Shabbat Parshat Korach June 27, 2009 5 Tamuz 5769

GNS TEFILLA DIGEST: A Weekly Discussion about the Fundamentals of Jewish Prayer
By Rabbi Brahm Weinberg – Rabbinic Intern
Torah This inspiring article about relationship to others, the real problem That need awareness is a pristine
Artscroll, tefillah is sponsored by Diane is that so many people are not even awareness of our real needs unencumbered
and David Rein in memory of open to themselves. Consequently, Rav by the façade of our external being, by our
820 Diane’s mother, Helene M. Amital explains that the silent amidah fears and apprehensions or by the role
Hertz, 638 Fink z”l.
begins with the words “O G-d open my
lips, and my mouth will declare your
expectation of society.
Prayer is such a raw, open experience in
Issue # 47 – Philosophy of praise” as a means of asking G-d to help
which we completely reveal our own self
Haftorah Prayer (Part IV) the one praying disclose his or her heart
to themselves for only then can he or
and our needs in a serious way that Rabbi
Shalom Carmy, a prominent professor of
Artscroll, Last week we discussed some she really open up to G-d.
Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University,
aspects of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s
1186 philosophy of prayer. We began Rabbi Soloveitchik would claim that
when we stand during the amidah in
believes it is part of what makes it so hard
for us to pray. He says that “we often find
by saying that according to the Rav
Hertz, 649 prayer is about need awareness. which we petition G-d for our needs an inability to take ourselves seriously, to
Much like many of the medieval and we reflect upon the basic needs of honor our genuine needs, our joys, our
Jewish philosophers, the Rav life such as health, material well being, troubles and devotions, as worthy of our
Times believed that the purpose of prayer understanding and wisdom, we own solemn concern” and thus have a hard
was not to effect some change naturally scrutinize why we should time taking ourselves seriously enough to
Candle lighting 8:12 pm upon G-d who is immutable but on desire those things and what address our real needs in G-d’s presence.
our own self. He said that what it experiences in life could provide us
Mincha 7:00 pm Besides the ability to take down the facade
is meant to achieve is a with the elements of those needs that
that covers our being, prayer can be
clarification of our needs. will satisfy our true being rather than
Hashkama 8:00 am beneficial in helping a person gain clearer
provide us with a temporal sense of
Minyan The problem he was addressing self perception because it contains
false satisfaction. elements of self-judgment as well. Rabbi
was that we often go through life
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am so fast and with so much on our There is also another aspect of the Samson Raphael Hirsch notes that
shoulders that we do not get a prayer experience that can help us to “prayer” in the Hebrew language is called
Youth 8:30 am become more aware of who we are. tefilla, the infinitive being lehitpallel: a
chance to reflect on what is best
for us and what we really need. Psychologists say that part of the way reflexive form of the root pallel which
Main Minyan 9:00 am
We often make choices in life that that a person can become more aware of means to judge. Tefilla, the act of self-
Beit Midrash 9:15 am do not allow us to reach our fullest his or her own self is to create judgment, according to psychologists can
potential as people and as ovdei relationships in which they can be refine the process of viewing the self by
Gemorah Shiur 7:00 pm hashem because those choices are completely open about who they are. helping the individual channel his or her
based on a false sense of who we analysis allowing for a deeper scrutiny of
Mincha 8:00 pm Prayer provides us with that open one’s problems and failings that will lead
are and what we need in life. relationship that is necessary for a
Prayer affords us the opportunity him or her to see his or her own self free
Shabbat Ends 9:20 pm person’s growth. It is in that open of false perceptions.
to straighten that out by relationship that we can reveal who we
Sunday 7:30 am discovering more about who we truly are without the fear of being These aspects of prayer that can help us
8:30 am are and what we need. judged or rejected for we know that discover more about ourselves and our
If understood in this way, prayer when we stand before G-d, G-d can see needs can transform the prayer experience
Mon., &Thurs., 6:35 am can be a very important component our inner self. Thus, there is no reason in to one that is very personal and very
of our religious growth. to hide it. Once we feel comfortable meaningful not just in terms of our
Tues., Wed., & 6:45 am revealing our inner self, including our religious and spiritual growth but in terms
Fri., Allow me to explain how that
happens. flaws and imperfections, our unfulfilled of our happiness in life and personal
Second Shacharit desires and emotions, we automatically satisfaction.
