SEPTEMBER 23 2011, NITZAVIM VAYELECH
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
September 25th
SOLD OUT!!!!!!
October 16th
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: Nitzavim-Vayelech
Candle Lighting: 6:32pm
Shabbat Ends: 7:25pm
Torah Message
How’s Your Standing?
"You are standing today, all of you, before G-d…" (29:9)
Parking a car in downtown Jerusalem has become something a nightmare. There was one fellow who had his own ingenious solution. After driving round the block a couple of times, he would pull up to a curb with red stripes. Getting out of the car, he would reach for his trusty can of black spray-paint, and proceed to spray out the red stripes the entire length of his car.
How much of the time do we do just that in our relationship with G-d?
How much of the time do we try and alter the rules to suit ourselves and our own ideas of right and wrong?
Rosh Hashana is a time to come clean, to clean off the spray paint from the sidewalks of our lives.
Before we get more than a ticket.
Fearing G-d is out of fashion right now. It’s acceptable to be in awe of His Majesty, to sit on the top of a mountain and commune with Beyond. But fearing? Come on, God’s a nice God. He won’treally punish me for speaking lashon hara or for adjusting my income tax a little. All that punishment stuff is really for kids anyway. Why do I need something so crass as fear when I haveawe?!
There can be no true awe without real fear.
The essence of fearing God is to accustom ourselves to be aware that He is watching us all the time; that He knows what we are thinking; that He sees every move we make – every move that we don’t make but would like to.
If there is a time in the day when we visualize standing in front of the Creator more than any other, it is during the Amida prayer that we say three times daily. (Amida, quite literally means, "standing.") If there is a day in the year when we try to visualize standing in front of the Creator more than any other, it is Rosh Hashana.
Rosh Hashana, a day that should strike fear into our hearts, "…who will live, and who will die …who by water, and who by fire." Who in a bus, and who in a restaurant…
Rosh Hashana is a time to come clean, to clean off the spray paint from the sidewalks of our lives.
Before we get more than a ticket.
- Source: Story heard from Rabbi Dov Brezak
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.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed for mitzvot ofHessed including Bikur Holim . Pleasecall the office (818) 762-7779 to inform of your availability. Thank you
Sephardic Temple:
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:
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
September 16th, 2011 Ki Tavo
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
September 25th
October 16th
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: Ki Tavo
Candle Lighting: 6:42pm
Shabbat Ends: 7:35pm
Torah Message
613 Problems
"…I have removed the holy things from the house…" (26:13)
We can keep the Torah in two different ways: We can fit the Torah into our lives, or we can fit our lives into the Torah.
The first way involves seeking out as many leniencies as possible so the mitzvot don’t interfere with our lives too much. Or we can look at the mitzvot as life itself – "For they are your life."
Everyone would agree that the better we keep the mitzvot in this world, the bigger will be our share in the future world. That’s only fair. But the truth is that a person who fits his life into the mitzvot, rather than fits the mitzvot into his life, has it better not only over there but over here too.
The Talmud relates the following story: "Rabba bar Chana and Rebbe Yochanan taught in the name of Rebbe Yehuda bar Ilai: ‘Observe the difference between the former generations and ours! The former generations brought in their produce through the front gates because they wanted to separate the tithes, whereas the later generations brought their produce through the gardens, yards, and skylights that do not lead to the front of the house, in order to evade the obligation to give tithes. (A person need only tithe if the produce is brought through the front entrance.) What is the result? The produce is no longer blessed’."
When the Jewish People deliberately obligated themselves to separate tithes by bringing the fruit in through the front entrance, they had a delicious aroma and succulent taste. However, when they avoided giving those tithes, even though what they did was perfectly legitimate, they diminished the taste of this world as well as the next.
You can look at the Torah as 613 problems or 613 ways to be connected to G-d. For nothing tastes as sweet as a mitzvah, neither in this next world nor in this one.
- Source: Berachot 35; Midrash Hagadol 26:15
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.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed for mitzvot ofHessed including Bikur Holim . Pleasecall the office (818) 762-7779 to inform of your availability. Thank you
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:
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
ROSH HASHANA LIVE
Sun. Sep. 25th, 2011
Ages 7-12 (Tikvah & Aviv)
TEEN SUKKAH PARTY
Sun. Oct. 16, 2011
Ages 13-18 (Mitzvah & Haverim)
KIDS SUKKAH PARTY
Sun. Oct. 16th, 2011
Ages 7-12 (Tikvah & Aviv)
KNOTT’S SCARY FARM
Sat. Night Oct. 29, 2011
Ages 13-18 (Mitzvah & Haverim)
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES
September 9th, 2011 Ki-Tetze
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
September 25th
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: KI-Tetze
Candle Lighting: 6:50pm
Shabbat Ends: 7:52pm
Torah Message
The Spice Of Life
"…and he wrote her a bill of divorce…" (24:1)
Nothing is sadder than a family break-up.
