Shabbat Parshat Behar–Bechukosai May 16, 2009 22 Iyar 5769

GNS TEFILLA DIGEST: A Weekly Discussion about the Fundamentals of Jewish Prayer
Torah By Rabbi Brahm Weinberg – Rabbinic Intern
Artscroll, 686
Hertz, 531 This inspiring article about A - The Gemara in Masechet or two days in the year. The
tefillah is sponsored by Shabbat 118b condemns those problem could be that starting to
Haftorah Diane and David Rein in who recite Hallel every day recite Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut
Artscroll, 1177 memory of Diane’s mother. because Hallel is reserved for could lead to us saying Hallel on
Helene M. Fink. special occasions. The Gemara many other days as well. This
Hertz, 539 describes one who does not speaks to the question I raised last
Aufruf Issue # 41 – Hallel on Yom reserve Hallel for such week about “where do we draw
Oren Ha’Atzmaut (Part IV) occasions as a blasphemer: the line.” Assuming that the
“Hakoreh Hallel bechol yom rabbis of this generation draw the
Wachstock
For the last three weeks harey ze mecharef umegadef.” line at two days in the calendar -
surrounding the holiday of This is somewhat surprising; Yom Ha’Atzmaut and Yom
Times Yom Ha’Atzmaut and why would we consider Yerushalyim - we would still be
leading to the upcoming someone who is praising reserving the recitation of Hallel
Candle lighting 7:47 pm
holiday of Yom Hashem on a daily basis as for special occasions and not
Mincha 7:00 pm Yerushalayim we have been someone who is a blasphemer? violating the dictate of the
Hashkama 8:00 am discussing the halachic Rashi says the reason is because Gemara to refrain from “daily”
Minyan issues involved with it would seem like the person recital.
reciting Hallel on these who recites it daily is
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am B - The Shulchan Aruch says that
holidays. “k’mezamer shir umitlotzetz”
Youth 8:30 am “like one who is mindlessly one is forbidden from having any
We have already outlined verbal interruptions between the
Main Minyan 9:00 am why it is important to recite singing and making a
mockery.” It seems like the end of the amidah and the
Beit Midrash 9:15 am Hallel on Yom beginning of tachanun which
Ha’Atzmaut. We have Gemara objected to daily
recitation of Hallel because it follows the repetition of the
Gemorah Shiur 6:35 pm explained the historical amidah on most days. The source
precedents for doing so and would lose its very serious and
Pirkei Avot 6:50 pm holy tone and become almost of this seems to be the opinion of
we have mentioned some of the Rashba as quoted by his
Mincha 7:35 pm the opinions which object to rote.
students who lived in Spain in the
Shabbat Ends 8:55 pm the recitation of Hallel on Thus, we would have to deem 13th century. The Mishna Berura
Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Yom Ha’Atzmaut and Yom explains that the reason why we
Sunday, 7:30 am
May 17, 8:30 am Even if you believe that it is Yerushalayim special enough wish for there to be no
appropriate to say Hallel to occasions and an infrequent interruption is because without
Mon., & Thurs., 6:35 am enough occasions to be interruption our supplications
mark the victory of the War
Tues., Wed., & 6:45 am of Independence or the comfortable to recite Hallel during tachanun will be more
Fri., establishment of the State without violating this injunction acceptable to G-d.
of Israel, there are a number of the Gemara. This would
Second Shacharit This seems to be part of the desire
Minyan (Daily) 7:45 am of more localized halachot seem to be easy enough since
these holidays occur only one of the rabbis to have one section
Mincha (week of 7:50 pm
that need to be addressed. of prayer sitting (shma), one
May 17)
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26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100
section standing (amidah) and one section in partial
prostration (tachanun) in succession in order to imitate the
three modes of payer offered by Moshe Rabbenu on Har
Sinai when begging forgiveness on behalf of the Jewish
people. Interrupting the succession of amidah and
tachanun would break this flow and result in a less