Rabbi Yehuda Amital explains that create the need awareness that Rabbi
Minyan (Daily) 7:45 am while many think that people are There is an element of Rabbi
Soloveitchik speaks about. Soloveitchik’s philosophy of prayer that
not “open” enough in their
Mincha (week of 8:10 pm
June 28)
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might seem to rub us the wrong way and make us feel as if G-d is denying
the autonomy of the individual: Self-sacrifice. Rabbi Soloveitchik
explains that not only are our prayers a substitute for the sacrifices of the
temple, but prayer is itself an act of self sacrifice, of the “unrestricted
offering of the whole self, the returning to G-d of body and soul,
everything one possesses and cherishes.”
Nevertheless, I would maintain that even this seeming abrogation of the
self, surrender of autonomy and individuality still contains elements of
autonomy and empowerment of the individual. As Rabbi Aharon
Lichtenstein has noted, the basis of the entire structure of sacrifices in the
temple, is ownership and mastery either private or communal. As he once
said: “The requirement to give is addressed only to someone who is able to
give.” The very authoritarian demand to give oneself up to G-d is
predicated upon the fact that the individual has the autonomy to do so.
Furthermore, Rabbi Soloveitchik asserts that what Abraham taught us in
the realm of prayer is that despite G-d’s overwhelming presence and
commanding authority, man can stand before G-d without being
consumed, man can maintain his individuality and humanity even in the
face of the all encompassing G-d. In fact, G-d so much respects the
individuality of man that He Himself “descends” into the world of man in
friendship as a familiar companion (kiveyachol…) to meet him in prayer.
The understanding that we do not lose our individuality in prayer and the
status of honor bestowed upon us as a being who is approached by the
Divine is empowering and affirms our individuality and autonomy.
Thought to Ponder
Over the last 5 weeks I tried to wind down our series on prayer on a
broader more philosophical basis. After a year of seeing the explanations
of many intricate laws and issues in prayer as well as elucidations of
different sections of the siddur, I wanted to end the series with an
explanation of what the whole experience of prayer is really about and
what we are meant to get out of it. I hope that the last 5 articles have been
Shabbat Announcements Parshat Korach, 5769
helpful in that regard.
There are many things we can gain from prayer and there are many
explanations of what prayer is all about. One of the nice aspects of Rabbi
Soloveitchik’s philosophy of prayer as “need awareness” which I chose to end
with is that is makes prayer in to a very personal experience that can be helpful
to you and to me.
This is the last article that I will be writing in the Tefilla Digest series. As we
end this series this is the message that I wish to leave you with and that I wish
for you to ponder (It is based on Rabbi Soloveitchik’s philosophy of prayer
that I have shared in the last two weeks):
Prayer is deep, it is vast, it is extraordinarily complex and, most of all, it is
really difficult. As I mentioned in my opening drasha before launching this
series: “For 3 times a day, 365 days a year for the last 12 years of my life I
have interrupted my day to pray. That means that roughly 13,000 times I have
paused in order to fulfill the mitzvah of tefilla, of prayer. Repeating any
behavior 13,000 times should certainly lead to greater levels of competence in
that behavior. And yet, after 13000 practice runs, I still feel like I haven’t
perfected my tefilla.”
Nevertheless, at its most basic core prayer can be, for each an every one of us,
a time to contemplate who we are, what our genuine needs are, what we fail at
and where we succeed, what we wish to change about ourselves and what we
wish to keep the same.
Prayer can be one of the vehicles through which we come to discover
who we are and in that way become better people and better servants
of Hashem. The closer we come to know ourselves the closer we will
come to know what lies at our core which is our tzelem elokim, the
Divine spark within each of us. The closer we come to knowing that
spark of the Divine, the closer we come to cleave to the shechina, to
the spirit of G-d Himself.

OUR GRADUATES
Alan & Lisa Adler in honor of the graduations of their son Robert and nieces and nephews Ethan, Courtney &
Erma all from NSHA
Gil, Jay & Pnina Aronowitz in honor of the graduations of Josh from NYU and Danielle from Ramaz HS
Gary & Lilly Chubak in honor of Jenny graduating from NYU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Harold & Lorriane Domnitch in honor of the graduation of grandson Daniel Domnitch from GNN HS &
granddaughter Shayna, Deans list at University of Wisconsin
Herbert & Nadine Eckstein in honor of the graduation of their granddaughter Shoshana Mogilner as
Valedictorian from NSHA HS
Arnie & Kathy Flatow in honor of Sara graduating NSHA Middle School
Mark & Meryl Friedman in honor of Jared graduating with a BA from Johns Hopkins.
