Parshat Shelach

Torah Artscroll, 798 Hertz, 623 Haftorah Artscroll, 1184 Hertz, 635
BAR MITZVAH JONATHAN SHAVOLIAN Mevorchim Chodesh Tamuz Rosh Chodesh Wed. June 20 and Thurs. June 21 Molad Tues. June 19, 11:45:5 am Our sedra ends with one of the great commands of Judaism - tsitsit, the fringes we wear on the corner of our garments as a perennial reminder of our identity as Jews and our obligation to keep the Torahs commands: G-d spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments for all generations. Let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe: look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them, so that you do not stray after your heart and eyes which in the past have led you to immorality. You will thus remember and keep all my commandments and be holy to your G-d. So central is this command, that it became the third paragraph of the Shema, the supreme declaration of Jewish faith. I once heard the following commentary from my teacher, Rabbi Dr Nahum Rabinovitch. He began by pointing out some of the strange features of the command. On the one hand the sages said that the command of tsitsit is equal to all the other commands together, as it is said: Look at it

June 16, 2012 26 Sivan, 5772

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshat Shelach

and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them. It is thus of fundamental significance. On the other hand, it is not absolutely obligatory. It is possible to avoid the command of fringes altogether by never wearing a garment of four or more corners. Maimonides rules: Even though one is not obligated to acquire a [fourcornered] robe and wrap oneself in it in order to [fulfil the command of] tsitsit, it is not fitting for a pious individual to exempt himself from this command (Laws of Tsitsit, 3: 11). It is important and praiseworthy but not categorical. It is conditional: if you have such a garment, then you must put fringes on it. Why so? Surely it should be obligatory, in the way that tefillin (phylacteries) are. There is another unusual phenomenon. In the course of time, the custom has evolved to fulfil the command in two quite different ways: the first, in the form of a tallit (robe, shawl) which is wornover our other clothes, specifically while we pray; the second in the form of an undergarment, worn beneath our outer clothing throughout the day. Not only do we keep the one command in two different ways. We also make different blessings over the two forms. Over the tallit, we say: who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to wrap ourselves in a fringed garment. Over the undergarment, we say, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the precept of the fringed garment. Why is one command split into two in this way? He gave this answer: there are two kinds of clothing. There are the clothes we wear to project an image. A king, a judge, a soldier, all wear clothing that conceals the individual and instead proclaims a role, an office, a rank. As such, clothes, especially uniforms, can be misleading. A king dressed as a beggar will not (or would not, before television) be recognised as royalty. A beggar dressed as a king may find himself honoured. A policeman dressed as a policeman carries with him a certain authority, an aura of power, even though he may feel nervous and insecure. Clothes disguise. They are like a mask. They hide the person beneath. Such are the clothes we wear in public when we want to create a certain impression. But there are other clothes we wear when we are alone, that may convey more powerfully than anything else the kind of person we really are: the artist in his studio, the writer at his desk, the gardener tending the roses. They do not dress to create an impression. To the

Times Candle Lighting Friday Mincha Hashkama Parsha Shiur Main Minyan Beit Midrash Teen Minyan Gemorah Shiur Mincha Shabbat Ends Sunday June 17 Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs. Mincha Latest Times for Shema/ Shmoneh Esrei June 16 June 23 9:10/10:26 am 9:11/10:27 am Next Shabbat Korach Candle Lighting Mincha 8:13 pm 7:00 pm 8:12 pm 7:00 pm 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 9:30 am 7:05 pm 8:05 pm 9:19 pm 7:30/8:30 am 6:35/7:45 am 6:45/7:45 am 6:30/7:45 am 8:10 pm

Kiddush & Bima Flowers are sponsored by Roya & Ben Shavolian in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Jonathan.

Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Charlotte & Perry Schneider in honor of The recent wedding of their daughter Lauren to Sam Flaks.