efficacious prayer set. However, the recitation of Hallel on
Yom Ha’Atzmaut (as on any other day when Hallel is
recited) would not seem to be a problem because no
tachanun is recited at all on days when we say Hallel and,
thus, the Hallel is not an interruption between amidah and
tachanun and does not cause the problem of a less
efficacious tachanun.
C - One of the main halachic issues raised over the
recitation of Hallel is whether to recite a bracha. The
recitation of the bracha before and after Hallel could be
deemed a bracha levatala (an unnecessary mention of G-
d’s name) if the recitation of that bracha over Hallel is
unwarranted.
Reciting a Bracha
Here are a number of reasons why the rabbis object to
saying a bracha on Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut: ENTIRE
JEWISH PEOPLE Rabbenu Tam, Behag (cited by R.
Yonah on Brachot Ch.3), as well as the Meiri (in his
commentary to Pesachim 117a) say that when the prophets
made an enactment for the Jews to recite Hallel when they
were saved from imminent danger (as we have mentioned,
the record of this enactment can be found in Pesachim
117a) it was only made for miracles that occurred to the
entirety of the Jewish people. If the miracle occurred to
only a subset of the people, then no recitation of Hallel was
enacted. However, they say, this only applies to the
recitation of Hallel with a bracha. If no bracha is recited
over Hallel then it may be said by any individual or
community that experienced a miracle of being saved from
imminent danger.The Rambam and Shulchan Aruch do not
mention this particular halacha and so it is difficult to know
if they follow this requirement. The Magen Avraham
(686:4) and Mishna Berura (686:8) mention the
permissibility of individual communities establishing a day
of celebration commemorating a certain miracle but do not
specifically raise the issue of whether Hallel can be recited
with or without a bracha.The Chida (Chayim Yosef David
Azulai – who lived in Jerusalem and Italy in the late 18th
century) proves the position of Rabbenu Tam from a
comment of Rashi on Pesachim 117a. When the Gemara
Great Neck Synagogue
Shabbat Activities Program
Dale Polakoff, Rabbi
Shalom Axelrod, Assistant Rabbi
Brahm Weinberg, Rabbinic Intern
Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus
Zeev Kron, Cantor
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus
Mark Twersky, Executive Director
Howard Silberstein, President
Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
Shabbat Announcements Parshat Behar–Bechukosai, 5769
says that the prophets enacted a requirement for Jews to recite
Hallel when they are saved, Rashi says “just like on
Channuka.” The Chida says that what Rashi meant was: Just
like Channuka was a miracle that occurred to the entire Jewish
people, so too in order to enact new days of reciting Hallel the
salvation would have to occur to the entire Jewish people.
Some have questioned the Chida’s line of reasoning. They
have asked: How was Channuka a miracle that affected the
entire Jewish people? The war obviously didn’t involve every
single Jew. Not all Jews even lived in the Land of Israel at the
time. Many lived in Alexandria or, more importantly, in Bavel.
One answer could be that since Channuka constituted a miracle
that restored not only the sovereignty of the Jewish people over
the Land of Israel, but the sanctity of the Beit Hamikdash
which the Greeks threatened to defile this made it a miracle for
all Jews. Since all Jews could now take part in the avodah of
the Beit Hamikdash once again then it was as if they had a part
in the miracle of its re-dedication.
Thought to Ponder
Are the miracles of the establishment of the State of
Israel miracles that occurred to the entire Jewish people?
GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK
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 Great Neck Synagogue
Annual Family Luncheon
GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE In Memory of Sharon Sokol Heisler z’l
GRADUATION & Saturday, June 20, 2009
CONGREGATIONAL KIDDUSH Guest Speaker:
Gary Rosenblatt
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009 Editor and publisher of
The Jewish Week of New York

