Chabad of Port Washington � Email: rabbi@chabadpw.org � Voice: 516-767-8672 � www.ChabadPW.org
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Greetings!
The Boston Marathon bombing came right at the heels of Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Memorial Day. Let me tell you a story to make a point:
A prominent family who suffered a catastrophic fire destroying the historic family estate, established an annual custom for all its descendants to gather on the anniversary of the "great fire" to recall and pay tribute to the tragic event. One year, ironically, right in the midst of the tribute event - a fire broke out in the new family home which was built atop the old estate. People began to shout: "Fire! There's a fire in the estate! Come quick, everyone, help!"
From the stage at the front of the room the family leaders stood up and hushed the crowd. "Remove the hecklers" they ordered. "This is no time to be worried about anything. We're here for an important tribute to a historic catastrophe. Everything else can wait." The program went on. All enjoyed the nostalgic reminiscing, even as the entire estate once again burned down to the ground.
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Often, when I attend Holocaust Memorial events, I feel like I am living that tragic story in real life. Speaker after speaker talks about what was, and how painful things were and that no one cared enough to help. What about what's happening today?! Not a word! Nothing about the existential threat facing Israel from Iran. Nothing about radical Islam's proclaimed holy war against Israel and the West.
Have no lessons been learned?! How pathetic that the only lessons one hears about at Holocaust Memorials in current terms is the concern for bullying in the schools and what's happening at Darfur. To be sure, both are really important issues... I sit at these events and feel like shouting: BUT THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!
The establishment Jewish community is increasingly vigilant with any anti-Moslem hate speech. Rightfully so. Jews are supposed to oppose any and all hate, period. But shouldn't we be at least as concerned with Moslem extremism and hate speech, as we are anti-Moslem speech? It's a safe bet the former poses a far greater threat to the world than the latter.
Click here to watch this video - taken at a Moslem Day Parade in 2012 - right here in NYC. Notice how our elected official runs away from the problem rather than publicly and forcefully condemning it. If our elected and Jewish leaders don't have the courage to stand up against this hate - who will? Did you even know this event took place? Why isn't there an uproar about this - and so much more like it - in the Jewish and larger community? Are we burying our heads in the sand? Did we learn nothing from the 1930's? Did we learn nothing from 9/11? Did we learn nothing from the Boston Marathon?
Sorry for painting a bleak picture... It's the truth. We should be alert and active, each in our small way. Each of us can help put this where it belongs - at the top of the communal agenda, by pressing our elected officials, and by electing real leaders who have the courage to lead (!) and to deal with the real issues of the day. Got charitable funds to support Jewish advocacy and Israel? Be sure to direct those funds towards organizations who speak out courageously and deal with these issues head on, not those who make politically correct statements and shy away from the tough issue of the existential threat to Israel and the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Europe and the world over. Collectively, we can turn the tide and make a real difference.
And please, it's been a tough couple weeks... If you don't normally light your Shabbat candles, light one today. The world needs extra light, don't you think?
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
P.S. GYM is REOPENED! Stay tuned for programs, leagues, girls volleyball, boys basketball, etc. to resume within days!
Join us for the FIRST EVENT in the GYM: The Lag B'Omer Celebration this Sunday morning 10:30am-Noon featuring a world-class jump roper (that's correct, jump-roper) who has performed in front of 4 US Presidents, so this guy's worth seeing! This is for EVERYONE - kids, teens, adults, even seniors. Lag B'Omer is a very joyous day for EVERYONE, and we believe we've chosen an entertainer who will be thoroughly enjoyed by ALL! Don't miss this WORLD-CLASS entertainer visiting our CHABAD! And it's all FREE - entertainment and refreshments for all who attend. Come and bring your friends. It's Lag B'Omer. (JLI Students: We will join this program immediately following our class - which is at 11:30. We will be there for a good portion of the performance - maybe we'll finish a few minutes early to ensure that.)
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What Is Lag B'Omer?
Lag BaOmer-this year, April 28, 2013-is a festive day on the Jewish calendar, celebrating the anniversary of the passing of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. It also commemorates another event. In the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged amongst the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva. On Lag BaOmer the dying ceased... Click here to learn more about Lag B'Omer.
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Why Going to Shul Is Good for You
By: T. M. Luhrmann
ONE of the most striking scientific discoveries about religion in recent years is that going to church weekly is good for you. Religious attendance - at least, religiosity - boosts the immune system and decreases blood pressure. It may add as much as two to three years to your life. The reason for this is not entirely clear...
Click here to read full article.
Special thanks to Suzanne Kolen for bringing this to my attention.
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Israeli Inferiority Complex
Learning from the Rebbe: Episode 20
with Moshe Spalter and Michael Kigel
In the wake of the 1982 Lebanon War, the Rebbe speaks about the foolish and dangerous stance of making concessions in the hopes of winning favor in the eyes of other nations. Guest Expert: Rabbi Moshe Spalter.
Click here to watch thus 18-minute clip.
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OUR GYM IS NOW RE-OPENED! SHOOTING STARS IS BACK!
