Parshiot Nitzavim-Vayelech

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There are two portions in the Torah known as "Tochachas" [chastisement s]. There is the Tochacha at the end of Sefer Vayikra in Parshas Bechukosai and there is the Tochacha we read last week in Parshas Ki Savo. There is a stark difference between these two sections of chastisement in that the Tochacha at the end of Parshas Bechukosai ends with words of consolation. After hearing all the terrible things which would befall the Jewish people if they did not keep the commandments, they were at least given the comforting message: "And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly and to break My covenant with them; for I am the L-rd their G-d. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their G-d: I am the L-rd." [Vayikra 26:4445]. The longer and perhaps scarier words of chastisement that we read in Parshas Ki Savo do not end on a positive note. The Torah merely ends with more of the same: "And the L-rd shall bring you back into Egypt in ships; by the way whereof

August 31, 2013 25 Elul, 5773

Rabbi Frand on Parshiot Nitzavim-Vayelech

I said to you: 'You will see it no more'; and there you will sell yourselves to your enemies for bondmen and for bondwomen, and no man shall buy you." [Devorim 28:68]. Rav Yosha Baer Soloveitchik, z"l, asks: Why the difference? Rav Yosha Baer answers that in fact the Tochacha in Ki Savo also ends with consolation... except the consolation only appears in Parshas Netzavim: "And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, that I have presented before you then you will take it to your heart among all the nations where Hashem, your G-d, has dispersed you. And you will return unto Hashem, your G-d, and listen to His voice, according to everything that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and all your soul. [Devorim 30:1-2] The consolation is that at the end of all the punishment and suffering, the Jewish people will do Teshuva and return to G-d. of the First Bais HaMikdash and the exile from the Land of Israel at that time. The Tochacha foretold in Ki Savo refers to the destruction of the Second Bais HaMikdash and the exile that occurred at that time. The Destruction of the First Bais HaMikdash and the Babylonian exile which followed it had a prophesized finite end to it. The prophets foretold that the people would be in exile for 70 years and indeed following this 70 year period, the Jews were given permission to return to the Land of Israel (where they eventually rebuilt the Bais HaMikdash). Therefore, it makes sense that the Tochacha which foretells the Babylonian Exile features the consolation in close proximity to the end of the verses of chastisement.

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As we now know, we do not know of a specified date for the redemption from the Destruction of the Second Bais HaMikdash. We have now been in this exile for close to But the question can still be 2000 years! However, there asked: Why is it that in the will be an end to this exile. As Tochacha in Devorim, there is a the Rambam writes in the pause and we have to "wait for Laws of Repentance: "Israel the consolation", so to speak, will only be redeemed through while in the Tochacha in repentance. The prophets Bechukosai, the consolation have already promised that comes immediately? Rav the Jews will repent at the end Soloveitchik answers this of their exile and immediately question by explaining that there thereafter they will be is a fundamental difference redeemed, as it is between the two Tochachas. The written..."...And it will be that Ramba"n says that the Tochacha when all these things come in Bechukosai foretells and refers upon you... you will return to the period of the destruction unto Hashem your G-d."

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26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 When will that occur? We do not know, but it will come. This is precisely why the consolation does not immediately follow the Tochacha here in Devorim. We need to wait. We need to wait until we return to the L-rd our G-d. We are going to be in the mess in which we find ourselves until we do Teshuva. This is the difference between the two Tochachas. In the first, we just had to wait a (relatively) short time. When the clock struck 70, we were able to go home. The current exile is not like that. Eventually, we will get out of it because "in the end Israel will repent and immediately thereafter they will be redeemed" but we do not know when that is going to happen.

