Dear Shaare Family,
This week, we will be reading the section of the Torah that commands the Kohanim to bless the Jewish people with the tripartite blessing known as the Birkat Kohanim. It is sadly appropriate that we read this shortly after the passing of our beloved Kohen, Max Ribald. Over Yom Tov, I’m sure you felt a sense of loss, as I did, seeing the Kohanim ascending to duchen without Max being among them- and noticed that his sons were absent as well. This is based on the comment of the Rema in Orach Chaim 128:3, who says that Ashkenazic practice is for Kohanim in a year of mourning to refrain from duchening, which requires full hearted joy.
The Birkat Kohanim is the blessing parents bestow upon their children; how tragic it is that we read it during a week that we mourn with parents in our community who buried their child this week. As Rabbi Wolk said in his remarkable eulogy for Asher, this is not the natural order of God’s world. I know all of us are also sharing in the pain of Barbara and David Radunsky after Asher’s passing, and have them in our hearts when we bless our own children this week.
These losses have certainly cast a pall on our community of late, but it is through our close-knit community that we find solace. We cry together, mourn together and celebrate together. Fortunately, amidst the sorrow, we also have reason to celebrate and be comforted, as this weekend is the aufruf of Shimi Wolk. It will be a special privilege to celebrate with the Wolk, Cinnamon and Lookstein families this weekend, and especially to hear davening led by Chazzan Aaron Kohl (Marissa’s brother in law), Elli Wolk and Rabbi Haskel Lookstein (Marissa’s grandfather), from whom we will also hear a guest sermon. Rabbi Lookstein is an outstanding Baal Tefilla, who has recorded the proper nussach hatefillah (Modes and melodies of prayer) from whom many aspiring baalei tefillah have learned, and participating in a davening that he is leading is a real privilege (especially since he is, bli ayin hara, 90 years old!).
Hakarat HaTov Corner
A special thanks to all those who led classes and delivered divrei Torah over a packed Shavuot, and those who participated in them:
Rebbetzin Jessica Rackovsky, Rebbetzin Julie and Rabbi Howard Wolk, Rabbi Yaakov Tannenbaum, Rabbi Maury Grebenau, Yael Lewin, Eric Schramm, Linda and Steve Blasnik, Joe Ravitsky, Shelley Weiss, Sara and Natan Verschleisser Pittinsky and Kim Zoller.
On a personal note, I am grateful to Hashem that my family and I have the opportunity, with God’s help, to travel to New York this week for the wedding of my brother Elia to Naomi Schwartz. May they build a home that is an everlasting edifice of Torah, Chessed and service of Hashem!
A Birthday Surprise
Mercaz Daf Yomi is a virtual and real program headquartered in Beit Shemesh for studying the Daf Yomi- whether through full shiurim or eight minute reviews. The teacher is R' Eli Stefansky, a colorful and entertaining businessman who made aliyah several years ago. Tens of thousands of people follow him daily and hundreds attend his shiurim in person, and he has created a real community through it. Every day, he acknowledges guests who are joining in person (a few weeks ago, Ronnie Katz got a shoutout) begins by reading emails from around the world, and wherever he appears in the world, hundreds of students join him. His colorful diagrams and charts, and concise explanations, have made the Gemara accessible for many first time learners and veterans alike.
A number of our Daf Yomi participants study or review the daf through MDY, including Joey Schonbrunn, a pillar of our in-person, pre-minyan morning shiur. In honor of his birthday, Dorit dedicated the daily MDY shiur in his honor- view a clip of the dedication here (thank you Joe Ravitsky for extracting the clip), and then join the Daf Yomi immediately! To quote R' Eli, "Dallas, Texas, Raboisai!"
Rabbi’s Recommendations
I am reading a fascinating book called After, by Dr. Bruce Greyson.
It is a clinical analysis and comparison of common features of reported Near-Death Experiences from the perspective of a scientist without a particular belief system, addressing a phenomenon which occur in 10% of people whose heart stops.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
