26 Years in Skokie! 153 Years Serving Chicagoland!

THE BETH HAMEDROSH HAGODOL

KESSER MAARIV ANSHE LUKNIK NEWSLETTER
ELUL / TISHREI / CHESHVAN 5781
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
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UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES TO REMEMBER
COVID notice: Anyone in a high risk category or not
feeling well should stay home and be safe. Follow CDC &
medical guidance. While at Shul please wear your mask
and follow social distancing. Please don’t move
chairs/seats. For safety reasons we do not have any Talis
available at shul, bring your own. Children under age 10
are not allowed in Shul.
High Holidays 5781 & Memberships
Rosh Hashana will begin Friday night
September 18, and continue on Shabbat and
Sunday September 19-20. Yom Kippur will
be Sunday evening and Monday September
th th
27 and 28 . Membership information is enclosed!
Ad Journal honoring the Rabbi & Rebbetzin
We are proud to honor Rabbi Louis & Rebbetzin Saretta
Lazovsky for 36 years of leadership. While we know
firsthand, they have helped so many people in the
Chicagoland community thrive. We have been recipients of
their kindness and wisdom, and they have always gone
above and beyond with their special, personal touch. While
Covid forced the cancellation of our Banquet, we will still
produce a commemorative Ad Journal in their honor. Ads
may be submitted at www.KesserMaariv.org/Ads or by
email bhhkmal@yahoo.com or phone. Deadline:
th
September 4 . An Ad Blank is enclosed.
COVID-19 and High Holidays
Thank G-d we reopened our Shul for Shavuot (May 29th)
and weekday Mincha-Maariv, with social distancing and
masks. We were able to restart Shacharit on June 30th. We
are committed to having a safe, indoor, socially-distanced
services for the High Holidays. This will include having
assigned seats. In order to accommodate you, please fill
out the following short survey about your seat needs:
https://forms.gle/UcdodHKko1r7Mcvh6 as soon as
possible. For those who cannot attend Shul indoors, we
will have an outdoor Shofar blowing on Sunday afternoon
September 20th at 12:00 noon.
Selichot - September 12
Please join us on Saturday evening September 12 for
Selichot, penitential supplications, at 11:00 am. We will
also broadcast it on Zoom.
Upcoming Yizkor
We will recite Yizkor on Yom Kippur, Monday September
28th at about 11:30 am, and on Shmini Atzeret, Shabbat
October 10th at about 10:45 am.
To order Yahrzeit plaques, please call the office at (847)
679-9800.
Lulav and Etrog Sets - Deadline September 21
www.KesserMaariv.org
Shiurim at KesserMaariv.pododmatic.com ãØñá
The shul will once again sell top quality Lulav sets
from Israel. Please order your set from the office by
September 21st. Cost per set is $50 for members or
$55 for non-members Upgraded sets available.
Please call Rabbi Benzie at (847) 679-9800 or email
bhhkmal@yahoo.com . Sets will be available for
pick-up after Yom Kippur. Order Form is later in
this newsletter with Membership.
New Year Greeting Card - You
can join the Shul’s New Year Greeting
Card for $26. Please contact Sheryl
Greenstein at oogiah@aol.com, or use the
enclosed Membership flyer, by September
12th. The festive card is pictured at left.
Shabbat Shuva Shiur
On Shabbat September 26th Rabbi Louis
Lazovsky will deliver his annual special
Shabbat Shuva shiur at 6:40 pm,
immediately following Mincha.
Hakafot on Simchat Torah
Socially Distanced Hakafot will be held on Saturday evening
and Sunday morning, October 10th and 11th.
Rabbi Juzint’s Nechamas Meyer & Chain of Miracles
Get authentic Slabodka Mussar explanations on the weekly
Parsha (Breishis & Shemos) by Rabbi Meyer Juzint z”l,
Purchase from the office and on our website for $25. The
Chain of Miracles, which describes how Rabbi Juzint was
saved by Divine Providence many times during the
Holocaust, is available for $20. Rabbi Juzint’s yahrzeit is
the second day of Sukkot.
Zoom Event about the Shofar - September 1
Saretta & Rabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky will be presenting a
class - “Hear Ye, Hear Ye - Listening to the Shofar” on
Tuesday September 1 at 6:30 pm on Zoom.
Parsha Podcasts / Social Media - For High Holidays!
Rabbi Louis Lazovsky's morning Vorts on the Parsha are
available as podcasts at KesserMaariv.podomatic.com (a link
is on our homepage, www.KesserMaariv.org). Two tears
ago we posted Rabbi Lazovsky’s podcasts on the entire
Rambam Hilchos Teshuva in 33 sub-5-minute chunks.
Facebook: Fb.me/Kesser Maariv Twitter: @KesserMaariv
Pushke - Please contact the office if you need a Kesser
Maariv Pushke (Tzedaka Box), or if you need your full
Pushke to be collected.
E-mail List
To receive our emails, please send an e-mail to
bhhkmal@yahoo.com indicating that you wish to be
placed on the e-mail list. We are happy to have more
than one e-mail per family
Send-A-Kid-To-Israel Partnership (S.K.I.P.)
Kesser Maariv is proud to be a participating
Congregation in S.K.I.P. The program allows parents to
contribute money annually in partnership with the
synagogue and the Jewish Federation for an Israel trip for
their children. Students in grades 3-6, enrolled in a day or
