Home

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

Mazel Tov to our esteemed Shul President, Mr. and Mrs. Shai Meyerowitz on the birth of a baby girl! May they see much nachas from her!

Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Meir Eidensohn on the birth of a baby boy! May they see much nachas from him!

Motzei Shabbos Learning Programs
Avos U'Bonim will be held Motzei Shabbos at 7 PM with pizza and prizes. Please join the fun! Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Avraham Bernhardt for sponsoring this week's program. Thank you to Meir Price for sponsoring last weeks program.

The Men's Motzei Shabbos Learning Program will be held from 8 - 9 PM.

Sunday Morning Learning
We will be having a learning program this Sunday, January 17th, beginning with shacharis at 8:45, followed by breakfast and a shiur from the Rov at 10:00 on Shemitas Kesafim. Please make an effort to join for shachris so as to ensure a smooth and timely program. Please do not park on Bancroft Road or in the yeshiva parking lot. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

We would like to welcome our newest member to the kehilla,
Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Tenenbaum
We are so glad that you have decided to join our shul! 


Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah
The Gemara in this weeks Daf Yomi, Pesachim 53b, asks the following question, what possessed Chananya, Mishael and Azariah to throw themselves into the fiery furnace? The Gemara explains that the frogs threw themselves into the ovens and fiery furnaces, despite the fact that they were not obligated to do so. We, who have been commanded to give our lives for Kiddush Hashem, must certainly do so!  (I heard a pshat, that the Hebrew word for a frog is “tzifardaia” meaning tzipur dai’ah, a wise bird, allowing a limud from the frogs.)
The role and responsibility of Klal Yisroel is unique, distinguished, and separate than that of a Goy. As such, we have various halachos, requiring us to act and look differently than that of non-Jews. This is called making a Kiddush Hashem. If we act refined and in an appropriate manner, we are being mekadesh shamayim.
This is the concept of kiddushin or marriage. A man singles out a woman and takes her for himself, so too we must view our relationship with Hashem as Kaddosh - elevated, unique, and special. 
Unfortunately, if we do not view our relationship and connection with Hashem this way, Havdala is made for us. We are forcefully separated from our relationship, as we horribly experienced through out the years of this long gallus.
Hashem wants Klal Yisroel to be a holy nation (Goy Kadosh), by being special and separate from the goyim. This is especially relevant now, as we see how quickly Hashem can go from Kiddushin to Havdala.  
May we all be zoiche to learn from the small green Frogs and be Mekadesh Shem Shamayim!

Good Shabbos!
Shlomo Rosenstein

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,

​​​​​​​Relocation to Bnos Yisroel:
As we did last week, due to several Covid cases in the Yeshiva, we will once again be davening this Shabbos in Bnos Yisroel for all of the tefillos. Please make an effort to attend all of the minyanim in order to allow for everything to run smoothly.

Zmanim this week are as follows:

Motzei Shabbos Learning Programs:
We will be resuming the Avos U'Bonim learning program at 7 PM. It will be held at Bnos Yisroel in the main shul. There will be pizza and prizes. Please join the fun! 

The Men's Motzei Shabbos Learning Program will be held from 8 - 9 PM at Bnos Yisroel. 

Mazel Tov:
Mazel Tov to the Rov and Rebbetzin on the occasion of their son Efraim's hanachas tefillin! May they continue to see much nachas from him and all of the rest of their family!



Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah
In this week’s Parshah, Yakov Avinu bestows his final blessing to each of the shevatim. Yakov describes to each son what his specific mission in life will be based on their specific kochos. By Shimon and Levi, Yakov says שִׁמְע֥וֹן וְלֵוִ֖י אַחִ֑ים כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס מְכֵרֹֽתֵיהֶֽם. Rashi explains, Shimon and Levi possessed כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס, stolen goods. They stole the middah of retzicha (murder) which is a middah of Eisav. 
Rav Yeruchom Levovitz points out that the criticism of Shimon and Levi is not just about having a “bad” middah. Yakov was bothered by כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס, stolen middos. They mimicked a middah that was external to them. They were not living a manifestation of their true internal selves. This was a fault in middas ha’emes. Rav Yeruchim was once speaking to Beryl and realized that his speech and mannerisms were strikingly similar to Shmeryl. Mid-conversation, Rav Yeruchim asked, “Do you know Shmeryl”? Beryl replied, “Of course! Shmeryl and I are great friends, we are like brothers”! Rav Yeruchom was astounded. How much of who we are and what we do is authentic and how much is from outside? Rav Yisrael Salanter (Iggeres 14) said that most of what man does is not from an internal contemplation and a resulting decision. Rather, man is “k’kof”, like a monkey, copying the dress and act of those around him. 
Where does this come from? Why do people consciously or subconsciously act, speak, and follow the ways of those around them? Why do we need acknowledgment and recognition to feel accomplished? Rav Volbe writes that it comes from a lack of understanding of one’s own importance and attributes that motivates him to be so concerned with how he is perceived by others. Rav Volbe says the bracha of “shelo asani eved” is about thanking Hashem for true freedom; freedom from living to find favor in our neighbor’s eyes, freedom from embarrassment to do the right thing, freedom to follow our heart and pursue avodas Hashem in the proper derech despite what is commonplace or popular at the time.
When the Chazon Ish was young, other bochurim would poke fun at his obsession with learning Tur and Beis Yosef. It wasn’t lomdush enough for them. Needless to say, decades later these chaverim were in awe of what the Chazon Ish became.
On a practical note, one method to determine if our actions are authentic and true to ourselves is to ask: am I doing this because of me or because of you?
The Kotzker Rebbe, famous for his one-liners, once said, “If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you. But if I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and you are not you”.  
May we be zocheh “l’daas atzmeinu”, to truly know ourselves, as Rav Volbe says. It is so important because it is truly the first step in avodas Hashem. To know what steps to take second, a person must know who they are first.  
Have a good Shabbos everyone!
Baruch Lewinson

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

 
Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Simcha Raczakowski upon the birth of a baby girl, Avigayil! We wish them much nachas! 