Shabbat Announcements Parshiot Nitzavim-Vayelech 5773 that is not written in the Book of this Torah, Hashem will bring them upon you, until you are destroyed. You will be left few in number, instead of having been like the stars of heaven in abundance, for you will not have listened to the voice of Hashem your G-d." Out of all the places that could have been cut out from the Sefer Torah, this wallet was cut out and made from the pasukim in the Tochacha! When Rabbi Grossman saw that, he was reminded of a similar incident in Tanach: The story in Melachim II of the young King Yoshiyahu. King Yoshiyahu was a righteous king, but his father and grandfather had done all they could to wipe out any vestige of Torah from the Jewish people. When Yoshiyahu became king, he tried to refurbish the Bais HaMikdash and reinstitute the normal functioning of traditional ritual amongst the Jewish people. When they entered the Beis HaMikdash, which was in disrepair, they found a Sefer Torah, which had been hidden away in an attic so that the wicked King Achaz would not burn it as he did with other Sifrei Torah. The King's scribe, Shafan ben Atzalya, read to Yoshiyahu from the pasukim in the Sefer Torah that appeared exactly at the point to which the Sefer Torah had been rolled when it was hidden away many years earlier: When the King heard those words, he cried and tore his garments in mourning. The commentaries explain what did he hear that caused him to react in this way? He heard the pasukim from the Tochacha in Devorim: "Hashem will lead you and your king whom you will set up over yourself to a nation you never knew neither you nor your forefathers and there you will work for the gods of others of wood and of stone. [Devorim 28:36]. Yoshiayahu saw this as a Divine omen that of all the places that the Sefer Torah could be open to, these were the first pasukim that were read to him. Thereafter, he began a mass Teshuva movement to return the people to Hashem. Yoshiyahu was promised by the prophet that since he cried and repented, he would not personally witness the terrible fate that would ultimately befall the Jewish people.

I received an e-mail last May in which someone told me a story of a true story. I filed it away saving it for this parsha. Rav Yisrael Dovid Grossman, the Rav of Kiryat Migdal haEmek in Northern Israel was visited by a fellow named Moti Dotan, who is the head of the Lower Galilee regional council. Moti Dotan was in Germany to celebrate a "Sister City" arrangement with Hanover, Germany. While there, he was approached by a German who related the following story. The German had a father who was quite old. On his death bed, he confessed his own part in the Holocaust to his son. He explained that since there are many holocaust deniers, he wanted his son to know that it was true and to tell him some of what happened. The father told the son that he had been an officer in the German Air Force in World War II and handed him an envelope that contained a wallet made out of parchment which contained within it the officer's military ID certificate. The father explained that while destroying a synagogue, he had found a scroll made of parchment. He cut out a piece of the parchment from the Sefer Torah to make the wallet. He later discovered that such scrolls were very holy to the Jews. He told his son to give it to the first Jew he meets and to have it brought to Israel to determine the significance of the particular words that were written on the parchment. Rabbi Grossman made the point that these two incidents were not mere coincidences. He saw such "coincidences" as a clear call from Moti Dotan took the wallet and brought it to Migdal haEmek Heaven to do Teshhuva. We see many events that are unfolding where he showed it to Rabbi Yisrael Dovid Grossman. When around us that bring us to the conclusion that nothing will save us Rabbi Grossman looked at the piece of Torah parchment other than the promise of ultimate redemption via the prophecy of that was made into a wallet, he was literally shaken to his "In the future the Jewish people will repent". Only the Master of core. The pasukim on the parchment were from Parshas Ki the Universe can save us from the mess we are in. Our only hope Savo [Devorim 28:58-62]: "If you will not be careful to is "You shall return to the L-rd your G-d." perform all the words of this Torah that are written in this Book, to fear this honored and awesome Name: Hashem ROSH HASHANAH your G-d, then Hashem will make extraordinary your blows SCHEDULE and the blows of your offspring great and faithful blows, Wednesday, September 4, Rosh Hashanah Eve and evil and faithful illnesses. He will bring back upon you An Eiruv Tavshilin should be prepared all the sufferings of Egypt, before which you were terrified, Candle Lighting 7:05 pm and they will cleave to you. Even any illness and any blow Services 7:05 pm Thursday, September 5, Rosh Hashanah l Morning 8:00 am Great Neck Synagogue Mincha 7:05 pm Shabbat Activities Program Candle Lighting after 8:12 pm 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 516-487-6100 Friday, September 6, Rosh Hashanah ll Morning 8:00 am Dale Polakoff, Rabbi SHABBAT SHUVAH Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Friday, September 6 Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Candle Lighting 7:02 pm Zeev Kron, Cantor Mincha 7:05 pm Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Saturday, September 7 Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Hashkama 8:00 am Zehava & Dr. Michael Atlas, Youth Directors Main Shul 9:00 am Mark Twersky, Executive Director Beit Midrash 9:15 am Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Teen Minyan 9:30 am Dr. Scott Danoff, President Mincha 6:30 pm Shabbat Shuvah Drasha 6:55 pm Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board Conclusion of Shabbat 8:07 pm Dena Block, Yoetzet Halacha

