Parshat Bo

January 28, 2012 4 Shevat, 5772

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Bo

TORAH ARTSCROLL, 340 HERTZ, 248 HAFTORAH ARTSCROLL. 1151 HERTZ, 263
The Torah teaches that "G-d placed the favor of the people in the eyes of Egypt" [Shmos 11:3]. Prior to leaving Egypt, the Jews obtained gold and silver utensils and articles of clothing from their Egyptian neighbors. This was a fulfillment of a promise that G-d had made to Avraham "... and afterwards they will go out with great possessions" [Beres his 15:14]. The fact that G-d placed the favor of the people in the eyes of the Egyptians to the extent that they were willing to give them their valuables -- never to see them again -- was indeed miraculous. have been a more congruous method of fulfilling G-d's promise to Avraham. Perhaps it would have made more sense if "G-d placed the FEAR of the people in the eyes of Egypt". After all that had transpired during the Ten Plagues, the Egyptians were now in awe of the Jews. Therefore, the more logical way for this event to occur would have been for the Egyptians to give the Jews their valuables out of mortal fear, rather than out of 'favor'. redemption that occurred in Egypt. In effect, this means that before we leave this last bitter exile, "G-d will place the favor of His nation into the eyes of the nations".

Times

Candle Lighting Friday Mincha Hashkama Parsha Shiur Main Minyan Beit Midrash Teen Minyan Gemorah Shiur Mincha Shabbat Ends Sunday January 29 Mon.,Thurs. Tues.,Wed., Fri. Mincha Late Maariv Mon./Thurs.

4:48 pm 4:50 pm 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 9:30 am 4:00 pm 4:40 pm 5:57 pm 7:30/8:30 am 6:35/7:45 am 6:45/7:45 am 4:55 pm

8:15 pm Perhaps there could

Before we leave, the nations must admire us. They will have warm feelings towards us. They will love us. That is because the prophet Isaiah said that the role of the Jewish people in the Exile is to be a "light unto the Rabbi Baruch Leff nations" [42:6]. This comments that the fact concept has that the wealth was unfortunately been transferred to the Jews borrowed and twisted in that way teaches us and misconstrued in something about the all different types of Exodus. The Exodus wrong ways. But the from Egypt, our Sages fact remains that tell us, was the paradigm Isaiah the prophet told for all future redemption. us that we are If we want to know how supposed to be a "light the future redemption unto the nations" - a will take place, we must shining example to the examine the prototype of nations of what a
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Sylvia & Norman Fisher for the yahrzeit of her mother Olga Esther Hirsh and by The Aryeh Family in memory of Rafael Aryeh Zl

Latest Times for Shema/Shmoneh Esrei January 28 February 4 9:41/10:29 am 9:36/10:27 am

Next Shabbat Beshalach Candle Lighting Mincha 4:57 pm 4:55 pm

Kiddush is sponsored by Great Neck Synagogue with the addition of a herring table Sponsored by The Aryeh Family in memory of husband, father and grandfather Rafael Aryeh zl

26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100

Shabbat Announcements Parshat Bo 5772

human being is supposed to look like. The purpose of this world is to fill the world in its entirety with the Glory of G-d. Not only the Jews of the world, but all of humanity should come to the recognition that there is one G-d who created this world and takes an active role in this world. Jews are supposed to be the medium of that message. The Netziv (1817-1893) writes that had we not sinned and had we remained in the Land of Israel and had we fulfilled our mission by living a proper life style in the Land of Israel, then we would have never had to go into Exile. Unfortunately, we did not do that and G-d had to send us into Exile. Our job in Exile is to be this shining example of what a person is supposed to be. The pasuk [verse] says "And all the inhabitants of the land will see that the Name of G-d is written upon you, and they will fear you" [Devorim 28:10]. The Talmud teaches [Berochos 6a] that this refers to the Tephillin that are worn on the head. The Vilna Gaon comments that the Talmudic reference is the homiletic (Drush) teaching of the pasuk. But, the Vilna Gaon asks, what is the 'simple' (pshuto) interpretation of the pasuk? There is a principle in Biblical interpretation that a pasuk always has a simple interpretation [Shabbos 63a]. So what is the simple interpretation of this pasuk? The Gaon said that the simple interpretation of this pasuk is that when a Gentile sees a Jew, he should immediately recognize that the Name of G-d is written upon him. He should immediately realize, "This is a holy person".

We have not yet arrived at that point. The paradigm of the Exodus from Egypt is that until we reach the level of "the favor of the nation is in the eyes of Egypt", signifying that the Gentiles respect and admire and cherish us, unfortunately, we are not holding at the level of redemption. This is the ideal for which we must strive. Unfortunately, if that indeed will be the standard, one must wonder how close the redemption is today. We look forward to the time when the recognized definition of a "Jew" will be a definition that will make us all proud.

