YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD

2240 ALBANY AVENUE

WEST HARTFORD, CT 06117 Shabbat Mevorchim
860-233-3084 Parshat Bemidbar
Web Site: www.youngisraelwh.org
May 28th, 2011
17 Iyar 5771
Rabbi’s Corner Kiddush this Shabbat
Is Sponsored by
YOUNG ISRAEL OF WEST HARTFORD

This past Sunday Elana and I had the privilege of

attending the Hebrew Academy 2nd grade Chumash the Shul
play. It was a delight to be there and see how much
the children have learned and how much their teachers ‫מזל טוב‬
and parents have inculcated a real love of learning ‫ מזל טוב‬to Nechama & Rabbi Uri Grosberg on
within them. I am so proud of each of them and would the birth o their son Elazar! ‫ מזל טוב‬to siblings
like to recognize those from our shul: Moshe Dov Menachem, Esther Chaya, Shmuel Yehuda &
Sheinkopf, Avi Loew, Dovid Trencher, Vered Wolpaw, Rochel! May he grow L’Torah, L’ Chuppah
David Kandell (Solonche), and Yonatan Cohen. Also, u'L'Maasim Tovim!
Yasher Koach to Morah Chava, Rabbi Weiss, and the
‫ מזל טוב‬to Meira Goldfischer on taking first
Hebrew Academy for a job SO well done. May we all
place in the recent Memorial Day essay contest
continue to see our children grow in Torah learning.
sponsored by the Jewish War Veterans of Amer-
Speaking of Torah learning….We are in the
ica at the Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford.
midst of planning an AMAZING program for Shavuot.
Congratulations also to classmates Aviana
We will be hosting the teen program again this year
Schwartz and Elana Everett, on being chosen as
for the first 2 sessions of the night time learning, we
runner-up winners.
will have both night time and daytime learning for
adults and, this year for the first time, for kids! YIWH
will have the privilege of hosting 2 scholars in resi- HHNE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
dence over Shavuot: Two distinguished women who Wednesday, June 1st at 6:00 PM
are studying in the Graduate Program for Women in Ad- at the Emanuel Synagogue
vanced Talmudic Studies at Stern College. They will de- Honoring
liver classes to both men and women and enrich our Rabbi Philip & Mrs. Ruth Lazowski
experience. Stay tuned for the flyer and schedule com-
ing out this week…
This Wednesday we will celebrate Yom Yerusha-
layim: A crucial new holiday in the Jewish calendar. It
is so easy to overlook this important day and each of us
must make a special effort to mark the occasion. We
must celebrate the miracle of renewed Jewish sover-
eignty over our holiest city for the first time in 2000
years! Although we just celebrated Yom Ha'atzmaut a
WOMEN’S ROSH CHODESH TEHILLIM GROUP
few weeks ago, we have something else, something
Will be held on Sunday evening, June 5th
different to be thankful for: Yerushalayim. Please read
at YIWH at 6:30 PM
the following beautiful piece (on page 3) by Rabbi
Riskin about the centrality of Yerushalayim and its PRE-SHAVUOT FLOWER ARRANGING
uniqueness in comparison to the rest of Israel. Sunday, June 5th at YIWH at 7:30 PM
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Weinberg $10.00/Person
RSVP: Steven Bernstein 860-263-7669, or
bernsteinstj@mail.ccsu.edu

Editor: Judie Patel Rabbi Brahm Weinberg 860-233-3084 or

E-mail: bulletin @youngisraelwh.org rabbi@youngisraelwh.org
Editors Emeritus: Sam Leichtberg & Moish Trencher
Judith Hessing, Coordinator 860-233-6042 or
judith.hessing@gmail.com
Affiliate of the National Council of Young Israel Synagogues, Member of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Sponsor
of West Hartford NCSY, National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Kashrut Commission of Greater Hartford,
Mikveh Bess Israel of Greater Hartford, Eruv of West Hartford