GNS 6TH ANNUAL ROSH HASHANA PASS IT FORWARD HUNGER INITIATIVE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 BRING THE SWEETNESS OF ROSH HASHANA TO THOSE IN NEED! Now in its 6th year, the PASS IT FORWARD program of the GNS Hunger Initiative provides food to families for Yom Tov. Last year, volunteers packed and delivered over 1000 meals to needy individuals, families, kosher food pantries and North Shore Hospital Bikur Cholim. HERES HOW YOU CAN HELP! Donate Food: If you have a kosher kitchen (separate meat and dairy utensils and kosher certification on all processed foods), make extra food (soup, main, side or dessert) and pack it in containers serving 4-8 (no bags please!) Deliver it to GNS COAT ROOM LOBBY on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND between 11 and 1 pm. Donate $$: Purchase a special meal for a $18 contribution from Mazurs, Great Neck Glatt or Everfresh, which will be delivered on your behalf. Or make a donation directly to the GNS Hunger Initiative. Donate Time: We need packers (from 10:30 am to 3 pm) and drivers for about 25 different routes, starting from 2:00 pm TO 5:00 PM on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND starting at GNS Coat Lobby. Donate Creativity: Have your child create a special handmade Rosh HaShana card to be enclosed in the food delivery. Drop them by Synagogue Office. ALL VOLUNTEERS PLEASE EMAIL: MICHELLE BERMAN: michberman@gmail.com CINDY HODKIN: koshercookinggn@gmail.com

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
SISTERHOOD Fress. Cindy Hodkin will provide almost everything you need for a home cooked gourmet meal for the Holidays. Your actual cooking time will be about 3 hours - and your family has a wonderful home cooked gourmet meal! Please contact her with any questions at 516-317-9632. YOUTH NEWS Youth Leader BBQ at the home of Rabbi & Aksana Jensen, August 28th at 5pm. There will be a mandatory meeting onTuesday, Sept. 3 at 5 pm at the shul, for all current and prospective youth leaders. DOS YIDDISH VORT Dos Yiddish Vort explores foods and festivals in the Chalfin Room on Wednesday, September 11 at 1:30. All welcome. For info: Call Roz Wagner 487-9795. MENS CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS SUN., OCT 13: Semi-Annual Blood Drive. SUN., OCT 27, 10:00 am: The diplomatic correspondent for The Jerusalem Post, Herb Keinon, will be talking on the political and diplomatic situation in Israel, and present his view on the current Peace talks. SUN., NOV 10, 10:00am: We are thrilled that Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, an elected member of the South African parliament and a staunch supporter of Israel will be speaking at our breakfast that morning. SUN., NOV 17, 2:00PM : A trip to NYC, together with Dos Yiddish Vort , to the Yiddish Theater to see " Lies My Father Told Me ", a musical in English with Yiddish. Cost is $65 per person, which includes the bus, theater tickets and a light dinner. Please contact Ros Wagner 487-9795. YOETZET HALACHA Through the generosity of Ellie & David Werber, GNS has hired Dena Block to serve as a Yoetzet Halacha. To reach Dena with your questions please call 516-320-9818 or reach her by email at gnsyoetzet@gmail.com. Join us to welcome Great Neck Synagogue's new Yoetzet Halacha Dena Block, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 9:30-11:00 a.m. Her topic that morning will be What to Expect When You're Not Expecting! together with Dr. Valerie Altman, ob/gyn. There will be a "women only" brunch sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue at the home of Ilana Wallenstein, 32 Arrandale Avenue. INTERGENERATIONAL MITZVAH OPPORTUNITY FOR ROSH HASHANAH The GNS HUNGER INITIATIVE sponsors a program known as PASS IT FORWARD, in which deliveries of food for the holidays are made to needy individuals and families. Be a part of this mitzvah! Spend some time on LABOR DAY, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd with us, either packing and/or delivering food for the Yom Tov. Packing will be at the GNS Coat Lobby, from 10:30- 2:30 pm, with two hour shifts possible (10:3012:30 or 12:30 - 2:30). Deliveries begin at 3:00 pm to communities in Long Island or Queens. For the deliveries, ALL AGES are invited! Parents, bring your kids! It's an amazing experience. For the packing, we welcome adults and children ages 12 and up. Please let us know if you are interested. We need drivers, packers, bakers, cooks and donors. Full instructions on page three. This year, we especially need drivers on Labor Day, Monday Sept 2nd, to deliver food to those in need. Contact Cindy Hodkin koshercookinggn@gmail.com or Michelle Berman michberman@gmail.com BAKE BROWNIES FOR PASS IT FORWARD Once again, we have Brownie mix for you to bake for Pass It Forward! Its a great activity to do with your children or grandchildren; and a wonderful way to participate in this mitzvah. Bake them, place them in the freezer, well wrapped, and then drop them off on September 2, between 11 1, at the Great Neck Synagogue. Mixes and pans can be picked up from the front porch of 11 Margaret Court. Call Michelle Berman (516)697-0522 with any questions.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

