, TX Yeshiva of Flatbush Rabbi Barry Gelman Brooklyn, NY Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation Dr. Norman Rosenblum Cote St. Luc, Quebec Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst Rabbi Reuben J. Poupko Cedarhurst, NY Beth Israel Synagogue Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum Edmonton, Canada Havurat Yisrael Rabbi Daniel Friedman Forest Hills, NY Shaarei Shomayim Congregation Rabbi David Algaze Ontario, Canada Young Israel of Forest Hills Rabbi Chaim Strauchler Forest Hills, NY Congregation Machzikei Hadas Rabbi Michael Weingarten Ottawa, Canada Great Neck Synagogue Rabbi Idan Scher Great Neck, NY Zichron Yisroel Rabbi Ian Lichter Thornhill, Canada Young Israel of Hewlett Rabbi Charles Grysman Hewlett, NY Kollel Agudath Achim Rabbi Heshy Blumstein Jerusalem, Israel Young Israel of Jamaica Estates Rabbi Aharon Ziegler Jamaica Estates, NY Rabbi Shlomo Hochberg In The Spotlight We are pleased to announce a new initiative: Each week, we will (translate and) feature a d’var Torah from adifferent Rosh Yeshiva of a Dati L’umi Yeshivat Hesder in Israel. Our goalis – until we get there ourselves – to bring Torat Yisrael closer toAmerica. Pars hat Yiitro Rav Yehoshua Mordechaii Schmiidt Rav of the Yiishuv Shaveii Shomron and Rosh Yeshiiva at the Yeshiivat HaHesder Shaveii Shomron, Israell Transllated by RZA-Aryeh Fellllow Yehudiith Dashevsky This Shabbatwe are going to read and accept the Torah. Hakadosh Baruch Hu leads the Jewsout of Egypt, but before He gives them the Torah, He gives them chizuk, tellingthem, “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” What doesthis mean? Why does the giving of the Torah require such a preface? We mustremember – the nation of Israel has just come out of exile. For a nationleaving exile to transform into a holy nation, it must undergo a certainprocess. In last week’s Torah portion, G-d commands Moshe to tell the Jews thatthey will be leaving with great wealth. This is “so that the tzaddik, Avraham,would not say, He fulfilled ‘and they will subjugate them and afflict them’ butnot ‘and afterwards they will leave with great wealth’” (Brachot 9). Thatwealth was given to them as part of the process of turning the nation of slavesinto the nation of priests. A person who has the mindset of a slave does notcarry himself as a normal, upstanding person, and therefore cannot serve G-d. InKiddushin 12 and in Rambam Hilchot Mechira Chapter 16, it is said that a personwho bought a slave and then realized that the slave has negative charactertraits – for example, he is a liar or a thief – still retains ownership of theslave. This is because it is to be expected – the experience of slavery affectsa man’s character, may make him lowly. A slave does not have personhood in thefull sense, he is without strength, independence, backbone… And so, G-d begins to build up the nation of slaves’ backbone. He doesso first through the Ten Plagues. And then, by giving them wealth. And then –by telling them that they are a nation of priests, a holy nation. He believesin them. One of the things we need to ingrain in our children is our belief intheir abilities. That they are holy, part of a holy people. We need totell them that they are good and sweet and righteous, even if they are unrulyor disobedient.