We would like to welcome our newest members to the kehilla:
Mr. and Mrs. Eitan Lazarus
We are so glad that we have decided to join our shul! 

Avos U'Bonim will be held Motzei Shabbos at 7 PM with pizza and prizes. Please join the fun! 

The Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr HaTorah (our host Yeshiva) is having a building campaign now. Consider making a donation to support them by clicking here.

Ramban Shiur
The Rov will be giving a shiur in Ramban on the parsha, this coming Thursday night at 9:45 PM in shul. There will be hot refreshments served as well. Please DO NOT park on Bancroft Road or in the yeshiva parking lot, instead park on Park Heights or elsewhere. We look forward to seeing you!

New Motzei Shabbos Learning Program
We are very excited to share that there will be a new learning program on Motzei Shabbosos from 8-9 PM. The limud will be sugyos in hilchos shabbos with chavrusa learning and short chaburos. Everyone is encouraged to attend!

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

While this year is somewhat of an exception, פ' מקץ always falls out during the Chanukah season. There are numerous explanations for this, many revolving around Yosef Hatzadik and how his personality and experiences connect to the Yom Tov. Perhaps one general way of understanding the theme underlying this connection is as follows:
We learn in the Parsha that Yosef remained in jail in Mitzrayim for two years. Rashi at the end of last week’s Parsha says that Hashem did not allow him to leave earlier as a punishment for relying on the שר המשקים and שר האופים to get out. The Seforim are all perplexed by this since Hashem expects us to do our השתדלות. If so, how can Yosef be faulted for performing his due diligence! One famous answer is that of the Beis Haleivi who says that the obligation to do השתדלות depends on the level of the individual; the greater the individual, the less the obligation to perform השתדלות. Yosef was therefore condemned, according to his level, for relying on the שר המשקים and שר האופים.
Although this is a broad topic, the simple takeaway from the words of the Beis Haleivi is that השתדלות is not merely a motion to go through to satisfy the גזירה of 'בזעת אפך תאכל לחם'; i.e., it is not simply a decree without a profoundly fundamental rhyme or reason. For if that were the case, there would be no room to differentiate between great people and people of lesser character, and everyone would be included in the decree! Rather, the correct understanding is that השתדלות is itself a medium to get closer to Hashem. In our natural state, we are distant from Him; even though He is constantly providing us with life and all we need. Through השתדלות, though, we experience the ‘real world’ and are continuously reminded and directed to the realization that we cannot accomplish anything without Him. This sort of dichotomy and struggle between our efforts and Hashem’s goodness is really what brings about the greatest connection to Him. 
Tzadikim like Yosef Hatzadik, however, do not require this means to achieve connection to Hashem. Their אמונה is so steadfast that it does not necessitate continuous refinement by way of significant external mediums like השתדלות.
During חנוכה this principle is brought to light. We celebrate a נס, but we choose only to focus on the נס  of the פח שמן. That is because although the חשמונאים went out to war without any conceivable chance of winning – according to laws of nature, they knew this was necessary and desired since the existence of Klal Yisroel was on the line and depended on their victory. Therefore, they knew without a doubt they would pull through since Hashem was surely behind them. The fact that they won was incredulous, but they expected no less. Their השתדלות was that of Yosef Hatzadik, at the highest levels of אמונה. For them, this was not even a נס; it was no more of a sign that Hashem was with them than they had previously experienced and knew. 
The true נס was that of the פח שמן where Hashem showed his love for Klal Yisroel above and beyond anyone’s expectations during that time when most of the nation was not keeping תורה ומצוות. The central נס, or sign, that we celebrate represented by the נרות is that Hashem is always performing for us above and beyond anything that is expected, even beyond what we truly deserve. This is the ultimate נס, or sign; to see Hashem in a light that we have never experienced until now. 
May we be זכה to see ניסים and experience the true meaning of מודים... על נסיך שבכל יום עמנו.

Good Shabbos,
Nesanel Horowitz

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

Avos U'Bonim will be held Motzei Shabbos at 7 PM with pizza and prizes. Please join the fun! This weeks program is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Shai Meyerowitz. Thank you to Meir Price for sponsoring last weeks program!

New Motzei Shabbos Learning Program

There will be a new Motzei Shabbos learning program starting next week. Details will be forthcoming. 