Mazal Tov to Ellen & Mitchell Siegel on the engagement of their son Ben to Jessica Sandler daughter of Benita & Robert Sandler of Potomac, MD. Mazal Tov to Jessica & David Smooha on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Alex. Mazal Tov to Hadassah & Jacob Wachstock on the birth of a grandson born to their children Esther & Oren Wachstock. Mazal Tov to Roslyn & Zachary Dicker on the upcoming marriage of their granddaughter, Michal Dicker, daughter of Carolyn Hochstadter & Adam Dicker, to Joshua Halpern, son of Suri & Eitan Halpern. Mazal Tov to Dr. Paul Brody on receiving The Israel Leadership Award at Chazaqs Inaugural Dinner to be held at Leonards of Great Neck.

THANK YOU Once again we wish to thank Ira & Edith Lubin and Chava Shalmon for their hard work in polishing the silver that adorn the Torahs in our shul. YOM APPEAL Members of the Yom Kippur Appeal committee are already at work making calls to raise money for our shul. Please respond kindly and generously when they call. Committee: Harold Domnitch, Howard Wolf, Jon Ohebshalom, Dov Sassoon, Rachel Ben Sorek and Phyliss Weinberg are among our volunteers to date.

MIKVAH HOURS FOR MEN FOR YOM TOV The North Shore Mikvah will be open for men only on Erev Rosh Hashanah, September 4th, and Erev Yom Kippur, September 13th from 5AM-3PM. Men must bring their own towels. The cost is $25.00. Please contact Ilana Kroll at 516 829 3122 or Malka Ismach at 917 373 4883 for more information.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 25 Elul Edith Lubin for Reuben Feigenbaum Felecia Morris for Leonard Morris Ellen Siegel for Stacey Crair Galina Weiss for Shara Lebovich Sunday, 26 Elul Hal Beretz for Leo Beretz Allan Beyda for Joshua Beyda Jane Tuvia for Yakov Ebin Judy Weinstein for Regina Kloogman Monday, 27 Elul Lauren Hyman for Arnold Glatt Celia Lemonik for Rosalie Dorner Hindi Lunzer for Selma Mermelstein Payman Rabiei for Efraim Mashala ben Rabie Tuesday, 28 Elul Louis Goldstein for Nathan Goldstein Wednesday, 29 Elul Zachary Dicker for Mintza Dicker David Lax for Yoel Lax Susan Mayer for Frieda Abramson Edward Parver for Harry Parver Thursday, 1 Tishrei Anne Gold for Rebecca Feinstein George Miner for Irving Miner Chava Shalmon for Abraham Grinszpan Friday, 2 Tishrei Vicki Maher for Herschel Brzezinski Israel Slochowsky for Clara Evans