Parshat Korach

The main topic of Parshas Korach is inner-communal squabbling amongst the Jewish people (machlokes). Unfortunately, machlokes has been around from the beginning of time (going back to Kayin and Hevel in Parshas Bereshis). There were only 4 people in the universe at that time and they could not get along. The two who argued were brothers. It is no surprise, then, that machlokes is still around until this very day in our very diverse world and in our very diverse communities. Parshas Korach is the paradigm parsha for teaching what to do to avoid prolonging machlokes. The Gemara [Sanhedrin 110a] derives from the fact that Moshe sought out Dasan and Aviram to try to bring the dispute to an end that one should not persist in an argument. Rashi says that we learn this from the fact that Moshe was willing to

June 23, 2012 3 Tamuz, 5772

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Korach

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forgo his honor and protocol and personally seek out those who started the rebellion against him - to try to make peace. Some enumerators of the commandments actually count "And there shall no longer be like Korach and his followers" [Bamidbar 17:5] as one of the 365 forbidden actions (Lavim) in the Torah namely that one should not persist in a machlokes. There is some irony in the fact that the Torah just told us that Moshe was the most humble man on the face of the earth [Bamidbar 12:3] and the fact that Korach and his followers claimed that Moshe was "exalting himself over the congregation of Hashem" [Bamidbar 16:3]. Despite the fact that these other people started the fight and they hurled the most absurd and inflammatory charge against Moshe, Moshe himself (who was the prophet of G-d and the King of Israel) went to seek peace with these two obnoxious people (the same two people who slandered him in the past to Pharaoh and almost cost him his life in Egypt). Moshe swallowed his pride and his honor and tried to take Dasan and Aviram aside and reason with them logically against the folly of their rebellion. The Talmud derives from here that one should not persist in an argument, but should take the initiative to bring it to an end. When two people get into a fight and someone goes to one of the parties and asks him to "make shalom", typically the response is "Why should I sue for peace? I am right. He wronged me. Let him come ask me for peace!" Moshe Rabbeinu's actions here teach us the impropriety of such a response. One will never be more "right" in a machlokes than Moshe was in his dispute with Korach. Despite that fact, it was Moshe who tried to end the argument and make peace. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz once explained that the pasuk "And there shall no more be like Korach and his followers" is not only a negative transgression, but it is a prediction as well. There will never again be such a one sided argument, where one party was so clearly right

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Shabbat Announcements Parshat Korach 5772

and the other party so clearly wrong as in this case of Korach and his followers arguing with Moshe Rabbeinu. This was a case where one side was 100% right and the other side 100% wrong. Never again would there be such a morally lopsided argument. The following story illustrates this concept. (The names in the following true story have been changed to protect the innocent.) Reuven had a subscription to the NY Times. His neighbor Shimon did not subscribe to the Times. However, Reuven noticed every morning that his NY Times had already been read before he brought it in the house. Shimon had known that Reuven would pick the paper up from his porch at 7:00 AM, so he came by at 6:00 AM, brought the paper into his own house, read it for 45 minutes and then re-folded it up and returned it to Reuven's porch. Reuven suspected this and woke up early one morning and caught Shimon in the act. He challenged him, "How dare you take my paper before I read it!" Shimon responded back "What are you getting so excited about? You're acting like a Sodomite. I get benefit and you lose nothing. You have no right to complain about what I'm doing."

obligated to forgive his neighbor for taking his own paper without offering to pay something. But, sometimes that which is ethically appropriate to do should take precedence over what one is legally entitled to do. But, one may ask: It cost Reuven money to buy that subscription for his neighbor. Why should he have to do that? The answer, the Chofetz Chaim says, is as follows: An Esrog and lulav costs money. Matzos costs money. Making Pesach costs money. Kosher meat costs money. Every year a person has to make a calculation that he needs X amount of money for mitzvos. The Chofetz Chaim says a person should put away money at the beginning of the year in a "machlokes fund". This is the money earmarked to forgo or to layout to avoid machlokes, to preserve peace among family and community members.