Building Update

We are excited to introduce a new feature to our newsletter.  There will be periodic updates on our search for a home for our shul, as well as ad hoc updates when news breaks.   
The shul is growing and there is an overflow crowd on Shabbos morning. It is important we find a building in the near future. We are still focused on the Cross Country property, and are working with lawyers to navigate title and other legal issues. It is taking longer than we had planned and while we are hopeful, we have to be realistic and broaden our search. 
If anyone hears about a property in the vicinity of the shul please reach out to someone on the building committee. While the Cross Country property would be ideal, it may not work out or we may not be able to wait for it to become available.
If you would like to speak with someone about this, please feel free to speak with Moshe Deutsch, Yehuda Tropper, Yisrael Moshe Kraines, Menachem Feld, or Elie Mishory. 
Finally, we are extremely grateful to those members who are contributing to our eventual building through our pledge campaign.  Your support is crucial and will allow us to be nimble when the time comes. If you would like to be a part of this incredible opportunity please reach out to Shai Meyerowitz at 404-617-4198.
Thank you to all those who have started contributing towards the building fund:
 
Mr and Mrs Heshy Abramson
Mr and Mrs Eli Baruch
Mr and Mrs Shloimy Benjamin
Mr and Mrs Mordy Berman
Mr and Mrs Moishe Deutsch
Mr and Mrs Meir Eidensohn
Mr and Mrs Menachem Feld
Mr and Mrs Shlomo Fixler
Mr and Mrs Yaakov Gluck
Mr and Mrs Mordy Goldman
Mr and Mrs Moshe Graber
Mr and Mrs Nesanel Horowitz
Mr and Mrs Jordy Jacobs
Mr and Mrs Aharon Kahan
Mr and Mrs Yisrael Kraines
Mr and Mrs Yitzy Labowitz
Mr and Mrs Ephraim Liebes
Mr and Mrs Shai Meyerowitz
Mr and Mrs Elie Mishory
Mr and Mrs Betzalel Muller
Mr and Mrs Ari Ohsie
Mr Meir Price
Mr and Mrs Yaakov Ribakow
Mr and Mrs Yaakov Rosen
Mr and Mrs Yehuda Rosen
Mr and Mrs Shlomo Rosenstein
Mr and Mrs Aron Rosskamm
Mr and Mrs Binyamin Samber
Mr and Mrs Tzvi Skaist
Mr and Mrs Chanan Daniel Skurnik
Mr and Mrs Yisrael Triebwasser
Mr and Mrs Yehuda Tropper
Mr and Mrs Yisroel Waxman
Mr and Mrs Zev Weiss

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

Yankie was a good Jew. He would do all the mitzvos he could and occasionally find time for learning. However, with every mitzvah, he would always look for the most lenient opinion, always happy to rely on the Rav who said that it was okay to do less. But at least he had someone to rely on for every mitzvah, and was happy with how he lived his life. After 120 years, Yankie was summoned to the Heavenly Court. Yankie wasn’t scared; he knew that he had kept all the mitzvos even if every one of them had been according to whichever leniency he could find. So he waited for the verdict and ”Gan Eden'' was the call. Just as Yankie had expected! So off he went with his accompanying מלכים towards Gan Eden. After a long journey, the מלכים finally showed him a wooden door with a little window, and ushered him inside. Slightly surprised, Yankie peeked inside and saw a small room containing a bed and a desk, and nothing else. As the מלכים turned to leave he exclaimed,“I think there has been a mistake. Didn't you hear I was told that I can go to Gan Eden?!” With a smile on their faces the מלכים said this is Gan Eden, according to the most lenient opinion!                                                                                                   
חנוכה is a time of mehadrin min hamehadrin, where we light our menorahs using all of the חומרות we can. Many light their candles with oil, and everyone increases the number of candles every night even though only one candle is necessary. In fact, most things we do throughout חנוכה are far beyond the strict letter of the law. Why is this? One answer could be based on Rashi’s words: one who causes another to sin is worse than if he had killed him. For one who kills another, kills him in this world but one who causes another to sin removes him from this world and the next world.The  יונים did not just try to physically destroy us they also tried to spiritually destroy us something far worse than physical death. This is why our victory against the יונים led to such great celebration, and this is why we specifically perform the mitzvah of חנוכה to the best of our ability. Because by showing Hashem how much we value our spiritual lives and treasure our connection with the Torah and its mitzvos we demonstrate our value for the relationship we have with Hashem who we are eternally grateful for, especially as we celebrate all of the miracles that took place on חנוכה to save our spiritual lives. 
Good Shabbos!
​​​​​​​              Ezzy Mishory             

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

Avos U'Bonim will be held Motzei Shabbos at 7 PM with pizza and prizes. Please join the fun! Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Avraham Bernhardt for sponsoring this week's program. 

N'shei Event
The n'shei will be hosting a pre-Chanukah gameshow event featuring games, trivia, prizes, and great food. It will be held this coming Tuesday, December 1st, at 8 PM by the K'nish Shop. Make sure to save the date as it promises to be a wonderful event. 

Sunday Morning Learning
We will be having a learning program next week on Sunday, December 6th, beginning with shacharis at 8:45, followed by breakfast and learning b'chavrusa, and a shiur from the Rov at 10:35. Please do not park on Bancroft Road or in the yeshiva parking lot. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

We have heard since we were young about Yaakov’s dream. We know that the malachim went up and down the ladder, while Hashem spoke to Yaakov and told him about how great Klal Yisrael were going to be in the future. What was the point of the ladder? The Malachim could have gone up and down without a ladder?
One of my Rebbeim in Yeshivas Toras Simcha in Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Yonason Friedlander, asked this question. I remember hearing it from him and being taken by the simplicity of this obvious, but glaring, question. 
Rabbi Friedlander’s answer was simple as well, but can take a lifetime to internalize. In order to ‘go up the ladder’, meaning in order to grow as a yid, one needs to go up step by step, in a systematic fashion. Just like when climbing a ladder we need to go up rung by rung, it is the same thing when growing in Avodas Hashem. We all want to grow, we all have aspirations. In order to fulfill our goals of growth, we need to have a plan that is steady, that has us making strides in a way that will have keyum. It is not that we all of a sudden make large changes, but rather making incremental changes slowly and sensibly. I think we all know this, but the chiddush to me here is that the Torah is telling us this lesson straight out. The Torah is outlining the key to growth for us. We should have a goal in mind and recognize the action steps it will take to get there and take one step at a time towards reaching that goal. That is the true key to success, working methodically, rung by rung. We should all be zoche to ‘go up the ladder’ and grow leaps and bounds, one step at a time! 
Good Shabbos!
Shai Meyerowitz

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Menachem Strum on the birth of a baby girl! May they see much nachas!