SAVE THE DATES
UPCOMING YIWH & COMMUNITY EVENTS
HAGH SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
Tuesday, June 14th at 5:30 PM
At Beth El Temple
Honoring
Rabbi Yitzchok Adler
Betty Anderson
Marc Bokoff
Steve Shuman
Sherry Whitehead
YIWH CRUISE DINNER
September 11th at 6:30 PM
Dvar, continued from page 3.
clearly established as the seat of Jewish sovereignty, the
house of the throne of David, the one king who repre-
sents the cultural distinctiveness of the Jewish people.
After all, it was King David who ecstatically danced be-
fore the Holy Ark when it was liberated from Philistine
captivity, and it was King David who authored the
Psalms of praise and supplication to G-d.
And the King of Israel is also meant to symbolize
the King of Kings; Jewish sovereignty is seen by our tra-
dition as the first step in guaranteeing the continuity of
our spiritual message to the world which is the ultimate
purpose for our physical nationhood. And so the follow-
ing blessing in theAmidah is our prayer for the Messiah,
herald of universal peace and redemption: "Speedily
cause the shoot of David to sprout forth... we await
your salvation..."
It is probably because we recognize Jerusalem
as the seat of the Divine Ruler of the Universe that after
the Six Day War we immediately announced the invio- has spent many years helping people learn to cope with the
late right of followers of every religious denomination
to worship at their respective Jerusalem shrines. Once
Jewish rights are secured, the universal dream of hu-
manity worshipping the Divine Lord of Peace, each relig- book, When a Grandparent Dies: A Kid's Own Remembering
ion in its own way, can begin to be realized (Micha 4). Workbook for Dealing with Shiva and the Year Beyond (Jewish
May this year see our celebration of Jerusalem and its Lights Publishing) has helped thousands of children and their
ultimate goal realized.
Chag Sameach!
BUY SCRIP! BUY SCRIP!
BIG Y SCRIP & SHOP RITE SCRIP AVAILABLE NOW!
Don’t forget Crown & Stop & Shop too!
Let's support our Shul by buying scrip!
Every dollar counts!
Contact: Judith Hessing (860-233-6042)
at 18 Grenhart Street
Page 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Acknowledgment donations should be sent to
Debbie Luger at 37 Miamis Road
Helen Weisel:
In memory of Annette Wolk's father
In honor of the engagement of Rachel Luger
In honor of the engagement of Esther Wolfe
Judie & Lal Patel
In honor of the Grosberg’s son Elazar
In honor of birth of new grandson to the Goldfarbs
In honor of Rena Miller’s engagement
In honor of Esther Wolfe’s engagement
David & Edna Shamash
In honor of Judie Laufer’s graduation from NYU
In honor of Rena Miller’s engagement
YAHRZEIT LECTURE
Sunday, June 12th at 7:30 PM
Nechama Liss-Levinson, PhD
Talking to Children About Death
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR NAMES FOR THE
YIZKOR BOOK ASAP!
As in past years, Yahrzeit booklets will be distributed
that include the names of family members and others
whom we wish to remember on this occasion. These
booklets are then used when remembering departed
loved ones during Yizkor services. Even if you are un-
able to take part in the booklet, there is no cost to at-
tend the lecture and it is sure to be both an educational
and inspiring evening.
Dr. Liss-Levinson is a psychologist and psychoanalyst who
difficulties and complexities of life, will be our keynote
speaker. She has written extensively on helping families
grieve, especially dealing with children facing loss. Her
families and is now in its fifth printing. Dr. Liss-Levinson re-
cently won the 2009 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award for
her children's book, When the Hurricane Came to New Or-
leans, a story about a young Jewish girl, Gertie, and her fam-
ily, who must evacuate New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina
URGENT ERUV ALERT- PLEASE BE ADVISED:
Due to complications the ERUV has been
RE-ROUTED for a few weeks.
SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
http://youngisraelwh.org/index.php/en/home/the-eruv
 Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Chag Sameach From Efrat, Israel - www.ohrtorah.org Page 3
"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her cunning. May my tongue cleave to my palate, if I ever
think not of you, if I ever set not Jerusalem above my highest joy." [Psalm 137]
…It is interesting to note that our Grace after Meals contains three blessings which are considered Biblical in
origin: thanksgiving for the meal, to the Almighty, the Universal Provider of sustenance; thanksgiving for the Land of
Israel; and a request for the restoration of Jerusalem. Apparently, the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem are seen
as two distinct and separate concepts. What is the fundamental difference between the two?
The biblical portion of Behar, commanding us to work the land in Israel for six years and to allow it to rest on
the seventh provides an interesting key. What strikes even the most casual reader is the parallel to the six days of
physical creativity and the seventh day of rest. The Mishna (Shabbat 7:2) outlines the 39 forbidden categories of work
