Parshat Tazria/Metzorah

Torah
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April 28, 2012 6 Iyar, 5772

Rabbi Frand on Parshat Tazria/Metzorah

Only You Are Called "Adam" The bulk of the Parshiyos of Tazria and Metzorah deal with the intricate laws of a person, his clothing, or his dwelling contracting Tzara'ath, and what 7:30 pm the person must do to regain the status 7:00 pm of Ta'hara [purity]. observation from Rav Shlomo Ganzfried. In his commentary on Chumash (Aperion), Rav Ganzfried wonders why the Torah chose the term "Adam" to describe a person at the start of the laws of Tzara'ath (rather than the more common "Ish"). Rav Ganzfried suggests that Adam is a connotation for a human that has no plural form. (The plural of "ish" is "anashim", but the plural of "adam" is not "adamim"!) appropriate to use about Jews. However, the meaning of this statement is certainly not that only Jews are considered human and non-Jews are considered sub-human. Heaven forbid! That is not the meaning of the Gemara.

Haftorah

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Candle Lighting Friday Mincha

Rav Ganzfried explains as follows. The Hebrew Hashkama 8:00 am language is extremely These laws begin precise in terms of the Parsha Shiur 8:30 am with the words: different connotations Main Minyan 9:00 am "Hashem spoke to of apparent synonyms. Moshe and to Aharon With this principle, Rav The singular term Beit Midrash 9:15 am saying: 'If a person Ganzfried explains a "Adam" fits the Jews. will have (Adam ki famous Gemara that is All Jews are considered Teen Minyan 9:30 am yiheye) on the skin troubling to many people. as a single entity. There In a number of places, the is no dichotomy. We are Gemorah Shiur 6:25 pm of his flesh an intensely white pot, Talmud says, "You are all in this together. The Mincha 7:25 pm or one nearly so, or a called Adam, but the reason why the word shiny white one, and nations of the world are "Adam" is employed Shabbat Ends 8:39 pm it forms a plague of not called referring to Jews is Sunday April 29 7:30/8:30 am leprosy in the skin of Adam" [Yevamos 61a; because this is the only his flesh, then shall Bava Metzia 114b; Kerisus term for humanity that Mon. Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am he be brought to 6b]. has no plural and the Aharon the priest, or Tues., Wed. Fri. 6:45/7:45 am Jewish people are a to one of his sons, The simple meaning of the singular people. Their above-quoted Talumudic Mincha 7:35 pm the one-ness is most priests.'" [Vayikra passage would be that the appropriately expressed Latest Times for 13:1-2] connotation of the specific by the word "Adam." Shema/ Shmoneh Esrei word 'Adam' is only I saw an interesting
April 28 May 5
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Next Shabbat Acharei/Mote-Kedoshim Candle Lighting Mincha 7.38 pm 7:00 pm

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Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Ellen & Mitchell Siegel in memory of her father Morris Givner, zl

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Shabbat Announcements Parshat Tazria/Metzorah 5772

With this introduction, Rav Ganzfried adds, we can appreciate why the section of leprosy begins with the term "Adam." As Chazal tell us, Tzara'as comes as a result of speaking Lashon HaRah [slander]. Homiletically, the word Metzorah is linked to the expression Motzi Rah [one who speaks evil]. The pasuk is teaching that when one speaks Lashon Hara, the divisiveness attacks and destroys the singularity of the Jewish people, endangering our status of "Adam." This idea serves as the introduction to the whole section of Tza'raath laws. We have to remember that we Jews are called "Adam." We must view ourselves as one big body. We are all in this together and dare not slander one another. I read an incident dating back to the Beilus blood libel. In 1912, in Russia, Mendel Beilus was accused of killing a Christian child and using his blood to bake Matzahs. This slander or variations of it were unfortunately prevalent in Europe for many, many years. They were known as blood libels. Beilus' lawyer was afraid that to buttress their case, the accusers would make the argument that Jews considered non-Jews less than human. He was in fact afraid that they would cite the above-quoted Talmudic reference to prove this very point. The lawyer therefore visited the Chortkever Rebbe and asked him how he could respond if the opposing lawyers would throw that Gemara at him. The Rebbe said as follows: If an Italian was seized and put on trial, we would not witness a scenario where all Italians were congregating in their churches to pray for this one Italian. The same can be said about the French for a Frenchman, and so too about all other nations. However, when a Jew is seized and put on trial, the solidarity that Jews

