Weekly Announcements
Ahavat Yisrael of Wesley Hills Announcements
Nitzavim
Rosh Hashana
Sep 23 – Sep 30
27 Elul – 5 Tishrei
Mask Rules
At this point following CDC guidelines, masking is optional. Those who wish to wear a mask are certainly encouraged to do so. Please, if you are ill stay home, recuperate and have a refuah shleima.
Mazal Tov to Stewart and Judy Szydlo on the birth of a grandson נתן ראובן to Abba and Ronit.
Kiddush sponsored by Stewart and Judy Szydlo in gratitude for the healthy birth of a son, נתן ראובן, to Abba and Ronit and to the grandparents Stewart and Judy Szydlo.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY (9/23)
Candle lighting/Mincha: 6:33 PM
SHABBAT (9/24)
Shacharis : 9:00 AM
Latest time for shma: 9:46 AM
Parsha Shiur: 5:30 PM
Mincha: 6:10 PM
Shabbos ends: 7:35 PM
Maariv: 7:41 PM
SUNDAY EREV ROSH HASHANAH (9/25)
Slichos: 7:00 AM, Shacharis to follow approximately 8:30 AM, hataras nedarim,
Rabbi’s Gemara Shiur in person and zoom: approximately 9:15 AM https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Mincha and Candle lighting:: 6:30 PM
MONDAY ROSH HASHANAH 1 (9/26)
Shacharis: 8:15 AM
If you need to have the Shofar blown at your house, please contact Rabbi Bush in advance so plans can be made
Tashlich in the afternoon
Mincha: 6:20 PM, learning until Maariv
Candles and preparations for the second night not before: 7:31 PM
TUESDAY ROSH HASHANAH 2 (9/27)
Shacharis: 8:15 AM
Mincha: 6:20 PM, learning until Maariv
Yom Tov Ends: 7:25 PM
Maariv 7:31 PM
WEDNESDAY TZOM GEDALIAH (9/28)
Fast Begins: 5:37 AM
Mincha/Maariv: 6:15 PM
Fast Ends: 7:23 PM
THURSDAY (9/29)
Maariv 9:00pm
Dvar Torah & Thoughts on Nitzavim/Rosh Hashanah
Rabbi Asher Bush
As he neared his end on this earth, Moshe had much unfinished business to attend to. This included the establishment of a new ברית between God and the Jewish people. On the surface there should be no need for any new covenantal agreements, after all, they are fully bound by the Bris of Sinai which was renewed after the massive breach of the Eigel, so why do they need to add something now? It seems that the beginning of an answer can be found in the words of Rashi, namely, that this was the last day of his life, hence the was a need for this new Bris.
Minimally, this speaks to the fact that perhaps they might have thought that this bond between themselves and God was still dependent on the presence of Moshe, so much so that without him their connection to God might be less real and perhaps even less binding. This was the very same kind of error that contributed to the Eigel, and indeed at that time it does state הנה אנכי כרת ברית, “behold I am making a bris”, but our case just doesn’t seem to be similar. After all, following the Egel the bond had been effectively severed by their actions, similar to the effect of unfaithfulness on a marriage. So, the need for this Bris, specifically one that states that even following this great betrayal God remains in their midst, makes good sense. But that is not our case, why now on the eve of Moshe’s death? There certainly has not been a betrayal that might threaten this relationship. And even with whatever errors the nation might make regarding the role of Moshe as an intermediary, it does not explain why they would assume that this bond would now end.
However, as our Sages pointed out, this new Bris that Moshe is facilitating just prior to his departure from this world included something new, ערבות, which is the idea that each Jew is responsible for every other Jew. This responsibility is manifest in various ways, regarding the performance of Mitzvos so that one can recite kiddush or blow shofar for another, even if they themselves have already fulfilled this mitzvah, that our fate is bound up with each other, and the fact that at times we may be deemed responsible for the actions of each other. But none of this seems to answer the question, “why now?” Why is this new element added at this moment in Jewish life when they are about to enter Israel without the benefit of Moshe and his leadership?
The answer to this question speaks both to that generation who would now be living without Moshe and to us as we approach Rosh Hashanah. Until now Moshe served as their teacher, leader and spiritual father, if someone needed assistance, encouragement or even rebuke, that would likely be coming from Moshe. But what will be once he is no longer with us, are those parts of our communal and religious life to be lost. It is for this reason that now and only now they were not just given a renewed Bris, but one that included that bond of responsibility for each. If Moshe would no longer be with us, we will have to take these responsibilities upon ourselves. We need to love and care for each other, need to help each other do Mitzvos when needed, and on occasion we may even bear the responsibility for the actions of our brethren if and when we could have made a difference.
This very same message connects to us as we approach Rosh Hashanah. To know that we are bound to each other, that we need to love and care for each other, assist each other in performing our Mitzvos, and realize that how we relate to others may impact not just our personal relationships, but how they live and how they conduct themselves. And most importantly, we need to realize just what an amazing opportunity and responsibility this all is for us and for all of the many lives we touch.