afternoon school, who have finished paying their annual
membership to the shul are eligible to participate. For
additional details, a registration kit or to enroll your
child(ren) for the first time, please contact Ben Zion
Lazovsky at (847) 679-9800.
Misheberach List
If you have names for a misheberach, please send them to
the shul office or e-mail to bhhkmal@yahoo.com.
All-Occasion Cards
Beautiful All-Occasion Cards (designed by Wendy Hartz
z“l) are available for purchase from the office.
PAST EVENTS
Divrei Torah for the Hagaddah & Pesach by Rabbis
Louis & Ben Zion were included in the cRc’s Pesach
Hagaddah....Kesser Maariv was well represented in the
Religious Zionists of Chicago’s online program
connecting our Mizrachi - Religious Zionist of Chicago
community with the Dati-Leumi community of Kiryat
Gat...Explanations for Tisha B’Av Kinnot by Rabbis
Louis & Ben Zion were included in the cRc’s Youtube
Kinnot program...On August 27 we discussed our many
Congregation B.H.H. Kesser Maariv A.L.
4341 W. Golf
Skokie, IL 60076 Fb.me/KesserMaariv
(847) 679-9800 twitter.com/KesserMaariv
fax (847) 679-5041 KesserMaariv.podomatic.com
e-mail: bhhkmal@yahoo.com
www.KesserMaariv.org
Rabbi Louis A. Lazovsky Steven D. Goldrich, President
Rabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky,
Associate Rabbi & Executive Director
Sandy Miretzky, Nasrin Kheradyar & Saretta Lazovsky,
Co-Presidents, Adele Goldblum Women’s Council
Committee Contact Information:
Chesed Fund Anne Elovic (847) 673-2904
Donate Books & Siddurim Office
All-Occasion Cards (847) 679-9800 or
Pushke bhhkmal@yahoo.com
Endowment Rabbi Louis Lazovsky
Kiddush & Seudat Shlisheet Judy Whisler
Membership 8/677-2281 j5awhisler@aol.com
Office
Social Hall Rental
Tree of Life bhhkmal@yahoo.com
Yahrzeit Plaques (847) 679-9800
important accomplishments and voted in a new board.
The officers were all reelected. May Hashem allow us to
continue offering many appropriate programs and services
to the community.
ADELE GOLDBLUM WOMEN’S COUNCIL
Past Events
We have been fortunate to have many classes over Zoom. In
June we were entertained with comedy and songs by Meish
Goldish. In Jule we had a Women’s Stretch Class with Leah
Friedman; “The Inquisition Prelude to the Holocaust,”
presented by Prof. Rifka Cook, and chair yoga with Julie
Rosenheim. In August we again had Meish Goldish who
presented Jewish Broadway Connections. Thanks to the
presenters and the participants.
GOOD & WELFARE
At this time, we have not restarted Kiddushes or Seudat
Shlisheet, but we have started sponsoring the Weekly
Programming at the Shul. Thanks to the Kats and Zaretsky
families for sponsoring. If you would like to sponsor, please
contact the office.
Mazal Tov to: Dinora Ingberman & Larry Biel
on the birth of a granddaughter, Hadassa, born
to Jacob and Miriam Rivka Valabov...Jeff &
Sandy Cagan on the marriage of their son
Bryan to Samantha Greenberg....Danny &
Adina Torchman on the birth of a
granddaughter Noya Miriam, to Ben & Adi in
Israel...Dr. Susan & Shabsa Lis on the
marriage of their daughter...Evelyne Sternfeld on the birth of
a great granddaughter, Rochel Leah Rosenberg, and on the
Bat Mitzvah of her great-granddaughter...Cookie Goldrich
on the birth of a great-granddaughter...Natalie & Oleg
Meerovich on the birth of a granddaughter....Drs. Steve &
Teri Steinberg on the birth of a grandson, Avraham David
Zysman....Bob & Sheryl Greenstein on the birth of a
grandson, born to David & Dr. Liz Greenstein.
Mark a special occasion, milestone or memory with
a leaf, acorn or foundation stone on our Etty Rubinow Tree
of Life! Forms are online or in the Shul.
Refua Shleima to: Bella Perlman, Alvin J. Goodman, Alan
Slodki.
Condolences to: Cookie Goldrich on the passing of her son
Mark Orloff...Evelyne Sternfeld on the loss of her sister,
Mary Berger...the friends of Kalman Segal (also known as
Andrew Allen) and Kathleen Evans.
Brief Laws of the Month of Tishrei - 2020 / 5781
On Rosh Hashana night after we come home from
shul we make Kiddush with Shehechiyanu. After hamotzi,
many have the custom to eat an apple dipped in honey, as well
as other symbolic foods. Please note that despite what the
Machzor says, it is proper to make the bracha Ha'eitz on dates
(or pomegranates if you don't eat dates) and eat them before
eating the apple dipped in honey.
As Rosh Hashana is the beginning of our Judgement,
we start davening early as we add special prayers describing
G-d as King. In the morning we read in the Torah about G-d
remembering Sarah and in the haftorah how He remembered
Chana (mother of the prophet Samuel) hoping that G-d will
remember us for good. Becuase it is Shabbat we do not blow
the Shofar until the second day. In the special Mussaf we
mention Biblical verses accepting G-d as
King, about G-d remembering people for
good, and about Shofar blasts. After
Shul we have Yom Tov meals at home.
Shabbat afternoon we daven
Mincha and Maariv. Candle lighting is
not before 7:34 pm, which is the earliest
time to prepare and warm food for that
night's meal. Recite the mini-Havdala “Baruch Hamavdil
Bein Kodesh L’chol” at that time then light candles.
Remember to transfer the fire from an existing flame; and let
that candle burn out by itself, as we may not extinguish