on the Sabbath, ordering the prohibitions by first cataloging the processes of bread manufacture, then garment and
leather manufacture, and finally building structures. Rabbi Judah HaNassi, transmitter of the Mishna, is clearly indicat-
ing that although it is necessary and even praiseworthy to occupy ourselves with the pursuit of food, clothing and
shelter six days a week, the Shabbat must be dedicated to G-d and Torah, the life of the soul. And what the Sabbath is
to the days of the week, the sabbatical year is to the cycle of the years. For six years the land must be tilled and har-
vested to provide necessary sustenance, but the seventh year must be dedicated to G-d and Torah.
From this perspective, the blessings of the Grace After Meals assume a deeper meaning. We begin by logically
expressing thanks to G-d for nourishing the entire world with food and material sustenance. But it is the next blessing
for the land which is the very biblical source for the Grace After Meals: "And you shall eat, be satisfied and praise the
Lord your G-d for the good land which He has given you." Apparently, the Torah believed that although G-d may have
provided the entire world with the farming ability to sustain itself, so long as the Jewish people don't have their own
land, the very food they eat will depend upon the mercy of governments under whose sovereignty their presence is
suffered. A sympathetic government will grant them farming rights, but a despotic government could make them
starve. Therefore sustenance for the Jewish people is ultimately linked to possession of their own land. If it's not your
land, you can never guarantee the acquisition of food!
But we see from the Sabbath of the week and the Sabbath of the land that physical sustenance is not suffi-
cient. Enter Jerusalem, corresponding to the Sabbath day and the Sabbatical year; the land of Israel is the source of
our physical security and the City of Jerusalem is the fount of our spiritual rootedness and inspiration. One without
the other is incomplete and abnormal for us as a "holy nation and kingdom of priests." Hence, the identification of
Jerusalem with the Divine Presence. Whenever the Torah speaks about "the place (HaMakom) that G-d will choose,"
the reference is to Jerusalem. Maimonides rules that the sanctity of Jerusalem is eternal, because its sanctity is based
upon the metaphysical presence of the Divine on the Temple Mount. Regardless of the devastation that the rest of
the land may have undergone as a result of foreign conquest, no enemy has the power to destroy or nullify the Divine
Presence, which never leaves Jerusalem and can never be nullified (Laws of the Chosen Place, 6:16).
As the seat of the Sanhedrin, Jerusalem is also identified with Torah, the Wisdom and Teaching of G-d. After
all, the Torah was interpreted and expanded by the Supreme Court of 71 judges, whose chambers were next to the
Holy Temple. This is the source of the universal aspect of Jerusalem as well. The G-d of Israel is the G-d of the world ,
and the Torah of ethical monotheism must come forth from Jerusalem to the entire world (Isaiah 2). Hence, the com-
mandment for the Jews to ascend to Jerusalem during the three major Festival of the year, where they would experi-
ence an intensive rendezvous (mo'ed) with G-d and Torah, where they would see and be seen by the Divine Presence.
And it is eminently logical that the Almighty would choose Jerusalem as His special place and as the source for His
teaching; after all, it was at Mt. Moriah (lit. instruction) that Abraham demonstrated his ultimate commitment to G-d
at time of the Akeidah(binding of Isaac). A similar connection between the land of Israel and the ideal of Jerusalem is
to be found in the thrice-daily Amidah prayer.
It's interesting that the ninth Amidah blessing is the blessing for the land of Israel, and is also our prayer for
physical sustenance: "Bless this year on our behalf, O Lord, our G-d, and all kinds of its produce, and grant blessing on
the face of the land and satisfy us from its bounty, "mituvAH", the land'sgoodness, which is the preferred reading of
the text. Following this blessing of prosperity and physical sustenance from the land, the next blessing is for the in-
gathering of the exiles. Scattered throughout the four corners of the world, history has proven again and again that
there is only one possible haven for the Jews which can best provide our physical security, and that is the land of Is-
rael. But the journey doesn't end with a four-room apartment and a view of the Mediterranean under the protection
of the I.D.F. After securing physical well being, we must continue to seek the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the spiritual
goals the City of Peace represents.
"Return in mercy to your city Jerusalem, and dwell in it as you have promised; speedily establish in it the
throne of David, and rebuild it soon, in our days, as an everlasting structure. Blessed are you G-d, Builder of Jerusa-
lem." Here Jerusalem is defined as G-d's city, the home of the Divine Presence. It is also [Continued on page 2]

