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Parshat Lech-Lecha
October 26-27, 2012 / 11 Cheshvan 5773
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A MESSAGE FROM RABBI STRULOWITZ
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The Rabbi's Daughter
In this week's Parsha, Avraham and Sarah's nephew Lot makes a perplexing decision. After he and Avraham have a falling out, Lot looks out at the landscape and needs to choose where to live. He decides on the most fertile land he can find, the area of Sodom. The Torah then tells us that Sodom was full of evil people, which becomes clear once we see them in action. How could Lot go from Avraham's home to the city of Sodom, wouldn't he choose a better location?
The Radak explains that Lot was so confident in himself from his time in Avraham's home that he felt he was immune to outside influences. He was so confident in his spiritual state that he felt that even a city like Sodom could not impact him. He soon realized that his overconfidence was a tragic mistake, and the city of Sodom ended up destroying his family.
There is an Israeli documentary
that recently came out called "The Rabbi's Daughter". It focuses on a number of daughters of prominent Israeli Rabbis who have decided to leave religious life to varying degrees. Every situation is different, but there are some commonalities to the different situations. For me, the saddest part is to hear that these women have fundamental theological questions that have led to their life decisions. Unfortunately, they haven't had open conversation with their own fathers about it.
As a Rabbi with three daughters this film my hit closer to home for me than it does for others, but I think there are some broader lessons to be learned. As a parent, I constantly wonder if my children really "get me". Do they understand what makes me tick? Do they understand why I've made the chosen in life that I have? Do I do a good job explaining how I view life? I'm always afraid that the answer is "no". As a parent we can make the incorrect assumption that our kids fully understand us just because they're our kids. Of course, life doesn't work that way. We need to be able to open up dialogues with our children and grandchildren. We need to start the conversations, to ask the questions before they do, to not assume anything.
Lot thought he had become Avraham, jr., but he hadn't. That mistake changed the course of his entire family. We need to learn that lesson, and start having those conversation now to make sure that we never doubt whether our children "get us".
Have a Shabbat Shalom
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A MESSAGE FROM CHAZZAN ZEVI
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Hello all, This Shabbas I would like to introduce some music from the Chassidic dynasty of "Karlin". Karlin is one of the few Chassidic movement that originated in Lithuania [a stronghold for the Misnagdim, those who oppose Chassidus].The founder of the dynasty, R' Aron, was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezrich, who was a disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidus. Karlin is known for its unique way of Davening; they don't just recite the prayers, they shout them. When you walk into a Karlin Shtibel during Davening you get the feeling that they demonstrate, which is actually what they do. They yell and cry because they believe that shouting helps the Kavanah [concentration and focus] in Davening and hope it will reach Heaven. R' Aron, the founder of Karlin, wrote the lyrics and composed the melody to the famous Ko Echsof song. Ko Echsof explains in a poetic way the Chassidic philosophy about Shabbas. The lyrics express the yearning that a Jewish person has to receive the "pleasure of Shabbas that is part and parcel of G-d's holiness" and how the Shabbas emanates holiness to us and the rest of the week. The music expresses these feelings in a way only music can. Let me leave you with this beautiful song about our connection to Rochel Imeinu, whose Yahrtzeit is this Shabbas. גוט שבת, Chazzan Zevi
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SHABBAT SCHEDULE
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Friday Night, October 26
5:41pm - Candlelighting
5:45pm - Mincha
Shabbat Day, October 27
8:30am - Daf Yomi
9:00am - Shacharit
Sermon: Would Avraham Have Celebrated Halloween?
Gala kiddush in the ballroom following davening
5:30pm - Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit
Seudat Shaelishit: "A Response to the Harvard Crimson"
6:30pm - Ma'ariv
6:40pm - Shabbat ends
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SPONSORSHIPS
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Kiddush this week is sponsored by:
Susan & Bernard Hutman in honor of recently joining WSIS and their son Max Hutman's 5th Birthday.
Seudah Shlishit this week is sponsored by:
Barry Pinchefsky in honor of the anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah parsha
Deborah & Robert Marcus in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Max.
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DAILY MINYAN SCHEDULE
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Daily Shacharit
Sunday - 8:30am
Monday & Thursday - 7:10am
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday - 7:20am
Daily Mincha & Ma'ariv 5:50pm
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YOUTH PROGRAMMING
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Shabbat Groups start at 10:00am. Polly's Room is open at 9:30 AM
Children ages:
0-2: 2nd Floor, 1st Room with Polly
3-4: 2nd Floor, 2nd Room with Racheli
5+: Back of the ballroom with Moshe & Carly
Saturday night, November 10
Family Melavah Malkah w/ Rabbi Jeremy
Join WSIS for a fun, kid-friendly evening of music, movies and pizza!
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MOMMY, DADDY & ME
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 Next class Sunday, Oct 28 at 10:00am!
WSIS's new program is open to children four and under, and is a great opportunity for our children to create a foundation in learning Jewish songs, Tefillah and Chagim.
Other dates: Nov 4, Nov 18, Dec 9, Dec 16, Dec 23
For more information on pricing, or to register, click HERE!
