August 26, 2011 Parashat Re’eh
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
September 10th
September 25th
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: Re’eh
Candle Lighting: 7:09pm
Shabbat Ends: 8:11pm
Torah Message
The Apprentice
“You are children to Hashem, your G-d and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person.” (14:1)
Once there was a prince who was sent by his father the king to a distant village. The king wished him to learn there the ways of kingship. The prince spent many years in the village. Finally the king was satisfied that his son had extracted the maximum from his experience, and he summoned the prince to return to the palace. After his departure, the villagers eyes filled with tears and they sat down and cried. There was one villager amongst them, however, who was amazed at their behavior. “Why are you crying?” he said, “Is he not the kings son? Has he not returned to the palace?”
The soul in this world is like a prince fulfilling an apprenticeship in a distant village.
We are here solely to learn the ways of the King. In this world, we are clothed with a physical existence. However, our entire focus and desire must be to return to the palace.
The Torah forbids us make a bald spot between our eyes to grieve for a dead person as was the custom of idol worship. Interestingly, in that same place in the Torah we are commanded to place the totafot, the tefillin on the head. The Torah teaches us that when wearing the tefillin we must never remove our concentration from them. Similarly, we must never remove our focus from the purpose of this world, and turn the place of the tefillin into a bald and empty space by grieving too much for someone who has returned to the palace.
We must not mutilate our bodies in grief, for the body is no more than our clothing. It is not us. This physical world must never divert us from our apprenticeship in this world, whether though pleasure or through grief. The entire purpose of this world and our existence here is to be able to return to the world of truth having perfected ourselves.
If we remember this we will always be happy. For all lifes vicissitudes will be seen as no more than part of our apprenticeship.
Source:
- Sfat Emet
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.
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!
Mazal Tov
Em Habanim Congregation:
Mazal Tov to the Cohen Family on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Eli.
Get Well Soon
We wish a speedy recovery for all the Jews that may need it where ever they may be and especially for:
Em Habanim:
Max Barchichat
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
Em Habanim Congregation:
Our condolences to Emile Perez and his family on the passing of his wife Raquel Perez Z’L, we share the sorrow with the grieving family.
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