Contents
From The Rabbi's Shtender
Schedule of Services
Activities
Birthdays
Yahrtzeits
Kosher Konsumer Korner

Congregation Schomre Israel

Week of May 13, 2016     י"ג אייר תשע"ו
Parashat Emor
 פרשת אמר תשע"ז  

 
 
 
From The Rabbi's Shtender     
  
 
   

 
Ahah! Ahah! 
Ahah! Ahah!
Ayelet HaShachar 
Ayelet HaShachar

Adapted from a post by Jonathan Sredni dedicated in memory of his father Yaacov Zeev Yisrael ben Shmuel

This Sunday  is a 'minor' holiday of Biblical origin, Pesach Sheni - the "Second" Pesach. To be honest, Pesach Sheni hardly gets much recognition. Aside from not saying Tachanun (the supplication prayer said on regular days, but not on festive ones) and the tradition to eat Matzah on Pesach Sheni, it hardly seems to warrant any (second) thought. But there is more to Pesach Sheni than meets the eye.

The source for Pesach Sheni can be found in Chapter 9 of the book of Numbers. Moshe announced that the Passover sacrifice (Korban Pesach) may only be eaten by people who are tahor, ritually pure. One who was ritually unclean, ta'mai, was not allowed to bring and partake of the Paschal Offering.

We then read that a group of people approached Moshe and Aharon at the time of the first Pesach after the exodus. They, because of the fact they were ritually unclean from contact with a corpse, were not able to bring the offering. This group asked Moshe and Aharon "Why are we being prevented from bringing the offering with the rest of Israel, in the proper time?' The response from Moshe was, "Stand and hear what G-d has commanded you." Then, the Torah relates the laws concerning Pesach Sheni, an opportunity for all those who missed bringing the Korban Pesach at the proper time through no fault of their own, to bring this offering, on the 14th of Iyar, a full month later and hence fulfill this special commandment.

In Chassidic philosophy, especially as expounded by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, Pesach Sheni is about second chances, since the original Pesach Sheni was in response to people who had been unable to be included in the Pesach observance and were granted another opportunity exactly one full month after the first Pesach.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains how another story in the book of Numbers, that of the daughters of Tzelofchad, is similar to the institution of Pesach Sheni.  In that episode, five sisters came with a claim to the leaders of their generation explaining that their father died, leaving no male heir, and the portion of the Land that should be given to their branch of the family would consequently be given to another branch. These women were basically saying, "We care so much, why should we lose?"

G-d's response is that when there are no sons, daughters, in fact do inherit. By including this whole exchange as part of the Torah, these women are heroines for all ages. The same can be said about the Jews who did not want to miss the opportunity to sacrifice the Paschal Lamb. In both cases the Jews were saying, "This is so important to us, why should we lose out?" In both situations G-d on High responded to a claim made from below! (This is in contrast to Moses teaching G-d's commands - the emphasis on receiving rather than initiating.)

Among the many lessons to be derived from these incidents is an all-important approach to Mitzvot. Do we see them as a burden or an opportunity? If, for some reason, I wasn't able to do a mitzva before, am I "left out", or do I want, even need to seek a second chance?

Please do give it a second thought this Pesach Sheni.    

Shabbat Shalom
 
Rabbi Eliezer Langer 
 
 
****

Tuesdays, 7:00pm        
"Dueling Rabbis": Ethics of our Ancestors
Chapter Five 
Boardman Road Library, Poughkeepsie

**** 
 
 
Link Here For
News You May Have Missed


  PHILANTHROPY/FUNDRAISING

           
    


****
Tefillah -  Services 
May  20-27

 

Friday May 20
Mincha 7:00 PM
Candle Lighting  7:56 PM

Shabbat Day May 
Shacharit 9:00 AM
Shema before 9:11 AM  
Mincha after 1:29 PM
Shabbat Ends 8:57 PM 
 
Sunday 8:30AM 
Yahrtzeit - Max Pastreich beloved father of Mark Pastreich
Monday &  Thursday 7:00 AM
 
Monday 7:00 PM Mincha at the Levines'

Friday May 27 Candle lighting 8:02 PM 
Mincha 7:00 PM

***************

****
Schomre Israel Classes

Monday Evening

6:00PM
Jewish History Discussion Group
Led by Evelyn and David Horowitz
The plight of the tribes as the North and the South Kingdoms struggle for supremacy. 