flames on Yom Tov. We do recite Shehechiyanu at candle
lighting and in the special Kiddush that includes Havdala
(known by the Talmudic acronym YaKNeHaZ) and all
Siddurim include it. It is preferable to use clear,
incandescent light bulbs in your room as the candle for
Havdala. One should not light a havdala candle because we
are not permitted to blow it out on Yom Tov. If you don’t
have clear incandescent bulbs, hold 2 regular candles
together for Havdala and then set them in holders to burn out
by themselves. Some have a custom to have a new fruit for
the second night because of the “Shehechiyanu.” The
second day is like the first, except we read about the Binding
of Yitzchak (Akeidah) and we blow the Shofar. For those
who have the custom to say Tashlich at a body of water, they
may do so on Sunday (it is not recited on Shabbat).
During the 10 Days of Repentance culminating
with Yom Kippur we repent for our actions from the
previous year, commit to not repeating them, and do as many
good deeds and give as much Tzedaka as possible. We also
make several changes to Shmone Esray.
TZOM GEDALIA is Monday September 21. The Fast
begins at 5:14 am and ends at 7:20 pm. This day
commemorates the assasination of Governor Gedalia and this
was an event that contributed to the destruction of the Beit
Hamikdash.
On Erev Yom Kippur (9/27) we have a mitzvah to
eat, in order to strengthen ourselves for the fast. We daven
Mincha early with the Viduy confession, as Rambam says
one may choke while eating out of the fear and dread of Yom
Kippur. We gather at Shul before sunset for Kol Nidrei. On
Yom Kippur we abstain from eating, drinking, wearing
leather shoes, using lotions, creams, ointments or perfumes,
washing past the knuckle, and marital relations. After Yom
Kippur we make Havdala over wine, candle and the last
bracha of Havdala.
After breaking our fast there is a custom to
immediately do more mitzvot, so some begin building their
Sukkah, or at least gathering its pieces.
Sukkot has two special mitzvot associated with it -
the Four species (Lulav, Etrog, Hadas, Arava) and eating in
the Sukkah. The Lulav is the tallest of the species; we hold
it in our right hand with its spine (the darker green vertical
line) towards us, with the three hadasim on the right (as we
look at the lulav) and the two aravot on the left.
On the first night of Sukkot, we make Kiddush, the
bracha “Leisheiv Basukkah,” then Shehichaynu. While we
are exempt from eating in a Sukkah in the rain, on the first
night there is a special mitzvah to eat in the Sukkah and if it
rains we wait out the storm, even until midnight. (Remember
Yaaleh Veyavo in Birkat Hamazon.)
The first day we make kiddush, leisheiv basukah,
wash, hamotzi and eat a Yom Tov meal. During Sukkot
whenever we eat any mezonos or hamotzi food in the Sukkah
we make the Bracha “Leishev Basukkah.”
The second night we may not light candles or prepare
for that night's meal before 7:10 pm. (See directions about the
special Yaknehaz Kiddush & Havdala above from the 2nd
night of Rosh Hashana), then shehechiyanu, then Leisheiv
Basukah (different than the first night) and have a Yom Tov
meal.
During Sukkot G-d decides how much rain we will
have for the year (which will water the crops, ensuring our
food needs are met). In the Beit Hamikdash, there was a
special water-drawing ceremony called the Simchat Beit
Hasho'eivah, which was the most joyous ceremony all year in
the Beit Hamikdash. In our community we find some Simchat
Beit Hasho’eivas with music and dancing to commemorate
that.
(Many books with the Laws of Yom Tov [like
cooking] and Chol Hamoed, and the Lulav may be found in
the Malamud Reference Library.)
The last day of Sukkot is Hoshana Rabbah, which is
an important day according to the Kabbalah, as in the Beit
Hamikdash they performed a special, lengthy ceremony, and
our prayers that day, as well as beating the Hoshana bundle,
are to commemorate that special service.
Friday night October 9th begins Shmini Atzeret, a
distinct holiday from Sukkot, and therefore we do make
Shehechiyanu at candle lighting and in
Kiddush. However, outside Israel we are
required to eat in the Sukkah on Shmini Atzeret
but we do not make the bracha Leishev
Basukkah. On Shabbat morning we recite
Yizkor. Later in the afternoon, before Mincha,
we make a special prayer when we leave the
Sukkah after eating in it for the final time.
The final day is called Simchat Torah. It is the day
we complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah, and begin
it again. Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik's grandfather taught that
our joy comes from starting the Torah again with new depth
and insight, not from finishing the Torah. On Saturday night
we have seven (socially-distanced) Hakafot (circling the
Bimah) where we dance joyfully with the Torahs which we
repeat the next morning, along with all males above Bar
Mitzva receiving an aliya, (and we will see how we can have
the traditional special aliya for all children). We finish the
Torah, begin it again, and finish davening.
 SHABBAT & HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Date Candle Lighting Erev Mincha Shacharit Mincha

