The Bialystoker Synagogue Newsletter

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THE BIALYSTOKER BRIEF

Winter 2003

Wednesdays for Women

What better way to warm up on a winter’s day than coffee or tea with friends? Add two experienced and inspiring speakers and the combination is irresistible. Thanks to Torah Umesorah, we have an exciting new lecture series at Bialystoker shul which draws over one hundred women from New Jersey, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The first session of Torah Umesorah’s Torah Education classes was held on Wednesday, October 29th. It began with Rabbi Ralph Pelcovitz giving an introduction to Sefer Devarim. This was followed by a coffee break, then we were treated to an introduction to Sefer Tehillim by Dr. Esther Rister.

The first lecture of each following session is devoted to a topic in Sefer Devarim, while the second lecture will cover commonly recited Tehillim and their deeper meaning. In January, the second lecture will switch to covering topics in Shmuel Alef, the book of Prophets which describes events in the life of Shmuel as well as the beginning of the kingship of Israel. Each week is a self-contained topic with a different expert speaker, so one can drop in anytime.

The excitement and dedication to learning was palpable. Over one hundred women of all ages flocked to Bialystoker Shul for the lectures. As one participant confided, "I’ve been coming to this lecture (formerly held in the Young Israel of Fifth Avenue) since my daughter was nine. Now she’s thirty, and I’m still coming!"

We invite you to warm up your Wednesday mornings. For a listing of upcoming lectures please see page 3.

Machzor Drive News At the close of the Yomim Noraim season, on Shmini Atzeres, the Bialystoker Shul launched a special drive to replace the shul’s collection of Phillips machzorim with new Artscroll machzorim. These new books are very reader-friendly, with translation, commentary, and clear directions for the long and intricate prayers of the Yomim Noraim. This is especially important for those who only come to shul at that time of year.

The appeal for machzorim was met with much enthusiasm, and many generous pledges were made that day. In a follow-up letter, everyone was urged to donate a machzor in memory of a loved one or in honor of a simcha. A special dedication rate of $25 per machzor is available only through Chanukah.

To further this project, the Bialystoker Sisterhood donated the profits from their very successful dinner to the Machzor fund. The dinner was held on Tuesday, November 18th at the newly opened Noah’s Ark Deli on Grand Street. Thanks to Jean Slamowitz, Eva Greher, Tova Peretz, Karen Wolfson and Deborah Goldman for their time and effort in this endeavor.

To dedicate a machzor, please contact the shul at 475-0165 during office hours and speak to Aviva.

Rabbi’s Message

With Chanuka almost upon us, it is worthwhile to revisit the most famous rabbinical question concerning Chanuka: If the oil was only supposed to burn for one day and instead burned for eight, what emerges is that the miracle really lasted for seven days. Why, then, do we celebrate eight days of Chanuka?

Explains R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv, the famed "Alter of Kelm": We thank Hashem not only for the supernatural miracles in life, but for the little miracles of day-to-day living as well. The fact that oil burns at all is really the greatest miracle. The eighth day of Chanuka is to call our attention to that daily miracle which we all take for granted.

The purpose of this newsletter is to focus all of us on the daily miracles which we see in our beautiful Bialystoker Shul. May the producers of this attractive newsletter go from "Strength to strength," and may all of us merit a light-filled Chanuka with its share of miracles.

Sisterhood Has Big Plans

Now is the time of year when our Bialystoker Sisterhood kicks into action. After a memorable opening dinner dedicated to the shul machzor drive, the sisterhood will meet on the third Tuesday of every month. The next meeting will take place at the shul on December 16th at 7:30 PM.

Ideas and projects for the coming year include: Motzoei Shabbos game night, Sunday brunch for young couples, a theatre party, and spring art auction. In addition, the sisterhood will continue its successful programs of welcome baskets for new couples, and Matanos L’evyonim cards before Purim.

Membership in the sisterhood is $15. We welcome anyone interested in making a contribution to the shul. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, even for those who cannot attend regular meetings. The programs of the sisterhood are dedicated to the maintenance and beautification of Bialystoker Synagogue. To join, call Tova Peretz at 353-3956.

kids

C O R N E R

Another successful year has started for our youth department under the able guidance of R’ Moshe Tuchman and his group leaders. The youth group meets on Shabbos and Yom Tov mornings beginning at ten o’clock and lasting untill the end of davening. It is located on the third floor of the Potkorony building. All children ages three through seven are welcome for play, parshah, and refreshments.

New for boys and girls ages eight through eleven is Junior Congregation, which aims to teach the skills of davening along with the meaning of davening. Led by R’ Tuchman on the second floor of the Potkorony building, this exciting program lasts from ten to eleven o’clock on Shabbos mornings. As an added incentive, the two best daveners each week get a free pizza slice courtesy of Shalom Chai Pizza.

Torah Umesorah

Classes for Women*:

Dec. 17 PARASHAS RE’EH: TZEDAKAH AND GEMILLUS CHASSADIM -- WHAT DOES THE TORAH DEMAND OF US?

Rabbi Shlomo Stern

SEFER TEHILLIM CHAPTER 92 -- TEHILLIM FOR SHABBOS KODESH

Rabbi Elias Schwartz

Dec. 24 CHANUKAH -- NO SESSIONS

Dec. 31 PARASHAS SHOFTIM: APPOINTING A KING -- OBLIGATION OR CONCESSION?

Rabbi Feivel Wagner

SEFER TEHILLIM CHAPTER 97 -- TEHILLIM FOR KABBOLOS SHABBOS

Mrs. Shulamith Goldstein

Jan. 7 PARASHAS SHOFTIM: THE LAAWS OF WAR - MILCHEMES R’SHUS & MILCHEMES MITZVAH

Rabbi Shaul Chill

SEFER TEHILLIM CHAPTER 75- CELEBRATING YOM TOV PROPERLY

Rabbi Dovid Gross

Jan. 14 PARASHAS KI-SETZE: FAMILY STRENGTH & SOCIAL ILLS: REFLECTIOMS ON THE YEFAS TOAR

Rabbi Zvi David Romm

SEFER TEHILLIM CHAPTER 146: WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EVERY DAY

Rabbi Abraham Lieberman

Jan. 21 PARASHAS KI-SETZE: HONEST WEIGHTS & MEASURES

Rabbi Eliyahu Hartman

SEFER TEHILLIM CHAPTER 91: TEHILLIM AT BEDTIME

Rabbi Yitzchak Sladowsky

Jan. 28 PARASHAS KI-SETZE: HASHOVOS AVEIDAH: HALACHIC APPLICATIONS FOR TODAY’S NEW YORK

Rabbi Yehudah Oelbaum

SEFER SHMUEL ALEF PEREK ALEF: CHANA AND HER TEFILLAH

Mrs. Smadar Rosensweig

*please note there is a $7 contribution for each session attended payable at the door. For more information or to purchase tapes of the lectures, please contact Goldie Brown at 228-0633.

Share your simcha with the Bialystoker Brief!

Mazel Tovs and Condolences will be included in the next issue.

call 539-1220 or email zdromm73@aol.com

by Dec. 31

Looking for volunteers to:

Help write this newsletter

call Shira Romm @ 539-1220

Help welcome new members

call Tova Peretz @ 353-3956

Join our sisterhood

call Tova Peretz @ 353-3956

Sponsor a kiddush

call Maty Fried @ 254-6146

or Yossi Singer @ 475-4052