7:00 PM
 Hebrew language (prerequisite : class of 2015 )
With David Horowitz

7:00 PM
"Improving Hebrew reading skills"
 using the prayerbook 

Evelyn Horowitz, teaching   
 


Tuesday Morning Class
May 3- 10:30 AM
What Is Lag B"Omer?
Last class available here

Thursday Evening May 19
 What's My Line
Biographies of Our Greats
Rabbi Yosef Karo - 
 Halachist, and Commentator
16th Century - Spain and Israel
7:00PM


 
***

Did you miss a recent class?
 Link online class 


Daily 7:45am
 
 
 
  
Acheinu kol beit yisrael, han'tunim b'tzara uvashivyah, haomdim bein bayam uvein bayabasha. Hamakom Y'racheim Aleihem v'yotziem mitzra lirvacha um'afaila l'orah umishiabud lig'ulah, hashta ba'agala uvizman kariv.V'nomar: Amen   

stretching-people-outdoors.jpg
 

Chair Yoga 
Monday 11:30-12:30 
 
  Chair Yoga, taught by Toni Farkas
 Nominal fee of $5 per class.

******
enter_to_win_vector.jpg
 

The date of the Annual Raffle and Cocktail Party has been changed from June 5th to Sunday, June 26th at 2:00 PM.  If you have questions or want to purchase ticket(s) please contact Irwin Lifshey at 452.2051.  To purchase ticket(s) on-line, access the Shul's website, schomreisrael.org, and on the home page scroll to Annual Raffle and Cocktail Party and follow prompts.   

 
******
happy_birthday_candles.jpg



MAY BIRTHDAYS
 
13         Lily Josephine Weinstein
13        Heather Wexler
19        Lisa Weinstein            
23        Michael Kirshner
24        Ivan Zachary Corwin
25        Harry Weinstein
26        Eric Isaac Corwin
26        Claire R. Koffman Frisbee
27        Jesse Blake Brown
28        Yehoshua Simcha Fox
28        Lee Klein
28        Michelle Fishman
29        Arin Lipman
 
 
We wish much happiness and good health on this special day. עד מאה ועשרים שנה - Biz 120!!
 
This information comes from our Shul calendar. If you would like to be listed please contact us.
 

Yahrtzeit



Congregation Schomre Israel Commemorates the yahrtzeit of:



MAY YAHRZEITS
 
22         Max Pastreich                          14 Iyar
27        Leah Alweiss                           19 Iyar    
30         Irving Fuhrer                            22 Iyar
14        Joseph L. Weiselman                25 Iyar
14        Meyer Inkeles                          25 Iyar
14        Elsie Skolnik                           25 Iyar
18        Hannalore Weinstein               29 Iyar
25        Fannie Horowitz                        7 Sivan
27        Edward Bennett                         9 Sivan 
31        Esther Korfman                        13 Sivan
31         Sylvia Anes                              13 Sivan
 
    
תהה נשמתם צרורות בצרור בהחיים
May their souls be bound in the bond of eternal life.

This information comes from our Shul calendar. If you wish to add a name to this list please contact us.

 ****** 
   
Kosher Konsumer Korner    
 

Kashrut.com has new information.


www.kashrut.com/Alerts has the following new information:
  • Maryland Post Pesach Maryland Beer Alert
  • Kashrus certification reinstatement on kosher hot dog concession at Progressive Field (Indians Stadium)
  • Kashrus alert on HyVee Pancake & Sausage
  • Insect infestation alert on Fresh Express Classic Garden, Fresh Express Shredded, and Dole Shredded Lettuce
  • Israeli carrot information
  • Recall of various Dr. Praeger's products
  • Updated informaton on Stahlbush® IQF Green Bean recall
  • Additional egg allergy alert Asian Star Surimi products
  • Kashrus alert on Napoleon Pitted Kalamata Olives
  • Kashrus alert on Protein Essentials Collagen and Gelatin Protein Supplements
www.Kashrut.com/Alerts/?s=1 has the following new information:
  • Kashrus alert on PAM Butter Flavor No-Stick Cooking Spray (Code: B1-68)
  • Health alert on various products containg Walnuts
  • Health alert on Frontier Co-op Organic Hojicha Tea
  • Kosher Alert FrozFruit Creamy Coconut Fruit Bar
  • Shmitta Israeli Clementines are now being sold at Costco.
  • Kosher Alert Allmax Nutrition Creatine Hydrochloride
www.kashrut.com/News has the following new information:
  • Information on adulteration of various burger products including vegetarian products
www.kashrut.com/consumer/baked_goods has new information on yoson for next year from the following sources: