During these hectic and momentous
days when our hearts and minds concentrate on our beloved State of Israel we
will give strength and encouragement when we consider one interesting fact:
whenever the Torah speaks of Eretz Yisrael and instructs us regarding the
Mitzvot which are to be observed in the Holy Land, we find that the Land is
described as "the Land which I give to you.” We also find Eretz Yisrael described as “the
Land into which I bring you to inherit”.
This is important because we are to understand that no power on earth,
whether it be religious or secular, whether it be
Jewish or Non-Jewish, can decide the ultimate fate of the Land.
Whether it be
the Balfour Declaration or whether it be a plan devised by International Bodies
or by Prime Ministers or Presidents of governments, it will fail for no one has
the right to carve up or divide the
When the Assyrians drove the
majority of our people into exile, when the Babylonians expelled us from the
Land, when the Romans chased us out of
During this period in our calendar
it is important to bear this in mind. If we truly believe that it is Hashem who gave us the Land, that
only He is the True Baal Habayit then none of the worrisome ideas and schemes
that cause such worry will succeed.
That is the message we have to convey to all
Similarly if we believe with perfect faith that Hashem decides the fate
of Eretz Yisrael then we can remove worry and fear and anxiety from our hearts
about the ultimate fate of the
Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld
Troubled
Waters
Recently there have
been a number of halachic issues which have been
suddenly projected into the public arena.
First there was the “Shebu” question
pertaining to the kashruth of a certain species of
cow found primarily in
Next came the Indian hair tumult which affected women’s
wigs. Although most authorities agree it
is not much of an issue in the
Most recently here in
good old
The problem is a
potentially serious one. The Torah in Parshas Shemini (Vayikra
The fact is that
Here is the halachic issue. As
stated, any teeming critter in the water is prohibited-dead or alive. However,
it must be visible to the naked eye. In
the case of these copopods they can be best described
as looking like tiny specks of dandruff.
It is upon closer inspection i.e by use of a
microscope that they can be seen as a once living organism. Now there is no doubt that if an organism is
only visible through use of a microscope then it is not prohibited to consume.
(See Aruch Hashulchan Y.D.
84:36) However, in this case while it is true that the copopods
cannot be determined without the use of a microscope or magnifying loop, they
can be seen to the naked eye as tiny specks.
There are those who
maintain that since they are visible as a speck, they are classified as visible
creatures and are prohibited. It should
also be noted that according to the DEP there are an average of four copopods per gallon of water.
On the other hand, Rav Herschel Schachter shlita maintains that since in the final analysis the copopods cannot be identified without the use of a
microscope, an instrument not available to the generations of Chazal and beyond, they can not
possibly be prohibited.
Rabbi Yisroel Belsky shlita feels that they are not prohibited for another
reason. The Shulchan
Aruch (Y.D. 84:1) states that critters found in still
bodies of water are permissible. Since copopods
originate in reservoirs which unlike flowing rivers are considered still waters, they would
remain permissible. As of this writing
the OU follows the ruling of Rabbis Belsky and Schachter.
It should be noted
that Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l
in Igros Moshe (Y.D. II:146)
in dealing with a related issue of using microscopes to inspect for insects writes “such implements were
never discussed in the Gemora and we must assume that
all the subsequent generations of pious people did not consume anything not
permissible even unwittingly” I believe the exact same holds true of our water
issue.
Wishing
everyone a happy, healthy and kosher summer.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld
As this is my first article in the Torch since assuming the Presidency of the YIKGH, I would like to begin by thanking my predecessor, Jeff Weintraub, for all of the time and effort he has devoted to the shul and our membership during the past two years. Thanks Jeff for all that you’ve done. As a “rookie” President, I hope to draw upon your veteran experience in the coming months, and I’d like to thank you in advance for your sage advice.
During Jeff’s tenure, much was accomplished: the Nat and Mary Saperstein Simcha Room was redecorated; the Torah Fund to repair our Sifrei Torah was reestablished; our Youth Department continued its revitalization; a concert series was inaugurated; and planning was initiated to relocate and upgrade the shul’s library. With regard to two noteworthy recent events, I’d like to thank David Kallus for chairing this year’s inspiring Yom HaShoah commemoration, and Dr. Simon Lopata for moderating our thought-providing Shavuos Forum.
In order to build upon the accomplishments of Jeff’s administration, and help maintain the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills’ leadership position within the Kew Gardens Hills community, I am asking you, OUR MEMBERS for your assistance and support. If you would like to volunteer your services in any capacity or serve on a committee or if you have any ideas for programs or events, please let me know. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, “ASK NOT WHAT YOUR SHUL CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SHUL.”
As is the case in most shuls, the summer months are financially challenging. In this regard, I urge all of our members to redeem any outstanding pledges or balances as soon as possible.
I look forward to working with all of you and I wish everyone a safe, enjoyable and healthy summer.
Allen Herman
WOMEN’S LEAGUE
We can not believe a year has already past. The Women’s League has sponsored lectures, parties, dinners and Yom Tov meals, and has been involved in chesed and tzedaka projects. We would like to say a warm-hearted THANK YOU to all of our committee members. Without your help these events could not have happened. From preparing flyers to mailing them to organizing and even cleaning up after events, everything we accomplished was done with much team work from our committees. A special thank you to Susan and Rachel for always being there when we need them. We also want to thank two members who, after years of dedicated service are leaving their positions, Phyllis Goldkrantz our Recording Secretary and Sifra Hollander from our Shabbos Class Committee.
We are very pleased that we were able to acknowledge the major contributions of our past Women’s League presidents Ilana Guttenmacher and Ginger Socol at our Supperette. There, we honored Ilana and presented a special recognition award to Ginger for her continuous dedication to our shul. Due to the efforts of Debbie Weintraub and Rebecca Wittert, our dinner was well attended and a great success.
On Shabbos Mevorchim, June 12th, we held our installation of officers in conjunction with the shul. We thank the outgoing President, Dr. Jeffrey Weintraub for all of his assistance and wish him well. We would like to extend a hearty mazal tov to the incoming President, Allen Herman. We look forward to working with you.
Have a healthy and happy summer. Please call us if you have any ideas and would like to volunteer in the Women’s League.
Lynn Grossman
Esther Steinerman
PRESIDIUM
Fast begins
Shacharit
Mincha:
Mincha:
Fast begins:
Maariv and
Eicha:
Shacharit:
Mincha:
Fast ends:
The three-week period between Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av is known as Bein HaM’Tzarim (“between the straits”) because it says in Eicha (Chapter 1, verse 3): “and her pursuers overtook her between the straits”, referring to the calamitous events that befell the Jewish people between Shiva Asar B’ Tamuz and Tisha B’Av. This year, the three weeks begin on Tuesday July 6 and end on Tuesday July 27.
For specific questions, contact the Rabbi.
Five disasters occurred on Shiva Asar B’Tamuz:
*Moshe descended from
*During the siege of
*In the year 70 CE, the Romans breached the walls of
*Apustumus burned a Torah scroll
*An idol was set up in the courtyard of the Beis Hamikdosh
*building or performing alterations to one’s home unless the work is important repair work (this prohibition includes painting, wall papering and other forms of home decoration)
* eating meat or
drinking wine except on Shabbat
*giving in clothing
or getting back clothing from the cleaners or doing laundry (children’s clothing and clothing worn
against the body which requires frequent cleaning may be cleaned during this
period)
*weaving, knitting
and needlecraft with the exception of repairing torn clothing
*swimming and
bathing for pleasure (taking a bath or shower for hygiene purposes is
permitted; children in camp may go swimming during the instructional swim
period; visiting a Mikveh when necessary is permitted)
According to our sages, five events occurred on this day:
The sin of the spies caused Hashem to decree that the B’nei
Yisrael who left
The first Beis
Hamikdosh was destroyed in 586 BCE
The second Beis
Hamikdosh was destroyed in 70 CE
Betar, the last
fortress to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt in the
year 135CE, fell
One year after the
fall of Betar, the
Other calamities
took place on this day as well. Among the greatest was in 1492 CE when King
Ferdinand of
The prohibitions on
Tisha B’Av itself are similar to those of Yom Kippur. In addition to not eating
and drinking, we are not permitted to wash, use perfume or cologne, or wear
leather shoes. In a prohibition more stringent than on Yom Kippur, we are only
allowed to study certain portions of the Torah and Talmud.
The observance of
Tisha B’Av begins with the Seudah HaMafseket, the last meal before the fast
begins. Unlike the elaborate meal we have before Yom Kippur, this meal is
typically one course, usually consisting of a hard-boiled egg and some bread.
