Young Israel of Avenue J Newsletter

Feb. 3, - 18 Shevat, ‫תשע“ח‬

‫פרשת יתרו‬

Shiurim During the Week

Shabbos Schedule

Candle lighting…………...…....….…….…....4:54 pm  Rabbi Braun’s Shiur in T’nach for men & women, Shabbos mornings at 8:30 am. Mincha ...……………………...….…………..5:04 pm  Shiur in Talmud for men, on Shabbos *** afternoons, an hour before Mincha. Rav’s Shiur in T’nach ……….……………...8:30 am Shacharis……………………………….7:15/ 9:00 am ‫………………………… סוף זמן קריאת שמע‬.…9:36 am

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Daf Yomi by R’ Aryeh Victor daily at 9:00 pm.

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Rabbi Braun’s shiur on Minchas Chinuch, for men & women, this week on Monday at 7:10 pm.

Junior Division…………………….…...…...10:00 am

Shiur in Talmud given by Rabbi Braun……3:40 pm  Rabbi Meir Goldwicht’s shiur in Hebrew, for men & women, on Sunday nights at 8:00 pm. Mincha……....…………………..……………4:40 pm

‫סעודה שלישית‬ Maariv…………………………....………..…6:03 pm End of Shabbos…...…………………..……...6:06 pm

Announcements 

Motzei Shabbos Learning Program………..7:00 pm

Mazal Tov to Esther & Norbert Holler upon the engagement of their granddaughter Rikki, daughter of Gail and Terry Novetsky, to Jacob Portes.

New Weekly Hashkafa Chabura & Kumzitzled by our Rabbinic Intern,

Weekday Schedule Feb. 4-9

Rabbi Mattisyahu Monheit, Thursdays at 9 pm in the Library, Starting February 1st. All men, bar-mitzvah age and up, are invited to attend. Please see attached flyer.

Shacharis Sunday ……...…....…………….……….8:00/8:45 am Mon. & Thurs..…...…………....….……6:45/8:00 am Tue. Wed. & Fri………………………..6:55/8:00 am Mincha Sun- Thurs….....…………...……………........5:05 pm

Maariv

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Our third Annual Shalach Manos fundraiser is on its way. Ordering can be done online at yij.happypurim.com , or via or der for ms that were mailed out. For additional information, please contact Rebbetzin Nechama Braun at [email protected].

Sun-Tues…..…..…………………….…5:20/10:00 pm Wed-Thurs..……………………...…….5:23/10:00 pm  Rabbi's Book Club: “My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq”, by Ariel Sabar. (Date TBD). To join, Next Shabbos: please email: [email protected]. All women are invited. Candle Lighting……….…………….……..…5:03 pm Mincha………………………….…….……….5:13 pm  Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Ted Bukowsky for sponsoring this week’s newsletter, in memory of Ted's father, Moshe Ben Tuvia, A"H, whose yahrzeit will be on the 7th day of Adar. Young Israel of Ave. J · 1721 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230. Website: www.YIofJ.org, [email protected] Phone: (718) 338-2056. Social Hall: (718) 253-8130. Rabbi Braun: [email protected], (917) 913 4098

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Young Israel of Avenue J Newsletter