26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 contrary: they dress as they do because of what they are, not because of what they wish to seem. The two kinds of tsitsit represent these different forms of dress. When we engage in prayer, we sense in our heart how unworthy we may be of the high demands G-d has made of us. We feel the need to come before G-d as something more than just ourselves. We wrap ourselves in the robe, the tallit, the great symbol of the Jewish people at prayer. We conceal our individuality in the language of the blessing over the tallit, we wrap ourselves in a fringed garment. It is as if we were saying to G-d: I may only be a beggar, but I am wearing a royal robe, the robe of your people Israel who prayed to You throughout the centuries, to whom You showed a special love and took as Your own. The tallit hides the person we are and represents the person we would like to be, because in prayer we ask G-d to judge us, not for what we are, but for what we wish to be. The deeper symbolism of tsitsit, however, is that it represents the commandments as a whole (look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord) and these becomes part of what and who we are only when we accept them without coercion, of our own free will. That is why the command of tsitsit is not categorical. We do not have to keep it. We are not obligated to buy a four-cornered garment. When we do so, it is because we chose to do so. We obligate ourselves. That is why opting to wear tsitsit symbolises the free acceptance of all the duties of Jewish life. This is the most inward, intimate, intensely personal aspect of faith whereby in our innermost soul we dedicate ourselves to G-d and His commands. There is nothing public about this. It is not for outer show. It is who we are when we are alone, not trying to impress anyone, not wishing to seem what we are not. This is the command of tsitsit as undergarment, beneath, not on top of, our clothing. Over this we make a different blessing. We do not talk about wrapping ourselves in a fringed garment because this form of fringes is not for outward show. We are not trying to hide ourselves beneath a uniform. Instead, we are expressing our innermost commitment to G-ds word and call to us. Over this we say the blessing, who has commanded us concerning the precept of tsitsit because what matters is not the mask but the reality, not what we wish to seem but what we really are. In this striking way tsitsit represent the dual nature of Judaism. On the one hand it is a way of life that is public, communal, shared with others across the world and through the ages. We keep Shabbat, celebrate the festivals, observe the dietary laws and the laws of family purity in a way that has hardly varied for many centuries. That is the public face of Judaism the tallit we wear, the cloak woven out of the 613 threads, each a command. But there is also our inner life as people of faith. There are things we can say to G-d that we can say to no one

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Shelach 5772 else. He knows our thoughts, hopes, fears, better than we know them ourselves. We speak to Him in the privacy of the soul, and He listens. That internal conversation the opening of our heart to Him who brought us into existence in love is not for public show. Like the fringed undergarment, it stays hidden. But it is no less real an aspect of Jewish spirituality. The two types of fringed garment represent the two dimensions of the life of faith the outer persona and the inner person, the image we present to the world and the face we show only to G-d

Town of North Hempstead Office of Sustainability The Town of North Hempstead is proud to partner with every resident that shares our vision for a more sustainable town. - Town of North Hempstead Residents Only - One Composter per household - Residents must take class to qualify for composter

$50.00 fee must be paid by check made out to The Town of North Hempstead Product Size: H 30.5" x W 25.5" x D 20.25" Weight: 19 lbs (9kg) Great Neck Synagogue, 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck Monday June 18th 7:30 PM Name: ___________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________ Check Number: ___________________________________ Today, the use of composting to turn organic wastes into a valuable resource is expanding rapidly in the United States. It is the way to recycle yard and kitchen waste, and is a critical step in reducing the volume of garbage needlessly sent to landfills for disposal. The Town of North Hempstead purchased composters with a retail value of $150.00 and charged the residents the nominal fee of $50.00 including a composting class at the Clark Botanic Gardens Facility. . ************************************************************ ** Rain barrels capture and save rain water to help homeowners fight the exponentially rising cost of water and sewer. A single rain barrel can save as much as 1,800 gallons during extended summer season in New York. Rain barrels protect our water supplies by reducing storm water runoff, which can contain pollutants like sediment, oil, grease, bacteria and harmful nutrients. You may not realize that storm water isnt treated after it leaves you yard. That means if you live north of the LIE the water may land up in Hempstead Harbor or Manhasset Bay. Criteria - Town of North Hempstead Residents Only

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

- One Rain Barrel per household - Residents must take class to qualify for Rain Barrel