This meal is generally not eaten with others to avoid having a Zimmun for
Birchat HaMazon. Zimmun indicates
permanence, habit and durability. We avoid the Zimmun because we’d prefer not
to make this mournful meal a recurring experience. It is customary to eat this
meal seated on the floor or a low stool. Throughout Tisha B’Av, one should try
to avoid sitting on a chair or bench. Instead, one should stand or sit on the
floor.
One should not greet a friend or acquaintance on Tisha B’Av. However, if someone greets you, you should answer, but in a low tone.
Since the morning of Tisha B’Av is the saddest part of the day when we recite Kinot, men do not put on Tefillin at Shacharit. Also, certain Tefillot are left out from the davening. Beginning at Mincha, sitting on chairs is permitted, men put on Tefilin and we recite those Tefillot that were omitted at Shacharit.
The next shul blood
drive will take place on
Our Shul offers a variety of ways to share with the rest of the membership life’s joyous occasions as well as to memorialize loved ones who have passed away.
Eitz Chaim: The beautiful Eitz Chaim, dedicated in memory of Sol Spierer, one of the earliest members of our Shul and the father of Sandy Geller and Rozy Weinstein, that adorns our main lobby has leaves available to help you celebrate and share your simchas with all your friends. The $72 charge for each leaf includes all printing. In addition, the memorial stones that form the base of the tree are also available for dedication of a cost of $360 per stone. Contact Rozy Weinstein at 718/793-3474 or 718/268-1830 for more information or to place an order.
The following leaf has been added:
Arlene and George Moriber in honor of the birth of their
twin grandchildren Gilad Nachmun and Faith Aiden Esther in
Siddurim and Chumashim: Dedication of a siddur or Chumash can be done all year long. The nominal cost makes this a very inexpensive way to honor a special occasion or remember a loved one. Contact David Goldkrantz or the Shul office for more information or to place an order.
Memorial Plaques: The memorial plaque holders located on the rear wall of the Shul are still available for dedication. Individual memorial plaques are also available for $200 each. Contact the Shul office for more information.
Windows: Several of the etched glass windows located in the Goldman Beit Midrash are still available for dedication. For further details contact Joseph Zimilover or Reuben Zimilover.
Sifrei Torah Repair Fund
Sifrei Torah do not last forever. The ink fades or flakes off from the Klaf parchment making the letters incomplete. The giddin threads that are used to tie the individual pieces of Klaf together come loose. Any of these things can make a Sefer Torah posul (unfit for use). A Torah Repair Fund has been established so that we can repair our Sifrei Torah as needed and ensure that they remain in good condition for generations to come. Please make a donation to this fund.
Due to rising costs, the price for Shabbos Mevorchim kiddush sponsorship has been raised to $100.
MAZEL TOV!
ENGAGEMENT/MARRIAGE:
Mrs. Hency Bernath upon the engagement of her granddaughter
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brach upon the marriage of their grandson Chesky Spiro to Carrie Friedman
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Derman upon the marriage of their daughter Rivkah to Rapheal Chaim Yisborach
Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Feuerman upon the marriage of their grandson Baruch Schreiber
Rabbi and Mrs. Ezra Gelman upon the engagement of their granddaughter Rachel Zahtz
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Gittler upon the engagement of their granddaughter Gila Levenson to Yair Gablinger
Dr. and Mrs. Murray Grossman upon the marriage of their granddaughter Katie Grossman to Daniel Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Holzer upon the engagement of their son Ariel to Julie Turkel and to the grandparents Rabbi and Mrs. Emanuel Holzer
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kalatsky upon the engagement of their daughter Aliza to John Benlulu and to the grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Wadler
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kalton upon the marriage of their daughter Aliza to Alex Markovich
Rabbi and Mrs. Martin Katz upon the marriage of their son Yitzi to Bina Blum
Mrs. Ray Lipsius upon the marriage of her granddaughter
Rabbi and Mrs. Stanley Metzger upon the marriage of their granddaughter Ariella Itzkowitz to Ari Gasner and upon the marriage of their grandson Avi Granek to Elana Irwill and upon the engagement of their grandson Moshe Granek to Esther Shira Gettinger
Rabbi and Mrs. Milton Nordlicht upon the engagement of their granddaughter Chavi Friedman to Ethan Paris
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Shafier upon the marriage of their granddaughter Yocheved Kronenberg to Dovid Lisker and upon the marriage of their granddaughter Rachelle Kronenberg to Paul Haimowitz
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sonnenschein upon the engagement of their daughter Rachel to Avi Smith
