Pesach Vll-Vlll

ARTSCROLL Torah
7th day 366, 8th day 1018

April 13-14, 2012 21-22 Nissan, 5772

Rabbi Frand on Pesach

The Key To Understanding the Significance of the Omer be" [Vayikra 23:15].

this Offering: The first day of the Omer, the Maftir There are many 7th day 892, 8th day 892 second day of the Haftorah difficulties that we find in Omer, etc.? 7th day 1225, 8th day 1226 connection with the In this week's Omer offering. Number three: Why parsha we find the was the omer brought HERTZ mitzvah of the Number one: What does on the 16th day of Offering of the the word 'omer' mean? Torah Nissan? This is not one 7th day 265, 8th day 810 Omer. The Torah Omer was just a of the special days of Maftir says that on the measure. It was the Pesach -- it is neither 7th day 695, 8th day 695 16th of Nissan, on amount of grain that Haftorah here nor there. What the second day of 7th day 1017, 8th day 1023 they had to bring. Is it happened on the 16th Pesach, the Jewish not strange that the of Nissan that this people were Korban should be called Korban should be Times obligated to bring by the name omer? That brought specifically an Omer offering. is, in effect, like calling it then? See page 2 The bringing of the the "Quart Offering" or for schedule of the last days of Omer offering the "Liter Offering." The Medrash Pesach permitted all types Other offerings are called elaborates on the Sunday April 15 7:30/8:30 am of new wheat crops names: Pesach, Todah great merit and (Chadash) to be (Thanksgiving), significance of the Mon. Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am eaten. Shelamim (Peace), Shtei Omer Offering: In its HaLechem (Two Loaves). merit Avraham Tues., Wed. Fri. 6:45/7:45 am Then the Torah They have descriptive received the land of gives us an added names. Omer is a Canaan; in its merit command: "And you measure. Why should the Jews were saved Mincha 7:20 pm shall count unto that be the name of the in the days of Gideon; yourselves from the Korban? in its merit they were Latest Times for morrow after this saved in the days of Shema/ Shmoneh Esrei sabbath, from the Number two: What is so Chizkiyahu; in its day of your bringing crucial about this merit they were saved the omer of the offering, that we tie our in the days of Haman; April 14 9:37/10:43 am waving, seven entire counting between in its merit they were sabbaths shall it Pesach and Shavuos to
April 21 9:31/10:39 am Next Shabbat Shemini Candle Lighting 7:23 pm

Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Hindi & Ben Lunzer in memory of her father Alter Isser ben Yehuda Leib

Mincha

7:00 pm

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

Shaabbat Announcements Pesach Vl-Vll 5772

saved in the days of Yechezkel. The Medrash goes on and on an on about how this Omer offering saved the day. What is so meaningful about this Korban HaOmer? The Be'er Yosef says that the key to understanding the Omer is the following Medrash: "G-d said to Moshe 'In the wilderness I provided a daily Omer of manna for every Jew. As payment, let the Jews now bring for Me an Omer offering every year on the 16th of Nissan.'" This Medrash is telling us that the purpose of the Korban Omer is to remind us of the Omer we that we all received in the wilderness. That is why it is called by the name Omer -- to remind us of the famous Omer of the manna. As we mentioned many times, the manna that we received in the wilderness is our reminder that it is G-d who provides us with bread from Heaven. Just as in the wilderness we clearly saw, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was G-d who gives us our livelihood, so too in all generations we must remember that as much as we work and as successful as we think we may be, it is G-d that gives us bread from Heaven. That is the lesson of the manna. That is what the Omer Offering is all about. When we are harvesting our new wheat crop and we might tend to think that "my might and the power of my hand, brought me all this wealth" we are commanded to bring a Korban HaOmer to remember the manna. That is why the omer is brought on the 16th on Nissan. We have it by tradition that the manna stopped falling on Adar 7 (the day of Moshe's death) and they had left over in the vessels until the 16 of Nissan. On the

day they ran out of manna they had to bring the Omer Offering. That too is why we count Sefirah for 7 complete weeks and tie it to the Omer Offering. If we brought an Omer Offering only one day of the year, perhaps the crucial lesson that it teaches us would be lost. The Halacha therefore requires that we review this lesson 49 times, over and over, until it becomes second nature. That is why the Medrash goes on and on and mentions how in the merit of the Omer the Jews were saved so many times. If we learn the lesson of livelihood -- that it is only G-d who gives us the ability to make a living -- this is indeed a lesson that can cause us to merit the acquisition of the Land and all the other salvations enumerated by the Medrash.