CELEBRATE ALL OF YOUR Beautiful Catered Lunch by Prestige

Caterers
SMACHOT WITH US
$50 per person
$20 per child
BIRTHS (No charge for children under 4)
BAR & BAT MITZVAH
GRADUATIONS Youth Program Luncheon
taking place same time
WEDDINGS for first through eighth grade.
ANNIVERSARIES For reservations please call or
BIRTHDAYS e-mail
Mark Twersky
OR 487-6100
COMMEMORATE A LOVED ONES email to: mtwersky@gns.org

YAHRZEIT NAME____________________________________

Seating Requests:
TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE CALL 1 __________________________________

THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE 2 __________________________________

OR SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO 3 __________________________________

MTWERSKY@GNS.ORG 4 __________________________________

Amount enclosed__________________
COST IS $100 PER FAMILY
For more information please call:
Debbie Hollander 829-2013

GREAT NECK MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

MONDAY MAY 25, 2009
9:15 a.m.
(Those attending the late morning minyan should join us immediately after services).
WE WILL BE MARCHING WITH OTHER SYNAGOGUES DOWN MIDDLE NECK
ROAD, ONTO THE VILLAGE GREEN AND PAST THE REVIEWING STAND.
Those with Corvettes and other convertible cars can drive the parade route. See
Alan Steinberg for details. Thank you to Great Neck Synagogue
Sisterhood for sponsoring the parade.
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
RABBI REISMAN SATURDAY NIGHT TELECAST
Weinstein Torah & Technology Center Sat., 10:30pm www.gnstorah.org
PIRKEI AVOT
Every Shabbat afternoon, through Shavuot, there will be a class on
Pirkei Avot, this week’s class is at 6:50pm.
HIGH SCHOOL PIRKEI AVOS CLASS
There will be a Pirkei Avos shiur for High School students every
shabbos afternoon approx 40 minutes before mincha given by
Cary Schwechter in the GNS Youth Center.
WITHIN OUR FAMILY
Mazal Tov to Brenda & Isidore Rosmarin, and Rori & Charles
Sassoon on the upcoming marriage of their daughter Carolyn Sassoon
to Ronnie Ebrani.
Mazal Tov to Mehri Songhorian on the birth of her granddaughter,
born to her children Miriam & Yehuda Serle in Jerusalem.
Mazal Tov to Hadassah & Jacob Wachstock on the upcoming
marriage of their son Oren to Esther Chambre, daughter of
Susan & Robert Chambre.

