Parshas Yisro - ShulCloud · 1/26/2019 · I must discover, “My God,” I must uncover what...
Transcript of Parshas Yisro - ShulCloud · 1/26/2019 · I must discover, “My God,” I must uncover what...
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Candle Lighting
5:01p
Mincha
5:05p
Torah Reading
Pg.
Haftorah
Pg.
Candle Lighting 2/1
5:09p
Parshas Yisro 20 Shevat | January 26, 2019
SHABBOS SCHEDULE Shabbos Night
5:01p Candle Lighting 5:05p Mincha followed by Kabbolas Shabbos
Shabbos Day 8:05a Daf Yomi 8:35a Chassidus on the Parsha (Rabbi Richter) 9:00a Shacharis (9:49a KS) 11:30a Kehillah Kiddush 4:55p Mincha followed by Shalosh Seudos. 6:03p Maariv followed by Havdalah 7:05p Motzei Shabbos Learning
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sun 1/27– 21st of Shevat 7:15, 8:00, 9:00a Shacharis
5:15p Mincha/Maariv
Mon - Fri a.m. 6:45, 9:00a Shacharis 5:15p Mincha/Maariv
“Now Moses' father in law, Jethro, the chieftain of Midian, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, His people that the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt.” (Shemos 18:1) What motived Yisro to leave his life of comfort and prominence in Midyan, journey to the
middle of the desert and join the fledgling Jewish nation? What moved Yisro to give up the
priesthood of Midyan with its fame and fortune and embrace the God of Israel? The Talmud
quotes various opinions. Some explain that he heard about the miraculous splitting of the
Red Sea, others explain he heard of the exceptional Jewish bravery in the battle against
Amaleyk and still others maintain it was the awesome glory of Sinaitic revelation that
caused Yisro to travel from Midyan to the Jewish encampment. Whatever the reason, Yisro
felt a burning desire to connect and be part of the Jewish people. Yet, only a few verses later
the Torah states, “Moses saw his father in law off, and he went away to his land.” (Shemos 18:27) The Torah in Bamidbar tells us that Yisro said to Moshe, “... I will travel back to my home and to my birthplace.” (Bamidbar 10:30) Why did Yisro leave? Why did Yisro choose
to return home after he had sacrificed so much to join the Jewish people?
When Menachem Mendel from the city of Kotzk was a young boy, he was convinced by an
acquaintance to spend some time learning by the great Chassidic master, the Chozeh (Seer)
of Lublin (Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, 1745-1815). After a few months away from
home, Menachem Mendel’s father, upset that his son had chosen to follow in the ways of
Chassidus (Menachem Mendel’s family were “misnagdim,” those opposed to the Chassidic
movement), decided to travel to Lublin to persuade his young son to return home. When he
found his son in the home of the Chozeh, he said, “Menachem Mendel, this is not the way I
raised you, this is not the tradition of your forefathers, I beg of you, return with me and
embrace the path of service of your ancestors.” Menachem Mendel replied quoting a verse
from the Shira (song) in last week’s Parsha, “....this is my God (Zeh Keyli), and I will make Him great, the God of my father (Elokay Avi), and I will ascribe to Him exaltation.” (Shemos 15:2) “Father, I fully embrace all you have taught and conveyed to me,
I fully accept the ideas and ideals you have imprinted on my soul. But it is not enough for
me to live with “your God,” I must find “my God.” You have given me Elokay Avi, the God
of my father, now I must find and cultivate a relationship with Zeh Keyli, my personal
God.” Young Menachem Mendel grew up to become the famed Chassidic luminary, Rav
Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859).
The Kotzker teaches us a profound idea. There are two components in man’s relationship
with God:
Elokai Avi, the God of my father - each of us inherits a spiritual legacy from the
generations that preceded us. I learn the spiritual ideals and outlooks of my parents. I accept
their values and appreciate their philosophy and theology.
Zeh Keyli, this is my God - but I must also strive to forge my own personal and special
bond with God. I must discover, “My God,” I must uncover what makes me unique and use
it to build a bond between myself and my Father above.
Perhaps this is why Yisro went back to Midyan. When Yisro camped with the Jewish
people, the text refers to him as “Chosein Moshe, (the father in law of Moshe)” - his
individual identity eclipsed by his relationship to the Prophet of Israel. Although it was a
great honor to be identified as Moshe’s father-in-law, Yisro felt that he had personal
contributions to make. He journeyed to the Jewish people to learn and understand God and
His Torah. He journeyed to the Jewish people to establish a spiritual foundation. Once this
foundation was solidified, Yisro knew he had to build his individual bond with the Almighty.
