Parshat Re’eh August 7, 2010 27 Av, 5770

Torah Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on the Parsha

Artscroll, 998
Hertz, 799 If you seek to understand "release"). The oral tradition, When Rabbi Yannai saw a
Haftorah
Judaism's social vision, look however, extended it to the laws certain man giving a coin to a
Artscroll, 1199 at its anti-poverty of tzedakah - the word usually poor person in front of
Hertz, 818 legislation. translated as "charity" but which everyone, he said: It would
also means "distributive justice, have been better not to have
AUFRUF “If there is a poor man equity". The rabbis interpreted the
JOSEPH ARYEH given it to him than to have
among your brothers in any phrase "sufficient for his needs" to given it and put him to shame.
of the towns of the land that mean the basic requirements of
(Hagigah 5b)
Mevorchim Chodesh the Lord your G-d is giving existence: food, clothing, shelter
Elul you, do not be hardhearted and so on. "That which he lacks"
In a famous passage,
Tuesday- wednesday or tight-fisted toward your was understood as referring to a
Molad
Maimonides describes the
poor brother. Rather be person who was previously
Tuesday 7:52 am eight levels of charity:
open-handed and freely wealthy but has now become
Times lend him sufficient for his impoverished. He too must be There are eight degrees of
needs in that which he helped to recover his dignity: charity, one higher than the
Candle Lighting 7:47 pm lacks. Be careful not to
other.
harbour this wicked thought: It is related about Hillel the Elder
Friday Mincha 7:00 pm "The seventh year, the year that, for a certain poor man who
The highest degree,
for cancelling debts, is was of good family, he bought a
Hashkama 8:00 am exceeded by none, is that of
near," so that you do not horse to ride on and a slave to run one who assists a poor
show ill will toward your before him. When on one
Youth 8:30 am person by providing him with
needy brother and give him occasion he could not find a slave
a gift or a loan or by
Main Minyan 9:00 am nothing. He may then to run before the man, he himself accepting him into a business
appeal to the Lord against ran before him. (Ketubot 67b) partnership or by helping him
Beith Midrash 9:15 am you, and you will be found find employment - in a word
guilty of sin. Give The force of this passage lies in
Gemorah Shiur 6:40pm by putting him in a situation
generously to him and do so the fact that Hillel himself was where he can dispense with
without a grudging heart; notoriously poor, yet he gave of
Mincha 7:40 pm other people's aid. With
then because of this the his money and time to help a rich reference to such aid it is
Lord your G-d will bless you man who had lost his money
Shabbat Ends 8:53 pm said, 'You shall strengthen
in all your work and in regain his self-respect.is double him, be he a stranger or a
Sunday 7:30/8:30 am everything you put your aspect is evident throughout the settler, he shall live with
hand to. There will always laws of tzedakah. On the one you' (Lev. 25: 35), which
be poor people in the land. hand, they are directed to the
Mon, Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am means: strengthen him in
Therefore I command you to brute fact of poverty. No one must
such a manner that his falling
be open-handed toward be deprived of basic physical into want is prevented.
Tues, Wed. Rosh Chodesh Elul your brothers and toward necessities. On the other, they
6:30/7:45 am the poor and needy in your address with astonishing
A step below this is the one
land.” (Deut 15: 7-11) sensitivity the psychology of who gives alms to the needy
Friday 6:45/745 am poverty. It demeans, in such a way that the giver
Ostensibly the passage is embarrasses, humiliates, shames.
Mincha Sun-Thur 7:45 pm does not know to whom he
about the cancellation of Tzedakah, ruled the rabbis, must gives and the recipient does
debts in the seventh year be given in such a way as to
Latest times for not know from whom he
(shemittah, the year of minimize these feelings:
Shema/Shmoneh Esrei

August 7 9:28/10:39 am
Kiddush is sponsored by
August 14 9:31/10:40 am Lisa & Michael Aryeh
in honor of
Next Shabbat – Shofetim
the upcoming marriage of their Son
Candle lighting 7:38 pm Joseph to Aliza Hobb.
Mincha 7:00 pm
26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Parshat Re’eh 5770