Pesach VII
Thursday night, April 12 Candle Lighting Mincha Friday, April 13 Hashkama Main Shul Beit Midrash Mincha 8:00 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 7:15 pm 7:13 pm 7:15 pm

Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program

Pesach VIII
Friday night, April 13th Candle Lighting Shabbat, April 14th Hashkama Main Shul Beit Midrash Shir HaShirim and Yizkor are part of this service Shiur Mincha Shabbat & Yom Tov ends 8:00 am 8:45 am 9:00 am 6:10 am 7:10 pm 8:22 pm 7:14 pm

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 Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Joseph Hecht, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

DoyouknowthatPROSTATECANCERisoneofthedeadliestdiseasesformen? OnTuesday,April24,at7:45pm TheGreatNeckSynagogueMensClub InvitesyoutolearnaboutthePrevention,TreatmentandSurvivalof ProstateCancerfromoneoftheleadingexpertsinthefield

Dr.DavidB.Samadi
ViceChairmanofUrologyandChiefofRoboticsandMinimallyInvasive SurgeryattheMountSinaiSchoolofMedicineinNY

SHABBATDINNERSPEAKERSSERIES Eachmonth,weproudlypresentaleadingJewishthinkerorinstitutionalleaderwhowill inspireandeducateusoverthecourseofShabbat.JoinusforamemorableShabbat dinner,asweenjoygoodfood,thecompanyoffriends,andapowerfulandrelevant message. Friday, April 27Saturday April 28

Dr. Deborah Lipstadt

DorotProfessorofModernJewishandHolocaustStudies,EmoryUniversity
DeborahE.LipstadtistheDorotProfessorofModernJewishHistoryandHolocaustStudiesattheTamInstitutefor JewishStudiesandtheDepartmentofReligionatEmoryUniversityinAtlanta,Georgia.AtEmoryshecreatedtheInsti tuteforJewishStudiesandwasitsfirstdirectorfrom19982008.ShedirectsthewebsiteknownasHDOT[HolocaustDenialonTrial/www.hdot.org] whichcontainsanswerstofrequentclaimsmadebyHolocaustdeniers.LipstadtwasanhistoricalconsultanttotheUnitedStatesHolocaustMemorial Museum,andhelpeddesignthesectionoftheMuseumdedicatedtotheAmericanResponsetotheHolocaust.ShewasappointedbyPresidentClin tontotheUnitedStatesHolocaustMemorialCouncilonwhichsheservedtwoterms.From1996through1999sheservedasamemberoftheUnited StatesStateDepartmentAdvisoryCommitteeonReligiousFreedomAbroad.Inthiscapacityshe,togetherwithasmallgroupofleadersandscholars, advisedSecretaryofStateMadelineAlbrightonmattersofreligiouspersecutionabroad.In2005shewasaskedbyPresidentGeorgeW.Bushtobe partofasmalldelegationwhichrepresentedtheWhiteHouseatthe60thanniversarycommemorationoftheliberationofAuschwitz.Ahighlyac claimedauthor,LipstadtreceivedherB.A.fromCityCollegeofNewYorkandherM.A.andPh.D.fromBrandeisUniversity.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS NOMINATING COMMITTEE The nominating committee for Great Neck Synagogue approved at the March 15th Board meeting is as follows: Chair: Michael Leventhal Members:Marcy Aharon, Jeff Benjamin, Emma Baum, Zachary Mittleman, Ellen Modlin and Glenn Zuckerman. Please feel free to speak to any and all of these members to express your opinion on nominations. SISTERHOOD SCHLISSEL CHALLAH BAKING Sisterhood presents a hands-on challah baking demonstration given by Sharona Abraham to learn the significance of the Schlissel Challah - an opportunity that comes just once a year! Join us on Tuesday, April 17th at 8:00pm in the Braun Youth Center. Class is limited to 36 women and costs $18. To make a reservation, please contact Farla Frumkin at : farlafrumkin@gmail.com or 829-7938. Everyone goes home with a schlissel challah - please remember to bring a spare house key. Two batches available for sponsorship at $72 each. Sponsors choose name and perform bracha for hafrashat challah. LUNCH AND LEARN Lunch and Learn given by Dr. Laura Danoff on the occasion of the yahrzeit of her father, Dr. Ernest Herman zl. on April 18th, 12:00 SHARP 4 Vista Drive in Great Neck Estates - "How the Parsha of the Week Affects Your Everyday Life" will be the learning topic. Rsvp to openwyd613@aol.com. This is a women only event. SAVE THE DATE YOM HASHOAH Yom Hashoah commemoration featuring the NSHA High School Choir and Leibel Zisman A Child Survivors Story Of faith Against The Odds Will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 7:45 pm. SAVE THE DATE ISRAEL BONDS Israel Bond Dessert Reception for the unique community of Great Neck, honoring our local synagogue presidents at Temple Israel on May 23rd at 7:30 pm. GNS MENS CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS Wed & Thur., June 6 & 7, 7.00 pm: The annual Defensive Driving Course will be held at GNS. Participate to reduce any points on your license and save on auto insurance. Sun June 10, 8.00 am to 1.00 pm: Our semi-annual Blood Drive. Donating blood is a mitzvah which helps save lives. Sun July 1, 9.00 am: We are going Fishing again. The whole family can join in this enjoyable morning at sea.
PESACH PASS IT FORWARD Pass it Forward is grateful to those who supported our Passover Initiative, providing full Pesach Seders, with seder plates, and extra goodies for 50 families. We tirelessly worked under extreme pressures of making Pesach for their own families. Special thanks to Felecia Morris, who once again liased with the Jewish Agencies to help us provide for those in need; to Milt Mitzner and Charlie and Neil Mandelbaum who headed up the delivery program and our volunteer drivers. Special thanks to Eddie Mazur, who was generous with his time and resources, allowing us to use his facility to assemble and deliver. Another group of 18 needy families also received a delivery of Passover foods, thanks to the GNS Hunger Initiative, and matzahs, grape juice and sugar were delivered to a food pantry on the South Shore. A special thank you to David Kufeld for his help and to Arthur Luxenberg who helped underwrite costs of the program. Thanks to the Sephardic community, who generously donated so much matzo and support. May we all be Blessed to be freed from bondage this year!

