SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 - ADAR 4, 5780 PARSHAT TERUMAH (Pg. 444) TORAH INSIGHTS FROM RABBI ELI BABICH The Torah states that the walls of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) were made of large planks of acacia wood (Terumah 26:15). Construction of the Tabernacle commenced while the Jewish people were in the desert. As an abundance of wood is not natural in desert conditions, one can ask how the nation procured such large quantities of wood needed to con- struct the Tabernacle. Rashi commented, Our patriarch, Jacob, planted cedars in Egypt, and when he was dying, he commanded his sons to bring them up with them when they left Egypt. He told them that the Holy One, blessed is He, was destined to command them to make a Mishkan of acacia wood in the desert. In anticipation of the ultimate redemption, upon arrival in Egypt, Jacob ordered the planting of trees for the eventual use in the construction of the Tabernacle. Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky (1891- 1986) questioned the necessity of Jacob arranging for the planting of trees, as surely there were suitable trees in Egypt. Rabbi Kaminetsky suggested that Jacob planted the trees for psychological reasons. These trees served as a reminder that the enslaved Jewish people would one day be redeemed. Even though the promise of redemp- tion was widely known, the trees served as a tangible reminder, each and every day, of the ultimate salvation of the Jewish people. The nation routinely encountered these trees during their years of slavery, and for the nation, the trees were a physical symbol of hope. Rabbi Kaminetsky extended this thought to explain the inclusion of the various sections in the siddur which discuss the sacrificial order performed in ancient Jerusalem. One reason why the sacrificial sections were incorporated into the daily prayer service was to serve as a reminder and a symbol of hope, of the future salvation of the Jewish people and the of return of Jerusalem to its former glory. Similarly, the practice to refrain from reciting the “Tachnun” prayer on Tisha Ba’v, the day designated for national mourning for the destruction of the Temple, likewise served as hope of a better tomorrow. Tachnun is generally omitted on joyous occasions, and the absence of Tachnun on day of a national tragedy appears counter intuitive. However, Rabbinical commentaries suggest that the omission of Tachnun on Tisha B’av was designed to serve as a reminder that one day the mournful day of Tisha Ba’v will transform to the joyous day of redemption. Thus, we see that various symbols of hope were interspersed throughout Jewish life to serve as a lesson that one must hope and believe in a better tomorrow and not fall into a state of despair. 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. Kiddush Sponsorship and Mazal Tov The Kiddush this Shabbat is kindly sponsored by Mindy and Howard Podolsky in celebration of the aufruf of their son Max Podolsky. Mazal tov to Max Podolsky and Amanda Sweetwood on their upcoming wedding. FAS WOMEN’S SEUDAH SHLISHIT Please join us for a special afternoon program with good food and inspiring words, this Shabbat, February 29, 4:45 PM at Fifth Avenue Synagogue, 4th Floor. The D’var Torah will be given by guest speaker REBBETZIN VANINA SINCLAIR: “Mapping Your Inner You and The Four Elements All the Middos Come From," based on Alei Shur by Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe.” Born in Argentina, Rebbetzin Vanina Sinclair finished her degree as a Ballet Teacher in a prestigious theatre in Buenos Aires. In 1987 she shifted her life direction to a much more spiritual path, and studied religious subjects in the Old City of Jerusalem. She became a teacher in 1991 in different Seminaries for Spanish speakers, and ran her own Seminary in Spanish for Aish Hatorah in Jerusa- lem. Over the past ten years Rebbetzin Sinclair has given character improvement classes all over the world in both English and Spanish, including Neve Yerushalaim, Ayelet Hashachar, Binyan Olam and Aish Hatorah. Rebbetzin Sinclair received her degree in Life Coaching and works as a Couples and Education advisor, and her videos and articles can be found on many websites. Rebbetzin Sinclair and her husband Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair have been living in Israel for more than 30 years. “Why We Do What We Do: Understanding The Origin of Our Mitzvot” with ALAN RECHTSCHAFFEN Session II begins Monday, March 2, at 6:00 PM at FAS. Sushi and Wine will be provided. Please RSVP to [email protected]. WEEKLY