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Intern Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Mark Twersky, Executive Director Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Dr. Scott Danoff, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

- $50.00 fee must be paid by check made out to The Town of North Hempstead Product Size: 31 inches high x 23 inches wide x 22 inches deep; 19 lbs. Great Neck Synagogue 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck Monday June 18th 7:00 PM Name: ___________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________ Check Number: ___________________________________

GreatNeckSynagogueAnnualFamilyLuncheon EstablishedInMemoryofSharonSokolHeislerzl Saturday,June16,2012 GuestSpeaker: JohnPodhoretz Editor,CommentaryMagazine

$42perperson $20perchild(under12) (Nochargeforchildrenunder3)

GNSYouthBashandGrandRaffle aretakingplaceatthesametimeintheBraunYouthCenter

TheLuncheonwillbetakingplaceattheWomensClub Reservationslimitedto200guests Forreservationspleasecalloremail MarkTwersky(516)4876100 Email:mtwersky@gns.org

NAME________________________ No.ofadults_________ No.ofchildrenunder12_______ No.ofchildrenunder3_________ Seatingrequest________________ Amountenclosed____________

GNSJuneChesedProject OhelandCampKaylie areingreatneedofnewandgently usedsportsequipment. Theequipmentwillbeutilizedfor specialneedsprogramsandafterschoolprograms. PleasedropoffyourdonationsonJune21,46P.M. orJune24,910:30A.M.atthehomeof SusieandDavidGoldman, 46NorthCloverDr. OronJune27,78:30P.M.atGNS anyquestionspleasefeelfreetocall: SusieGoldmanat5164569386.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
SUNDAY BREAKFAST The Breakfast is sponsored by Janice & Michael Raitzin in memory of his father Reuven Raitzin,zl. GNS ANNUAL LUNCHEON ( Deadline Tuesday June 12) GNS Annual Family Luncheon Established Memory of Sharon Sokol Heisler zl, Saturday, June 16, Guest Speaker: John Podhoretz, Editor, Commentary Magazine. $42 per person, $20 per child (under 12) (No charge for children under 3), GNS Youth Bash and Grand Raffle are taking place at the same time in the Braun Youth Center. The Luncheon will be taking place at the Womens Club. Reservations are limited For reservations please call or e-mail Mark Twersky (516) 487-6100 or mtwersky@gns.org. See page three. GNS JUNE CHESED PROJECT Ohel and Camp Kaylie are in great need of new and gently used sports equipment. Please drop off your donations on June 21, 4-6 pm or June 24, 9-10:30 am at the home of Susie and David Goldman, 46 North Clover Dr. Or June 27, 7-8:30 pm at GNS. Any questions, please feel free to call: Susie Goldman at 516-456-9386

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

Mazal Tov to Roya & Ben Shavolian on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Jonathan. Mazal Tov to Ronni and Lou Davidowitz on the birth of a grandson born to their children Aron & Talya Davidowitz. Mazal Tov to Lisa & Michael Aryeh and Trudy & David Justin on the upcoming marriage of their children Isaac & Brandel. Mazal Tov also to grandparents Mahin Aryeh and Kitty & Zoltan Justin. Mazal Tov to Laura & Errol Uhr on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Jenna. Mazal Tov to Susan Mayer on the birth of a granddaughter, Shlomit Chaya, (Sadie Hannah) born to her children, Debbie & Mark Klinger. Mazal Tov to Dassie & Eddy Barth on the birth of a grandson born to their children Talya & David Stein. Mazal Tov to Doreen & George Zobel and Lauren & Asher Abesera on being honored at the Chabad of GN Dinner. Mazal Tov to Esther & Jacob Ambalu on the upcoming marriage of their son Oren to Naomi Izmailov, daughter of Roman & Naira Izmailov Mazal Tov to Ariela Perlman, who was recently mentioned in a CNN feature story, for her extensive work teaching literacy to Aesha (an Afghan refugee who was featured on the cover of TIME magazine). The story can be found at http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/05/world/saving.aesha/? hpt=hp_c1. Mazal Tov also to her mother Sharyn Perlman and grandmother Pearl Ginsburg.