takes. This exemplifies doing a good deed for its own sake. of giving. It may not cost him anything at all. But from the point of
One example was the Hall of Secrecy in the Temple, where view of the recipient, it is the most dignifying, because it removes
the righteous would place their gift clandestinely and where the shame of receiving. Humanitarian relief is essential in the
poor people from noble families could come and secretly help short-term, but in the long-run, job creation and economic policies
themselves to aid. Close to this is dropping money in a charity that promote full employment are more important.
box . . .
One detail of Jewish law is particularly noteworthy: even a person
One step lower is where the giver knows to whom he gives, dependent on tzedakah must himself or herself give tzedakah.
but the poor person does not know from whom he receives. On the face of it, the rule is absurd. Why give X enough money
Thus the great sages would go and secretly put money into so that he can give to Y? Giving to Y directly is more logical and
poor people's doorways . . . efficient. What the rabbis understood, however, is that giving is
an essential part of human dignity. The rabbinic insistence that
A step lower is the case where the poor person knows from the community provide the poor with enough money so that they
whom he is taking, but the giver does not known to whom he themselves can give is a profound insight into the human
is giving. Thus the great sages would tie coins in their scarves, condition.
which they would fling over their shoulders, so that the poor
could help themselves without suffering shame. Jewry has had many distinguished economists, from David
Ricardo (whom Keynes called the greatest mind that ever
Lower than this, is where someone gives the poor person a addressed itself to economics), to John von Neumann (a
gift before he asks. physicist who, in his spare time, invented Game Theory), to Paul
Samuelson, Milton Friedman and Alan Greenspan. They have
Lower still is one who gives only after the poor person asks. won an astonishing 38% of Nobel prizes in the field. Why should
Lower than this is one who gives less than is fitting, but does this have been so? Perhaps because Jews have long known that
so with a friendly countenance. economics is one of the fundamental determinants of a society;
that economic systems are not written into the structure of the
The lowest level is one who gives ungraciously. (Mattenot universe, but are constructed by human beings and can be
Ani'im 10: 7-14) changed by human beings; and thus that poverty is not a fact of
This exquisitely calibrated ethic is shot through with nature but can be alleviated, minimized, reduced. Economics is
psychological insight. What matters is not only how much you not a religious discipline. It is a secular art and science. Yet,
give, but also how you do so. Anonymity in the giving of aid is deeply underlying the Jewish passion for economics is a religious
essential to dignity. The poor must not be embarrassed. The imperative: "There will always be poor people in the land.
rich must not be allowed to feel superior. We give, not to take Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your
pride in our generosity, still less to emphasise the dependency brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
of others, but because we belong to a covenant of human
solidarity, and because that is what G-d wants us to do,
honouring the trust through which he has temporarily lent us
wealth in the first place.

Especially noteworthy is Maimonides' insistence that giving

somebody a job, or the means to start a business, is the
highest charity of all. What is humiliating about poverty is
dependence itself: the feeling of being beholden to others.
One of the sharpest expressions of this is to be found in the
Grace after Meals, when we say, "We beseech You, G-d our
Lord, let us not be in need of the gifts of men or of their loans,
but only of Your helping hand . . . so that we may not be put to
shame nor humiliated for ever and ever." The greatest act of
tzedakah is one that allows the individual to become self-
sufficient. The highest form of charity is one that enables the
individual to dispense with charity. From the point of view of
the giver, this is one of the least financially demanding forms

Great Neck Synagogue

Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi

Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi
Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,z”l, Rabbi Emeritus
Michael Bleicher, Rabbinic Intern
Zeev Kron, Cantor
Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus
Mark Twersky, Executive Director
Joseph Hecht, President
Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board
 Sally & Seymour Olshin Adult Education Program

Great Neck Synagogue Summer Learning Program

Jewish Professional Lecture Series

August 3, 2010 at 8:15 pm

(following Mincha at 7:45 pm)
Rabbi Yona Reiss
“Contemporay Conversion Concerns”
Rabbi Yona Reiss, a noted Torah scholar, attorney, and jurist, is the Max and Marion Grill Dean of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary. Rabbi Reiss is a graduate of Yeshiva College and Yale Law School, where he was senior editor of the
Law Journal. He received his rabbinic and Yadin Yadin ordination from RIETS. He served as director of the Beth Din of America
from 1998 to 2008. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, a certified mediator for the City of New York court
system, and a member of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council for New York. Rabbi Reiss serves on the editorial board of
Tradition magazine.

August 10, 2010 at 8:15 pm

(following Mincha at 7:45 pm)
Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman
“If Maimonides was alive today:
Contemporay Medical Ethics Trough the Eyes of the Rambam”
Edward Reichman is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Professor of Philosophy and History of
Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) of Yeshiva University, where he teaches Jewish medical ethics. He
received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University and writes and lectures
widely in the field of Jewish medical ethics. He is the recipient of a Kornfeld Foundation Fellowship and the Rubinstein Prize in
Medical Ethics. He is a past member of the advisory board of the Institute for Genetics and Public Policy. His research is devoted
to the interface of medical history and Jewish law.