Bill & Farla Frumkin in honor of the graduations of Josh from Ramaz HS and Elliot from NSHA Middle
School.
Matt & Olga Gartenhaus in honor of the graduations of Sara Bernstein with an MS from Boston U.,Sargent
College of Health & Rehab Sciences and Jeff Bernstein with an MBA from Harvard U. Business School.
Anne Gold in honor of granddaughter Yonina Goldberg graduating from Central/YUHSG
Robert & Sharon Herman in honor of Brittany & Allie graduating from NSHA Middle School
Morris & Cindy Hodkin in honor of Bernie graduating from NSHA HS and attending Johns Hopkins
Joe & Lauren Hyman in honor of the graduations of Rebecca from NYU Stern Business School and Jonathan
Katz from Sacler Med. School
CharlesStein & Jeanne Walfish in honor of granddaughter Rivky Stein Lebowitz being accepted to NY Law
School.
Trudy Jettelson in honor of acceptance of granddaughter Bonnie Schiffman to Cornell
Leslie & Irene Kahn in honor of grandchildren Tamara Berman & Eli Kahn graduating from Middle School.
Richard & Judy Lillien in honor of Melissa graduating form YU Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Robert & Annie Mendelson in honor of the graduations of Eli from NSHA Middle School and Bonnie from
NSHA Elementary
Yaacov & Gail & Shira Mizrahi in honor of the graduation of Talia from Central/YUHSG
Ed & Brenda Parver in honor of the graduations of Rebecca Parver Gams from Albert Einstein School of
Medicine and Aliza Solomon Parver from Fairliegh Dickenson School of Nursing.
 OUR GRADUATES

Polakoff/Hoffman family in honor of Ariella Polakoff graduating Central/YUHSG

Fred & Janet Pomerantz in honor of the graduations of Ilana from GNN HS and Jordan from NSHA Middle School
and acceptance as a Samberg Fellow by Center for Jewish History.
Edwin & Anida Rosman in honor of the graduations of Jordan from NSHA Middle School and Elana from NSHA
HS
Issac & Farah Sachmeci in honor of the graduations of Alon from NYU and Arielle from NSHA Middle School.
Leon & Rita Silverman in honor of the graduation of their daughter Jane, from Law School, Cum Laude
Esther Sloyer in honor of the graduation of granddaughter Rebecca Sloyer form NSHA HS
Brian & Susan Smith on the graduations of Jodi Smith from Wash. U., St. Louis, of Daniel Zaretsky from GN South
Middle and Hanna Zaretsky from Saddle Rock School.
Lawrence & Cheryl Sneag in honor of Abigail graduating from Binghamton U. Summa Cum Laude
Martin & Judith Sokol in honor of the graduations of Brandon Hollander from NSHA Middle School and Samantha
Hollander from GNN High School
Irvin & Florence Spira in honor of Shaina graduating with honors from NYIT with a Doctorate in Pyhsical Therapy
Steinberg, Ginsburg & Shalmon Families in honor of the graduation of Donny Steinberg from Yeshiva Har Torah
Michael & Sandra Stern in honor of the graduation of their daughter Zoe Yardena from HANC Middle School
Ron & Jill Swartz in honor of Courtney graduating NSHA HS & Ethan from NSHA Middle School
Steven & Jill Swartz in honor of the graduation of their daughter Erma from NSHA Middle School.
Baruch & Pam Toledano in honor of the graduation of Joseph from NSHA Middle School

CONGREGATIONAL KIDDUSH

Jacob & Esther Ambalu in memory of his mother Esther Cohen Ambalu
Frank & Eva Bachrach in memory of Lotte & Ludwig Bachrach
Gerald & Joan Begun in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of grandson Yosef Aryeh Begun
Carol Buckmann in memory of Mayer Siegel
Serge Fischler in honor of the NSHA Soccer Team winning its 3rd championship in a row.