Mazel tov to Mr. and Mrs. Moishy Pruzansky on the birth of a baby boy! The shalom zachor will be held at 2302 Crabury Road on the back deck starting at 7:30 PM. The bris will be this coming Monday following the 8:20 AM Shachris at Rabbi Weiss's shul (approximately 9:05 AM). For those who are unable to attend in person, please use this LINK to attend the livestream event. May they see much nachas!

We would like to welcome our newest members to the kehilla:
Mr. and Mrs. Pinney Elbaum
We are so glad that you have decided to join our shul!

Avos U'Bonim
Once again, there will be Avos U'Bonim on Motzei Shabbos at 7:00 PM.There will be pizza and prizes for every child who attends! We would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Elie Mishory for sponsoring Avos U'Bonim this week in honor and appreciation of Mr. Moshe Graber and all of the valuable business advice and assistance he has given them.

Ramban Shiur
There will be a Ramban shiur on the parsha next Thursday night at 9:45 PM. It will be held at the shul and will be accompanied with cholent. Everyone is invited to attend!

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

Rashi at the beginning of the parsha brings from Chazal that Sarah Imeinu’s petirah is mentioned right after Akeidas Yitzchak because Sarah was nifteres when she heard that Yitzchak was almost shechted. Superficially, this is very hard to understand. How can it be that the greatest act done by Avraham and Yitzchak would be the cause of Sarah Imeinu’s petirah!? Furthermore, we know from Chazal that הקב"ה is ממלא שנותיהם של צדיקים – that the righteous complete their lives and do not pass on prematurely. Seemingly then, it was appropriate for Sarah to pass on specifically right after Akeidas Yitzchak. But why?
Perhaps one way to understand this is that Akeidas Yitzchak was precisely when Sarah Imeinu had fulfilled her mission in this world. The mission of every Jewish woman, particularly the אמהות הק', is to be an עזר כנגדו, which on one level means to help their husband bring out his potential by being כנגדו – i.e. by having opposite tendencies. Each one of the 'אבות הק represented a different tendency. Avraham represented חסד (kindness), while his son Yitzchak represented the opposite tendency of גבורה (limiting inappropriate kindness). For each one of the Avos to fulfill their mission, they needed to curb their tendencies to ensure the right balance for themselves and כלל ישראל. For this to happen, it was necessary that the 'אמהות הק, Sarah and Rivka, had the opposing tendencies of their husbands - which they did [as is evident from a cursory reading of these parshiyos]; Sarah possessed the characteristic of strength and Rivka possessed the characteristic of kindness. This phenomenon was carefully orchestrated for them to be the ultimate עזר כנגדו.
Based on this, we can better understand why Sarah passed on precisely after the Akeida. The Sefarim point out that Akeidas Yitzchak was the ultimate sacrifice for Avraham Avinu, not only due to the inherent challenge, but also because it was the exact opposite of the kindness he exemplified. But how did he get to this level where he was even excited to do the Akeida [getting up early, wanting at least to draw some blood, etc.]? The answer is that Avraham Avinu, with the help of his עזר כנגדו, had spent his whole life working on curbing his חסד and channeling it to 'רצון ה, and was therefore willing, ready, and excited to do His will of Akeidas Yitzchak even when it meant using tremendous גבורה, going completely against his natural tendency. At this point, Sarah Imeinu had fulfilled her mission. 

Good Shabbos, 
Nesanel Horowitz

Zmanim this week are as follows:

We would like to welcome our newest members to the kehilla Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Ziman. We are so glad you have decided to join the shul!

Mazel Tov to Yehuda Roll on his recent engagement to Sara Fink from Miami, FL. May you be zocheh to build a bayis ne'eman b'yisroel!

Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Katz on the birth of a baby girl. May you see much nachas!

Kiddush this week is being sponsored by Yehuda Roll in honor of his engagement. It is also being sponsored in honor of his completion of Maseches Berachos together with his chavrusa Shlomo Zalman Resnik. Thank you and Mazel Tov!

The kiddush will be held outside with pre-packaged food for the safety of the Kehillah. We ask everyone to please maintain appropriate precautions and to social distance.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah
"V'es Ha'of Lo Basar- and the bird he did not split ..."
The halacha states that the kohen removes the head of a bird which is an olah, but not the head  of a chatas.
Interestingly,  the midrash tells us that Hashem told Avraham Avinu this halacha at the Bris Bein Habesarim.
Why? Why this halacha? And why now?
Rav Hirsch explains that the bird is always in fear of being caught, always fleeing and always wandering.  Thus, a bird brought as a korban alludes to a man's yisurim in this world.
Using this symbolism we understand that the two different bird-offerings represent  two kinds of yisurim: those that need the head, and those that don't.
A person can come closer to Hashem simply by having his aveiros erased through yisurim, even if he doesn't think about it. He doesn't need his head- he doesn't need da'as. This is the chatas. Or, he can find yisurim and do teshuva, coming close to Hashem through his head- da'as. This is the olah.
Avraham Avinu was shown that at the end of all the galuyos, Klal Yisrael would encounter tzaros and use them like olas ha'of-  coming to teshuva, returning with awareness.
We should all be zoche!
Have a great Shabbos!
Shlomo Cherniak
(Exerpted from Ma'yan Bais Hashoeva)

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

We would like to thank the following people for generously sponsoring the new shtenders:

Mr. and Mrs. Shloimy Benjamin, Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Ziman, Mr. and Mrs. Zev Weiss, Mr. and Mrs. Yisroel Moshe Kraines, Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Rosen, Mr. and Mrs. Yaakov Ribakow, Mr. and Mrs. Naftali Fink.