CLASS IN MEGILLA READING SAVE THE DATE

Dr. Paul Brody will be giving a class to learn how to lain “Megillat Sunday, May 17th 9:30-11:30am there will be a networking breakfast for
Ruth” for Shavout between Mincha & Maariv on Shabbat afternoon. those seeking jobs, and those that have jobs or advice to offer. This event
is the first in a series that chazakchazak.org is organizing.
LAG B’OMER CELEBRATION
This Tuesday evening May 12th, from 6-8:30pm at Kings Point Park, ISRAEL BONDS
enjoy a fun filled evening for the entire family! There will be a baseball The Great Neck Community Dessert Reception for the Israel Bonds is on
game for the adults, while Coach Eric and staff supervise, races and Monday, May 18th 7:30pm at Temple Israel, and is being co-chaired by
activities with prizes for the children. Reserve in advance by May 11th Tricia Moslin and Mike Delafraz. Please RSVP Anne Bernstein (212)-
and pay only $18 per family, $36 per family without reservations. Call 446-5853 or anne.bernstein@israelbonds.com
the Synagogue office 487-6100 or email MTwersky@gns.org.
PARLOR MEETINGS
YIDDISH VORT
May 16, 9:15pm Elena & Anthony Berkowitz are sponsoring a Malevah
Concert with the Klezorim of “Shoresh”: Wed., May 13th at 7:45pm.
Malka in honor of Dr. Yehezkel Caine, at their home, 35 Bridle Path.
Enjoy a spring evening of Klezmer, Israeli, Yiddish, Ladino, and
RSVP (212) 683-3702. Refreshments will be served.
Sephardic melodies. Free admission.
May 18, 8:00pm at the home of Magda & Sam Yehaskel, 23 Old Mill
TALMUD CLASS SIYUM Road, Hagan Harav Reuven Feinstein will address the reception in
Rabbi Singer’s Talmud class invites the congregation to a Siyum honor of the Yeshiva.
to celebrate the completion of Masechet Shabbat, to be held in May 21, 7:30pm at the home of Ada & Dov Berkowitz, 108 Beach Road.
conjunction with the midrash breakfast, promptly after morning Moshe Eyal of Arzei HaLevanon Pre-Military Torah Academy, will speak
minyan on Sunday, May 17th. All are invited! about how they combine Torah education with army training, and support
for the Jewish state. Dessert reception to follow.
ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING
Please join us for the annual meeting on Tuesday, May 19th at
SAVE THE DATE
8:15pm. We will have the election meeting, induction of new members
2nd Annual “Koby Memorial Day Baseball Game,” for the benefit of Camp
and memorials for those members who have left us this past year.
Koby and the victims of terrorism: Monday May 25, 3 games: ages: 6-12;
UPCOMING SISTERHOOD EVENTS 13-18; and 19 and up! To play on these teams please contact Jack Lipsky
Thurs., May 14th, 8pm in the Braun Youth Center there will be a Sis- 829-1890 ex 219. See flyer or Barry Libin.
terhood Meeting to discuss and organize upcoming events. We wel-
come your attendance and participation! WALK WITH YOUR FEET HELP WITH YOUR HEART
Tues., June 9th, 7:30pm at GNS we present the documentary "Always Please join Chabad’s Friendship Circle Walk 4 Friendship on Sunday June
Remember Where You Came From: The Life of Samuel Hersch Wang" . 7th, starting at Great Neck Public Library, 10:30 am, ending at 32 Sunset
Thank you very much to Debbie Etzion for organizing this special Drive. Brunch and Carnival to follow. Register or sponsor at
evening. www.walk4friendshipgn.com For more info Viviane Breitbart 428-1294
Wed., August 5th, 8pm the Sisterhood presents a Ladies Night Out to or Haifa Shavolian 606-7980.
see "Menopause the Musical" at the Landmark on Main Street in Port
Washington. Tickets cost $50 and must be purchased by May 31st. GIVE OLD MAGAZINES A NEW LIFE
Please email drein@verizon.net to buy tickets. We look forward to a Please drop off your current used magazines to the Synagogue office to be
fun and entertaining evening! donated to NSUH. Please cut off labels, do not tear.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Please join GNS in the Memorial Day Parade on Mon., May 25th at Saturday, 22 Iyar
9:30am. The GNS Sisterhood has graciously sponsored this year’s Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Yoseph Gabbaizadeh
event. For more info please see Alan Steinberg. Martin Greenberg for Mollie Greenberg
Ira Lubin for Esther Alberts
SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN
Ester & Eliezer Noy for Abraham Nir
The NSHA and the NSHA High School, in conjunction with the greater
Paul Wein for Melvin Wein
Great Neck Jewish Community, will hold a historic campaign that will
Sunday, 23 Iyar
involve the dedication and commissioning of 12 new Sifrei Torah. All
proceeds will support the Sam Aharonoff Memorial Scholarship Fund to
Y Jacqueline Fischer for Menachim Mendel Salomon
help offset tuition costs for dozens of needy students. For more info: A Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Auma Gabbaizadeh
Marilyn Weingarten for Eva Applebaum
www.shivteitorah.org, or Arnie Flatow 487-8687 ext 2.
H Monday, 24 Iyar
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE Drora Cassel for Bezalel Bezalel
Please send in your Book of Remembrance forms ASAP. The new R Philip Hanfling for Isaac Lazar
edition will be ready for Shavuot. Z Llewllyn Lillien for Issie Markowitz
Harriet Nathel for Harry Chalfin
DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE
GNS Men’s Club is holding an AAA Driver’s Education course on
E Lillian Spiegel for Bessie Spiegel
Carolynn Wolf for Edward Spellun
Wednesday and Thursday June 3rd, and 4th from 7-10pm each night I Tuesday, 25 Iyar
at GNS. $25 per person over 55, $30 for under 55. Checks made
payable to AAA, call the Synagogue office for reservations 487-6100. T Llewllyn Lillien for Irving Lillien
Wednesday, 26 Iyar
Space is limited.
Ruth Klapper for Jacob Goldberg
BLOOD DRIVE Thursday, 27 Iyar
Semi-annual Men’s Club blood drive will be on June 21st, Sun. morning. Marc Finkelstein for Gilda Finkelstein
Kenneth Magida for Emma Greenberg
SAVE THE DATE
Jonas Steigman for Ettel Steigman
Sat., June 20th, the Annual Sharon Sokol Heisler Family Luncheon
David Wagner for Joseph Wagner
will take place. Gary Rosenblatt of the Jewish Week will be the
Friday, 28 Iyar
featured speaker. More details to follow. The Youth Luncheon will also
Marilyn Weingarten for Jacob Weissman
take place that day.