The Medrash at the end of Parshas Tzav states: Chizkiya stated "Great is peace, for by all other mitzvos the Torah specifies 'If' If you happened to see your friend's item is lost; If you happen to see your friend's donkey straining under its load; If you happen to see a bird's nest. Meaning if the mitzvah happens to come to your hand, you do it, otherwise Reuven was at his wits end. He did not know what to do, you do not need to do it. However, in connection with so he consulted his Rabbi. He wanted to take Shimon to peace the Torah teaches "Seek out peace, and chase a Din Torah. The Rabbi told Reuven he had good advice after it" [Tehillim 34:15]. for him: Buy your neighbor a subscription to the NY Times. Reuven could not believe his ears. "What? My If we need to pay for matzah and for lulav and for neighbor steals my paper and I should buy him a tephillin and for everything else, we need to pay for subscription to the NY Times? Rabbi, Are you out of your Shalom as well. Where did that money for the mind?" subscription to the NY Times come from? It came from Ultimately, however, Reuven listened to his Rabbi's advice and years later he admitted that his purchase of the NY Times subscription for his neighbor was the best investment he ever made! He now not only can read a clean newspaper in the morning without coffee stains, but he also still has good relations with his neighbor! Reuven was certainly not obligated to buy his neighbor a subscription to the paper. Perhaps Reuven was not even Reuven's "Shalom fund". Money from that account is the best money a person spends the entire year!

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Intern Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Mark Twersky, Executive Director Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Dr. Scott Danoff, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

GreatNeckSynagogueMensClub GOINGFISHING(again!) Haveafunday,bringthewholefamily

OntheCAPT.PETEfromFreeport,NY(30minutesfromGreatNeck) onSunday,JULY1,2012

Theboatwillbedepartingat9:00am, withthereturntodockat1:30pm

Thecost,whichincludesbreakfastandlunch, is$48perperson,$36forchildrenunder12 (first6kidsunder12freewithpayingadult1perfamily)

ContactSteveBlumner6398941,MarkFriedman4821062or HillyMilun4484890 TheCapt.Peteisaluxury65ftfiberglass,twinenginecharterboatwith amenitiessuchasanoversizedcabin,largedinettearea,custom bathroomsandtwolevelstohelpyouenjoyyourdayoutonthewater. OntheCapt.Pete,allbait,tackleandicearealwaysincluded. _________________________________________________________

Iamgoingfishing! Childrenunder17MUSTbeaccompaniedbyanadult Name____________________________________ Phone#___________________ Numberofadultsandteenagers_____at$48perperson Numberofchildren11andunder_________at$36each Total(PayabletoMensClub)(Checkattached) $______________________________