Sponsorships are still available. To donate please contact Shai Meyerowitz or contribute in the shul portal at kbyyeshiva.com​​​​​​​.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

בראשית ברא אלקים
בראשית begins with the letter “ב”, and the first letter in the Gemara starts with the 
letter “מ”, מאימתי'’. The sefer מעינה של תורה brings from the מגיד תעלומה that this hints to the pasuk, 'ודברת בם', which the Gemara in Yoma darshens 'בם ולא בדברים בטלים' i.e. speak of them and no other things. In other words, you should only speak in 'בם' - matters pertaining to תורה שבכתב and תורה שבעל פה. Thus, by starting the Torah with a 'ב' and the Gemara with a 'מ', the Torah is teaching us that everything else compared to לימוד התורה is דברים בטלים. 

 וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע
The חידושי הלב (Rav Chanoch Henoch Leibowitz zt”l) points out that we typically think of a בעל תאווה as someone who is always running to fulfil his תאוות, always committing the same mistake that the pleasure will make him happy. Although ultimately the person’s choice is not good and will do him harm, he does not see or understand this truth when committing the sin and continues going after his temptations. 
However, when describing the 'עץ הדעת טוב ורע' the ספורנו writes: 'לבחור הערב אע"פ שהוא שיזיק ולמאוס הבלתי ערב אע"פ שיועיל’ - meaning that temptation allows us to knowingly make bad choices as long as it is ‘geshmak’ and sweet in the short term, and knowingly ignore what is good for us in the long term if the short term ‘geshmak’ is lacking. Meaning to say, the בעל תאווה is no idiot; he knows that what he is doing is harmful for him, and he recognizes he is ignoring that which will ultimately be beneficial for him, but he does it anyway because he goes after the short-term enjoyment.
From this we see the strength of תאווה; if one continuously runs after it, he will be subservient to it, and will still be pulled to it although completely aware it is not for his good. And it only gets worse. Not only does the בעל תאווה know he is making the wrong choices, he will also continuously berate himself because he realizes he is not making the right choice. In the end, things do not bode well for the בעל תאווה, not in this world and not in the next.
May we be זוכה to understand what is ultimately good for us and make the right choices consistently. 

Good Shabbos!
Chanoch Greenwood 

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

Tefillos for Shabbos will be held in the regular location,at our Bais Medrash on Bancroft Road.

The Rov will be giving the annual Shabbos Shuva drasha at 5:05 PM. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

The shul has recently purchased fifty standing shtenders. The shtenders are open for sponsorship at a rate of $70 per shtender. Please contact Shai Meyerowitz at 404-617-4198 if you wish to contribute.

We know that many are wondering about the upcoming Simchas Torah and how it will be conducted. We are in the process of the decision-making and hope to update everyone mid-week.

The Yom Kippur schedule is as follows (at K'hal Chassidim):
Mincha 3 PM 
Hadlaka/Kol Nidrei 6:36 PM
Shkia 6:54
Maariv 7:35 PM
Shachris 7:30 AM
Mincha 4:00 PM
Neilah 5:40 PM

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

The Torah describes the Jewish people as an “am naval v’lo chacham”. What is the difference between the naval and the lo chacham to which we are compared when we stray from Hashem? I would suggest that these two adjectives refer to the following qualities. A naval is a base person, one who has poor character and a lack of refinement. He is intoxicated with the physical world and does not have control over the physical aspects of his being. V’lo chacham refers to a dearth of intellectualism; one who is content with his current, meager level of knowledge. When we stray from Hashem we are exhibiting these unflattering characteristics.

 A complete person is one who has excellent character, as well as intellectual depth. One without the other is a distorted, unfortunate creature. A brilliant theologian who is controlled by his personal lusts is an animal. A well-meaning simpleton who acts piously in accordance with his personal concept of piety is the fool of the Mesilas Yesharim. It is the synthesis of these two areas which can allow a person to truly reach the heights that are demanded of us. This is perhaps what sets us apart from so many other nations and religions- a relentless drive for intellectual truth with an equally strong ambition for character development. Nobody celebrates a strong intellectual question like a Jew, and nobody does chessed with the mesiras nefesh and joy of a Jew.  As we embark on the journey of yet another year of spiritual endeavor, it is appropriate for the Torah to remind us of what we, as a nation, stand for and live for. May we, and all of our nation, be written and sealed for a wonderful year of spiritual accomplishment, health, and all good.
 
Good Shabbos!
Dovid Price

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

The Rov will be giving a shiur in Hilchos Tefillah on Shabbos afternoon at 5:30. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

Selichos will begin this coming week. We will hold the first selichos on Motzei Shabbos at 1:03 AM.

Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Naftali Weiss upon the birth of a baby boy! The shalom zachor will be held at 6200 Biltmore Avenue from 9:15pm-11pm (there will be no women's section). The bris will be held this Shabbos at 11 AM in the Club Room of 6711 Park Heights Ave (The Clubhouse Condominiums). Please use the front door to enter the building (the doorman opens the electric door). We wish them much nachas!