Feb. 3, - 18, Shevat , ‫תשע“ח‬

‫פרשת יתרו‬

Dvar Torah by Rav David Silverberg (http://etzion.org.il/vbm) The opening section of Parashat Yitro tells of the arrival of Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, to the Israelite camp. The Gemara in Masekhet Zevachim (116a) describes this event as Yitro's formal conversion to Judaism ("What news did he hear that he came and converted…"). He did not merely come to visit; he rather came to join the ranks of Am Yisrael and embrace the faith, lifestyle, laws and destiny of the Jewish people. A number of writers have raised the question of how and why Benei Yisrael accepted a convert at this point in their history. As the Rambam mentions in his presentation of the laws of conversion (Hilkhot Issurei Bi'a 13:15), Benei Yisrael did not accept converts during the period of Kings David and Shlomo, when the nation enjoyed great power and prosperity. Given the nation's might under King David and wealth and prestige under King Shlomo, the rabbinical courts of the time had to suspect that prospective converts sought to join the nation for reasons of personal expediency, rather than sincere religious conviction. Therefore, in the interest of avoiding insincere conversions, the official procedure during this period mandated summarily rejecting all petitions for conversion. Seemingly, this procedure should have been implemented during the period immediately following the Exodus, as well. The great miracles of the Exodus – and in particular the splitting of the sea – brought widespread fame and prestige to Am Yisrael, and instilled fear in the hearts of other nations. Why didn’t Benei Yisrael suspect Yitro of "joining the bandwagon," converting purely to enjoy the success and power of Am Yisrael, rather than out of a sincere desire to draw close to the Almighty? The Yeshu'ot Yaakov (cited in the work Kevoda Shel Torah) suggested that the Torah implicitly addresses this question in its description of Yitro's arrival: "Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, and his sons and wife, came to Moshe, to the wilderness where he encamped…" (18:5). The Torah particularly emphasizes that Yitro joined Benei Yisrael as they encamped "in the wilderness," as they lived without even the very barest necessities. The fact that Yitro was prepared to subject himself to this austere lifestyle testified to his sincerity and genuine desire to take part in the spiritual mission of Am Yisrael. (It should be noted, however, that at the end of this section we are told that Yitro returned to his land, and did not remain in the wilderness, perhaps calling this approach into question.) Rav Avraham Yitzchak Sorotzkin, in his Rinat Yitzchak, suggests a different answer by proposing a novel interpretation to the first verse of this parasha: "Yitro…heard all that God [Elokim] did for Moshe and His nation, Israel, that the Lord [Ado-nai] took Israel from Egypt." A number of commentators noted the shift in this verse from the divine Name of Elokim to Ado-nai. Traditionally, the Name of Elokim is associated with God's attribute of justice, whereas Ado-nai (meaning, the ineffable Name of Y-H…) connotes the divine attribute of compassion. Accordingly, Rav Sorotzkin suggests that this verse speaks of two entirely different experiences that Yitro contemplated before deciding to join the Jewish people. First, he heard of all that Elokim – the attribute of justice – did to Moshe and Israel – the hardships, frustrations and obstacles they confronted over the course of this difficult process of the Egyptian bondage and ultimate redemption. In addition to this, of course, he took note of what Ado-nai – the divine attribute of mercy – did for Israel, how He miraculously freed them from oppression. Thus, Yitro carefully observed and considered both elements of Jewish destiny – the hardships, and the privileges; he recognized that Am Yisrael at times will endure the attribute of Elokim and be subjected to strict judgment. He thus chose to join the Jewish people not merely to share in the successes and privileges of Jewish destiny, but also with an understanding of the complex challenges and responsibilities this destiny involves. For this reason, he was warmly welcomed into the ranks of Kelal Yisrael and was not suspected of insincere motives.

‫מי שברך‬

Cholim visit or phone call:   

Gil Polinsky can be reached at his home number 718-253-2040.

Sarah Gitel bas Chana Rachel

Yaakov Moshe ben Simchateinu

Simcha Asher ben Buna

Gedalyahu Guttman Chaim ben Raizel

Reuven Yeudah ben Sara Mia bas Rachel

Jack Weiss is in Palm Gardens Rehab. His phone number is 929-293-9447

Binyamin ben Simona

Mr. Willie Ross is at his daughter’s home in Massachusetts. Please contact Rabbi Braun for contact info.

Shemuel Yomtov Tzvi ben Rayzil

Miriam bas Batya

Shlomo Tudras ben Tova Freeda Yitzchak ben Sarah Reuven ben Winifred

Please join our Facebook page by following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ YoungIsraelofAvenueJ/.

Chaim Shaul ben Esther

Miriam Liba bas Devora Gemach ben Zelda Raphael Leib Hakohen Ben Margot Zevulun ben Sara Chana bas Glickl Sara Hinda bas Chana Ita Yitzchak Izik ben Blima Chana Elchanan Pesach Ben Sara

To sponsor the newsletter for $18, please email [email protected]. Young Israel of Ave. J · 1721 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230. Website www.YIofJ.org. Newsletter: [email protected]

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Phone: (718) 338-2056 Social Hall: (718) 253-8130. Rabbi Braun: [email protected] (917) 913 4098