Divorce is the scourge of our modern world. American statistics show 50% of first marriages end in divorce, and the figures become more depressing for each successive marriage, with 65% of second marriages ending in divorce and even higher rates for third marriages and beyond. Between 3.6 to 5% of marriages break up every year, which means that a large portion of adults personally experience divorce at some point in their lives.
In many communities, pre-nuptial agreements are par for the course as more and more couples enter marriage with fewer and fewer expectations.
The Torah acknowledges that not all marriages will be successful.
It gives us the mitzvah of "gerushin", divorce, in such an unhappy event. "Till death us do part…" is not a Jewish idea. However, divorce while being a mitzvah is no source for joy. The Talmud says that when a couple gets divorced, the mizbe’ach, the holy altar, weeps.
How are we to understand this idea, that the mizbeach " weeps"?
Nothing in Judaism is merely poetic. And why should specifically the mizbe’ach weep? Why not the Tablets of the Covenant? Why not the husband’s tefillin? Why not the wife’s Shabbat candelabra – her sheitel?
Probably the greatest cause of marital disharmony is misunderstanding the purpose of marriage. The secular paradigm, enshrined in every fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm to the Brothers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is that the princess finds everything she wants in her Prince Charming, and he finds everything he wants in her: Beauty, poise, intelligence, money, someone who puts the top on the toothpaste – everything!
Marriage is not about finding someone to fulfill you. It’s about finding someone you can fulfill.
Marriage is a machine for giving – that’s all it is. Marriage is about living the principle that you arenot the center of the world. In the Book of Genesisthe Torah says, "It is not good for man to live alone." When you live alone, you only have one person to give to – yours truly. The world revolves around you. You are the center of the universe.
The mizbe’ach is the place when man ‘gives’ to G-d. Man gives of his best and offers it to his Creator. The word ‘korban’ (woefully inadequately translated as ‘sacrifice’, comes from the root ‘closeness’.) When you give, you become close. When you take, you distance yourself.
The Torah tells us that no korban could be offered without the presence of salt on the mizbe’ach.Salt is the archetypal giver. Salt has only one purpose – to give taste to something else. By itself it is nothing. When a person sees himself as "salt", when he sees the whole purpose of his existence is to give, he has added the vital ingredient to his marriage.
He has added the spice of life.
- Source: Rabbi C. Z. Senter
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:
Mazal Tov to the Abakasis Family on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Dylan. May Hashem Bless him and guide him in the path of Torah.
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
September 2, 2011 Shoftim
S.T.A.R. News & Events
Here are S.T.A.R.’s upcoming exciting events:
September 10th
September 25th
This Shabbat
Shabbat Parashat: Shoftim
Candle Lighting: 7:01pm
Shabbat Ends: 7:55pm
Torah Message
The Last Scene
“When you go out to the battle to meet your enemy… the officers shall speak to the people, saying: ‘Who is the man who has built a new house and not inaugurated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war and another man will inaugurate it… Who is the man who is fearful and fainthearted, let him go and return to his house, and let him not melt the heart of his fellows like his heart’.” (20:1-8)
The Yiddish Theater was not known for its championing of Torah values and so it was not surprising when two students came running to the Brisker Rav, breathless with indignation: “Does the Rav know about the new play the Yiddish theater has put on? The people associated with it should all be put in cherem (excommunication)! They’ve made a satire on the Torah!
First, one of the actors says “Who is the man who has built a new house and not inaugurated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war and another man will inaugurate it.” So, ten people get up and walk off the stage. Then he says “And who is the man who has planted a vineyard and not redeemed it? Let him go home lest he die and another man redeem it.” So, another ten people get up and leave the stage. Then he says “And who is the man who has betrothed a woman and not married her? Let him go home lest he die in the war and another man marry her.” So, another twenty people get up and walk off the stage. And then he says “Whoever is afraid, let him go home so he won’t scare everyone else.” So noweveryone leaves the stage except two actors who play the Vilna Gaon and the Sha’agas Ariyeh. The Vilna Gaon says to the Sha’agas Ariyeh “K’vod HaRav, you take the first shot,” and the Sha’agas Arieh replies “No, no, I insist. After you.” As they argue about who’s going to start the war, the curtain falls and the audience laughs and claps. It’s terrible!”
The Brisker Rav paused and then said:
“Well – what’s wrong with that?”
The jaws of the students dropped. They gazed at their Rav dumb-struck.
The Brisker Rav continued, “The only thing they forgot is the last scene.”
“What last scene?”
“The last scene is where the Vilna Gaon and the Sha’agas Ariyeh win the war.”
The strength of the Jewish people is not in the vastness of its numbers nor its military might. The Torah calls us the “smallest of the nations.”
Our strength is a function of our righteousness and our faithfulness to G-d the “Master of Wars.”
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!
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
View Past Issues
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.
View Past Issues
TEEN LATE NIGHT
Sat. Sept. 10th, 2011
Ages 13-18 (Mitzvah & Haverim)