Arnie & Kathy Flatow in honor of Elie who was the regional winner in the Chidon Hatanch
Raphael Gad in memory of Michael Gad, Ber Yaakov ben Sara
Barbara & Gedale Horowitz in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Jared Isaac Horowitz
Linda & Seth Horowitz in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Jared Isaac Horowitz
Trudy Jettelson in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of granddaughter Rebecca Schiffman
Pauline Loewenstein in memory of Naomi Rutta
Albert & Elaine Miller in honor of their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Ed & Brenda Parver in memory of his mother Sylvia Parver and in honor of the birth of granddaughter Sara
Rosenblum
Polakoff/Hoffman family in honor of Grandpa Cap's 90th birthday
Carl & Rivka Rosenberg in memory of his father Henry Rosenberg, his mother Blanche Rosenberg, his aunt Bluma
Miller and his grandmother Julia Muller
Uri & Aviva Rosin in memory of his sister Miriam Aldouby
Rafi & Arlette Shaya in memory of his father David Shaya & her mother Odette Dayan
Izzy & Sydelle Slochowsky in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Rebecca Hering
Jonas & Gisella Steigman in memory of his mother Itel bas Yonah
Jacob & Hadassah Wachstock in honor of David Werber's birthday and Oren & Esther's marriage.
Alex & Lily Weiss in memory of his father Ignatz Weiss and in memory of her parents Zeev and Hanah Krendel
Murray Weiss in honor of the 55th anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah
David & Ellie Werber in memory of her parents Rosa & Michael Preis and in honor of the first anniversary of
Tovah & Josh Marmer
Edward & Karen Wydra in memory of his mother Helen Wydra
Adam & Karen Zalta in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Danielle
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
HIGH SCHOOL PIRKEI AVOS CLASS
There will be a Pirkei Avos shiur for High School students every
shabbos afternoon approx. 40 minutes before mincha given by
Cary Schwechter in the GNS Youth Center.
CHAI LIFELINE SHABBATON
On June 27th, together with YIGN we will welcome children from Chai
Lifeline who will be in Great Neck for a Shabbaton. They will be at
Great Neck Synagogue Saturday afternoon for Seudah Shlishit and
Mincha. We thank the following for sponsoring this event: Lilly & Gary Lakewood NJ.
Chubak, Jacqueline & Stan Fischer, Sarita & Ben Greszes, Alisa
& Michael Hoenig, Addie & Avi Markowitz, Florence & Irvin
Spira, Orly & Alan Steinberg, Michele & Howard Wolf, Shellie &
Steve Zuckerman, Michelle & Norman Rutta, Ed & Brenda
Parver, Mordechai & Nurit Weiss, Ruth & Mel Klapper, Sara &
Andrew Feldschreiber, and Anne & Harvey Brenner.
GNS GRADUATION AND CONGREGATIONAL KIDDUSH
Saturday, June 27th, celebrate all of your smachot with us! Births, Bar
& Bat Mitzvahs, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, or
commemorate a loved ones yahrzeit. To participate, call the
synagogue office, or send your info to mtwersky@gns.org.
NETWORKING EVENT
Sunday, June 28th, 9:30-11:30am the second networking event will
take place at Temple Israel. Please tell your friends and colleagues
about this event. People who are looking to hire from a very talented
pool of people should take advantage of this opportunity.
INTRODUCTION TO ORTHODOX SOCIAL JUSTICE
Join us for an Introduction to Orthodox Social Justice on June 30th,
7:30pm at GNS. We will welcome Rabbi Ari Weiss and Ari Hart lead-
ers of Uri L’Tzedek, to engage the community in discussion about how
Jewish ethics and law challenge us to spiritual activism on crucial social
justice issues including the innovative Tav HaYosher– an ethical seal
for kosher eating establishments. All ages welcome to come and learn!
We will also be doing a clothing collection, please bring any gently
used clothing. A special thank you to the GNS Sisterhood, The Hunger
Initiative, and the GNS Men’s Club for their support! For more info
contact Jordana Birnbaum at 516-993-6448 jordana100@gmail.com,
Sam Griffel at 917-647-2924 sgriff3@gmail.com, or Bradley
Hercman at 516-532-8162 bmh242@nyu.edu.
SAT TRAINING
July and August, 6-7:30pm at GNS given by David Rabinowitz.
Mondays: Math, Tuesdays: Verbal, Wednesdays: Writing, Thursdays:
Misc. review of material from the previous three days. For more info
call 998-6621.
MEN’S CLUB EVENTS
Bus Trip to NYC
Sun., July 26th 10am, to the NYC Eldridge Synagogue and Center
for Jewish History. Cost including lunch is $60 per person. Call Dave
Wagner 487-9795, Hilly Milun 597-0320, or Al Leiderman at 482-
0628.
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv vs New York Knicks at MSG
Sun. Oct 18th, at 1pm. All proceeds are donated to Migdal Ohr.
