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Parshat Devarim, Shabbat Chazon July 25, 2009 4 Av, 5769
TorahArtscroll, 938Hertz, 736HaftorahArtscroll,1195Hertz, 750
thousand fold increase if they were already receivingHashem's blessing of virtually limitless increase?The Chasam Sofer explainsthat Moshe was testingthem. Why did they wantchildren? Was it becausechildren were useful,because they help carry thehousehold burden, providecompanionship and are asource of security in oldage? Or is it because eachchild is a spark of the Divine,a priceless gift from Heaven,a piece of the World toCome?So Moshe gave the Jewishpeople a test. He blessedthem with a "thousand fold"increase in their population.If they had wanted childrenfor their usefulness alone,they would have said,"Thank you, but that'senough already! A thousandfold will suit our purposes just fine. We have no use for any more right now." But thatwas not what they said. Theywanted more children. Theywanted children "toonumerous to count."Obviously, they were notthinking about their ownmaterial and emotional needs,but about the transcendentblessing that each childrepresents, and so, theyproved themselves worthy of Hashem's blessing.Hundreds of years earlier,these two conflicting attitudestoward children had alreadybecome an issue. Yaakov andEisav had made a division.Eisav was to take this world,and Yaakov was to take theWorld to Come. When Yaakovcame back from Aram, Eisavwelcomed him at the head of an army four hundred menstrong. In the tense earlyminutes of the confrontation,Eisav noticed Yaakov's manychildren."Who are these children?"Eisav asked."These are the children,"Yaakov replied, "that Hashemgraciously gave to your servant."The Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer expands the dialogue betweenYaakov and Eisav and revealsthe underlying argument."What are you doing with allthese children?" Eisav asked."I thought we made a division,that I would take this world andyou would take the World toCome. So why do you have so
Children are a Gift
 "May God, the Lord of your fathers, add athousand fold more likeyou and bless you, as Hespoke to you." (Devarim1:11)The Jewish people,Rashi informs us, werenot very happy with theblessing Moshe gavethem. "May God, theLord of your fathers," hehad said, "add athousand fold more likeyou and bless you as Hespoke to you.""Only that and no more?"the people responded."Is that the full extent of your blessing? Hashemblessed us (Bereishis32:13) to be 'like the dustof the earth that is toonumerous to count.'""You will surely get theblessing Hashem gaveyou," Moshe replied."This is just my ownpersonal blessing toyou."What exactly wasMoshe's reply? Whatadditional benefit wouldthe Jewish people derivefrom his blessing of a
Rabbi Frand: Thoughts on the Parsha
Times
Hashkama
8:00 am
Youth
8:30 am
Main Minyan
9:00 am
Beit Midrash
9:15 am
Gemorah Shiur 
6:50 pm
Mincha
7:50 pm
Shabbat Ends
9:07 pm
Sunday, 7/26 7:30 /8:30 amMon.
6:35 am
Tues., Wed. Fri.
6:45 am
Second ShacharitMinyan (Daily)
7:45 am
Mincha (week of July 26)8:00 pmLatest times for Shema/Shmoneh EsreiJuly 25 9:23/10:35 amAugust 1 9:26/10:37 am Next Shabbat –VaetchananCandle lighting 7:53 pmMincha 7:00 pm
Thursday 7/30, Tisha B’AvSee schedule page 2
Mincha
7:00 pm
Candle Lighting
8:00 pm
Kiddush is SponsoredBy Karen & Edward Wydrain Memory of his MotherHelen Wydra
 
many children? What do children have to do with theWorld to Come? Children are a boon in this world!""Not so," Yaakov responded. "Children are sparks of the Divine. The opportunity to raise a child, to developa Divine soul to the point where it can enter the Worldto Come, is a privilege of the highest spiritual worth.That is why I have children."Yaakov wants children for their own sake, but Eisavviews them as an asset in this world. Children are anextra pair of hands on the farm. They can milk thecows and help with many other chores that need to bedone in agrarian societies.Modern man has progressed beyond agrarian life. Hehas moved off the farm and does not have such aneed for children anymore. In fact, he has made astartling discovery. Children are a tremendousburden. They are expensive, time consuming andexasperating. Who needs children?But what about companionship? Loneliness? Noproblem. Modern man can get a dog. Dogs arewonderful. Instead of coming home to a house full of clamoring, demanding, frustrating children, he cancome home to an adoring, tail-wagging dog who willrun to bring him his slippers and newspaper. So whydoes he need children? This is the attitude of Eisavadapted to modern times.Yaakov, on the other hand, understands that thepurpose of children is not for enjoying this world or for making our lives easier. Each child represents aspiritual mission, a spark of the Divine entrusted toour care and our guidance, an opportunity to fulfillHashem's desire to have this soul brought to theWorld to Come.
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Parshat Devarim, 5769
Great Neck SynagogueShabbat Activities Program
 
Dale Polakoff, RabbiShalom Axelrod, Assistant RabbiDr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi EmeritusZeev Kron, CantorEleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor EmeritusMark Twersky, Executive DirectorHoward Silberstein, PresidentHarold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
TISHA B’AV 5769Wednesday Schedule
Mincha 7:30 pmSeudah Mafseket: Rolls and hard boiled eggsFast Begins: 8:13 pmMaariv, Eicha & Kinot : 8:15 pm
Thursday Schedule
First Shacharit: 6:00 am- with kinot until 8:15amSecond Shacharit: 8:30 am- with kinot until 11:30amShiurim on Tisha B'AvRabbi Polakoff 11:30 – 12:00 pmRabbi Axelrod 12:00 – 12:30 pm
Shiurim broadcast in the Weinstein Torah andTechnology Center 
OU Videos l 12:30 – 1:35 pmRabbi Steven Weil:
“The Death of the Righteous: The Tragedy of theDeaths of Yoshiyahu HaMelech, The Children of Rabbi Yishmael, and the Ten Martyrs”
 Mincha 1:45 pmOU Video 2:15 pmRabbi Tzvi Weinreb:
“My Shoulders, Your Shoulders, Our Shoulders”
 Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky
“From Galus to Geulah”
Shaimot burial 6:00 pmChofetz Chaim Video 6:15 pmRabbi Yissocher Frand
“Heeding the Call: What Are Our Trying Times Tell-ing Us?”
2
nd
Mincha 7:45 pmMa’ariv 8:35 pmFast ends 8:51 pm
 
 
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ROSHROSHROSHROSH
 
HASHANAHASHANAHASHANAHASHANA
 
ISISISIS
 
RIGHTRIGHTRIGHTRIGHT
 
AROUNDAROUNDAROUNDAROUND
 
THETHETHETHE
 
CORNERCORNERCORNERCORNER
!!!!!!!!
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