This individuality was to be expressed in his ability to influence his family, friends and
community back in Midyan. It would have been easy to remain with the Jewish people and
bask in the perpetual holiness and revelation. But he knew he had the potential to influence
and help shape the theological and spiritual thinking of others. He had to go back to
Midyan. He came to the desert to find Elokai Avi and now it was his mission to find his Zeh Keyli; his personal God.
Continued on back>
INDIVIDUALIZED HOLINESS
RABBI SHMUEL SILBER
WEEKLY SHIURIM
by Rabbi Silber
Sun
8:00a Daf Yomi
Mon - Fri
5:55a Daf Yomi
Following 9am minyan 15 Minutes of
Mishnayos (Rabbi Richter)
Mon
8:30p Shulchan Aruch Chaburah
(recorded)
Tues
8:30p Hilchos Shabbos B’Iyun
(Rabbi Richter)
Perek Shira resumes 2/6
SECURITY TRAINING: LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER
Three hour tactical training given by Tzviel "BK" Blankenshtein of Masada
Tactical. Register with [email protected].
Takes place this Sunday, 1/27 at 9am in the Beis Midrash.
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MEMBER NEWS
MAZAL TOV Zack and Kori Pomerantz on the
bris of their son, Dov Yitzchak
BIRTHDAYS Tara Cornberg, Atara Shulamit Friedman, Zach Gardyn, Barbara Kadin, Shayna Lerner, Nachum Levine, Batsheva Messing, Alexandra Polirer, Anna Ponczak, Avigayil Reidy, Elan Rotenberg, Chavie Rothschild, Aviva Rubin, Etiel Mordechai Weinberg, Moshe Wildman Happy birthday to a good friend of the shul, Iris Littman
YAHRZEITS Anita Auerhan, Jacob Brem, Ellen Sheila Wiss, Wendy Fine, Israel Jacob Hertzberg, Rose Kozlovsky, Henry Lehmann, Rabbi Levi Ness, Henrietta Cousin, Katarina Samuel, Benjamin Shapiro, Nathan Woolf
SHUL HAPPENINGS
Taharas Hamishpacha Refresher Mon-Tues 1/28-29 | 8:00p, SOTC
Presented by Rebbetzein Aviva Silber, for women. RSVP required
End of Life Care feat. Rabbi Daniel Rose
Sun 2/10 | 10:00a, SOTC
suburbanorthodox.org/event/endcare
Guys Night Out with the Rav
Tues 2/12 | 8:00p, AMF Bowling
Shiur followed by friendly competition
For men. RSVP required
SOTC Book Club Tues 3/12 | 2:00p, SOTC Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Harmony at Home: Promoting Better Behavior and Self Control Tues 2/5 | 7:30p, Beth Tfiloh School Featuring Dr. Russell Barkley, Ph.D. Ju shemeshparentlecture.eventbrite.com
SPONSORSHIPS
KEHILLAH KIDDUSH Friends of Bennett Goldberg in
honor of his birthday
SHALOSH SEUDOS By the Hamburger family with gratitude for the all the members who help Daniel
Isaac Samuel in memory of Katarina Samuel, Rifka bas Yosef z'l
DONATIONS Ken & Eileen Creeger, Elliot Brum
Mayer & Brenda Katz in memory of Brenda’s brother, Israel Jacob Herzberg, Yisroel Yaakov ben Yitzchak z’l
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MEET BENNETT GOLDBERG
Bennett Goldberg has been a long time member of Suburban Orthodox, and even had his Bar Mitzvah here! With quiet dedication, he has served on various shul committees and the Board. He has always deeply cared for the shul. For example, Bennett provides new copies of the large print siddur for the Baal Tefillah and arranged for the polishing of the Torah's crowns.
Bennett worked in sales for many years, is a lover of animals and a loyal Ravens fan.
We are so grateful to have Bennett as part of our shul family. Join us in wishing him a happy birthday!
DVAR TORAH CONT.
We each possess collective and individual identities. Our collective identity is forged
by the generations who came before us. This identity is solidified through the lessons of our
parents and their parents before them. But collective, historical identity is not enough. We
must strive to create our own unique relationships and personal connections to God. We must
try to find our individual strengths, talents and abilities and use them in the service of God.
We may observe the same mitzvos, recite the same prayers and share common practices but
we are individualistically unique when it comes to our relationship with God. We each
nurture our Elokay Avi and celebrate our Zeh Keyli.
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