Mid-court tickets at $105 each. Tickets are now available on a first
come basis. For tickets call Steve Blumner 487-3859, Hilly Milun
504-0320, or Paul Brody 466-5412
SAM AHARONOFF MEMORIAL SHIVTEI TORAH CAMPAIGN
The NSHA and the NSHAHS in conjunction with the greater Great Neck
Jewish Community, is holding a unique and unprecedented campaign
that involves the commissioning and dedication of 12 new Sifrei Torah.
The Siyum will take place on Sun., Nov. 22nd, the Yarzheit weekend of
Sam Aharonoff z”l. All proceeds will support the Sam Aharonoff
Memorial Scholarship Fund to help offset tuition costs for dozens of
needy students. To participate in the campaign or for more info:
www.shivteitorah.org, or call Arnie Flatow 487-8687 ext 2.
GIVE OLD MAGAZINES A NEW LIFE
Please drop off your current used magazines to the Synagogue office
to be donated to NSUH. Please cut off labels, do not tear.
WITHIN OUR FAMILY
Mazal Tov to Ellen & Rabbi Dale Polakoff on the birth of
their grandson, born to their children Tova & Ephraim
Polakoff.
Mazal Tov to Sharon & Mark Twersky on the birth of their
granddaughter, born to their children Tamar & Evan Twersky.
Mazal Tov to Bracha & Cantor Ze’ev Kron on the Bar
Mitzvah of their grandson Ari, son of Gitty & Shloimie Kron in
Mazal Tov to Aksana & Rabbi Sholom Jensen on their
marriage.
Mazal Tov to Helene & Lloyd Bayme on the Bar Mitzvah of
their grandson Netanel Bayme, son of Shira & Michael
Bayme in Israel.
Mazal Tov to Jolanta & Frank Rosenstein and Marilyn
Druker on Rabbi Dan & Audrey Rosenstein, Dasi, Moshe,
Shani and Tani on making aliyah to Israel.
SCOPE MAGAZINE
The deadline for the Rosh Hashanah Scope Magazine is Monday, August
3rd for all advertisements, articles, photos and New Year Greetings. We
strongly encourage you to be a Scope Sponsor in honor or in memory of a
loved one for $36 an issue or $100 for 3 issues (Rosh Hashanah,
Chanukah, and Pesach) Please email all submissions to drein@verizon.net.
SAVE THE DATE
YU Women’s Organization is holding its annual Spring Ballet Swan Lake
Wed., June 24th, 2009 at Lincoln Center. For info and to RSVP call 212-
960-0855 or see Sydelle Slochowsky.
NSHA’s 6th ANNUAL GOLF & TENNIS CLASSIC
Monday, July 13th, NSHA invites you for a day of golf (noon shotgun),
tennis (ladies at 9:30am & men's at 2:30pm), ladies card games/mahjong
lessons (for those who don't play golf or tennis from 10:30 am to 5pm),
brunch, lunch, BBQs and a sunset cocktail party & million dollar Jet Blue
Challenge followed by a buffet dinner and our Charity Texas Hold’Em
Tournament starting at 7:30pm until 11:30pm. Brochure/registration has
been mailed. For info. please call Arnie Flatow at 487-8687 ext 133.
REFLECTIVE GNS VESTS
A limited supply of reflective vests with GNS logo on them are available in
the synagogue office for $5.
Saturday, 5 Tamuz
Yafa Gabbaizadeh for Eliazer Sadigh
Helen Ishofsky for Ethel Herskovits
Edward Parver for Sylvia Parver
Sunday, 6 Tamuz
Ida Forkosh for Tzvi-Dov Hayzler
Leslie Kahn for Benny Kahn
Y Barry Libin for Paula Libin
Rona Mittelman for Ida Haber
A Monday, 7 Tamuz
H Deanne Lipsius for Joseph Sirkin
Tuesday, 8 Tamuz
R Charlene Milun for Suzanne Berchowitz
Z Howard Wolf for Carrie Wolf
Wednesday, 9 Tamuz
E Laura Cohen for Marvin Leiberman
I Betsy Lieberman for Marvin Lieberman
Rita Gordonson for Leon Gershkowitz
T Ruth Kraft for Mosche Bogatyrow
Thursday, 10 Tamuz
Jerrald Weinstein for Leonard Greenberg
Friday, 11 Tamuz
Oded Daskal for Eitan Daskal
Joan Hope for Lionel Hope
Florence Roteman for Lillian Fang
Frederick Shaw for Lillian Shaw