Register today for Shooting Stars Soccer Spring I Classes
Friday, April 26th -May 31st at Chabad of Port Washington
Time: 12:00 - 12:45 PM
Ages: 3 & 4 years old
Limited space available so don't delay!!
To register or view our class schedule visit us online at www.shootingstarssportsli.com or call 631-651-5000
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You Think You're a Good Person?
By: Rabbi Aron Moss | Sydney, Australia
Question: I never used to work on myself. I didn't think I had to. I am a nice guy and always was. Only recently have I got involved in Judaism and become more introspective and spiritual. But a weird thing has happened. I don't think I am as nice as I used to be. I have discovered a temper I never knew I had. And I feel more tempted to do immoral things than ever before. This really started since I'm coming to shul more and learning more about my religion. Does this make sense? Shouldn't becoming more observant make me better not worse?
ANSWER>>
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B"H
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Shabbat Times |
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Shabbat Candle Lighting: |
Friday, Apr 26
7:27 pm
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Shabbat Ends: |
Shabbat, Apr 27
8:30 pm
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Community News |
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MAZAL TOV Mazel tov to Ben and Lisa Dardashtian on the birth of a new grandson, Miles Isaac Dardashtian, born to Josh and Jamie Dardashitan.
The Proud Grandparents, Ben & Lisa
BIRTHDAYS
Ariella Bulkin 4/27
Rorie Blythe Wach 4/27
Jeffrey Podolsky 4/28
Davin Rabman 4/28
Theadora Rabman 4/28
Deborah Lee 4/30
Gregory Savran 5/1
YARTZEITS
Albert Tawfik,
(Abraham)
4/26/2013 | Iyar 16, 5773
observed by David & Talya Tawfik
Andrew Hyman,
4/29/2013 | Iyar 19, 5773
observed by Allan & Susann Hyman
Sheindl Bernstein, (Sheindl bas Meir) 4/30/2013 | Iyar 20, 5773
observed by Annette Chana Buchman
Gordon Alt, (Gershon)
5/1/2013 | Iyar 21, 5773
observed by Lucille Rabinowitz
Harry Heiden,
(Hersh Leib ben Avraham)
5/2/2013 | Iyar 22, 5773
observed by
David & Regine Heiden
*CLICK HERE to convert any regular calendar date, birthday or Yahrtzeit to its corresponding Jewish-calendar date!
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Daily Thought |
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Miracles & Doctors
Firm confidence in G-d can perform miracles of healing. Nevertheless, you should still follow the instructions of the doctor.
Not that it is the doctor or his medicine that heals
-it is the Healer of All Flesh who heals.
But the doctor and the medicine provide a natural channel for the healing to occur, and this is the way G-d prefers His miracles to work-through natural means.
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Parshah |
Faith as a Journey
What was truly remarkable about the wilderness years was not that the Israelites were surrounded by the clouds of glory, but that they were an entire nation without a home or houses; they were like nomads without a place of refuge.
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Pesach Sheni |
Pesach Sheni Minisite
Thirty days ago we cleaned our homes and souls of leaven, and matzahed our way through the week-long festival of Passover. And now, Pesach Sheni-a Second Passover!
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Lag BaOmer |
Lag BaOmer Minisite
The birthday of Jewish mysticism . . . The spiritual significance of the bow and arrow . . . Can love be true, and can truth be loving? . . . What is Kabbalah?
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Women |
To Beeswax or Not to Beeswax
Like many men and women of my generation, I was caught up in proving myself. One successful academic publication begot more. A teaching award necessitated that I earn the next higher honor . . .
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Parshat Emor
The Torah section of Emor (" Speak") begins with the special laws pertaining to the kohanim ("priests"), the kohen gadol ("high priest"), and the Temple service: A kohen may not become ritually impure through contact with a dead body, save on the occasion of the death of a close relative. A kohen may not marry a divorcee, or a woman with a promiscuous past; a kohen gadol can marry only a virgin. A kohen with a physical deformity cannot serve in the Holy Temple, nor can a deformed animal be brought as an offering.
A newborn calf, lamb or kid must be left with its mother for seven days before being eligible for an offering; one may not slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day.
The second part of Emor lists the annual Callings of Holiness-the festivals of the Jewish calendar: the weekly Shabbat; the bringing of the Passover offering on 14 Nissan; the seven-day Passover festival beginning on 15 Nissan; the bringing of the Omer offering from the first barley harvest on the second day of Passover, and the commencement, on that day, of the 49-day Counting of the Omer, culminating in the festival of Shavuot on the fiftieth day; a "remembrance of shofar blowing" on 1 Tishrei; a solemn fast day on 10 Tishrei; the Sukkot festival-during which we are to dwell in huts for seven days and take the "Four Kinds"-beginning on 15 Tishrei; and the immediately following holiday of the "eighth day" of Sukkot ( Shemini Atzeret).
Next the Torah discusses the lighting of the menorah in the Temple, and the showbread (lechem hapanim) placed weekly on the table there.
Emor concludes with the incident of a man executed for blasphemy, and the penalties for murder (death) and for injuring one's fellow or destroying his property (monetary compensation).
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