GNSJuneChesedProject OhelandCampKaylie areingreatneedofnewandgently usedsportsequipment. Theequipmentwillbeutilizedfor specialneedsprogramsandafterschoolprograms. PleasedropoffyourdonationsonJune21,46P.M. orJune24,910:30A.M.atthehomeof SusieandDavidGoldman, 46NorthCloverDr. OronJune27,78:30P.M.atGNS anyquestionspleasefeelfreetocall: SusieGoldmanat5164569386.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
SUNDAY BREAKFAST The Breakfast is sponsored by Michele & Howard Wolf in memory of his mother Carrie Wolf, zl. GNS JUNE CHESED PROJECT Ohel and Camp Kaylie are in great need of new and gently used sports equipment. Please drop off your donations on June 21, 4-6 pm or June 24, 9-10:30 am at the home of Susie and David Goldman, 46 North Clover Dr. Or June 27, 7-8:30 pm at GNS. Any questions, please feel free to call: Susie Goldman at 516-456-9386 THANK YOU Thanks to Pia & Michael Shlomo for chairing the GNS- May Chesed Collection which provided kitchen supplies for needy brides and newlyweds in the metropolitan area. THANK YOU Thanks to Robyn & Mark Gelberg and Emma & Bart Baum for donating toys to preschool Youth Program. GNS MENS CLUB Sunday, July 1st at 9:00 am GOING FISHING (again!) The whole family is invited to have a wonderful, exciting morning on board the Capt. Pete, leaving from Freeport, Long Island at 9:00 am. The cost, which includes breakfast and lunch, is $48 per adult, $36 for children under 12 (First 6 kids under 12 free with paying adult1 per family). Limited space. Please call Steve Blumner 639-8941, Mark Friedman 482-1062 or Hilly Milun 448-4890 ASAP. Sunday, July 8th at 10:00 am - We are pleased to announce that Congressman Steve Israel will be our guest speaker at the Sunday morning talk. All welcome. As that day is a fast day there will be no refreshments served. SISTERHOOD TRIP: MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY Women, men and children are invited to join us on a one-day trip to Philadelphia to visit the National Museum of American Jewish History on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Cost is $72 per person which includes: lunch, Docent-led tour and Coach bus. Please R.S.V.P by June 18. See page three. JEWISH PRESS OFFER The Jewish Press has the following offer. For every member of GNS who signs up for a 1 year subscription (for $30 a 40% discount), the Jewish Press will send GNS a $30 gift certificate from Artscroll Publishing. This offer is only for new subscribers or anyone who hasn't subscribed for at least a year. You get a subscription to Jewish Press and the shul is able to purchase seforim. If you are interested please email mtwersky@gns.org or call the shul office. GNS TALMUD TORAH Registration is now open for next years Talmud Torah program. Please contact Rabbi Lichter at ilichter@gns.org for more information. RAFFLE PRIZES WANTED We are now collecting raffle prizes for the GNS Annual Dinner scheduled for Saturday evening, December 15, 2012. We strongly encourage you to donate credit card points for prizes that can include airline tickets and hotel accommodations. We are also looking for prizes such as time share vacation places, beautiful jewelry, fur, electronics, judaica, gift certificates, internship opportunities, theatre and sports tickets, camp discounts, as well as other prize donations that you might have that will make our dinner extra special! Please submit your raffle prize donations to Mark Twersky at mtwersky@gns.org. Thank you very much!

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

Mazal Tov to Anita Aharonoff on the Bat Mitzvah of her daughter Rachel. Mazal Tov to Roz & David Wagner on the engagement of their grandson, Eliron, son of Marcia & Barry Levinson, to Devorah Shlian, daughter of Ken & Naomi Shlian of Edison, NJ. Mazal Tov to Nechama Liss-Levinson on the publication of her childrens book, When the Hurricane Came, the story of a nine year old Jewish girl, Gertie, who must flee New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastates the city. The book is based on two volunteer relief trips to New Orleans, one which included many members of the GNS community. The book is now available from www.amazon.com and Judaica GN. For more information, please visit www.whenthehurricanecame.com. Mazal Tov to Sharon & Edward Mazur on the birth of twin grandchildren, a boy and a girl, born to their children Laura & Phil Kanfer. Mazal Tov to Tovah Werber Marmer on the publication of her work book Me and My Ears, a book for children with hearing loss, illustrated by Joseph Helmreich.
COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS
ELECTIONS Village of Great Neck Elections take place on Tuesday, June 19.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 3 Tamuz Joseph Fischman for Magdalina Fischman Sharon Janovic for Valerie Meltz Henry Katz for Fred Katz Frederick Shaw for Bernard Shaw Mitchell J. Siegel for Isadore Siegel Elaine Wolf for Hinda Wolf Sunday, 4 Tamuz Miriam Bader for Samuel Bader James Frisch for Laszlo Frisch Amy Goldberg-Reiss for Jack Goldberg Deborah Hollander for David Warren Joseph Sokol for David Warren Ellie Werber for Michail Preis Monday, 5 Tamuz Yafa Gabbaizadeh for Eliazer Sadigh Helen Ishofsky for Ethel Herskovits Edward Parver for Sylvia Parver Tuesday, 6 Tamuz Leslie Kahn for Benny Kahn Rona Mittleman for Ida Haber Wednesday, 7 Tamuz Barry Libin for Paula Libin Thursday, 8 Tamuz Charlene Milun for Suzanne Berchowitz Howard Wolf for Carrie Wolf Friday, 9 Tamuz David Birnbaum for Rhoda Birnbaum Laura Cohen for Marvin Lieberman James Frisch for Rozsa Frisch Rita Gordonson for Leon Gershkowitz Ruth Kraft for Mosche Bogatyrow