August 17, 2010 at 8:00 pm

(following Mincha at 7:35 pm)
Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine
“Love your neighbor as yourself and The market Place”
Aaron Levine is the Samson and Halina Bitensky Professor of Economics at Yeshiva University. A Phi Beta Kappa at Brooklyn
College, he earned his Ph.D. at New York University. He was ordained in Jewish civil and ritual law at the Rabbi Jacob Joseph
School and is the spiritual leader of Brooklyn’s Young Israel of Ave. J. A noted authority on Jewish commercial law, Professor
Levine’s research specialty is the interface between economics and Halakhah. He has published widely on these issues, including
five books and numerous monographs.
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
SISTERHOOD FALL CALENDER– SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, October 26th – Annual Sisterhood Dinner at
Chatanooga with guest speaker Slovie Jungreiss Wolff,
daughter of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreiss and author of
“ Raising a Child With Soul.” Thank you to co-chairs Judy
Lillien and Anne Sandler for organizing this event. Saturday
evening, November 20th-Sisterhood Dinner-Go-Round
organized by Susan Mayer. Details to follow.
Tuesday, November 9th 5:00pm-9:00pm Chaunukah Boutique
organized by Lisa Kagan. Details to follow.
BIKUR CHOLIM
Please notify the office if anyone is in the hospital. We will
notify Bikur Cholim for you.
SUMMER LEARNING SPONSOR LIST IN FORMATION
Gilbert Aronowitz
Carol Buckmann in memory of Mayer Siegel
Rita Gordonson in memory of her husband Lew Gordonson
Debbie & Hal Chadow
Debbie Wang Etzion & Gloria Wang Miller for Fay Saltzman
Lorraine & Harold Domnitch
Marc Epstein
Tina & Philip Machnikoff in memory of Rabbi Michol Scholar
Alisa & Michael Hoenig
Barbara & Gedale Horowitz
Joan & Henry Katz
Ruth & Milt Mitzner
Carol & Jeff Kaufman
Gloria & Harvey Kaylie in memory of Lorraine White
Sam Levitt in memory of his brother Milton Levitt
Cindy & Glenn Ludwig
Sydelle & Robert Knepper
Sonia & Sam Movsas
Jolanta & Frank Rosenstein in memory of and honor of our parents
Karen & Robert Spitalnick in memory of Jonas Steigman
Gisela Steigman in memory of Jonas Steigman
Melissa & Sam Toledano in memory of his father
Hadassah & Jacob Wachstock
Ellie & David Werber in memory of her parents Rosa & Michael Preis
Great Neck Synagogue Talmud Torah is now taking 
registration for the 2010‐2011 school year.  Philip Machnikoff for Sophie Machnikoff
This program is open to members of the Great Neck
Synagogue – please contact Mark Twersky for
membership details at mtwersky@gns.org
The Talmud Torah curriculum has been redesigned by
Rabbi Polakoff. Classes will meet for two-hour sessions
twice a week (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday
depending on grade.)
Please register now online at
http://www.gnstt.org/registration
WITHIN OUR FAMILY
Mazal Tov to Hilda Schulman on the birth of a great-grandson
born to her grandchildren Bina & Jason Ascher.
Mazal Tov to Lisa & Michael Aryeh on the upcoming marriage of
their son Joseph to Aliza Hobb.
Mazal Tov also to grandmother Mahin Aryeh.
HIGH HOLIDAY SEATS
Please send back your seating request form with all payments to
the synagogue to insure your seats for the holidays.
SAVE THE DATE
The North Shore Mikvah Association Melava Malka in recognition
of Sharon Goldwyn, Mindy Hercman, Trudy Justin, Hindi Lunzer,
and Rama Seltzer will take place Motzei Shabbat, October 16th
2010 at the Great Neck Synagogue. More details to follow.
HUNGER INITIATIVE Regular food drop offs continue
Friday’s, at 18 Birchwood Lane. Drop off hours are between
10 am and 1pm. Kindly place your food in the cooler.
WANTED Two bicycles in good working condition for an 11year
old girl and a 9 year old boy. Call Maxine in synagogue office.
NEW LOCKERS
All the new full sized lockers have been rented. The small key
lockers with combinations are still available. To get one, which
will house your car keys, wallet or any other personal item,
please call the synagogue office to speak with Mark Twersky.
Saturday, 27Av
Lev Dynkin for David Dynkin
Semyon Dynkin for David Dynkin
Vicki Maher for Pola Brezezinski
Sunday, 28 Av
Sylvia Fisher for Saul Hirsh
Mel Fox for Bernard Fox
Jerrald Weinstein for Isaac Weinstein
Y Monday, 29 Av
Judy Weinstein for Bernhard Kloogman
A Tuesday, 30 Av
H Vera Bernstein for Caroline Lefkowitz
R Joyce Dacher for Jacob Wolfman
Z George Miner for Chana Kule
E Morris Nasser for Jack Nasser
I Carl Rosenberg for Henry Rosenberg
Ruth Seif for Zelig Dolinsky
T Myra Sutin for Annie Joffe
Wednesday,1 Elul
Phyllis Katz for Mae Kushner
Thursday, 2 Elul
Nechama Liss Levinson for Gertrude Liss
Frederick Lukash for Leslie Lukash
Ellen Siegel for Mel Crair
Friday, 3 Elul
Adeline Markowitz for Marcia Perlman
Reuel Shinnar for Lise Gutman