TUESDAY NIGHT TALMUD CLASS with RESIDENT SCHOLAR RABBI DR. MICHAEL ROSENSWEIG Rabbi Rosensweig’s Talmud class continues onTuesday, March 3, at 7:30 PM at FAS. Rabbi Rosenweig is teaching Tractate Chulin. YAHRZEITS February 29 - March 6, 2020; Adar 4 - 10, 5780 FEBRUARY/ADAR 29 4 Mr. Simon Fischer, Father MARCH/ADAR 3 7 Mrs. Anne Hiltzik, Husband MARCH/ADAR 4 8 Dr. Elizabeth Muss, Grandmother 1 5 Mr. Michael Jesselson, Mother 4 8 Mrs. Linda Jesselson, Mother 1 5 Mr. Jay Schottenstein, Father 5 9 Mrs. Inge Rennert, Mother 1 5 Mr. Michael Shvo, Father 5 9 Mr. Yisroel Halpert, Father 2 6 Mr. Joseph Guttmann, Sister 5 9 Mr. Joel Davidson, Sister 3 7 Mr. Lawrence Friedland, Mother 5 9 Dr. Elizabeth Muss, Grandfather 3 7 Dr. Phyllis Cohen Gladstein, Father 6 10 Prof. Joel Fleishman, Mother 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. 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 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Nissim Yosef Kleiner, 3 5 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. www.5as.org. Highlights from the Men’s & Women’s Clubs Game Night held on February 23. FIFTH AVENUE SYNAGOGUE CHEVRA KADISHA ANNUAL SEUDAH BREAKFAST SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 - 9:10 AM Featuring Guest Speaker: RABBI DR. J. DAVID BLEICH “DNA and The Chevra Kadisha” The Chevra Kadisha of Fifth Avenue Synagogue invites you to its annual Seudah Breakfast, celebrating the Chesed and dedicated work of our Men’s & Women’s Chev- ra Kadisha volunteers, and commemorating the Yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu. Breakfast is complimentary but please RSVP to [email protected] or call (212) 838-2122. Rabbi Dr. J. David Bleich has been the Rabbi at Yorkville Synagogue in Manhattan for over 45 years. Rabbi Bleich, an authority on Jewish law and ethics, including Jewish medical ethics, is Rosh Yeshivah (Professor of Talmud) at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Yeshiva University. He is also Rosh Kollel, Kollel le-Hora'ah, the Director of its Postgraduate Institute for Jurisprudence and Family Law. At Yeshiva University, he holds the Herbert and Florence Tenzer Chair in Jewish Law and Ethics, and he is a Professor of law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Rabbi Bleich was ordained at Mesivta Torah Vodaath, and advanced ordination (Yadin Yadin) from Rabbis Moshe Feinstein and Mendel Zaks. He also did graduate Talmudic studies at Beth Medrash Elyon in Monsey, N.Y. and attended the Kollel Kodshim of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim of Radun. His most recent book is The Philosophical Quest: Of Philosophy, Ethics, Law and Halakhah. Rabbi Bleich is married to Dr. Judith Bleich, a historian of 19th-century European Jewry. Grandma's Amazing Hamantaschen Recipe from the Kitchen of Rebbetzin Lisa Babich “My grandmother was an incredible cook and baker, and made staple recipes that we all looked forward to devouring when we would visit her, or she would come to us for Shabbos. One of her most famous recipes was her delicious hamantaschen. She used to make hundreds of them before Purim and she would then send each of her children packages of these special treats for their families to enjoy. These are not your typical hamantaschen because they are more soft and moist than the usual hardened cookie edge. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!” Grandma's Amazing Hamantaschen 4 cups of flour 4 eggs 2 cups of oil 4 teaspoons of baking powder 1 and 1/4 cup of water Apricot or prune butter Cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling Put the flour in a bowl and add in the eggs, oil and baking powder. Then slowly add the water as much as needed. If the mixture is too dry you can add more water and if it is too sticky you can add more flour. Then roll the dough into balls and shape it into triangles. Make an indentation in the middle and put in either apricot or prune butter or really any filling of your choice. Sprinkle the top of them with some cinnamon and sugar and bake them for half an hour at 350 F or 375 F. Dear Fifth Avenue Synagogue Family, The World Zionist Congress elections are underway. These elections occur every 5 years and have significant financial implications for the funding of organizations in Israel, many of which benefit our children -- such as the yeshivot in which our graduates go to learn after high school. Unfortunately, our broader community did not vote en masse in the last elec- tions, and as a result, some of this important funding diminished. We now have an op- portunity to vote.