We would like to welcome our newest members to the kehilla:
Mr. and Mrs. Avrohom Benyowitz and
Mr. and Mrs. Ahron Loiterman
We are so glad that you have decided to join our shul!

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah
פרשת נצבים-וילך

If one would search for the words “ראש השנה” in the Torah, nothing will show up. Instead we find the words “״יוֹם תְּרוּעָ֖ה - “the day of shofar-blowing” (במדבר פרק כט:א). Meaning, it is really what the shofar blowing represents that is of upmost importance to us, not that it is New-Year’s day. The shofar represents the culmination of the year and addresses many important ideas and lessons we can learn.
 
One idea is found in the Tur’s first halacha in Hilchos Rosh Hashana (טור אורח חיים הלכות ראש השנה סימן תקפ"א). The Tur quotes from Pirkei D’Rebbi Elazar who says that when Moshe Rabbeinu went to Hashem for forgiveness, it was the shofar blast that achieved their forgiveness, since the shofar is utilized to arouse Bnei Yisroel to do teshuva (להזהיר ישראל שיעשו תשובה). The Tur adds that the shofar is also used to confuse the evil inclination (לערבב השטן). Therefore, it is our custom to begin Shofar blowing twice daily as early as Rosh Chodesh Ellul.
Seemingly these two ideas, stated by the Tur are unrelated. Yet, a careful textual analysis of the Tur shows, due to its juxtaposition, that these two ideas are related, and both contain the same central theme. What is the connection between the idea of לערבב השטן and להזהיר ישראל שיעשו תשובה?
 
            Reb Ephraim Berger explains that while many commentaries understand the above concept of לערבב השטן as literally confusing the שטן, we can also understand the statement in a down-to-earth and personal way. The concept of לערבב השטן also refers to changing our natural habit. This idea can be gleaned from the process we follow of confusing the “שטן” with the shofar. We confuse the “שטן” by blowing the shofar starting Rosh Chodesh Elul, then pause blowing the day prior to Rosh Hashana, then start again on Rosh Hashana. Essentially, we are changing things around unpredictably, which is what one needs to do to change their natural habit. Habits are natural; everyone likes to stay within their own comfort zone. We live life the way we are used to. If it worked yesterday, it will probably work out tomorrow. However, habits do not foster spiritual growth, only change does. It is only when we change and create positive new routines that we can really grow. During this past year, due to COVID, the entire world was forced out of their habit. For better or for worse, we had to reconsider how we live our daily lives, as the past is history.
 
            With our new understanding of the Tur, the connection between לערבב השטן and להזהיר ישראל שיעשו תשובה is applicable and relevant. When we think of “confusing the שטן” in a personal way as a reference to changing our natural inclination, then לערבב השטן is really a form of Teshuva. This is really the main form of Teshuva as it essentially represents our ability to change into a better person.
 
May Hashem bless us that we will all answer the call of the shofar and become better people this year.
!כתיבה וחתימה טובה
  
Moshe Berger

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

The Rov will be giving a shiur in Hilchos Tefillah on Shabbos afternoon at 5:30. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

We would like to welcome our newest members to the kehilla:
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Temin and Mr. and Mrs. Naftali Weiss
We are so glad that you have decided to join our shul!

Thank you to all who participated in the kiddush last week. We look forward to informing you about the next upcoming kiddush.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

At the end of this week's Parsha we have the mitzvah of זכירת עמלק. The pasuk states "זכור את אשר עשה עמלק...ויזנב בך כל הנחשלים אחריך"- remember Amalek and their attack on the weaklings at the rear.  Rashi says that Amalek had the ability to attack this group due to their lacking in strength because of their sins. Now, we know that Hashem accepts teshuvah after a sin, erasing the sin and its impact on our connection to Hashem. Apparently, this group had not yet done teshuvah and was therefore still dwelling in their sin, disconnecting them from Hashem, and making them vulnerable. On the positive side, we learn from this that Hashem provides strength and protection to those who keep Hashem close to themselves and perform His mitzvos.  As we say in the tefillah throughout Elul and the Yamim Noraim, "לדוד ה' אורי וישעי", “To David, G-d is my light and my salvation..."  This means as explained; the closer one is to Hashem's presence and His light, the more Hashem will be their salvation, and the more security and less worry they will have – even about going to war, as King David goes on to say "אם תחנה עלי מחנה לא יירא לבי וכו'"
 
Good Shabbos!
Serayah Raphaely

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

The Rov will be giving a shiur in Hilchos Tefillah on Shabbos afternoon at 5:30. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

We would like to thank Shlomo Rosenstein, as he steps down from his position, for his efforts in handling the procurement of the weekly Dvar Torah. The role will be capably filled by R' Nesanel Horowitz.