CATERER UPDATE
We are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement, for the current year, with Prestige Caterers, our in-house caterer, which will now allow a member who would like to sponsor a Congregational Kiddush, to use other acceptable caterers or Prestige for a Kiddush in the Mender Auditorium (gym) on Shabbat morning. All arrangements for use of an outside caterer, or enhancing a Kiddush, must be done through the Synagogue office. All payments are to be made through the shul office in advance. Any Kiddush exceeding $7500 must be booked through Prestige Caterers only. Please call Mark Twersky in the shul office for more details.

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Daniel Schwechter, Rabbinic Intern Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Mark Twersky, Executive Director Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Joseph Hecht, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

BACKBYPOPULARDEMAND SHALOMBAYITDINNER&LECTURE RABBIDALEPOLAKOFF Wednesday,Feb.1st,7:00PM ColbehRestaurant, $40.00perperson CallSynagogueofficefor reservations4876100 Forfurtherinformation: SusanSheena susheena@aol.com or5163536158.

LASTCHANCETIMEISRUNNINGOUT Makeyourreservationsnow!January27, Fridaynight,RabbiStevenWeil, Exec.VPoftheOrthodoxUnion WillspeaktousonTheTwoGreatestChallenges FacingOrthodoxJewryinthe21stCentury Reservationform Name_____________________ Phonenumber_________________ #ofadults_____#ofteens___#ofunder12s_______ $30peradult,$20perteen,10perchildwithkidsmenu. Amountenclosed______________________ Iwouldliketobeadinnerspon sor$180__________________ (includesdinnerreservationandspecialrecognition) IwouldliketobeaShabbatSponsor$360________________ (includesaspecialinvitationtoanintimatelunchwithRabbi Steven&YaelWeil)

AreYouSufferingfromtheSugarBlues? Areyoureadytoendyoursugarcravings? Doyouhavelowenergyinthemiddleoftheday? ComejoinPamBilfeldforhersignatureSUGARWORKSHOP OnTuesday,February7th,8:309:30PM atGreatNeckSynagogue SheguaranteesitwillCHANGEYOURRELATIONSHIPWITH SUGARFOREVER!!! RSVP:PBilfeld@aol.com

Comewatch the NYGIANTS takeonthe PATRIOTS *SuperBowl 46*@GNS BBQwith Ross Zuckerman

ANNOUNCEMENTS
FIND US ON FACEBOOK Log onto www.facebook.com/greatnecksynagogue for pictures from events and programs, up-to-the-second news and updates, and more. Photos from our 60th Anniversary Dinner are now online! KIDDUSH UPDATE Having a Simcha? Great Neck Synagogue can do an upgraded Kiddush for you. Please call the synagogue office and speak to Mark Twersky.

Within Our Family

Mazal Tov to Shulamit & Moussa Soleimani on the engagement of their son Jacob to Jaclyn Saxe, daughter of Gila & Keith Saxe of La Jolla, California. Mazal Tov to Ellie & David Werber on the birth of a granddaughter born to their children Tovah & Josh Marmer.