Mrs. Susan Strassburger upon the marriage of her daughter Adina to Shlomo Segal
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Weingarten upon the engagement of their granddaughter Tzirel Bracha to Shalom Rupp
BIRTHS:
Mrs. Pearl Abish upon the birth of a granddaughter
Dr. and Mrs. Donald Berger upon the birth of a grandson
Mr. and Mrs. Shmully Cohen upon the birth of a son
Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Goldfein upon the birth of a grandson
Dr. and Mrs. Alan Goldstein upon the birth of their grandson
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Halberstadt upon the birth of a
great-grandson in
Mrs. Alice Hertzberg upon the birth of a great-grandson
Rabbi and Mrs. David Hill upon the birth of a great-granddaughter
Mrs. Rena Hurwitz and Dr. and Mrs. David Hurwitz upon the birth of granddaughter and to the great-grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Simon Lopata
Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Kramer upon the birth of their granddaughter
Dr. and Mrs. David Levenson upon the birth of a grandson
Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Lobel upon the birth of a daughter and to the grandparents Mr. and Mrs. David Englander
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Mosenkis upon the birth of a grandson
Mr. Abe Olshan upon the birth of a great-grandson and upon the birth of a great-granddaughter
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Pultman upon the birth of a son
Mr. Avi Reichman and Mr. and Mrs. Les Wiesel upon the birth of a grandson
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sonnenschein upon the birth of their
grandson in
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Tuckman upon the birth of a daughter and to the grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon Socol
Mr. and Mrs. David Wallach upon the birth of their son
BAR/BAT MITZVAH:
Mr. and Mrs. Julius Cohn upon the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter Elana Cohn
Mrs. Marianne Feinstein upon the Bar Mitzvah of her grandson David Klein
Mr. and Mrs. Barry Gavarin upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son
Mr. and Mrs. Nat Geller upon the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Moshe Shlomo Rothenberg
Rabbi and Mrs. Gottesman upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Holzer upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son Nissan and to the grandparents Rabbi and Mrs. Emanuel Holzer
Rabbi and Mrs. Naftali Horowitz upon the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Jacob Rosenfeld
Dr. and Mrs. Simon Lopata upon the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Gershon Zev Sobin
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Perper upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son Avi
Rabbi and Mrs. George Rushfield upon the Bar Mitzvah of
their grandson Chaim in
Mr. and Mrs. Yankee Schwartz upon the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Yonatan
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Sherman upon the Bar Mitzvah of their
grandson Ari in
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
All of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of our members who have graduated from law school, medical school, graduate school, college, high school, elementary school, kindergarten, and nursery school.
Yehuda Grossman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Svi Grossman and Rachel Schwartz, daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Bruce Schwartz upon being named Salutatorians of the Yeshiva of Central Queens
Mrs. Ilana Gutenmacher and Mrs. Ginger Socol who were honored by our Women’s League at its Spring Supperette
Rabbi and Mrs. Isaiah Koenigsberg upon being honored by the Young Israel of Jackson heights
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld upon receiving the National Rabbinic Leadership Award from the Orthodox Union
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Sklar upon celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary
REFUAH SHLEMA TO:
Mrs. Shirley Blass
Mrs. Bella Engel
Rabbi Edmund Neiss
Mr. Norman Ringel
Mr. Murray Steinberg
Mr. Leon Zehnwirth
CONDOLENCES TO:
Mr. Harry Dubin upon the loss of his wife, our member Mrs. Yetta Dubin
The Engel family upon the loss of our members Mr. Joseph Engel and Mrs. Bella Engel
Rabbi Elimelech Frankel upon the loss of his mother
Mrs. Mindy Gavarin upon the loss of her father
The Katz family upon the loss of our member Mrs. Martha Katz
Mr. and Mrs. Abe Krup upon the loss of their granddaughter
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Shiffman upon the loss of their son Judah
Mrs. Betty Willig upon the loss of her husband, our member Rabbi Jerome Willig
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Bloch
Mr. Mark Goldberg
Mr. David Gross
The Women’s League has formed a Welcome Committee. Please let Tina Appel know of any families who have moved into the neighborhood who might wish to become members of the shul.
This summer, Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld will hold a shiur for teenagers
on Gemora Shabbos on Wednesday evenings at
The Women’s Tehillim group meets Tuesday evenings at