Ki Tetzei 8/28-8/29 7:10 pm 7:00 pm 8:45 am 7:00 pm
Ki Tavo 9/4-9/5 6:59 pm 7:00 pm 8:45 am 6:50 pm
Nitzavim-Vayelech 9/11-9/12 6:46 pm 6:50 pm 8:45 am 6:35 pm
1st Day Rosh Hashana 9/18-9/19 6:34 pm 6:35 pm 8:30 am 6:30 pm
2nd Day Rosh Hashana 9/19-9/20 7:34 pm 6:30 pm 8:30 am 6:30 pm
Haazinu (Shuva) 9/25-9/26 6:22 pm 6:25 pm 8:45 am 6:10 pm
Yom Kippur 9/27-9/28 6:18 pm Mincha 2:30 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Kol Nidrei 6:20 Yizkor
1st Day Sukkot 10/2-10/3 6:10 pm 6:15 pm 8:45 am 6:05 pm
2nd Day Sukkot 10/3-10/4 7:10 pm 6:05 pm 8:45 am 6:05 pm
Shmini Atzeret 10/9-10/10 5:56 pm 6:00 pm 8:45 am 5:55 pm
Yizkor
Simchat Torah 10/10-10/11 6:57 pm 5:55 pm 8:45 am 5:55 pm
Breishit 10/16-10/17 5:47 pm 5:50 pm 8:45 am 5:35 pm
Noach 10/23/10/24 5:36 pm 5:40 pm 8:45 am 5:25 pm
Lech Lecha 10/30-10/31 5:27 pm 5:30 pm 8:45 am 5:15 pm
If you have a chiyuv - obligation to daven or require an Aliya, please inform Rabbi Lazovsky before Shabbat.

