Weekly Announcements
Ahavat Yisrael of Wesley Hills Announcements
Bamidbar
May 14 – May 21
3 Sivan – 10 Sivan
Mask Rules
For all minyanim the wearing of a mask which fully covers the mouth and nose is required at all times. This includes children as well, no exceptions. [If you need to remove your mask, please step outside of the Shul and restore it before returning to the Shul.] We are still requiring masks in order to make everyone who has been coming to the shul feel comfortable at all times. All who are eligible for vaccinations are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity.
Mazal Tov to Yaakov Redisch on his engagement to Aliza Dessau, Mazal Tov to his parents Susan and Mitch and the entire family
Thank you to Leah and Ronen Hizami for sponsoring the refreshments for Shavuot night learning
If anybody is interested in joining the shul as a member or an associate member, please contact Michael Chasen michaelchasen@verizon.net
SCHEDULE At Shul & Home
FRIDAY (5/14)
Mincha: 7:00 PM
Candle lighting not later than: 7:48 PM
SHABBAT (5/15)
Shacharis : 9:00 AM (with R. Yishmael, say brachos at home)
Latest time for shma: 9:15 AM
Mincha 7:15 PM
Family Seudah Shlishis at home
Shabbos Ends: 8:52 PM
Maariv: 8:58 PM
SUNDAY EREV SHAVUOS (5/16)
Shacharis 8:00 AM
Rabbi’s Gemara Shiur via zoom: 8:50 AM https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Mincha/Candle lighting: 7:51 PM
Learning until Maariv
Night Shiur: 11:30 PM – 1:00 AM Mamleches Cohanm v'Goy Kadosh
Anyone who wants to stay after and learn is invited to do so.
MONDAY SHAVUOS I (5/17)
Shacharis : 9:00 AM (with R. Yishmael, say brachos at home)
Latest time for shma: 9:15 AM
Mincha 7:55 PM
Learning until Maariv
Preparations for second night not before: 8:54 PM
TUESDAY SHAVUOS II (5/18)
Shacharis : 9:00 AM (with R. Yishmael, say brachos at home)
Latest time for shma: 9:14 AM
Yizkor: Not Before 10:30 AM
Mincha 7:55 PM
Learning until Maariv
Maariv and Yom Tov ends: 8:53 PM
WEDNESDAY – THURSDAY (5/19 – 5/20)
Maariv: 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:15 PM Parsha Preview on zoom https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Dvar Torah and Thoughts on Preparing for Shavuos
Rabbi Asher Bush
While the Mishna of Pirkei Avos is only five chapters long, a sixth chapter was added in order to help facilitate our preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavous. This way there is one full chapter to learn and put into practice each Shabbos and week during this time. Unlike the five the precede it, this sixth chapter is given a name, פרק קנין תורה, as it focuses so directly on the value and meaning of accepting and having the Torah as the main feature in our lives. One of the main things that it speaks of is the traits needed in order to best acquire the Torah and the traits that will come to a person who genuinely does acquire it.
Not surprisingly, these traits include various aspects of hard work, attaching oneself to good teachers, listening, asking good questions, humility, and modesty among many other traits. Also included in this list are several traits that we likely would not have put there had we been given the job of writing this list. One of these most surprising traits through which the Torah is acquired which is mentioned is that part of a Torah personality is to be נושא בעול עם חבירו/to share the burden with one’s friend. This is not just to have pity, sympathy or even empathy, but to actually share the burden. This is a trait that we certainly feel with our loved ones when they are going through hard times, as we don’t view it as “their problem” but as “our problem”. To have this trait for others beyond our immediate small circle is far from simple. But the point of this lesson of our sages is that not only should Torah help us reach this level, but in order to successfully acquire the Torah, real Torah, we need to understand upfront that this is the essence of so many mitzvos of the Torah. It is not just about me, my learning, my spiritualty and my relationship with God, but it is about others. But it goes much further than that, as we can behave in all sorts of very appropriate ways, doing acts of chesed with our time, efforts, words, and money, but unless we do so with the feeling that this is my burden and not just somebody else’s, there is something sorely lacking in all that we do. They may well feel that they are just a “charity case” and not someone we care about, which unless we have inculcated this trait, that may be exactly what they are in our eyes. This is what it means to be נושא בעול כעם חבירו, that it is our burden, not his or hers. That this is a beautiful trait is a given, but that this is a necessary part of acquiring the Torah is something that we need to sit up and take notice of. This is not a trait reserved for great sages or Tzadikim, it is not something just to read about in biographies real or embellished, it is a trait that must epitomize our existence as Jews who live with and cherish the Torah.
Unfortunately, we are once again provided with an all too real opportunity for this trait to come out as our brothers and sisters in Israel are subjected to terror, bombings, and violence. עת צרה ליעקב, it is not “their problem”, but ours. This is not only about how we feel but ultimately about how we act, as we will certainly treat “our problem” with all of the seriousness required, as “somebody else’s” problem can be put on the back burner. While it may seem that there is not so much that we can do, there is so much for us to do at this time in a whole variety of ways. Our Tefilla, passionate and heartfelt must be a constant, including over Shabbos and Yom Tov if need be, as this is a life and death crisis. If our funds are needed, we must help and do so generously. We all have family and/or friends in Israel, we should keep in touch to make sure they know that they are not alone. And yes, the politics and media are not to be ignored, as whatever we can do in world of public opinion and American government support, we must also do. We have gotten all caught up in the foolish politics of the past few years, but this is what really counts, taking care of our larger Jewish family in its time of crisis. But our plan must also be that this deep love and concern for our brothers and sisters is part of who we are and how we live not just in crisis but each and every day.