If you would like more information, please contact Rabbi Strulowitz at Rabbi@wsisny.org or Shahina Moses at shahina.moses@gmail.com
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UPCOMING CLASSES
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Torah for Our Times
Wednesday Nights at 8:00pm at WSIS
Election 2012
October 24: Does a Torah Observant Jew Need to Oppose Gay Marriage?
October 31: Is the Government Obligated to Provide Health Care?
The Age of the Internet
November 7: The Ethical Issues of Email
November 14: Is Anonymity Liberating or Debilitating?
November 21: No Class-Thanksgiving
November 28: File Sharing and Pirating Media
Torah and Pop Culture
December 5: John Lennon's Torah Legacy
December 12: The Jewish Fraternity: Can Judaism and Greek Culture Co-exist?
December 19: Christmas Culture: Should Jews Enjoy X-Mas Movies and Christmas Trees?
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Shabbat Morning, November 3
Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York
"Fall 2012 - risks and opportunities for Israel"
WSIS is proud to announce that we will have a special speaker after Shabbat morning services next week. Read more about Ambassador Aharoni here. OU's Day of Advocacy and Action: The Tuition CrisesThursday November 15th Join WSIS community members, the OU, Jewish leaders and New York politicians to learn what is being done and what can be done about the tuition crises. For more info and to sign up: http://www.ou.org/convention/events/new-york/#regForm AIPAC Policy ConferenceMarch 3-5, 2013We are looking forward to another strong WSIS showing at the 2013 AIPAC Policy Conference, in Washington D.C. The early bird special with a $100 discount ends this week. We look forward to an even stronger relationship with AIPAC this year.
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WOMEN'S LEAGUE
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NEXT EVENT
Tuesday, November 13
Rosh Chodesh Shiur
Stay tuned for more information!
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| MEN'S CLUB
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The Men's Club had a great night out last week at the boxing championships at Barclays Center. Thank you to Russ Wenger and Aaron Braunstein for organizing such a fun evening!
Thank you to Avi Fogel for chairing the Men's Club Lunch and Learn, which held its inaugural event today at Cafe Classico, featuring Dr. Sharon Goldman of AIPAC. We were privileged to hear Dr. Goldman's insider briefing regarding the upcoming elections and their impact on US-Israel relations. The lunch and learn will meet the last Thursday of every month, with the next group November 29th.
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| WSIS SECURITY
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Thank you to our WSIS members who volunteered to provide security this week. Volunteers are needed to help protect our WSIS family on Shabbos and holidays. Please volunteer and do your part as security is a joint responsibility of the congregation. To sign up or request information, email security@wsisny.org or speak to any volunteer.
The Community Security Service trains and advises our security team of volunteers.
NEXT CSS CADET CLASS STARTING SOON!
The next Cadet class starts in November.
If you have not taken the cadet course and wish to, please visit css.memberlodge.org and click on "Cadet Application". If you know someone who might be interested, please let them know.
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PRAYER LIST
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If you have any names that you would like to add to our prayer list, or know of names that should be removed, please email the WSIS office at office@wsisny.org
Please have in mind in your prayers
Yehoshua ben Devorah Masha bas Sara Rivka
Raphael Chanana ben simi
Chana Rocel bas Perel Itzak ben Devorah
Joseph ben Sarah
Haor ben Havo
Lior ben Ester
Netanel ben Anna
Zehava bat China
Shimon ben Devorah
Yoel Meir ben Dovid
Issir ben Sarah Miriam
Shoshana bat Yachet Golda
Zev Meir ben Yael Sarah
Aryeh Dov ben Malka
Leah Malka bas Miriam
Chana Bayla bas Elka
Chava bat Chana Malka Rachel
Aliza Chaya bas Sarah Freida
Fievel Yitzchak ben Miriam
Asher Zev ben Nechama Devorah
Sara Rivka bas Miriam
David ben Leah
Yehoshua ben Chaya
Yael Oranit bas Chana Rachel
Rivkah bat Edel Chava
Mindel bat Chaya
Tzvi Ilan ben Gita
Shmuel Menachem Mendel ben Shulamis
Esther Mindel bas Devorah
Lea bat Masha
Shlomo Shaul ben Perel
Miriam bat Esther
Yeshaia Avraham ben Zeva Leba
Shlomo Shaul ben Perel
Rochel Hinda bat Devorah Rivka
Moshe Yosef ben Hinda Rachel
Hinda Leah bat Etkah
Nechama Batya bat Tziporah
Ariel Eytal Tova bat Raquel
Rachel Chaya bat Tziona
Tziporah bat Chana
Malcah Chaya bat Batsheva
Yisrael Alter ben Devora Rivka
Faigel Mindel bat Zlota Shandel
Eliezer Yosef ben Chaya Blima
Sarah Reyza Chaya bas Hinda
Moshe Avraham ben Aliksandra Simone
David ben Sarah
Meekah Pessel bat Devorah
Michael David ben Rivka Gila
Ayalah Tamar bat Esther
Esther bat Margolit
Avraham Moshe ben Esther Elka
Chava Rachel bat Rivka
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