The seating in the shul this week will be altered to allow room for additional persons.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

רְאֵ֗ה אָֽנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה…. אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְו‍ֹת֙….והַקְּלָלָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְו‍ֹת֙...וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם
Initially, the first several pasukim of this week’s parsha seem to be well aligned. Klal Yisroel is told that they will receive bracha if they listen to mitzvos and will be cursed if they do not listen to mitzvos. Yet, the Torah seems to divert from this choice of bracha or klalla and appends further with וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם. Rashi explains that this is to say that one who worships idols is a kofer bakol (heretic). The Sifsei Chachamim seems to say that the phraseology of וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ, based on what Rashi is saying, must imply worshiping idols. But why is this added while only introducing the threat of klallos? What is behind the reasoning for Rashi to say that “straying from the path” means idol worship, and why is this still added after introducing the threat of curses? Are we only cursed if we are kofer bakol?
The Torah is usually specific with commandments. We are usually told to watch these mitzvos or all the mitzvos etc. It is more rare to see simply mitzvos. We do see this used when referring to ahavas Hashem (Devarim, 11;13), v’halachta b’drachav, emulating His ways (Devarim, 28;9), and l’tov lach, for our benefit (Devarim, 10;13). Following mitzvos is more than successfully checking off the boxes of the 613 commandments we are blessed to observe. Following mitzvos is a mindset and way of life. If we do not see Hashem as a role model, guide, and even friend, then we are missing something profoundly fundamental to our Jewish identity. וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ is the subsequent result of viewing Hashem as merely a taskmaster and micromanager. Those who see Hashem, His Torah and His mitzos in general, as cold and judgemental will ultimately stray. This is not what He wants. He wants a relationship. It is our responsibility to seek it and to help others discover it. 
May we continue to serve HKB”H with a yearning for understanding His ways and to emulate His greatness.
Good Shabbos,
Moshe Schwartz

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

The Rov will be giving a shiur in Hilchos Tefillah on Shabbos afternoon at 5:30. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank Yitzy Labowitz for serving as the editor and distributor of the weekly Shul bulletin and all other intermittent communications, as he steps down from this role.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah

In this week's Parsha, Moshe addresses Klal Yisroel about how he had been told by Hashem that he will not be able to enter Eretz Yisroel. Moshe poured out his heart and was on the verge of “forcing” Hashem’s hand into allowing him to enter. Finally, Hashem said enough is enough and stopped Moshe from continuing to daven. When Moshe told Klal Yisroel that he was not able to come into the land with them, Rashi points out that Moshe assured them that Hashem had forgiven them for their wrongdoings and that they would enter (Rashi 4:29). Despite the fact that Klal Yisroel had stumbled and performed Avoda Zara, still they are forgiven and they would enter. It is interesting that Moshe is contrasting his lone mistake with the mistakes of Klal Yisroel. Klal Yisroel was forgiven and they were allowed to enter Eretz Yisroel while Moshe was not. Does Moshe have a right to feel cheated here?
    I believe that a famous Midrash can give us some perspective on what is really happening here. The Midrash brings down that if Moshe had been allowed to enter Eretz Yisroel and the Bais Hamikdash had been built by him, the Bais Hamikdash would have never been able to be destroyed. While at first this sounds amazing, we need to think about what would have occurred if events had transpired this way. If Klal Yisroel had lost their way, as they did, leading to the destruction of both Batai Hamikdash, but the Bais Hamikdash was not able to be destroyed, how would Hashem's retribution and din been carried out? More than likely, it would have been taken out directly on Klal Yisroel. The Bais Hamikdash is the center of our avoda but it acted as a buffer to protect us from direct punishment. With this perspective, we can come back to our question.
    Moshe was not trying to contrast his punishment versus Klal Yisroel having been forgiven. Rather, it is possible that Moshe is simply trying to emphasize that his lack of being forgiven, and subsequent barring of him entering Eretz Yisroel, is really a way of ensuring Klal Yisroel’s future. Having just going through a period of mourning our loss of the Bais Hamikdash, I believe that this thought can bring nechama to us. Hashem is always looking out for us and setting up events to ensure our survival. Despite Moshe not entering Eretz Yisroel and the Bais Hamikdash being destroyed, Hashem was still orchestrating everything to ensure that we will continue and give us an opportunity to do teshuva and rebuild the Bais Hamikdash. May this offer us nechama and give us the resolve to ensure that we see the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash in our days.

Good Shabbos!
Danny Dasher

Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

Halacha Shiur
The Rov will be giving a shiur in Hilchos Tefilla on Shabbos afternoon at 5:30. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs.Shlomo Rosenstein upon the birth of a baby boy! The shalom zachor will be at the Rosenstein home, 3609 Bancroft Rd. (on the deck) at 9:30 pm. The bris will be in shul on Sunday morning, shacharis at 8:30 and bris at 9:10.  We wish them much nachas! 

We would like to welcome our newest member to the kehilla:
Rabbi and Mrs. Shlomo Bergman
We are so glad that you have decided to join our shul! 