GNS MENS CLUB Sunday, July 1st at 9:00 am GOING FISHING (again!) The whole family is invited to have a wonderful, exciting morning on board the Capt. Pete, leaving from Freeport, Long Island at 9:00 am. The cost, which includes breakfast and lunch, is $48 per adult, $36 for children under 12 (First 6 kids under 12 free with paying adult1 per family). Limited space. Please call Steve Blumner 639-8941, Mark Friedman 482-1062 or Hilly Milun 448-4890 ASAP. Sunday, July 8th at 10:00 am - We are pleased to announce that Congressman Steve Israel will be our guest speaker at the Sunday morning talk. All welcome. As that day is a fast day there will be no refreshments served.

COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS

JORDAN BLATTER 4-MILE CELEBRATE ISRAEL RUN Way to go!!! Jordan Blatter completed the 4-mile Celebrate Israel Run in Central Park this past Sunday in 32 min, 46. He ran as part of his bar mitzvah chesed project, in order to raise funds for Jewish Heart for Africa, an organization which provides Israeli solar technology to villages in Africa. To learn more about this worthy cause and/or to make a donation in honor of Jordan's upcoming Bar Mitzvah, please visit his website at http://jhasol.org/jordan.

SISTERHOOD TRIP: MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY Women, men and children are invited to join us on a one-day trip to Philadelphia to visit the National Museum of American Jewish History on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Cost is $72 per person which includes: lunch, Docent-led tour and Coach bus. Additional details to follow. Thank you to Brenda Parver for organizing this exciting trip. JEWISH PRESS OFFER The Jewish Press has the following offer. For every member of GNS who signs up for a 1 year subscription (for $30 a 40% discount), the Jewish Press will send GNS a $30 gift certificate from Artscroll Publishing. This offer is only for new subscribers or anyone who hasn't subscribed for at least a year. You get a subscription to Jewish Press and the shul is able to purchase seforim. If you are interested please email mtwersky@gns.org or call the shul office. GNS TALMUD TORAH Registration is now open for next years Talmud Torah program. Please contact Rabbi Lichter at ilichter@gns.org for more information.

RAFFLE PRIZES WANTED We are now collecting raffle prizes for the GNS Annual Dinner scheduled for Saturday evening, December 15, 2012. We strongly encourage you to donate credit card points for prizes that can include airline tickets and hotel accommodations. We are also looking for prizes such as time share vacation places, beautiful jewelry, fur, electronics, judaica, gift certificates, internship opportunities, theatre and sports tickets, camp discounts, as well as other prize donations that you might have that will make our dinner extra special! Please submit your raffle prize donations to Mark Twersky at mtwersky@gns.org. Thank you very much!

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 26 Sivan Barry Maher for Javaher MaherAfarin Sunday, 27 Sivan Moosa Ebrahimian for Amin Ebrahimian Mindy Leventhal for Charlotte Scheinnkman Mahin Mardkha for Amin Ebrahimian Mali Meisel for Annie Maultasch Gerald Traub for Mollie Traub Monday, 28 Sivan Herschel Flax for Joshua Pasvolsky Mary F. Flax for Joshua Pasvolsky Jerry Gil for Esther Gil Joseph Gil for Esther Gil Richard Lillien for Sol Engelhard Benjamin Lunzer for Shoshana Lunzer Tuesday, 29 Sivan Myles Mittleman for Phillip Mittleman Wednesday, 30 Sivan Albert Benak for Jacob Benak Kitty Justin for Jolan Nagel Alon Mogilner for Leonard Joseph Mogilner Gerald Nathel for Daniel Nathel Richard Reiser for Freida Reiser Zahava Slonim for Mordechai Kukelkah Thursday, 1 Tammuz George Zobel for Alex Zobel Friday, 2 Tammuz Jacques Aboaf for Albert J. Aboaf Lev Dynkin for Zalman Dynkin Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Jack Shaw Halina Greenwald for Psachje Salpeter