JULY 22, 2011 PARASHAT MATOT
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
August 16-18 Join the STAR teem for an unforgettable Camping trip. Sign up now for the early bird price.
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: MATOT
Candle Lighting: 7:44pm
Shabbat Ends: 8:43pm
Torah Message
Bentley For A Day
"Pens for the flock shall we build here for our livestock and cities for our small children…" (32:16)
Two people. One standing at the counter of ExecuRent-a-Car, the other sitting in Jack Barclay’s, the Rolls Royce/Bentley dealers. Two people about to get their new Bentley Continental GT (price – a mere $210,000 and change). One is taking delivery of his new car. The other is renting for a day.
Which one has the most pleasure from his Bentley, the fellow who’s buying the car, or the one who’s renting?
Even as he takes the car keys from the ExecuRent rep., somewhere in the back of his mind the fellow who’s renting the car has a "Cinderella moment". He knows that in 24 hours he’s going to have to give the car back. The other feels that the car is his. Forever. Well almost forever.
Things bring us pleasure in life to the extent that we perceive we own them.
Which is why physical things never give us that much joy. For in the back of our minds we are aware that we can never hold on to physical things. The Bentley can be stolen. It can break down (Yes! Even Bentleys break down. Shhhh!)
A person is never that happy with physical things because he knows that tomorrow someone else could be living in his house, wearing his suit, driving his Bentley.
When we feel we really own something – that gives us pleasure. And the only things we really own are spiritual things: our mitzvot and our good deeds. Those can never be taken away from us, and therefore they are the only things that ultimately make us happy.
The two tribes of Reuven and Gad asked Moshe if they could receive their portion of the Land of Israel on the eastern bank of the Jordan. This was an ideal place for them, as it was well suited to grazing the large amount of livestock they had acquired. Moshe was concerned that their settling the east bank before conquering the rest of the Land would deal a severe blow to the morale of the Jewish People in the coming confrontation with the nations of the Land. He accused them of forsaking their brothers in a time of need. They explained to Moshe that their intention had never been to settle at this point and go no further rather, they wanted to build "Pens for the flock shall we build here for our livestock and cities for our small children…" After which, each and every one of them would lead the Jewish People in the conquest of the west bank of the Jordan.
Moshe agreed to their proposal and said, "Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for your flock."
Interestingly, Moshe reversed the original order of the sentence. The tribes of Reuven and Gad spoke of the building the animal shelter before that of their children, whereas Moshe spoke first of the children and then of the animals. This was an implicit criticism for being more focused on their property than on their offspring. "Why did you speak of building stables for your cattle before cities for your children? It seems you attach more importance to your possessions than to your children."
In Hebrew, the word for "possessions" is nechasim. The word nechasim is related to the wordmechuseh which means "concealed", for after a person passes from this world he no longer possesses his "possessions", they are concealed from him by being given to someone else. Similarly, the coin known as a zuz derives from the verb lazuz which means "to move", meaning that money is restless. The Hebrew word for money itself mammon is a contraction of "Ma atah moneh?" "What are you counting?" which means "What are you counting – it’s nothing."
Nothing more than a Bentley that’s going to turn into a Pumpkin Continental GT.
- Source: Adapted from Rabbi Noach Orlowek
Rabbi M. Weiss Rabbi Y. Sakhai
Community News
Em Habanim Congregation
Weekly Parashat Hashavua class with Rabbi Joshua Bittan on Wednesdays at 8:30pm for more info. visit www.emhabanim.com
Em Habanim Congregation’s annual banquet will be held on Sunday the 6th of November, 2011. The honored Guests are: Mark Castiel, Andre Chrique and Johnny Elbaz Deckel.
Em Habanim will be celebrating close to 40 years of service to the community.
Yom Kippur services will be held at the Century Plaza Hyatt Regency in Century City. More details will follow.
Tisha BeAv 5771 World Wide event at Em Habanim:
Tuesday Aug. 9th, 2:30-5:30pm
Join the community for an ispiring series of lectures by world renowned Rabbis:
Harav Aaron Lieb Steinman
Harav Shmuel Kaminetsky
Harav Gamliel Rabinowitz
Harav Yaakov Hillel
Harav Yissochor Frand
Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz
Rabbi Eli Mansour
Dr. David Lieberman
Sephardic Temple:
Talmud Torah registration for the new school year 2011/2012 is ongoing throughout the summer!
Mark your calendars:
Saturday, November 5th, 2011 A Gal celebration honoring the 2011 Sephardic Heritage award recipients Mr. Larry Clumeck and Dr. Samuel Newman.
For more info. visit sephardictemple.org
Sunday September, 3rd, 2011 Annual STTI Family picnic Mar Vista Park 10am -3pm Food, Music, Games and Fun!
Get Well Soon
We wish a speedy recovery for all the Jews that may need it where ever they may be and especially for:
From Sephardic Temple:
Al Azus,Buena Angel,
Elaine Leon,Itzchak Rachmanony
From S.T.A.R.:
Mordechai Chaim Ben Chana, Chaim Ben Buena,
Meshulam Dov Ben Chana Sarah
Bracha Eliza Bat Ehteram, Bracha Sara Chaya Bat Ronit
Condolences
We wish the Kletzky family Nachamu Min Hashamayim (Heavenly Comfort) for the loss of their child Leiby Kletzky. May his soul have an Aliya and be bound up in the bond of eternal life. May we never hear of such news again. Amen
Em Habanim Congregation:
Condolences to the Levy family for their loss of their elder: Mr. Salmon Levy Z”L
May his Neshama have an Aliya.