have toward each other will make every Jew throughout the world stop and pray for the welfare of that other Jew. We do not have to go back to the Beilus trial to see the accuracy of this observation. In our day and time, we have witnessed many examples of such solidarity. If a single Jew is seized or held hostage, Jews all over the world congregate and pray for that one fellow Jew. Who is like your nation Israel - one nation in the land? Is there another nation where everyone feels a sense of responsibility and one-ness with each other? This is how the Chortkever Rebbe explained the Gemara "You are called Adam." Only you are considered a single unit, whereby it is impossible to speak of the plural of Adam. This is not a racist interpretation. It is not bigoted. It is an attribute of the Jews that has been demonstrated time and time again in both recent and ancient times.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
FAMILY SHABBAT LUNCHEON & GUEST SPEAKER SERIES Please make your reservations to attend the luncheon with Dr. Deborah Lipstadt for this Shabbat, April 28, 2012. Reservations are required. Please call the shul office( 516-487-6100) or email mtwersky@gns.org.Sponsorships are available. Please see page three for more details. SUNDAY BREAKFAST This weeks breakfast is sponsored by Bracha & Zeev Kron GNS MENS CLUB: PREVENTION TREATMENT AND SURVIVAL OF PROSTATE CANCER Dr. David B. Samadi will talk on Tues., April 24 about the prevention, Treatment and Survival of Prostate Cancer. YOM HAATZMAUT CELEBRATION Join us this coming Wed. evening, April 25, to commemorate Yom Hazikaron and celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. Beginning with Mincha at 7:25 pm and special film presentation. See page three. YOM HAATZMAUT FOR YOUTH Special program for GNS members and their children ages nursery-5th grade will take place on Thurs. April 26 at 5:30 pm. See page three for more details. BOOKS AND BAGELS Sunday, April 29, 9:30am ~ Books and Bagels, with Alicia Oltusky, author of PRECIOUS OBJECTS: A Story of Diamonds, Family and a Way of Life, a Barnes and Noble "Discover Great New Writers" Selection. Author presentation will be followed by book signing. Pre-orders ($15) available at the synagogue office. SISTERHOOD MEETING Please join us on Thursday evening, May 3rd at 7:00pm in the Braun Youth Center for a final Sisterhood meeting before the summer. We look forward to seeing you there! SISTERHOOD BOOK SALE The Sisterhood Gift Shop is selling Two Rings: A Story of Love and War which is the Holocaust memoir by our member Millie Werber. If you are interested in purchasing this book, please contact Diane Rein at drein@verizon.net. COMBINED SISTERHOODS OF GREAT NECK EVENT The 2nd Annual GN Sisters Project will take place on Wed., May 16th at 10:00am at Temple Israel. Please join us to help prepare Shabbat Boxes for all Jewish patients at North Shore University Hospital followed by a luncheon and guest speaker, Rabbi Daniel Coleman. We look forward to seeing you there! We welcome you to be a sponsor for $18. Kindly rsvp to the synagogue office 487-6100.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY Mazal Tov to Joan & Henry Katz on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Eric Zucker, son of Linda & Jay Zucker and on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Gabrielle Sadinoff, daughter of Sara & Kenneth Sadinoff. Mazal Tov to Arlette & Rafi Shaya on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Jake son of Limor & Michael Rosenberg. Mazal Tov to Dan & Meredith Bachrach on the birth of a son. Mazal Tov also to grandparents Eva & Frank Bachrach. Mazal Tov to Lillian & Al Leiderman on the engagement of their granddaughter Jenna Lee Statfeld daughter of Beth & Martin Statfeld to Aaron Kenneth Harris, son of Dr. Michael & Frieda Harris of Englewood, NJ. Mazal Tov to Tricia Moslin for being honored by UJA Federation for volunteering at Parker Institute. This is a Special Volunteer Recognition Ceremony. Mazal Tov to Betsy Leiberman on her marriage to Judge Herbert Altman of NY. COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS
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. Those wishing to place an ad or make a reservation, please call the NSHA Business Office at (516) 487-8687 ext 2. 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.

Bracha and Cantor Kron would like to thank Rabbi Polakoff, Rabbi Lichter and the GNS community for their kind words and outpouring support during the loss of her mother Sorah Bornstein zl .

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. WANTED DRIVERS Who needs a mitzva? The Hunger Initiative is looking for two drivers, each will be responsible for a one stop food delivery on a Sunday morning, once every six weeks. Please contact Mark Twersky in the Synagogue office.

COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS

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. PARLOR MEETING MTJ parlor meeting with Rav Reuben Feinstein at the home of Jamie & Michael Katz 25 Clover Drive, on Tuesday evening, May 8th in memory of Ben Dweck.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 6 Iyar Sheila Bachman for Florence Gur Halina Greenwald for Pola Salpeter Ephraim Slonim for Jacob Slonim Sam Yehaskel for Lucy Yehaskel Monday, 8 Iyar Fay Smith for Lester Smith Tuesday, 9 Iyar Tammy Jampel for Amnon Abramov Thursday, 11 Iyar Mark J. Bunim for Louis A. Bunim Herschel Flax for Issy Pasvolsky Mary F. Flax for Issy Pasvolsky Rafael Gad for Yacob Gad Harriet Nathel for Pauline Chalfin Helene Peyser for Paula Stadtmauer Arlette Shaya for Odette Dayan Osnass Shein for Isaac Shein Friday, 12 Iyar Jerry Gil for Akiva Gil Joseph Gil for Akiva Gil