YIWH Schedule of Services
It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush
May 27th - June 3rd, 2011
Shabbat Mevorchim Parshat Bemidbar
Or Seudah Shlishit!

Friday, May 27th Shul handles set up & Clean up!

Shacharit 6:45 a.m. Contact Judie Patel at 236-4178
Mincha/Maariv 7:00 p.m. or judiep@gmail.com to
Candle Lighting 7:56 p.m. check the availability of the date
Shabbat, May 28th you need & call Fran Wittenberg
Rabbi Sheinkopf’s Mishna Brurah Class 8:15 a.m. 860-232-2320 to make the
Shacharit 9:00 a.m. arrangements for the type of
Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:04 a.m. Kiddush you want to sponsor.
Shabbat Morning Youth Groups 10:00 a.m. Checks need to be received
Rabbi’s Shabbat Afternoon Class 7:00 p.m. the Sunday prior to your
Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 7:45 p.m. Kiddush date.
Shabbat Ends 8:57 p.m. Send to David Cohen at
Sunday, May 29th - Thursday, June 2nd 19 Mansfield Avenue.
Earliest Tallit & Tefillin 4:19 a.m. There are three types
Shacharit... Sunday & Monday - Memorial Day 8:15 a.m. of Kiddushim:
Followed by Rabbi Weinberg’s Gemara Shiur on 9:00 a.m. Standard for $150,
Masechet Makot Semi-Deluxe for $250
Shacharit…Tuesday & Thursday 6:45 a.m. & Deluxe for $350
Shacharit…Wednesday - Yom Yerushalayim 6:30 a.m. With supplements available.
Mincha/Maariv 8:00 p.m.
For Seudah Shlishit contact
Friday, June 3rd - Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Stan Rutstein at 232-3369
Shacharit 6:30 a.m.
Mincha/Maariv 7:00 p.m. KIDDUSH SCHEDULE
Candle Lighting 8:02 p.m. 6/4 Graduates Kiddush
6/25 Halpern
Check out the weekly Schedule on the YIWH Website http://go.youngisraelwh.org/timesTimes from: www.ou.org/holidays/calendar
For Eruv Information: http://twitter.com/WHartfordEruv or http://youngisraelwh.org/index.php/en/home/the-eruv
(Hotline - 860-232-6417)