At the request of the yeshiva, we ask that everyone please take their personal belongings home with them this week.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvar Torah
A Light Unto The Nations
In Parshas Balak, Balak and Bila’am decided to attack the Jewish nation. After their attempts to curse the Jewish nation failed, they convinced the nation of Midyan to stoop to an unprecedented low and use their women to entice the Jewish males to sin. Their scheme worked on a small fraction of the Jewish nation, and as punishment, 24,000 Jews perished. In this week’s Parshah, the Jewish nation is instructed by Hashem to exact retribution and destroy the nation of Midyan (Balak's people; as per Rashi 22:4). The Jewish nation succeeded in doing so, and killed Bila’am as well. The Torah states that our instruction to attack Midyan was purely a retaliation for what they did to us (31:2; See Rashi). Indeed, had they not attacked us, we never would have battled them. Rather, we would have simply traveled peacefully through their land. Clearly, Balak and Bila’am’s scheme backfired in the worst possible way.
The author of the Shem MiShmuel, R’ Shmuel Bornsztain, points out that Balak and Bila’am were wise men. In fact, Bila’am was the greatest gentile prophet in history. What caused them to make the rash decision to attack Hashem’s chosen people; the very nation that Hashem had rescued from Egypt through open miracles? Hadn’t they heard what Hashem had done to the Egyptians? Didn’t they realize that Hashem would severely punish them as well? Furthermore, the Gemara states that Bila’am’s strategy to curse the Jews, was to do so at a specific time when Hashem would be more likely to be convinced to allow the Jewish nation to be harmed (Avodah Zarah 4a-4b; Berachos 7a. Also, see Balak 23:27, and Rashi 22:20). Despite this, Hashem still refused to listen to him. What hope did Bila'am really feel that he had in successfully cursing the Jewish nation? Didn’t he realize that he would not be able to convince Hashem to allow the Jewish nation to be harmed, no matter what strategy he concocted? Lastly, what caused Balak and Bila’am, as well as the nation of Midyan, to attack the Jewish nation in the first place? They were at no risk of harm! All the Jews intended on doing was to peacefully pass through their land. Didn’t these wise men realize that the Jewish nation had no intention whatsoever to attack them? Had they just remained on the sidelines, and let the Jewish nation peacefully pass by, they would have survived as a nation. What caused them to make the foolish decision to attack?
In his infamous book, Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler, may his name rot forever and ever, explained why he hated the Jewish nation. What he wrote is quite surprising. Instead of accusing the Jewish people of things that are common for anti-Semites to blame on the Jews, he explained as follows: the Jew is a representative of G-d. A Jew represents the notion that every human being can push themselves to live their lives to perfection and live a holy life filled with morals and withholding from villainous and base desires. A Jew is a reminder that one should focus on giving charity, taking care of others, and not to devote one’s life to selfish indulgence and narcissism. Hitler explained that THIS was the very reason why he wanted to destroy them. For without the Jew, the world would no longer be weighed down by a conscience and would be free to follow their sinful desires without feeling any pangs of guilt whatsoever.
The Shem MiShmuel explains that THIS was what Bila’am and Balak were concerned about as well. They were fine with the Jews serving Hashem in the desert. They were content with them being un-relatable nomads who “oddly" devoted themselves to something greater than their own selfish desires, and in a style that seemed extremely difficult to follow. However, what they could not handle was when they became aware that the Jewish nation was headed to Eretz Yisroel, and was going to henceforth demonstrate, en masse, that one can live an uplifted life even within the confines of regular society and normal life. They didn’t feel comfortable with the idea that the Jewish nation would demonstrate that one can, and should, be just as spiritual with mundane matters like money (being honest in business, taking care of the poor, making chessed organizations), social interactions (not speaking ill of others), etc. , as they are in their temples and houses of prayer. They were fine with the concept that spirituality can only be pursued if you separate yourself as much as possible from physicality. However, they did not like the reminder that one can be equally holy by uplifting physicality, through living normal lives within the instructions of the Torah. Simply put, they didn’t like the idea of a conscience moving towards the mainland. This is what prompted them to attack, by whatever means necessary.
Furthermore, they understood that the Jewish nation’s positive example would cast a bad light on their nations in the eyes of Hashem. Until this point, the Jewish nation only proved that one could live spiritually if they live in a secluded desert, away from all physicality. That, they could handle. However, if the Jewish nation would settle into a permanent land and still live uplifted lives, following every word of G-d and even carrying out their “mundane” activities for the sake of Hashem, that was something that they understood would make them look bad. Therefore, they tried to stop the Jews from entering Eretz Yisroel. Balak and Bila'am did not intend to convince Hashem to destroy the Jewish nation; that would obviously be impossible. Rather, they hoped to convince Hashem to keep the Jewish nation in the desert, (in the elevated status that they had acquired in the desert), and never bring them into regular society. Hashem disagreed, and responded that His nation could reach even GREATER heights by following His will through the course of normal life, and so, Balak and Bila’am were punished severely. (See Shem MiShmuel on Parshas Balak, Shnas Tuf’Reish’Ayin, and Tuf’Reish’Ayin’Bais)

Living Inspired
Sometimes, one’s role is best understood through the eyes of his enemy, which is certainly the case in this regard. The purpose of a Jew is to truly be a light unto the nations; To demonstrate that one can and should live a holy, meaningful and exalted life even within what looks like regular and mundane life. Indeed, every Jew does so on a regular basis. Let’s illustrate with the following:
One says a Bracha on the Torah one time daily, in the morning prayers. The Sages ask why this is so? When it comes to all other brachos, like on food for example, one must make a new bracha each and every time that he eats. Why is the blessing on Torah different? Why when it comes specifically to this blessing, does it work all day long, despite the many breaks one takes from learning Torah?
The Divrei Chamudois explains that, in truth, a Jew never really takes a break from Torah. You see, every second of his day, he is busying himself with it. To paraphrase his words - Every moment a man wears a yamuka or tzitzis, or a girl dresses modestly, he and she are adhering to the Torah. Every time you watch your language, hold back your temper, and don’t sin, you are fulfilling the Torah. A Jew, by definition, can and usually does keep the Torah and serve his Creator every single second of his day (Brachos, first Perek, Ois Ayin Vuv; regarding Rosh Ois Yud Gimmel).
How lucky we are to be Hashem’s chosen people, and to have the opportunity to serve Hashem with every single moment of our lives. May we all merit to be a light unto the nations, successfully uplift every single action that we do by adhering to the Torah, and be the proper example for the world that Hashem intends for us to be.
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Moishy Pruzansky