Within Our Family

Mazal Tov to Susan Mayer on the birth of a granddaughter Sophie Noa Mayer (Orly Zeisel), born to her children Aliza & Richard Mayer and big sister Perri. Mazal Tov to Rebbetzin Elaine Wolf on the birth of a greatgrandson, born to her grandchildren Rabbi Eliyahu & Adina Wolf of Woodmere, NY. Mazal Tov to Carol and David Goddard on the birth of a grandson, born to their children Jon and Lisa Goddard of Sydney, Australia. Mazal Tov to Moussa & Shulamit Soleimani on the birth of a granddaughter born to their children Tina and Eric Lalo. Mazal Tov to Mahin & Amir Mardkha on the birth of twin grandsons born to their children David & Pamela Mardkha.

AFMDA PARLOR MEETING Please hold Wednesday, May 2nd for a dessert reception commemorating the second Yahrzeit of our beloved Dr. Lewis Gordonson, ZL at the home of Mrs. Rita Gordonson. Special briefing by Ori Shacham, Deputy Director, Magen David Adom, Israels sole Knesset-mandated medical response service. SAVE-THE DATE The North Shore Hebrew Academy's Annual Journal Dinner will take place on Tuesday, May 22nd Rosh Chodesh Sivan at CITI FIELD honoring Sarit & Shlomo Elias and Kathy & Arnie Flatow.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 22 Nissan Bonnie Diamond for Abraham Brandeis Harold Domnitch for Julius Domnitch Richard Reiser for Sidney Reiser Sunday, 23 Nissan Helen Ishofsky for Shimon Hershkowitz Deanne Lipsius for Harold Sirkin Brenda Rosmarin for Bernard Metzger Edward Wydra for Jack Wydra Monday, 24 Nissan Rochelle Dicker for Dorothy Stitskin Iraj Kashani for David Kashani Joan Katz for Anne Rezak Jacob Toledano for Ester Toledano Tuesday, 25 Nissan Scott Danoff for Stuart Danoff Susan Mindick for Rubin Korn Ezra Sheena for Nissim Sheena David Werber for Joseph Drezner Martin Werber for Joseph Drezner Wednesday, 26 Nissan Asher Davoudpour for Mahjabin Davoudpour Sadie Frank for Henny Ekstein Barry Libin for Margery Serkin Sidney Mauthner for Herbert Mauthner Thursday, 27 Nissan Lev Dynkin for Berl Dynkin Semyon Dynkin for Berl Dynkin Stanley Fischer for Hedwig Fischer Halina Greenwald for Yechiel Geller Karen Spitalnick for Jonas Steigman Friday, 28 Nissan Gilbert Aronowitz for Martin Luchansky Norma Breite for Harry Dodes Nina Gourdji for Nadji Gourdji Myrna Horowitz for Leah Templeman Jacqueline Hott for Miriam Friedland Hedva Kessler for Mike Majus Anne Lupkin for Sol Fischler Aaron Seligson for Sylvia Seligson