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE
Minyan Times Classes
Minyanim meet in the Kaufman Bais
Midrash Sunday Morning at 11:00 am: Parsha Class in
the Weekly Sedra. Given by Rabbi Moshe
Shacharit Solveichik on Zoom & on our Facebook Page
Sunday: 8:00 am Fb.me/KesserMaariv
Monday-Friday: 6:00 am
Wednesdays after Maariv: Talmud Shiur studying Gemara Brachot
(9th Chapter) given by Rabbi Ben Zion on Zoom
Mincha-Maariv
Sunday Thursday: 10 minutes before Shabbat afternoon: Due to Corona, we will not have Shiur before
sundown Mincha. We will learn in between Mincha and Maariv.
_________________________________
Selichot are September 12 at 11:00 pm at the For more learning opportunities, contact Rabbis B. or E. Lazovsky
Shul and on Zoom.

Malamud Reference Library - Come and Learn from any of the hundreds of titles in our library.
Lending Library Members may borrow books from our Lending Library, located on the south side of the Social Hall.
Tape Lending Library We have tapes and digital audio files on many topics including Chumash, Talmud and Mussar.
 MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
KM NEW YEAR GREETING ORDER FORM
LULAV SET ORDER FORM

On behalf of the Board of Directors, President Steven Goldrich and Rabbi Louis Lazovsky, we are proud to invite
you to join us for our High Holiday 5781 Services this year, beginning with Selichot on Saturday evening,
September 12th. Rosh Hashana begins Friday night, September 18th. We are committed to having a safe, indoor,
socially-distanced services for the High Holidays. This will include having assigned seats.
Membership & Ticket Rates Family (2 tickets) Single (1 ticket) Additional Seat Dependent Child
Membership $1,100 $550 $200 $75
First Time Good Neighbor Tickets $500 $275 $200 $75
Tickets Only, no membership $550 $200
Friend of Kesser Maariv (no tickets or membership) $200
To serve you better, we accept payments of $500 and above by Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express.

Rabbi Ben Zion Lazovsky at (847) 679-9800 bhhkmal@yahoo.com or Judy Whisler at (847) 677-2281
j5awhisler@aol.com will be happy to help accommodate you and give more information about membership.

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G My membership is enclosed. Short survey about your seat needs: https://forms.gle/UcdodHKko1r7Mcvh6

Number of Men's Seats: ________ Number of Women's Seats: _______

Number of Boys’ Seats: ________ Number of Girls’ Seats: _________

G I would like to order _____ Lulav sets sets at $50/member or $55/non-member

G Please include us on the KM New Year greeting card. $26 per family.

Please sign our name as follows: ________________________________

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Name: _______________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________

City, State & Zip Code: _________________________________________ Phone : __________________

E-mail: _______________________________________ and __________________________________________

---------------------------- For Credit Card Payments: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I authorize Kesser Maariv to charge my __________ card.

Name on Card_______________________ Amount to be charged: ________________

Card # _________-_________-_________-_________ Exp: ____ ____ 3-digit Security Code:__________

Signed _____________________________ Date _________