Ner La’Maor
Lights
Judy & Sam Leichtberg and Batsheva Goldfischer Pat La’Orchim
in memory of Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit
their parents and grandparents, Fran & Gene Wittenberg
Israel Weiss ‫ישראל בן דוד‬ in memory of
Frida Weiss ‫טויבא פרידה בת עזרא‬ Fran’s father, Tzvi ben Yitzchak Meir HaCohen
Abraham Leichtberg ‫אברהם בן שמואל‬ ‫צבי בן יצחק מאיר הכהן‬
& Gene’s father, Binyamin ben Moshe
Yayin l’ Kiddush Ve'Havdalah ‫בנימין בן משה‬
Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah
Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Seudah Shlishit Supplement
in memory of In Memory of Al Weisel
Betty’s Parents, Tobias & Esther Spira
‫טוביה בן צבי אלימלך‬ 5770 Candy Man:
‫אסתר בת דוד הכהן‬ Gil Fried
Irv ‘s father, Sam Wizenfeld
‫שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן‬
Want to join the Listserve?
If you are interested in subscribing to the yiwhevents listserve, send an e-mail to webmaster@youngisraelwh.org and he will
add your name. If you are a member of the group, you can send an e-mail to the entire group by addressing your e-mail to
yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com .

YIWH Schedule of Services
It is easy to sponsor a Kiddush
June 3rd - 10th, 2011
Shabbat Parshat Naso
Or Seudah Shlishit!

Friday, June 3rd - Rosh Chodesh Sivan Shul handles set up & Clean up!
Shacharit 6:30 a.m. Contact Judie Patel at 236-4178
Mincha/Maariv 7:00 p.m. or judiep@gmail.com to
Candle Lighting 8:02 p.m. check the availability of the date
Shabbat, June 4th you need & call Fran Wittenberg
Rabbi Sheinkopf’s Mishna Brurah Class 8:15 a.m. 860-232-2320 to make the
Shacharit 9:00 a.m. arrangements for the type of
Sof Zman Kriat Shma 9:03 a.m. Kiddush you want to sponsor.
Shabbat Morning Youth Groups 10:00 a.m. Checks need to be received
Rabbi’s Shabbat Afternoon Class 7:05 p.m. the Sunday prior to your
Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit & Maariv 7:50 p.m. Kiddush date.
Shabbat Ends 9:03 p.m. Send to David Cohen at
Sunday, June 5th - Thursday, June 2nd 19 Mansfield Avenue.
Earliest Tallit & Tefillin 4:14 a.m. There are three types
Shacharit... Sunday 8:15 a.m. of Kiddushim:
Followed by Rabbi Weinberg’s Gemara Shiur on 9:00 a.m. Standard for $150,
Masechet Makot Semi-Deluxe for $250
Shacharit…Monday 6:45 a.m. & Deluxe for $350
Mincha/Maariv...Sunday & Monday 8:05 p.m. With supplements available.
Tuesday, June 7th - Erev Shavuot
For Seudah Shlishit contact
Shacharit…Monday 6:45 a.m.
Stan Rutstein at 232-3369
Candle lighting 8:05 p.m.
Mincha/Maariv 8:10 p.m. KIDDUSH SCHEDULE
Tikkun Layl Shavuot 11:30 p.m. 6/4 Graduates Kiddush
Wednesday, June 8th - 1st Day of Shavuot 6/25 Halpern
Alot Hashachar - Dawn 4:04 a.m.
Shacharit Vatikin 4:30 a.m.
Shacharit 9:00 a.m.
Mincha/Maariv 8:10 p.m.
Candle Lighting 9:05 p.m.
Thursday, June 9th - 2nd Day of Shavuot
Shacharit 9:00 a.m.
Megillat Ruth 9:45 a.m.
Yizkor
Mincha/Maariv 8:10 p.m.
Chag Ends 9:06 p.m.

Friday, June 10th

Shacharit 6:45 a.m.
Mincha/Maariv 7:00 p.m.
Candle Lighting 8:06 p.m.

Check out the weekly Schedule on the YIWH Website http://go.youngisraelwh.org/timesTimes from: www.ou.org/holidays/calendar
For Eruv Information: twitter.com/WHartfordEruv or go.youngisraelwh.org/eruv (Hotline - 860-232-6417)

Want to join the Listserve?

If you are interested in subscribing to the yiwhevents listserve, send an e-mail to webmaster@youngisraelwh.org and he will
add your name. If you are a member of the group, you can send an e-mail to the entire group by addressing your e-mail to
yiwhevents@yahoogroups.com .