SAVE THE DATES HASHKAMA MINYAN SHABBAT SPEAKER PROGRAM Hashkama Kiddush is sponsored by Mel Fox in memory of his late wife, Fri. Feb. 24: Dr. David Pelcovitz Sally Fox zl and his sister Leah Fox Solomon zl. Fri. March 23: Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Fri. Apr. 27: Dr. Deborah Lipstadt RABBI REISMAN Fri. May 11: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin Saturday nights at 7:30 pm in the Weinstein Center. GUEST SPEAKERS Sat & Sun. Feb 11-12: David Yerushalmi WANTED DONATION OF A USED CAR FILM SERIES The synagogue is looking for someone to donate a car which we will Mon. Feb.13: Musical Chairs at Squire Theater sell and use the proceeds to enhance our security at the shul. Please For more information on these and all our programs please see Rabbi contact Scott Danoff if you have such a vehicle, and would like to Avraham Bronstein. make a tax deductible donation to the shul. E-mail Scott, at THE SISTERHOOD OF GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE CARES Danoff.GNS@gmail.com. The Florence Shaffer Memorial Fund was endowed to provide financial assistance to young women who would have difficulty SHABBAT FAMILY DINNER SPEAKER affording a college education or a post high school program. The January 27-28, we will have Rabbi Steven Weil, Exec. Vice President scholarship is intended to benefit girls whose families are members of of the OU will be here with us for a Family Shabbat Dinner. There will Great Neck Synagogue and face significant challenges in funding be a special luncheon for sponsors on Shabbat. Please call the office to post-high school studies. This year the Scholarship Committee is planning make reservations or speak to Rabbi Avraham Bronstein or to award one scholarship of up to $3,600. The Sisterhood is pleased Mark Twersky about becoming a sponsor. See page 3 . to announce that a generous anonymous donor has agreed to RABBI POLAKOFF IN ISRAEL match all donations that are made to the Florence Shaffer Rabbi Polakoff will be visiting with our children who are spending the Memorial Fund by February 29, 2012.Please help us show our year studying in Israel during the week of February 5th. If you have a community that the Sisterhood of Great Neck Synagogue cares about child who is in Israel for the year, please let him or her know that the our young women. Any contribution to the Florence Shaffer Memorial Rabbi will be visiting, and send the contact information for your child Fund would be appreciated so we can take advantage of the generosity to rabbi@gns.org. of our matching donor. Please make your checks payable to the Sisterhood of Great Neck Synagogue and make a notation that it is for the Florence Shaffer Memorial Fund. For further information, please TU BSHEVAT SEDER contact Cindy Hodkin at koshercookinggn@gmail.com. Please join us for the 2nd annual Tu BShevat Seder on Wednesday, February 8th hosted by Farangess Sedaghatpour and Cindy Hodkin SAVE-THE DATE at Fery's lovely home 26 Birchwood Lane. All are welcome at 11:00 The North Shore Hebrew Academy's Annual Journal Dinner celebrating its am and the Seder will begin promptly at noon. Please rsvp to the 57 year tradition of excellence will take place on Sunday, March 25th at synagogue office 487-6100. The Woodbury Jewish Center honoring Sarit & Shlomo Elias and Kathy & Arnie Flatow. SISTERHOOD PRESENTS A SUGAR WORKSHOP Are you suffering from Sugar Blues? Are you ready to end your sugar The family of Marion Griffel, zl wishes to express its deepest cravings? Do you have low energy in the middle of the day? Come join Nutritional Health Coach, Pam Bilfeld, for her signature Sugar thanks to Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Lichter, Cantor Kron and the Workshop on Tuesday, February 7th at 8:30pm at Great Neck entire community for their expressions of sympathy and concern Synagogue. Space is limited. Please RSVP to PBilfeld@aol.com. SAVE THE DATE Back by popular demand, the Sisterhood will be having a Shalom Bayit Dinner and Lecture with Rabbi Dale Polakoff on Wednesday evening, Feb. 1st ,7:00pm at Colbeh restaurant, $40.00 per person. Please reserve as soon as possible. Call the synagogue office for reservations 487-6100. For further information, please contact Susan Sheena at susheena@aol.com or 516-353-6158. SAVE THE DATE A North Shore Mikvah Association shiur for women given by Rebbetzin Beile Block entitled, The Many Facets of Marital Intimacy, will take place on February 28 at the home of Adam and Alana Gelnick - 55 Deepdale Drive. Light refreshments will be served. Suggested donation - $36.00 Sponsorships - 100.00 For more information, please email NSMikvah@gmail.com. JANUARY CHESED COLLECTION We will be collecting New and Gently used Blankets, Sheets, and Bath Towels to be given to Oneg Shabbos of Brooklyn. You may drop off your donations at the home of Hindi Lunzer, 91 Bayview Avenue on Tuesdays, from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm or at the home of Judy Lillien, 35 Margaret Court on Thursdays, from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Last date for collections will be Thursday, Jan 26th. If you need assistance and cannot bring the items to us, please call Judy at 516-487-6845 (9am until 9pm) and we will pick it up from you.

following her passing.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 4 Shevat Aryeh Family for Rafael Aryeh Philip Hanfling for Max Hanfling Holly Hoenig for Irene Berns Jeffrey Wiesenfeld for Markus Wiesenfeld Sunday, 5 Shevat Pamela Bilfeld for Raymond Grant Miriam Glaubach for Max Herlinger Julia Jadidian for Moshi Shohet Hannah Kleinberg for Frances Pascal Sam Levitt for Eva Levitt Monday, 6 Shevat Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Ayuma bat Moshiach Gabbai Barry Nysenbaum for Arthur Nysenbaum Tuesday, 7 Shevat Hannah Kleinberg for Henry Kleinberg Wednesday, 8 Shevat Sylvia Fisher for Esther Hirsh Kenneth S. Magida for Sidney Magida Friday, 10 Shevat Stuart Kaufman for Louis Kaufman Michael Landsman for Phyllis Landsman David Lax for Shene Reisel Rosenberg Milton Rabinowitz for Minnie Rabinowitz